Getting to know the Class of 2000

Improving education, protecting the environment and defending the rights of the unborn are major issues as we approach the next century. Those issues were not listed by politicians. They were identified by members of the Class of 2000 in Catholic high schools in the Albany Diocese.

Over the next four years, The Evangelist will track members of the Class of 2000 enrolled in diocesan high schools. Their perceptions about national, Church and school issues as well as their personal hopes and aspirations will appear twice a year between now and the spring of the first year of the next millennium.

The 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 Springs.

Here is what they had to say in their first interview:

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

Jenneane: I want to be an elementary school teacher.

Justin: A pilot because I like to fly. I've already had one lesson.

Meghan: I'd like to be an equine therapist or a veterinarian. An equine therapist goes to tracks and does physical therapy for race horses.

Jeb: I play a lot of sports. I'd like to do something with sports, maybe sales.

Jenneane: I'd like to be on high honor roll and make the junior varsity basketball team.

Justin: I want to get good grades. This year is the starting basis for high school. I also like sports. I was on the junior varsity soccer team; now I'm on the varsity team for Sectionals.

Meghan: I want to do good in school. I haven't done good the first quarter because of all of the activities I was involved in. I was in the school play and on the cross country team. I also want to do good in track. If I settle down, I'll get better grades; and if I keep working on my running, I'll do good in track.

Jeb: I hope I have successful sports seasons and that my academics are good.

Jenneane: Education. When kids grow up, maybe they can change things. We can learn from what's happening now and what happened in history.

Justin: The environment is an issue because if we don't clean it up now, we'll run out of time. Education is also important because you need a lot of knowledge to get a job. Education can also help get rid of poverty. Poverty goes together with [lack of] education. Poverty can be determined by your background; education can help you improve.

Meghan: The environment is a really big issue. I'm interested in the outdoors and animals. The environment is what I want to fix up the most.

Jeb: Abortion. I think every baby should have the chance to be born. This shouldn't be up to the parents.

Jenneane: I'd tell him he's doing a good job. It's hard to be president. I'd also tell him that he shouldn't cut education funding or Medicare for the elderly.

Justin: I would tell him what kids have to go through. Like here, we have the atmosphere of a big city even though we're not a city. Also, I'd tell him not to make welfare cuts. We need to control it, but we need to help people. I think we need new programs.

Meghan: I'd tell him I think he's doing a good job. I'd be pretty shocked if I got to meet him. I'd ask about the issues he's talking about.

Jeb: I'd tell him to changes his position of being pro-choice and become pro-life. I learned about this issue from my mother and sister. They advocate for this.

Jenneane: I'd tell him that he's a little too traditional and not aware of the changes going on in the world.

Justin: This is a hard one. I think he's doing a good job. I liked when he came to New York. I think he should do that more often.

Meghan: I'd ask him how things are going with the poor in other parts of the world and how I could help him.

Jeb: I'd tell him he's doing a good job.

Jenneane: I can't think of any issues facing the Church that bother me.

Justin: I'm not Catholic. My mother is Catholic, and my father is Methodist. I chose my father's religion. I don't get the differences between Catholics and Protestants. We both believe in Jesus and one God.

Meghan: I think if people complain, they should do something about it and get involved. I don't like organ music; my brother is musical and he's in the folk group. I'm an altar server. The Church knows I'll help because I serve. I like doing things at church it's a good way to use my time and it's fun too...most of the time.

Jeb: There's not really issues that teens can do anything about. The big issue is not having enough priests. I think we need to tell other males and people that they should consider it.

Jenneane: My faith has helped me with my studies and school work. When I'm overloaded with work, I know I can just keep going and not give up.

Justin: My faith plays a pretty big role. I hope God will help me through this year because it's going to be hard. I also hope I don't get hurt playing sports. My faith is pretty strong. I think teens need to focus on two commandments: not killing and not committing adultery.

Meghan: My faith helps me when people who are close to me die. It gives me comfort to know that there was a reason that God took them. I helped at the anointing Mass at church. I saw what bad shape people in my parish are in and I wanted to help them. That Mass was hard. I saw my great aunt who has cancer and my dentist who's now in a wheel chair. It made me feel sad to see them in such bad condition.

Jeb: Faith plays a big role. Everyday that I'm home, my Mom makes me go to church. But being Catholic hasn't helped me through any hard times yet.

Jenneane: I don't think it is. The school sports program is good. Most people know that drugs would affect sports. Also, academics are important here. Drugs would affect this as well.

Justin: I saw someone do drugs once and then they tried to play sports the next day. They couldn't. I'll never do it. You can have a longer and happier life without it. My parents don't drink and they're really happy.

Meghan: Drugs are an issue. I know people in school who do it. They should find another way to deal with problems. They think drugs or drinking will help with their problems. Some people do it for fun; others want to forget what's happening in their lives. I think it's dumb.

Jeb: With my friends, alcohol, drugs and smoking are not an issue for the majority of them.

Jenneane: I don't think I've come in contact with peer pressure yet, but I know I probably will sometime. It's basically all around.

Justin: Peer pressure is all around you. It's harder now. It's an issue here. But I think people here have an awareness of the consequences. I don't think my friends would do it to me.

Meghan: It's not an issue for me. My friends respect me. They know I wouldn't do anything like that.

Jeb: Students get a lot of peer pressure. Alcohol and drugs are a big issue. But I'd recommend Spa Catholic to others. It's a really nice school. The teachers are nice. It doesn't have the advantages of public schools, like their sports have more equipment and more books. My coaches play a big role in my life. I admire them.

Jenneane: I'll be in National Honor Society and will have played basketball for four years. By senior year, I'll be fluent in Spanish. I'll be getting ready to go to college, and I will have received scholarships.

Justin: I'll be smarter and closer to becoming a pilot. I will have met more people and worked with them toward a common goal. I think this is a good skill to have.

Meghan: [There is an answer coming for her but this will help preserve space until it comes.]

Jeb: I don't think I'll be much different than now. Probably I'll have more responsibilities.

Backgrounds on each student respondent

(11-07-96) [[In-content Ad]]