Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

ASTRID TOVAR
Staff Writer

Compared to some schools, weʼre pretty well off—we can afford books, supplies, sports and a newspaper, not to mention a new building. Sure, there are plenty of other things we could have—even more reason not to take the things we do have for granted. However much or however little we have, we should still have pride. So why do the restrooms in our new Science Building have to be closed to be kept clean?
The Science Building opened in the beginning of the 2010 – 2011 school year. Pretty fancy and pretty cold, the new building arrested the curiosity and interest of the student body. It was a marvel for the rest of the year; something to talk about and be proud of. Yet, not even a year later, disrespect rears its ugly head in the form of a big, red, sloppy hand print on the wall of the girlʼs bathroom.
It makes you wonder if that is necessary. Maybe some excitement comes along with “marking” your territory on a school bathroom wall, but there should be a limit. In the half-hearted “Susie was here” comes the fact that Susie wants to be there at all. It doesnʼt take much to allocate that notion in a little bit of mutual respect for your school.
I donʼt mean to be melodramatic over a case of graffiti, but things like this really reflect how we feel about our school. Some people find it praise-worthy to have an aloof attitude toward your school, or to disrespect it entirely. Nowadays where you came from is not something to be proud of. And why? Why arenʼt we proud of the places weʼve been; rich or poor, young or old, alluring or ugly? Take a little time and love where youʼve grown up.