What did you give for Christmas?

By Isaiah Jordan

From the end of October to the middle of December stores promote sales of the season. As these sales are promoted on our televisions, newspapers, and internet we think about everything we should buy for our friends and family for various reasons. One of these reasons may be to show just how much we care for another person. Another reason may be just to show who can buy the most expensive gift, but either way you spin the bottle you may end up giving to someone.

This past Christmas, according to Channel 12 news, the sales of the season was surprisingly low. This scared the major companies that promote these Christmas sales. Luckily, a few days before this special day arrived the sales started to skyrocket and people began to show the true spirit of the Christmas consumer. Montrey Slayton, senior, falls into this consumer category. He bought his mother a chocolate fountain for Christmas. Even though he purchased this pricy piece of merchandise he still says, “The greatest gift that a person could ever give someone is love.”

Many times we give with necessity or in expectancy of always receiving something in return and in most cases we do receive something in return. This presents the question, how does giving impact your life. Corey Williams, sophomore, clearly stated: “Giving is better than receiving.” In our ideal world we see giving as something that we are required to do for various reason, and what the true test to see how giving is really impacting our lives is to give a gift and not have that same person give you something back. Did this happen to you this Christmas?

How much would you be willing to spend on a Christmas gift? Maybe you would be willing to spend twenty, fifty, one- hundred, or two- hundred dollars for a family member or close friend? Niecy Anderson, freshman, thinks that “it depends on who it is. If it is someone like family or close friends I would spend two- hundred or over.” Oftentimes we believe the price tag matches the amount of love you have for that person. In actuality, the most heart filled gifts could be something you created and not an item you can buy out of the store. Unfortunately, because of this mentality we believe that we must spend large amounts of money to express our affection.

Samon Williams, junior, did not have this problem snce the best gift she gave was, “words of wisdom.” This, in many cases, is exactly what we need during the Christmas season because some people don’t have the family and friends that a lot of people have. This is a part of building one another up and is not just something that should be practiced doing this particular season but should be exemplified every season throughout the year.

Even though 2007’s Christmas has past the giving spirit can still be shown in 2008. Wither your gift is materialistic or non-materialistic when you give think about how it touches them. You can give good things or bad things, but remember bloggers, whatever you give somehow it will come back to you.

Bucks are improving

By Kisha Birmingham


The Bradley Center fans roared at the Atlanta Hawk’s missed shots when the Milwaukee Bucks secured their lead by four points while ending in a victory on January 16th.

With the winning score of 87 to 80, the Bucks continue they’re winning streak and earn a number four spot in the conference.

As the cold season continues to overwhelm Wisconsin with illnesses, Mo Williams, point guard, was out of the game on Wednesday due to flu-like symptoms he had the day before. He was replaced with Royal Ivey, who came in with six assists.

Injuries were popular causes of people not seeing familiar faces on the court. Desmond Mason, a guard-forward, is out for eight weeks due to torn ligaments in his thumb. You won’t see David Noel, a forward, playing for about for weeks because of the surgery he had on his wrist.

Andrew Bogut attains 21 points for the Milwaukee Bucks and he kept the crowd going wild. Along with four blocks and ten rebounds.

“No matter what happens, he always makes a way for us to come up. This man is unstoppable!” says Avery Alfred who has been a Bucks fan for over 30 years.

Milwaukee’s favorite player, Michael Redd, still did not straggle too far behind. He carried in 17 victory points.

A rookie by the name of Yi Jianlian acquired 16 points for the Bucks. As grasping sounds came out of the audience from shock and excitement, it seems as if it won’t be long before Jianlian is a favorite from Milwaukee

Even though it was not considered a “full house” yesterday, the sports fan spirit stayed in the air and in the mouths of Milwaukeeans.

The game was topped off with Bogut’s dunk off of Bobby Simmon’s clear pass. Hopefully, the Bucks will keep their state satisfied by continuing their winning streak and take their conference into triumph.

Youth leadership

By Justine Shorter

The world is always in search of tomorrow’s great leasers, and Global Youth Leadership Institute (GYLI) is where most of them can be found.

GYLI is a four year program that introduces students to new and inventive ways of bringing forth social change in their schools and communities. The institute grants students the opportunity to travel while meeting other teens across the country that also yearn to make a difference in the often arduous world around them.

Participants work hard in searching for solutions to pestering high school problems and inconvenient matters affecting those in the community such as crime rates and pertinent health issues.

Since Messmer has never had a shortage of teenage leadership, it is no wonder that some of our brightest and most talented students are a part of the program. Isaiah Jordon, sophomore, joined the institute as a freshman and proclaims that fun, growth and development are all concomitant with being a part of GYLI.

“I would stress that there are a lot of responsibilities that come with being a part of GYLI, but it is a very beneficial program that offers such a unique experience,” explained Jordon.

Jordan declares that the program is not only socially and intellectually stimulating, but it also brought him full circle with himself and who he truly is internally.

“I learned more about myself. The program helps you to define who you really are and to strengthen who you are."

When in Boston, Mass. Jordan sailed on a spectacular ship, and although he describes it as one of his most memorable moments, he can’t overlook the friendships that were formed and the life changing lessons that were learned.

“The best thing about being around so many so different people is that you get a chance to think outside the box and you get to observe different ideals. It‘s a great program, and I would encourage anybody to check it out,” he disclosed.

If your are interested in learning more about the Global Youth Leadership Institute please feel free to contact Ms. Burkel or Mr. Grissel.

Charity and donations for the holiday

By Theolia Childs, Senior

This was the season for sharing and giving to families who were not able afford a good warm-cooked meal. Messmer Catholic Schools held the House of Peace drive for the last four years in which students and faculty help with.

As campus minister, Mr. Hauser put boxes together as he began to notice that students were hardly participating. That is when competition began to increase for the students since the winning class of the food drive would win a jeans day pass.

“I was worried at first, but then I was amazed on how students were doing with donations,” said Hauser.

When it was finished, Messmer donated 228 boxes and collected over 5,000 items.

For the most part students and faculty had a fun and competitive experience. The class of 2011 won a free Jeans Day followed by 2nd place seniors, 3rd place sophomores, and finally the junior class.