High school is a time of challenging classes, new friends, heartbreaks, relationships, drama and, for many of us, the dreaded task of becoming a driver.

Transitioning from carpooling with your mom to carpooling with your friends is great, but the actual process of obtaining that coveted plastic card is a lot of work. Ann Dinh (‘10) says, “Getting your [driver\'s] license isn\’t the easiest thing, but when you have it, it\’s definitely worth the while.”

I recently went through the tricky and stressful process of getting my license and have a few tips for those planning to hit the road.

First, you need to sign up for a Driver\’s Education course which teaches you the rules and methods of driving. A Driver\’s Ed course can be taken online or in a classroom. Online classes are a good option because, unlike classroom classes, you can learn when your schedule permits, but in a classroom, you have someone to motivate you.

After completing the didactic course, the next step is taking a permit test. This test can be taken at any DMV for $28. Make sure to take the permit test within a year of completing the course or else you will be charged with a $300 fee. Trust me, I learned the hard way.

To sign up for the permit test, contact your local DMV by phone and set up an appointment. You\’ll need to bring prescription eyeglasses if you have them, a birth certificate, and a certificate of completion of a Driver\’s Education course to the DMV on your test day.

Once you pass the written permit test, the next step is signing up for behind-the-wheel driving lessons. You can sign up for these lessons at any local driving school. The lessons are completely hands-on and you finally get the chance to drive behind the wheel—with an instructor. Make sure to have a parent allow you to practice behind the wheel, too. Without practice, the lessons won\’t do you any good.

Angela Nguyen (‘10) says, “I didn\’t practice much and now I can\’t even drive with my parents because I get too scared and feel like I\’m going to mess up. So I have to take lessons over again.”

Six months after you have received your permit, safely completed four behind-the-wheel driving lessons and practiced with an adult, you are ready to take your driving test. The California DMV\’s website is great for preparing for the driver\’s test and also includes practice tests as well the California Driver\’s Handbook.

Finally, the most important piece of advice from me is: Do not procrastinate!

Theresa Tran (‘09) says, “I\’m a senior and I still haven\’t gotten my license yet!”

The climactic end to the long process is passing the driving test and coming home to a brand new Mercedes waiting in the driveway! Well maybe not, but one can always dream, right?

photo credit: illiterarty.com

By Yusra Yousef, Staff writer

Kite Runner author Khaled Housseini\’s second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, is as powerful as his first. “Dense, rich, pressure-packed guide to enduring the unendurable,” TIME Magazine praises. 

A Thousand Splendid Suns tells a forty year tale of two women living in the same area in Afghanistan. Mariam is born illegitimately and later is married to an abusive and cruel man named Rasheed. Laila, who is Mariam\’s neighbor, has a completely different life. She has ambitions, opinions, and plans for an education—until something tragic happens that forces her life to take a turning point and binds the two women together.  

The book is divided into four parts. The first part focuses on Mariam, the second and third parts focus on Laila, and the fourth part alternates between Mariam and Laila.  

Hosseini\’s writing is simple yet intense. He enriches the novel with gripping events that leave no lull in the book\’s pace. Hosseini touches upon so many aspects of life, it is difficult not to relate to them.  By the time you get to the middle of the book, it\’s difficult to put the book down. And although the richly illustrated historical background is never the main focus, the presents a beautiful setting to the personal efforts and struggles of the two women.  

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a touching tale about the power of love, the bonds of friendship, the love of country, and the struggle to endure. A Thousand Splendid Suns\’ ending is unexpected and will leave the reader satisfied.  

“A Thousand Splendid Suns is an important, provocative work. The rich and violent history of Afghanistan provides a backdrop that informs and saturates the story… Hosseini has succeeded in writing another epic tale, a novel not to be missed,” says the Rocky Mountain News.  

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a must read novel, and you might even find yourself rereading the novel just to repeat the fulfilling experience the novel provides.

Hands down, high school can be an extremely scary place. There are new people, new places, and especially, new experiences.

These can quickly become overwhelming for anyone unaccustomed to high school life.

However, do rest assured, as things quickly become easier.

Here are some tips from an old geezer readying to graduate and wanting, oh so graciously, to make life easier for all the new delicious fresh meat out there. 

First, we all love our friends. That\’s a known fact no matter your age or grade..

However, don\’t be afraid to go without them.

Do not be one of those kids who wait in the enormous line after school to complain to their guidance counselor with amazingly bizarre excuses just to try to change their class schedule so you can sit next to your buddy in English.

It\’s just ridiculous.

Having a class without your friends forces you (no kidding) to make new friends and to experience things on your own. And believe it or not, you may even find you have more fun when you get to do things by yourself for once.

But even if you don\’t, there will always be lunch, passing periods, and after school to hook up with your BFFLs.

And wait—another thing.

Although hearing the latest gossip may seem super important, class is for learning. Appease your teachers, and your parental units, by paying attention.

Yes, crazy things like that do come with the high school experience.

Next, sleep is your best friend. Seriously.

Young students often make the mistake of thinking that since they\’re in high school, they should act older. Older, I tell you, is not staying up until the wee hours of the morning. Doing this will not make you cool.

It will only give you a disheveled, groggy appearance and cause you to fall asleep during class. This will heavily affect your performance, annoy your teachers, and maybe—just maybe—put a large, red imprint on your face from leaning on your fist too long.

Even if you have an enormous exam the next morning, studying will only do you good if you\’re awake enough to remember what you studied. It is recommended for teenagers to get at least nine hours of sleep a night.

But as we all know, teenagers just don\’t take recommendations, and nine hour sleeping time is not a realistic goal for most.

Therefore, my experience shows that seven hours will keep you alert and awake; five or six will keep you awake, but not alert; and four or less will permanently affix your head to your desk in an incoherent sleeping position the entire day. 

If you manage your time wisely however, it is actually possible for you to obtain those seven hours of sleep.

But watch out. Procrastination is the number one temptation.

No matter what, there always seems to be something more fun and entertaining to do than studying. Giving in to this procrastination may give you a moment of amusement, but in the long run, it can also give you low test scores, a groggy appearance, and a whole lot of frustration. Yep. Nasty, nasty side affects.

One of the hardest lessons to learn in high school is that homework doesn\’t disappear. If you take care of it first and get it out of the way, however, your experiences afterward will be more enjoyable.

If you don\’t take care of it, you will have that impending weight looming over you the entire day.

And you don\’t want the weight to come crashing down. It is definitely not a merry experience. 

Finally, high school is meant to be Fun. Remember that. The word “Fun” even comes with a capital “F.”

Don\’t let the little things and drama bring you down. Focus on school, but make sure you have time for your friends.

Go to the dances, join a couple of clubs, try out for a sports team, talk to that cute guy or girl you see at lunch. High school is an once-in-a-lifetime experience, and there aren\’t any do-overs.

Don\’t let stress take over your life. Take a deep breath and start making some good memories.

You won\’t regret it.