We shouldn’t have had too much in common, but we did. She was from Madrid’s upper class, whereas I was a Cuban immigrant who thought Madrid was my home until my parents told me otherwise. Music class brought us together at El Instituto de Madrid, where we became the best of friends. Her name was Carli, short for Carlota. She hated to be called that. Carli had a temper which matched her red hair, as well as a red scarf that she never took off, even in the dry heat of summer. If it wasn’t around her neck, the red scarf found its way into her purse or maleta (backpack). She never did tell me why she loved it so, only that she did. So, I grew to love my funny friend, red scarf and all.

A month before Christmas in the winter of 1974, my parents received word that we had been approved for an American Visa. I didn’t understand what that meant, until my parents explained that we would be moving to America at the end of the month. When I told Carli the news, she cried. We had promised each other to be ‘friends forever,’ and now we were unsure of what ‘forever’ was. Since we were seven, we had spent Christmas together, and now? Determined to celebrate it no matter what, on November 15, a week before my trip overseas to a new world, Carli and I met after class and celebrated Christmas under a tree.

We exchanged gifts, something that’s uncommon in Madrid, at least with friends; the tradition is best reserved among family members. I didn’t have much money, so I wrote her a poem, and she loved it. She had been my first reader when I started writing short stories, always telling me to hurry up and write the next chapter! My gift from Carli left me speechless. I opened the small pink box and looked directly into her eyes. There, through a puddle of tears, I saw the love of a good friend, one I’ll never forget. I lost the red scarf some time ago, but I’ll forever remember  my first friend, the girl in the red scarf.

In this issue, this very special Christmas edition, you will read stories that will make you laugh, cry, and even think of that best friend or loved one who made you remember why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. It’s all about love. It started with a baby in a manger. And even though it’s been a long time since He came to earth to dwell among us, His touch, His love, His everlasting peace and promise is still new.

The Messenger Staff and I wish you a very merry Christmas. Our prayer is that all your wishes come true, that you get to cherish old and new memories, as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Merry Christmas!

If you were to define them now by their favorite gadgets, you could say that this generation is not easily impressed. They despise fakes: both people and things. And on the latter—well, things have to be epic for them to pay notice. Technology visionary, Steve Jobs, sparked a technology revolution by placing Apple innovations in the hands of our next generation. He knew they were a discriminating audience and he paid notice as his developers designed some nifty toys. Jobs died earlier this month, leaving a legacy that impacted all of us greatly, especially this next generation who has grown up on Apple Macbooks, ipods, ipads, and even before that, digital CD players—an epic invention even adults found totally cool.

Word up: “Cool,” “Smooth,” “Fail,” “Epic,” and “Epic fail,”—not necessarily in that order—take on all kinds of unidentifiable forms: from the movies and music teens watch and listen to, to parties and fashion trends they follow, to the way they make fun of each other. Vampire books and movies is another epic craze—a bizarre teen trend you should know about, as it has been sweeping the nation like avian flu.

This next generation has spirit. They love in epic proportions. If you’ve seen our Christian school on the missions field—on or off campus—you know what I’m talking about. This is a revolutionary generation, who knows what they belief and why they believe it, and are not afraid to shout it out loud—in fact, they want to be heard.

So, yes, we think we have this next generation all figured out. Until… you watch them closely and really listen to what they have to say. If you do, you’ll be surprised, because they’re smarter than we think they are.

Teens in America—Christian and non-Christian alike—have similar expectations and goals: They want to fit in. They want to be loved. They want a future marked by success. But where they draw apart, marking a fine line on the sand, it’s in the way they lead their lives. They’re different. While one focuses on society’s trends mindlessly, the other follows their dreams, depending on the path their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has for them.

In this issue, you will hear some fresh voices. That’s the sound of the next generation. In a way, The Messenger’s first edition of the school year is an illustration of who they are. Listen to how teens talk, what they wear, what issues concern them, and what matters most to them.

Don’t ignore them. Rather than pulling on earphones and listening to music as a teenager might, transform their voices into “prayers.”  After all, this epic generation is our future. Let’s invest in them.

After conducting some research on “ The Classification and Ratings Association” or CARA, I found that the panel of raters are actually parents of kids from ages five to fifteen and must leave the panel when their kids turn twenty-one. These parents are from all over the country and have never been affiliated with any film industries. According to the website, “Their job is to reflect what they believe would be the majority view of their fellow parents in rating a film.”

I don’t know about you, but I think that being a Christian means going against what the world or what “most people” think is acceptable. While it is comforting to know that actual parents are rating the films that we watch, I don’t think that I can base my decision solely on the rating. The truth is, as Christians, we are to hold ourselves to a higher standard, and that includes what we watch on the big screen. For me, I will always check with another online resource before I buy my $8.50 movie ticket, because it’s just a waste of money if you end up leaving anyways.

Here are some online websites that can help you make a decision.

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/?gclid=CIrIubbriasCFZNV7AodeRvH1Q

http://www.pluggedin.com/

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/

In order to answer this crucial question, we must take a look at the current economic state of this country as well as global events. Will the U.S. dollar continue to plummet? Will oil prices continue to escalate? Is it possible another global war will develop? These are all very plausible factors that may impact all aspiring students and eventual working-class members in society.

Andre Tandayag, a senior here at CCA said, “I see myself as a lawyer or consultant in the next 5-10 years, but I think the economic climate will certainly hamper the availability of jobs for not just myself and my fellow classmates, but everyone else on a much more global scale.”

Interestingly enough, this is something many students today may not have thought about, simply because many do not see it as reality. However, the threat of these problems is not only looming, but could also be inevitable. The number of unemployed Americans is staggering, and one can only wonder, “Will there be enough jobs in the future?”

Economic insecurity has been increasing across the industrial world. As we look around us we see that alternative strategies for coping with unemployment in this brave new work world have not proven altogether satisfactory in the United States, or in other parts of the world.

In the U.S. the emphasis has been to create new jobs, but typically lower paying jobs have replaced higher paying jobs, leaving the American people with fewer options and pressuring both individuals and companies alike to downsize. This intensifies an already serious inequality with potentially explosive social and political implications.

Today, U.S. consumers are already feeling the effects of the oil-price shock. With the national price at $3.82 a gallon, the U.S. is spending $69.3 billion a year on oil imports. Compared to other federal spending programs, oil tops them all with the exception of transportation. The worst part is, this is just the beginning. Six out of ten Americans have been reported to travel less, according to the Reuters/IPSOS poll, which drastically affects the economy. Analysts predict prices may reach close to $5 dollars per gallon very soon. What will happen then?

Senior, Mike Hornsby, stated, “I think the economy will change within the next 10 years and life as we know it for every American will be different.” No longer will living in America be called “Living the American dream.” As an aspiring pastor attending Moody Bible Institute, Mike said, “As long as there is sin in the world, people will always need a shepherd.” Until the fateful day when Jesus comes back, it seems the world will just keep getting worse.

Despite the ominous state the world is in now, there will always be opportunities for us to prosper. The difference is, we will have to work much harder to succeed. Are you up for the task? Yes, jobs may be limited. Yes, our economy looks to be on the decline, and yes, a global war may be on the horizon, but that does not mean we should call it quits before our next chapter has begun.

Until Jesus’ return or until He calls us home, our job is to help write our future the best way we know how. We will do that by staying true to our Christian beliefs and supporting our government by contributing to our society and firmly pursuing our goals. Our country needs strong moral leaders in every field now more than ever. And most importantly, we will write our next chapter by trusting and following the Lord’s path for us.

The world is in need of a Savior and our Class of 2011 certainly can lead it to Him. Now, creating our story won’t be easy, but we know it has a victorious ending. We have assurance of that in Revelation 22:5, which says, “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.”

No homework, no schedules to plan other than travel trips. No 5:30 morning alarm calls and no appointments to keep. Oh, yes, summer is a time for hanging out… with friends, with family. But is that all summer is intended to be?

Growing up as a child, I remember spending some lazy days in my leaving room watching endless hours of TV.  It was my best friend in those days, but then I got older and things changed.

I began going to summer camps, mission trips, and taking different summer classes, exploring new things and activities that I wouldn’t even think about during the school year. I soon learned that summer is the perfect time to get out and discover new hobbies and talents, while serving others along the way.

So, yes, summer is here and with it there are many opportunities to serve, learn, and have fun.  In this issue you will find many options to do one or the other, or if you are incredibly ambitious to find that summer adventure… try them all!

Whatever you do, do it whoheartedly and thank God for it!

Enjoy your summer!

Aileen Alegre, Managing Editor

We sadly but proudly say goodbye to our managing editor, Aileen Alegre who will be part of the 88 graduating seniors walking across the stage to receive their high school diplomas on this day. To Aileen and the rest of the Class of 2011… congratulations for a job well done! You’re about to go on a major part of life’s journey and we wish you the best in everything you do.  Come back to tell us your accomplishments, you may just be one of our cover features!

This news magazine has been a creative outlet, which allowed our student staff to explore their talents and learn new skills. They began the year as a group of inexperienced Journalism I students and now they leave as writers, copy editors, graphic designers, and photographers. They’ve overcome many obstacles, re-writes, critics,  and through it all managed to stay on task. The deadlines were a hard lesson to learn but I hope it prepared them for the rest of their life experiences.

As our staff brainstormed about what our last edition would be about, “Summer is Here!” seemed like an excellent theme because it is in everybody’s minds.  So, sit back, relax and enjoy our last issue of the school year.

Grace & Peace,

Maritza Cosano Gomez

If you don’t know what your talent is yet, let me give you a hint: name a few attributes you possess. If you say, “I would place persistence and creativity on top of that list,” maybe you are an artist!

For those artists out there, let me just say… CCA believes in the power of your 
creativity, and is proud to offer an education that helps you hone your artistic skills. If you even wonder about that, you don’t need to look further than the cover of this issue to see what I see: a beautiful ceramic pot created by an extraordinary artist. Senior, Skylar White, did an amazing job creating this piece, which she submitted to our sister publication, Journey, and CCA’s first annual literary magazine’s writing, art, and photography competition. (Read pages 10 and 11 to take a sneak peek of other cool submissions.)

Now, did Skylar always know that she had that creative talent and that she wanted to pursue a life in the arts? Or did someone, like a teacher, saw something in her that made her go and explore it further?

That’s often the case when it comes to a student, who at some point said,  “I got 
involved in this by just meeting an elective need, to be honest, but this class has become one of my all-time favorites.  I’ve discovered it’s my talent!“ If that’s you, don’t ignore it. That might just be the journey God has prepared for you.  Perhaps it’s a surprise to you, but it certainly isn’t to Him. Start now. It’s never too early to develop your gift. I wrote my first play when I was in middle school. Back then, I dreamed of being a famous author, seeing my stories on the bookstore shelves and my plays being produced on Broadway, but I was unsure of how to start.  I dabbed in Journalism and Yearbook class while in high school, I majored in Screenwriting and English in college, but it wasn’t until a few years later that I met my mentor, a college English professor who pushed me to be the best writer I could be, to really pursue my dream, even though the odds were against me. Let’s face it, the Arts is a competitive world and many times, much has to do with whom you know versus how talented you are. Still, God calls us to be faithful with those things He’s entrusted to us.

This lesson is not limited to the Arts, of course. But when it comes to this field…well, all I can say to all the CCA students interested in it is this: Never lose faith. Do not ever, ever give up on a talent you believe is good—a story that needs to be read, a portrait that needs to be painted, or a photograph or film that needs to be seen around the world.

Commit today to invest in your talents. CCA is providing the rigorous academics, fine arts programs, and unparalleled resources that will turn your talents into a real future…into the journey God had in mind for you all along.

Merry Christmas!

Maritza Cosano Gomez

The reason is simple. I am an optimist. I really believe that we, as a community, and our student communicators as Christ’s messengers, are capable of
changing the world. Looking at some of the world’s population, running around on its axis without a sense of direction, I began to contemplate the possibility that our publication needed to change its direction—to be sure that you—our next generation—was using all the resources and the training available to you. As a professional writer, I have a burden to pass the passion and power of the written word to you. As an advocate of the arts in all its forms, I’m suggesting a whole stream of communication solutions all high school students interested in the arts may explore, suchs as Writing, Design, and Photography. The Journalism Class that produces this publication offers that. This year, we’re also introducing Journey, a sister publication and our new literary magazine, which will be distributed in the Spring of 2011. Check out our ad on page 20 for more details.
As you look at this issue, you will see that our nation is coming into an age of change too. If you are old enough to vote—do it! This is a right you have as a citizen of this amazing country, and as an individual that’s something you can do right now. The Election on November 2, offers choices. So be wise as you make yours. Prepare by reading about all the elected candidates, and learn who’s who and what they believe in. Compare that to what God’s Word says. Then, pray and vote fearlessly.
Although this is the first printed edition of The Messenger, and the voices you’ll hear here are different from other years, much does remain constant. Like the others, almost every word you find in this publication is written by one of your peers.  And, just like other editions, we are constantly looking for freelancers. So, who will be tomorrow’s great writers, authors, graphic designers, and photographers who will help communicate His message through their art? Is that you? If God has gifted you with the art of writing, designing, or photography, don’t hide it. Write to us at MessengerEditor@ccamessenger.org and submit your work.

Enjoy a good read!