On a typical day, the pre-class line at Jazzman’s Café in O’Hare stretches eight or nine deep. Satisfied students strut off to class with their coffee, tea, bagel or muffin, quietly knowing that the purchase they’ve just made will serve as the fuel needed to propel them through a snooze-inducing lecture.

I remember being a young girl and dreamily watching movies depicting beautiful women in romantic stories of dating and love and thinking to myself: “I can’t wait to get older so that can be me someday!” I figured by the time I got to high school that my life would be like that of the girls in the movies, with playful flirting in the halls in between classes and magical dates that would defy the social boundaries of pretentious teenagers,where the outcast girl could actually have a shot with the hot football player. you know, similar to that of the 1990s teenybopper flicks that I grew up watching, such as “She’s All That” or “Clueless.

Fighting in a war isn’t easy. I should know, I’ve been there. Coming home isn’t exactly a piece of cake either. After serving five long years in the United States Marine Corps, I feel exhausted and exasperated. Myself and fellow veterans are often left flabbergasted by the lack of attention the Iraq Wars sees.

I’m walking peacefully along my neighborhood,

enjoying the scenery and taking in the gorgeous fall weather. It’s a great day, and I’m happy as I stroll to the beat of my own drum.

However, occasionally something occurs that disrupts my Zen. A car drives by me.

Why is junior high always the most difficult period of a child’s life? Children are placed in a new environment with students from all over town and teachers for different subjects. Junior high is the time when children begin to mature and find out who they really are.