Briana Williams, 17, from Boston Community Leadership Academy, says that her idol used to be Miley Cyrus -- but not anymore. Williams says that she used to like Miley because she was a good singer and actress. Williams’ favorite show was Miley as “Hannah Montana” on the Disney Channel. Now, Williams says her former role model makes her ashamed. “She is twerking, drinking, partying -- and I don’t like that,” Williams says. You all probably have that one person you looked up to. It doesn’t matter if that person was famous, a friend, or a family member. Then, sometimes that person changes and becomes someone you no longer relate to. Jocileny Barbosa, 16, from BCLA, says that she used to admire Amanda Bynes and her TV show, “What I Like About You.” Says Barbosa: “She was a good actress, she was so nice, and she was so pretty back then, and had inspired me to want to become an actress.” Now, says Barbosa, there are allegations that Bynes was on drugs and was causing major drama on Twitter -- and Barbosa is done with her. Eucaris Jimenez, 16, from BCLA, is a singer who used to be moti- vated by Britney Spears. “She had cool music and videos and was really famous,” says Jimenez. Jimenez has moved on from Britney. “She’s lost her prestige,” Jimenez says.

Anger is the type of person who gets mad at everything and likes to fight a lot. Anger can be very mean to people because he feels like everybody is bullying him. He’s never nice. Anger wears army boots and heavy garments because he likes to be ready to fight. He carries a sword but hides it. Anger was born in a hole. He was stuck there for about five years. After the war, people gave him freedom. Anger’s best friend is Mr. Mad.

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Whether it’s young kids in the backyard, or professionals playing on the world stage, it’s a game that takes speed, skill, strength, power, precision, grace, energy, emotion, and teamwork. It’s a cultural tradition you learn at an early age -- and carry around forever. There was a September soccer face-off at Gillette Stadium, Portugal vs. Brazil. Outside the entrance to the stadium, fans from each country gathered in bunches. They cooked native dishes, waved flags, played loud music, sang and danced, and taunted each other. “Go Portugal!” “Go Brazil!” On the field, the game changed minute to minute as momentum shifted from Brazil to Portugal and back to Brazil. Every time one team scored -- single-name star player Neymar ultimately led Brazil to a 3-1 victory -- it seemed like a war would break out in the stands. After all, soccer is more than just a game. Soccer is life.

We were young and stupid We did what we saw others doing We were young’uns We didn’t know the true meaning of living So we kept on thuggin’ Life passed us by And we blended with the others who saw the Blind world, as well Signs were everywhere about not having to live this way But we were way too stubborn We didn’t even listen to each other We kept in our no-minds that everything was good Until the moment everyone’s been waiting for Their desperation of division towards us We finally came to our senses in our no-minds That we were going nowhere We had a memory ball in the air full of disappointment That we brought to the world.

Back in DR, I have a cousin whose mother has a mental problem. The neighbors know her as the crazy lady who goes out in the streets half-naked and yelling. In school, the kids always used to make fun of my cousin. The bullying got him so exhausted that it caused him to drop out. My cousin never finished high school. Nobody is sure what motivates him to keep looking forward in life. However, even though he didn’t study about construction he has the capacity to build things. When we were little, he built a house. It wasn’t just any house. It was the perfect house, for all the rest of my cousins and me to play in. As time passed, his mind was getting to another level. He started making different things: a money box made of wood, his own bike. If there was a problem at the house with a window, a door, the stove -- he could fix it. He worked for a time in an auto shop. In life, people are born with special qualities. By going to school, do you get an education? Yes. Do you learn how to write and read? Yes. But does it make you intelligent? Can you use those strategies in another environment different from your own? Think about it.