Opinion

Well, it’s Christmastime again. Jolly jingles are permeating the airwaves, lights and trees have gone up in and on houses, and stores have been cramming the season down our throats for months now. And every year, it gets a little harder for me to stomach. It’s not that I don’t have a lot to be thankful for, because I do. It’s not that I have a history of bad Christmases, either. With only a few exceptions, they’ve been great. I’m not the religious type, but I recognize that Christmas, if nothing else, is a time to be caring and kind to others and to enjoy the many blessings we’re afforded, especially those of family and friends. […]

Every year, Forest Park offers remedial classes for students who need extra help. Some find themselves taking three or four classes before earning the required credits for their majors. But recently, I found a way to get around this. It’s called the Internet. I have been using the Internet, mostly a website called Khan Academy, to get ready for some of the rigorous mathematics classes I will be taking in the spring as an economics major at University of Missouri-St. Louis, and the experience has been great. […]

My husband and I simultaneously leaned in to make sure we were reading the indicators on the little white stick correctly. Sure enough, the result was positive. Those two blue lines would change the course of my life. My mind raced back to the moment we were standing in line to pay for the pregnancy test. The cashier looked at the box and glanced up at me. “You sure you don’t need two of these?” she asked. […]

Each and every student attending Forest Park has access to campus programs with capable staff members who can help him or her graduate. With today’s tight job market, graduates need degree-specific knowledge and marketable skills, such as networking and public speaking. They also need to dress professionally to enhance their appeal. “Take advantage of your education,” said Keith Ware, coordinator for the African-American Male Initiative at Florissant Valley and Forest Park. “Don’t take it for granted.” […]

My favorite time of year, Halloween, is finally here. Fortunately, St. Louis has plenty to offer for those who want to be scared or entertained or show their kids a good time. The biggest name in local Halloween frights is ScareFest, owned by Larry Kirchner. Every October, it offers a trio of haunted experiences that are hard to beat. It’s the first thing many people think of when it comes to Halloween, and for good reason. […]

When I was young, Halloween was one of the most anticipated days of the year. I never knew its origin until recently, but as children, we rarely concerned ourselves with the why. We just knew Halloween was a really big deal. I loved to see the houses decorated with ghosts, scarecrows, witches, spider webs and jack-o-lanterns. I liked going to community events, especially dances at school, the rec center and city hall, where everyone wore costumes. […]

Looking for ways to burn calories this winter? Searching for a new recreational activity to keep you busy? Officials have reinstituted open swim hours for students, faculty, staff and alumni at the Forest Park pool this fall.  “We found a person to work during (open hours),” said Kirk Martin, facilities supervisor for physical education and athletics. The pool was only open for swimming classes over the summer. No open hours were scheduled the first half of summer because the physical-education department went over budget on part-time employees and had to reduce staff, Martin said. […]

Fall is here, and every year about this time, I start to regret the things I didn’t do over the summer. This year, I can’t even fall back on hot temperatures as an excuse. The weather was pretty mild. Nor can I pretend I was bored with what St. Louis had to offer. It’s only my second year in the city, and there’s a lot I haven’t seen or done. I certainly kept busy this summer, after the stressful but awesome rush of marrying my awesome wife in March. I took two classes (getting college algebra out of the way once and for all) and put in 30 hours a week at my retail job. […]

There has to be a law against police stopping you whenever they feel like it, and their only excuse is, “You fit the description.” Whether I’m traveling in a car, riding a bicycle or just walking down the street, I’ve fit the description on more than one occasion. Somehow I resist the temptation to even get upset about racial profiling. If I said what I wanted to say to whomever decides that I fit the description, then one thing would lead to another, and before you know it, I’d be in cuffs. Or the trigger-happy police, who just can’t wait to carry out their own form of swift justice, would be rolling out a stretcher. Why should I be another statistic? […]

The beginning of fall semester at Forest Park was just as chaotic as other semesters, filled with misunderstanding, disorganization and impatience. Let’s start with the Financial Aid office. Most of the time, students have a simple question: “How do I get financial aid?” The simple answer is, “Fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid, then submit it before the deadline.” No problem, right? Then why the interminable waiting? […]