"I believe that the Honor Academy basically exists to help create godly leaders that abide by integrity and honor, so that our society will be improved." -- Bryce Ekeren F or some teens, the 18-year wait for college and all the freedoms it represents is over. For others, the work world awaits. Still others are unsure what will come after high school graduation. For devout Christians, the Teen Mani

What is a pod? Is it a storage bin? A container that holds peas? Something from outer space? A pod is all of these things, but the pods we're talking about are groups of philanthropic children who want to help their communities. In 1981, Chester E. Dekko of Kendallville founded the Dekko Foundation to support educational opportunities in the communities where he lived and worked. In 1994, the foun

The stock market means different things to different people. Some view it as using skill and wisdom to decide when to buy and when to sell. Others view it as glorified gambling, saying anything gained or lost is the product of luck. Whether one invests or not, the stock market has an impact on everyday life and the country's economy. Everything from the price of gas to the national debt is affecte

"When I was younger with my friends, we'd drink a lot of Cokes so we could stay up all night," said Tony Sahm, 14. For many kids, caffeine is a common way to help stay awake. However, many doctors report that caffeine can cause headaches or nausea. It is less known that caffeine uses the same mechanisms as amphetamine, or speed, to stimulate the brain and can be addictive. Because caffeine is a wi

You find yourself in an auditorium surrounded by 2,000 rambunctious teenagers screaming at the top of their lungs, clapping, dancing and cheering with seemingly endless energy. Are you annoyed? Intimidated? There's no reason to be. After all, you're at the National Association of Student Councils convention. The national convention, held once a year in various locations, is a chance for high schoo

Christy Burke, 14, knows firsthand what depression is like. It is an "uncontrollable and spontaneous sadness," she said. Here is the story of how she has dealt with this devastating condition. "It really started in fifth grade and progressed from there. I was sexually harassed by someone I was in a relationship with, and I had a real hard time getting out of that. So that probably started it, and

"If you can see these children's eyes when they hear their song -- they have tubes in their arms; they have oxygen to their face. They are small, they are hurting, and they hear their name and their song come out and such a smile comes to their face, a twinkle in their eye." Such are the reactions to Songs of Love, explained Steve Rudoff, whose youth group at Congregation Beth-El Zedeck is helping

We probably all know about it, either from visits with family or with school or Scout groups. It is a living-history museum where every day is an adventure and visitors can step back in time and immerse themselves in the lifestyle of 1836. It is Conner Prairie, a large farm in Fishers that re-creates life in 1836. There are three re-creations: Prairietown Village, the William Conner Estate and the