TX correspondent

Growing up with older siblings is quite the experience, especially when it comes to dating.

I have always watched in admiration and wonder when my older siblings dated, mostly because I’m not old enough to date yet. I have to admit I’m a little envious toward my sister who goes on about five dates every weekend. That may be a bit exaggerated, but it’s close enough!

Part of the dating is the dances, too. I loved it when my brother went to a dance or when my sister goes to one. Everything about it just seems like so much fun — the asking and trying to figure out who asked. The answer and trying to find a way to make it unique. The shopping for dresses or bowties and other dance accessories. The pictures and introduction to the family.

Only one thing seems curious, something I don’t like or even understand why it exists: a day date.

Asperger. To some this is just a silly word that sounds like “hamburger.”

To me it has a much different meaning. Asperger’s syndrome is something that I am faced with on a daily basis.

I still remember a day about four years ago when my mom left her Internet windows on the computer open. There were a lot of searches about Asperger’s and what it was. I thought it was strange that she was researching such a seemingly random topic for no apparent reason.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Each morning at the beginning of the first period class, we recite the pledge of allegiance with our hand over our heart to show our devotion, loyalty and love for the flag and our country as a whole. Although now, more often than not, it seems we recite the pledge out of habit and chore rather than out of renewed devotion and unity.

Our forefathers came to this country to escape the bondage of Europe and the ruling of a king. They came to seek a better life and opportunity for themselves and their posterity: a chance to have a different and better life, a new form of government. To establish a democracy where the people have the power and the right to choose what and who they will follow. To create a country that was united in its effort to stand strong and to keep its independence.

I really do not enjoy when adults roll their eyes and sigh, “Your generation ...” It can be about music we like, movies we watch, or technology we listen to; it just bugs me.

But I have been experiencing things lately where I myself want to roll my eyes and in the same manner show disdain for my own generation. These moments are usually in my English class when we begin to talk about classic authors such as Jane Austen, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, and especially William Shakespeare.

I was raised loving books and plays, and I have always thought that these classic authors were geniuses. But kids my age do not understand the respect we should have for these authors and their works of art.

You’re washing your hands in the bathroom at school, when you hear someone in one of the stalls say something.

“They’re not talking to me … are they?” you wonder, and then you suddenly hear someone exclaim under their breath: “Yes! Just beat that Temple Run high score! Take that!”

After school, you go to work. There’s a rush and you’re trying to help as many people as possible, but the next person in line is too busy talking on her phone to notice. After five minutes of trying to wave her over and watching everyone behind her shoot daggers at her back with their eyes, you move on to the next customer.

The customer notices this time, snaps her phone shut, and glares at you. “Some people,” she scoffs as she walks out.

Many events have happened in the past General Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most of these events have been life changing and very exciting.

In 1978, at the 148th Semiannual General Conference, a revelation from President Spencer W. Kimball was accepted that gave the church’s temple blessings and priesthood to all worthy males — regardless of race or color.

Just last year, in the 2012 October General Conference, the age restriction for missionaries was reduced. Previously the missionary age for men was 19 and for women it was 21. Now men can leave for their missions at 18 and women can leave at the age of 19. Because of this change, thousands of new missionaries have turned in their papers and are now serving their own mission for the LDS Church.

April Fools’ Day is here! The question that many of you are asking yourselves is what prank to play on those around you?

Here are some ideas of practical jokes to pull, ranked in order of low, medium and high intensity.

Low

• Tape a piece of paper over the laser underneath your friend’s computer mouse. The paper will block the light of the laser and no matter how much your friend moves the mouse around, the cursor on the screen will not budge. All you have to do is watch and try not to laugh as your friend swerves the mouse around frantically and checks to make sure everything is plugged in right.