Any teenager can tell you that if you want someone to trust you, you have to act in a way that shows you're responsible. When the American people voted President Clinton into office in 1992, they basically said that they trusted him to do a good job. Six years later, the foundation of that trust was shaken when Clinton admitted that he had had an affair with Monica Lewinski, after denying it for months.

Several things are going through the minds of the people right now: impeachment, denial, resignation, and justication. Now is the time of Dear Abby's famous question: "Are we better off with him or without him?" Sure, Bill may be a great politician and peacemaker, but can he make peace with an angry and disillusioned public?

Infedlity is "unfaithfulness to a moral obligation." If that's true then Bill Clinton has cheated on all of us. His "moral obligation" was to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. Somehow, abusing the power of the Presidency doesn't seem to fall under that heading.

One of the duties of the President is to be the director of foreign policies. This might not be such a good thing. If his own people don't trust him, how on earth can the governments of other countries? On the other hand, some foreign sovereigns have much worse personal failings and might not care about his problems. In fact, the whole world may love Bill Clinton, but the whole world didn't elect him. The American people did, and now we have to decide if we still want him.

He is worshipped by baseball fans across the nation. He's been placed on a pedastal by all who praise his achievements. Due to the record-breaking events of the past season, he has risen to the status of home run god. But does Mark McGwire really deserve such admiration?

It is a well-known fact that McGwire takes androstenedione, a steroid that builds muscle and makes the body produce excess testosterone. Although the drug is legal in Major League Baseball, the power that it generates gives him an unfair advantage over his opponents. This year's race for Roger Maris' record of the most home runs in the regular season was quite competitive. But no one knows how much actual talent lies behind the pills. McGwire had been under extremely close watch since the record came into sight. Most players do not naturally have enough stamina to perform at their peak levels under such pressure. It causes some speculation when he goes on a streak, consistently hitting home runs in every game.

But the drug is not only a form of cheating; it is quite dangerous as well. Androstenedione, otherwise known as "andro," causes acne, fits of rage, baldness, and the development of breasts in men. If that's not enough to discourage people from using these pills, I don't know what is. Maybe they should keep in mind that over time it can lead to liver disease, cancer, heart problems, and serious mood disorders.

Of course, McGwire has claimed that andro is all natural and absolutely safe. Well, it may be natural, and even legal, but if it was safe it would not be banned in the NFL, the NCAA, and the Olympics. Just take into account the fact that Paul Wiggins, tackle of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was suspended for taking exactly the same pills. And Randy Barnes, Olympic gold medalist in the shot put, is no longer allowed to compete since the discovery of his use of andro.

Not to mention that, like it or not, professional sports players serve as role models in our society. Many children who are getting their first taste of baseball must think that this guy has the right idea. After all, if what he's doing is perfectly legal and helped McGwire get to where he is now, are his impressionable young fans going to see anything wrong with it? Obviously not. They have no knowledge of the medical consequences of taking steroids.

I won't be surprised if "andro" becomes a household term and turns out to be very popular with the young generation. That's very unfortunate, since it could be just another one of those anonymous muscle building drugs, had one sports star made the wise decision not to use it.

Basically, if it was McGwire's goal to set the home run record, that's just great. But I, for one, would much rather be the fan of someone who has the ability to obtain his goal using his own skill. If McGwire doesn't have that ability to succeed, he's not worthy of all the attention.

You have these people in your classes, you know who they are. It's the girl who is sitting there doing her make-up in class, or the boy who is rocking out to the Beastie Boys, listening to his headphones in the corner. It's the two girls chit-chatting the period away or the boy who is sound asleep and drooling. You never see these people crack a book open nor do you ever see them get a grade above a C.

It seems that some students at W.F. West feel more content sliding by on the hair of their chin, then ever forcing more from themselves. They would rather borrow that homework they didn't do from their friend to copy instead of working hard enough to get it done. Some students will do the least they can to get the grade they want and never achieve higher.

Sure, there are also the students who are smart and get good grades and find school a breeze. But did they ever get out of their comfort zone and take a class that required different skills from them? Probably not. It's easier for them to stay in their classes where all they have to do is think than actually have to work for something that doesn't come naturally to them.

It's funny how high schoolers will avoid something if it is difficult, if it is a challenge. Do you ever think why should we challenge ourselves now, anyways? It is just high school, the four year holding pen.

Challenges now are important because they teach us to strive for higher excellence. It would be easy to float through school, but wouldn't you rather work hard, get a good grade, and show your parents that you actually do have brain cells?

Plus, if you work hard now, that self discipline will help you through life. Then the challenges you face and get through will help you in the work place. Just think, wouldn't it be nice to be the shift manager rather than the fry person at Burger King? Challenging yourself to work harder can get you there.

Seriously, challenges are very important. You have to learn now how to deal with them and strive to be better than the rest of the population. High school offers you the perfect setting. Here you have the perfect oppurtunity to push yourself and see what you can accomplish. Then when you get out into the real world, you will be better off.

Take the time and the effort that comes with challenging yourself. Life is all about challenges and getting a jump start on them will help when you leave the sheltered world in which you now live. Go ahead, challenge yourself to be better and to acheive more than you ever thought possible. We dare you.