February 22 Cheat sheet: Honk honk edition

Driving forces, by the numbers

Click on the photo at top left to read different driving numbers.

Compiled by MICHAEL NEWCOMER, Tarpon Springs High
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ...

Filed in life, cars

February 22 Boat ride puts a chill on party

By Max Asayesh-Brown, St. Petersburg High

I’d always been a little  disconcerted by how easy it was to acquire credentials to operate a boat, for which you merely have ...

Filed in life

February 22 My rides: 2003 Appendix and 2000 Ford F-150

Florence Parsley, Durant High senior
Her ride: 2003 Appendix

Not the typical whip of an ordinary high schooler, Florence Parsley’s ride has four legs, runs on grain and roughage ...

Filed in life, cars

February 22 No driver's permit, no sweat

By William Harvey, King High

Only losers don’t have their driver’s licenses at 16. So I suppose I’m the biggest loser in history, because I don’t ...

Filed in life, cars

February 22 Texting + driving: Why do we do it?

If texting and driving is such a bad idea, why do so many people do it?

“We’re good at perceiving gist,” said Thomas Sanocki, who teaches perception at the ...

Filed in life

February 22 Police officer on texting while driving: 'Don't do it. You could die.’

By Allie Davison, Wharton High

You could say Tampa police Cpl. Kert Rojka, a 17-year veteran with the department and supervisor of Hillsborough County school resource officers, has been around ...

Filed in life, cars

February 22 What drives ... Leah Bush: Dance

Leah Bush, Hillsborough High senior
Dancer

At 3, I hated dance. It wasn’t until I was almost 4 that I began to like it and eventually love it. At ...

Filed in life

February 22 What drives ... Alyssa Ericson: Horses

Alyssa Ericson, East Lake High sophomore
Equestrian enthusiast

Horses have a certain flow to their movements. These animals with so much power are the one thing I’m constantly talking ...

Filed in life

February 22 What drives ... H a'Sena Kurtic: Uniqueness

H a’Sena Kurtic, Dixie Hollins High junior
Designs and re-creates clothing

Uniqueness and style, that’s what drives me. My inspiration, mainly, is to be different. I don’t ...

Filed in life

February 22 What drives ... Keenan Kushner: Determination

Keenan Kushner, Wharton High junior
Soccer and violin player

I’ve played soccer since I was 4. My dad brought me up with it and I’ve always loved to ...

Filed in life

February 22 What drives ... Dexture McCall: Family and baseball

Dexture McCall, Middleton High senior
Baseball player

Baseball plays a big role in my life. As I was growing up, my father knew that I had potential and he would ...

Filed in life

February 22 What drives ... Krysta Tate: Her mom

Krysta Tate, Durant High salutatorian
Will attend the University of Florida

I had responsibilities given to me years earlier than other kids because of a grim situation. After battling for ...

Filed in life

February 22 What drives ... Micah Warren: Magic

Micah Warren, Wharton High junior
Magician

I just really liked magicians when I was younger. Over time, I learned how to do tricks from books, other magicians, the Internet. Once ...

Filed in life

February 22 What drives ... Eric Tong: Community

Eric Tong, St. Petersburg High IB senior
Will attend Columbia University

Just really, my goal is to help improve the world. Saving the world sounds a little bit cliché, perhaps ...

Filed in life

February 22 What Drives Us

Making the world a better place. Designing clothes. Competing in sports. Dancing. Playing the violin. Missing a mom. We asked some passionate teenagers from around Tampa Bay to describe what ...

Filed in life