The last days of high school for the graduating class of 2011 is near, the time is now. Seniors bidding their last goodbyes and creating what could be their last moment together -- besides graduation that is. Disneyland GRAD NITE! Grad night is a full night event offered to all high school seniors, for one night Disneyland closes its doors to the public and invites seniors county wide to celebrate their last days as high school students.
There are perks to ensure the safety of students. Disneyland have set out some ground rules for seniors participating in Grad Nite, which prohibits:
Clothing of any kind that is affiliated with schools, sports teams, gangs, etc.
Clothing not in good shape or repair.
Revealing clothing.
No backpacks or large purses (except for small bags and waist bags).
No hats, bandannas or head coverings other than for religious purposes.
Alcohol, tobacco products and drugs are not allowed.
Weapons, knifes, laser pointers or chemical irritants are not allowed.
Teen pregnancy has become a common occurrence and often overlooked. A baby is surely a blessing, a life that bonds to their parents for safety, nurture and love. However, it isn't always rainbows and sunshine, raising a baby requires time, commitment, and dedication that not all teens have. Reality kicks in very soon, such as purchasing diapers, baby formula, doctor expenses, how to apply for aids, housing, school, work, etc. what teen mothers and fathers need is support. Although single parent families are common among teen pregnancies, it doesn't mean you have to be that person.
A baby is a human being that needs attention from both mom and dad. Raising a child is difficult enough, but raising a child alone is a job all in itself.
I found it quite disheartening when I realized that the United States is the leading country with the highest rate of teenage pregnancies. What does this say about our methods in prevention? Is there a lack of communication, lack of information or is the American family structure supporting pre-martial sex.
As we all know, graduation is almost here and deadlines are quickly approaching. One of which is the deadline for community service hours -- required for graduation. Many of my friends struggle with this task, the main reason being, they could not find a location for their community service hours. My theory? Procrastination. But no worries, waiting to the last minute while not promoted is the least of your worries.
Places that would be best for volunteering and obtaining community service hours are non-profit organizations or libraries -- there are long term volunteer opportunities or one-time volunteer event. You can look for community service in areas such as: assisting the elderly, helping sick children, community clean-ups and more. You can also look for community service at your church and other recreational places in your neighborhood.
Here are a couple links to help you with your search:
Teenage suicide is a life changing event. People always talk about the factor that can lead to teenage suicide, such as depression, bullying or severe harassment. But there are ways to prevent teenage suicide, it takes very little from parents, teachers and peers to be more attentive towards their child, student or friend. Some indicators are: changes in mood, isolation from friends, level of involvement in activities (i.e. sports and clubs), irritability and the increase of arguments -- which could be forms of outcry.
1. Its importance to provide your support and talk to your child, student or friend if you notice these changes. If you're not sure how to help or what route to take, ask a counselor, speak to a professional or bring it up with the individual and ask them: have they been feeling different lately -- remember that its not about you its about your child, student or friend, don't offer advises or solutions to their problems but help them find their own solution.
"Offer a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him how to fish he eats for a lifetime".
2. Establishing Relationship for Mutual Communication
Most teens and parents lack the ability to have a conversation without judgment, restrictions or fear of punishment. It can be an intimidating situation when information such as birth control, STD's, drugs, bullying etc. are affecting many teens -- having these talks where the parent and child is able to openly ask questions and receive answers is a great method, the conversation does not have to be about these more sensitive subjects. Start with cooking together, eating together, subjects such as your child's interest, school, clubs, etc. Parents should know that teens are scared to talk about those kinds of things with their parents, they don't want them to know or they're not sure how their parents are going to react. Parents: take the lead in bringing up the topic, it may be awkward or new to you but at least you can begin to build mutual relationship -- fear and stress can lead to dangerous outcomes.
Communication between family members can prevent and overcome problems like drug abuse, alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy, suicides and more. Overall communication is a great way to prevent mis-communication and build family bonds.
3. Socially Active, Participate
Most teens who find themselves socially isolated or "outcast" will find themselves alone and without support. This can become stressful and fearful. In some cases where the child isn't accepted by other teenagers, it can lead to bullying, harassment and violence that can create low self-worth. Teachers and parents should actively portray the importance of being involved -- in sports, clubs, community involvement and be open to their circle of friends.
I hope these three ways to prevent teen suicide is helpful, they are not at all the only ways to prevent teen suicide -- in addition these methods are more to prevent the idea from occurring. If you know someone who is debating suicide let someone know.
Coffee contains antioxidant that our body needs, however, if you find yourself needing coffee every day and when you don't get your coffee fix you feel low and lack energy it may be a sign of dependence. I didn't believe it at first but there have been cases where individuals have developed an addiction and/or dependence on caffeine. Too much of anything is bad, too much caffeine can increase chances for heart related illnesses.
This addiction can be difficult to diagnose since caffeine is in many drinks like coffee, tea and soda. The amount we consume is not of our concern most do not realize they have developed an abnormal use. Caffeine is not a drug or illegal so I can't be addicted -- is what most would say. Building tolerance toward the effects of caffeine can be dangerous, tolerance means that it takes more cups or coffee or more tea bags for us to feel the effects. Caffeine addiction can bring severe side effects such as irritability, headaches,extreme fatigue, and sleepiness.
