fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Shit Sucks Sometimes
By: Mackenzie Cronin
Tags: Life, Fun, Teens, Blog

Yeah I said what we were all thinking. Shit sucks. Life sucks. It sucks less for some people, but I am not one of them. Now a lot of the people in this god awful small town I live in might argue that I put myself in this situation and to a certain degree I wouldn’t say they’re wrong. I really don’t think anyone is actually going to read this, but if you do. Hi, I’m MacKenzie. Although any of the friends I have left call me Cronin.

I don’t think my life is that spectacular, I live in a small judgmental town in northern Utah. Needless to say I’m catching the first flight out. My best friend is supposedly coming with me, but her newly found “love” is telling me different. I give it 6 months. I don’t actually believe in love. That’s kind of a controversial subject, but I don’t think us as a species is driven by an emotion like love. I think it’s lust, but that doesn’t sound as magical so we sugar coat it to make it easier to accept. Don’t get me wrong I wish love was real. There’s this boy in my hometown, we’ll call him Sully (like from Monsters Inc. I’ll tell that story later), that I would do anything just to watch him be happy; he would pour gas on me if I was on fire. Or maybe not. It’s all very confusing.

I know I said earlier that my life wasn’t that spectacular but being a blogger has always been something I’ve wanted to do, but not a extravagant, travel the world, look at me, I’m living the perfect life kind of blog. A real one, that shows me laying in bed all day in a messy room, my panic attacks, boy stories, experimenting with alcohol, and all my awful teenage decisions. Believe it or not I do have a few wild stories that I want to share. I want to show my growth as a person. So if anyone has made it this far. I Thank you.

See you next time bitches.

-Cronin
Natural Skin Care
By: Kayzee Zayne
Tags: Skincare, Teens, Youngadult, Anti Aging

It seems that more and more people are turning to natural skincare, and for a good reason.

When you decide to use a natural skincare product as opposed to one that’s commercially prepared, you’re putting good things back into your body and saying no to harmful chemicals.

Why should you use Natural Skin Care Products?

They’re Easier on the Skin

They Leave No Doubt About Your Health

Their Manufacture Doesn’t Harm Animals

They’re Safer

They’re Better for the Environment

They’re Packed with Beneficial Nutrients

We are proud to present you with our E-book where you will find tips for a natural skincare approach and you will learn how to incorporate natural skincare habits into your daily routine.

Here are all the amazing things you will discover in our E-book

It will dramatically improve the look and feel of your skin, instantly!

Discover one of the top sources for smoother, youthful, blemish-free skin on page 9!

Find out how you can use one extremely powerful skin-rejuvenation oil to get that clear, glowing look you want!

to get that clear, glowing look you want! Learn exactly what you need to do to look younger than ever while enjoying soft, wrinkle-free skin! All without using expensive cleansers or unhealthy products! This special E-book focuses on natural skin care treatment options!

This is what some of the people who purchased our E-book are saying

(This is a digital download. You will instantly be directed to the download page upon purchase)

If for any reason you aren’t satisfied with our E-book you are protected by a 60 day money back guarantee.

Get Our E-book and start implementing these tips on your daily routine for a younger, smoother and flawless skin.
Entry #1
Tags: Life, Lifestyle, Teen

Entry #1

12/18/20

12:32 am

Today I learned about the female reproductive part. I have no idea why I wasn’t taught this before. Like I should know what a clitoris is at the age of 18.

I’m still really wanting that motorcycle. The Honda Rebel 2020. All black, so fast. I could buy it. I have the money for it, whats stopping me? Besides a Class M license, its fear. Not fear of crashing but fear of being judged. When you buy a motorcycle, I feel like your personality, becomes the bike.

I love how my mind is flourishing the more I age. Like I am so imaginative now and I can dream up wonderful things. I don’t know if thats the weed or age. Lets go with both, why not?

Feeling: Calmed, Content, Excited
Introduction
Tags: Teens, Mystery, Fiction

Introduction

In a small town in America a group of 4 girls prank their friend with a fake account online. Little do they know the consequences of what’s about to happen follow along this journey as we find out who killed Annie ogato
caring for plants
Tags: Plants, Clairo, Teens, Houseplants

i just actually can not care for my house plants guys. I swear i try really hard to keep them alive but they just keep dying. chinese money plant? dead. my succulents? dead. the rest of my plants? really very droopy and on the brink of death. idk if anyone has any tips maybe that would work. OR maybe i should look up what the easiest plants to take care of are. yea. probably succulents (which died) but maybe if i buy more they wont die this time.
modern love story // poem
By: Maxi Emilie
Tags: Poem, Short Story, Modern Life, Teens, Love

Ive met so many people, making me the happiest person alive, but they quite didn’t reach the point you did.

You touched me, in an other way, both litterly and metaphorically,

I let you do things to me no one has ever before

when we were together, it was like the world was full of opportunities and the only thing I needed was you,

a hug, a kiss couldn’t describe the love I felt for you

Now I know, what cloud 9 feels like, calling it heaven-like truly is an understatement

we had it out for each other and then one thing came to an other

I’ve been telling you everything about my life, all the sad news that arose, all the problems I had to climb

you sat there, listened,

though you always stayed quiet, sharing maybe half of what happened

I was trying, I really was, but deep inside you didn’t seem to let go- let go of the ideal that we were a one time thing

Your snaps got less meaningful

your love, if it ever existed got less cheerful

we might not text that often or see each other as much but we sure as hell knew this was gonna be fun

isn’t it typical? the teen romance

it’s the “sorry I ignored you all day” or “call I call you back someday?” for me

we were both happy, we were — I saw it in your eyes, undeniable

is it the reality that hit you? or is it just me? the small things, like

Not being able to fully concentrate without listening to music, wanting to keep in touch — did that annoy you?

Did it annoy you that I would rather FaceTime then text? Want a good night snap instead of — nothing? Nothingness.

Did it annoy you the way I loved you? Did I annoy you?

I can’t seem to think straight, my mind is racing, thinking of thousand reasons why, with these pictures and I can’t decide — maybe it’s another girl.

But why are you still holding on, by this tiny little thread? Barely hold on, can’t even see what’s ahead

Is it the uncertainty that still keeps you going? The day, some day you’ll be able to feel the same thing again

Here I am, sitting, thinking- the mind racing, remember? Thinking of the good and bad

Ive come to the decision…. wait no I haven’t, I’m just faking, but you wouldn’t notice, would you?

Im lost and I’m sensing so are you,

but what I know is that you can’t help me find my way out anymore.

hey you, give yourself credit — you admitted your feelings and that’s a big leap forward, now go find the meaning

This is a text about endless love and heartbreak. Never had the guts to send it to the one whom it may concern.
I don’t get why kids my age are so scared of adults.
By: Jane Gilmore
Tags: Teenagers, Conversations, Teens, Talking

I don’t get why kids my age are so scared of adults. I am 15 years old I mean i’ll BE an adult in 3 years. Some of my classmates can’t even look adults in the eye or make small talk. I think that they get intimidated or something. For example, I was babysitting about a year ago with my friends who was 14 at the time. She was great with the kids but as soon as the parents came home she got shy. Like adults already have power over us don’t let it get to their heads. Make them think that you are strong and mature. Adults will only continue to treat you like a baby if you act like one.

It’s not even hard to talk to adults. Ask about their kids, their pets, their jobs, and they will go on and on.

I just don’t get it.
Them
Tags: Romance, Teens, Teenagers, Fiction

Ann had composed herself. She was going to be alright. Despite some previous complications concerning boys she had assured herself that nothing of that sort mattered. She felt like she owed it to Matt to help him. But what had he ever done for her? It was just the whole idea that she liked. Having someone to hang out with, to talk to, someone to love.

Waking up in the night. Wanting to talk. It just makes you feel asdfghjkl.

Ann gathered her things and headed towards the big apple tree. It sat in her front yard. But the branches shaded everything enough that no one could tell you were in there. It was a great place just to sit and watch. You could really see the world go by. People watch- if you will. Listening to the noises of the world around makes you feel a certain type of way. Ann slung her nag over her shoulder and grabbed onto a branch. she pulled herself up until she could get a foot on a branch.

She rocked back and forth on the branch, swinging her feet in the air. Trying not to think too much. She really liked him. But he wasn’t worth it. Too much drama, it was dragging her down. Like he was the weight in her stomach that made her feel an unnecessary need to vomit. But she loved every moment she spent with him.

Ann later had written a letter. It was addressed to you know who. Gross.

It was just a little crush. Feelings don’t really matter, do they? Just repress! Nothing lost then! You’ll just never know what could of been.

Really, this was a mistake. These things always end, there’s no point. But she loved him.

He was supposed to meet her here. But she wasn’t doing very well with this overwhelming stress, should she tell or not? Ann whipped her brow. Her forehead was getting sweaty, and her hand clammy.

Matt was on her mind. Ann’s phone started ringing. The vibrations made the branch her bag was on wiggle a bit. Ann tried to reach over and grab it, but she was unsuccessful, pushing her bag- and all of her belongings off and out of the tree. Matt was under. Looking up he saw her items falling. She saw him and then he was hit in the head with her freshly bitten apple core.

“Hey”

“Fancy seeing you here”

“Ann didn’t you wanna talk? Come on let me join you in the tree!”

He tried to reach towards a branch, but as soon as his feet left the ground he took a tumble.

“Hey!!! Don’t come up here!”

Ann was worried. The letter was in her bag. Her bag that was about fifteen feet below her sitting at the base of the tree right below his feet.

“You, you should leave!”

“But? I just got here? You wanted to talk to me right?”

Ann didn’t want to talk to him right now. The moment was ruined. Why should she even be the one to tell him how she feels. Depending how you look at it, it could be like she was losing. He should be the one to confess to her. She didn’t want to risk anything. It wasn’t worth it.
It’s December 18, 2020… I know you don’t know me, but I want to share my story.
By: Isabella Marzan
Tags: Life, 2020, High School, Girls, Teens

It’s December 18, 2020… I know you don’t know me, but I want to share my story. Hi, my name is Isabella Marzan. I’m 15, a high school student, and living through a global pandemic. This year has been a roller coaster to say the least. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted, depressed, and overwhelmed. Yes, we teens don’t have to worry about paying rent or taxes, but it doesn’t mean we’re not stressed. People around my age don’t like to talk about the struggles of being a teenager. But, I’m hear to say your not alone. This year has taken away so many things that used to bring me so much joy. I lost my grandpa, soccer, my friends, and school. I’ve never felt so alone and unmotivated. I know i should be grateful for my health and the roof over my head, however, it’s also ok to be sad about how this year turned out. I may only be a sophomore, but the stress about college and grades is driving me crazy. School was already hard enough, but now school through the screen with no social interactions is just torture. I try not to get distracted in class, but sometimes (i think we can all agree) class is SUPER boring. Don’t even get me started on relationships. I thought using this platform to tell other people my age or older would be a great idea to spread the word that no one is truly alone and that there are other people going through similar experiences. If you like what I’m saying or need someone to help you, I hope my stories can.
Hi, I’m Zoe!
By: Zoe Cartier
Tags: Poem, Teens

Hello, I am Zoe. I am 14 years old and I love to write poems. I am new here and I really hope you enjoy! This is just a poem spilling my feelings, so please feel free to give me feedback. Thank you!

You know, I have the world just resting in my hands.

Just scrambles of people, and sights, and plans.

And although my life is like a drink just tipping over the brim,

I can’t seem to feel just right or even perfectly thin.

To know you have the universe just sitting at your toes.

With privilege and opportunity tickling your nose.

Like the chilly rainy air, so fresh and so crisp,

My life sorted out? Funny, as if.

Speaking of that movie, Clueless, its a great word.

I don’t know how to put it,

but I feel embodied as a big awkward bird.

Like that yellow one who lives down on sesame street.

Big Bird if I’m right, oh god he was so sweet.

Childhood is not over yet but the pretty parts have passed.

I don’t recall much but I remember having a blast.

Now that the standards are raised to level nine,

Everyone secretly is worried, but we all know how to say “I’m fine”.

It is drilled into every young girls mind to stay safe and stay kind,

But how in the world are you supposed to do that at the same time.

It is amazing to see how society reforms us,

We don’t seem to notice the problems even though they are enormous.
Welcome! This is your insight on the life of a new adult.
Tags: Life, Teens, Lifestyle

Welcome! This is your insight on the life of a new adult. We will be following an 18 year old male on his journey into adulthood!
Junior High Dance, Spring 1992
By: Eddie Becker
Tags: Short Story, Storytelling, Pentina, Teens, Dance

Junior High Dance, Spring 1992

Photo by Haley Lawrence on Unsplash

The boys gazed awkwardly at the equally shy girls. Which one of us are they giggling at? they all wondered.

The DJ hit play. “Ice Ice Baby” thumped through the speakers. Timmy knew it was time to make his move.

He stepped onto the floor, doing something only he could call dancing. The other boys laughed. Most of the girls gaped in horror.

But not Amanda. The freckled girl with streaks of pink hair smiled, her braces sparkling in the glow of the disco light. She stepped onto the dance floor, not scared of making a fool of herself too.
NEW eTextbook 2020: The How-To Cookbook for Teens: 100 Easy Recipes to Learn the Basics
Tags: Cooking, Food, Chefs Table, Kids, Teens

WELCOME! I’m excited you’re here and want to learn how to be a teen chef.

Cooking is such a great skill, and it’s fun! This book is going to teach you how to feed yourself, not just now, but long-term. It’s going to fire up your curiosity to try new foods, broaden your palate, and teach you how plain food can be deliciously transformed by a recipe.

We’ll cover the rules of cooking, but we’ll also have fun, get messy (and learn how to clean up afterward), and, most important, create amazing food and memories.

The recipes in this book start with the fundamentals, like how to make eggs. The basic recipes will help you learn a technique or skill and develop confidence. Once you have a good foundation, learning to cook is nothing more than the process of layering your skills to make more complex recipes.

Get it NOW; ENJOY 😍😍

https://payhip.com/b/Hg5f
I’m Scared and I’d Rather Not Be
By: Elias Ochoa-Monsalve
Tags: Blogging, Fear Of Failure, Personal Growth, Teens, Fear

TOP FIVE

Every week I will have a Top Five. This Top Five will be about whatever category I’m thinking about at the moment I decide to write it. It will also be in no particular order, unless I say otherwise. Please feel free to reply with your own Top Fives to counter mine. My first Top Five will be: *drumroll*

TOP FIVE: WHITE WOMEN

Helena Bonham Carter

This woman has one of the most loaded IMDBs(Fight Club, Harry Potter, The Crown) of all time while also being a beautiful weirdo and a fashion icon. She has a very recognizable, but moldable face. This means that she fits in everywhere, and stands out everywhere too.

Phoebe Bridgers

She just dropped the album of the year: Punisher, a cover of If We Make It Through December by Merle Haggard that will squeeze your heart until there’s nothing left, and 5 remixes of some songs off Punisher that are somehow better. I almost forgot her cover of Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls to celebrate Trump’s loss. She gets to my Top Five just off this year alone.

Natasha Lyonne

I rewatched Russian Doll at the beginning of quarantine and I was so amazed by every part of her performance that I watched it AGAIN right after I finished the first time. The hair, the voice, the sheer charisma and personality radiating at all times. I need a movie where she plays a hard-nosed detective who doesn’t take shit. I don’t know why I’m not currently writing it. She also nearly convinced me to cut my own bangs.

Doris Burke

If you don’t know the basketball goddess herself, DB, let me introduce you. She’s a former college basketball player turned NBA live Commentator. She was the first woman to do this on national TV. She’s like every NBA fan’s cool aunt that watches basketball with you(and makes uncomfortable jokes about her divorce out of nowhere). I’ve never heard as much joy for the game of basketball come from a commentator before. It’s a genuine tragedy that they haven’t put her on Finals games. While we wait until ESPN makes the right decision, we have to hear more corny shit like this:

Margot Robbie

Maybe the first woman I ever loved? Also maybe one of the most powerful actresses alive right now. Her production company produced her films I, Tonya and Birds Of Prey, and has a deal with Warner Bros. to produce Big Budget projects like Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. I think she’s next-level special because of her eyes. Actors with her level of natural beauty don’t use their eyes as much as she does. I swear her eyes carried I, Tonya.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Anya Taylor-Joy

Only two episodes into Queen’s Gambit so far and she’s already here.

Uma Thurman

Iconic.

Billie Eillish

If she drops a new album she might have to go up a level.
Hi my name is Munnra I’m from middle east and I'm 17 y.o. This is my first post ever I'm so exited to share my stories and thoughts with you ! the reason i joined medium to practice my writing and…
By: Muneera Alghafri
Tags: Arab, Teens, Middle East, Arabic, Oman

Hi my name is Munnra I’m from middle east and I'm 17 y.o.

This is my first post ever I'm so exited to share my stories and thoughts with you ! the reason i joined medium to practice my writing and have a new experience in my life, also to see others stories too. I decided to write on medium every day starting off today. So if you wanna know more about me and my life make sure to follow me!

See you tomorrow.
Sextortion Amongst Teens
By: Berend Van Daalen
Tags: Sextortion, Teens, Parenting, Cybersecurity, Sexting

Sextortion Amongst Teens

Smartphone ownership amongst teens has risen dramatically in the past few years. Reportedly over 50% of 11-year old’s own one, and increases to over 80% at age 14.

The smartphone has introduced a new paradigm in the parent-child relationship where many arguments and struggles involve the child’s smartphone use.

On the one hand, the smartphone has become central to the modern teen’s existence. Their whole world takes place on that device, as dramatic as that may sound. The smartphone is where they interact with friends through messaging and social media, watch videos and play games.

Not All Positive

The flip side to this is that all the endless possibilities that smartphones bring are, unfortunately, not all positive. The smartphone has brought along unwanted consequences such as higher levels of stress and anxiety, cyberbullying, and sextortion.

Having heard numerous horrifying stories about sexting leading to sextortion, we have taken a particular interest in finding a solution. For this purpose, we have founded Nuno.

The verdict is still far from out when it comes to tackling these issues; however, there is a consensus that something needs to be done. A recent survey published Internetmatters.org added an exclamation point to that statement by reporting that 20% of school children who have sent sexts said they were pressured or blackmailed into doing so.

Finding A Solution

At Nuno, we’re committed to providing safeguarding solutions for Sexting. We acknowledge the topic’s delicacy and work together with subject matter experts to develop appropriate solutions for different age groups and account for cultural differences.

With our first MVP, we tackle the capturing and subsequent sharing of sexual implicit material. We offer a fully functioning mobile camera that detects indecent material in real-time. When the camera detects something inappropriate such as exposed genitalia (m/f), it automatically blurs those parts and makes it impossible to capture the image. This way, there is no possibility for storing the image and sharing it with others.

Our short term objective is to gather as much feedback from users as possible. User feedback will help us design the roadmap for future improvements as well as clarify the added value. If you want to help us in our mission to stop sextortion please consider becoming a beta user and sign up!
It’s Alright For Now
By: Brianna R Duffin
Tags: LGBTQ, Teens, Poetry, Secrets, Love

While also letting that diamond snake

Slither around inside of your brain:

The very best days of your life are gone-

And for that clock-strikes-twelve moment

Frozen eternally in time, we felt things

We could never know- we felt evolved,

Like everything was alright,

Like our joy in that moment

Was all that mattered,

Like as long as we convinced ourselves

That we were fine- because of course we were,

We weren’t dying or anything-

Everything was alright.

For that one magical spin through the room

When shoes don’t hurt at all,

When strangers and family are the same,

When the music is just loud enough,

When there is no warfare or romance,

When there is just us without boundaries,

Everything that could have been right

Screamed in our faces, “You’re doing fine!”

These are the escapes we make

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

From day after day after relentless day

Of pretty girls tearing themselves to pieces

Hour by hour with a million truths unspoken

Hiding behind blood-stained straight teeth

Does it really matter how white and straight

Your teeth are when the hide behind blood stains?

Does it really matter if everything’s alright?

Does it matter if my heart always loved you

Or if this is a brand new hurricane? Does it?

Does it matter if you ever loved me like you said?

As long as we can pretend, everything’s alright.
Get to know me
Tags: Investing, Teens, Growth

Hi, this can be a different story in comàrison with what you are going to find on this page because I'm here to tell you who I'm and what I like. (Don't worry this isn't a sad story)

So I'm a teen that lives in South America and I had always liked cars, f1 and also money, so while I was in quarantine I decided to learn different manners to gain money, so I can have a good life and I don't need to follow orders of anyone, but obviously, it was harder than I thought.

One day I saw a video about investing and I really liked it because it was literally everything that I wanted, so I started to look for more videos, into books, and asking people about this.

I think at the end of October I decided with my fathers that we were opening an account in a broker where I can buy stocks without a commission and that's how I started my journey as a long-term investor.

I think I have been into the stock market for a month and I think that I have already made some good moves but obviously, i have made also lots of mistakes like panic selling, not analyzing, and buying at a very high price.

Therefore if I could start investing and experimenting why don't you can, just do it with calm and patience and you are going to see results.

If you enjoyed I invite you to read the other publications that I have and obviously the future ones and belive I'm nor doing this because I want money because I'm not gaining anything with this viewing the fact that Medium doesn't have the option to put a bank from where I'm i.

Thanks!
Want To Earn Free Bitcoin?. This web browser pays you in bitcoin to…
By: Supreme Scorpion
Tags: Bitcoin, Investing, Cryptocurrency, Entrepreneurship, Teens

According to Crypto Tab’s description, it is “CryptoTab is the world’s first browser with a built-in mining function. With CryptoTab you earn cryptocurrency just by visiting your favorite sites, watching videos, and chatting online”. That is actually a very accurate description. What it does is, when the tab is open, it auto generates bitcoin from your web browser. Unfortunately, that is not a very fast method, only pulling in around three to five dollars per month. The real money comes from inviting people. I have been using Crypto Tab for several months and have made around $1000 thanks to this method that I have found for inviting people. What I do is I go on Snapchat or Instagram SFS (shoutout for shoutout) and advertise the product there, where I can pull anywhere between ten to twenty people per day. Unfortunately, not everyone uses the browser, meaning they don’t generate you money. Around 3 in 10 of the people you invite actually use the browser. That is, unless you have them set it to their default browser, which then forces it to open before chrome or whatever browser they like. Then they end up getting used to it and making you the money without them knowing. Download link here.

Check us out on Instagram for updates on our site.

As you can see, they also offer a long list of ways to help you. They even give you website advertisements (I didn’t use one) and YouTube advertisements! Some of the best affiliates make several thousand a month! That’s insane! There is also the chance to win awards from inviting a lot of people, which is really good for the average user. The person who invites the most people each month gets a $10,000!

There are affiliate links that are meant to help me money in this article.
Loss
By: Patti Hornstra
Tags: This Happened To Me, Authors, Books, Teens, Family

Patti is a native of Richmond, Virginia. Her first book, When He Was Anna: A Mom’s Journey Into the Transgender World, will be published on November 17, 2020.
It’s only another Wednesday
By: Matthews Papp
Tags: Sad, Depression, Self Harm, Anorexia, Teens

I wake up groggy each morning waiting for a chance to sleep again. Fatigued after a 15 hours, drug induced, nightmare. I’m already dressed to face the day, as if sleeping with your clothes on to be ready for greeting Death at any moment. The only thing I can process in the morning being an enormous mug filled to the edge with cold, beaten up, coffee from last night. If not drunk, the chances of sleeping anywhere increases consistently.

Getting up restlessly everyday has its advantages; an empty bus greets me everyday with one or two other souls with nowhere to go this early a day. Headphones and mellow music is mandatory to support an one hour trip to college. Borderline crash of genres to regulate the humor I’m in throughout the rest of my evening.

I go to one of those ‘best-years-of-my-life’ kind of college, so naturally I hate it with every cell of my body. Some kinds of expectations really messes up with confronting reality. And chain smoking seems like the only way to get rid of that stress. You gotta take a few breaks from fake smiling to a whole class of eager students.

An individuality. culture has its benefits. Education is regulated by competition and if you can keep your head above the water is good enough. I sit in the same spot every class, is the only chair you can see and watch everyone’s behavior in class without being noticed. A sea of awkwards ‘hello’s to start the day but no one to dare sit near me; attracting (un)wanted attention.

Lunch breaks have always been hard, especially since my self-image problem developed into a hardcore anorexia. At first I tried being social, accepting invites for lunch. But people normally don’t understand when I say I don’t like eating. Although, seeing them eat all those calories tingles a deep feeling of superiority. You eat that hamburger, girl. Let it allocate to your thighs forever and grow cellulite all over your ass. “Anything for you, honey?” Just a diet Coke, thanks miss.

Three hour classes with nothing new to learn, I might as well talk to my mates. They see me as a character in a Tv Show, more specifically ‘Skins UK’. That’s not bad, I’m a breed of Effy and Cassie anyway; as if that was a good thing. The first is a drug addict with existential problems and the other is a psychotic anorexic. I can even see the resemblance when they say how adventurous my life might be.

The worst part of my routine is having to go home every night. Dealing with myself, the compulsive thoughts, the boredom, is unbearable. Not even the loudest song or compelling book can make the little voice in my head to stop screaming for something to ease the pain.

Without eating anything all day, I grab an apple with an excruciating guilt even though I haven’t eaten anything all day. The stomach contractions worsen and I’m compelled to eat something else, something fatty to give me enough energy for weeks.

The mirror’s always showing me how fat I’ve become.
Quaran-teen
By: Llord Christian Peralta
Tags: Pandemic, Teens, Quarantinelife

Here I am sharing my “quaran-teen” life

The ECQ does not seem to be near its end, so here I am sharing my “quaran-teen” life and how it will be for the rest of the ECQ, hoping that others will learn something from it. So what does a 19-year-old like me do to get by this time of quarantine? Well for me, I try to be as productive as possible while still having free time for myself.

How do I achieve this? I created a time plan for the school activities that I need to accomplish; the activity with a deadline that comes first will be the one to be done first. When I finish an activity, I now have time to do things that I want to do. I watch cooking shows. Being inside the house 24/7, the chance of me getting to eat in my favorite restaurants and fast-food places is not likely.

With that being said, I resorted to trying to imitate the foods that I crave and make them at home instead. The advantage of this? Well, it lessens the probability of me catching the virus by going out to eat at public places, while the disadvantage is that my cooking skills do not exactly meet restaurant standards (at least I tried). After cooking and eating, I try my best to stay fit (so I can eat more) so I created a fitness plan that I do every other day.

Having a workout routine helps my body maintain its healthy state especially at these times that I barely go outside the house. Advantages? Having a fit and healthy body helps to combat different diseases. Disadvantages? None. There are no disadvantages to having a healthy body. I surf the web from time to time just like most teens nowadays. While browsing the web, I tend to read relevant things that are beneficial to my well-being, like reading feel-good articles and contents so that I can learn something and this is where I get my inspiration to write articles myself.

Lastly, I take my time learning more about my photography passion. I watch the Youtube channels of well-known photographers, internationally and locally to try and gain more knowledge in the field. Also, I would ask my siblings to be a test “model” for me to try out my newly found image capturing skills. Doing my passion definitely helps me temporarily escape the harsh reality that we are facing right now.

As a teen myself, I hope other “quaran-teens” also make the most out of their time during this period and enjoy the company of being with their families and be the best version of ourselves. Don’t forget to pray and be as responsible as possible and this pandemic will all be over soon!
7 Things to do as a Teen With Strict Parents
By: Trinity Luxeder
Tags: Strict Parents, Fun, Teens

Going to Dinner

Organize a dinner with all your friends, and it may be hard to get everyone there depending on work or school, but plan it in advance. This makes sure that everyone can be there and you can spend 1 or 2 hours away from your parents having fun with friends and catching up with them. It is always fun to talk with your friends and not have to worry about what your parents think of them.

2. Watch the Sunset

Going to watch the sunset is such a beautiful experience, especially if you bring your friends along. Grab some fast food, or any food, and watch the sunset while having a picnic. Sunsets are normally not that late in the day, so getting your parents to say yes will be easy.

3. Have a Photoshoot

Set a time and place with your friends to have a photoshoot. Find a gorgeous place and take pictures. This helps boost your confidence and you get to have fun with your friends doing it. Your parents can’t say no to having more pictures of you to post on Facebook.

4. Bake some Desserts

If your parents won’t let you leave the house, bake some treats for you to enjoys. Staying home while you wish you were going out sucks. Baking cookies or cupcakes is a great way to boost your mode and you get some delicious treats to enjoy and you can watch some TV or Netflix while enjoying your baked treats.

5. Movie Marathon

Having your parents make you stay home is super boring. Watching movies or watching a show is a great way to pass time and it’s very entertaining. Make yourself some snacks and relax and watch something entertaining.

6. Go Thrift Shopping

Most teens don’t have a lot of money to spend on things. Going thrift shopping is a great way to find cute clothes for cheap. You can also bring your friends along to help pick out cute clothes with you and have a fashion show with your friends after shopping.

7. Get a Job with your Best Friend

Making money is something your parents can’t say no to. Getting a job isn’t that fun, but doing it with your best friend is fun and you can make money at the same time. You get to spend time with your best friend and get to make money.
3 Largest Pieces Of Misinformation That Have Been Taught To Me As Fact
By: Brandon Abegglen
Tags: Misinformation, Teens, Learning, Lies, Schools

1: Thanksgiving

From a young age, well, younger than I already am now, I have been taught that Thanksgiving is the celebration of a great and important event. While it is true that Thanksgiving was an event that is important to learn from, the story behind it is not so pleasant.

I was always taught that in 1621 there was a feast between colonists and Native Americans as a celebration of their friendship. However, I was never taught the violence, murder, and many other despicable acts which occurred before and after the feasts occurred.

2: You can only be successful if you go to college and get a degree

I am positive that we all have been exposed this common misconception. I can remember times from all the way back in elementary school when I would ask my teachers “why do we need to know this”, and their response would always be “so you can go to college one day”.

It wasn't just my teachers though, it was also my parents and many of my relatives. I wish I could describe the amount of pressure that I used to feel after hearing it, but I simply cannot. After discussing the topic with a multitude of adults and peers of mine, I have come to the conclusion that it is common to believe that one must go to college in order to “achieve success in life”.

While this may be a common belief and a fair presupposition, I like to challenge the idea. The world is changing, and the demand for creativity and open mindedness is only increasing as time passes. If you have a dream, and a burning desire to articulate that dream into reality, go for it. College is not the only option in life, and to say that it is would be erroneous.

3: The United States is the best country in the world

This post will not become political, nor will it be attacking the country in which I reside. However, I want to mention this in this post because I feel that it is important to recognize the statement for what it is. Simply put, it is nothing more than an opinion, so the fact that I was actually told it in school seems silly to me.

I am appreciative and grateful that I live in the states, however, I don't think that we should be fed nationalistic ideas in a place of learning. I will leave this subtopic at that, however, I will cover the subject more in a future post.
I Didn’t Care for Boobs When I Started to Grow Them
By: Blossom Deji-Folutile
Tags: Maturity, Growing Up, Teens, Coming Of Age

I was maybe Eight or Nine when my breasts began to grow. I’ll say I was younger because by Primary 5, I already wore bras and bra tops and they were necessary. I was only Nine when I ran out of the bathroom after my mother had just bathed me and sat on the bed waiting for her to get me my underwear, only to stand up and see a puddle of blood on the sheets.

I remember the confusion on my mother’s face as she reached for sanitary towel and put it on my underwear. By this time, I hadn’t even been taught what menstruation was in Primary school. I only knew what it was because after my elder brother had been taught the previous year and he had asked me if I had ‘started mine’.

What followed after that awkward Sunday were a series of heart stopping painful cramps that came at least once every month. It’s truly been a while that I’ve been going through this pain. I remember writhing in pain in the middle of the night during my first episode. I had no idea what was going on and I thought I was going to die. I didn’t die though.

Anyway, where I’m going is here; while I watched my friends in Secondary School get excited about getting their periods and their first bras, I did so in envy because I was never excited about growing. I didn’t like the fact that I had to wear a bra when my friends could just throw on a singlet — or not and get out. I hated that I had to include sanitary towels in my list of provisions right from JS1 and have my roommates open packets and pour Ribena on them to ‘see how they worked’. I absolutely loathed having to go and buy sanitary towels and have the seller look at me weird. Now that I think about it, the weird stares I noticed were probably in my mind. I also was very uncomfortable with the fact that while we were being taught about menstruation, my friends looked at me and giggled weirdly. So weirdly that my teacher had to ask me if I had ‘started menstruating’ in front of all my classmates, including the boys.

I also hated having ‘the talk’ so early in my life. My brothers had pressed their ears behind my mother’s locked door as she told me that I could get pregnant if any man’s sperm came close to my vagina. What really was that? I was only Eight or maybe younger when I started to get attention from boys and men. One time, in JS 1, my male classmates cornered me after afternoon prep and kept running into me. I was so confused at the time but as I grew older, I figured they were trying to ‘tap current’.

I didn’t care for having to worry about things that most people my age didn’t need to worry about. I think back and remember how much I wanted to look my age. I didn’t want to grow as fast as I did and I especially didn’t like the attention that came with it.
VALIDATION A SIN ?
Tags: Life, Growth, Validation, Approval, Teens

Validation or approval is a high class dish served in that restaurant which needs a 6 month booking and an awful lot of money. It is a feeling that a few lucky ones have been able to receive. As a child validation or approval from parent and close family members matter. But as you age and grow you would want validation from your friends school partners and a whole lot . But what technically is validation. From what I come to it is just a form of appreciation you receive when you fulfil others expectation. But having to question yourself and asking yourself if this validation or approval from others is what you want requires a lot of courage and cutting of from this toxic cycle requires bravery. Throughout my blog, I will try to keep it raw and probably will give you a glimpse on how an ordinary teen tries to find the courage and bravery.
3 Things My Mother Told Me That Helped Me Survive My Teens
By: Alexandra Walker-Jones
Tags: Self Improvement, Mindfulness, Advice, Teens, Parenting

3. Everyone is too focused on themselves to pay any notice to you.

The truth is, as much as we (and especially teenagers) like to believe that the world revolves around us, there are just too many people with too many other, more important things to concern themselves with, than your appearance, most recent embarrassing moment, or the two hour long video you posted of the concert last night.

Most parents tend to cling fervorously to the idea that their child is remarkably special and, not to suggest that my mother didn’t also believe this to some extent, but she certainly understood that other people would have no motivation to. In this way, I could be firmly reassured that no-one in any audience of any performance would be paying me any notice aside from her, that cute boys were actually too worried about being cute to care what I had to say for the most part, and that the world did not owe me its attention until it had been rightfully earned — and even then there would be no promises made.

So, the next time you find your mind stuck on a loop, pouring over every small detail of an awkward interaction or a bad joke, just remember that if you asked anyone to recount what they thought of you in that moment (not that it would be any of your business in the first place), you might come to find that, in fact, they were thinking entirely more of themself!

Thanks Mum.
The art of doing nothing
By: Yonatan M
Tags: Teens, PC, Lasy

as a teen i play video games and watch videos 90% of my time

some people think it's a waste of time (and they are right) but i learned to do so many things like: digital drawing, recording videos, editing videos, umm yes not a lot but those are very important skills in these times.

Here is a question i don't get asked a lot, How to do nothing?

Ok so the short answer is you don't, the long answer is you sit by a computer go to “youtube.com“ search something you like and sit for 4 hours watching videos on it on, the other hand you can download an app called discord call a friend and play a game you can play for at least 2 hours (like Minecraft, Roblox and more)

That's the art of doing nothing by yonatan m
Words are Spicey..Sometimes Poison..
By: Victoria Forest
Tags: Life, Mental Health, Teens, Bullying, Humanity

Are your words soothing as honey or poison and hurtful?

Words kill easily. They break down a person’s confidence and soul.

The poison assimilates through the skin in a transparent manner with ease. We are pourous humans. We integrate what surrounds us and it becomes a part of all we are. Every cell incorporates that wicked nectar.

© victoria forest

Can that dis ease be stopped from our physical and mental state? What are the barriers we can erect? Not band-aids. Barriers.

We are overwhelmed with masks as of late. Would that work? They hide expression, ward off germs? Masks muffle some pronunciation, but that is clearly not enough to save a mirrored reflection.

The answer is to be your own mirror- not a reflection of another’s language. Your own person. Not an easy task for sure.

How do we learn to uphold steel, cold armor against the bully? The spouse? Parent? Boyfriend/Girlfriend? Colleague?

© victoria forest

Self- Confidence is a life long journey.

Focus on the positive, the grace and see through the bullshit. Learn to “read” people and realize hurtful people are those that are hurting themselves.

Study: Body Language. Mannerisms. Movement. Expression. Nuansces.

Move on. Ignore.

Read, educate yourself. Find like-minded people. There are many spices in life that are both sweet and savory- find them. Look- then look again deeper.

Let it be. Disregard the haters and ignorant souls as they simply do not know better. Gain your strength and grit from within yourself. You got this.

This is your journey — why give the power over to someone else? Claim it. Claim yourself in total. Be authentic to yourself. This life is yours.

Confronting is helpful and important only with support and safety. Remove yourself from poison situations and people whenever possible.

Rise above. Go High. Reach for assistance if need be, but do not tolerate any disrespect. You deserve better.

No -one is better than you and you are better than no-one. Some humans-this time around- uplift instead of destroy and tear down.

Be that human.