If you are not willing to devote time and effort to learn the skills, don't endanger others by trying to use one under stress. Handgun marksmanship is considered a sport because it takes training and skill. Typically they hold 5-6 rounds which is enough so that you will not have to reload during most home defense incidents. Operation takes a bit more learning and practice, but the positives are why the majority of law enforcement and military personnel carry semi-automatic handguns. A firearm that "fits" my hand perfectly will not feel right to you. Most firearm owners are happy to allow a novice to try a couple of shots. Do your research, test fire a few weapons before you invest. Many lower-power cartridges may not penetrate deeply enough to cause incapacitating damage.
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One-sentence summary -- Handguns take skill and practice to use. For first time handgun owners, revolvers are probably the better choice as they are simpler. For more experienced users, or users willing to take a formal instruction, a semi-automatic handgun may make more sense due to their increased capacity and easier follow-up shots. Every person is different. When hunting, a larger caliber may be required as many dangerous game have tough skin and muscles the need the extra energy to penetrate through skin and muscle to reach vital organs.

Act the part by investing in clothing that makes you feel like a grown-up. Trade in your band shirts for collared button downs, go for a nice blazer instead of a denim jacket, and invest in a nice pair of shoes. Go shopping with an adult and ask for their opinion on your selections. Look for clothing that is high quality and well made. Fast fashion, or trendy styles may look good at the moment, but it's a smarter move to invest in pieces that will last you longer than a few weeks. Put some effort into your appearance by doing your hair, making sure your clothes are clean, and putting cologne or perfume on. Messy living spaces can make you feel like you are living in a college dorm room, or a kid's room. Clean up the sink full of dirty dishes or the piles of laundry lying around your room or apartment. Reduce clutter by re-organizing your space to be more functional. Focus on presenting a clean, organized living space. Look at How to Organize Your Room and How to Clean Your House for tips and tricks for keeping your space clean. A mentor is someone who gives help and advice to a less experienced person. A good mentor will help you build your self-confidence and self-worth. They will teach you new skills or help you improve the skills you already have, and act as a role model or someone you can look up to. Reach out to your guidance counselor at school, or to your community leaders. You can also look for a mentor in a family member or a close family friend. Look at programs like the Boys and Girls Club, which connects young people to role models and mentors in their community. This could be cooking, driving, or even crocheting. Focus on building your self-confidence by learning more about a skill or activity that interests you. Obtaining your driver's license is a big step to becoming more responsible and independent. You no longer have to depend on someone else, such as your parents, to drive you around or adhere to someone else's schedule when you need to get to a date or an important meeting. Even if you decide not to get a car, having your license means you always have the option of renting a car for a trip or driving someone else's car as their designated driver after a night out. Getting better at cooking is a great way to gain more independence and become more confident as a person. Start small and tackle small dishes like a sandwich for lunch or a stir fry for dinner. Look online at simple recipes that take under 30 minutes to prepare. Offer to cook for your parents one night, or for a friend to show off your new skills. The more you practice cooking, the more confident you will become in the kitchen. This is a big one, but most adults have their finances under control and in order. Set up a meeting with a financial advisor to discuss smart ways to invest your money. Create a budget, broken down by month. Focus on putting as much money as possible into your savings account. This money could go to other very adult things like a car, a home, or a big trip. Avoid splurging on clothing or other unnecessary items. This will show the adults in your life that you are serious about being responsible for how and when you spend your money. Taking control of your finances will also benefit you as a person and give you more self-confidence in the company of other adults.
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One-sentence summary -- Dress like an adult. Keep your living area clean and tidy. Find a mentor. Learn a new skill. Take control of your finances.

Of the nearly 1500 species of starfish in the world, they all have one thing in common: they're slow. It can be very difficult to tell if a starfish you find is living or dead, but you can look for a few key signs that you'll be paying tribute to the beautiful animal by preserving it, not killing it. If you come across a starfish on the beach, wait to touch it. Look at it closely. Is there any movement? Is there any bubbling from the sand underneath? If so, do it a favor by returning it into the water. Watch closely for several minutes to look for signs of life before picking it up. If the starfish is brittle and unmoving, it's dead and safe to take home for preservation and decoration. An optional step before preserving the starfish is to take some time to clean it up for display. While not essential, some collectors like to submerge the starfish in slightly soapy water and dry it thoroughly before soaking in alcohol or drying in salt. If you want to do a pre-soak, dilute a tiny squirt of liquid detergent in several cups of water and soak the starfish to get it clean. Don't scrub or otherwise over-handle the starfish, which is fragile. Dry the starfish thoroughly in the sun, taking care to weigh down each arm of the starfish. They tend to curl up some as they dry, so it's important to flatten them gently between two plates to maintain a uniform flatness. Generally, most collectors will go straight to the alcohol soak, but do whatever seems appropriate for the specimen you've collected. When you get your starfish home, soak it in enough isopropyl rubbing alcohol to cover the starfish and leave it alone for 30-48 hours. Alternatively, some choose to soak their starfish in formalin, one part formaldehyde and five parts water. If you do this, be warned that the starfish will maintain a fairly strong chemical odor for a while until it dissipates somewhat. It might not matter if you're going to put it behind glass, but be aware. The process for this method is the same. Whatever series of steps you do to prepare the starfish and whatever you soak it in, you need to let it dry very thoroughly in the sun before taking it inside. Especially hot sunny days are perfect for drying starfish and ensuring that they'll last. Weigh them down with plates (you shouldn't need to weight them with books or any extra weight) to ensure that the arms stay flat and even. Check on them regularly to make sure it's drying in the shape you want, if you want it to look a certain way for display purposes. One easy alternative method of preserving the starfish is to lay it out flat on a plate and cover it with a generous sprinkling of natural sea salt. Top it with a plate to keep the arms straight. The salt crusting can work to suck any moisture out of the starfish and dry it out, preserving it quite nicely. You might consider doing this outside in the sun to avoid any smell and to dry it out more quickly.
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One-sentence summary --
Make sure the starfish you find are dead already. Clean your starfish. Preserve your starfish with alcohol. Dry the starfish in the sun. Try preserving starfish with salt.