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Written by Youth, for Youth
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 We all know that "growing up" means taking responsibility for ourselves, and that includes staying healthy. Whether your idea of health is spiritual, mental, emotional or physical--or a combination of all four--it's important to stay healthy so you can be happy. Doing this is as easy as making time to participate in the practices and activities that make you feel good about yourself. Regular exercise, eating lots of fruit and vegetables, keeping your body clean and hanging out with positive people are all key to your well-being. You make the call! You can get information on health and well-being by exploring the resources in our health links, or by asking your doctor, your local free clinic and counselors at your school.
Check out the articles below to explore core health issues as they appear in Senior Year.
Depression | Culture & Abuse | Sexual Health
Pregnancy | Bias & Prejudice | Homophobia
Learning Disabilities | Self-Esteem
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By Cady, age 15
Depression can appear to be a really bad and drawn out case of PMS with feelings like anxiety, fatigue, self-pity, insomnia, sadness, worrying, and terrible mood swings. If you, a friend, or family member is experiencing depression it's important to remember that it isn't anything to be ashamed of. Depending on the form of depression it can be temporary if treated. It's totally normal for people to experience minor depression from some life event. But there are symptoms that you should recognize as not normal. This could be minor depression that doesn't go away or even major depression, which is completely debilitating.
Since thoughts and feelings that have to do with depression and suicide ARE overwhelming, don't be afraid to seek help. Most importantly, do things that make you feel good about yourself. Crisis hotlines are always available to offer additional support, advice, and resources.
 | Follow Jean's story as he deals with his father's suicide attempt. |
| Watch the web exclusive with Michael, Jean's father, as he discusses what led him to try to commit suicide. |
| Check out Jacqueline's story as she shares her struggles with depression. |
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From the Message Boards (Episode 9):
SUBJECT: PERSONAL PROBLEMS
Shari: People's moods change all the time and since emotions come from within, there's no way to really address personal problems, like you would if they were physical. Emotional issues are all in your head and your heart, and to pretend that you don't have any personal problems is an issue in itself.
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By Ethan, age 20
For certain cultures around the world it is acceptable to hit a child in order to punish or teach them a lesson. Teachers in overseas schools use corporal (physical) punishment regularly in the classroom to enforce control. But, here in California hitting children in school is not okay under any circumstance. It is, in fact, illegal.
This brings up the question of how immigrants and people from different cultures raise and reprimand their children here in America. Is it fair to judge their cultural traditions and practices? Or should they be held to the same laws and customs as all Americans? There is no right or wrong answer to this question because each case is so different. One thing is certain: if a child is being unfairly hit or abused, then he/she needs to be protected.
| Watch Elizabeth's story as she reconciles her cultural upbringing with her American identity. |
| From the Message Boards (Episode 5):
SUBJECT: CULTURAL CONFLICTS
Jay: Elizabeth is having problems running her life with two different cultures in mind and sometimes that happens to me. Sometimes I feel like I can't be American with my Hispanic friends and I can't be too Hispanic with my American friends...
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By Anthony, age 15
Sex can be a healthy and natural part of life, but it's not without its risks. It's not about becoming a nun, but it's important to be aware of possible consequences that can have a major impact on your life. Not only can you get pregnant through sexual intercourse, but you can also get an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease), even without "going all the way." Some STDs are easily treated and others are not, though abstinence is the only 100% effective way to prevent STDs or unwanted pregnancies. If you're already sexually active, condoms are a MUST, and you need to be regularly tested for STDs (there are places in your area you can go to protect yourself and your privacy).
Remember, becoming sexually active is a huge decision. Make sure that you're ready to deal with the feelings and emotions that come from being so intimate with another person. If you love yourself, you should love your body enough to be responsible.
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By Christina, age 16
The decision to have baby should be made with consideration and life-long dedication to the health and well-being of the child. For most teens, going through a pregnancy is very challenging. Not only are the physical and financial demands of having a child stressful, but so are the cultural attitudes and societal pressures put on a young parent.
Although it is entirely possible for a teenager to give birth to a perfectly healthy baby and to lead a fulfilling life, if you are pregnant and aren't in a position to make the necessary commitment for having a child, you may be thinking about having an abortion. Just like having a baby, abortion is a big decision that can cause emotions ranging from relief and liberation, to guilt, anxiety and stress. For others, adoption may be a better choice.
Whichever way you decide, be sure to know all the facts and consequences before going through with your choice. Also, surround yourself with people that will honor and support you in your decision.
| Follow Karla's story and struggle with teen pregnancy and abortion. |
| Check out Episode 8 to see how Dean Bogue helps Karla deal with her grief on the anniversary of her abortion. |
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From the Message Boards (Episode 8):
SUBJECT: ABORTION
Shari: I feel bad for Karla and her feelings towards her abortion, but I feel that it was the right thing to do...
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By Michelle, age 17
Having a prejudice is when a person makes a negative judgment or evaluation without knowing all of the facts. We're all entitled to our own opinions, but it is how our opinions affect our actions towards others that really count. When we have prejudices, we have thoughts that cause us to unfairly judge and treat others in favor of specific opinions and actions that support our point of view. If we aren't careful, our opinions can turn into prejudicial behavior. The scary part is that many of us don't even notice when biases and prejudicial thinking or behavior happens. In fact, many people experience or act out on a prejudice and do not even notice it-this is called unconscious bias.
Do the biases and prejudices that you deal with in your life cause you to treat people badly or exclude them? Have you avoided making friends with someone because of their race or sexual orientation? Have you ever let friends make fun of certain groups without thinking about how the jokes may hurt? We need to make an effort to notice ourselves judging others and forming biases so that we can have a more peaceful and enjoyable world.
| Follow Kendra in Episode 1 as she breaks out of the "disabled" box others put her in. |
| From the Message Boards (Episode 1):
SUBJECT: STEREOTYPING KENDRA
Iqra: With Kendra, I can understand how she feels about being categorized and stereotyped. For me, it has been based on how I look. Everybody is beautiful in their own way. If someone doesn't think that, then that's their problem.
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By Jay, age 17
Unfortunately, some people are afraid of others because of their age, race, sex or sexual orientation. Homophobia is a fear of homosexuals and often results in prejudicial behavior towards, biased thinking about, and intolerance of gay people. Homophobia shows itself through jokes, slurs, physical violence, and emotional hurt. We have fears, but we should be aware that our fears do not give us the right to destroy or hurt other people or things. If you think you may be homophobic, try learning about homosexuality, what it really means, how difficult it is for a person who is gay to live in our society today, and how you can be a friend and an ally to someone who is gay through understanding and acceptance.
| Check out Jet's story to learn more about his experience being gay. |
| From the Message Boards (episode 2)
SUBJECT: TEENS BEING GAY
Shila: I don't necessarily have a problem with teens being gay; I just think that we were made to be with the opposite sex. I think that teens can be gay...
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Ever wonder why some people seem to be naturals at making music while other are at ease dancing or writing? That's because of how we think and learn, or our multiple intelligences (a term coined by the psychologist Howard Gardener). Teachers shouldn't assume students are unintelligent because they don't understand or retain something; instead they need to investigate how to present information in a way that addresses multiple intelligences and learning styles. Students in special education classes have been professionally tested and identified as having difficulties learning and/or processing information.
If you think you have a learning disability, attention deficit disorder or dyslexia, please get help. A word of caution: Don't accept quick diagnosis and make sure you really need medication. The definitive nature and existence of these "disorders" is debatable, even within the medical community. There are many treatments and strategies to control the severity of learning disabilities. While medication is helpful to many, it's not always the first and best course of treatment. Make sure you investigate all the options and treatments available to you.
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by Iqra, age 15
"Am I fat? Am I too skinny? I don't have a butt…I wish I were pretty like her." Most teenagers, especially teenage girls, have these thoughts as they struggle with self-esteem and body image. Positive body image and self-esteem in a person means he/she has unconditional love and acceptance, constructive growth, respect, and honesty for him/herself that builds upon a sense of worth. As teens, we may look at high self-esteem and confidence as a measurement of how conceited a person is. Actually, it has more to do with the level of comfort a person has with him/herself.
A low sense of self-worth and negative body image can lead to a preoccupation with how one looks. A lot of teens diet or over-exercise to try to fit into an ideal of perfection put out by the media or by those around them. This is not a healthy way of coping, and when left unchecked, can lead to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia that affect your health and well-being. To improve your body image and sense of self, do things that make you feel special, surround yourself with positive people and most importantly, give yourself a break! We are all different, and it's our differences that make us great.
| From the Message Boards (Episodes 11/12):
SUBJECT: SELF CONFIDENCE
McKenzie: I'm glad that Kendra decided to run for prom queen. She has enough confidence in herself that she could win. I'm proud of her...
SUBJECT: BEING AN IMPORTANT PERSON
Jay: You don't need to be someone important or be doing a lot of things to actually be someone or somebody.
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