An Identity Among Millions...Mine.

Throughout this blog project, I have learned a lot about my peers, but about myself even more so. I have opened a door to my inner beliefs and ideas that has been only cracked since I discovered its presence. I knew where I stood against society, but never where I stood in my own thoughts and ideas.

I'm vulnerable. I'm weak.

I'm beautiful in my own way.

I don't have to be a statistic despite my circumstances.

I am who I am.

Society holds no shackles on my feet. No chains around my ideas. No mold against my being.

I have an identity.

I'm the perfectionist that quits a piece of art because I see a major flaw.

I'm a stronger person because of the situation between my father and I--you don't want to know. (:

I'm a pretty good impersonator. (If you haven't seen Bon Qui Qui on Youtube, you're MISSING OUT!)

I'm goofy and a little dorky sometimes.

I have my best friend with me through everything I face.

I depend on my family for my support and I love them to death!

I'm a teenager that is firm in my beliefs and opinionated on what matters to me.

I'm never going to fall into the same trap twice, because I know who I am.

I'm me...

Drugs, Alcohol, and Sex: Is Everyone REALLY Doing it?

I hear about the various things teenagers do at parties or other private events and I wonder, "Where are the parents?". If I was using and abusing alcohol or drugs, I wouldn't be able to hide it from my mother. I'm way to open and honest, not to mention the fact, that she can read me like an open book. Another problem that I commonly hear about is the amount of teenagers having sex with numerous people, just for the heck of it. These vices or modes of entertainment are dangerous and can cause serious issues in all aspects of the teen's lives--physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Centurycouncil.org states, "More than 1o million youths, ages 12 to 20, in this country report that they have consumed alcohol in the past 3o days. The rate of current alcohol consumption increases with increasing age according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2.4% at age 12 to 22.4% at age 16, and 56.7% at age 20." When I began typing this post, I wasn't really fired up about the issues I have presented, BUT, following that fact, I am amazed. To think that more than 50% of 20 year olds, the one passing you on 400, the girl purchasing a Nibblerz meal at Zaxby's, or the guy mowing the lawn two doors up, consume alcohol. It's a dangerous percentage and it will continue to increase like Centurycouncil.org predicted.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse released a series of statistics including, "Daily Marijuana use increased among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders from 2009 to 2010. Among 12th graders it was at its highest point since the early 1980s, at 6.1 percent. This year, perceived risk of regular marijuana use also declined among 10th and 12th graders, suggesting future trends in use may continue upward. In addition, most measures of marijuana use increased among 8th graders between 2009 and 2010 (past year, past month, and daily), paralleling softening attitudes for the last 2 years about the risk of using marijuana. Marijuana use is now ahead of cigarette smoking on some measures (due to decreases in smoking and recent increases in marijuana use). In 2010, 21.4 percent of high school seniors used marijuana in the past 30 days, while 19.2 percent smoked cigarettes.Steady declines in cigarette smoking appear to have stalled in all three grades after several years of improvement on most measures." These are also horrifying statistics. I can't imagine that just over 20% of our high school's seniors have used marijuna in the past 30 days. I am strongly against such use and I am appalled to see such numbers.

The Gutt Macher Institute said on the topic of sexual activity, "Although only 13% of teens have ever had vaginal sex by age 15, sexual activity is common by the late teen years. By their 19th birthday, seven in 10 teens of both sexes have had intercourse. (Gutt Macher Institute received their information from the National Survey of Family Growth 2006–2008, Vital and Health Statistics, 2010, Series 23, No. 30.) My heart continues to grow heavier and heavier as I write this post because these three issues in teenagers are things I'm against. There is a slight glimmer of hope because Gutt Macher Institute also stated, "In 2006–2008, the most common reason that sexually inexperienced teens gave for not having had sex was that it was “against religion or morals” (42% among females and 35% among males). The second and third most common reasons for females were “don’t want to get pregnant” and “haven’t found the right person yet.” (Gutt Macher Institute received their information from the National Survey of Family Growth 2006–2008, Vital and Health Statistics, 2010, Series 23, No. 30.) Although I can not personally change the world, I can only hope that the startling statistics continue to change people's minds.

http://www.centurycouncil.org/learn-the-facts/underage-drinking-stats

http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/hsyouthtrends.html

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-ATSRH.html

http://coronadocommonsense.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55417fcfd88340120a962357d970b-500wi. 3 March, 2011.

http://www.michaelshouse.com/blog/parental-watch-list-for-teen-marijuana-use-and-addiction/. 3 March, 2011.

http://blindgossip.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/woman-pregnancy-test1.jpg. 3 March, 2011.

Eating Disorders- A Real Issue Between Mind and Body

I was in AP Psychology earlier this week and we began talking about motivation. Within the motivation chapter, we discussed hunger and its role in our motivation for biological drives (also including thirst, and sex). In that discussion, we talked about eating disorders and I saw how easy it is to become addicted to starving yourself or purging to maintain a weight. I thought about how much I criticise my own body.

Staring in the mirror, I see the slight rolls and creases created by fat. I see my large muscles that pertrude and flex as I walk and move. I'm not 100 lbs, I'm not a startling 120 lbs even! I'm amazed at the complaints that I hear from the skinniest and most beautiful people I know..."Ugh, what is this?! I'm soooo fat." or "I don't fit into my 2 jeans anymore!" Why can't we be content with our bodies?

It hurts to go into detail...women and men alike are dying because of their insecurities.

Visit: www.examiner.com/wellness-in-buffalo/national-eating-disorders-awareness-week-2010-statistics-about-eating-disorders

www.submitproductratings.com. 3 March, 2011

Broken Mirrors and Shattered Hearts

It has occurred to me numerous times. But I didn’t realize its severity and poignancy until now.

I got out of the shower, put on my soccer warm-ups (since we have a game tonight), brushed out my tangled hair and began to dry it. While drying my hair, I noticed that most of my damp hair hung collectively in soaking sections, while random shorter pieces blew in all directions from the warm airstream that poured from the hair dryer. I looked at my reflection after I had finished brushing my hair back into a neat bun on the side of my head. The make-up residue from the day before was smudged under and above my eyes. I dabbed some make-up remover on a tissue and began to wipe away the remaining mascara and eye liner. When my face was bare, I just looked at myself. I saw something that wasn’t good enough. This was plain and boring. Lacking beauty.

I began the task of putting on my make-up for the day, without thinking much of it. I brushed my foundation on, my blush, lined my eyes with a black eye pencil, blended some brown eye shadows onto my lids, and painted my lashes with a few coats of mascara. After 5 to 8 minutes, I was ready to leave. I took a final glance into the mirror. I saw something that was finally good enough. It wasn’t plain or boring. It resembled beauty.

Today’s society has created this mirror for women and teenagers to stare into, which causes us to question our beauty. Today’s society has created this ideal persona, her inner beauty unseen. The tiny models in Glamour or Vogue/Teen Vogue and the beautiful actresses that are displayed on the big screen all have this beauty. This seemingly natural beauty is one that no “normal” girl can replicate. Why is what’s on the outside so important? Why can’t we look past the shell, into the beauty within?

Girls and women alike are created into these unattainable goddesses in Hollywood. I remember thinking recently, “Why can’t I look like her? Sing like her?” I can’t go out in public without looking presentable and I’m conscious of other people’s thoughts about me. Society has masked true beauty with the look on the outside and I find myself falling into the snare every morning. Where is beauty in a world full of ugly people? Now, when I say ugly, I mean ugly on the inside. Lacking true, inner beauty. Do you face the mirror of society or reflect into the beauty within yourself?

How many of the "50 Most Beautiful Female Celebrities" listed s are you willing to compare yourself to?
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/sns-50-most-beautiful-celebs-pictures,0,900787.photogallery

customhomesandremodeling.net. 3 March, 2011.

Back to Yesterday

Before the world's clutter invaded the peaceful streets of my mind, I believed nothing bad could happen to me. The sky was always blue. The grass green. And the sun, a bright star shining for me. The world was at peace. That was then...

In today's society, the sky is no longer blue, the grass no longer green, and the sun just seems to create large shadows for the world to cower in. My world is consumed with the ways of the real world. I've always had a problem with the way people live. They're ignorant and naive. They know nothing. They're lifeless robots that clank and clatter through life with no purpose or motivation. The only thing on their mind is...themselves. Their motto, "Its better to ask for forgiveness than permission". Where is the good in this?

To the World...

There are so many awful and terrible things that today's society promotes. Not to mention the fact, that the world has so many outlets and ways to reach the ignorant. The media is filth. I heard a rap song the other day and I was appalled by how he described his female "friends". Where did degrading remarks towards others become "okay" or "normal"? Did that man's father teach him that by the way he acted towards his wife? There is no respect for others or women these days and it's unfortunate.

The world is gambling. Society's image of popularity is: be a drinker, be a smoker, be a "go-getta", and be "YOURSELF". How can you be yourself with society's mirror image reflecting back at you an image of disaster and lacking self worth. There are many teenagers getting into the inescapable box of drug addiction and alcoholism because of this. Who are you? What are you trying to be?

The immorality of the world is disgusting and repulsive. Society twists the meaning of words like "respect" and "love" into unnatural and impure things. To gain respect, you have to earn it. Sell the most drugs on the street. Drink more than "so and so". Sleep with "that girl or boy". Respect, according to Dictionary.com, is "esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability". Everyone "deserves" respect and I was raised to respect everyone. Of course, everyone's not perfect. I've been disrespectful, but never on such a level as society promotes. You say, "Yes m'am or Yes sir", not "Yeah" or "Whatever dude". I've noticed so many parents are caught up in their own business and lives, that they aren't guarding their families. Teenagers are cussing in front of younger siblings, which later spread their new vocabulary to their friends. I had never heard the "f-bomb" until late middle school or early high school, however, one of the children in my sister's fourth grade class shared it with her and her classmates. This is UNACCEPTABLE. Love, a feeling that one cannot describe, is EVERYWHERE today. Unnatural love (same-sex relationships) are promoted, while the one man and one woman unified in Holy Matrimony has been reduced to rarity. To me, love is one man, one time, forever. I want to be married, ONCE. I want to only "be with" ONE person. Society has an inclination to leave out the side effects of multiple loves and lovers. A relationship is between 2 people, not 2 people and a mistress. Love is pure and respect and today's relationships are FAR from purity or respect. Today, love is being with someone for a few days then breaking up. Today, love is leaving your girlfriend or boyfriend for someone you've been secretly talking to for a year and a half. Today, love is fake, a fraud, deceptive.

The world is impure, the people in it are cruel, and there is an ambush waiting on every television channel and radio station, even literature. So where does one find their identity in this selfish and unclean world?

Ask me.

Hussain, Bader. Beautiful Landscapes. Blog-spot. Web. 3 March, 2011.