When so much is happening at once, you should take time to step back to look at your life how it used to be, what it has become and what you want it to look like. It’s like clicking “refresh” or “clean up” on your computer desktop. When a page on the Internet is not loading properly, usually you will hit the “Refresh” button to restart and hope for a more promising result. The “clean up” button places all of the icons on my desktop in [ ...continue reading ]]]>

Do you stick to your New Year's resolutions? Image taken from CreativeCommons.org

When so much is happening at once, you should take time to step back to look at your life how it used to be, what it has become and what you want it to look like. It’s like clicking “refresh” or “clean up” on your computer desktop. When a page on the Internet is not loading properly, usually you will hit the “Refresh” button to restart and hope for a more promising result. The “clean up” button places all of the icons on my desktop in order. If only a person could press a “refresh” or “clean up” button in real life, things would be a lot less complicated and twisted.

Imagine if you could hit a button that would reload your life to put you on the correct path. Whenever something would go wrong, all you would have to do is “refresh” and everything bad would disappear. The New Year acts as that refresh button. No, it will not get rid of any errors or a bad Internet connection, however it will allow you to step back and think about this past year and what you expect from the coming one. That is where the New Year’s Resolution comes into play.

Every year one of my resolutions is the same: I vow to eat less unhealthy food and exercise more. That only lasts about two weeks, tops. However, I still like to include it in my list of resolutions because I like to believe I am stronger and more resistant to my junk food cravings than I really am. So, here’s to another year of trying.

This year I have decided to make one of my resolutions to value the little things in life. I want to make someone’s day with a smile on the sidewalk, reach out to old friends I don’t talk to much anymore, send a bouquet of flowers to my mother on a holiday. These small acts can be much appreciated and leave a person happier than they were before. Maybe if we take time to cherish the small things that make us and the people around us happy, it will leave us feeling more refreshed and reloaded.

The whole journey begins about three months in advance. You can’t wait until only a few weeks before the event to buy your prom dress, because all of the good ones will be taken, and you may end up wearing the same outfit as someone else (the horror!). [ ...continue reading ]]]>
You know that quote used at every graduation or concluding ceremony, something like “It is not about the destination, it is rather the journey that makes an experience…”? Well, this applies very well to the prom process. The actual prom is not as involved and fun as the preparation.

The whole journey begins about three months in advance. You can’t wait until only a few weeks before the event to buy your prom dress, because all of the good ones will be taken, and you may end up wearing the same outfit as someone else (the horror!). The person asking you to prom needs time to think of the perfect way to ask you (or if you don’t have a date yet, you need time to find a back-up). The arrangements for pre-prom and after-prom need to be planned. The corsages and boutonnieres need to be ordered. The shoes need to be broken in. And your prom tickets need to be bought! Then there is the actual day of prom, which includes doing your hair or getting it done, polishing your nails and making your makeup look fabulous in every which way possible. This happens to be one of the busiest days of the year! (That is why it all needs to be planned out in advance.)

This year I did many things to prepare for my prom. Every sunny day that I was free, I made it my job to get to the beach to try to create that summery glow everyone talks about. I used Crest Whitening strips to whiten my teeth—which, by the way, worked incredibly well. I’ve tried other kinds of whitening techniques, but these particular strips worked so fast and made my teeth look whiter than they’ve ever looked! I kept the strips in two times a day for a half hour (maybe a littler longer just to make sure they did their job) while talking to a friend on the phone, going on Facebook or watching a movie.

One night I had them in late at night and I fell asleep with them still on my teeth. I had set my alarm so that after 45 minutes I would know to take them out. I woke up to take them out, and when I was done, it was completely dark in my hallway and room (because everyone was sleeping). I was walking back to my room from my bathroom and being basically asleep, I walked toward the stairs instead. When I thought I was stepping into my room, I actually fell down a whole flight of stairs. I ended up being just a bit bruised, left with no real injuries, thank God. I now know never to fall asleep with whitening strips in my mouth!

It felt funny when I spent so much time preparing for prom, when the actual event only lasted about three hours (not including pre-prom or after-prom). I had such a great time through all of the preparation, though, so overall, it really was the journey that made the experience what it was.

There is nothing better than spending a hot summer day with your best friends. Driving in one of our cars all together with the windows rolled down, our hair blowing, our freshly sun-kissed skin glowing and a classic summer song like What I Got by Sublime playing full blast. Even the smell of sunscreen mixed with everything else summer makes me happy. It’s an unexplainable feeling that makes you think it’s too good to be true!

We laugh at each other when we try to sing as loud as we can to the tunes pumping on our iPods. [ ...continue reading ]]]>

There is nothing better than spending a hot summer day with your best friends. Driving in one of our cars all together with the windows rolled down, our hair blowing, our freshly sun-kissed skin glowing and a classic summer song like What I Got by Sublime playing full blast. Even the smell of sunscreen mixed with everything else summer makes me happy. It’s an unexplainable feeling that makes you think it’s too good to be true!

We laugh at each other when we try to sing as loud as we can to the tunes pumping on our iPods. All you can do is smile and bop around to the music because you feel so carefree—like nothing could ruin this moment. During the times that you aren’t at your summer job, you try to fit in as much fun as you can. Wake up late, but not too late or else you waste the day. You go to the beach with your friends, chill outside, get smoothies and maybe go to the mall every so often. At night you BBQ, go to a movie and for dessert, Dairy Queen makes a great hangout spot. Then, since you can stay out late, you have bonfires with your friends and roast marshmallows, and just spend time at someone’s house for a while. Some people travel, some go to sleep-away camp, but the ones who stay home can have just as much fun as the ones who leave their regular surroundings to experience something different and exciting. It really is the best time of the year.

With so much stuff happening all over the place, it’s easy to find things to do without spending a ton—which is great if you’re trying to save up the money you are earning from your summer job. For example, I plan on going to free concerts and outside movies in New York City this summer. Hopefully they won’t turn out like the free Drake and Hanson concert on June 15! (I happened to be right next to all the violence at the concert—yikes!)

Summertime has some kind of magic to it. People are willing to do things they normally aren’t comfortable doing. We gain confidence, strive to find adventure and are simply happier. It’s scientifically proven! Why do you think summer flings exist?! Why do you hear about that one cute boy that your friend spent her whole trip to Cancun with?! Everyone comes back to school in the fall with a slew of stories ready to be shared. Yeah, sometimes so much free time can get a bit boring, but I like to take advantage of my boredom because during the year I have no time to be bored. There is always something going on somewhere; it’s a matter of finding it.

There is so much time to make this summer a great one. Be adventurous! I want to hear ALL about any stories you have this summer—so leave a comment below to tell me about your experiences!! Let’s make this summer AMAZING!

Sounds of shattering glass, crashes, fans screaming, sirens and police commands. It was certainly the most frightening night of my life.

When I heard the deejay on hip-hop radio station 92.3 announce a free Drake and Hanson concert at the South Street Seaport in NYC, I immediately started planning what I thought would be a fantastic night full of music and free fun. Since I found out about this concert literally the day before the event, almost none of my friends could make it. I arranged to meet my sister and brother and our friend Tom at the [ ...continue reading ]]]>

Sounds of shattering glass, crashes, fans screaming, sirens and police commands. It was certainly the most frightening night of my life.

When I heard the deejay on hip-hop radio station 92.3 announce a free Drake and Hanson concert at the South Street Seaport in NYC, I immediately started planning what I thought would be a fantastic night full of music and free fun. Since I found out about this concert literally the day before the event, almost none of my friends could make it. I arranged to meet my sister and brother and our friend Tom at the concert; however, I arrived much earlier than they did. While I was waiting, I tried moving up in the crowd—which was impossible because the whole venue was mobbed. They had expected around 10,000 people to attend the concert. Well, somebody miscalculated, because there were more than 25,000 people there.

After a half hour of trying to find a view of the stage, my sister, brother and Tom finally arrived. The four of us eventually made our way up to a balcony where it seemed like we could get a glimpse of the concert. This all occurred in the span of a few hours. Then, I started hearing the audience screaming, “OHHH!” Everyone tried as hard as they could to see what was causing such a ruckus. Being short, I couldn’t see a thing. I climbed onto the stair railing with the help of Tom and my brother. When I stood up tall, I could see the thousands of people below getting restless and impatient. Drake and Hanson were not being permitted by the NYPD to get on stage because of the overcrowded conditions, so the Drake fans started physically fighting with the Hanson fans and the rest of the audience was getting excited about the action.

While I was standing on the railing, I saw people starting to throw flowers from flower pots and water bottles down at the people fighting. This started the riot. Immediately when I saw it starting to erupt I screamed, “Get me down NOW!” Everyone on the balcony tried to find cover. The next thing we knew, big glass bottles of alcohol were flying above our heads smashing the windows right next to us. Metal chairs, tables, whatever people could find were being thrown. All I could do was cover myself and my sister’s head underneath an umbrella. We were terrified of being hurt. My brother was incredibly close to being hit with a bottle, but thankfully a woman pulled him under the umbrella and covered him.

The next thing I knew, five or six police officers came running up to the balcony commanding everyone to get off. Holding hands, all four of us got off as fast as we could. Looking behind us, we saw a couple men being difficult—I wonder if they were the ones to be arrested for “obstructing police” and throwing a bottle? Seven people were injured that night—two with major head injuries. When we got home that night many of our friends had already seen the news about the concert. Everyone wanted to know that we were safe.

The next morning we found an article on the Daily News website with a picture of US included! I could not believe that out of the 25,000 people to attend this concert, the site happened to choose a picture of us for its article. The whole thing was insane and didn’t feel real at all. I had never experienced anything like this before in my life, and I hope I never do again. Next free concert I hear about, I will carefully think about what to expect and whether it is worth attending.

Any girl would love a $1,000 shopping spree, however I think it meant a bit more to three girls from Haiti: Chantal Mori (17), Sarah Maurice (8) and Margarette Pierre (17). These girls, who lost limbs in the earthquake in Haiti, were brought to New York by Wyclef Jean’s organization Yéle Haiti to be fitted for prosthetic limbs. Kmart teamed up with Yéle Haiti and donated $1,000 to each girl to buy anything they wanted, from dresses to digital cameras to shampoo.

Attending this event was very meaningful and exciting to me. Watching Sarah have [ ...continue reading ]]]>

Emmert/Getty

Any girl would love a $1,000 shopping spree, however I think it meant a bit more to three girls from Haiti: Chantal Mori (17), Sarah Maurice (8) and Margarette Pierre (17). These girls, who lost limbs in the earthquake in Haiti, were brought to New York by Wyclef Jean’s organization Yéle Haiti to be fitted for prosthetic limbs. Kmart teamed up with Yéle Haiti and donated $1,000 to each girl to buy anything they wanted, from dresses to digital cameras to shampoo.

Attending this event was very meaningful and exciting to me. Watching Sarah have the time of her life while picking out toys and holding the hand of Wyclef’s wife, Claudinette, was extremely heartwarming. The best part was towards the end of the day when I was playing with an English alphabet toy, writing words with Sarah. I couldn’t believe how well she was picking up English. At that moment I received a phone call from my sister. I answered and said, “Hey! Want to say hi to my new friend Sarah?” I gave the phone to Sarah, and she immediately started having a conversation with my sister! Then later, when I was waiting with the rest of the girls, they asked me (in broken English) my age, and when we realized that all three of us are 17 years old, I felt an immediate connection. They were no longer the amputees from Haiti; they were regular teenage girls—just like me.

Today I went to my very first conference! It was called What Teens Want Marketing Conference. As we walked in, I was handed a guest pass and a gift bag full of many different items, including a cute notepad and pen, a Pop Star magazine, a $10 prepaid card to Stardoll and some other stuff, too. Being at a conference about, well, me automatically made me feel quite special. We walked into the big hall where the conference was being held—it reminded me of a room where a bar mitzvah might be hosted. We sat down at a [ ...continue reading ]]]>

Today I went to my very first conference! It was called What Teens Want Marketing Conference. As we walked in, I was handed a guest pass and a gift bag full of many different items, including a cute notepad and pen, a Pop Star magazine, a $10 prepaid card to Stardoll and some other stuff, too. Being at a conference about, well, me automatically made me feel quite special. We walked into the big hall where the conference was being held—it reminded me of a room where a bar mitzvah might be hosted. We sat down at a table and immediately started prepping all of our technological devices. I had my Flip video camera, my regular camera, my phone and a laptop to tweet on.

The whole conference was devoted to teenagers. Marian Salzman, president of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, opened with the fresh realization that teenagers have become “teenagents.” She said that our activities are not limited to what adults give us to do and if a thing cannot be found, teens will create it. She said that teens are transforming everyone, and that we are now agents of change, communication and innovation. Other speakers described how to utilize new and existing technologies that teens have grown up with in order to create advertisements to which we will respond. Another topic was about how to become that “cool” spot where teens want to hang out.

Wow. Does anyone else feel like we are finally getting recognized?! For the first time, I feel like we, as teens, have some power over the rest of the world. It feels like we are pulling a trick, and everyone has fallen for it—like every teen on the planet is in on a secret that adults don’t know and are only now trying to unravel. It still amazes me that a teenager created Facebook; now look what it has become. It has always seemed like the adults have been paving the way for us, which may be true, but now we, the underdogs, are getting acknowledged!

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My Facebook inbox is constantly full of messages sent to my whole family by my dad. Messages consist of “Congratulations to Reuben [my little brother] on his band’s first gig [Vapor Friday]. They were great!” or “Happy Birthday Cousin Jordan!” We discuss family vacations, Thanksgiving plans and any other news. This is the only reason I am friends with my dad on Facebook, hence the limited profile. [ ...continue reading ]]]>

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My Facebook inbox is constantly full of messages sent to my whole family by my dad. Messages consist of “Congratulations to Reuben [my little brother] on his band’s first gig [Vapor Friday]. They were great!” or “Happy Birthday Cousin Jordan!” We discuss family vacations, Thanksgiving plans and any other news. This is the only reason I am friends with my dad on Facebook, hence the limited profile. (Sorry, Dad…). I felt too bad ignoring his friend request, so I accepted him and put him on a limited profile. This way, I control exactly what he can and can’t see. Yes, this may be a little offensive, but as said on the “Today Show”, it feels like my parents are reading my personal diary when they look at my profile. That doesn’t necessarily mean that my profile is inappropriate. Parents just don’t understand the teenage world.
Facebook is supposed to be a safe haven where all of my friends and I can connect in one single place. We laugh at funny pictures together while not being physically together. We plan events, join groups and simply chat about anything we like. Except now that parents are joining Facebook, we can’t chat about anything we like anymore. We need to be more careful about what we say and how we say it. I understand that Facebook is a perfect place for adults to connect with people they haven’t seen or even spoken to in 30 years. Sometimes I just wish that there was a separate place for adults and teens to connect.

P.S.: Parents—don’t be offended if we don’t accept your friend request. I promise it is NOT personal!