The Teen Reporter

Facebook: The Stories of the Bullied

Technology has become our life. We can’t picture ourselves without it. Ironically, most of us don’t know what to do with it. Sure, we use it for contacting one another from afar, advertising our business, and other things made easier, but what are we really doing?

I will tell you what the majority of us - the kids - are doing. Facebook is the primary use of our time. Facebook, like other social networks, is a place where you can be open minded about yourself, but kids have brought havoc to Facebook. It is not like a war, but it is cyber-bullying, one of the most harmful obstacles our kids are facing nowadays.

One of the most practiced cyberbullying method is called a “burn page.” A “burn page” is a page where angry or bitter kids go, upload a picture, and post a caption about the person they hate or don’t like. Most captions are not pleasant to see. When it happened to me, I struggled to take down the offensive comment and felt helpless since Facebook was not taking care of it. I could link to one of these pages, but I won’t for the sake of those who are being targeted, like myself.

If interested in listening to some kid’s perspectives on cyber bullying, visit Netsmartz. The stories are acted scenarios of what could happen or what has happened to teens that have been cyberbullied. Netsmartz is an organization branch of The National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. You can check some written stories from young people who have dealt with cyberbullying at About.com's Family Computing site. This website contains both the problem and some solutions to the problem.In apost called “Never give up,” Sid talks about being constantly bullied by a gang for two years, but after finding the courage to talk to a parent, it ends.  Not only does this story provide a shocking point of view, it also gives Sid's advice: "Don't suffer in silence."

Cyberbullying is a hard thing to deal with, especially if you are constantly being targeted. Teens and kids that share their experience with the world are more than courageous; they are heroes. To those who are being targeted now, you are not alone. There are adults and peers that would gladly put a stop to cyberbullying. You can share your story. By sharing your story, you will be a click closer to stopping the growing phenomenon that has haunted many.

Photo credit: MoneyBlogNewz

Back to school safety for CPS students

About two weeks ago I did a series of posts about surviving high school, but I didn’t really say anything about safety. So I just want to you know tell you a couple of rules that I think every teen should try and practice, even if my suggestions sound stupid.

Are double standards fair when teens are put behind bars? No way.

Double standards in general are unfair, but particularly to minors that have been convicted as an adult and they can’t even have adult rights.

I mean I know I’m only 15, but it just doesn’t seem right that a 17-year-old has the same rights as me but can’t get the benefits of actually having a life when they get out of prison. They’ve already suffered enough having to share a cell and community bathroom with psychopathic adults.

The only thing more frightening than a bad manicure or a horror movie is … report cards!

    Okay, sure, if you don’t do well on your report card, your mom is going to go off like a bomb during The Blitz (that's a reference to Nazi Germany's bombing of downtown London and other parts of Great Britain during World War II for the few that are failing British History).

Sometimes high school makes you want to scream

Okay students, it’s time for auditions in the role of “shrill girl screamer.” High school can sometimes make you want to scream like Esther in this video from the movie “Orphan.” (It’s probably one of the scariest movies EVER!) Even though screaming feels like the best idea when you get stressed out, it isn’t always enough. Just check out freaky Esther in this movie clip, and yes she got the part for best shrill girl scream!

High school is like one big social heirarchy

    Just like many TV shows, you'll notice that the brainless head cheerleader and the half-Neanderthal quarterback are treated like heroes in high school. They're more like undercover dictators of the student body. I mean they really control the entire social aspect of high school.

In high school, you've got to make it work

    I don’t expect a lot of guys to know about Tim Gunn, but he co-hosts the show “Project Runway” with Heidi Klum. And one of his most famous quotes is, “Make it Work!” because designers are given limited time to fashion a look on a budget based on the challenge.

What brand of teacher do you have?

Deep breath people. You’re about to be faced with one of the most important steps in a teen's life … High School!

Now, it’s time for some tips that are going to save you from drowning in academic and social suicide. I’m going to go through stress, homework, types of teachers, grades, studying, friends, and project partners. This information can be used for all four years of high school, but it’s mainly for new freshmen and incoming students.

Junk food is never a friend

    What’s more important for you to listen to, your wallet or your body?

Hey everyone, you want to know a secret?

    Well, I just read an article about healthy eating and saw how adults might actually think that all teens are vain. Shocking, I know. Anyway, the article advised parents to tell their teens the kind of stuff they’d tell younger kids like: if they drink lots of milk, they could be as tall as giants. Then, as teenagers, they’d say if we get lots of iron in our diets then we’ll ace our physics test and be able to stay up all night. The stories were ALL lies, but they’re pushing us in the right direction.