How to begin dating By Barbara (Unbreakable♥) When you’re looking to date someone there are tons of articles and stories about how to talk to your crush or how to ask someone out. What you don’t see very often is what to do before all of that. Meeting other people When you’re first looking to date you have to meet people in order to see what type of person you’re attracted to or not attracted to. You might care about looks, personality, beliefs, or basically anything that makes a...

Guide to condoms By Traci (Coffee.) Condoms are one of the best ways to protect yourself during sex. Unlike the pill, shot, patch, ring, and other hormonal forms of birth control or not using protection at all, condoms protect you from both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). When buying condoms, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed with all the different brands, textures, and materials that they can come in. It's also common to wonder which one is right for you....

The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern By Manasvi (Artistic Soul) The Book of Tomorrow is a magical modern-age tale. The lead character is a 16-year-old girl named Tamara Goodwin. Being from a rich family, she is used to getting her own way and strongly believes in the policy of "my way or the highway!" Then, suddenly, her father commits suicide because of excessive debts and stress, causing Tamara and her mother to leave Dublin and live with some mysterious relatives (supposedly, her...

Date rape drugs: What are they? By Britt (Le bonheur*) Sometimes rape or sexual assault is assisted by drugs that are slipped into a drink when you’re not looking. Most of the drugs do not have a specific taste, color, or smell. Therefore, it’s very difficult to determine if your drink has been drugged before you take another sip. There are three well-known drugs that are commonly used: Rohypnol, Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), and Ketamine. Rohypnol Rohypnol (roofies) is a...

Conquering your anger By Manasvi (Artistic Soul) Anger: What is it? Anger - a strong and potentially destructive emotion in the human mind. Everyone is aware of this emotion. Anger is a corrosive feeling that can ruin our mental and physical health. It can cause high blood-pressure, violent urges, stress, and lack of peace of mind. People, especially teenagers, can easily become angry. At times, anything and everything can infuriate us. So what do you do during these times? Do you...

Gender identity – Terms to know By Chess (Celestial.) When someone hears the word ‘gender’, most people automatically think of the binary system: male or female. However, more and more people are coming to an understanding about the gender spectrum, which goes beyond the simple ‘male or female’ mentality that many people hold. A lot of people also assume that the terms 'sex' and 'gender' are interchangeable, but sex refers only to the physical characteristics (i.e. reproductive...

Countering your anxiety By Robin (PSY) When faced with an anxiety-provoking situation, two things happen: our body expresses the anxiety, and our mind becomes consumed by anxiety-related thoughts. Most of us have had to speak in public at least once in our lives. This situation can be frightening for most people – in fact, studies have shown that some people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of dying! So what happens when someone is about to speak in public? Their...

Recognizing signs of an abusive relationship By Barbara (Unbreakable♥) When most people think of abusive relationships, they think of physical abuse: the kind that is portrayed in movies or books or even the news. What they don’t realize is that there are different types of abusive relationships, some of which can be a lot less obvious. This happens more often than you would think, especially with teenagers (1 in 4 teenage girls deal with repeated verbal abuse). They may think,...

Kicking comparison to the curb By Maggie (Missmaggie55) The grass is always greener on the other side and unfortunately, many people go through life without ever acknowledging that the very grass on which they stand is the very grass someone else is so deeply infatuated by. It is disturbing to think that more and more children are becoming adults with negative body images. These children were never able to see their true reflection and instead turned to dangerous diet pills, plastic...

Planning your pet's vacation By Robin (PSY) Many of us are going on vacation during the summer and winter breaks! Before you pack the suitcases and print off the boarding passes, though, have you considered where your pets will be while you’re gone? Fortunately, making arrangements for your furry, feathered, or scaly friends won’t be too difficult or time-consuming, now that you have this article to help guide you through the process! First, determine each pet’s needs. Dogs will...

Protecting yourself from abusive individuals By Robin (PSY) Most of us have been confronted by another person, either physically or verbally. As scary as those moments can be, the events following the confrontation can be even more frightening. What do you do when someone continuously harasses or threatens you? Is there anything you can do to stop your abuser, even if they haven't physically harmed you? The simple answer is yes! There are several steps you can take to make someone ...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). Cartilage Piercings By Mandy (Life.Is.What.It.Is) Cartilage piercings, piercings on the top part of the ear, are some of the most sought out piercings in today's society. Unfortunately, because of the type of skin and location of the piercing, they can also get easily infected if they're not taken care of. Most medical professionals suggest getting this type of piercing done by a professional rather than attempting to do...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). World Cup Fever! By Brittany (.Brittany.) The 19th FIFA World Cup took place from June 11th to July 11th. Even though it was hosted in South Africa, you probably heard many screaming fans cheering their teams on as well as the heart break and devastation when their favourite team lost. There were many heated moments, especially as the clock was running out of time, or when there was a penalty kick; whether or not they missed...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). Maintaining Professionalism By Katrina (AppleTini) As we hit our later teenage years, many of us begin to hold job positions at local movie theatres, aquatics centers, restaurants, or stores. Whether you are currently working at your first place of employment for the summer, or have started working full time at your forth or fifth place of employment, it's important to maintain an air of professionalism regarding work at all...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). Loved Ones of those Who Harm By Casey (Casey.) Self harm is a very difficult thing to understand. It is scary to find out that your best friend or sibling is harming themselves. It is even scarier to learn that your child is cutting or otherwise hurting themselves as a way to cope. Most people don't understand exactly what self harm is; those who do may not know how to help. Self harm is just what it sounds like. ...