Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 10 (March 2008). Exam Planning by Chazzz It’s just that time of year when all of your examinations are flooding in and you’ve got a heap of work to get done. With little time to get it all done, things can get quite stressful. It’s true; most of us procrastinate. We leave our work until the last minute, then have a mad rush to get it all together in time. This only results in stress and possibly suffering grades. While work can begin to...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 12 (May 2008). Choosing a Candidate by Vessol It's hard to write a news article for a monthly issue. Why, you may ask? It's hard mainly because the news changes faster than the weather. What's up-to-date one day is old news the next, and lets not even get into months. When I was thinking of writing an article, I turned on the TV to get a brief idea. As many of you know, the dominating thing in the media lately is the 2008 Elections. As...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 12 (May 2008). Seeking Support by St@rG@zer I have been with TeenHelp under various user names since 2005, and I have been a member of TeenHelp's wonderful staff in the past. While being around I have noticed something about rape victims that I'd like to share. I would also like to raise awareness, raise confidence and offer support information for rape victims who use or are guests TeenHelp. I have an older sister who was brutally and...

Having Unfair Expectations of the Child We Once Were By CanadaCraig If you were abused in some way when you were a child - that abuse was being understood by you AS a child. And if you are now 15 years old it is UNFAIR of you to try to apply your 'adult logic' to what you went through as a child. But we do that all the time. And we have no right to do that. But worse than that - we often shame the child we once were - and blame them for 'things' that are NOT THEIR FAULT. "I should...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 10 (March 2008). Loving Yourself by .Infinity. (Mel) As we go through life, we all go through different things. We go through different experiences, different obstacles, different phases and so on. Many times, mostly every time, the things that happen during each situation can make a huge impact on how we see ourselves. May it have been something someone said, something you couldn't do or whatever, either negative thing can cause you to have...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 10 (March 2008). Coming Out by .Infinity. (Mel) Growing up, discovering your sexual orientation may be one of the most difficult things you will go through. Not knowing how you feel can be quite confusing. As important as knowing your sexual orientation is, coming out to those close to you is also something that may be quite important to you. When you do know how you feel, however, coming out may be quite nerve wrecking. This article will...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 9 (February 2008). Depression by *xxjessxx*, Katiee & .Infinity. (Mel) An introduction - What is depression? Depression is an illness that affects your body, as well as your mood, thoughts and behaviors. As your self-esteem levels tend to change, your eating and sleeping patterns can change as well. Despite what some people say, depression isn’t just something where you can just “pull yourself together” from. It takes a lot of time and...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 9 (February 2008). Abuse by .Infinity. (Mel) Abuse is one of the most common heard terms around the world these days. We hear about it in television, from people we know, and most of all on the Internet. To abuse or mistreat something or someone is a very unlawful act, one which usually has horrible results. Though many things can be abused or mistreated, the main target for such a thing is usually children. Whether the child is young,...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 6 (November 2007). Friendship and Forgiving by .Infinity. (Mel) In your lifetime you will meet many people. Within these people you meet, you will often befriend someone. Sometimes during a friendship you may have a few disagreements, which at some point may cause arguments. These arguments can be small, but at other times they can be fairly large. While sometimes the argument may end quickly, at other times it may never end. Never-ending...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 6 (November 2007). Bullying (a mini manual) by Gitler What is a bully? Based on a wide range of reasons, a bully is a person who attacks others either verbally or physically. A bully usually has little or no regard for the feelings of his - or her - victims; thus saying or doing extreme things at times. A simple act of messing with someone does not make one a bully, a person who torments others on a daily basis does. Why do bullies torment...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 2, Issue 10 (April 2009). Binaural Beats by Maria (Gidig) What are binaural beats? In rather broad terms, binaural beats are specifically made frequencies, formed to change your brainwaves -- which control your state of mind -- how your brain reacts, and more. Binaural beats have been acknowledged since 1893 by a German physicist, Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. Since then, they have been extensively researched with a significant amount of data collected.

Keeping It Safe By Anonymous (Please note: This is a guide, and only advises on safer sex. It can not guarantee 100% protection, but greatly reduces risks. It's wise to know your sexual partners and their sexual habits, to further lower this risk.) Introduction - STIs So we all know that when a guy's sperm goes into a girl's vagina, she can get pregnant. I don't know about you, but my sex ed seemed most concerned about this. However it isn't the only risk involved in sex, and you...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 2, Issue 10 (April 2009). Model United Nations: impacting the world on a small scaleBy sushi_error Recently, I attended my first Model United Nations Conference at a local university in my town. Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations and draws over 400,000 middle school students, high school students, and college/university students worldwide. High school and college conferences are usually held at large universities/colleges....

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 2, Issue 9 (March 2009). Understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder by Lizzie Visualize for a moment a time when your muscles tensed, your heart started beating faster, your breath quickened and you felt an overwhelming sense of dread. This could be a memory of a time when your car skidded in the rain, when a professor announced a pop quiz that you are not prepared for, a partner wants to have “the talk,” or when you first realize someone caught you in...

Grieving the Loss of a Pet By Shaz When a person you love dies, it is natural to feel sorrow, express grief, and expect friends and family to provide understanding and comfort. Given the rich and intense relationships most pet owners share with their animal companions, the loss of a pet can be very painful. The loss of a beloved pet can trigger overwhelming feelings of grief and sadness. Many consider grieving inappropriate for someone who has lost "just a pet." In reality, though,...