Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 4 (October 2009). To Write Love on Her Arms by Katrina October's Cause of the Month is To Write Love on Her Arms, another cause close to the hearts of the large majority of TeenHelp users. As a group of young people, many of whom have struggled with self harm and addiction ourselves, we are truly able to connect with such a modern, accepting movement of love: "You were created to love and be loved. You were meant to live life in...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 3 (September 2009). Operation Beautiful by Katrina This cause of the month, Operation Beautiful, has become close to the hearts of many TeenHelpers since it became popular around the forums over the past few weeks. Operation Beautiful began when a twenty-five year old blogger, Caitlin, became fed up with what is referred to as "Fat Talk." Fat Talk is basically when women say or think negative things about their bodies. Fat Talk, and the...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 2 (August 2009). Veterans Airlift Command by Katrina With many injured war veterans coming home each and every day, this month TeenHelp's Cause of the Month is a phenomenal organization called Veterans Airlift Command. Unfortunately, there are many current and former soldiers who need medical assistance but do not have a means of transportation from state to state, or country to country. Furthermore, there are also many families of...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 1 (July 2009). She Dances by Katrina With the release of volume three, Avatar will now contain a monthly, noteworthy cause that the editors feel is sometimes unrecognized, unknown, but utterly unique. We hope "Cause of the Month" will raise awareness for these great causes, the purpose of these movements, and the visions that started them all. "Every girl deserves to dream. Every girl deserves hope. Every girl deserves to love and to be...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 5 (November 2009). National Novel Writing Month By Nat (Strider) New Years is a time to set personal goals, but November is the month to step forward and achieve your personal goal of writing. November hosts National Novel Writing Month, a great way to embark on a creative journey and express yourself in ways you would not have thought possible, as well as have a lot of fun. Chris Baty founded NaNoWriMo just over ten years ago, giving...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 5 (November 2009). Lung Cancer and Smoking by Jessie Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, killing over one million people each year. This cancer is most prevalent in North America and Europe, and among people ages fifty and older with a history of smoking. In fact, lung cancer was rare before cigarette smoking became popular. November is Lung Cancer Awareness month, and each year on the third Thursday of November the...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 5. (November 2009). Remembrance Day by Jessie Remembrance Day, or Poppy Day, is commonly observed on the 11th day of November to mark the day World War I ended ninety-one years ago, in 1918. On or near this day, nine nations memorialize the sacrifices of both civilians and members of the armed forces in times of war, with special events such as parades and moments of silence. On Remembrance Day many people wear paper poppies, small red...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 5 (November 2009). Obama's Nobel Peace Prize by Mai (sushi_error) With only eight months under his belt, the announcement of President Barack Obama being named the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize recipient stirred praise and controversy around the globe on October 9th, 2009. According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Obama was awarded the prize for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”. In a...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 4 (October 2009). Top Ten Homemade Halloween Costumes: Affordable but fun. by Jessie, Katrina, and Nat (Strider) Halloween is just a month away and, let’s face it, you’re never too old to dress up! Whether you are going trick-or-treating or to a costume party, we have some fun and inexpensive costume ideas for you! In alphabetical order, here they are: Alice in Wonderland. We all wanted to fall down the rabbit hole when we were kids....

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 4 (October 2009). Dyslexia by Maria (Gidig) Learning disorders, a term many of us have heard use every day. Dyslexia, a learning disorder. But what really is a learning disorder? How does this particular one affect people? So many questions revolve around this one word—dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disorder predominately affecting letters. This includes reading, writing, and spelling. Therefore, it’s mostly caught when a child starts...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 4 (October 2009). Twenty-two days in October: The Beltway serial sniper by Jessie October 2, 2002. What would later be known as the largest manhunt in United States history began on a cool autumn day in Western Maryland. Barely one year after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, fear still ruled many of our lives. I was an eighth grade student and although I walked just one block to reach my school, I would be driven...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 4. (October 2009). Universal Health Care by Mai (sushi_error) Throughout the end of August and September, millions of Americans have packed local town halls across the United States to voice their opinions for and against President Barack Obama’s health care reform. The on-going health care debate has divided parties and created immense tension across the United States. In some ways, this issue has divided the United States as a whole. ...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 3 (September 2009). This Month in History: Going back to September 11 By Jessie September 11, 2001. I’m twelve years old and as I walk through my school I am stunned by the eerie stillness of our never-silent halls. You can’t get us this quiet with the promise of ice cream and pizza but today, a day many of us will not understand until years from now, you couldn’t force us to speak. It’s 8:46 a.m. EDT. The school day has just...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 3 (September 2009). Bring Out The Beethoven! By Nat (Strider) There is no better time to listen to a concerto, go to an opera, or decide to pick up the violin than September! Classical Music Month is a time that everyone can enjoy, even if your favourite instrument is the electric guitar. Classical music is most often played by a symphony orchestra, which can contain over twenty six types of instruments. The instruments fall under the...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 3 (September 2009). The Grey Bipolar Area By Gidig Depression and Bipolar Disorder are both mood disorders that can greatly affect your life. Though many see bipolar disorder as movies and television make it seem, minute by minute mood swings, this is not truly the case. Depression is a constant low mood, lasting weeks, months, and sometimes even years at a time. While bipolar disorder includes depression, you also go into stages called...