Maintaining Long Distance Relationships Written by: Katrina Long distance relationships are becoming quite common these days. As the relationships are becoming more common, so are the questions about them and how to keep them going good and strong. A lot of people say that they are difficult to maintain, and those who say so are indeed correct. Though long distance relationships can be hard to keep strong, one must keep in mind that anything is possible when effort is present....

Forgiving an Abuser By Ellie You may feel ready to forgive your abuser now, or you may feel as though you should read through this article. Leave and think about it for awhile, and come back when you're ready. Whether or not you forgive your abuser is your choice; there is no obligation. This is part of your personal recovery; though you may not have felt in control whilst you were in the abusive situation, you are in control now. This article will provide some steps to deal with what...

How to Start a GSA Jessie (Asylum) A GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) is a group of like-minded students (usually, but not always) that gather to share experiences, socialize, or organize their efforts. A GSA doesn’t have to be politically motivated, but it can be! Students in High School start clubs for a variety of reasons. Maybe you want to change your schools non-discrimination policy to include sexuality, gender identity and gender expression. Maybe you don’t need to do that, and just...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 1, Issue 4 (September 2007). How suicide can affect survivors by Mel and Xamed (Jas) Suicide has a heart wrenching effect on its survivors. A survivor of suicide is defined as one who has lost a loved one to suicide. That said, the effect a suicide has can reach far beyond survivors and extend to an entire community. When a person commits suicide, their community is left to survive in the wake of a death - a chosen death. They are usually unable...

Healthy Relationships: The Fundamentals by Jer Relationships sure are awesome! You meet someone--at a party or school event--and start talking, get to know them a little, and pretty soon you're thinking, “Wow, this person is really cool. I think I want to spend more time with them.” So you end up going on a couple of dates, or just hanging out for a while. One thing leads to another, and suddenly you're “together.” Excellent! Congratulations. However, from the first moment you set foot...

Hocus Pocus 2: A review By Cassie (cynefin) Hocus Pocus 2 was released on Disney+ on September 30th, 2022. It was long awaited by fans as it was released 29 years after the original in 1993. The trio of evil witches known as the Sanderson sisters (Bette Midler as Winifred, Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah and Kathy Najimy as Mary) made their return to Salem, Massachusetts, after their previous visit in 1993. Zombie Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones), the man Winifred once shared a kiss with, also...
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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....

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...

The Basics of Intersexism By Nicole (eumoirous) The Intersex Society of North America defines intersexism as “a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male.” Typically, intersex individuals are born with ambiguous genitalia, however they can also appear a certain sex on the outside, but have the opposite sex’s anatomy on the inside. They are usually...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 2 (August 2009). TeenHelp's Top Ten World Roller Coasters By Strider Do you like thrills? Then this list of some of the biggest, scariest, and best roller coasters in the world is for you! Behemoth Theme Park: Canada’s Wonderland

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...

Bullying Written by: Sabrina Well, I noticed that there wasn't a thread that basically provided education on Bullying 101. Anti-bullying is something that I really have a passion for. I have participated in many workshops and have also created a few initiatives and prepared presentations in order to prevent bullying from occurring in our society. I understand that not every situation can be prevented and therefore, I wanted to provide a simple Bullying Guide to help those of you out...

The three common types of learners By Cassie (cynefin) Whether you’re in middle school, high school, or beyond, learning and retaining the information you’ve learned can feel difficult, if not impossible at times in your school career. You learn a lot of new material and it can be hard for your brain to file it all away for future reference. This article is going to discuss the different types of learners and their characteristics. It will also have you ask yourself ...
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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. ...