Teen Pregnancies

            There are so many problems that teens have to encounter these days, however one of the biggest problems is teen pregnancy. Being a teenage parent is a very stressful and exhausting life style where responsibility is key. Also, a common misconception is that only the teenage parents are affected by the pregnancy, but the whole situation really dies take a big toll on the families of teen parents and the baby.
             The pregnant teenage girl is the one who is the most affected by the pregnancy, obviously. Unless she were to get an abortion, high school would become very difficult and most pregnant teens have to go on independent study, or even completely drop out of school. If she chooses to keep the baby, then she will have to mature rapidly and gain more responsibility. I have had two friends in the past year who have gotten pregnant and they had to miss out on so many of the things that girls look forward to in high school. They also had major self esteem issues after having the baby because their bodies changed so dramatically.
            Teenage pregnancies affect much more then just the teenage parents. All the family that surrounds the teen parents will be affected as well. The family is most likely going to have to help the teenagers raise the baby, since the teens are not going to be fit to raise the baby on their own. It would be both emotionally and physically draining for the entire family to have to support someone else. When worst comes to worst, the teenager's parents are left to raise and care for their grandchild, while their child is out partying with friends. It is really a huge responsibility to take on.
            Finally, the baby itself is affected by being born to a teenage mother. A majority of teens sadly choose to get an abortion, but the few girl who choose to keep the baby have to make sure they care for the baby properly. Sometimes the babies are born into a household suffering from financial problems and may not receive the care a baby should get while growing up. Others may choose to give the baby up for adoption so that they can have a health and happy life growing up. If the baby is born into a stable and functional family, however, then they will grow up to be happy and healthy. Either way, teens should never become parents, because they are simply not mature enough to support a baby.
            Having a baby, especially as a teenager, is always a huge responsibility. Sadly, many teens do things today without thinking about the consequences, so many are getting pregnant. Only one of my friends has given birth to her baby, and while she loves him with all her heart, she wishes that she had never made the decisions that got her to pregnant. We can only hope that all the babies born to teen parents will have happy and healthy lives.
           

Music

             Over the years, music has become a value that many people, including myself, could not live without. Music is more then just sounds that serve as a backdrop to other activities; it affects people on an emotional level. In fact, music can determine what mood a person is in, or can even determine someone’s personality.
             There are many different genres of music, and every genre affects people differently. For instance, upbeat pop songs, or songs that are played in dance clubs, make people happy and give them the urge to dance. Other genres such as rap, heavy metal and hard rock can make people angry or pumped up. Also, some R&B is known to make people sad and depressed. There have even been some scientific studies that prove certain genres can make a person smarter. Even though all of those have been scientifically proven, it does not mean that they effect every person the same way. Listening to heave metal might make some people happy, so it just depends on the person listening to the music. Bottom line, just listen to the type of music that makes you happy. 

            While the sound of the song plays a part in affecting someone’s mood, the lyrics are also a very important part. When listening to songs with sad lyrics or lyrics that tell a depressing story, it does not matter what the beat sounds like. If the person actually listens to the words of a sad song, the lyrics will make them sad. “Last Kiss” by Peal Jam is the perfect example because it does not have a depressing beat, but the lyrics are extremely sad. If one was simply using that song as a backdrop to a different activity, their emotions would not be affected in a negative way. 

            Not only can music affect a person’s mood, it can also affect how the person dresses, or what their style is. For instance, many goth and scene people listen to heavy metal. Other people may look up to a singer they admire for fashion ideas. Music really does play a big role in the world today.
             Music affects people more than we realize. It gives people a sense of identity, security, and comfort. We listen to music to make us feel certain ways, whether we do it intentionally or not. I know for a fact that I would not be able to function without music. I listen to it constantly and I rely on it to keep me calm. Music has become something that people rely on, and it has had so many positive effects on the world.

Karma

            Have you ever heard the phrase, "Karma's a b***h?" Well if I have any philosophy, that would be it. I strongly believe that what goes around comes around, even if it may be a strange concept. Bullies will end up being bullied or just end up in trouble, and people will end up being nice to those who stood up for the bullied kids, or were nice to the "weird kid." Basically, Karma will either be your worst enemy or your best friend.

             Once I heard a story about a nerdy boy and a bully. The nerdy boy did everything he could for charity, and he would do anything to help the needy. However, every day on his way home from school a bully would run up to the boy, knock all the books out of the boy's hands, and call him names. One time the bully even pushed him to the ground. Then, one day a popular football player who was walking home saw all of this happen and stood up for the timid boy. The jock took the boy under his wing and before long the "nerdy boy" was one of the most popular guys in school. The bully ended up in jail for drug possession. Karma showed both of its sides that day; it helped the boy who always helped other people, and got back at the bully. 

            The story, which is true by the way, really shows how Karma acts. I will always try to live by the philosophy of Karma; by being nice to everyone and trying not to judge them, even if I really do not like the person. In my opinion, every person deserves fair treatment, so I try to be nice to everyone and I hope that everyone will be nice to me in return. So far, my philosophy and attitude have served me well in life. 

            Also, another way that Karma acts is if someone is born into poverty, or grows up in a poor family, but they work hard and keep a good attitude, eventually they will get what they deserve. Actually, my dad is the perfect example for that statement. He grew up in a mobile home with his mom, four younger siblings, and a different "step dad" every few months. He was constantly surrounded by drugs and other bad influences, but he did his best to ignore all of that. Every day since he was 12, my dad worked his but off to provide for his family, even when his own parents couldn't. My dad was even forced to drop out of high school half way through his sophomore year so he could feed his younger siblings. By the time he was 21, my dad had married my mom and started a very successful construction company. In my eyes he definitely got everything that he deserves. 

            To sum things up, Karma will always catch up to you. Whether it affects you in a good way or bad way is completely in your own hands. What goes around comes around, so if you want fair treatment, then you better treat others fairly. In some ways, you can be comforted by Karma, because if someone does something mean or rude to you, just know that eventually they will get what they deserve. For instance, look at the "nerdy boy," he became popular and loved, and my dad finally got the life that he deserves. So the next time you have the urge to do something mean or rude, remember that Karma will get you back. 

Facebook

            The internet plays a big role in my generation's life. We can find almost anything we need on the internet, an people have even come up with ways to have a social life through the internet. Facebook allows people to post pictures, express themselves, and communicate with people over the internet. It was created with good intentions, but after a while Facebook opened opened doors for everything from cyber bullying to people to making fake accounts.

             I had a Facebook for a very long time, and I would constantly go online and post pictures and write statuses. However after a while I got tired of seeing people complain about their lives or causing drama. There were so many depressing posts, and people were causing a lot of drama for no reason. Also, girls were constantly posting pictures of themselves to get attention. Finally, I decided to deactivate my Facebook so I would not have to see all the depression statuses and pictures of girls that were desperate for attention.

            Facebook gives people a false sense of security and confidence. Because of that, cyber bullying has become a big problem. People say and do things that they would never have the nerve to say face to face. For instance, people will tell someone to "you are useless," or "you are ugly," and sometimes people go to the extreme and say "go kill yourself." I will never be able to understand how any person in their right mind can sit down at the computer and tell someone to kill themselves, but somehow Facebook gives them the "courage" to do it, without guilt. I can't imagine what it would be like to have people say something like that to you.

            Another thing that's scary about Facebook is that people make fake accounts. If a random person adds you as a friend, there is no way to know for sure if they are a real person. That makes Facebook the perfect place for child predators, who prey on naive children. Sometime people even steal another person's pictures and get caught making the fake account. It's very dangerous.

            Facebook was originally made so people could communicate easier, post pictures or videos of what they are doing, and write statuses about how they are feeling. The creators of Facebook probably did not think of all the bad effects that it could have on people. For instance, they were no aware that it would lead to an increase in cyber bullying. Facebook has become somewhat dangerous because of the lack of security; you never know if the person you are talking to is really who they claim to be. All those reasons are what led me to deactivate my Facebook account. I would much rather have my social life in person than over the internet.