Each year, Time compiles a list of the Top 30 most influential teens by considering "accolades across numerous fields, global impact through social media and overall ability to drive news."
In previous years, I was outraged that social media stars and reality television figures such as Kylie Jenner had the audacity to be listed on the same level as activists such as Malala Yousafza four years in a row since the list was first launched in 2013. Jenner, who has done little more than release over-priced cosmetics lines and be criticized for appropriating black culture, in my mind, didn’t deserve being described as someone who “has changed beauty,” when James Charles—YouTube beauty guru and first male CoverGirl model made the same list. In addition, while I have nothing against this year’s list repeats like Jaden Smith, Maddie Ziegler, Shawn Mendes or even Chloe Kim—who’ll probably make the list again next year after her predicted gold medal in the winter Olympics—I think it’s time for fresh faces like figure skater Nathan Chen. The list isn’t about nominating the same people year after year right up until they turn 20, or typing a paragraph that is only a variation of their nomination for last year. Next to appearing on Ellen, making this list is an acknowledgment signifying success in one’s career at a young age, and because of that, new and actual “influential” people should be on the list. Sometimes, it feels as if it’s just a name thing, because I’m sure there are better people out there than Noah Cyrus—the girl who most people forgot about, but only know because of her older sister. On top of that, the listed should be accurately recognized for things that they’ve done to influence society. For example, one of my favorites who made the list this year was Bretman Rock, who is my religion and a 19 year old LGBTQ+ beauty personality and person of color based in Hawaii. Yet I was disappointed to say the least to read Time’s all too modest recap of his success and recognize him “for demonstrating makeup skills...that could give the Kardashians a run for their money.” Did we really have to compare his contouring to the Kardashians when KKW beauty flopped hard? Why did they neglect to acknowledge his participation in anti-bullying campaigns with Tarte Cosmetics and Bystander Revolutions? We admire Rock for his fiery personality and sassy, loveable nature, but this in conjunction with everything he’s done is why he is an “influential teen,” and should be appropriately recognized as such. Finally, while although it is technically an American magazine, more global figures can and should be recognized. I was pleased to see Chinese pop singer Wang Yuan and mixed Nigerian and South Korean male model Han Hyun Min (also another one of my favorites) make the cut, but simultaneously dejected at the lack of more figures like them. In past years, faces like Joshua Wong were just as scarce. In addition to the narrow-mindedness of Time reflected in its repeats and lack of global appreciation, the list is also restricted to ages 13—19, when some of the most influential figures now, such as Nikita Dragun, a 21 year old entrepreneur working to combat transgender stereotypes by sharing her transition story, are just a smidge over the “requirement.” Because of this, the list should be expanded to “most influential millennials,” or, better yet, something that will change with each new decade of people. Although we may be prone to a barrage of horrendous repeats and brand-name celebrities such as more of the Jenner—Kardashian clan, it would be a broader, more accurate representation of this current generation’s role models.
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As of September 2017, according to the Guttmacher Institute, less than 50 percent of states mandate that sex education actually be provided. On top of that, only 13 states require that when provided, curriculum be ”medically accurate.”
So basically, in the other 37 states, using a euphemism like “the birds and the bees” is actually considered a legitimate and correct way to educate teens on sexual intercourse. Fabulous. Sarcasm aside, failure to implement anatomically and socially correct forms of sexual education in a classroom can be catastrophic. A survey by the National Union of Students in 2015 revealed 60 percent of students use porn to find out more about sex, and 40 percent cited porn as helping their understanding about sex. The survey also found that for more than two thirds of students sitting in a health class, consent was never addressed as part of their curriculum. So, despite that nearly 75 percent of students agreed that porn provided unrealistic expectations, the fact of the matter remains that porn, at least for some, was the number one resource for learning about topics left unaddressed in the classroom, like consent. Classrooms that utilize euphemisms and outdated phrases like “when a man loves a woman…” fail to inform students on the difference between consensual and nonconsensual intercourse. Ambiguity in the way sex ed. is taught equals ambiguity in real life scenarios, which begs the question, “when are students taught what “no” really means?” The answer, to me at least, is “rarely ever.” Sure, someone can argue that consent is a clear cut “yes” or “no,” but if it was universally understood that way, in May 2011, a fraternity at Yale University would not have been banned for five years after parading across campus chanting "NO MEANS YES, YES MEANS ANAL." One might protest, “but that was six years ago; times have changed,” and I completely agree—times have changed. We can’t continue to turn a blind eye to the fact that nationwide, sexual education is lacking. Abstinence-only sex education, which completely rejects other forms of contraception, age of consent, and views on human sexuality is outdated. Parents, educators, and students can no longer continue to turn a blind eye to what’s changing in the real world. No, I’m not implying that every individual will be sexually assaulted, harassed, or raped, but I’m not saying that possibility doesn’t exist all together. Although some may argue with me, abstinence should not be taught as the only form of contraception—because it isn’t. As opposed to creating more misogynistic fraternities, reducing barbaric cases of sexual assault to “20 minutes of action” and a measly 3-month sentence, perhaps we should just consider widening the scope of our sexual education. (What Keeps Me Up At Night)
“Life is like Facebook, people will like your problems and comment, but no one will solve them because everyone is busy updating theirs” It’s been about 5 hours and my clock says it’s just past 2 AM. A message pops up on my computer screen: “Are you still watching?” Of course I’m still watching, but the question should really be Are you still avoiding social contact with every human being possible? Yes. Not only has technology made it easier to beat boredom when I’m alone, but it's also a reason for me not to go out. Social gatherings nowadays are hardly ever social — most teens sit with their friends scrolling through Facebook without exchanging a word. Yet after the so called “hangout” someone will immediately upload a “candid” photo to validate that they had fun. If it isn't posted to social media, did it really happen? Technology has infiltrated our way of communication. The answer to “what’s your favorite season” is no longer “summer” or” winter” rather, “season 5 or 6.” As opposed to making a simple call people text for hours, their eyes fixated on a screen. And in the rare moments when people do speak out loud, it's in acronyms. OMG. IKR? LOL! Perhaps in the future our vocal chords will become obsolete and we will communicate through the morse code-like taps of texting. T-W-B-I-W-I? (That would be insane, wouldn't it?) In order to avoid the exhaustion of comparing how many likes I got on my latest post, counting my followers, and decrypting the ever-changing language around me, I turn to Netflix. But I'm only feeding the problem. It's not the suspenseful TV show that keeps me addicted, and awake, it’s this: technology has too strong of a hold on me. Although it is what distracts me from loneliness, ultimately it makes me feel more alone and increases the distance between myself and real people. My digital self — the girl who appears perfectly quirky in every online comment, photo, text, and post — costs me my autonomy, because the truth is, I don’t feel like I have the freedom to choose what I want to say and upload; it’s based off of everyone else's feedback. I no longer want to be kept awake at night by the stream of electrons coming from my screen. I want to order the “ugly” food without having to think about what will be “Instagram perfect.” I want to be able to go out and wear what's comfortable instead of worrying about how I’ll look in a photo someone will take. I want to be able to be able to sweat in a gym and not have to worry about posting that flawless #GymSelfie. I want to send a text without using emojis and not have people ask me why I'm angry or serious. I want to strike up a conversation with someone in a coffee house instead of pretending to casually text to avoid looking awkward in public. I want to disconnect to reconnect. I want to sleep soundly, knowing that I lived a life without hesitation. Tell Victoria the Secret’s Out: How One Inch of my Midsection got me Branded by School Faculty8/15/2017
As the back to school season kicks off, many elementary and junior high school students are given a school supply shopping list, but high schoolers are not as lucky. Fortunately for you, a veteran high schooler who has pretty much "survived it all" (me) put together a list of unconventional items you can't start school without.
Clean and Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub available at most drug stores including Target Not only is having blemish-free skin and a bright look essential for making an appearance at school, but this particular face wash’s cooling action will wake you right up after a morning shower and leave you feeling tingly and fresh. A portable, external charger available online or in the electronics section of most stores Whether it’s typing up an essay, locating friends, or doing some last minute research for a test, your electronic device is bound to run low on battery. A handy portable charger can juice it back up even when there’s no outlet, but just be sure to keep your phone away during class time. Your schedule set as your lock screen For most high schoolers, the one thing they usually never forget is their phone. As opposed to having a paper schedule that can (and will) become sweaty and damp while it nests in your back pocket, set a picture of your schedule as your lock screen so you have it with you at all times. Headphones/Earphones available online or in the electronics section of most stores. Especially if you’re rounding your senior year of high school, socializing can be emotionally consuming and a drag. To combat this problem, make sure you pack your headphones in order to block out the world and your peers! *Not recommended for students new to a school; we want you to socialize at first. Ice breaker answers Chances are, you’re going to be enrolled in a classroom with a teacher you just met and classmates you don’t even know. Chances are even higher that there will be some sort of icebreaker. If you’re feeling spontaneous, you can leave this item unchecked, but I know I’ve blanked on foods that start with the letter of my first name plenty of times before. Clothes — and a look — you feel comfortable in This is not the time to consider getting bangs again because “maybe this time they’ll work.” The first day is probably also not the best time to break in your new shoes. Unless you want to be blister-burdened and self-conscious throughout the day, make sure to pick a look and outfit you’re comfortable in. A reasonable sleep cycle Gone are the summer days where you could stay up until three a.m. watching cat videos on YouTube. You’ve likely been sleeping in past the time it takes you to get ready for school, so make sure to start going to bed and waking up earlier at least a few nights before the big day. Good luck! “Don’t play victim to circumstances you created.”
I’m scrolling through the forums again; I can’t help but be sucked into the endless posts of college admissions decisions, scholarships, and summer opportunities. As I mindlessly clicked through strings of threads, something caught my eye. Under admissions weaknesses, someone had listed “Asian.” Asian. We hear about racial discrimination. We hear about “minority” groups. We hear about ALANA. We hear about it — but for those who are living it, life is different. Curious as to why someone had cited our ethnicity as a weakness, a quick google search lead me to research full of discrimination against Asians. Race-blind schools had selected overwhelmingly large percentages of Asians, whereas other schools seemingly appeared to have selected against top performers, high scorers, and naturally, child prodigies. Several studies cited that Asians were proven to be a more hardworking race, raised in a more rigorous and demanding household, and overall more competitive in general. Everything rushed together all at once. The stereotypical Asian grading scale was no longer a joke. The “nerd” image associated with my throughout my schooling was no longer just a label. The harsh parenting I thought I had been receiving was nothing short of standard. I became enraged. I was just an “average Asian Female,” who had nothing to compare to the select few top performing Asians who had the opportunity of gaining acceptance into college. What chance did I even hold? Where some might have expected me to push myself harder to gain a leg up on my peers, I instead found myself drowned in a wave of defeat and lack of motivation. The one thing I wasn’t in control of, my race, had proved itself to be something that would ultimately stab me in the back. But there are things I can control. People are quick to blame their labels — race, income bracket, economic status, gender — but seldom ever reflect on what was in their power to change. Although we can’t turn a blind eye to the statistics and published research, we can accept it, move on, and work harder. When you list your ethnicity as a weakness, you’re only ignoring the fact that something else could have taken it’s place. Perhaps you could have tried harder to distinguish yourself from your peers. Perhaps you could have pursued what you loved, not what other people wanted you to do. Perhaps you could have forged better relationships. Perhaps you could have written a better essay. Perhaps you could have tried to change what you were in control of. But instead, you blamed your race. |