Wellness

A lot of people believe that school does nothing for your brain or that school teaches you nothing, but there are reasons why your education is so important and I will tell you why. First off, when you are looking for a job, most of the higher paying jobs will look at who had the best education and go off of that. If you had straight A’s in your career, then you will have a very good chance of getting the job. If you had horrible grades, you will not find the best jobs as if you had higher and better grades.

One other benefit of having good education throughout your life is that it helps you with your problem-solving skills. If you pay good attention to your education in all of your subjects, it will come around when you have to do a math problem you can do it easily rather than not knowing how to do it. Another reason why problem-solving will help you in life is that when you start to make your bigger life choices like buying a house or paying off loans you will need to know how to do them. So when the time comes, you will know how to them very simply and easily.

Overall, education has many aspects of just having your happiest life. When you know how to handle things simply other than not going to college like some people and not being as smart or not having as high of an IQ as others but knowing what to do in life just makes your life so much better and fun.

Next, most of the time when your family background has a better history of education and grades, it will normally impact you too. This works because if both of your parents both went to very good schools or colleges, then they will know what to do and will help you through your years. One way it will help is when you have to start paying taxes or paying off loans they have gone through all of it so they can help you get a better understanding of it.

In conclusion, if you want to succeed and you want to have a better working family and life, you will want to educate yourself. You will start to see that most of the things schools teach you, will eventually help you, in life throughout your years. All in all, make sure you have a good understanding of how your education works and grows your brain.

During the summer, we’re told to always apply our sunscreen, whether that’s by a concerned parent or even just by the internet. Even though it might get annoying at times, the constant nagging is for good reason. Why exactly is sunscreen so important?

Sunscreen was invented by a man named Milton Blake. He was first to create a successful line of commercial sunscreen. Since then, sunscreen has been created and produced by hundreds of different companies, saving many of us from the harmful effects that too much sun can lead to. When in the sun, it produces Ultraviolet (UV) radiation that damages skin cells. This possibly leads to sunburn, premature aging, and even skin cancer. Many of us (including myself) sometimes may brush off the risks in hopes of getting a better tan or tanning faster. Although sunscreen does block the harmful sun rays, it doesn’t stop you from achieving your perfect tan.

Sunscreen includes organic compounds that catalyze a chemical reaction when exposed to the sun, one of these being Titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is often a primary ingredient in sunscreen because of how well it works at filtering UV radiation. Sunscreen also includes carbon-containing molecules that absorb light, such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone. Sunscreen works by absorbing, reflecting, and then scattering the sunlight.

Let's talk about skin cancer and why you should be so cautious towards it. The skin is the body's largest organ. The epidermis (upper or outer layer) and the dermis (the lower or inner layer) are the two main layers when it comes to skin. Skin cancer starts in the epidermis. The epidermis has three types of cells, two of which being Basal cells and Squamous cells. Basal and Squamous are the two most common types of skin cancer. It can be disfiguring and expensive, but it can be cured. Melanoma is the third most common type of skin cancer, it is the most deadly because of its tendency to spread to different parts of the body, including vital organs. The survival rate of Melanoma for stages 1 and 2 stands at 98.4%, stage 3 standing at 63.6%, and stage 4 at 22.5%. No matter the survival rate you should always be careful, there's no telling whether you could or couldn't be a part of the risky percentile.

Now don't let the risks I've mentioned scare you away from having a great summer. Just remember to take these into consideration and always wear your sunscreen!

For the past 2 years, especially last year, we’ve struggled to cool down in the hot summer days. Last year, Oregon hit a high record of 119 degrees. I think we should end this school year with a couple little tips to beat the heat!

The hot summer days are serene and perfect. No school and no homework to bother our summer schedule. Except one thing, the heat. The scalding heat is incredibly toll taking and beats our whole mood. The hot temperatures can increase a person's stress hormones, causing the person to feel moody or angry. The Pacific Northwest has been experiencing high temperatures lately but we are not going to let it affect us this summer season!

Tips on staying cool

• Foods and Natural Remedies

Yes, certain types of foods and herbal remedies can be useful in helping you stay cool during the intolerable heat. One of the main resources you can rely on is peppermint and sage tea. Peppermint tea has menthol, which is known for its cooling properties. Sage has appeared to soothe and cool the digestive aid. Another, is aloe vera. Aloe vera has been frequently used for its major benefits and its potential to cool the system.

• Avoid the Sun

This one is pretty obvious, but avoid the sun. When indoors,tilt your blinds up and avoid as much direct sunlight. If you're outdoors, make the most of the shades by sitting or standing under trees or by using a parasol. Lastly, close the curtains during the day and open the windows during the night to let cool air circulate in.

• Drink Fluids

Drinking a lot of fluids (especially water) will help you stay hydrated and cool. You’ve probably heard this a million times but it's true. Staying hydrated has so many positive effects. And is critical for your heart health and overall well-being. Drinking water in hot temperatures is a key tip to staying cool.

• Clothing

The type of clothing you wear is another great way to stay cool. Your choice of clothing should be within the thin loose type. Loose, thin, lightweight, and light colored clothing is great for the summer. The breathable clothing lets air enter and exit, speeding evaporation, cooling you faster.

• Cooking

Last but not least, cooking or kitchen involvement. Take a break from cooking, mainly kitchen appliances, like the oven or stove top. Those kitchen appliances heat up the home and also waste energy. Instead, take time making popsicles,smoothies, and other cooling foods!

Using some of these tips, it could really change this summer season, leading you to have an enjoyable summer without the discomfort of the heat. I hope these resources could potentially help during these hot days. Have a stress and heat free summer!

Many people struggle with Mental Health including children. Lots of people think that just because you’re young, doesn't mean you can have Mental Health problems. According to https://www.nami.org/mhstats,

21% of U.S adults experienced a mental illness in 2020. The month of May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States since 1949. It was founded by an organization called Mental Health America, they wanted to raise awareness and reach out to the public about Mental Illnesses and why it is important.

Mental Health can be many different conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, and schizophrenia which is a mental illness that can affect how the person thinks, feels, and behaves. Mental Health Month aims to bring awareness to all the people that Mental Health has had an impact.

Many people might wonder “Why is Mental Health Important?”

Mental Health is very important, it impacts someone's everyday life. It can affect relationships because it impacts how you interact with family and/or friends, it can also affect someone's physical health by inducing stress which can be very harmful to the body.

Over the past 20 years, many organizations within the U.S have been making great strides in their efforts to increase the importance of understanding mental health issues. Mental health plays a big role in your overall well-being. When you’re mentally healthy, you are able to enjoy your life and the people in it and feel good about yourself. It’s normal for your mental health to shift over time and not a lot of people realize that. Everyone every once in a while deserves a Mental Health Day, it's good to take breaks and spend time alone to relax and deal with stress.

In the last few years, the tiny house movement has taken over the world. The pandemic has created more reasons to build tiny homes. The rising concerns about climate change have made tiny homes look like the more sustainable option. With this recent popularity, what are some benefits and drawbacks of tiny homes?

First, tiny homes may be a more affordable option, especially in places where the price of housing has gone up a lot in recent years. According to Insider, “82% of renters see renting as a more financially reasonable option when compared to owning a home. To break that down further, 72% of middle-class renters said they would not buy a home because the cost of down payment would be too high.” Tiny homes cost approximately $52,000 in the US, which is significantly less than a traditional house.

Also, tiny homes can be more sustainable. According to Ted, “buildings are responsible for about 40 percent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. And not surprisingly, research shows that house size is one of the biggest predictors of home energy use.” Research shows that living in a smaller space also makes people more conscious of how many items they have and how much energy they're using. Along with that, tiny homes require fewer materials and less energy to build.

There are also some downsides to living in a tiny home. Because of the small area, you have to constantly keep the space clean. A quote from Insider says, "It can actually be challenging because you have limited space, so you need to be more organized, and you always need to do your dishes right after you eat. You have to go grocery shopping more often because you have a smaller refrigerator, smaller pantry." You have to live a very compact lifestyle to feel comfortable in a tiny home. It may take some getting used to, but reducing the number of items you have, also reduces your impact on the environment.

Overall, tiny homes can be a very efficient solution to some of the problems we are facing today. Especially with the need of affordable housing in Portland, tiny homes could be a good solution. It could help decrease the amount of homeless people. They are a more affordable and sustainable option, and they can provide more housing for people who need more affordable housing.

According to Therapeutic Pathways, “about 1% of the world’s population has autism spectrum disorder.” Autism Month is a great way to acknowledge the people on the spectrum. In this article, I will define autism, discuss the importance of Autism Awareness Month, and talk about how autism affects the daily life of someone on the spectrum.

Autism Awareness month is a month to acknowledge all the people who have autism. Autism falls on a spectrum that includes many traits and behaviors, and the different ways they impact people with autism. According to Division of Public Health, there are a few different types of autism: Autistic Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Development Disorder. (Asperger’s and PDDs are now classified under the Autism spectrum.)” Below are some of the characteristics of these three kinds of autism.

• Autistic Disorder: Communication and social challenges, repetitive behaviors, and language delays. Many people with this disorder also have an intellectual disability.

• Asperger Syndrome: Milder symptoms of autistic disorder. Some might have social challenges and repetitive behavior but they don’t have problems with language or have an intellectual disability.

• Pervasive Developmental Disorder: Milder symptoms of autistic disorder and asperger syndrome, but have social and communication challenges.

Autism Awareness Month is celebrated in April. People normally celebrate it Saturday, April 2nd. According to National Today, “it was first held in the year 1972 by the Autism Society. Autism Acceptance Month emphasizes the need for public awareness to promote acceptance, celebrate the differences, and be more inclusive towards autistic individuals around us.” We celebrate this because it’s awareness to the people that have autism.

A lot of adults and kids on the spectrum find it difficult to socialize and communicate with other people. They also have restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with autism also have to adapt new ways of learning, moving, and socializing. You might wonder if autism affects their daily life. People with autism might find it difficult to do certain things like showering, getting dressed, doing daily chores, or brushing their teeth. According to Forbes, “kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have an even harder time with bullying, being many times more likely than their neurotic siblings to have experienced it in their lifetimes.”

I have a sister that is on the autism spectrum and has an intellectual disability. Right now my sister would like more friends and would like to do more social activities. I hope Autism Awareness Month helps bring attention to people on the spectrum. I also hope people are kinder and there are more social activities for people like my sister.

Self-love is very important for teenagers. According to the American Psychological Association, having self-love is key to positive mental health and well-being. High self-esteem matters because it helps you develop coping skills, handle adversity, and put the negative into perspective. A few main tips for self-love are staying mindful, Resilient, and calm.

Staying mindful is a big part of self-love. Mindfulness is the intentional, and accepting focus on one's attention on the emotions, thoughts, and sensations occurring in the present moment.

“Wherever you are, be there totally” -Buddha

Mindfulness is being aware, living in the moment, focusing on breathing, and paying attention to your thoughts as they emerge. Our life is shaped by our mind, so we decide what we choose to think. Think happy, positive, confident thoughts about yourself. You are amazing!

Staying resilient is another big part of self-love.

“Resilience is knowing that you are the only one that has the power and responsibility to pick yourself up” -Mary Holloway

You can overcome the challenges you may be facing. Learn from your setbacks and mistakes. We all know that obstacles are a part of your success!

One last big part of self-love is genuinely staying calm. You can manage your emotions in tough situations. When you can't control what's happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what's happening. The only thing you can control in this world is how you respond to what happens. You are in control of your inner space.

Don't take precious time criticizing yourself for not being perfect. When you learn to accept and embrace yourself, your life will change! Self-love breeds self-confidence, self-worth, self-respect, and self-forgiveness. Do not underestimate the power of self-love. Self-confidence is a superpower. Once you start loving yourself and believing in yourself, the magic starts happening.

During April, we discuss and celebrate many things, one of which is Autism Awareness Month. Not being able to connect or understand other people makes communication very difficult. This lack of understanding fuels exclusivity in our communities, and this applies to everyone. About one in 60 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or shortened to autism. One of the most common misconceptions is that autism is a mental health disorder. Instead, it is actually a neurological disorder with abnormalities in brain structure and neurotransmitter levels. However, it is more common for people with developmental disabilities to develop a mental health disorder (co-occurring).

Since it is a spectrum disorder, symptoms greatly vary. The most common symptoms are related to how a person communicates and interacts. Again, not all symptoms are the same and vary in severity but often include: delayed speech, repetitive speech (echolalia), obsessive interests (similar to OCD), delayed movement skills, hyperactive behavior, unusual reaction or mood, delayed cognitive or learning skills, lack of facial expression, etc.

Many people with autism develop splinter skills, where they have one in-depth skill that they specialize in. While people with autism may have delayed learning skills, this does not mean they are insufficient or lack intelligence. Our society today is heavily dependent on being able to communicate your thoughts through direct contact (instead of writing a paper, speeches are commonly required in schools). While autism symptoms can include anxiety while speaking and gaze avoidance, this doesn't mean they lack intelligence. The difficulties experienced when talking to someone with autism are from a mutual lack of understanding and similar experiences (double empathy problem). Conversations were often compared as if talking to someone who speaks a foreign language. Neither person is dumb, but having autism and constantly being looked down upon or misunderstood aggravates and only widens the gap during conversations.

Patience and understanding are needed more throughout the community as people with autism have lower employment rates than those with physical disabilities. Getting through interviews where a conversation has an almost constant flow is an issue for people on the autism spectrum. As mentioned before, because our society is so heavily dependent on communication, we don't recognize the intelligence or potential that all people have. Autistic people are still human; they still have emotions and a strong sense of empathy, and their skills and personality vary just like anybody else.

Being in a pandemic for two years has been hard on all of us. The pandemic has caused many things. For example, some people have built unhealthy food habits, and it has affected their sleep. Did you know that the food you eat throughout the day can affect how you sleep? I recently read an article in The New York Times on how much food can affect your energy throughout the day, and affect the way you sleep. In the article, it talks about what you can do to get better sleep, what foods will be better for you, and how this study was done.

Let’s start off with how this study was lead. In this case, researchers turned to what's called “randomized controlled trials”. This means that they took a certain amount of random people and told them what to eat to see if there was any changes in their sleep. A number of studies should that there was a “diverse array” with individual foods like warm milk, and fruit juice. But those studies have been very small and not very exact.

What foods are better for you to eat? If you play a sport like basketball, soccer or volleyball, they most likely require you to get up early for early games throughout the season. If you eat a bagel for breakfast, it has a tendency to slow us down because they are so complex in their carbohydrates. Muffins also have the same tendency. If you eat things like avocado toast, or maybe a rice cake with some peanut butter; something with protein is a good morning type of burst. As you eat things with high protein, you want to make sure you aren’t eating too much later on in the day because studies show that it will keep you up at night.

If you asked someone, “what can you do to get better sleep?”, they would most likely say go to sleep earlier. While that answer is technically correct, have you ever thought about you not getting enough sleep because of what you eat during the day? One food that helps you get better sleep is a kiwi. There was a study done by The New York Times that shows if you eat two kiwis one hour before bed every night for two weeks, you will get better sleep. Other studies from Piolet Study showed that drinking tart cherry juice can improve your sleep as well.

Sleep is different for everyone. Did you know that men who get a shorter amount of sleep get a greater appetite and want to eat more? In women, there is “less of a signal that makes you stop eating”. Don’t forget a poor diet and sleep are still two different things. Scientists have found that as a person loses sleep, they can experience changes in their brain that makes them want junk food even more. Although there are some takeaways, this article shows you some ways to help you get better sleep. Do you think that you will use any of these ideas?

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Are you drinking enough water? Probably not. Drinking water is a crucial and vital part of living on earth. Without water, we would simply just die. Some people might think that they don’t need to drink water, but I’m gonna tell you why that is wrong.

Not drinking water can cause dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, and cause your body to overheat. Not drinking water can lead to constipation and kidney stones.

Drinking enough water can increase your energy. Since your brain is mostly water, drinking it helps you focus, concentrate and be more alert. Drinking water flushes out toxins in your body, it gets rid of waste through sweat and urination which reduces the risk of kidney stones and UTIs (urinary tract infections). Drinking water helps your skin complexion, and also helps moisturize your skin, keeps your skin soft, fresh, glowing, and smooth. It can also help prevent wrinkles and acne.

If you completely stop drinking water the lack of blood flow in your skin will cause you to turn a grayish-blue color. After 3 to 5 days of not drinking water, your organs will begin to shut down, especially in the brain which could have lethal consequences. You might be fainting and having strokes and in extreme cases even death.

How much water should you be drinking? A simple rule is to drink eight cups of water a day. To help you remember this, you can use the 8X8 method which means you drink eight cups of eight ounces of water a day. If you want to be more specific towards your body you can take your weight divided by two and that’s how many ounces you should be drinking a day. For example, if you weighed 100 pounds you would divide 100 by two which equals 50, so you should be drinking 50 ounces of water a day.

Drinking water can be hard so something I would recommend is carrying a water bottle with you. If you look around the school you will notice many many students carry around water bottles with them which is an amazing idea to help you stay hydrated.

Not only is drinking water important, but it can also make you feel better. Drinking water sets out serotonin in your body which is a hormone that makes you feel happy. Please stay hydrated.

Minimalism is best defined as the process of identifying what is essential in your life, and having the courage to let go of the rest. When you hear the word minimalism, you might think about having less stuff and buying fewer things. Decluttering is a great place to start if you're interested in a minimalist lifestyle. You can be minimalist in other ways, but mainly by taking only what you need and letting go of the things you don't need. This might mean something as easy as cleaning your room or as difficult as figuring out what makes you happy in life.

Minimalism can improve many areas of your life, including mental health. Being a minimalist, you can experience less stress and anxiety, and allow for more happiness and fulfillment. According to Psychology Today, this means placing less focus and meaning on material possessions and simplifying life to concentrate on what makes a person happiest and most fulfilled. Having less clutter can make an impact because you have less to clean and take less time looking for items. You can be more organized and focused.

Minimalism is also good for your finances. If you only buy items that serve a purpose or bring you joy, you are spending less and saving more. The same goes for the environment. When you buy less, you are creating less waste. Just because you see something that someone else has, doesn't automatically mean that you need it too. If you have things that you don't use or don’t make you happy anymore you should try to get rid of them. Donating those items to charity or recycling are both better for the environment.

One thing that I learned from researching minimalism is that people buy more stuff to make themselves happier, but having more stuff can actually make them unhappy and can make them feel lonely because they are focusing more on things than people in experiences. I think that a change we could all implement in our life is to think harder before we buy something because it might not make us any happier.

For as long as we can remember, we have all heard our guardians, friends, or family warn us about going out alone. Throughout our lives, we have probably heard thousands of warnings from them, but most of us don’t seem to take it seriously. As a woman, going out alone and having to be constantly vigilant is a scary thought. 75% of women have been followed by a stranger. That’s a terrifying number of women if you put it in perspective. With one wrong turn, those women could have ended up hurt or worse.

This year, on February 15, a woman was found deceased in her apartment in Manhattan after being followed home. The man was inside the apartment about an hour before the police could get in and arrest him. This is just one of many scary occurrences involving being followed when alone. Sex trafficking, murder, rape, and kidnapping; the worst but not uncommon examples of what women and children fear when roaming around alone or unprotected.

Ways to avoid being followed or precautions to take to avoid being followed

1. When going out alone, be focused on your surroundings, frequently look behind you and confirm your safety, and try to avoid using distracting electronics.

2. If you are feeling as if you are being watched, trust your instincts and stay alert. Know what is going on around you; if you are using earbuds, take them out so you can hear unusual sounds. It is also good to keep your eyes up rather than looking down at the ground, for other obvious safety reasons as well.

3. If someone is following you, it’s imperative to stay in a populated area, preferably one with many stores or with plenty of people milling about.

4. Keep your phone close by at all times so you can dial 9-1-1 quickly if needed. If you are fully aware that a person is following you and feel your safety is at risk, call the police. If you have gone inside a shopping center or a mall, you can also describe what is going on to a security guard.

5. Let someone know where you are at all times. These days, there are plenty of apps on your smartphone that use GPS to track your location.

6. To ensure safety, keep a self-protection/defense tool with you when going out. Pepper spray, tasers, emergency whistles, and personal alarms are a few good examples.

7. If you are a minor, be alongside an adult or friend when going out. If you’re alone, follow the tips listed in this article.

Being followed can be a frightening experience, but no matter what the situation is or its potential outcome, it’s important to stay calm. Staying calm and collected will allow you to remain rational and take the necessary steps to keep you safe.

Did you know that if you are feeling tired, breaking out, headaches, etc.. These could all be signs of dehydration? 75% of Americans are dehydrated and you could be one of them. Drinking water is very important because it significantly affects many parts of your body like energy levels, brain function, and more.

What is dehydration?

Dehydration is when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don't replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated. It can cause a surprising number of issues like illness and infection. According to Healthline, The average person should try to drink eight glasses of water per day, increasing that if you are exercising or in excessive heat.

Symptoms of dehydration

Thirst is not the only symptom of dehydration, but it is one warning sign that you can easily identify. But there are so many more people who may ignore it. When dehydrated you may show some symptoms that you need to increase your water intake: you feel thirsty, you feel tired, dizzy or lightheaded, you have a dry mouth, lips or skin, food cravings for things such as sweets, bad breath, skin breakouts, even weight gain and more. If you relate to any of these you may need to drink more water.

Easy ways to increase your water consumption

1. Get a reusable water bottle and keep it with you at all times. (It motivates you to drink more water)

2. Having a goal for the end of the day to drink a certain amount of water can help.

3. Set reminders

4. Replace other drinks like soda with water

5. Drink one glass of water before each meal

For as long as we can remember, women have been stereotyped to like pink. So girls' toys and feminine products are usually the color pink. Pink tax affects women from daily shopping to dry cleaning. Pink tax can cost a woman over 1,300 a year on basic needs like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, shaving cream, and menstrual products.

So what is the pink tax? The pink tax isn’t actually a tax, it is a gender discrimination price markup on generic products for women that has slowly been getting more attention. This “tax” targets mostly colored pink products or those specifically designed for women. For example, a pink razor costs twice as much as a blue razor just because it's pink and women are more likely the target market. Some products like razors, shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, and feminine products are most susceptible to this pink tax. Health line says “women paid as much as 50 percent more than men did for similar products.”

How is the pink tax affecting women? Well, the pink tax is affecting women's wages and sports teams. Women's sports teams make less than men's sports teams. Over a lifetime of the pink tax, a woman will pay an average of 82,000 dollars on everyday items that do not include menstrual products. Women in the US spend $150 million on menstrual products which are also included in the pink tax.

What is the history of the pink tax? When did it first start? Thebalance.com says that the pink tax started in the 1990s when dry cleaners would pay more to wash and dry women's blouses compared to men's button-up shirts. This applied to 64% of major cities.

Some may argue that women's products may cost more because they have more on the packaging or stronger scents. Well while this is true if you put more on the packaging the price will be raised. But the companies should not put better packaging on women's products and raise the price.

In conclusion, states are taking action to stop the pink tax. California banned tax on menstrual products in 2020. Happily, the US is recognizing pink tax and putting an end to it. These little footsteps our country is taking could make a good impact on women's futures and wallets.

In the past few years, social media has become extremely popular among kids and teens. With this immense popularity, it has started influencing microtrends and fast fashion. Fast fashion is essentially a business model that works to replicate high-end trends at a low cost. This model does come with a price though, the clothes are poorly made and the people making them are working in terrible conditions. All this just to produce trendy clothes.

On social media is where a lot of these microtrends start. Teddy bear jackets, tie-dye everything, and the Vsco girl aesthetic are all examples of trends that started on social media. These trends start with one person and spread across the platform until everyone is influenced by them. With these trends, lots of teens, especially girls, feel pressured to buy things just because they are popular. This helps fashion brands make more money out of the trend cycle.

One example of this is Shein. This fashion brand started gaining popularity in 2020 on social media. The clothes are cheap, many being under $10 dollars, and they can put out as many as 1000 new clothing options a day. They are the epitome of fast fashion. According to Vox “Shein raked in close to $10 billion in 2020, which was reportedly its eighth consecutive year of revenue growth over 100 percent.” This rise in sales is mostly due to its popularity on social media. Hauls of thousands of dollars of Shein are put out on Instagram influencing this growth in profits.

A lot of the appeal for brands on social media is the ability to put out ads and sponsorships. Many fast fashion brands these days don’t have in-person shops and rely on online stores and social media marketing to sell their products. They sponsor influencers, paying them to promote their brand with discount codes and try on hauls. Because of social media’s vast popularity, this method works for these brands. This could end up being the way to shop in the future.

One downside to fast fashion is its influence on the environment. According to Green America Americans generate 16 million tons of textile waste a year. Not only are the clothes wasteful but they also come wrapped in plastic packaging. Many Americans also think that they are being environmentally conscious while supporting fast fashion. Vox states, “What intrigued us was how the consumers said they cared about sustainability, but that care did not translate into their actual purchasing behavior.”

Overall, I think social media has really boosted the fast fashion industry to what it is today. The influence of trends and sponsorships makes it ideal for clothing companies, and the partnership between influencers and brands makes it ideal for social media apps. The impact of fast fashion is growing, but at what cost?

For different reasons, teenagers are at a high risk of depression through Middle school and High school. One such cause can be failing school. If a student’s academic performance is so poor that they end up failing school, it leads to severe depression in a student. As well as sports and a teen's social life as well. Being depressed keeps them from having the motivation to do anything. What are other reasons why this happens and how can we help stay healthy and happy?

Some reasons why mental health is an issue for you are bad habits

such as not getting enough sleep, lack of exercise, lack of sunshine, not drinking enough fluid, and eating unhealthy.

If you have felt extremely tired and depressed, you aren't getting enough sleep at night. The healthy amount of sleep every night should be a full 8-10 hours for a teenager. Another cause of depression is lack of exercise in a day. Doctors recommend for the age 13-18 should get at least 30 mins of physical activity 4 times a week. Try your best! Find a way of exercise that you enjoy, whether that's a sport, running, walking, lifting, jump roping, and many others!

Get outside and breathe fresh air! Just from being outside doing something fun and getting sunshine and fresh air makes your mind so much better! In your dark room, scrolling through social media for hours doesn't help your mentality. Get outside with friends/family and have fun!

A healthy diet also has a big part in depression, whether that's not feeling good about yourself or what you ate. You should be eating 6-11 servings of the browns group, such as bread, pasta, rice, and cereal. For the vegetable group, you should be eating 3-5 servings a day of veggies. 2-4 servings a day of fruit, 2-3 servings of dairy, 2-3 servings of protein, fats and oils. Sweets, you should use sparingly, and of course you CANNOT forget water. The healthy amount of water for a teenager should be 6-8 glasses of water each day.

These are some healthy things that we tend to forget as teenagers! These are great things to help physical and mental health! Remember that these are all great small things to help recover, but there are also way more serious things to help. You know yourself and if these small daily habits help you out, that is great! But what else is great is going to talk to an adult! There's always someone out there that's willing to listen to you, even if that's your parents, relatives, teachers, or the school counselor!

School counselor's Emails:

nikki_thrower@beaverton.k12.or.

fanya_stein@beaverton.k12.or.us

katrina_tabor@beaverton.k12.or.us

In case of emergency

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Oregon YouthLine: 1-877-968-8491

Thanksgiving is a time to think about what you are thankful for. Historically, it was a day dedicated to giving thanks for a good harvest and enough food. November is gratitude month. It is the month to think about what you're grateful for. Did you know that being thankful is actually good for your health? Practicing gratitude can lower depression, help you sleep better, and boost your immunity.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are many ways you can practice gratitude and improve your health. They suggest keeping a gratitude journal. When you know you are going to write about things you are thankful for, you think about them more. If journaling is not your thing, you can also keep a gratitude jar where you just write down things quickly and add them to the jar. You can see your jar filling up with things you are thankful for.

Other ideas of showing thanks are writing “thank you” cards. You could write some things like, “thank you for being a great friend, or thank you for coming to my party.” Another way is giving compliments to your friends and family or even a stranger. Feeling good about yourself helps you to relax and then you feel better and sleep better which makes you more able to fight off any illness or disease.

Maybe you think that some of these ideas are not worth your time. However, being thankful takes just a few moments can help both your physical health and mental health and can brighten someone else’s day as well. Doesn't that sound worth it?

10 Questions I get asked a lot as a vegetarian:

Why would someone want to be a vegetarian?

There are various reasons why someone might want to go vegetarian. One big reason for me is that I think it is an ethical choice for the animals. I feel that it is not necessary to eat meat. Other reasons could be religious beliefs, health problems, the environment, or even personal taste.

What is the difference between vegan and vegetarian?

Vegetarians don't eat meat but may still eat the products that come from the animal. Vegan means that you don't eat meat, animal products, or foods that exploit animals in any way. So vegans don't eat any dairy products, eggs, or milk, while vegetarians may eat some or all of those things.

How do you get enough protein and iron?

Plant products have a lot of iron, especially dark green leafy vegetables. You can get protein from lots of different substitute meats like beans, soy, and many vegetables. Even potatoes have protein and iron. You can also supplement iron and other vitamins from vitamin pills that you can take every day.

If you don't eat meat, what do you eat?

People think that vegetarians can only eat salad but there is a lot more variety to being vegetarian than just salads. I can eat almost anything you can, except actual meat. People sometimes ask “do you miss eating hamburgers?” From my personal experience of being a vegetarian for almost 4 years, I don't miss it. There are so many great substitute options like beyond and impossible burgers that you can get at about any restaurant or grocery store.

What can vegetarians order at fast-food restaurants?

Most restaurants have great vegetarian options or can substitute meat for plant-based meat, beans, potatoes, or tofu. Those are the meat alternatives that are most known to people. So, if you order from a fast-food chain restaurant, you can ask if they sub for vegetarian options.

Do you mind if I eat meat in front of you?

For me, I don't mind if you eat meat in front of me because I respect you eating meat if you respect me not eating meat. I don't mind if you talk about meat, either because it is your personal choice.

Do you miss eating meat?

I don't miss eating meat because of all the meat alternatives. Also, I have tried and experimented with so many more foods as a vegetarian than I would have before, so I feel like I get to eat a big variety of great healthy food.

Is it hard being vegetarian?

It has not been hard because places have recognized that there are a lot of vegetarians and added more choices to their menu. At home, vegetarian recipes are easy to find online or in cookbooks and make great meals. The hardest part of being vegetarian is probably when restaurants have limited options or can’t substitute meat for a meat-free alternative.

Is it healthy to be vegetarian?

Studies have shown that a vegetarian diet is healthy because it lowers the risk of heart disease, certain cancers, obesity, and diabetes. It is important that you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables to get all of your vitamins and minerals. You can’t just eat bread and pasta.

Do you have any advice for someone who might want to try being vegetarian?

My advice would be to ease into it. Don’t commit or set a time limit- try it out for a day or a week to see if you like it. Try a lot of different foods and learn what kind of fruits and vegetables you like the best. Order something off the vegetarian menu when you eat out. Maybe try to gradually eat less meat overtime or cut out one certain kind of meat first.

When you draw a picture, does it have to be perfect? Do you get uncomfortable if you don’t get to do something? Do you feel a need to wash your hands often or for extended periods of time? You might have OCD.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is “a chronic mental health condition characterized by obsessions which lead to compulsive behaviors”, according to healthline.com. This, in short, means that you impulsively do things that make you feel safe, good, or important, until it becomes a habit. If you don’t do these things, you may feel depressed, unsafe, sad, or uneasy.

For me, I get really annoyed when people use Arial font. I don’t know why- it just makes me really angry. I prefer Times New Roman. This may be similar for you; there are memes about ‘using Comic Sans’ going around, which most likely stemmed from someone with OCD. Getting annoyed at fonts isn’t the only problem- people can obsess over cleanliness, order, volume, people… the list goes on.

Some people, maybe even you, have dismissed obsessive behavior as ‘ridiculous’ or ‘stupid’. If you do not have this problem, it may be hard to understand. Many think that people use it as an excuse to get out of doing something. But this is not the truth. You should try to be understanding towards someone with OCD, as getting annoyed at them will only make them more obsessed with their habits.

While it may seem like OCD is not a big problem, it can have a really big impact on your everyday activities. Time that could be spent with family and friends is lost to organizing your desk for the 100th time. Your hands get dry and irritated from washing them too much, which makes you wash them even more. It’s important to recognize when the problem becomes severe, and when to seek help.

This disorder never really goes away, but you can do things to block it from taking over your life. Seeing a therapist is really helpful- or even just talking to someone you trust, whether it be a friend or a family member. Just explaining why you obsess over these things can really help both you and that person to understand what you are going through. You can also try exposure therapy, such as forcing yourself not to fulfill your obsessions. Hiding the things you obsess over and distancing yourself from obsessive outlets can be hard, so you can do it gradually. Mixing in rewards can also help distract you.

I have linked some resources at the bottom of this article that you can visit, and hopefully they are helpful to you.

Medline Plus

National Institute of Mental Health

The Children's Program

A lot of middle schoolers may be interested in sustainability, but feel like they don’t have the ability as a young person to make decisions that could be good for the environment. If you want to be sustainable, consider how all the plastic waste you use goes straight to the landfill and does not decompose for 20-500 years. So reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic is a good place to start. Sustainability is about every choice you make, and you can start making those choices right now.

Plastic facts:

• 90% of plastic is not recycled.

• Plastic bottles take 450 years to decompose.

• A plastic toothbrush takes 500 years to decompose.

• Plastic straw takes 200 years to decompose.

• And a plastic bag takes 20 years to decompose.

One of the best things that you can do as a consumer is to mindfully cut down on your plastic usage. Every piece of plastic you have used still exists today and most of that goes to landfills or makes its way into our water system. Plastic is a big part of everyday life and often cannot be avoided. If you can’t avoid plastic, recycle it. Even plastic bags can be recycled at many local grocery stores.

Some tips you can use to cut down on your plastic waste:

• Instead of using plastic single-use water bottles, use reusable water bottles.

• Shampoo bars instead of shampoo bottles.

• Bamboo toothbrushes.

• Reusable cups at coffee shops.

• Use a reusable tote bag to go shopping.

• Drink aluminum cans of soda instead of plastic bottles of soda.

• Avoid unnecessary packaging on things like fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Instead of throwing away plastic cutlery spoons, forks, knives, wash them and reuse them.

• Instead of cling wrap use cloth bowl covers.

• Use reusable silicone sandwich bags or paper disposable ones.

Remember every piece of plastic you use affects the environment, and though you are young and don’t necessarily make large family decisions, you can make your own decisions about plastic. Having conversations with your friends and family about this issue can help change their actions too!

*These plastic waste statistics and more may be found at the WWF and Greenpeace websites.