Some people may decide that their interests should mainly be ignored, and that they should only pursue whatever it might be in a casual manner. This is an o-k, solution, but in my opinion, you should always do something that you love. For instance, I’m a psychology student (which I wouldn’t change), but I love astronomy and science. I’m not particularly good enough at astronomy to make it my major, but it’s something I would still like to explore in my college days. This is why I’m advocating that anyone who has some sort of outside interests should try to join a club. If one doesn’t exist, start one yourself!

I know clubs may sound silly to some, and nerdy to many more, but they’re great. Most colleges have budgets for student activities, but there may not be any one taking advantage of this. All it takes is for a few brave individuals to do the leg work and start a club of their own – this is what happened at my college.

After returning from my study abroad experience, my interest in astronomy was at a fever pitch. There was an astronomy class offered abroad, but nothing was offered here in Boston. Many of my friends felt the same way, and a few of us got together and petitioned our college to start an astronomy club. I’m proud to say that it’s currently doing amazing, (only 2 years in), and it’s still growing. Although none of us will become astrophysicists, we do get a chance to get together with other people who share the same interests, and talk about really cool stuff. Also, being part of a club is a great thing to put on your resume, and helps you get involved in your school community. Try it! You might be surprised.

-Frankie

I know that when I’m bored or not very motivated I look for new things to do and try. I love trying new recipes, cleaning out unorganized spaces, and surfing the web for new ideas on how to spend my time. However, none of those have been cutting it for me recently. I’ve been disinterested in doing all those things… and have been watching (a lot) of TV.

So, the other day, instead of sitting on the sofa and wasting the afternoon away, I decided to surf the web to find a new hobby or something new to try. I looked at a few different websites and found some cool things to try, but I ended up deciding to make a scrapbook for my mom. I love taking photos and I think that creating something with lots of family photos will be fun and a great gift for her. It’s something I’ve never really done before and will be a great project filled with memories and fun!

Some other ideas I think I might try in the future include:

• Sending a card to someone new every day for a month
• Keeping a journal
• Starting a band
• Going backpacking
• Learning a new language
• Having a holiday theme party
• Discovering a new author
• Inventing a board game
• Writing a song
• Making a dream tent or a fort from the sheets and lights in your bedroom

Hope these ideas inspire you to try something new, and solve your boredom on any rainy day!

-Katie

Guys, the first hours and days following your breakup are the worst. Some of you may be confused, sad, unmotivated, or distracted. Others may be angry, frustrated, or hurt. No matter how you feel about the break up, you have to remember that what happened, happened. Don’t stress yourself out over aspects of life you can’t control. Accept the things you can’t change.

Here are a few tips on how to take care of yourself after a break up:

• Give him/her space!

After an emotional break up, the last thing you want is to open up old wounds and burn a bridge with your ex. Give him or her some time to collect their thoughts and settle down. Take this time to calm down as well, and think carefully about what happened. Don’t talk to your ex until you’re ready; rushing into a conversation can go drastically wrong and upset both of you.

• Be Healthy!

Many times during (and after) a break up there’s an impulse to self-destruct. This can range from pigging out on ice cream every night, to using alcohol or drugs. Unhealthy habits will just lead to unhealthy thinking, and vice versa. Instead of sulking on the couch, get some exercise! Vigorous physical activities such as running, participating in sports, or weight lifting can release chemicals in your brain that help you to feel better. Participating in activities along with eating well and refraining from drug or alcohol use can ease your mind and keep you from breaking down.

• Always look on the bright side of life!

Staying positive is very difficult during emotionally challenging times. You may feel like nothing is going right or that life sucks. Focus on the little things in your everyday life that make you smile; the clever joke your friend tells you that makes you laugh until your sides ache, the delicious dinner you had at home, or even the first time you can plop down on the couch after a day at school. Enjoying the simple pleasures can do wonders for your health. Instead of obsessing over your ex and being miserable, focus on your own life and laugh along with all the good moments your have during the day.

-Elan

The author talks about how society views bullying on TV, the affects of bullying through social media, and the various attempts and programs formed to prevent bullying. Swidey raises questions about the unrealistic situations of bullying seen in kids TV programs in which the good girl/boy wins in the end - because no real life bully has an epiphany and becomes a saint. Swidey also writes about tactics taught in some workshops and explains the discouraging statistics, emphasizing that many of these programs have no affect on bullying, thus he proposes that we take action in a different way. Swidey suggests that the approach should focus on the role of bystanders and the positive affect they could make in a bullying scenario. Reading the article helped me appreciate a different perspective on bullying and ways to prevent it, so I thought I would share a portion of his article:

“Take, for example, the bullying materials the Massachusetts Medical Society puts out for parents… Teach your child how to help without getting hurt, the materials advise. Your child might say, ‘Cool it! This isn’t going to solve anything. Really, can you imagine any better guarantee for turning a bystander into a victim than by encouraging him to yell “Cool it!” to a bully in a crowded corridor? And when was that last time you even heard that phrase come out of the mouth of someone under the age of 34? More realistic and practical advice might simply be to get the bystanders to walk away, denying the bully an audience without drawing a target on their backs.” – “The Secret to Stopping a Bully”, by Neil Swidey.

The article explains that bullies feed off of the attention that’s given by bystanders more than anything. I agree with the author in that the spotlight should also be on the bystander’s role, because it’s not only about the victim and the bully. People tend to forget that. I bet that plenty of kids have wanted to stand up for what’s right but are afraid of being victimized. Just think, if no one paid attention to the bully, then what’s left to light the fire? What would happen if everyone walked away? Bullies are insecure and feel the need for attention and power. What if more and more people stopped cheering and laughing at the victim and just walked away? Others just might follow, and then little by little people would soon stand next to the victim without feeling nervous or scared about being on their own…because nobody likes to feel alone. I hope that those bystanders hiding in the crowd can see that it can be realistic to stand up to a bully, not only for the victim but doing it for themselves and others. It’s time for voices to be heard.

I suggest reading the article. It might leave you thinking differently about bullying, like it did for me.

-Alexa

I am so fortunate to be living in the 21st century where blacks, whites, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans, and so on, can eat, dance, meet, greet, wed, hold hands, and live together in harmony. My neighbor is Guatemalan, my math teacher is Irish, my tutor is Middle Eastern, my bus driver is Jamaican, my best friend is Haitian, and our president is black. Can you imagine if none of this was ever possible? I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to converse and learn about all different races, cultures, and ethnicities. Cool, huh? We have all struggled to be where we all today, which just goes to show you how everyone can make a difference in history. Just like MLK stated in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, we’re not judged by the color of our skin, but by the content of our characters. Happy Black History Month!

-Christina

I’m a very picky eater, so I definitely understand that eating healthy is very hard. However, I definitely have some tips that will hopefully help Ms. K lose weight. First, I think that Ms. K has to really want to lose weight; otherwise it’s going to be even harder for her to motivate herself or to reject certain foods. Second, I think that she shouldn’t skip breakfast. Eating breakfast will help keep her fuller for a longer period of time and will get her metabolism going. Of course, she should try to eat healthy foods such as whole grains, a glass of low-fat milk (instead of juice) and a piece of fruit or two instead of something such as a pop tart or toaster strudel. Also, instead of eating the school lunch (which I never ate because I always found it to be disgusting), she can bring her own lunch to school. I know it may make her feel like a little girl, but I remember that a lot of people in my high school used to bring their own lunch. Like her breakfast, her lunch should be healthy, so it should include protein, fruits, and vegetables.

From personal experience, I learned that if a food isn’t in the house then I probably won’t eat it. So, it would be good if Ms. K’s parents didn’t keep junk food in the house. The thing is, if you like something and you know it’s available; you may end up eating it even if you‘re not hungry. I know that I tend to be like that, so I just try to avoid keeping junk food in the house – and it definitely makes it easier to consume fewer calories. I learned in my nutrition class that the hardest thing about losing weight is breaking the habit of eating the things that you normally eat.

However, I do understand that it’s good to have snacks throughout the day, so keeping whole grain crackers, yogurt, popcorn, and fruits that she likes around the house may be a good idea. Ms. K’s family should also be involved in helping her lose weight. To start, they should change their dinner menu to something healthier. I think that if they all support each other and are motivated enough, they can help her, and maybe help themselves in the process.

-Erica

To be honest, at first I really didn’t get how to use the website. I looked at it and thought “I don’t have time for this”, but one afternoon I was pretty bored and decided to test it out. After seeing some different ideas and things I wanted to try, I began to build my pinboard. Some of my favorites include new recipes, online shopping websites, empowering female messages, and awesome photos taken all around the world.

You might be thinking “Oh, this is just another website”, but it’s not. If you want to use some creative energy and try something new, I recommend trying Pinterest. It’s filled with beautiful images and ideas that will inspire you on any boring day.

-Katie

I think that the media has a lot to do with why teens want to get pierced. Just about every “teen” channel you click on, whether it’s B.E.T., VH1, or MTV, there’s a show where members of the cast are sporting some sort of body piercing. Just as the media shows us that being a size “2″, having perfect skin and long, flowing hair is the ideal look, I believe that the media also tries to persuade teens that piercing every inch of their body is beautiful as well.

I remember when I was an incoming seventh grader; none of the girls or boys had piercings. Now, lots of my friends have at least one piercing in their eyebrow, tongue, nose or someplace else on their body. I’m not saying that it’s a completely bad decision for someone to get pierced; it’s their body! However, people should take a moment to stop and think about how a piercing will affect their appearance. Having certain types of piercings can even limit their job opportunities. All I’m saying is that teens should make an informed decision about body piercing before getting pierced, rather than letting the media or peer pressure influence them.

-Christina

I started playing cello at age 5, and I guess I chose to play it because it wasn’t too big like a double bass, and not too small like a violin. Ever since then I’ve always liked the sound of the cello. It’s a unique instrument, and also very difficult. A lot of teens my age wouldn’t be so interested in practicing for hours throughout the week, and it does get hard sometimes. However, I’ve come to learn that perseverance is the key to mastering and getting good at something.

I have been so blessed to play with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. I really hope that as I become a senior in high school I can reach the senior orchestra and have the opportunity to travel around the world to different countries. The orchestra has traveled to tons of places, such as Spain, England, and Germany!

It’s interesting to see how music can have such an affect on someone. I think that’s the real reason for why I’ve fallen in love with music. For me there’s no other feeling in the world that compares to sitting in the front row and hearing a band play, or when I plug in my headphones and listen to my favorite songs…

-Alexa

But why should you care about this number, you might ask? The sugar in your blood is controlled like the thermostat in a room during the winter. When the room gets cold, the heater turns on. If the room gets hot, the heater cools off. When your blood sugar gets too low, you’ll likely feel hungry as your body tries to balance itself, and you may also feel sluggish and tired. On the other hand, when your blood sugar gets too high, your body releases insulin which helps your body to absorb the sugar. The glucose that your body doesn’t use is then stored as fat.

If you have PCOS, you should try to replace high GI foods with low GI foods to help keep your blood sugar and insulin levels under control. Choose whole grains instead of refined grains. If a food is a whole grain, whole grain or whole wheat will be listed as the first ingredient on the nutrition facts label. When choosing a carbohydrate food, you should also look at the fiber content on the food label because, usually, the higher the fiber content, the lower the GI.

If you’re trying to control your blood sugar and insulin levels, what you eat with carbohydrate foods matters, too. If you eat a carbohydrate food combined with another food, the carbohydrates will be absorbed more slowly. Always pair carbohydrate foods with a source of protein, such as nuts, cheese, hummus, eggs, fish, or meat. If you have PCOS, eating according to MyPlate is a great way to make sure you’re getting plenty of veggies and protein to help balance the carbohydrate foods you eat.

-Dietitian Bryan