Every afternoon at 2:45 there's a man who bikes along Route 22 to Dominick's where he's worked for years. He bikes home at night through any kind of weather with his backpack. No lights, all dark clothing, just the small reflectors on his pedals.

Some days near Lake Zurich I come across the same man I saw while practicing how to park in the parking lot of my old church. Two years ago he was there with his bike, a stuffed animal, skinny jeans, black tank top, top hat, a studded belt, and a dark beard. He bikes the streets around Lake Zurich, occasionally leaves to visit Deer Park mall where he's looked strangely at by others. 


According to students at our high school, each feeder middle schools represents a different social class. I came from the wealthy, upper-class, rich school with kids who are "loaded" and selfish. Realistically, my family is fortunate and well taken care of, but we don't match the classification. We support my cousin who is divorced with a seven year old daughter and we supported my aunt who was struggling with a million things and had no money. I was never raised to believe I was entitled to anything, but that I should always be there for others who were in need of help.

Being classified by a social class simply sucks. Writing others off to a generalized group restricts them from overcoming what they're limited by. What we should be noticing is that there are millions of people, let alone Americans, in the world who are trying to make ends meet and could use a little bit of our help. 

I'm sick of athletes, celebrities, big-named artists receiving billions of dollars to spend on some mansion while so many people are left to sleep on the streets. I hate seeing wealthy people treating Starbucks employees like crap trying to order some $5.30 drink that could go toward buying someone else dinner for the night (I love my Starbuck's employees, but I do spend too much on coffee). 

So many people get caught up in their own world, in their money, to notice some of it can go toward something greater. It's time to start doing something different, especially with the holidays coming up. Let's bring some happiness to everyone this season.

Young Deviant Dependence on Drugs

Just this morning one of my friends told me she was arrested last night for drug paraphernalia. She didn't break down crying. She didn't consider changing her lifestyle. For some reason, she almost seemed proud for ending up in the office of a local jail. 

Sixteen years old and she's already been handcuffed. She magically avoided the incident being written in her record. But neither were enough to tell her she's basically hit rock bottom. Within a few hours, she was back at home and already certain her her life as a druggie wasn't over.

I tried to be role-model for my friend, someone to go to no matter what was going on, someone who would love her and help her, someone to look up to when she had on else to go to. 

Apparently I'm just some ignorant, straightedge seventeen year old who doesn't know how "awesome" weed is because I refuse to be a part of it. To be honest, I don't need to try it nor care to. I don't need a drug to make me artificially happy because I'm stronger than that.

What makes me upset is seeing my friends actually think they need to be dependent on drugs to bring happiness in their lives when everything seems dark.

Our school's society is writing off kids who would probably be seriously punished if they lived elsewhere. I believe our school and our community are ignoring a serious issue and allowing excuses to cover the truth. Drugs ARE a problem; no matter what the kind or their effects. Clearly there is a problem when so many teenagers resort to being deviant by smoking or drinking because they love feeling of being "bad ass", or when so many kids think they need weed to get by. Punishments need to be implemented, programs need to be started, resources and help need to be provided so we can actually attempt to do something.


No more justifying weed or ignoring the problem. It disgusts me seeing so many people rely on marijuana just to forget and numb everything that's hurting them. There are other answers, but of course hardly anyone is there to actually help them.

post 12.

My mom always instilled this idea of "a random act of kindness" in my brother and I. At dinner my dad used to always ask two things we learned that day, while my mom overlooked it and wanted to hearthe random, kind things we had done for others.

Each individual in our society is self-centered to some extent. We're always determined to get where we need to be, focused on what we need to do, and worried about what needs to get done. Helping others is easily forgotten. 

Going out of your way to bring someone else happiness should become apart of your to-do list because it has more value than a test score, getting to class on time, or catching your favorite TV show.  

The random acts of kindness give others a small reason to smile that day. We need to start going out of our way to give something great to someone else.

Doing something awesome for others just-because is deviant. It's weird, strange, and unexpected, but it's beyond worth it.


I want to start challenging myself to do something every week because I get way too caught up in the little things. Giving someone else a reason to smile or feel awesome that day is way more important.

Is 80 lbs good enough?

Last night I made a quick trip to the grocery store to buy tea. As always I got caught up in the magazines by the checkout line for a few seconds. Portia de Rossi, Ellen Degeneres's wife, had recently been a guest on Ellen's show where she openly discuss her story, one of modeling and anorexia (to watch the highlights click here: The Ellen Show). 


At 12 years old Portia was being objectified and "sexified", instead of modeling for others her age. The once somewhat confident young girl lost her self-esteem and started comparing herself to all of the other models, judging every part of her own body. She wanted to be in control, to be like the others, to be admired for being the impossible "too thin". She kept secrets, started obsessing over dieting and exercising until she starved herself to 80 pounds. 

Every girl and woman adores these models, secretly craving to look like them; but to look like the images, you have to destroy your body.

Portia still occasionally calls out parts of her that aren't "perfect" enough, but then realizes how unrealistic and irrational she's being. Today she looks into the mirror and accepts herself because she is healthy instead of constantly trying to be in control over work outs and food.


Females in today's society want stick-thin legs, a flat stomach with hip bones showing, tiny arms, highlighted cheekbones, revealing shoulder bones, a huge butt and bust, along with the defining haircut and iimpeccable complexion shown in the media. Portia said the media is damaging who we are and who we are supposed to be. Our culture is providing all females with an irrational, unrealistic, impossible image to reach that affects us every time we see it, and half the time it's affecting us on a sub-conscious level.

This is not me ignoring what guys have to face, but me explaining what's affecting me, my friends, and women and young girls all over the world. It would be awesome if we could start challenging the media to publish un-airbrushed, healthy looking models. And we need to remember, no matter how difficult it is, that who we are is just as gorgeous and beautiful as that girl on a magazine cover. Our natural beauty with our flaws along with our personalities is what makes us truly beautiful. 

Lyrics from Ke$ha's new single:
"Got that glitter on my eyes
Stockings ripped all up the side
Looking sick and sexyfied
So let's go uh oh
Let's go"
 - why do we need to have make up and revealing clothes to be sexy? I really don't understand.