Gangsters have the ability (or more likely to do this) to psychologically convince “weak, vulnerable teens” into becoming a gang member. They convince them or brainwash them in a way that the teen’s mind feels as though he or she has to join a gang for their betterment as discussed in Raychelle Cassada Lohmann’s Psychology Today article, “Teen Gangstas”.

  The teens who end up in a gang most likely are the ones who are, as their teenage peers say, “loners”, according to the study. These “loners” refer to the kids who think that they do not have any place anywhere or anyone to call a family. These kids also do not make many friends and are often times found by their selves during lunchtime. In other basic words, they personally feel highly insecure about themselves whether they tell anyone or not, whether they show it or not. Due to these insecurities that the innocent teenager faces, gangs begin taking advantage of that major drawback. Therefore, in order “to catch their prey”, the gangsters assure the innocent (yet desperate for someone whom they could call their friend or family, talk to and generally just have fun or to hang out with) that the gangsters could possibly become the their family where the teen supposedly belongs, but that it would only be like that if the teen joins the gang. Plus, once they have become a gang member, the sudden change from no one to a whole group boosts their self-confidence making them feel and appear as if they were “cool.” The whole group not only boosts the teenager’s confidence but also provides them with a sense of protection and security since it would be much more difficult, in fact nearly impossible, to assault or ridicule someone who is with a group than if that same person happened to be by their self. In all, the timid, self-doubting teen is just desperate enough for someone to be with, that they become part of a gang once a hand is extended towards them.

  This research by Lohmann showed that even children ten years of age are involved with gangs and gang activities. Gang activities include jumping, “sexting”, drugging, stabbing, and shooting others even if the person they physically attacked was not a gang member or rival. Other gang activities are “theft, assaults, drug trafficking, and black market weapon exchanges”. These are the very activities which for some kids who necessarily are not the “loners” prefer. They enjoy the thought of such thrill and adventure as they call it, transforming into the reason that they decide to be a gangster. The teens that like the adventure are the same ones who like to confront authorities and for that reason get in augmented or more trouble anywhere. Then again, there are some teenagers who have friends and once again are not the “loner”, but they do not choose the correct friends or people around who to be with, they choose, let’s call them “the wrong crowd”. “The wrong crowd” uses peer pressure to make the non-gang member a gang member. Peer pressure is also another rising problem which not only teens, but also younger children are facing today. Peer pressure sometimes even includes threats, the creation of temptation in the non-gangster’s mind to become one, and simply throw out an invitation to be “cool” or actually enter the world of crime and violence at an extremely sensitive young period of life when countless life-changing decisions have to be made despite the fact that they are not sensible, mature or wise enough.

   Consequently gangs need to be stopped; gangs have no right whatsoever to psychologically persuade another teen to enroll into a ruthless, frightening world which no teenager should ever have the misfortune to encounter.

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  Mile Larsen, my uncle, took this exact step in August of 2011. He completed his last draft of his script after having many conversations with producers who work with ABC and submitted his idea to the network, hoping it would catch their interest.

  Roughly five years ago, Larsen wrote a script that took place around the time of the Renaissance. As producers read this idea, they contacted him with the notion of creating a comedy that would take place in an earlier era of time. The producers were looking for a script that would contain similarities to the show The Office. As they brainstormed together, the producers learned that Larsen had taken time off form composing scripts to move toWashingtonDC where he writes speeches for Bay Area Congresswoman, Jackie Speier.

  This conversation eventually morphed into the idea of a show that followed Larsen’s main character Atticus, who works in public relations for an Ancient Roman senator during 1 A.D. In the script, every time something goes wrong, Atticus is blamed and is eventually sent to human resources (also called the Dungeon in 1 AD), to be retrained. This simple idea will show how people view their menial jobs, and how they respond to authority. The creation of this show mixes both the vision of producers and the experiences of Larsen.

  The positive aspect of this television idea, besides the fact that it will hopefully receive a few laughs from the viewers, is its two thousand year old setting will allow writers to discuss the current political landscape freely in a different setting. Larsen feels he can generate humor about politics without offending present-day politicians. Instead, the mocking comments would concern the issues of Ancient Roman times rather than today.

  Back in August, around the time where Larsen’s script was initially purchased, there were also another fifty scripts bought as well. The competition is aroused when producers continue to send it to the production company that continually edits the script until they believe it is perfect. They write multiple notes on each draft, and even if the eye doesn’t see plentiful notes on the pages, the writers end up changing a handful of things so the “story” continues to flow well together. After the draft has been sent to the production company, it is then sent to the ABC studio. The same process takes place, as well as at the network headquarters of ABC. Overall, Larsen has written at least twenty different and revised countless drafts over the past few months.

  When a script is bought, there is no guarantee that the words on the page will eventually be said out of an actor’s mouth, or that the stage directions will ever be used. It is simply so that ABC has the right to cast it if they decide it is one of the best ideas out of all the other scripts they have purchased. Out of the approximate fifty that were purchased in August and continuously revised, only about fifteen will be piloted. This is when the producers cast a script and have it acted out. It is a bigger commitment because instead of just paying for words on a page, they have to pay actors, displays, cameras, etc. 

  In the middle of February, the pilot episode will be made.  It is much like a first episode to a new television show that introduces characters, the setting, and the plot of the show. The producers look to see if it will capture the audience’s attention, and if it will be beneficial to the network to eventually air.

  In May, when the new schedule of ABC’s shows is announced, the number of purchased scripts that will be used will drop from around fifteen to five. These five shows are the ones that not only had impact on the producers and the whole network, but on test audiences as well. These are the shows that are believed to impact men, women, and children. To have them sitting on the edge of their seats by the end of the show and make them yearn for more. The company hopes that viewers will discuss the pilot with their friends and also watch the show when it airs.

  Mike Larsen has completed all the steps to making sure his script is in good hands, and has the potential to be aired. In the meantime, he will begin to write new shows in order to have a back-up plan. His whole family is ecstatic that he has created a great idea that won the heart of the ABC network, and they are extremely proud of him. Although this is not his first time writing scripts for television shows, this is just a new adventure that he can experience and it is fascinating to watch him excel in what he does best. Everyone is hopeful that in just a few months, his script will be chosen to be the next show on ABC.

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“Sadie Hawkins” is a term used when a girl asks a guy to a dance. Sadie Hawkins was a comic strip character created by All Capp in the late 1930’s; she was an unmarried woman who chased all the bachelors and “married up” the ones that she caught. The first known Sadie Hawkins dance was held on November 9, 1938. By the year 1952, the event was reportedly celebrated in over 40,000 known venues. This concept spread rapidly throughout the United States and Canada.

  Pitman’s winter formal was meant to be a casual dance that allows the freshman and sophomores to attend because the only other dance is the junior and senior prom. What has the formal turned into? It has turned into a second prom. Since the formal is traditionally a Sadie Hawkins dance, the girls fret over who they will ask for months and create elaborate plans to ask a male friend or boyfriend. Although people use cute and creative methods to celebrate formal, it really only adds unwanted stress on girls, when considering what to wear and also who to ask.

  The thing most females fret about before formal is what they are going to wear. It is all about the dress. So many options—short, long, tight, loose, and let’s not forget the color. It has to be original because nobody wants to wear the same dress. Next they have to pick dress shoes—flat and comfortable, or high and stylish? Many younger girls worry if they will be tall than their respective dates.  

  Next, most students choose a group of friends to attend the dance with. The female has to pick out a group of friends that are compatible with both her and her date. Where will they eat dinner? How will they get there and how much will it cost? These are the questions that echo through a woman’s mind as coordination and organization will make this night a success.

  The day of the big event now arrives. For the young woman it is a total makeover; this is when all those hours of watching makeover shows come into action as hair, nails, and makeup, turninto an all-day affair.

  Let’s swing over to the male’s house. I have firsthand information of what runs through a male’s mind before formal because I have a brother. The day of the formal he spent most of the day on a dirty soccer field. He got home an hour and a half before he had to be at the girl’s house. He then took a shower and trimmed his beard. Then he got dressed, with his tie matching his date’s dress, all thanks to my mom. It would seem that guys have all the luck.

  Let us not forget about the pictures. Pictorial documentation is a necessary requirement for the formal. At several locations, such as houses or the local university, pictures are taken and after dinner, the couples proceed to the dance and get their “groove on”. It is at this point that the female hopes that her date will actually attempt to dance; otherwise, it makes for a very long evening. After the dance, couples usually will attend another activity such as going to eat dessert, bowling, or hanging out at a friend’s house.

  With all the time and effort spent on this magical evening, is formal really worth it? One hopes that the night is spent with a person that he/she enjoys spending time with. In the future however, perhaps the male partner will take control of the situation and plan the event himself. Luckily for many students, Pitman encourages people to attend the Winter Ball and the prom sans date and just enjoy an evening with friends.

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  According to Mrs. Inman, “You are only responsible for one person. Yourself. So take care of yourself.” Throughout the year, for these students, this saying has become a personal mantra, a chant to help them get through the most painful of workouts.“It’s hard work but it all pays off at the end,” comments Justis Lucas, sophomore. Hard work indeed. A week in Aerobics range from Mondays and Wednesdays of aerobic routines, which is a type of exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercises with strength and flexibility training, to Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays of exercises that can range from weight training, cardio, circuit training, or occasionally a good game of dodge ball. By the end of the period, if you’re not sweating, you’re not working out.

  However, to most of the girls, aerobics isn’t just all work and no play. To a lot of them, it has paved a way for a healthier lifestyle, a push that they needed to get to the goal that they wanted, but they don’t do it alone. At the heart and soul of aerobics is the teacher, Mrs. Inman. She pushes the girl to exercise but at the same time, have fun. Also, she works out along with them, becoming a sort of example, a figure that the girls can look up to in order to push themselves. According to Katrina Aoufan, sophomore, “Aerobics is definitely challenging, but it’s also fun.” And it’s also a great way to burn calories. Most people don’t realize the benefits of doing multiple aerobic exercises. According to nutristrategy.com, doing aerobic exercises for an hour can burn up to almost four hundred calories, depending on your weight. It’s a great way to lose weight and at the same time, have fun.

  To all of the girls in the class, aerobics is not only a class, but also a lifestyle now. Many have taken the advice of the teacher, pushing for a more nutritious diet. One example is that in the beginning of the year, when the class was asked who ate breakfast, about a third of the class raised their hands. The rest kept silent and admitted that they missed out on the most important meal of the day. Now, almost all of the class has corrected their diet and eat right, often opting for a salad over that cheeseburger and water over that energy drink.

  All in all, the Aerobics class at Pitman High School is not just a P.E. class, but it actually guides you to become a healthier person. And a healthier you means a better you.

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   One of the leading countries today actually has one of the lowest teenage birth rates in the world. In the Netherlands—home to the infamous red light district of Amsterdam—there is a tremendous reputation of the area’s “laid back” consideration for drinking, drugs, and even sex.                                          

  As to “why” teen pregnancy rates are lower there than anywhere else, can be answered by observing the contraceptive use rates among teenagers. In the US, twenty-five percent of the male adolescents admit to not using condoms. Females in the States admit that thirty-eight percent do not use condoms. But the astounding fact is that despite this thirty- eight percent admitting to not using condoms—leaving them victim to any STI’s their partner may have—only eleven percent of young women use the contraceptive pill. Now by observing the lack of contraceptive used on America’s side, their pregnancy rate does not astonish one quite as much.

   The Netherlands’ results offer a much larger gap when compared to the states. Only fifteen percent of the males admit to not using condoms, while their females reside in the twenty-five percent range. Also, fifty-five percent of adolescent females admit to using the contraceptive pill. These results alone would create a significant difference in the two countries’ teen pregnancy rates.

    A professor at the University of Amsterdam, Van Lunsen, analyzed the leading issues which point to his country’s low teenage pregnancy rate. He determined the “de-medicalization” of sex concerns that make the Netherland youth more prepared to use contraceptives. Certain reassuring measures such as no requirement for pelvic exams during clinic visits have increased the likelihood that teens will visit and seek birth control methods. Before these approaches, these issues seemed to agitate many adolescents to the point that clinical visits and investments in birth control became unimportant.

   The Netherlands’, “liberal sexual attitude, excellent sex education … and [legality of] abortion,” only provides evidence as to why they maintain the lowest teenage birth rate in the world. Now if the United States would only emulate the country’s progressive attitude, we might see a change or even reduction in the teen pregnancy rate.

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  There are various times in my life that I have complained endlessly about being short. Now, is one of them. If you were unaware, there’s actually a scholarship for tall people. This scholarship, founded by Tall Clubs International offers up to $1000 per student that enters. To be eligible you must be under 21, your height must be 5’10” or taller for women and 6’2” or taller for men and you must write an essay titled “What Being Tall Means to Me”. Sounds like easy money to me.

  Another scholarship is related to the infamous “milk mustache”. Every year, twenty-five lucky seniors are granted the SAMMY Award. The SAMMY (Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year) Award is a scholarship where the twenty-five winners are given $7500, a free trip to Disney World, and to top it all off. . .  a spot in a Milk Mustache ad. To be credible for this scholarship you must have be a high school senior with a 3.20 GPA who participates in school or club sports.

  Lastly, and in my opinion, the weirdest scholarship of all, is the Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck on Prom Contest. Stuck on Prom is a contest where high school students from the ages of fourteen to seventeen can enter to win scholarship money. In order to win you have to create two amazing duct tape prom outfits and enter as a couple to be eligible for this scholarship. 

  These scholarships are not only good for obtaining money for college, but they also look great on a college application. They are much more creative and outside-the-box. Does “Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year” or “SPJ Scholarship Essay Contest” sound more interesting to you?

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Many psychologists have personality theories that they believe explain personality and its development; however, the main factors influencing our personality include genes, environment, parental influences, culture, and experience. All these factors combined produce a personality that is “a unique blend of heredity and environment, biology, and culture” as stated in An Introduction to Psychology. Our personalities begin to form as early as our childhood and develop as we get older but sometimes components such as environment and experience change certain aspects of one’s personality. Everyone has their own viewpoint on how personalities are developed. For example, I believe that our personalities are a result of our experiences in environments that depend greatly on an individual’s culture.

It may seem shocking that“genetic transmission of physical and psychological characteristics” from one’s parents could result in the development of who we eventually become in the future. However, studies show that to a certain extent, “genetic instructions affect body size and shape, height, intelligence, athletic potential, personality traits, sexual orientation, and a host of other details”. We might acquire some personality characteristics from our parents but from my personal experience I feel that this is just a minor factor contributing to our “character.” My analysis on personalities and how they are formed was greatly influenced by a conversation I had with a friend who states the following, “My personality is based on what I have experienced in life so far and the “standards” I am expected to meet as an Asian Indian. I feel that my friends describe me as they would describe any other Indian; after all, we have all been brought up in families with similar ideals who place many restrictions and set high expectations. Eventually after spending my whole life trying to be the person my parents expect me to be I have merged into the image they created for me and moving away from that persona and acquiring my own identity would require an environment change which may occur too late in the future. In my situation, trying to be different is basically like committing a sin and that’s why I feel that culture as well [as] experience play the biggest factor in shaping our personalities.”

On the other hand, environment helps personalities to develop and change over time because “external conditions that affect a person” (p.96) can change any time. Over the course of our lives we go through several phases and gain experience which causes a major impact on our personalities. The basis of an individual’s personality may have formed at a young age but that doesn’t confirm it. Environment influences us because of our reaction to events taking place around us which portrays our character.

Another factor that affects our personality from an early age is parental influences which start even before we are born. The conditions under which we are kept while we are in the womb affects us after our mothers give birth to us. This factor goes hand in hand with heredity and genetic disorders, it’s a factor that neither us nor our parents have control over, unless the congenital problem is the result of exposure to teratogens- “…anything capable of causing a birth defect is called a teratogen,” which includes radiation, lead, or pesticides.” In order to prevent the negative consequences of parental influences during pregnancy, parents (especially mothers) should engage in healthy activities that avoid drugs, alcohol, and other such dangerous substances. As a result of negative parental influences, children are born with disorders or birth defects which would most likely lead to conflict with self-esteem, self-image, and other such factors that would thus impact personalities by preventing them from developing in a positive way.

Some individuals believe that “the real core of social development is found in the emotional attachments that human babies form with their caregivers”. Apparently there are different forms of attachment including securely attached, insecure-avoidant, and insecure ambivalent. A positive attachment however would result in children who portray more “resiliency, curiosity, problem-solving ability, and social competence”. The attachment that a child feels with his or her primary caregiver reflects upon the way he or she socializes, interacts, and engages in certain activities. “Creating a bond of trust and affection between the infant and at least one other person is a key event during the first year of life” (p.110) because it produces characteristics that affect our personality in the way that it is formed from childhood.

Even after taking all factors that affect our personality into consideration, I continue to feel that culture is one of the biggest. Every culture has a different method of childrearing and that method influences individuals who have been disciplined differently as a result of the expectations and ideologies of certain ethnic groups. And the characteristic we obtain through our various cultures are better explained than other factors that aren’t as significant.

Personalities can never be easily explained because “each person has a unique pattern of thinking, behaving, and expressing his or her feelings,” which is acquired through classical and operant conditioning, observational learning, reinforcement, extinction, generalization, and discrimination (basically too many factors contribute to the making of every individual for which no “theory” can be deemed as correct).

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  The top five ‘paid for’ apps, starting with number five, include “Where’s My Water?”, “Camera+”, “Fruit Ninja”, “Angry Birds”, and “Words with Friends”. 

  “Words with Friends” is a game played amongst other users.  Through the app, people can connect with random opponents, family, and friends.  “Words with Friends” lends the opportunity to chat with your opponent through the small icon at the top.  The game is all about strategizing–what words and where to place them–to keep up with your competition.

 The top five free apps are “Doodle Sprint”, “Egg Punch”, “Zombie Farm”, “Angry Gran”, and finally, “Temple Run”.

  “Temple Run is the latest phenomenon”.  This app is purely for entertainment.  The addicting game begins with the main character running from monkeys.  The object is to collect as many coins as possible and keep up with the obstacles put in front of you.  The coins collected can be traded for bonuses to help improve the score.

  Since it is a new year for iPhone users, everyone wants his/her iPhone up to date with the latest.  But, don’t forget about keeping up with those New Years’ Resolutions. Wait, there’s an app for that. “Habit Maker, Habit Breaker” supports the user through conquering those troubling habits. Each day, it has the user input his or her successes so one can track progress. The app provides you with charts showing improvement and also pictures of what you may be rewarding yourself with in the end. This year, surprise yourself and conquer your New Years’ Resolutions.  With “Habit Maker, Habit Breaker” in your pocket, it won’t be a problem.  The app is completely free and beneficial to anyone. 

  When it comes to apps, the possibilities are endless.  There are over 500,000 apps for iPhone/iPod, with many different categories, and many different prices.  So get out there and explore the app world today. 

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  The organization’s website stipulates that, “PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in the clothing trade, in laboratories, and in the entertainment industry. We also work on a variety of other issues, including the cruel killing of beavers, birds, and other ‘pests’ as well as cruelty to domesticated animals.”

   PETA’s annual budget is 533 million. Despite this large amount, only 1% of this money is spent on helping animals. Their animal shelters inVirginiaandNorth Carolinahardly make a significant difference in the current conditions animal abuse. Most of this money goes to ad campaigns, paying celebrities to go nude and protest against animal cruelty. In addition, money is also spent on very expensive Superbowl ads.

  How does going nude carrying a sign saying “I’d rather be naked” help animals? These publicity stunts culminated in an incident in 2000, where members posed nude in front of the White House, comparing the victims of the holocaust to mistreated animals. Their statements included, “To animals, all people are Nazis” and “Don’t let your dog or cat become an ‘octomom’—always spay or neuter”.

   The only way to reach people’s hearts to help animals is by showing compassion and love rather than mocking, or using offensive ad campaigns to get results. Such aggressive ads benefit neither humans nor animals; rather, they perpetuate the idea that PETA is not serious in ending animal abuse. The Sydney Morning Herald once read, “Pro-vegetarian group treats women like meat.”

   Although PETA says that it relies solely on advertising through media coverage, receiving a positive representation, “…Can be especially difficult with our fur campaign, since newspapers are often reluctant to cover our activities for fear of losing furriers’ advertising dollars.” So, they resort to media stunts that do the job without positive “coverage”.

    PETA recently is going as far as creating a porn site. PETA’s associate director of campaigns says, “We try to use every outlet that we can to speak up for animals. We anticipated that this new triple-X domain name would be a hot topic and we immediately decided to use it and take advantage of it to try to promote the animal rights message.”

  At this point, PETA should be put to a stop. Why use something as shameful as porn to draw people’s attention? An article from The Slate says, “PETA’s history of using controversial tactics to garner media attention may get people talking, but there’s a long way to go between searching the Internet for porn and volunteering at a local animal shelter. The only ‘action’ that the site is likely to prompt is the quick closing of a browser window.”

   Cruelty to animals includes euthanizing an animal who is not suffering. However, PETA completely violates this fact.  PETA killed 21,537 animals from 2000 to 2009. In 2006, 97.4% of the animals that PETA took in were euthanized. Twelve were adopted. In 2009, only eight animals were adopted. In 2010, 93.8% were killed. People would rather pose naked in ad campaigns than truly live up to their principles.

  It is upsetting to find that there are still two million people who support PETA. Perhaps they are not aware of PETA’s disturbing underlying secrets. The more awareness, the better. Hopefully, the public will learn the true facts about PETA, and force the organization to put their money and resources where their mouth is.

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This show is great for older teenagers mainly because it deals with typical high school drama, how difficult life can be sometimes (especially in an economic crisis), the importance of family, and most importantly -fashion! Jane is a character who is relatable in many ways to young teenage girls. She’s a risk taker- especially in fashion. She makes clothes and accessories herself and she loves fashion and exploring it. As I’d like to call her, she’s a fashion-born talent! She doesn’t fit in well at her high school because she’s what you call “her self”; she doesn’t hang out at the cool table, play sports, or join clubs, even though she wishes she could fit in sometimes. It’s a characteristic that I personally like about this individual, because not everyone in high school participates in activities and are popular, there are others like Jane who have talents for something else-in her case it’s fashion. Jane is also a comprehending sister that despite the fact that her parents are no longer with her she’s still thankful that she has a brother to look up to and loves very much. Life is about having challenges and it’s not about how hard you fall, it’s whether you can get up and keep trying. That is what Jane does to help not only herself, but also her brother.

If Jane can make it in the fashion industry she can make it basically anywhere in life. The fashion industry is not just fun and games; you need to be well- prepared knowing well known designers, beginning designers, fabric, models, how to style, promptness, etc. Jane still has a lot to learn in the fashion world, but the question is can she keep up with her double lifestyle? The question is yet to be answered but what you should anticipate in this new series is traveling, fashion, romance, and more! If you’re interested in Jane By Design, then don’t miss another episode of this brand new series only on ABC Family, Tuesday nights at nine.

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