Life is always changing, always moving, and always shifting. It goes from one concept to the next; never giving a care to anyone it comes across. It just keeps going without a care or anxiety. Life changes, that’s a fact.

It will even change before you’re ready. It will just move on and shift into something uncomfortably new that messes with your mind and body and agitates you even further and plays with your mind. Like a cruel child playing with toys, life changes your scenery, your life, and your security in a split second.

One day you’ll love what you have, and in another that will be gone and done with and you won’t have a clue where it is anymore or even if it’s the same as it was before. Universally, this affects everyone, from little things like changing your hair style or going to a doctor’s appointment, to having your life split apart by a parent’s divorce or your break up with someone you’ve loved.

All of these little changes affect us. Our bodies become fragile and frail, our minds become weak and they suffer, and our lives open up into a whole new world of insecurity, helplessness, and fragility.

We can’t stop the change though, even though we try to. We all try to stop the unstoppable, but it’s fruitless. We can’t ascertain the ascertainable; we can’t be certain while in uncertainty. What we can do though is accept the uncertain and learn what we don’t know. There are new experiences and adventures to explore and navigate through in the unknown territory we call “change.”

Why not learn about the new world you live in? Why not do the best with what you have, where you are? The best solution is not to wither and die because the never-ending cycle of change is out and about, but to accept life as it is. The only thing to do is to live with what you have and accept, even unwillingly, what has happened and what has changed and what you now have to do to cope with it.

Change is a general nuisance, or if you enjoy it, a life-changing experience for the better. The only thing we can do is roll with it, because change is a natural process of life. It happens, and we deal with it when it crops up. Nothing we do is going to stop it, so we endure and thrive with the energy we have and the things we’re given.

That’s how it’s always going to be.

Music is one of the main components of my life. It fuels me, it keeps me going, it helps me think, it helps me concentrate, and most importantly it helps put me in a better mood when I’m upset. It’s like a good friend or a lost puppy. And who doesn’t want a lost puppy?

But it helps a lot. It is the brain in which all of my energy stems from. If I get to listen to music, I am happy. On days that I can’t listen to it, I become a little droopier and I have a little less positive attitude towards things. Music is there for me when others aren’t, and it speaks to me like nothing else can.

It has messages and voices that express themselves through tone, tempo and rhythm. It has its own mind and soul and it is there for me when I need it.

This just doesn’t happen to me though. It happens to a lot of other kids. There are kids and adults out there that use music to express their anger or sadness or any other negative emotion. They use it as a conduit so they calm down quicker or easier.

And it really helps, too. Music understands us. It knows us more than we know and subliminally knows what to do to make us feel better.

See? Just like a lost puppy or a best friend.

So if no one’s around to make you feel better, or you don’t have a lost puppy or any puppy in general, maybe you should listen to some music and see how it helps.

Study for math test, science project due tomorrow, dance class after school, drivers-ed and read chapter twenty-three of To Kill a Mockingbird; these are just a few things that a teenager in middle or high school stresses about.

A busy schedule like this can lead to extreme stress. Stress is mental or emotional strain or suspense. Teens constantly stress about things they need to worry about in and out of school; the thinking process never seems to end.

Adults often say to teens, “Stop complaining; you’re only a teenager. You have nothing to worry about, you have your whole life ahead of you,” but teen life is the exact opposite.

Teens of today have plenty of things to stress about, even if they are only in middle or high school. The future is one of the main causes of stress on teens today.

Stress can cause pain physically, not just mentally.  Stressing too much about things such as school, the future, pressure to do drugs or drink, and the pressure to fit in and live up to others’ expectations can cause serious problems with the body.

Constant stress can lead to head aches, back pains, and stomach problems. Stress affects the blood cells in the body that fight off infection, causing a person to get sick.

The most change in one’s life is during adolescence, making teen years the most stressful time in a person’s life.

When a student gets sick and is required to stay home from school, the recovery time is doubled because when they are home all they do is stress about what they are missing.

Stress affects teens and adolescences differently than it does adults.

According to Sheryl S. Smith of SUNY Downstate Medical Center, “A brain chemical that reduces anxiety in adults has the opposite effect on adolescents, a new study finds, explaining why many teenagers are so touchy.”

Stress can cause teen irritability, anger, and rebellion. This can lead teens to things such as violence, which explains one reason why there have been a recent increase in fights during school.

Adults have different ways of handling stress, such as yoga and exercise. Teens are too busy to take the time and do things adults can do. Adults don’t realize how much schools have changed since they went. They don’t understand how different life as a teen has changed.

There is more to learn in school now that technology has changed over the years. With the advances in technology and new discoveries in the world there is more to keep up with.

This also puts pressure and stress on teens to fit in and be “popular” with their friends in and out of school.  There is always a new style coming out, and the prices keep going up.

Teens need to worry about money to do most of things they do. They even need money for school to go on school field trips. Some teens’ parents don’t have the money to just give for movies, new clothes and college.

Teens of today have more things to stress and worry about than adults do. Teens worry about school, friends, being “popular,” and most of the time all this usually has to do with is their future.

Teens are constantly told that what they do now and who they are defines what kind of future they will have, and that is true.

Teens have so much to do, and with their busy schedules their minds are constantly working. That’s why teens need to have a day here and there to just relax and stop stressing.

On March 20, the health care bill, one of the most controversial pieces of legislation ever to face America, was passed by Congress and sent to President Obama. The bill has faced a months-long wait, dividing Americans across the country into pro-health care and anti-health care factions, and spurring heated debates about the subject nationwide.

Though the bill has been passed by President Obama, these factions will likely not disappear anytime soon; conservative Americans have still held on to their extreme dislike of the president, though he has been in office for over a year, and many Americans feel that the introduction of nationwide health care will ruin the country.

But the issue plaguing the United States is not how Americans currently feel about the newly-passed health care bill, but of whether or not the bill will be effective and worthwhile in the long run.

The health care bill was primarily introduced to offer health care to all American citizens. Finally, after 233 years of millions of Americans being denied health care services due to unfortunate circumstances, the government has realized that all living humans should be protected from preventable health problems.

Doctors, prescriptions, and other medical factors will finally be available to Americans in-between jobs that have previously avoided health care due to the cost. Single mothers that take on two or more jobs just to make ends meet will finally be able to provide health care for their children and no longer worry about affording medicine the next time they get the flu.

Of course, this perfect picture of an America filled with available health care for everyone is plagued with several issues. Most of the issues are concerning privacy; several American citizens are worried about how the government would force them to go to the doctor, and that they may no longer have the option to choose their own doctor or practitioner.

But these people are losing sight of the goal; this bill is granting health care to the entire nation. Several thousand Americans will be receiving care and medicine that they would not have received earlier. The passing of this bill has the potential to save countless lives of those who could not afford or were not eligible for health insurance in the past.

So maybe the government will be a bit more involved in the lives of Americans. Do the people of the United States truly believe that the beginning of nationwide health care, a service that will save lives throughout the nation, will begin a new age of fascism?

Americans are upset over the fact that the government may make them go to the doctor. They see this as a removal of their civil liberties, and fear that the government will begin to control their lives.

This should not be seen as an issue. What would be the point of nationwide health care if the nation won’t attend frequent doctor’s appointments?

A portion of the public is trying to find fault with the bill, and honestly are making a mountain out of a molehill over this issue; haven’t most people readily attended appointments after being told by their doctors that they need a check-up? The only difference between this circumstance of being advised by a doctor versus the government is just a matter of people involved.

The health care bill certainly has its share of issues that will need to be fixed. But the bill’s main purpose outweighs most problems the bill presents. The nation must focus on the goal of the bill; providing the opportunity of better health to all Americans.

When a story about a 600-pound woman shows up on the morning news, the natural assumption is that said woman is in the midst of a difficult struggle to achieve a healthy weight. However, such an assumption would be wrong in the case of Donna Simpson, a New Jersey woman who has set a goal to weigh 1,000 pounds.

It is sad to say, but Simpson’s real desire may not be for food, but for attention, and that desire is killing her.

Simpson already weighs in at 602 pounds, but in order to achieve the title of “world’s heaviest woman” she needs to take in over 12,000 calories a day and gain another 398 pounds.

Simpson insists that her excessive consumption is enjoyable for other people to watch, and that she is not hurting herself by taking on so much weight. Some may say that she is seriously fooling herself, but her exceptionally unhealthy behavior is getting her exactly what she wants: publicity, hype, and attention in droves.

The story of the 600-pound woman has already appeared on most of the major news stations like FOX, MSNBC, and CNN. Her weighty undertaking has also circulated through countless lesser known tabloids and news websites, not to mention the talk shows that have brought her up.

Put simply, there are few people who don’t know about Simpson and her dream to weigh 1,000 pounds.

People have always needed an accolade or two to fuel their self-esteem. At the same time, there have always been people who do outrageous or even harmful things to themselves or others to get it.

There are plenty of reasons why humans seek attention. Insecurity is an obvious reason, but also pride or overconfidence can result in a strong desire for the spotlight.

An article on 2knowmyself.com said, “Arrogant people may seek attention because they have the feeling that they deserve to be in the center of attention. In this century, where everyone is connected to everyone else through the internet, and the media, anyone can become famous and get the attention they want. You Tube is fueled by this concept; average people who can achieve world-wide fame just by doing something odd and (maybe) funny in front of a camera.

Consider the “balloon boy” incident earlier in the year. After a few days of speculation it eventually came out that Richard and Mayumi Heene had planned the entire hoax in an attempt to gain a reality TV show. They may have been sent to jail, but they certainly got enough attention in the process.

Then the White House party crashers come to mind next. Tareq and Michaele Salahi enjoyed considerable time as “high-profile fixtures in the Beltway social scene,” even before they showed up at the state dinner.

Everyone likes bit of recognition, and with the help of today’s media, anyone can get it. All they have to do is something extremely out of the ordinary, like pledge to weigh 1,000 pounds or slip past White House security, and they can have their story posted on every news site on the internet.

It was the end of the day; I was anxious to get home and I was starving. I boarded the bus like any other day, expecting a speedy ride home. As the clock hit 2:25, all the buses started and left except one, mine. Instead my bus let out a shrill sound and slowly inched forward before the engine completely died.

So we waited for a new bus to come and take us home. Many students objected to waiting and tried to call their parents or friends to get them, but, as I learned that day, once you board the bus you can’t get off until you arrive at your final destination.  

The way the students acted on the bus that day surprised me. One boy asked if the bus driver was “retarded” since he was not allowed to get off the bus. A few minutes later, a friend of his showed up that appeared to be in middle school and claimed he was there to take the kid home. After the bus driver refused and the boy started cursing, he was escorted off the bus by coach Lynott and was led into the building.

In the mean time, there was a line of parents outside the door of the bus to pick up their kids. Students explained that they had to leave because they had somewhere they needed to be, but the bus driver merely said “don’t we all.” The parents however were able to get their kids if they went into the office and asked.

This made sense: if a student had a legitimate excuse to get off the bus, they should be allowed to, but the others students should have waited. Getting home after an extra 30 minutes isn’t the worst thing in the world if it would save their parents an unnecessary trip to pick them up, but apparently I was the only one who felt this way.

 I couldn’t help but feel bad for the bus driver. The students acted as if it was her fault, but all she was doing was following the FCPS rules. If a student slipped off the bus and then committed a crime, the blame in some way or another would be directed towards the bus driver.

The bigger picture is that in today’s world, it seems as if teenagers always have a place to be; there is not one moment when they are content just waiting patiently for something to happen. Teens always have to be doing some sort of activity. For some reason, sitting quietly and observing surroundings is a daunting task for teens today.  

When the bus broke down that day, students’ first reaction wasn’t what it should have been. Instead of waiting patiently for another bus to arrive, their first instinct was to call their parents so they could get home and return to their normal routine as quickly as possible.

Monday: ballet, marching band, dance line, winter guard, homework

Tuesday: ballet, jazz, dance teaching, homework

Wednesday: pointe, ballet, marching band, dance line, winter guard, homework

Thursday: lyrical, jazz, tap, musical theatre, ballet, homework

Friday: dance for sports games, homework

Saturday: rehearsals, dance competitions, homework

Sunday: dance at church, dance competitions, homework

This is the day-to-day schedule of busy Middletown High School sophomore Abby Buchanan. With the everyday stresses of school, a social life, family time, and a busy dance career, she often struggles to give 100% to each activity.

This is often the case for many high school students who are overwhelmed with both school and extra-curricular activities.

So what is the solution to this problem?

Well, the answer is different to every student. Some try to fully commit themselves to every activity, which is impossible.

Others decide to commit themselves to one thing, and not focus on the rest of them.

It’s great when students try and get themselves involved in many activities, but it can become too much.

We are all human and can only stretch ourselves so much, can only sleep so little, and can only be considered responsible to a certain extent.

Becoming involved is a great thing and it stretches your personal comfort level, but be cautious to not overwhelm yourself, and be realistic with your goals.

So, when it gets to the point where your dedication is lacking, its time to make a change.

Contacts, e-mail, YouTube, Safari, video, photos – the list goes on. So, what product of Apple am I describing? The iPod Touch? Mac Book? iPhone? It’s hard to tell. With the announcement of Apple’s new tablet, the iPad, there were high expectations to be fulfilled.

The iPad, which is to be released in April, promises to be better than its previous products. But with the reviews and the released features of the iPad, is this tablet really Apple’s way to kick off 2010 with this “truly revolutionary and magical product”?

The new Apple iPad has brought disappointment because of how closely it’s related with the iPod touch and Mac Book.

The iPad is more of a luxury device than a necessity. It’s more if an oversize version of the Apple products combined into one item. The iPad has the same features, the same look, and the same applications; how is it the way to start the new year? 

In addition, some features of the iPad are notably missing. The iPad does not include USB ports, a GPS to support Google maps, flash support, a camera (which means no video chat), or high definition video.

Another shock was how poorly the single iPhone applications are displayed on the device. One mode isolates them in the center of a dark screen. Another mode called “pixel double” blows them up to full screen, which works well for games, but text-heavy apps like Facebook look silly.

Even the name iPad can be viewed as uncomfortable for its relation with feminine products. Many bloggers and reviewers have come up with their own nicknames such as the “iTampon” for later Apple devices.

Therefore, I think the Apple iPad was created as another piece of technology for Apple to make more money, because the iPad is not as diverse as its other products.

 For its $499 price, it’s easier to buy an iPod touch or other similar Apple product for half the cost. Since AT&T is the only Apple carrier, the iPad can only be run on that specific network.

 So for $30 per month, the Apple iPad is not worth the price tag and more each month. It’s ridiculous to pay such a high price for the iPad and yet keep paying. The Apple iPad might as well be considered as being run on a phone plan like other AT&T cellular devices.

The Apple Company could have seen the iPad as an opportunity to be different than its previous releases. Therefore, the Apple iPad has been a disappointment.

“Juno” was the start of the teen pregnancy movie phenomenon. The movie came out in 2007 and won an Academy Award and three Oscars. The movie was about a teen girl who got pregnant in her senior year in high school. Though she gave up the baby for adoption, Juno and her boyfriend wound up together in the end, which is unfortunately, not the happily-ever-after that most teen moms experience. 

Since then, other hit shows about teen moms have appeared on TV such as “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” and “Teen Mom.”  The teen pregnancy rate increased by three percent in 2007. One in every six teenagers will become moms in high school but majority of the moms who keep the babies drop out of school.

In these TV shows or movies, money is rarely a conversation topic. The conversations usually consists of what they are going to wear the next day to school. The teenagers of today don’t realize how much money a baby costs these days.

A person can easily spend nine thousand to eleven thousand dollars, and that’s just the first year. The money is spent on things such as diapers, baby formula, baby furniture, baby gear, etc. The movies and TV shows don’t show problems such as these, but they never fail to show relationship problems between the mother and the father.

The producers of these movies and shows want the audience to think that a baby is a miracle to anyone of any age. TV shows such as “16 and Pregnant” claim to show the ups and downs of having a baby, even though the good always seems to outweigh the bad. 

They show the mothers in their “natural” environments but no one can really act natural when they have a camera shoved in their face. The mothers put on their make- up and they have their cute little outfits on.

In all reality, no mother has time to do all of those things when they have a screaming and crying baby in the background that needs a bottle, diaper changing, or burping. The producers cut out all the late nights and the crying and all the hard work that is required to raise a baby. 

In movies such as “The Pregnancy Pact,” the mothers who go to high school get to continue with their education and somehow manage to bring their babies to school. The mothers all go baby shopping together and have baby showers together. Even their loving boyfriends, who are absolutely committed and can’t wait to see their smiling babies, join in on the baby fun; in reality, the stress of having a baby seems to be too much for the baby daddies and the mothers soon realize that they have to raise the baby by themselves.

The teenagers who are influenced by these movies and TV shows get a rude awakening when they realize that, instead of getting popularity in high school, all they get is a bad reputation. The hit TV show, “The Secret Life of American Teenager,” is a bad example of what young mothers’ lives would be like.

The word “sex” is used up to forty times in the show. Amy, the young mother on the TV show, has become friends with the popular girls and even though she has a baby she still makes time to date. A real mother today would drop out of school and have no time to talk to any of her friends and they would have no time to even go a date.

Young teenage girls of today who watch these shows see the main girl and the young boy brought closer together by their little bundle of joy, when it actually has the opposite effect. In the TV show “Teen Mom,” the immature boyfriend magically grows up and realizes that he loves the girl, whom he has already knocked up, and he wants to marry her and have a family. In real life, the majority of girls who have a baby end up being single mothers.

 Instead of the boys realizing how much they love the mother and their baby, they leave before the baby is even born. The young dads of today want to live their lives, go to college, get jobs, and at this age having a family isn’t in the picture. More girls watch these TV shows and movies than boys. The boys understand that having a baby isn’t glamorous and they don’t see the idea of having a baby at such a young age as a good thing. 

TV shows like “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and movies such as “Juno” are making teen pregnancies in high school more of a fad than a concern. The producers of movies and TV shows don’t care about what idea they are putting into teens’ heads as long as they get their money. Today the movies and TV shows are putting a false reality into the heads of teenagers.

The teenager glanced down at her pocket, feeling a vibration from her phone. Flipping the screen open, she saw that she had just received a text message. Excitement ran through her body as she realized it was from her latest crush.

 Teenagers these days are considered obsessed with their cell phones, taking them everywhere so they don’t miss a single text.

 A study was shown that children and teenagers ages 8-18 are spending more than 7 and 1/2 hours a day with their cell phones. Whether it is talking on the phone or texting, these numbers are ridiculous.

It was also said that these same teenagers sleep with their phones next to them in bed, late at night, waiting for a text message to be received.

 Because of lack of sleep, teenagers are tired during the day at school, which affects their grades.

 The study showed that teenagers who spent less time on their phone got better grades than teenagers who spend the night texting.

 The study also said that the teenagers who spend sixteen hours a day with their phone receive grades of C or lower in school.

 What could these teenagers possibly do on their phone for sixteen hours during the day?

 Because of the new iTouch phone and other devices, one can have applications such as surfing the Internet, playing games, texting, or watching videos, all from a cell phone.

 Because children use their phones so much, they don’t have time to do their homework or even spend time with their family or friends. Children and teenagers have become so obsessed with their phones that they use them as if their life depended on it.

 In order to stop this preposterous behavior, parents should be advised to take their children’s phones at night and limit them to talking on the phone and texting.

 My parents used to take my phone at night so I wouldn’t text until they trusted me to not do it behind their backs.

 But one rule that still stands today is that I may not text during dinner time. Dinner is one place where a family is together, and that time should be reserved for the family and not one’s boyfriend or best friend.

 Parents could also be advised to put a limit on their child’s texting amount instead of having “unlimited text messaging.” They could even limit the same with minutes on their phone for calling.

 If you are someone who acts like this, do yourself a favor. Good grades get you into college, not how many texts a minute you can send to your best friend.