Giving a Little More this Holiday Season

We have all seen those people ringing bells for the Salvation Army donations in front of super markets and stores at the mall. Most people become annoyed of the little ringing bell and the asking of donations. Some will put a dollar or two into the red buckets not really thinking about the impact it has. However, a woman from Boston donated a little more than expected.

                                                          Red Salvation Army Kettle

In honor of her late husband, this woman donated her diamond engagement ring and gold wedding band. Along with the ring she attached a note that read, "In all seasons, my husband was a giver. I especially remember his joy in giving at Christmas time, especially to those in need. To honor his memory, I donate this ring...there's no price on love or the sentimental value of this ring."

She said her husband always put others ahead of himself and he was a giver. I think it is a beautiful way of admiring her husband's legacy. Donating the wedding ring, a symbol of their love, and a small part of what she has left of her husband is inspiring. She wanted to make sure all those children in need were able to have a Christmas they deserve filled with toys and love.

The Salvation Army has been contacted by someone who is will to by the ring at triple what it is worth and give the ring back to this generous woman. Speaking for myself, I do not think I could ever give up something so close to my heart and give it away. She did such an awe inspiring thing, putting those in need ahead of herself. What I am asking you to do, is to help those less fortunate than you during this holiday season. It does not have to be donating huge amounts of your money, it could be as simple as volunteering at a homeless shelter or even just being nice to a random stranger. Just something that will bring a smile to someone else's face and maybe even your own!

Christmas Spirit!

Thanksgiving is quickly looked over as the meal is finished. People eat as quickly as possible and rush to the stores to get the best deals. Holiday commercials are played over and over from the TV to the radio. Everyone knows what time it is. The holiday season is finally among us!

I myself love the holiday's. It's a time to relax (kind of) and spend time with family and friends. There is a certain feeling that just makes everything happy. The crisp cold air and the snuggly warm feeling of bundling up to stay warm is part of what makes the holiday season. Just walk outside and you see Christmas spirit strung from every roof top. Peep through the windows and see the soft glow of Christmas trees. Even the malls have spirit with huge trees decorated with glitter and glam.

However, some people disagree, they think Christmas is overly corporate and all about money. They think it's excuse just to waste people's time and money. They do not like Christmas music and believe it is over played and boring. They complain that Christmas comes way too early. Customers complain that too much Christmas music plays in stores. However, when it's not the holiday season and stores play "normal" music, will they complain if they do not like a certain song? I don't think so, so why complain about Christmas music playing during the holiday season. When else would they play it? They just do not have the Christmas spirit, and are probably on the naughty list.

In my opinion I love the holiday season, if I could have Christmas last two whole months I would. For now I guess I'll just be in my Christmas spirit at home where no one will complain, can't please everyone. Christmas is not just another holiday about how much money we can spend buying people presents. It's about surrounding yourself with loved ones, relaxing, and having fun. I do not think people spend enough time with their families, and the holiday season is a perfect excuse to bring everyone together.

Most people's season is spent at the mall. While many don't find this the best way to spend it I believe that a gift can show someone how much you care. Buying extremely expensive gifts definitely does not make you a better person. The best gifts are ones picked out with deep consideration and thought. Going to the mall and finding the perfect present for my friends and family gives me a special feeling inside. The look on their faces when they open the present I especially picked for them makes me feel better as a person. It is the time of the year to show our loved ones how much we truly love them and appreciate all that they do.

Is Photoshop Affecting our Youth?

Everyday we see pictures of models and celebrities looking seamlessly flawless. Everyone admires their beauty and stands in awe at how perfect celebrities seem to be. What we do not realize is how fake this actually looks. Hundreds of companies and brands Photoshop their models in order to achieve the "look". They shrink women's waist, accentuate their legs and arms, just to achieve "perfection".

Since we see this look of "perfection" on a daily bases, we do not realize that people do not actually look this way. People all over the world try to have the "look" but fail, because no one looks this way. We should all appreciate the way we look and how unique we all are. Instead, these brands are taking people who are already beautiful and morphing them into something far from reality.

Most say, "Oh Photoshop does not affect anyone in a negative way. It just accentuate their beauty." What they do not understand is this has a destructive affect on young boys and girls. Statistics show that 42% of girls in grades 1-3 want to be thinner. Appearance is the last thing a little second grader should be thinking about. When I was 6 the only thing I cared about was coloring inside the lines and when recces was. 78% of 17-year-old girls are unhappy with their bodies.30% of high-school girls and 16% of high-school boys have an eating disorder. This is a serious issue that should not be taken lightly. 

We must stand up to these companies and tell them the way they are exploding women and men is unacceptable. It has a serious affect on the way children have an outlook on life. The influences that Photoshop has is taking a toll on our mental health. With Photoshop it creates this idea that everyone should look the same. It teaches the youth to not embrace their unique side.

Brittany Spears before and after

Jessica Alba before and after

    

Ice Ice Baby

Figure skating's origins trace back directly to an American named Jackson Haines who was born in New York in 1840.(http://www.usfsa.org) Well obviously I have not been skating since 1840 because that would be impossible. It has had a pretty huge impact in my life. My interest for skating sparked when I was around five years old and I saw people skating on TV during Christmas at the Rockefeller Center in New York. I asked my dad what they were doing and I wanted to try it. So the next day he signed me up for lessons. After my first lesson I had this feeling inside like that is what I was meant to do.

I was very motivated to work hard everyday to be the best I could. It was a strenuous commitment that I was willing to take. I woke up every morning at four to go skating before school. People would always ask me, "isn't it hard to wake up that early every morning?" and I would say, "yes, but when you do something you love, it's worth it." It's worth waking up at crazy times, going through all that stress to become a better skater. I would do the same routine every morning. Wake up, get ready, go to the rink, skate for three hours, change, and go to school. I would get tired and stressed and at times I would ask my self, "why am I doing this? I want to quite, and sleep with a normal schedule." No matter how many times I said this, I never quit.

I did not quit, I did not give up. Until one morning. Everyone was getting ready for the up coming competition, including me. I went through my program and everything seemed okay. Then I went into a jump, known as a double-flip. I felt fine in the air, then I landed the jump in a funny way and heard a pop in my ankle, and I went down. I skated off and my ankle looked like a golf ball. I went to the doctors and they said I had a stress fracture in my growth plate. I had to wear a cast for four weeks. However, I was in a boot for five months. 

After I healed I was very eager to get back on the ice. When I did, nothing felt the same. I felt as if I did not belong there, as if I was an outcast. My friends were still there for me and supported me with all that I did, but it still felt weird. An outcast in the only place I felt I belonged. It felt horrible, as though I was never meant to be here in the first place.

I eventually got over this feeling of not belonging. However, I never got back into skating. What I miss most is the way I used to feel. Skating used to feel like I was the only person in the universe. It was just me and the ice. I tried again and again to skate, but it never worked out. Then school got in the way, and I started cross country. However, that did not go so well because I am injured again with a torn ligament in my ankle. I guess I am just a walking accident waiting to happen.  

Response to: "Community Post #1 Exposing Hidden Biases at Google to Improve Diversity"

The numbers of men employees over power the number of women working at tech companies. MANJOO tells us how statistics show that men make up 83 percent of Google’s employees. This only leaves 17% of the other employees to consist of women. However with all the sexist comments and put downs by the other male workers, what woman would want to work there? To got to work everyday and be humiliated by fellow co-workers who think they're better because "this is a man's world" and women do not belong is cruel punishment that is definitely not needed. As long as the women have the same qualifications as the men, they should be hired based on the fact that they are capable of the same things. However, this is not how it is. Women are not given the same opportunities as men in the tech as well as many other industries. Bias in the favor of men in  this work force plays key role of the inequality towards the way things are run.

If a woman has the same capability and skill level as that of a man, shouldn't they both have an equal opportunity of getting the job? This is how it should work in the world we live in today, right? Well, this is not the case. Men are considered for more jobs over women because women aren't seen at the same level. Mr. Bock, Google’s executive in charge of human resources, presents evidence that shows diverse teams can be more creative than homogeneous ones (MANJOO). Big companies are trying to change things to be more impartial. However, when a person is subjected to unethical bias and doesn't have the opportunity to accomplish their goals in the work force, these companies have failed.