This post was written by Ventura County high school student. Depression, utter sadness, many find difficult to deal with. Many adults suffer from this, but it seems most teens go through a depressed phase and don’t have any proper way to cope. Some find healthy ways to escape, while many others starve, cut, fight, or [...]
Dear Class of 2014, We did it! (: On our first day of high school, we roamed the hallways, searched for our classes, and definitely got mocked by the upper classmen.
This post was written by a Ventura County high school student. So this is about my friend. He lives in England now. Because the legal drinking age there is lower than in the US, he and his friends thought it was okay to go out all night and party.
In the Section of the CheckYourself.com website, real teens share their stories, talking candidly about their drug and alcohol use and how they’ve ultimately gained awareness and made changes in their lives. What a Rush! Everyone told me that I should try it – that I would love it and it would give me such [...]
By Laura M. Laura received an Honorable Mention for this essay in the 2010 “Say It Straight Up” writing contest, age 12-17 division. Laura is a student in Camarillo. Nowadays a teenager can get alcohol so easily! When I was fifteen years old my life was completely different compared to how it is now. I [...]
By Denise G. Denise received an Honorable Mention for this essay in the 2010 “Say It Straight Up” writing contest, age 12-17 division. Denise is a student in Camarillo. In today’s society there are a lot of teens drinking alcohol. I am not a hypocrite because I’m a seventeen-year-old female who has abused the use [...]
by Haley Paul This essay was the first prize winner in 2010’s “Say It Straight Up” Writing Contest, in the 12-17 age division. Haley will be entering the 12th grade this fall in Ventura. She will be attending a Cal Arts program this summer. Today, your son read a story of a little prince with [...]
by Emily Arndt This essay was the first prize winner in 2010′s “Say It Straight Up” Writing Contest, in the 18-25 age division. Emily just graduated high school in Thousand Oaks and plans to attend college in the fall. To Change and Be Changed: A Reflection In a city like Thousand Oaks, with an abundance [...]
From the 2011 Leadership Summit – “Positive Influence”
In March 2011, teens in Ventura, CA gathered for a Leadership Summit to explore social issues and discuss their ideas for possible solutions for reducing underage and binge drinking and impaired driving in their community. Activities included improv games and social change theatre exploration, videomaking, writing, and discussion. Here is a speech presented during the [...]