One Pimple is One Too Many - Teen Pregnancy

Hey Everyone!
How are you doing today? Last night were the Academy Awards! Congratulations to all the winners! ((Especially Kathryn Bigelow who made history as the first woman to ever win Best Director!))
Last night was also the first 'official' Jonas Brothers concert of 2010 which I was blessed with the chance to attend! It was a great show, Demi Lovato was their special guest, and they even covered Keith Urban's "Somebody Like You".

Today though, I want to talk about something very serious.
Teen Pregnancy.

• Every year around 750,000 teens will get pregnant this year
• More than 2/3 of all teenagers who have a baby will not graduate high school
• Billions of dollars are spent taking care of teenage and their children and they are more likely to be in the poverty bracket

The only 100% proven-effective way to prevent pregnancy ((as well as STD's)) is ABSTINENCE.

Please realize that sex should never be used by a boyfriend or girlfriend as a tool to "make you closer". Sex is a wonderful thing but only when it's at the right time. Every time you have sex, ((regardless of whether you use birth control, condoms or contraceptives)) you are opening that door to the possibility of becoming pregnant. Even the most secure and reliable birth control can fail.

Talk to your parents and keep an open communication with them. It may seem embarrassing to talk to your parents about sex but they love you and want the best for you.


All statistics taken from pregnantteenhelp.org

Have a great week everyone!

Ariel <3

One Pimple is One Too Many - The Academy Awards

Hello all!

How are you this beautiful Monday? 

First I want to convey my deepest sympathies to any and all who were affected by the earthquake in Chile. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of you! UNICEF, the American Red Cross and World Vision Disaster Relief are just a few organizations that are donating their time and money to help the people of Chile (and around the world)

((Haiti still needs our help as well! Yele Haiti is my personal favorite but there are many organizations you can give to that is giving Haiti the help it needs!))

On a lighter note: the entertainment world is buzzing with excitement because the Academy Awards are this Sunday! Now you may be asking, Ariel... how exactly do the Academy Awards relate to being an advice columnist? I'll tell you how -- for 82 years we've seen hope and dreams fulfilled. 

An Academy Award ((informally called an Oscar)) is the highest level of honor a filmmaker can achieve. While winning is incredible, simply being nominated is an honor and leaves a lasting and permanent effect on his or her life. 

Which made me realize, life's a lot like the Academy Awards...

We're all apart of this crazy award season called life. 

Some of get top honors time and time again, winning 'Best' in nearly every category that it seems predictable.

Some of us are the underdog, winning despite the odds and what the critics say.

Some of us win, but only in the small//unknown categories or the ones that people don't pay attention to.

And some of us never win at all, constantly being passed over. 

But what if we instead of focusing on winning and losing, we're honored that we were even able to participate in the first place?

Life's too short to worry, to complain or to live unhappily.

Everyday, take the opportunity to be grateful -- for the people who love you, for the air that you breathe and for the chance to start fresh. 

We are all winners. :)

Have a great week everyone!

Ariel

postscript: This Sunday the Jonas Brothers & Demi Lovato will be performing at the Houston Rodeo! I've been blessed with the chance to go and I'm so excited!

I'll be livetweeting ((@arielsmiles)) from the concert for all you Jonas//Demi fans! :)

<3