A Teens Reputation

Above: The movie Easy A+  shows good points when it comes to having a good or a bad reputation.

Watch it, maybe your kids will learn something from it. :)

They say that when your teen is associated with a certain kind of group, that they do the exact same things as everyone else in that clique. Sometimes its true, but 8 times out of 10, your wrong.

Lets be honest, to alot of teenagers reputation is everything. Expecially when they are in high school and will do anything to become 'popular'. But often times, teenagers hang out with a certain clique that addresses their specific style, taste, or just because they are good friends. We all know that friendships and relationships dont last when in high school, but it is nice to make the most of your four years of still being a kid. At this time, its a way to grow up and also a way to figure out who you are and where you will be placed when judged. Reputation is the opinion of the group of entities towards a person or a different group of people. The main things that come up in high school and reputation is social status, the way you look, your online status, education and identity. Reputation is the result of what you do, what you say, and what people say about you, and people take that way to seriously. 

In the past, when I was in middle school I was a bit of a nobody. I ate alone, talked to few people, did what I had to do then left and went home. I was considered a nerd, and when I stepped into Junior high, I was called goth, emo, and a vampire. The other kids judged me by the way I dressed, how I did my hair, my makeup, and the people I hung out with. I talked to 'skaters', 'goths' and 'emos' so they instantly thought I was each and every one of those things. Though I was emotional but its part of being human, I did skateboard but I was better then the boys at that school, and I do love black but its just a color. Its like the preps that love pink, or light blue, maybe even white. Whenever I called them out on labeling me and thinking I did everything my friends did, they didnt know what to say and put up their fists. What ended up happening is I kicked their butts, broke their arms, their noses, their nails that they just got french tipped, and always made sure they didnt mess with me again. Yeah, I ended up in juvie, I spent alot of time in anger management classes but I was just starting to grow into my muscles and the stress of reputation. Later on in life, I figured out the reasons why people thought the way they did back then, and noticed that not only they thought I was but the adults did too. Beating the other students up didnt help my rep either, so I learned a whole lot of things. Now, when it came to stepping foot in high school, I already knew everyone and everyone already knew me. They couldnt say much but realized I changed, with in the ages of 14 and up I have tried every drug, any choice of alcohol and done every thing you could think of (cutting, skating, drawing, reading etc.) So my reputation was put on a new scale of things when I became a freshman. Again called 'emo', 'bookworm', 'gothic', 'scary', 'a freak', and now 'scene'. To everyone in that school, I was a threat and a problem. So they were going to treat me a whole different way then they treat the other students that they grew to label and throw into groups they thought appropriate. Teachers looked at me only from a student stand point but often got into the labeling I dealed with and too threw me in a group they believed was good for me. I was never one to just stay in one group, so they were confused, they saw that I was not just one thing but a whole list of crude names and labels. But its only because I talked to everyone, I talked to the goths, the emos, the preps (even though they are really annoying), the druggies, the partiers, the jocks, the skaters, and the scenes (which is a group of only two people). So when they got to know me, they no longer labeled me but gave me the reputation one should have. After a while, I started hanging out with one group more then the others, lost interest in the other people that just blurred by me when I see them here or there. So they thought I was in one clique, that did the worst things possible. Adults started to think less and less of me, until I realized what the community saw when they noticed I was hanging out with what they called, the wrong group of people. 

To me reputation is a stand point, where us teens can grow to know who we are. Not to get used to where we were put but to make ourselves for us, not for others. You know? Sure I hang out with older kids that do drugs, drive, drink, and do the worst things possible but it doesnt mean I do the same things they do. Seems that way, but its not correct. I hang out with those types of people in hopes to learn something, I have changed groups so often that I learn new things about myself. I have a big heart so I care about everyone, to an extent to where I am not labeled like they are but distinctively known as a friend. We are all growing up in a world where eyes are always on us, either online, or at home, at school or in the community. What we do now effects everyone and some have yet to understand that. I have learned that all the people I hang out with have flaws, struggles, and do things they regret. But its apart of life and we are learning to adapt ourselves to this world, so that when we are on our own we dont judge every single person that walks on by. People that were born back in the day probably didnt get labeled as much as we do, sure they were really into themselvese but look at us. 

We hang out with people that can see the world the same way as one another, or come from broken homes, do drugs, drink, like to get in fights for the heck of it, teens that skateboard, or into fashion, like the same clothing labels as eachother or who think the same way. We live in a state of mind where we are all thats left, and we are the start of a new generation. So what we do effects everyone and more people/kids/and teens need to understand that. I do, but it took me a long time to really grasp the effect that hanging out with adults, or older teens, or druggies etc etc, looked from the eyes of the community. What we dont know is that everything we do has an effect on companys, stores, and mainly people. 

Reputation has its ups and downs, good and bad, rights and wrongs. But not everything has a bad side, and not everything has a good side. Listen to what your teenager has to say about the type of people they hang out with, and why they do. Its not always because they do the same things as each other, sometimes its because we try to help one another. 

 

Travel Countdown Finale!!!

So in the end the last places I would intend on traveling to,

to enjoy the history and the natural beauty of the land are;;

England: (4)

London England, the one place where Big Ben stands tall and where the people there are absolutely beautiful with their accents, history and faces. Not one time have I ever found a reason not to go there and I plan on keeping it that way. Its already the countries most largest city. Not only that but in its history, it was founded by romans whom called it Londinium. I bet you didnt know that it is the worlds most largest financial centre along side New York. Mhm, thats right.  The experience of visiting there would be so outstanding that I would most likely want to live there.

Rome and Greece: (3)

Rome, whats not to like? The ancient artifacts, the statues that remind us of the past happenings. Cathedrals, and art museums. When it comes down to it, this is the most beautiful place in the world. Greece too, because of the Greek Gods and Godesses. If I were to visit either place, I would be stuck because I wouldnt ever want to leave!

Las Vegas: (2)  

Ah, more bright lights, casino's, raves, open parties, party people and little minatures of the seven wonders of the world! (not WonderBread though.. too bad ha ha) But of course Id have to be 21 or older to actually spend any time there or have any real fun. I mean really, who wouldnt want to reinact the movie The Hangover? Ha ha ha, it would be a wonderful place for photography with all the beautiful and modern structures. Whoo!!! 

Arizona: (1)

My home state 

The place I was born, and the first step into life.

For me, visiting Arizona would be a blast, I would get to find family members that hopefully are still alive. Maybe even visit the homes I have lived in, ages ago. The grocerie store where I slapped my mom cause she didnt get me candy, or the swimming pool where I would have a blast. Perhaps the grassy fields that I would get chased around by a flock of geese cause I didnt want to give them the bread I was holding on to for life.  All in all, I would love to go there and relive the years I was young and just have a blast.

Within my time of life, I would enjoy so much to travel to all the places I have just told you. Yup, but first I HAVE to finish high school so that where ever I go; I dont have to worry about getting stuff done for school and can focus on my Photography and the world. 

Oh yeah!!!

 

 

 

 

Travel Countdown Middle!

The next four places I finally remembered I wanted to go to are these....

Ireland: (8) 

The third most largest island in Europe, huh? Wouldn't you want to take pictures of Irishmen and women, perhaps even leprechauns? No doubt, the town filled with luck and the beauty itself is like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I'd love to go to a pub there or to nearby hills and tower above the flat lands squared off by hedges and trees. The luxury of silence and the beauty of the earth. Photography here would be phenomenal. Don't you think?

Germany : (7)

Germany, a place that I am apart of and yes indeed I am in fact part German, and Swedish but that's a whole other different story. Ha ha, But really who wouldn't want to go and see the castles that stand tall and the antiques that echo the streets? This country has developed a very high standard of living. Shocking huh? Id mainly ant to go there to revisit the sites of past happenings and holy grounds. Talk about neat!

United Kingdom: (6)

United Kingdom, my home away from home.. How I would kill just to live there or be from there. All the beautiful people, artifacts, castles, and towns. My photography would work so great there, plus I would fit in a whole lot more then I do here in Alaska. To be completely honest that place is so beautiful that when I even think about it I just get all happy and excited. Because in the end, I am going to live there and open my own photography company and end up being the best in town! Ya!!

Hollywood California: (7)

Who wouldn't want to come here? Its the place you go to, to become someone. Want to be an actor/actress , or a model or something. Go there! I plan on going there just to meet Jim Carey and take his portrait and be like, ya! I got to hang out with Jim Carey possibly marry him. He he. I want to go there so that maybe just maybe I could get a chance to take pictures of All the famous people in the town of Los Angeles. How cool would it be to get to use the props for any movie you wish?! Ga!!! Talk about heaven!!

Ah yes, the joys of having all the places I want to go to, and the reasons for wanting to go to those places. Posted on the Internet. 

I have four other places, but it looks like to me your going to have to wait to even know what they are! 

Later Y'all!

Travel Countdown Start!

Within Time, I would love to Travel to wondrous places.

Know the stories and tall tales, and see the elegance in them.

Here's a few places that I would love to go, with the reasons beside them.. 

 Switzerland: (12)

I have never seen such beautiful scenery, sure alot of places have similar yet different beauties but this one includes relationships. Its so green, elegantly big and is right there in Western Europe! With Germany (I am German) to the north, France to the west, Italy to the South and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Not a whole lot of moving to be done, and one of the most richest countries in the world! Who wouldn't want to go there!!

  New York : (11)

Besides the fact that it is filled with tall skyscrapers, bright lights, tons of stores and office buildings. Its the place to go if you wish to become a photographer. Though you can go anywhere and become one, but this state is of the the most modern beauties. I would enjoy being creative with my photography there. Wouldn't you? The best ballerina pictures are taken there on the busy streets, Imagine all the great portraits that could be taken there. Not only that but it is the nations third most populous state and about one third of all the battles of the Revolutionary War took place in New York! 

 Talk about rad!!

Egypt : (10)

I would die to go to Egypt, I mean look at all the structures, the coffins made of gold, the book of the dead, the book of the living. The Sphinx, and the many of pyramids! The ancient tales, Isis, King Tut, and every other Egyptian god and goddesses. Anubis the god of the underworld, the Nile; whats not to like? Might as well create my own Mummy Story huh? I would love to see all the hieroglyphics, Alexandria, and Cleopatra's Tomb! I cant wait till I can step upon that sand and be like, Cleopatra claimed this territory or Horus once flew above this. Ohhh, the great history of Egypt!

Australia: (9)

Yes, I would love to go to the Outback and travel a bit with the Kangaroo's. See the beautiful springs and sand storms, maybe even visit Sydney before I travel into the hot outback and get sunburned. Ha ha, I have heard that it is the most beautiful places to go and I would love to take some pictures of the waterfalls and meet the people there. Did you know that the first woman to make the journey from Broome to Cairns was Anna Hingley? Talk about Cool!!!

Those were a few of the places I would kill to travel to, I have some more but I cant quite think of them just yet.

I'll post them later, Happy Travelin'

My Natural Beauty

Natural Beauty brings great Connections

 First things first, I don't quite call myself beautiful but I don't call myself ugly. I'm not the type of girl that will sit there in front of the mirror and stare at myself all day, or just pamper myself constantly. Though I am the type of girl to be considered a woman with great natural beauty and known to make anything of myself that I wanted. One day I was hanging out at a friends place, when a woman at the age of 62 walked up to me and smiled. My mother had yelled at her a few days before because I was somewhere that I probably shouldn't be. But that's besides the point, and its not my point in this story. Anyways, her name is Mercy and she is a kind, small, Philippine woman and she is known as the meanest woman in town. This particular day she came up to me and said, "May I talk to you for a minute, Sweetheart?" and of course I am willing to listen to anyone whom wishes to share some knowledge with me. So, I followed her to this room filled with couches and sat down with her with the door shut behind us. "Sit down, baby girl" she said to me, and when I did she took my hand and spoke ever so lightly, like a mama would do when she really cares and so I listened and took her words in. She told me that I am a beautiful woman, and she says woman because I have an attitude that surprises her and she loves it. "I have connections all over the world, I can send you anywhere you want to go. Hollywood, Las Vegas, Switzerland, New York, United Kingdom. Anywhere you wish to go." I was surprised, because this woman is 62 and yet she is a billionaire. She has houses all over the states and countries; and all she is doing here is making a little more extra money for herself. "Do you know how much they would pay just to have your face in magazines and movies? Alot, you could do anything you want with such a natural beauty like yours." I nodded and said to her that I wanted to become a photographer and travel a bit before I head to college. Also stating that my mother sort of holds me back from growing up and being something great. "No one can stop you from growing up. I have students all over the world that always call me Mama Mercy. So you may call me mama, but listen to mama. Your mom is only being a mama, she loves you with all her heart but she cannot stop you from reaching your destiny and from growing up. You want to become a photographer? Honey that's beautiful, it is!..Ill send you to New York so you can be somebody and make something of yourself." I smiled, I couldn't help but want to cry because no one has ever talked to me in such a manner as hers. It was shocking to hear all this coming from a woman that has enough money to buy anything she wished, she had 12 room houses all over and lofts in the cities. She smiles at me and says, "You, young ladie, are the beautifulest woman I have ever seen in Alaska. You are! I'm not lying. I have seen alot of women just doing all they can to reach the top and become something they are only acting for. You, you have such beautiful skin, perfect eyes, nose, and face. Mariah, listen to mama, I am 62 years old. I have done all that" She said flailing her arms around meaning anything in the world, shes been there and done that. "Everyone is going to push you around and shove you close to the edge. But they are only jealous of that Natural Beauty you have. My love, you are such a young woman and you listen to greatly. I can tell that in life you are going to succeed in doing whatever it is you wish." She squeezed my hand tight and started saying something when I stopped her and said "I know I have natural beauty and I appreciate the fact at least you notice it.." She smiles and stands, "everyone does, they are just afraid of it. No one can stand to see something so real and natural when its not them that has it. Natural Beauty, Mariah. You have it, so stand tall and go have some fun! And if you ever want to talk, come see mama Mercy. Okay?.... Don't cry!" she says and gives me a huge hug. "I love you Mama Mercy!!" I said, with no tears in my eyes but a smile on my face. Mercy nodded and said, "Go play now..." and I took off walking. For the rest of the day I had such a great big smile on my face and started daydreaming of going all over the world. To become someone, with Mercy helping me out. She said that she had 3 kids and all of them were doctors, the best doctors. "If they can do it, so can you baby girl." 

That became my favorite day, and I plan on talking to her more and more about traveling with her in December when she goes to Switzerland to visit her family. I honestly cannot believe that anyone, in my young years, would approach me and tell me such things. I believe there is some great people in this world, and I plan on making great memories with them! 

Thanks Mama Mercy!!

:)

The Fraud Checked

The story of my friends, Fraudulent Check

On one wonderful Christmas break day, my friend and I were hanging out at her house bored out of our minds. The house was still, silent as everyone was still sleeping; it was still 2:30a.m. and it wasnt the time to be loud and noisy. Now, the day before my friend 'Wishberr' posted on Craigslist.com that she was going to sell her camera for at least 500 dollars. She got plenty of replies but only one seemed promising; the guy that would give her 50 dollars more. So she would get at least $550 for her camera, and that was good for her since all she wanted was a quick buck to spend on lord knows what. In time the check came, her mother was scared that it was a fraud and so was Wishberr's step father. "Its totally a fraud, this guy used alot of different names on this check.." was what her step father said, and it was true. The guy had stated that his name is (Insert strange name here), made up a fake bank, had his 'secretary' sign the check which was (Insert Strange Name Here) and then told us to go cash it. 1. It was literally 2 grand on the check, not just $550 but almost 2 grand. 2. The guy had used 4 different names, emails and addresses. and 3. It just didnt seem right.

I bet your thinking, that sucks or thats too bad that its not a real check. But imagine what actually happened! So this is what went down, Wishberr's mother took her and I down to the bank and asked them if it was real or if there really was any money behind the paper; and this is where it gets tricky, they said that it would take 3 days to clear it and then Wishberr could get the money. Only after the three days, seems easy right? But Wishberrs mother stated that she just wanted to know if there really was any money on it, expecially since he sent like 3 times as much money was requested. So this was a bit of a shock for all of us, and Wishberr being as impatient as possible and just wanting the money was stressed. We all went home and slept of the worry and woke up with a few more answers; Wishberr talked to the guy early in the morning on messanger and asked him why he would send a frauded check. He stated that it was not a fraud and that if she wasnt going to cash it to just send it back to him. Now Wishberr, was anxious to get up and go see what to do at the bank whether her parents thought it was a frauded check or not. She was craving that money and she wanted it right  now. Nuts right? 

After that a few days went by when Wishberr finally gained the courage to go down to the bank and attempt to cash it whether it was a fraud or not. So she did, and I wasnt around to see her face light up when the bank litterally gave her a hundred of her money now while they cleared the rest of the check and gave her the rest of her money within 2 more days. It was crazy when she explained it to me but thats how it went down. 

So the real moral of this story is, Craigslist isnt always a fraud... and neither are checks..

Haha, Hope you enjoyed the tale!!!

A strange snow day!

I took this photo!! All thats in it is my friends Luke, James, and Amber!

Over break, a series of events happened that either worstened my life or made it better. Now, lets just say that all the bad ones are sitting at home, and the good ones are here with me today. Okay, so one day me and Amber were just sitting at her house rather bored and gloomy. It was snowing so heavily that me and her got up the courage to grab some sleds and walk down to the bunkhouse around 11. In the mean time of walking there, me and her were thinking of going sledding even though we only brought the sleds for everyone else who wanted to go sledding today. We were all cozy, but cozy in a way where we were not intending to go sledding what so ever. So while we were walking down the hill we were like, 'Hey! we should go visit our friend James!', so we did. Now, you see, when we got there everyone was either sleeping still or working. (Yes our friends have jobs and we dont. We are free!! Yaay) So we woke up James and hung out with him for a few good hours, but see we got there at noon, so the time spent walking there was an hour of wasted sledding time. 

I took this picture too! This Is James, he's from Oklahoma. No Joke!

Amber and I walked over and visited James and Monte, but Monte was working till 5 so he couldnt come hang out with us. But, while waiting for Luke and Will to wake up, Amber insisted on just napping. James was really bored, he called in sick this morning because he actually was sick. Amazing that people still call in sick its kind of dumb and irresponcible right? Wrong, you see he didnt plan on going sledding with me and Amber but then again, he didnt even know. (We hid the sleds in the doorway) So all three of us were just hanging out listening to Nirvana, watching James make a whole bunch of funny faces and attempt at playing guitar. Thats right, he doesnt know how to play the guitar; though he just bought a brand new acoustic not too long ago. But hes learning, slowly but surely. Hes hilarious when he attempts to play along with Nirvana, or think hes hot stuff just because he can play Guitar Hero 3 on hard.

James again, playing his blue acoustic. Haha, He gets so into it.

So while sitting there and being bored, I kind of just fell asleep within 5 minutes. (Havent got much sleep lately) and as you can see, there wasnt much going on. But once it hit like noon something, I woke up in a jolt and brought out my camera once again snapping pictures of James's pepsi clock that sat on his wall like a trophy. It was fun, I guess you can say; just doing nothing and chilling out with your good friends. Oh, and I also got my lips pierced as well, though they kind of look infected but I think its just because my skin is dry and I put some wierd lotion on that I was allergic to. So I'm not sure what I should do about that, I might take them out. Anyways, after a while me and Amber got bored of just listening to Nirvana over and over again. So we said to James, "Lets go do something, lets go sledding!!" and James was like, Hold on I got to get ready for this. Jumps up and runs to take a shower. Ha ha ha.

Thats James's Pepsi clock Haha.

So after waiting for James to take a shower, double up in layers, and eat something. We finally went across the hall and knocked on Luke and Will's door when we heard behind the door, "Whoooo iissss iiitt?" and with a high squeaky voice we all replied with, "Houusee Keepping!"

We all do that just so they know its us and not someone else like the cops or something, not like the cops would go over there. So we walked in and chilled for a few, talked about what hills to go sledding on, there was two. Madison and the one over by Ambers house which was too much of a walk for all of us. So we just ended up going to Madison and slidding down like 3 different hills and having a blast. Of course, I didnt go sledding though cause I was the camera man and ended up taking loads of pictures of them while they were sledding.

And that was the end of our day, (we did this till 11:50P.M) and they rode off into the empty streets.. Down hills and back up again.

The end.