During wrestling season, my ribs were broken so severely that I was confined to using crutches for balance and stability. Being semi limited in my abilities at the time, I relied heavily on others to help me do some of the basic day to day errands like getting my lunch. The day was like any other game day. Everyone was dressed in school colors, and there was a feeling of school pride in the air. The basketball players were in full suits and the cheerleaders were wearing their uniforms. 

It was lunch time and I decided that the monster fries with fry sauce was the best option for lunch that day. Befriending the lunch lady proved handy, as I was able to score some extra cups of dipping sauce. As lunchtime was coming to an end, the group collected their trash and uneaten food in one lump sum on a tray on the edge of the table. I wasn’t feeling well and the monster fries didn’t prove as pleasing as I once thought that they would. They too collected in the mass pile on the table. I struggled as I stood up and was trying to get my balance when I nudged the base of one of my crutches with my foot. This fatal slip of my foot sent my crutch at an alarming speed toward the tray. As my crutch slammed into the tray, it was as if a clown had jumped onto one edge of a seesaw sending another clown skyrocketing into the air. In my case, it was a crutch sending the extra servings of fry sauce, uneaten food and trash into the hair of our head cheerleader. In the moments that followed, it was as if time had slowed so as to be able to fully take in all that was happening. Cups dangled from her head allowing every last drip of sauce to fully cover her. Football stars and fellow cheerleaders glared as she sat in embarrassment. Slowly she stood and turned to see her tormenter. Speechless and in pain, I stood and watched the sauce slowly smear down her uniform; the uniform that she was yet to debut in the up-in-coming game later that day. It didn’t help that her uniform was mostly white with only the trimming in blue and green.

At that moment, it didn’t matter that we were friends and that I was semi handicapped. Washing her hair was one thing, but greasy, dripping, orange fry sauce covered her uniform and no matter how hard she tried, or how many times she tried to wipe it, it was obvious to everyone at the game, that she had a lunchtime disaster.

We would love to hear some of your embarrassing moments! Please add a comment if you have a great story.

Our country has been the champion for freedom and human rights since it began. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The words of our founding fathers still ring loud and true today.
 
 The word patriotism comes from a Greek word meaning fatherland. For most of history, love of fatherland or homeland was an attachment to the physical features of the land. But that notion changed in the eighteenth century, when the ideals of democracy, socialism, and communism strongly emerged into political thought. Patriotism was still a love of one’s country that included connections to the land and people, but then also included its customs and traditions, pride in its history, and devotion to its welfare.
Today most people agree that patriotism also involves service to their country, but many disagree on how to best perform such service. Some believe that the national government speaks for a country; therefore, all its citizens should actively support government policies and actions. Others argue that a true patriot speaks out when convinced that their country is following an unwise or unjust action.
 
Winston Churchill  taught that, “Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.”

What does patriotism mean to you? Write an essay that is 500 words or less on what patriotism means to you. Why is it important? How does it affect your life, school, and/or our country? All submissions must be received by Teen Impact by midnight, April 30, 2008. Entries will be judged by members of United States Marine Corp. Although all winners will be mentioned, only the top three essays will be published in the March issue of Teen Impact Magazine.

Prizes:     First Place - portable DVD player
    Second Place - $50.00 Visa Gift Card
    Third Place - $25.00 Visa Gift Card
    Honorable Mention(s) - $15.00 Visa Gift Card

Submit entries to Teen Impact at www.teenimpact.org.

All entries must include: a completed Teen Impact Media Release Form found online at www.teenimpact.org, your full name, grade, school you attend, phone number, email address and home address where you can be contacted if your essay is chosen as a winning essay. Only entries containing all the above listed information will be considered acceptable entries and will be eligible to participate.

Odds of winning are dependent on the number of entries. All prizes are under the discretion of Teen Impact and subject to change without notice. All prizes will be awarded after the publication of the winning essays. In the event that a winner cannot be contacted within a reasonable time frame after publication, the winner forfeits his/her prize to the next winning entry. By entering and participating in this contest and accepting any of these prizes, entrants and winners agree to hold Teen Impact harmless and waive any and all claims of liability of any kind whatsoever against Teen Impact including but not limited to claims related to the awarding of any of these prizes or use/misuse thereof, or while traveling to and/or from a location to obtain or use any of these prizes.

In January 2007, a 15 year old St. George girl was raped, strangled, and killed by a 14 year old boy she had just met. This is just one extreme case of what dating violence can lead to. Please join with us February 5-9 for the National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week, to learn how you can protect yourself from dating violence. 

During this week, get your school involved by hosting a Stomp or Dance, an Awareness Campaign with a pod cast or texting, or simply by discussing it in your classrooms. 

Some of the following information may be helpful in learning more about this issue.

Dating Rights-I have the right:
To be treated with respect
To my own body, thoughts, opinions, and property
To have my needs be as important as my partner’s
To not take responsibility for my partner’s  behavior
To keep my friends
To grow as an individual
To change my mind
To determine how much time I spend with my partner
To not be abused physically, emotionally, or sexually
To break-up, fall out of love, or leave a relationship    

What Victims of Dating Violence Need to Know
The abuse is not your fault.
You do NOT deserve to be abused.
You can’t change someone who is abusive.
Staying in the relationship won’t stop the abuse.
Over time, the abuse will get worse

Behaviors that are Often Seen in People Who Abuse Their Partners:
Jealousy
Controlling behavior
Unrealistic expectations
Isolation
Blaming others for problems
Hypersensitivity
Verbal abuse/name calling
Breaking or striking objects
Constantly checking up on partner

If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-897-LINK 24 hours

There are many forms of educational packets and media that you and your school will receive or may purchase. Please see your counseling office for details.

Sandy City has provided every high school with a DVD on dating violence.

You can find a full packet of information on how to hold your Awareness Week at www.utahpta.org on the Student Involvement Commissioners page.

You may also purchase the packet, with the Sandy City’s DVD, as well as a CD with two original songs for $4.00. Please send checks to:
Utah PTA
5192 Green Pine Drive
Murray UT 84123
Or call: 801-260-3100  

Other helpful sources include:
-Power in You also addresses dating dangers at www.powerinyou.org 

-Some great books to read are:
“But I Love Him, Protecting Your Teen Daughter”
“Helping Her Get Free”
“In Love and In Danger”
“Not Another Sarah”
Saving Beauty from the Beast”

-House Bill 247 (Domestic Violence and Dating Violence Amendments) by Rep. Litvack, addresses Dating Violence. Let your Representative and Senator know that you would like to see it past. You can read the bill at www.le.state.ut.us

Before you choose

To judge another

 On how they look or act, 

See through their eyes, 

Hear with there ears, 

And discover how you react.

Before you pass on 

Nasty lies, 

Or even tiny fibs, 

Decide to feel

 The horrid pain

Incurred inside your ribs.

Instead of tearing 

Others down, 

And crushing all their hope,

Try cheering up

Their sullen face, 

Become a life long friend.

And if, perhaps,

You come across

A trial of your own,

Grief you did not 

Pass along 

Will find another road.

It's been a while since the event, but I have been moving around ever since so I didn't have internet access. I just wanted to say that kindness has always been a part of my life. I always thought that there was no reason to be rude or unkind to someone, especially to someone I don't know. I had an experience with trying to be nice to someone and having that person be very unkind to me in return. We attended the same school and I noticed that this young man always sat alone; nobody really talked to him. I found enough courage one day to sit by him and talk to him. He looked surprised that I was even taking notice of him. He was very curt to me but I sat by him, even for a second, every day. As each day passed, he got better about talking to me. Then you guys came and told Rachel's story. That was incredible, by the way! It really touched me because I think, in a way, I'm somewhat like Rachel and I realized that what she did for that girl in her story, I was doing for that young boy at my school. The next day I went my usual way to sit by him and I found that instead of wearing his normal all black outfit, he wore a blue t-shirt and baggy blue jeans and his hair was blonde instead of black. At first I wasn't even sure I was sitting next to the same guy. As I sat down, he told me right away that he was sorry that he was so mean to me when I first talked to him. He said that on that day he was going to run away and probably kill himself, but something was holding him back. He said I was the reason that he came to school each day and the reason that he didn't run away and kill himself. After you guys came, he realized that I wasn't fake or playing a joke on him by talking to him each day. He saw the resemblance in Rachel’s story and now he's still one of my best friends to this day. I've accepted Rachel's challenge and continue to live the 5 challenges. I thought you might like this little story of compassion. Even though Rachel's mortal body may be dead, her soul and story is alive and will go on. Thank you!

Mr. Scott, you came to my school yesterday and you and your daughter’s story inspired me to be a better person and to make goals for myself. I went to the meeting at 7 p.m. and afterwards I spoke with you about a goal I made to reach out to a mentally challenged girl, and you asked me to email you about how that went. Well, I spoke with her today at lunch and she seemed happy that I came up to her. She told me her name is Christina. She is a very sweet girl and so now I plan to make more people happy like her. Thank you so much for coming. I will always remember you and what you talked about. Thank you, I’m on my way to becoming a better person. 

P.S. I am starting a chain reaction!

Dear Rachel’s Challenge,

I want to thank you. You have told the story of this young woman who has accomplished so much. She was not afraid to stand out, to help others and to show she cared. She showed compassion; many people have trouble showing compassion whether they are high school student athletes, army personal, teachers, doctors, etc. In my eyes, Rachel has not died. She may have faced this tragedy, but her soul, her beliefs, and her ability to challenge and bring the best out of others is still being shared. Through her 5 challenges, I have realized what is in me, what is in all of us: the ability to help others and to love and appreciate everyone and everything unique in all of us. I thank Rachel for challenging me. I accept her challenge and I will spread her challenge to others. Rachel has created a chain reaction of kindness. I am grateful that she put her thoughts and beliefs into words. For these words have and will continue to impact the world, as each generation is waiting to be challenged. 

Are you overwhelmed with the stress of school and homework? Or are you left feeling like you have nothing to do? Well, here’s a way to relax and have something to do.  Figure out what you’re good at and what you like to do. Then do it! Get a hobby! Get into a club! Expand your abilities! If you’re doing something you like to do, you will be far less tempted to become involved with drugs or get involved with gangs. For instance, some people like to read, while others prefer to get involved in sports. Doing what you enjoy, having daily school stress lifted off your shoulders, and having a good time are all great reasons to get a hobby.