Who started this contest? Most beautiful teen contest? We are all beautiful. We do not need a contest, on facebook, to tell us if we are or not. How many likes your photo gets is how you win. Likes? Beauty, based on likes? What is this coming to? We do not need this. Some of us may be beautiful on the outside, but we are all beautiful on the inside. We do not need to subscribe to this ignorant contest. I hope that none of us do, but as you can tell... A lot of us already have. The authors and creators of teenview will not be subscribing to this. And we hope that our viewers will not either. These people on facebook do not know who we are, they do not truly know how beautiful we are. They do not know us, they have never met us. They do not have the right to judge if we are beautiful or not. Please, do not conform to this horrid "contest". Self image is a lot, and this will ruin it. Not voted most beautiful teen? Please do not let it bring you down. These people are just winning according to how many people they are friends with on facebook. They may be beautiful, but we should not need a contest on facebook to tell us that we all are beautiful. We do not need it to tell us who we are. We should all, already know how beautiful and wonderful of human beings we all are! You are all beautiful, smart, witty, and amazing people. Please do not conform to the idea's of this contest. No one needs this. And if you already put your picture on, please, please, please do not let it bring down your self esteem because you did not win. You are beautiful. Remember it. Forever.

   With songs like 'Teenagers' by My Chemical Romance, Sing for the moment by Eminem, and Teenage daughters by Martina McBride, it is easy to see the stereotypes behind teenagers.

   We interviewed two teenagers and two adults to see if the media was truthful about teenagers and what adults think. It is amazing what we found out!
   Okay, so to start, the basics. The stereotype is that all teenagers care about is music and movie stars and the opposite sex. The second stereotype is that music affects us and makes us difficult to deal with.
   I hope that after this article you realize what amazing kids we have in the world today
   Check out what the first adult that we interviewed said.
Q:What do you expect that most teenagers listen to?
A:  "Hip hop and rap."
Q:How do you think this affects them?
A: "I think it can make them more unwilling to listen to elders and advice that others can give them."
Well, we interviewed some teenagers, and you tell me if they sound like unruly people with no respect.
The first one:
Q:What is your political standpoint (this question is optional)?
A:When it comes to politics, I believe there should be one central government that only takes care of defense, general welfare, and foreign relations. I believe that it should be ruled by a large group of unbiased citizens, or something else, such as an artificial intelligence.
Q:What are you most passionate about?
A:The thing I’m most passionate about is learning about the universe around me. The universe is so complex, yet so simple, and it has so many tantalizing mysteries. To me, learning is more than just going to school and doing work. Learning is waking up in the morning, then being able to go to bed knowing more than you did when you woke up.
Pretty intense stuff huh?
The second teen said:
Q: If you were president, what are five things you would do?
A: a)Work to end world hunger
b) Work with other countries to bring peace
c) bring the economy back
d) keep a fair exchange of military soldiers on hand, that way the soldiers get to go home more often
e) Work across the nation to get kids educated about more worldly things.
   It seems to me that these teens are involved and really care about what is going on around them, and how they will make an impact in this world. 
   The second adult said:
Q: What is the worlds biggest issue in your opinion?
A: "Lack of tolerance. The thinking that one way is the only way."
And this is what our teen said:
A:..."But I think countries should work together to improve the lives of their citizens, that war should be eliminated, and that prejudices against each other should be exterminated."
   It seems to me that teens and adult think in very similar ways :) We are not as naive as you think we are.
   So all you adults out there, take a moment to listen to the youth of YOUR nation. We are the future

"This just isn't working out.",
"Maybe we should see other people?",
"We just weren't meant to be.",
"I am better off without you anyway.",
"Can we still be friends?"

Break-ups are tough, we know.
   
    Take it from a girl who has dated... We'll just say... a lot of guys.
    Some of the worst things can be said, and you may shout, with words pouring out of your mouth that you never dreamed you would even whisper. 
    Whether you are a girl or a guy; relationships are not easy at a young age, or well, any age really. It doesn't matter if you are twelve or forty nine, you have to make sacrifices and compromises to make things work. We are not saying you need to change yourself, but sometimes tweaking and adjusting make you stronger.
   
    So, to the main point. What do you do in the face of a bitter break-up?
    First, THINK before you speak, message, tweet, text, email or post!! This is EXTREMELY important. Don't say or do rash things that you will regret later. This advice is coming from someone who knows that making a mistake like this can make a huge impact, and you can't take it back... ever!
    Second, take a moment to breathe. If you are the dumpee, then you may use this time to write, draw, paint, workout, etc., Whatever makes you feel better about the situation and yourself. But what ever you do, do NOT do anything that will cause you or anyone else physical or mental harm, e.g; punch a wall, cut, burn, carve words into your skin, beat yourself up about it, or lash out at others.
    Once you have calmed down over a couple hours or even a few days, you need to immediately make contact with the dumper. It is recommended that you do so face to face or through phone calls, (no text or IM!), just so that nothing is misinterpreted. Talk calmly with an even but interested tone. Refrain from shouting, or bad body language. You need to respect your (ex)partner's decisions and they need to respect yours.
    You will not always remain friends. At some point you have to realize that some people may stay in your heart, but not in your life. You need to accept this in order to move on. DO NOT try to change who you are in order to try to get this person back. Let it go, and if it comes back, it's truly yours, and if it doesn't, then it never really was. I am using all of these cheesy sayings because for the most part, they are true.
    In conclusion, breakups SUCK! :/

XoXo,
The Tean View Team

September 11, 2001 was a hard day for everyone. People died, people lost their family members, people were injured, people have diseases from the ash & smoke, people watched the towers fall or just watched it on t.v. - and this article is dedicated to all of those people, and all of our saviors, the firefighters, ambulances, doctors, nurses, police, anybody who helped. This article is for all of you. The anniversary of 9/11 is coming soon. Schools are watching 9/11 videos and learning all about it, people are remembering all about it, some are mourning.

The day of the attack:
    Family members are getting phone calls saying "They say they have a bomb", "I do not think the pilot is flying the plane anymore", "I love you, I do not know if I will make it, but I love you" and many more phone calls.
    Then at 8:46 a.m. flight eleven crashes into the first tower.
   
    People are on fire, people are jumping out of the towers not knowing what else to do, holding hands and praying, panicking... There is nothing to do but try to get out, and they all know that may not happen.
    At 9:02 a.m. flight 175 crashes into the second tower. Smoke is covering the city now.
    This is on every channel in the world. The news are replaying the videos of the towers crashing over and over again, not believing what they are seeing in front of them. People put up signs asking if anyone had seen their friend, their co-worker, their dad, their mom, their sister, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, brother, husband, wife, daughter, son, etc.,     At first we thought the first tower was an accident, then the second one came, we weren't quite so sure it was an accident anymore. Then the pentagon. We knew it was set up and that is was a terrorist attack.         Then the plane in Pennsylvania, we learned it was headed for the White House. The people on that flight were so brave. They took over the plane, and saved a lot of people. 9/11 is a soft spot for everyone.
    I remember my mom crying, and replaying the towers falling over and over again on the t.v. I was two. I was playing outside having no clue what was happening.
    My friend used to live in New York, her mother was saved because she had to pick up her daughter in another city. My teacher lived in New York, she helped students get away from the twin towers, she helped them walk to a fairy bout to Staten Island, saving their lives. Everyone lived. But a lot of people died.
    Everyone knows about 9/11 and it's effect on everyone in the world. Even plane security is tightened now. You cannot even bring your own drink on a plane, glass or even a pair of nail clippers. But we all understand. September 11, 2001 was a scary, frightful day for us all.         Could you imagine being in those towers or on one of the planes with your child? Telling them everything will be alright... When you know it won't be. Or seeing their worried faces, and knowing you can't do anything to protect them, but just love them, hug them, and hold them tight until everything is over. Not knowing what to say to your best friend, your child, your husband or your family member?

September 11, 2001 was a scary and sad day for us all. Filled with loss, hatred, sadness and disbelief.

We will NEVER forget.

Eating disorders are a major problem in the world today. Many young girls suffer from eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia, or binge eating.

    What is bulimia? What is anorexia? What is binge eating?

Bulimia is where you eat and then throw it up afterwards so you never actually digest any food.

Anorexia is where you do not eat anything at all.

Binge eating is where you do not stop eating. You eat when you are bored, sad, angry, happy, or under a lot of stress. So maybe during testing times, crazy things at home, rumors at school. Things that would stress you out.

   
How do you know the difference between an eating disorder and a diet?

    Dieting is about losing weight in a healthy way.

Eating disorders are about supposedly trying to make your whole life "better" through food and eating, or lack of food and eating.
   
    Dieting is about doing something healthy for yourself not for anyone else.

Eating disorders are about trying to find approval and acceptance from everyone that has given you  negative attention.

    Dieting is about losing a little bit of weight healthfully.

Eating disorders are about how you think life won't be good until a lot of weight has been lost.
   
    Dieting is about getting to feel on the outside how good you already feel on the inside.

Eating disorders is where there is no concern for what kind of damage you may do to your body because you are trying to get to a certain weight.

    Dieting is about attempting to control your weight better.

Eating disorders is about being convinced that all your self esteem is based on what you weight and how you look.

    Dieting is about losing some weight to be healthy or feel healthier.

Eating disorders are about attempting to control your life and emotions through food or lack of food.


    More information on eating disorders:

Bulimia: Bulimia is where one usually binges on food and then throws it up or uses laxatives because they feel bad about eating the food. Bulimia is often more in girls than in guys, it is usually present in adolescent girls or young women. When you are bulimic you usually over exercise as well. Bulimia can cause cavities because acid, dry mouth, broken blood vessels in the eyes from straining, gingivitus, cuts or calluses on tops of fingers from forcing one self to puke, rashes, pimples, or dehydration. Very rarely will bulimics be hospitilised unless their bulimia is accompanied with anorexia. Depression usually accompanies anorexia and bulimia. Bulimia is usually caused by teasing, trauma, family issues, genetic, psychological, society, or cultural factors. Support groups is a great way to help people with bulimia, people with the same problem or people who have suffered from bulimia as well can really help you. Bulimia is very dangerous though. It can lead to constipation, dehydration, swelling of the throat, cavities, pancreatitis, or tears of the esphogaus. Bulimia can be a long term illness, even if you have been treated for bulimia some factors and symptoms can still be present.

Anorexia: Anorexia is when you starve yourself. Anorexia usually starts when puberty starts. Anorexics have a huge fear of becoming "fat". People with anorexia think they are very much overweight even when they are extremely thin, ill or even near death. Anorexia is a common factor in people who do activities where you need to be thin. Such as certain sports, cheer leading, dancing, theater, etc., When you are anorexic you are very obsessive about your calorie intake. Good news about anorexia: It can be overcome! One percent of all teenage girls in the U.S develop anorexia, and up to ten percent of that one percent can die of their anorexia habits.

Binge eating: When you binge you eat faster, more food, more calories and definitely too much. It is not healthy at all. It can lead to unhealthy weight, or obesity. When you are a binger you eat when you are sad, bored, alone, depressed or uncomfortable. Sometimes you eat when you are not even hungry. Binging may not be starving yourself or throwing up to look thinner but it is just as bad, you are still harming yourself.


    If you have any one of these eating disorders tell a friend, a family member, a teacher, your doctor, an adult you can trust or find a support group. But do please try to get better, because these eating disorders are beyond unhealthy.

*You are not fat nor are you ugly.*

If you feel overweight and would like to lose weight- be healthy about it. Go on a healthy diet. That diet can even be just eating less junk food and/or drinking less or no soda. But before you go on a diet or think about it, tell your parents about your idea or what you are thinking.

I hope that hearing this from someone your own age will help you become aware of the facts!

This weeks subject is very sensitive and may not be suitable for all viewers. Thanks!

You have all seen the headlines, watched the news, had talks with your parents, and listened to music, such as Disturbed's song 'Inside the Fire', about teen suicide.
Maybe you have a friend, know someone, or maybe you have yourself thought of suicide.

So first, here's the facts:

First we have excerpts from an article on www.twloha.com.
    "The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year approximately one million people die from suicide, which represents a global mortality rate of 16 people per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds. It is predicted that by 2020 the rate of death will increase to one every 20 seconds.
The WHO further reports that:
    In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 (male and female). Suicide attempts are twenty times more frequent than completed suicides.

Although suicide rates have traditionally been highest amongst elderly males, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of all countries.
Mental health disorders (particularly depression and substance abuse) are associated with more than 90% of all cases of suicide.
Suicide results are from many complex sociocultural factors and is more likely to occur during periods of socioeconomic. Family and individual crisis (e.g. loss of a loved one, unemployment, struggling with sexual orientation, difficulties with developing one's identity, disassociation from one's community or other social/belief groups).

The WHO also states that:
    Suicides globally by age are as follows:
        55% are aged between 15 to 44 years
        45% are aged 45 years and over.

Youth suicide is increasing at the greatest rate.

In the US, the Center of Disease Control and Prevention reports that:
    Overall, suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death for all US Americans, and is the third leading cause of death for young people 15-24 years.

Although suicide is a serious problem among the young and adults, death rates continue to be highest among older adults ages 65 years and over.
Males are four times more likely to die from suicide than are females. However, females are more likely to attempt suicide than are males.

We  interviewed a Teen Viewer to get the scoop on suicide amongst teens.

Q: When did you first begin having suicidal thoughts?
A: When my parents got a divorce. I was 11, I felt like I didn't want to live anymore, because eventually... everything went down hill from there.
Q: Did you attempt suicide?
A: Yes, several times.
Q: What stopped you?
A: My sister. She's my baby sister. She has a lot of things wrong with her, and I can't just leave her.
Q: Would you attempt again?
A: No, I would not attempt again.
Q: If you could tell teens anything about living with suicidal thoughts, dealing with it, and getting help. What would you say?
A: I would tell them that they need to think about what's right, wrong, and that there's so many people like you, that are proud to help.
   
    Isn't that crazy? She could be your friend, family, neighbor, or even if you don't know her, you just want to help her, and tell her that everything will be okay. I hope that hearing this from someone your age, will help open your eyes to the situation.

*If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or has attepted suicide before and is at risk of attempting again, call 1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. They will help.
We are encouraging you to spread the word.*

XoXo,
The Teen View Team<3

So we had a teen viewer ask us what we thought about dating in middle school. Well, this is a slightly sticky subject. First, we need to classify what 'dating' is. Dating in middle school usually means that you like, and you share a mutual atraction and interests, (soccer, writing, art, whatever it is) or like the person because they are physically attractive. This in middle school, makes you a 'couple' or 'going out', when actually, most of the time all you do is hug, and you don't 'go out'. To be 'dating' in middle school is not like the real world. In the real world you are asked out or you ask someone and you go out alone together and do something, if you want to go out again, you do, and you can go on as many dates as you want with other people, until you settle down with one person that you continually date. So anyway, here is some stuff about 'dating' in middle school. 

Pros:
*In middle school, when you 'date' you are hanging with someone who is the same, and different than you, if you have a good 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend' then they will challenge you, and help you grow as a person.
*'Dating' can actually give teens someone that they are close to and trust with everything, and a teen who is having thoughts of suicide (based on polls of our peers) is more likely to tell their current date than their parents or school teacher. So maybe having this emotional support is a good thing.

Cons:
*A lot of fights in middle school are over girls fighting over boys, or boys defending their girls.
*Lots of people will judge you. Your friends, your enemies, your parents, and even your teachers get involved! All of this puts unhealthy pressure on you to do or say things you may not be comfortable with.
*Spending lots of time with or dating someone your friends don't like can seperate you from them. You should never date to please anyone but yourself, but if your beau and besties don't agree, then you need to try to bridge the gap between them, or spend equal time with them.
*Your parents may not agree with it
*Your school most likely doesn't allow PDA or Public display of affection

These are the views we have gathered. If you have anything to add, feel free tcomment, we would love to hear your thoughts.
Note: Not everyone's situation is the same, so these certain situations may not apply to you.