U Matter

Only you can make the decision not to use tobacco, alcohol or drugs. This Web site is designed to give you the facts about tobacco, alcohol and drug use in Columbia. It will also provide you with resources to find factual information about the effects of alcohol and drugs, real stories from teenagers like yourself and answer any questions you might have.

Talking to my mom is never easy. Don’t get me wrong, I love my mom. She’s great at a lot of things– like making lasagna, cheering me on at soccer games and signing permission forms for school events. One thing my mom is not good at is talking to me about my problems and needs. Sometimes I feel like she just doesn’t get it. But other times, I know she understands exactly what I’m going through. If your mom is anything like mine, you know communication isn’t always easy, but I know a few things that will make it easier.

  1. Plan out what you want to say to your parents. (Know your facts. And unfortunately, “everyone else has one!” isn’t enough evidence for parents.)
  2. Try really hard not to get upset if things don’t turn out how you had hoped. (When I raise my voice, the only word my mom seems to be able to say is “No,” and that’s a huge disappointment.)
  3. Be ready to compromise. (Yes, I just used the “c” word. Kind of like “sharing,” it seems like parents always use it against you. But if you show you are willing to give a few things up, they are much more willing to talk about giving you what you really want.)
  4. Listen. (None of this “La la la, I can’t hear you!” Really listen. Sometimes they might be clueless, but the rest of the time, parents are just teenagers with a few more years under their belts.)

This is a fictional account of the real effects of how communication, or the lack thereof affects those around you.

Your Thoughts…

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Online Privacy: Protect Yourself.

Social networking has quickly grown to be one of the most popular ways time is spent online. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, YouTube, the list goes on and on. You probably have an account or two or three, or have at least looked into getting one. But, are you thinking about what you are sharing? Would you want the creeper who sits behind you in English class to see all your photos? Your grandma getting your status updates? Your neighbor checking out your videos? A future boss reading your blogs? A stranger stalking your geotags?

Social networking sites are considered public domain, so if you don’t want everyone to see it, don’t let anyone see it online. Once something is posted, it becomes part of the Web—it exists even after you delete it. Once your privacy is gone, it can be hard to get it back, so watch what you post.