Be Kind :)

Hey guys, I just wanted to create this post about somethingg that I care deeply about. First, I'm the type of person to go up to the new kid at school when no one else will, or stick up for the kids who get picked on all the time even though I'm like half the size of most people. You never know when you can make someone's day, or be a friend when someone absolutely needs one. Anyways, I just encourage everyone to be the one to make a difference. Even if you think it's something little, it may be something huge to someone else. Don't judge. Bring out the best in people, be there, and just be encouraging and friendly to those who need it. You never know what't going on in others heads, so you can definitely make a difference just by saying 'hi' and trying to be their friend. Even if you've never gotten along with someone, just try to be there if you think they may need it. I promise, if you take one second to look someone in the eye, that can say a lot more than words can't..
I've been amazingly inspired by Rachel Joy Scott, who was shot in 1999 at Columbine High School. Her story is amazing, and even though she's dead, she continues to live through so many people. She has touched so many lives, and she's definitely a role model of mine. All she wanted was to change the world, and so do I :)
-Ashlyn

--If you'd like to learn more about Rachel and her story, check out this website :)
http://www.racheljoyscott.com/index.htm

Summer Idea?

Hey guys! So I would like to share with you what I have been doing ALL summer :)
This next school year I will be a junior. I know, where does the time go?! But anyways, I was thinking to myself, "Isn't high school supposed to be like the best time of everyone's life?" High school is where I made new relations and figured out who I was as a person. So I figured, hey, why not document ALL of my memories? So I ran to the store, got a little binder, some sheet protectors, and then went to work. So basically what I'm doing is writing about all of my memories and significant events in order from freshman year. For example, that year, I joined FBLA and got my braces on. I also include pictures and other items that I would want to look back on such as my high school ID's. When you sit down and actually really think back on what has happened, it's A LOT. So I recommend that you try to write down everything in order and a piece of paper first. I just feel like these memories should be cherished and I can use this documentation to look back on 20 years from now and potentially share it with my own family in the future :)

I started it off with my 8th grade Certificate of Promotion :) Some important things that I would definitely include is your classes and a description of them and the teacher, sports or different activities, a summary of the whole school year, and then things like summer vacations or whatever. Hope you try it out and enjoy yourself!
-Ashlyn

Relationships...

Teenage years are SO hard when it comes to relationships. Girls are going crazy trying to find the "right one" and guys are just crazy hormonal. There are countless times when I see a couple crazy for each other, and then they're broken up like a week later. So here are some tips from personal experiences & observations. Enjoy!
1. Girls, you DO NOT need a guy to define you or make you happy.
2. Don't beg for attention. If you seek attention, it is very likely that you WILL get attention, just not the type you want
3. Don't be afraid of being alone! Revisit tip #1--you DO NOT need a man to define you! And what ever happened to being indpendent?
4. Don't put up with stupid crap. If your significant other puts you down, cheats on you, or isn't even attempting to keep things going, then forget them. I PROMISE you will find someone way better
5. Never think that you deserve getting cheated on or put down. What you deserve is someone who will treat you RIGHT
6. Never think that what you currently have is the best that you can get. I mean, we're teenagers. There are millions of fish in the sea. ESPECIALLY if you aren't completely happy. So please don't waste your time on half decent people just because that's all you can find at the moment.
7. Don't think that you can walk all over your significant other. Treat them like you would want to be treated--with RESPECT
8. Don't put their feelings before yours. If you have a problem, then confront them. Or if you feel the need to break up with them, then do it before it gets too serious. It'll only get harder.
9. Don't try to change the person who you are with. Either accept them for who they are or find someone that meets your expectations. It's a waste of time trying to create someone completely different, eventually they'll go back to the way they were
10. This one kind of goes hand in hand with Tip #9. Don't go into a relationship THINKING that they will change or that you will be able to change them. Like I said before, it's a waste of time.
11. Don't settle because you want a relationship. At this point, it's just a status for you
12. Don't be too concerned about what your friends will think. If the person that you want to be with totally makes you happy, then go for it!
13. Communicate. As hard as it can be sometimes, it's SO important. Say what's on your mind and talk about problems
14. If you have trust issues with the person you are with, it won't get better on it's own..Or very soon for that matter. If you can't grow from it and try harder, then it's not worth it.
15. Don't suffocate your significant other. Like don't try telling them what they can and can't do or who they can and can't associate with.
16. Girls, our jealousy gets crazy. But don't get jealous and all butt hurt when your boyfriend TALKS to other girls. He can have friends too. You should be able to trust him
17. Don't let previous relationships influence or get in the way of your current one. Every one is different
18. Don't let your significant other pressure you into doing anything you don't want to do. Put yourself before them, they'll get over it
19. Have a RELATIONSHIP. Hang out and actually talk. Don't develop a relationship over text. You won't really know what to say in person. Talking on the phone and hanging out allows real communication between the two of you
20. Be with someone that truly makes you happy. Someone that won't judge you, and accepts you for YOU.
Those 20 tips came completely from the top of my head, and came from things I've actually witnessed haha. There's only one more thing I want to say to the ladies:
MANY times I have seen girls run after guys for acceptance or attention because they don't have a good relationship with their father. Trust me, some boy absolutely will not fill that hole in your heart. You may not believe that, but it is completely true. Just keep in mind that a father's affection is completely different than some boy's affection..
Anyways, I hope this helps :)
-Ashlyn

Nail Ideas Anyone?

So over the weekend I was really bored, so I got on my favorite website EVER--Pinterest :) It gave me lots of ideas for hair, makeup, and nails soo here's something that I came up with on my own.

So you will need THREE colors. A base color, and then two kind of poppy colors. My base color was the blue looking color.Then, I chose black and this glittery silver. You should also put on a clear top coat. Keep in mind that you do not have to do this step by step, the purpose of this is to open up your eyes to knew ideas and ways to do it.

So what you'll want to do is get some type of flat edge tape. I used this nail tape from a french manicure set. You first paint the base color, let it dry really good, and then place the tape on your finger nail really carefully on the spot where you want the next color to be. So after I put the tape on the place where I wanted my nail painted, I painted the upper right corner black. I recommend taking the tape off right after the nail is painted. Let it dryyy!

After the second color has dried, place some tape on the next spot that you would like painted. Or you could just stop at the second color. I decided that just the black corner was too plain, so I wanted to add more. I painted the lower right corner silver. And voila!

If you're a horrible painter like me, I suggest taking a Q-tip and dip it into some nail polish remover to take off the coloring on your skin.

So I hope this gave you some cute ideas for the summer! I will be doing different crafts and ideas for hair and makeup really soon so I'll put some more ideas up here ASAP. I don't want your summers to be as boring as mine :)

-Ashlyn

Hardships of HIGH SCHOOL

High school..It could be the best four years of your life or the worst. I guess it just depends on how you view it. For example, if you wake up every morning telling yourself that the day ahead of you is going to be horrible and that school sucks, yeah, that'll probably be the outcome. But if you just let the good things outweigh the bad, then school will go good. For me personally, I cannot WAIT till school's over!! But, I don't dread going to school everyday. Yeah, there's always those days when school's the last place you wanna be and whatever, but that's just normal (for most people). I have no problem getting up and going to school five days a week. I mean, what's there to complain about? I'm getting a FREE education that'll eventually make me some money, I have lots of friends that I see everyday, and I'm overall surrounded by cool people. Soo since the school year is almost coming to an end and the days just seem to drag on as the end gets closer, here's some tips on how to get through the rest of the year :)
1. Don't be like, "Ughh school sucks, I hate school, I hate my life, I wish school was never invented, gosh it's so early, why do I have to be up this early, I hate school, my life suks right now." Haha no, with that attitude your life will suck.
2. Look forward to seeing your friends
3. Avoid drama (very important), it's pointless if you think about it
4. Surround yourself with fun and positive people
5. Don't slack since it's the end of the year, school's still as important as it was in the beginning of the year
6. Have fun with school. Don't get into trouble, do what your teachers says and assigns, and just get those things over with
7. Stop procrastinating. It took me all year to not do that :)
8. Don't get involved with other people's drama
9. Don't form enemies and alliances
10. Be respectful and nice to the people who you aren't so cool with
11. Get away from the people who bring you down
12. Join a club or sport!!! I'm in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and it made my year go by sooo much faster
13. Don't dread going to school just because you have to see someone you don't like or whatever, those people shouldn't even matter
14. Just be happy and stop focusing on the negative things in life
15. Expand your friendships. Don't just have one "group," go to others
16. Make as many friends as possible
17. Just do your own thing
18. Don't care what other people think of you. As long as you're happy and you're having a good time, it shouldn't really matter what people think
19. Spend quality time with people who might be moving, graduating, etc.
20. And last, think about how SHORTLY school will be over instead of how much longerr you have to be in school
Personally, I get really involved with school and I actually look forward to going everyday. I don't waste my time dreading every moment left of the year. I study up, acheive my last goals of the year, and just make it the best that it can be. That right there is how to make school a more pleasant experience :) Good luck and keep your head up!
-Ashlyn

Teen Pregnancy

A pretty good friend of mine pointed out something very true. It went a little something like this:
Guys: Hey, you gonna get it in at prom??
My friend: Umm, no..? Why?
Guys: Why wouldn't you??
What my friend said was kind of amazing. He said:
Why would I do that and risk ruining her life? We have our whole lives ahead of us to do that. Either we will be together for a while and we'll get married, and that's when we'll decide to do it, OR we won't last, I'll meet a different girl, we'll get married and we'll do it then. What's the rush?
That is COMPLETELY true, and the sad thing is that most people disagree with him.
Here's some stats:
1. About 820,000 teens become pregnant each year
2. 4 in 10 teeange girls experienced their first intercourse at the age of 13 or 14 but report that it was unwanted and involuntary
3. The main rise of teen pregnancies is girls UNDER 15 years old
4. Only one-third of teen moms finish high school and get their diploma
5. 80% of teen moms end up on welfare
6. The daughters of teen moms are 22% more likely to become teen moms
7. 67% of teens who have had sex wish they would have waited

Well, some may ask "How can I prevent pregnancy?" It's a no-brainer. WAIT to have sex. What's the rush?? Trust me, it won't make you popular or make people like you more. And if you think it'll make your significant other happy or make them stay with you, ask yourself if they're really worth it. If you feel pressured, either have a talk or end the relationship. Plus, don't risk getting any type of disease, especially if you don't know one another that well. This is a HUGE issue, and even if you think you're fully protected if you do decide to do it, think again. You are never 100% protected. EVERRR. There is always that risk, so don't chance it.
-Ashlyn :)

Hair Dying Tips :)

Okay so I did my moms hair last night because a lott of her gray was showing. I was a little nervous about doing it but it turned ou AWESOME. Here are some tips/steps of how to do a good job:

1. First, you will need your hair dye and whatever else it calls for in the directions. If you're getting your hair dye from like Sally's Beauty Supply or any other beauty store, everything will probably come separate so make sure you READ THE DIRECTIONS!! You will also need gloves (very important), some type of brush. You can get them at Sally's for like $1. Some type of clips. Metal ones work best for me. A brush, a comb, and a bowl that you can mix the dye in.

TIP #1: Before I dyed my hair about a month ago, I had some highlights coming through so I really wanted to cover them up once and for all. So I went to Sally's and I go this hair stripper. Its a little package of powder and you can get it for like $1. So just do what the directions say and that works REALLY good. It basically strips all of the waxes out of your hair so there isn't any type of layer blocking the color. But your hair will feel reallyy dry and stringy afterwards. but after you put that in, wash it out, wash your hair, and then dry it.

TIP #2: If you know you have lots of hairspray or like any heavy hair products in, go wash it out and then dry your hair. You want the color to saturate as much as possible.

2. Brush you hair!!! It makes everything soo much harder when your hair is all tangly.
3. Put gloves on
4. In a bowl, mix the hair dye and other ingredients. Mix with the coloring brush really well for at least a minute.

5. The easiest thing to do is to split your hiar into pieces. To start off, I put hair into four equal pieces. Start at the bottom, that's the easiest. So the picture is showing the top of the hair pinned up starting from where the top of the ear is. Then, I split that into two easy pieces. On the bottom, I cut the hair in half vertically.

TIP #3: My mom's hair is black, and I dyed it black just to cover up gray. But if you want to go from really light to dark or vice versa, I'd split the pieces of hair even smaller just to make sure you get EVERYTHING.

6. You want to apply the color starting from the roots and then go to about where the clip is in the picture. Safe the ends for last.

TIP #4: When you do the roots, make sure you lift the hair up and do it on the bottom as well as the top. Then you might want to take a little bit of dye on your fingers and massge it in. But don't waste too much of the dye.

7. So when you get to the top, you should probably split the hair into 4 pieces. There is a lot more hair to cover and there is more room for error.
8. Once again, start from the roots and work your way down. Be extra careful up here because this is what you always see, so triple check and make sure you got EVERYTHING.
9. After that piece, make sure you only put the dye about halfway down your hair. Then, start letting down other pieces in an order that you are most comfortable in.
10. Once all of the roots are finished, apply the dye to your bangs (if you have any).
11. With your brush, work the dye down your hair to the bottom. I usually just take a bunch on my hands (with gloves on!!) and just kinda massage it through, or put it in as if you are putting in conditioner or something.
12. So when you're done, make sure you check you got everywhereee. It never hurts to check more than two times. If you are applying the dye to someone else, look around by pulling random pieces of hair up and checking if the dye is everywhere. If you are doing it to yourself, I'd make sure I got it everywhere by taking the remaning dye in my hands and run it through my hair, focusing mainly on the top.
13. When I wait for it to dry, I take all of my hair, twist it, and pin it up.

What you don't want to happen..

 To avoid getting it on the skin (because it WILL stay) put lotion or Vaseline on your neck, ears, and top of forehead to avoid the dye completely dying your skin.

TIP #5: If you want your color to last, I would definitely buy some color protectant shampoo and conditioner. I use Ion Color Solutions and it works great! I would also think of getting some type of deep conditioner so your hair doesn't feel so dry. By the way, I use Clairol brand hair dye and it works really good (it's a gold box that you can get at Sally's or any other type of beauty supply store).
I wish you all the best of luck!!
-Ashlyn :)

Be A Successor!!

I just went on this AMAZING three day trip, and it taught me soo many things about myself that I never realized. Okay so I used to be super shy, I had 100% NO confidence or self esteem, and I always shot myself down. Orr, I never did the things I wanted because I was afraid of failure, rejection, embarrassment, etc. Now, I have completely transformed into this girl who isn't afraid of anything, and I get out there and do things I want and not even care what people think of me. Now I realize that all of that was a waste of time. I'm soo much happier now. I also never let fear get in my way. I let it motivate me :) Instead of doing a bunch of research, this is all from personal experience.
NEVER:
1. Think you're a failure
2. Let people make you think you're a failure
3. Let the thought of failure get in your way. Honestly, it's an even bigger failure if you don't go out there and try
4. Shoot yourself down or think what you want it stupid
5. Let what people think and other peoples opinions get in your way

Here's what you SHOULD do:
1. Make goals and ACHEIVE THEM (I did!)
2. Have more self esteem
3. Believe in yourself :)
4. Be around positive peoplee
5. Go outside of your personal barriers, it won't hurtt
6. Go forward and beyond at the things you love (I ammm)
7. Just do what YOU love and not what other people WANT you to do (It's your life, right)
8. Don't sell yourself short
9. Never say "I can't"
10. Don't think a lot about the bad things, make the best out of the good things :)
11. Just have FUN!!
-Ashlyn :)

Anorexia

I'm pretty sure that we all know what anorexia means, but for those of you who don't, it basically means severely starving yourself. Girls, many of you may turn to starving yourself for weight loss, but trust me, it is NOT worth it. This may be the cause of many other health problems such as:
1. Heart problems
2. Osteoporosis (thinning of bone tissue)
3. Mental health issues
4. Slowing of the heart rate
5. Low blood pressure
6. Irregular heart rhythms
7. Heart failure
8. Death

Signs of anorexia may include:
1. Eating only safe foods usually very low in calories and fat
2. Doing wierd things such as cutting food into little pieces
3. Spending more time playing with it than eating it
4. Cooking meals for others but not eating
5. Compulsive exercsing
6. Dressing in layers to hide weight loss
7. Becoming isolated from friends and family
Horrible right?
-Ashlyn

"Cool."

Is it just me or is being 'cool' just overrated? You know, in my opinion, being cool is like being a follower. You do what everyone else is doing, Being cool defines you. So, you're cool if you smoke and drink, or say you do, if boys wear their long socks, and girls are wearing the cool shirt that practically cuts their circulation off because it's soo tight. You're cool if you talk how people want you to, act like the 'cool' crowd, and you're just not your own person.
No, your PERSONALITY defines whether or not you 'cool.' But in the long run, who cares if people think you're cool?? Does it really matter? Why get accepted by the cool people if it means throwing yourself away and acting like everyone else? For me, I was always the type of person to worry about what people thought about me. I wore way too much makeup, I wore things that everyone else was wearing, and I even talked the way everyone else did. But that all changed once I got a glimpse at reality. None of that matters anymore. I got my own daring hairstyle, I wear whatever I want and just not care, I talk how I want to, and I act like myself. I barely wear any makeup anymore. I am finally realizing that it shouldn't take me hours in the morning to make sure I look perfect. Was all that time for wasted for me? Nooo, I wasted that time for everyone else. I shouldn't have to do all these things to impress my peers and the guys that I like me. They all should like me for ME and not the little show I put on for them. This is hard to get across to a lot of people, but I guess just take the time and think about who you're doing it for. Yourself..Or everyone but you.
-Ashlyn

Teen Suicide.

Sorry I haven't been on here for a while..I didn't know what to write about until yesterdayy. So, a freshman at my school passed away on Tuesday. Rumors are flying around, and a lot of them are that he committed suicide. It's truly a tragedy. But I just want to give some advice and let everyone know that there is NEVER one option. What most people don't realize is that this doesn't just affect your parents or family. It affects your school, your friends,  even your whole town. I didn't know this boy personally, but I feel absolutely horrible for his family. So may you rest in peace Devin.
Okay so here are some facts about teen suicide. Some things that could cause it are..:
1. Divorced parents
2. Violence in the home
3. Not being able to find success in school
4. Being bullied
5. Feelings of worthlessness
6. Rejection
7. Substance abuse
8. Death of someone close

Hints of someone considering suicide:
1. Talks about death or suicide, even if it's jokingly. Either way, it's extremely serious
2. Plans ways to kill his or herself
3. Expresses worries that no one cares
4. Has attempted suicide in the past
5. Dramatic changes in personality and behavior
6. Withdraws from friends and family
7. Shows signs of depression
8. Shows signs of substance abuse problem
9. Acts recklessly
10. Begins to give away sentimental possessions

This is a huge issue that needs to be addressed. So if you notice ANY of these signs, please tell someone. Don't think about whether or not that person will hate you or whatever, just do the right thing. You could possibly save someones life. In school, there are usually counselors there all the time. Go talk to one if you know someone who acts like this. They might be able to help. After a counselor speaks with him or her, they would decide if they need further help and from there, they would probably go get better help or even be put in some type of facility. These people need help and it seems like no one is willing to step up. Put others before yourself in these types of situations..
-Ashlyn

REQUEST: When does wanting to get to know a guy turn into stalking??

Haha this is a funny request. I think everyone kinda gets into stalker mode when they really like someone but they like never talked to them before (well..I guess this would just be a crush.). So my advice is to know when you've gone too far. If you know nothing about this guy, then ask some of your friends if they know his name and what grade he's in or something. At this point, all you know is his name. Then I'm assuming you'll hit up facebook and spend hours looking through his pictures and profile. No. Haha go up to him!! Orrr add him on facebook and talk to him on there for the first time if you're too shy. Just message him if he happens to be online then just say "Hey." If he responds, just say something along the lines like, "I've seen you around school and I just wanted to introduce myself.." That would be a pretty good start. And if you're not so shy, go up to him, introduce yourself and start talking. Be casual though. You don't wanna creep him out :)
DO NOT:
-Follow him around all the time (and if you do, don't be obvious about it)
-Don't stare and make it obvious
-Don't be asking everyone you know if they know things about him, that's creepy
-If you happen to get info on him, don't change yourself so he'll notice you. He'll probably notice the change more than anything and think whats going on with you all of a sudden
-When he passes, don't drool and stare haha
-Don't get all giggly around him, wait till he passes
-Don't be stalking his profile daily
Haha I think this is all I have to say about thatt. Hope it helps!
-Ashlyn

REQUEST: Friends vs. boyfriend

So I've been getting requests which is FABULOUS. The first request is basically asking me how to keep guys as friends and nothing else. This is hard to give any advice on, because everyone knows that whenever a guy and a girl get close, something else ends up happening. So I guess all I can say is know what you want. Know what type of guy you're into, know what you want his personality to be like, etc. Also, if you have an awesome guy friend and you think to yourself, "Do I like him?," don't risk that whole friendship for something you have no idea if it will work out or not. If you're not the problem, and he's the one who is into you, then keep your distance or talk to him about it. You don't have to be mean about it, just nicely say that it would be best for the both of you if you stayed just good friends. I hope this helps, and I'm sorry if it doesn't!!
-Ashlyn

Drugs.Drugs.Drugs..

"Hey, wanna go get high after school?" This is something I hear every single day. Everyone seems to do it, so it's the new cool thing to do, right? Wrong. Almost all teenagers do drugs because they think that it will make them happy, make them lose weight, they see no risk in it, or it will make them feel good. I did my research and found out some things that I doubt anyone my age knows.

METHAMPHETAMINE (METH)
1. It rots your teeth.
2. Permanently damages blood vessels in the brain
3. Users are prone to extreme anorexia
4. Strokes
5. Heart attacks
6. Tremors and convulsions
7. Lung, liver, and kidney damage
8.  Promotes risky behavior (violence, sexual, crime, etc.)
9. Extreme body temperatures, which can cause brain damage
10. Breaks down body tissue which has a result of your body not being able to repare itself.

COCAINE (crack)

1. Hyperactivity

2. Increased blood pressure

3. Depression

4. Paranoia

5. Itching

6. Hallucinations

7. Paranoid delusions

8. Respiratory failure

9. Stroke

10. Heart failure

11. Seizures

12. Kidney failure

13. Coma

14. Death.

METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE (Ecstasy, E)

1. Depression

2. Hallucinations

3. Paranoia

4. Memory loss

5. Damaged and dead brain cells

6. Seizures

7. High anxiety

8. Muscle cramping

9. Involuntary teeth grinding and eye movement

10. Kidney failure

11. Muscle breakdown

12. Heart problems such as skipped beats, extreme rates, and failure

HEROIN

1. Damage to the nervous system

2. Harm to the respiratory and cardiovacular systems

3. Infection of the heart lining

4. Liver disease

5. Kidney disease

6. Skin infections and abscesses

7. Increased risk of getting HIV

Hope this is enough to scare you..

-Ashlyn

Underage Drinking.

You know, there's nothing that annoys me more than underage drinking. There is an age limit for a reason. That reason is strictly because your brain hasn't fully developed yet. Therefore, consuming alcohol can interfere with brain activity along with growth. Here's some things I learned on my quest to try to prevent underage drinking:
You are more likely to experience--
1. School problems (failing grades, more absences), social problems (fights) legal issues (arrests), and physical problems (illnesses, hangovers).
2. Unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sex
3. Disruption of normal growth
4. Physical and sexual assault
5. Higher risk of suicide and homicide
6. Injuries! (car related, fights, etc.)
7. Memory problems
8. Abuse of other drugs
9. Changes in branin development that may have life-long effects
10. DEATH
I am NOT a fan of drinkers period. Whether you're drinking at the legal age or not, it can create binge drinking, alcoholism, poisoning, unwanted behavior, dangerous outbursts, and sooo much more. Doesn't sound too fun right?
-Ashlyn

Don't Text & Drive!

So I'm doing a video for this club I'm in (we're going to a championship), and it's all about preventing teens from texting and driving. It's super scary so I thought I'd put some things that I learned on here.
-When a driver texts and drives, his or her reaction time will decrease by THIRTY FIVE PERCENT
-While texting, steering capability goes down by 91%
-A driver is 23 times more likely to get in a car accident while texting!
-Between 2001 and 2007, an estimated 16,000 distracted drivers were killed in the U.S. from texting or talking on the phone. Those numbers are currently going up due to growing technology.

Scary right? Texting and driving is just as bad as drunk driving. You are putting your life in danger as well as everyone else who is around you. No text is worth risking your life. So don't even chance it.
-Ashlyn

Quick Post.

Here's a thought--kids getting bullied. You know, I don't care if someone's stupid or ugly or annoying, nobody has the right to bully someone.You may not realize this, but it hurts that person way more than you think it does. Just picture them dreading to wake up every morning and sitting in bed every night thinking to themselves, "What did I do to deserve this?" It breaks my heart to see kids bully someone to such a huge extent. I would never give anyone a hard time or tease them about things they may not have any control over. You don't know about their life and what they've been though, and it's not your place to judge them. We all do stupid things and make mistakes, so what's so different about the kid you're always making fun of that do the same things you do? I'm that girl that sticks up for people being bullied..And I wish there was more people who actually had the nerve to stand up for others instead of staying in the status quo and watching. Remember, the littlest things can make a difference. And you never know, you could be bringing someone a few steps back from taking their own life and rethinking their choices. Give those kids a break..Think about it.
-Ashlyn

Random Advice..

School. School. And more school. It can be super stressful at times, right? I'm the living definition of 'stress' because every single one of my classes is honors or AP, I am basically running a club, and I'm trying to keep my GPA up while looking for scholarships. So here's some tips: (:
1. Only take what you can handle, but alwayys challenge yourself. In other words, go to honors if regular classes are a breeze.
2. MANAGE YOUR TIME. I know, everybody says that. But it's extremely important. Make yourself a schedule, set goals, and be organized.
3. Study, study, studyyy. I know, it's the worst thing ever. But it definitely pays off in the end. The one thing that works best for me is making notecards. It doesn't matter what subject I'm studying for, they always work.
4. Don't care what other people think. If being smart isn't cool, then who cares. Apparently you're not cool. They'll be wishing theyre in your shoes once you have a career and you're bringing money in :)
5. In tests, don't rush just cause other people are finishing. You're the one who will have the better grade.
6. Communicate with your teachers!! Very important. If you have a good relationship with your teachers then odds are they might just cut you some clack in the future when you need it.
7. Just do what you're told and don't complain.
9. If you have a problem or a question, don't hesitate to ask. You won't ever sound stupid in a teachers eyes.
& 10. Have a positive attitude and always keep your eyes open for new opportunities :)
I'm a smart girl, I know what I'm talking abouuuut.
-Ashlyn

RELATIONSHIP TIPS LADIEEES

So very recently, my bestfriend got in a fight with her boyfriend and they broke up. I know, terribly sad. I think I know a thing or two about relationships..So here it goes!
Uno. If you don't know him, DONT go out with him in the first place! You're making it a lot harder than it should be.
2. DO NOT spare his feelings. As much as it sucks to hurt a guy, you're own feelings should be much more important.
3. Don't let him influence you. You have your interests and he has his. Chances are he liked you for that in the first place. Don't follow in his footsteps if it'll lead down to a bad path (drugs, sex, etc.)
4. DO NOT LET HIM WALK ALL OVER YOU. If you let him do it once, he'll take advantage of you letting him get away with everything. As much as you want to believe it, guys are not perfect.
5. If he cheats, make sure it won't happen again. DUMP HIM.
6. Most importantly, don't let him pressure you. You know exactly what I mean by this, and being a girl is hard. Just think, one stupid mistake can ruin your life. So don't even chance it, he'll live.
7. Don't do whatever he asks just cause he begs. Who cares?! Do what YOU wanna do.
8. Just cause you have a man in your life, doesnt mean he's the only person in your life. Dont ditch your friends and stay true to the ones you really love. Trust me, I've been down that path.
9. Don't be afraid to say NO!
& 10. Don't let guys be the main source of your pain. If you're not happy, just end the relationship before it gets serious. Think about yourself and spend some true time with the girls. Also, have talks with your mom. She knows a lot more than you think..
-Ashlyn :)

Intro to the Creator.

Hey, my name is Ashlyn, I'm 16 years old, and I'm a sophomore in high school. Basically, I am creating this blog to help teenage girls such as yourself. If you haven't noticed, it's HARD. What I say may or may not help you, but I'm obviously doing this for your own good :) In this blog, I will attempt to give advice, tell stories that you may be able to relate to, and anything else that may pop into my head!
Hope you enjoy!
-Ashlyn :)