BECOMING

Figure Out by Dawn Stone

2010-02-22T19:23:00.007-05:00

Figure Out , Figure Out why the moon shines
So brightly hanging in the sky like a diamond.
Wonder, Wonder how the flowers are little crystals
That actually are blanketed in dew.
Dream, Dream about life and how it can last forever
Even after you think it ends.
Hope, Hope for happiness that is just shielded by
The hurt and pain of all the people.
Respect, Respect the blood of our ancestors
That seeps in the ground beneath us.
Love, Love the world we live on and all things
That call it home.
Figure Out, Wonder, Dream, Hope, Respect, Love
Copyright 2010

Spring/Summer 2009

2009-05-18T21:07:00.009-04:00

IN THIS ISSUE....

COLLEGE BOUND
Take A Closer Look at Two
Colleges And What They Offer
Rutgers University & Louisiana State University

NAVIGATING THE FRIENDSHIP HIGHWAY
8 Great Ways To Meet
People and Make Friends

HISTORY MAKING HEADLINES
First All Female
African American
Flight Crew

Canada's First Black
Governor General

Our Stunning First Lady
Michelle Obama

KEEPING OUR WORLD HEALTHY
Learn about Red Tide and what
it means for your future

The Future Is In Your Hands

Volunteer Job Openings

2009-05-18T19:56:00.003-04:00

We want our readers to be 100% involved in BECOMING

We are looking for photographers, writers and editors to help with future issues...

Become a part of the BECOMING family!

Please feel free to send in articles, photos and /or suggestions to becomingonline@yahoo.com with Volunteer in the header.

You will receive a response in 24-48 hours.

Thank you!

Fall/Winter 2008

2009-05-18T19:40:00.000-04:00

In This Issue

Holiday Hoopla
Ever wonder where and how our
holidays originated? Take a closer
look in our four page holiday
special...enjoy the celebrations!

Working It Out
Staying healthy with easy
exercising tips

Healthy Eating Habits
Tasty treats to enjoy and a
delicious smoothie recipe

From Girl To
Woman: The Bumpy Road
of Puberty
What's going on with
your body and ever
changing emotions

Ready, Set, Goals!
Setting goals to help you
achieve your dreams

Green, Green, Green, Keep Our Earth Clean

2009-05-18T19:29:00.000-04:00

You’ve all heard it before. Turn off the water when you brush. Take shorter
showers. All of the earth saving and water conserving things you’re supposed to do. Question is, do you do them all?

I know that sometimes I don’t, I’m not exactly a saint, but you should at least try
to do some of these things! Just because you’ve heard it so many times doesn’t
mean that you can assume that everybody else in your class or whatever group you’
re in that’s being preached to at that moment will follow this person’s advice!
If you take that for granted, and you decide not to do anything because of it,
then earth is going to eventually die off and we won’t have any water left. And that’s the truth of it, too.

I’m not going to sugar coat it and make it seem better then it really is, because that’s why people aren’t doing anything about it! Here’s your chance to make a change. It’s not like it’s all that hard, really. All you have to do is shave a couple of minutes off you shower (Save 400 gallons!), or turn off the water when you brush your teeth (save a gallon a minute…). If you do that already, then good for you. If you don’t, then get started!

If you aren’t into the more traditional ways of conserving and recycling, here are
some new ones.

In the kitchen:

When washing dishes by hand, don't let
the water run while rinsing.

Fill one sink with wash water and the
other with rinse water.

Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator
instead of running the tap for cold drinks.

Collect the water you use for rinsing
produce and re-use it to water houseplants.

Designate one glass for your drinking
water each day. This will cut down on the
number of times you run your dishwasher.

Don't use running water to thaw food.

Soak your pots and pans instead of letting
the water run while you scrape them clean.

Install an instant water heater on your
kitchen sink so you don't have to let the
water run while it heats up.

Cook food in as little water as possible.

If you accidentally drop ice cubes when
filling your glass from the freezer, don't
throw them in the sink. Drop them in a
houseplant instead.

Run your dishwasher only when it is full.
In the bathroom:

Plug the bathtub before turning the water
on, then adjust the temperature as the tub
fills up.

To save water and time, consider washing
your face while in the shower.

Outdoors:

Use a broom instead of a hose to clean
your driveway or sidewalk.

Check outside for leaky faucets, pipes
and hoses.

Start a compost pile. Using compost
when you plant adds water-holding
organic matter to the soil.

Bathe your pets outdoors in an area in
need of water.

Other Ideas:

Encourage your school to help develop
and promote a water conservation ethic.

Do one thing each day that will save
water. Even if savings are small, every
drop counts.

Turn off the water in the shower to soap
up and wash hair. Then rinse your body
and hair simultaneously!

We want to hear from you! Send in your going green tips and other useful things!

You Are Special In Your Own Way

2009-05-18T19:21:00.000-04:00

Feeling good about yourself

Part of being a teen is having thoughts and feelings about different parts of your life, such as how you feel about: your friends and other kids your age how you are doing in school and in other activities your parents the way you look

While having these new feelings, many changes are also taking place in your body. It is normal to feel self-conscious or shy about the changes in your body and emotions but there are also changes to celebrate.

Some cultures even have celebrations to recognize these changes. For
example, the Western Apaches have the Sunrise Dance or "Na'ii'ees" and the Jewish community has the Bat Mitzvah - both mark a girl's passage to becoming a woman. Even
though it might seem tough sometimes, remember that you are absolutely great!

If you would like to learn more about other cultural celebrations for girls, read the book "Coming of Age (World Celebrations and Ceremonies)", by Lisa Sita.

Self-esteem

Self-esteem: Self-esteem describes the value and respect you have for yourself. If you have a healthy self-esteem, you feel good about yourself as a person and are proud of what you can do. However, it is normal to feel down sometimes.

Having a healthy or high self-esteem can help you to think positively, deal better with stress, and boost your drive to work hard. Having low self-esteem can cause you to feel uneasy and may get in the way of doing things you might enjoy. For some, low self-esteem can contribute to serious problems such as depression, drug and alcohol use, and eating disorders.

Self-confidence:

Self-confidence is having a positive and realistic opinion of yourself and being able to accurately measure your abilities.

Self-confidence is also an important part of feeling good about yourself. Self-confidence is that little voice inside of you that tells you that you are okay, that you are a good person, and that you know how to deal with things in good times and in bad.

You are not born confident - confidence is learned. As a baby, you started to learn self-confidence from knowing your family loved you. As you learned to walk, play and talk, you also learned self-confidence. Now as a young woman, you are learning to be
more self-confident in school, playing sports and in other social settings, but
sometimes it's not easy.

Participating in class, talking to new teachers or students, or trying out for
an after-school activity may make you feel stressed or anxious...but that is
normal. The good news is, as you try these new things, you are gaining
confidence in spite of your fears. In fact, that is what real self-confidence is
-your belief that you can do things well even when you have doubts.

Article from Floridahealth.com

Holiday Hoopla!

2009-05-18T19:02:00.004-04:00

We thought for a long time about how we wanted to commemorate the holiday season coming up and although we could've talked about shopping, food or decorations, we decided we all wanted to learn more about the holidays we celebrate each year from October to December.

From Halloween through Kwanzaa, we delve into the history and traditions of each and hope you enjoy the journey...

HALLOWEEN
THANKSGIVING
CHRISTMAS
KWANZAA

Holiday- a day set apart for religious observance or for the commemoration of some extraordinary event or distinguished person, or for some other public occasion. Holidays are characterized by a partial or total cessation of work and normal business activities and are generally accompanied by public and private ceremonies, including feasting (or fasting), parades and carnivals, or displays of flags and speech making.

Originally, in ancient times, holidays were predominantly religious in character and linked to natural events such as the annual course of the sun or the phases of the moon. The word holiday, in fact, is derived from “holy day.” Subsequently, secular holidays commemorating historical occasions or distinguished persons outnumbered holy days, although many ancient religious rituals and customs have been carried over into modern times and incorporated into both secular and religious observations. Today, the outstanding holiday is one of religious observance and abstention from normal work routines, taking place on Sunday for Christians, Friday for Muslims, and Saturday for Jews. In the U.S., Sunday is not only a religious holiday but is also the only common-law holiday.

National holidays are days set aside by official government proclamation to celebrate such occasions as the achievement of independence, the founding of the nation, the adoption of a constitution, the birthday of the ruler, or the national patron saint's day.

The U.S. has no national holidays as such. Legal holidays—days on which banks, schools, or other public institutions and most places of business are closed—are designated by legislative enactment or by executive proclamation. Congress and the president designate the legal holidays for the District of Columbia and the federal territories but are without power to declare national holidays.

Independence Day and other holidays are observed on a national scale as a result of action by the states. In the case of Thanksgiving Day the president proclaims the calendar date and requests national observance, and the states then usually enact the necessary legislation. Federal statutes often specify certain days as holidays for purposes related to the legislation

HALLOWEEN
THANKSGIVING
CHRISTMAS
KWANZAA

The Future Is In Your Hands

2009-05-18T18:49:00.000-04:00

Goal-setting is about being clear about what you need to do to achieve
something. It might sound like a bit of a pain, but research has shown that
setting goals is a great way to achieve the things you want to do.

Why set goals?
Some common things people have found goal-setting to help with are:

getting good grades
dealing with depression or anxiety
making new friends
getting a job
doing chores
doing well at sport
stopping addictions to things like drugs, alcohol, gambling

Motivation
Motivation is what drives you to get things done - it drives you to achieve goals that you setOur motivations for doing different things can vary, and so can the results.If you are studying something at college because you didn't know what else to do, or your parents wanted you to do it, your motivation may not be great. However, if you are really interested in
a subject, or can see that it will get you into the sort of work you really want, your motivation will be high. To succeed in work or study, you need skills and information - but these will not be of much help if motivation is not there. By setting goals, getting in a routine, and seeing that you are making progress you can keep yourself motivated for just about anything.

Dreaming and goal-setting
Take a minute to think about where you want to go in life. Can you come up with a dream picture of yourself in 12 months, 5 years, or beyond? The picture might be having a party with loads of friends, writing a successful novel, getting a
degree, travelling the world, or whatever. Your dream picture might seem hard to achieve, but you don't have to do it all at once. By breaking your goal down in to smaller, manageable steps, you can begin to make progress. If you don't make
your smaller goals manageable, you will find you lose that precious motivation due to predictable failures. One way to work through your goals is to think of things you could do tomorrow, and the day after, and so on. So, if your goal is to
make new friends in the next 6 months, your first goal might be to work out what to say to someone you don't know well.

Write it down
Studies show that writing down your goal is a way to make a mental commitment to the
goal.Write down your dream. Now, what is the very first thing you need to do? Write thisdown. When will you do it by? How will you do it? Write it all down. If your goal is to get into shape, what sort of exercise will you start to do?

Reward yourself
One good way to keep the motivation up is to reward yourself when you achieve goals -
even the easiest ones, such as calling a gym to check the prices, or making your bed.

Tripping on the steps
If you miss a goal, or break a routine you are trying to keep, don't be too hard on
yourself This is all part of the process. Focus on the positive things you have achievedso far. Now think about the last goal you had - was it realistic; do you need to break it down smaller? Then get back into it.

Keeping positive
The people you hang out with can influence your motivation and how positive you are. It's a good idea to have someone supportive to encourage you along, and even better if this supportive person wants to try and reach the same goals. If you find that someone is making you slip up more, it might be a good idea to go it alone or find another supportive person to discuss your goals with.

Routine
When you first start, it can seem really hard to get going towards your goals. This is normal, as creating change can be tough. With good routines, over time it gets easier. The cravings for cigarettes, the desire to eat junk food, the anxiety in
social situations, these all reduce over time with a good routine. Now don't forget to have fun, will you? You won't stay motivated if all you do is worry about achieving your goals. Remember, everything in moderation, including moderation.

Reprinted from: http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=240&np=298&id=2401

Food Pyramid: Build Up Your Health

2009-05-18T18:38:00.000-04:00

Whether you hit the court, the field, the track, the rink, or your back yard to get some physical activity, you'll need some fuel to keep you going!

Here are some great snacks to munch on to keep your body movin' and your stomach silent:

Fresh veggies like carrots and celery sticks

Dried apricots

Snack-sized boxes of raisins

Peanut butter on celery (ONLY if you have no peanut allergies!)

Pretzels

Bananas

Low-fat yogurt

Oranges

Crackers — try graham crackers, animal crackers, or saltines

Peacesh

Bagels

Grapes

Fig bars

Strawberries

Fruit juice boxes (make sure you choose 100% pure fruit juice, or for an added boost, try orange juice with added calcium)

Cantelope

Small packages of trail mix

No matter what type of physical activity you do, you should always be sure to drink
plenty of water — before you start, during the activity, and after you're done, even if you don't feel thirsty.

Quick Healthy Drink

Strawberry Banana Cooler

Ingredients:
2 cups unsweetened orange juice
1/2 cup whole frozen strawberries
1 banana, sliced
4 ice cubes

In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.
Makes about 4 servings

SNACK ZONE

Short on the Milk Group? Remember, you need at least three servings from the milk group each day!

Grab some string cheese,a carton of reduced fat yogurt, frozen yogurt, or guzzle a glass of milk.

Make snack drinks count toward food-group servings.

Drinking low-fat milk, fruit juice, or a shake as a snack can help build your day's Food Pyramid.

Try this: blend 1/2 cup strawberries or 1/2 banana with 1 cup lowfat milk, and Voila! a low calorie milkshake!

Hit your day's Bread Group target by snacking on a bagel, pretzels, popcorn, muffin,
breakfast cereal, or oatmeal cookies.

http://www.bam.gov/sub_foodnutrition/cooltreats_alone.html

The Red Tide Phenomena

2009-05-18T18:27:00.000-04:00

"Red tide" is a common name for a phenomenon known as an algal bloom,
an event in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in
the water column. These algae, more specifically phytoplankton, are single-celled protists, plant-like organisms that can form dense, visible patches near the water's surface. Certain species of phytoplankton contain photosynthetic pigments that vary in colour from green to brown to red.

When the algae are present in high concentrations, the water appears to be discoloured or murky, varying in colour from purple to almost pink, normally
being red or green. Not all algal blooms are dense enough to cause water
discolouration, and not all discoloured waters associated with algal blooms are
red. Additionally, red tides are not typically associated with tidal movement
of water, hence the preference among scientists to use the term algal bloom.

Some red tides are associated with the production of natural toxins, depletion
of dissolved oxygen or other harmful impacts, and are generally described
as harmful algal blooms. The most conspicuous effects of red tides are the associated wildlife mortalities among marine and coastal species of fish, birds, marine mammals and other organisms.

In the case of Florida red tides, these mortalities are caused by exposure to a
potent neurotoxin called brevetoxin which is produced naturally by the marine algae Karenia brevis.

"Red tide" is a term used to refer to a natural phenomenon known as a "harmful algal bloom" The term "red tide" is being phased out among researchers for the following reasons:

Red tides are not necessarily red and many have no discolouration at all.

They are unrelated to movements of the tides.

A wide variety of algal species are known bloom-formers.

It is being replaced in favour of the more accurate "harmful algal bloom" for harmful species, or simply "algal bloom" for non-harmful species.

The term "red tide" is often used in the United States of America to describe a particular type of algal bloom common to the eastern Gulf of Mexico, also called the
"Florida red tide". This type of bloom is caused by a species of dinoflagellate known as Karenia brevis, and these blooms occur almost annually along Florida
waters. The density of these organisms during a bloom can exceed tens of millions of cells per litre of seawater, and often discolour the water a deep
reddish-brown hue.

It is unclear what causes red tides; their occurrence in some locations appears to be entirely natural,[1] while in others they appear to be a result of human activities[2] The frequency and severity of algal blooms in some parts of the world have been linked to increased nutrient loading from human activities. In other areas, algal blooms are a seasonal occurrence resulting from coastal upwelling, a natural result of the movement of certain ocean currents.

The growth of marine phytoplankton is generally limited by the availability of
nitrates and phosphates, which can be abundant in agricultural run-off as well as
coastal upwelling zones. Coastal water pollution produced by humans and systematic increase in sea water temperature have also been implicated as contributing factors in red tides[citation needed].

Other factors such as iron-rich dust influx from large desert areas such as the
Saharan desert are thought to play a major role in causing red tides.[4] Some algal
blooms on the Pacific coast have also been linked to occurrences of large-scale climatic oscillations such as El Niño events.

While red tides in the Gulf of Mexico have been occurring since the time of early
explorers such as Cabeza de Vaca, it is unclear what initiates these blooms and how
large a role anthropogenic and natural factors play in their development. It is also
debated whether the apparent increase in frequency and severity of algal blooms in
various parts of the world.

In fact a real increase or is due to increased observation effort and advances in species identification methods.

Impacts include human illness and mortality following consumption of or indirect exposure to HAB toxins, substantial economic losses to coastal communities and commercial fisheries, and HAB-associated fish, bird and mammal mortalities. To the human eye, blooms can appear greenish, brown, and even reddish- orange depending upon the algal species, the aquatic ecosystem, and the concentration of the
organisms.

No deaths of humans have been attributed to Florida red tide, but people may experience respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, and tearing) when the red tide organism (Karenia brevis) is present along a coast and winds blow its toxic aerosol onshore. Swimming is usually safe, but skin irritation and burning is possible in areas of high concentration of red tide.

-Info reprinted from Wikipedia

College Bound: LSU

2009-05-18T18:00:00.000-04:00

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College was established by the United States government, due to land grants in 1806, 1811, and 1827. It was to be used as a seminary of learning. It was officially opened January 2, 1860, with Col. William Tecumseh as superintendent.

The school closed June 30, 1861 because of the Civil War. Reopened April 1, 1863, it was closed again a mere 22 days later due to the invasion of Red River Valley. It was reopened again October 2, 1865, only to be burned down October 15, 1869. The institution resumed it’s exercises in Baton Rouge, where it has remained ever since.

I want to attend this prestigious school because it has everything in a school
that I want. It has a very high expectations, which inspires me to want to meet those expectations and get accepted to that school. It has a variety of classes, everything from music theory to agriculture. I love the fact that the school is very active. The students are politically active and there are many clubs for anyone to join. The student population is very diverse.

They have students from 121 different countries, and the students brag that if
they went the airport, and someone flew in from anywhere in the world, they could
find someone who speaks their language. They have an annual multicultural festival every November, and a huge International Hospitality Services.

Words of Wisdom from the Attendees:

“Everything happens for a reason. I'm used to it, I
prepare for it. Like I say, at the end of the day, those in
charge of their own destiny are going to do what's rights
for them and their family.”
- Shaquille O’Neal

“Do Different.”- Dr. Dawood Sultan

Family Always Stays With You

2009-05-18T17:51:00.000-04:00

You all know the saying “Friends come and go but family stays with you”. I believe that is a true statement. It is good to always stay close with your family and have a tight bond, I compare it to a knot and the tighter you pull the stronger
your relationship. You never want the knot to fall apart.

You can keep the knot even tighter by telling your siblings and getting your whole family in with the idea of family bonding. Doing these things will help you get used to talking with your family and working things out instead of
arguing.

Another way to connect with your family is to have special family days. An example would be to play board games once a week or listen to music together, just to have fun with your family. Now, you may not think that is fun, to hang out with your family but you should at least try it. You just might create a tighter bond. Also, you it can help you feel better about yourself.

You might want to try bonding rings. Bonding rings all look the same and you all (family members) wear one. It helps bring together your relationship and makes sure that wherever you are you will never forget your family. Just remember that your family will not desert you, even if you just need a while to think things over after an argument. Never doubt that family will stay with you; they are your biggest supporters.

College Bound: RUTGERS

2009-05-18T17:15:00.000-04:00

Rutgers was originally contracted as Queen’s College and is the eighth oldest in the United States. It is one of the only nine colleges created before the American Revolution began. Rutgers started out as a private university joined with the Dutch
Reformed Church and only admitted male students. However, it became a coeducational university that is nonsectarian.

It is one of two colonial colleges that evolved into public universities later on.
Rutgers was titled the State University of New jersey by acts of the New Jersey
Legislature in 1945 and 1956. It is ranked forty-sixth in the world academically according to a 2006 survey.

Rutgers offers more then one hundred bachelor, one hundred master, and fifty
doctoral and professional degree programs covering 175 academicc departments, 29 degree granting school and colleges, sixteen of which offer graduate programs. The university graduates more than ten thousand students each year.

I would like to attend this school not only because it is very prestigious, but
also because almost all of my immediate family has gone to this school. My mother, father, and aunt went to this school, and my older brother is currently going to Rutgers Camden right now. So, you can see that this is a personal thing for me as
well as just a choice in schools.

Words of Wisdom from the Attendees:

“To be free- to walk the good American
earth as equal citizens, to live without fear,
to enjoy the fruits of our toil to give our
children every opportunity- that dream
which we have held so long in our hearts is
today the destiny that we hold in our hands.”
- Paul Robeson, Rutgers graduate

“…I think the independent motivation I
learned from my success at Rutgers has
certainly helped me to progress through
medical school, and I know that the diverse
experiences I encountered there will guide
me in my profession.”
-Randon Hall

Growing Changes: From Girl to Woman

2009-05-18T15:46:00.000-04:00

Growing Up as a Girl

The teenage years can be exciting and somewhat challenging. No one said growing up was going to be easy and if you’re a female you may feel like it’s extra
tough going through puberty. People may tell you, “don’t worry, you’ll get over it,”
or “it’s just a phase you’re going through.” It’s true, puberty is a stage (or phase) of life, but it’s not something you’ll simply “get over.” Instead, you find ways to work through it and you then move on to adulthood. Puberty shouldn’t be considered the scariest or most difficult time of your life, however. Your body is going through some very exciting changes and in a sense, you’re learning about who you are.

This article will help you understand some of those issues and direct you to other
places to learn more. The first step in understanding puberty and your body is to know that your questions and concerns are completely normal. The next step is to understand that you’re not the only one with these concerns. Women of all
ages have experienced some of the very things you’re experiencing now. It’s important to remember this because many times a female adult can answer some of your questions.

When Does it Begin?
In girls, puberty usually begins between the ages of 9 and 13 years. It lasts about two to three years, so the body changes have been completed by the time a girl is 11 to 16 years old. Usually the first sign of puberty is the beginning of breast development (breast budding). This may start as small, sometimes tender lumps under the nipple that will gradually enlarge. Approximately 80-85 percent of the time this is how female puberty starts. The other 15-20 percent of the time the first sign may be long coarse hair in the pubic area. Also you may notice some body odor and a small amount of clear sticky vaginal discharge.

Tell Me About My First Period
The day you get your first menstrual period is one you will always remember. Most girls are excited about having reached this stage of passage into womanhood. Most girls are also a bit worried. What will it be like? Will I be able to manage my periods without anyone knowing? If you want to learn more, click here. There is an entire article telling you what to expect, what’s normal and what isn’t.

When Will My Breasts Grow Larger?
The development of tender breast “buds” is usually the first sign of puberty in girls. Some girls notice breast growth as early as age 7 or 8, while others don’t start until age 13 or so. The timing is determined by your own biologic “clock” that tells your body to start producing high levels of female hormones. Breasts go through five “stages” of growth over the next five to six years, until their full maturity is reached by age 17 or 18. The final size of a girl’s breasts is determined by heredity and can range from very small (like bra size AA) to very full (such as size EE). Breast size varies greatly among women, and all sizes and shapes are normal and healthy.

Help Me Get Rid of this Acne.
Don’t worry, you’re not the only teenager facing these annoying blemishes. About 90 percent of all teenagers put up with acne. Fortunately, many have the milder form and get just a few blackheads or whiteheads now and then. Acne generally does not become a problem until you reach adolescence, which is when the increased hormone levels cause your skin's oil (sebaceous) glands to work overtime. Normally, these glands produce an oily substance called "sebum." A mixture of fats and waxes, sebum travels through the duct and spreads over the skin, keeping the hair and skin moist. The excess oil causes the openings of the glands to be clogged with sebum and dead cells.

If the plug stays below the surface, it is called a whitehead; If it works its way to the surface, oxygen causes it to take on a black color (thus the name "blackhead"). In addition, the plug becomes an excellent environment for the growth of normal skin bacteria resulting in swelling and redness (a “pimple”). In severe cases, deep pustules or cysts may develop. Other things that can cause acne, or make it worse, are certain drugs, exposure to industrial oils, grease, and chemicals, and stress and strong emotions (which may account for breakouts before the senior prom). There is no "magic bullet" that will cure this common skin condition. There are many things you can do to reduce the symptoms of acne and make your life more bearable.

Do I Need to Lose Weight?
This is a big concern for many female teenagers. Almost 25 percent of adolescents are already overweight or even obese (harsh word, but true) by medical standards. Extra weight gain often starts in puberty, and overweight teens are very likely to remain overweight as adults. So the teen years are a great time to learn how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. You’ll find hundreds of popular books and programs and advertisements about weight good and some just hype. On the flip side, there are many teens who suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders are psychological problems in which the person has unusual eating
habits.problems in which the person has unusual eating habits.

What’s Going on with My Emotions?
As you go through puberty, your body is producing a large amount of hormones. This increase in hormones can cause changes in your emotions. You can experience feelings of sadness for no reason. Something minor can happen, such as tripping on a stone while walking to school, and it might make you cry. Most of the time, these changes in emotion are normal and once you’ve gone through puberty, the emotional roller coaster should slow down. However, there are some teens who go through drastic mood
swings, which aren’t normal. This can be a serious problem requiring the attention of a health care professional.

How Do We Know Puberty is Complete?
Puberty is pretty much complete when pubic hair attains an adult pattern – which is an inverted triangle, covering the entire pubic area, with some extension of hair down the inner thighs. Also puberty is complete when your breasts are adult
configuration.

Reprinted from:
http://www.teengrowth.com/

First Black Female Governor General of Canada

2009-05-18T01:31:00.000-04:00

The Governor General of Canada is the vice-regal or viceroy representative in Canada of the Queen of Canada , who is the head of state. A viceroy is a royal official who governs a country in the name of and as representative of the monarch.

Canada is one of sixteen British Commonwealth realms, all of which share the British monarch as their royal leader. The monarch appoints the Governor General on the advice of the Canadian Prime Minister, who is the Canadian Head of Government, after which the Governor General maintains direct contact with the British monarch. There is no specific term.

President Barack Obama and Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean met on the tarmac following his arrival in Ottawa , Canada , Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009. Michelle Jean has been Governor General of Canada since September 27, 2005. Jean is Canada 's first black Governor General.

Executive power of CanadaElizabeth II, Queen of Canada, is the sovereign and Head of State of Canada, and gives repository of executive power, judicial and legislative power; as expressed in Constitution of Canada.

The Prime Minister of Canada is currently Stephen Harper. The prime minister is appointed by the Governor General, who is now Michaelle Jean, but to ensure the continuity of a stable government, this person must have the confidence of the House of Commons to lead the government.

The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government of Canada . The office is not outlined in any of the documents that constitute the written portion of the constitution of Canada and executive authority is formally vested in the Canadian sovereign and exercised on his or her behalf by the Governor General.

Michaëlle Jean (born September 6, 1957, in Port-au-Prince , Haiti ) is the current Governor General of Canada . Jean was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Paul Martin, to succeed Adrienne Clarkson and become the 27th Governor General of Canada since Confederation in 1867. Prior to this, Jean was a journalist and broadcaster on Radio-Canada and the CBC.

As the current Governor General of Canada , she is entitled to be styled Her Excellency while in office, and The Right Honourable for life; given current practice, she will be sworn in to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada after her term as the Queen's representative has ended.

Jean fled Haiti with her family from dictator François Duvalier's regime in
1968. Her father, from whom she was estranged for many years, was a
philosopher who was tortured under Duvalier's regime and separated from the family for 30 years. The Jean family settled at Thetford Mines , Quebec .

As a student at the University of Montreal , Jean received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian and Hispanic languages and literature and, from 1984 until 1986, taught Italian studies while completing a Master of Arts degree in comparative literature. Jean attended the University of Florence , the University of Perugia , and the
Catholic University of Milan to continue her studies in language and literature.
Besides French and English, Jean is fluent in Spanish, Italian, and Haitian Creole and can read Portuguese.

Facts gathered through various online sources

America's First Lady MICHELLE OBAMA

2009-05-18T01:29:00.000-04:00

We have a new First Lady–-The lovely Mrs. Michelle Obama is now the lady in waiting at the White House. Known for her fierce style sense and her intelligence and wit, Mrs. Obama was a head turner before she even became the First Lady. Born on January 17, 1964, Michelle Robinson was raised in a one-bedroom apartment on Chicago’s South Shore.

Of note is that she shared a “bedroom” with her brother, but it wasn’t much of a bedroom. It was actually the living room with a divider down the middle. Michelle’s father died in 1990 two years before she married Barack, but her mother is still
alive and living in the same one-bedroom apartment, protected by a burglar-proof wrought-iron door and secured windows.

After high school Michelle Robinson majored in sociology at Princeton University, graduating with cum laude honors in 1985. From there she attended Harvard where she earned her law degree in 1988, one year ahead of her husband-to-be, Barack, whom she hadn’t met yet but attended the same law school.

After graduating from Harvard, Michelle accepted a position at a downtown Chicago law firm. In 1989 she was asked to mentor a summer associate from Harvard named Barack Obama. According to reports, Barack didn’t have much interest in corporate law, but did have a lot of interest in Michelle.

Apparently Michelle Robinson initially brushed off advances from Barack because they were working at same firm…and he was an intern and she higher up the law firm’s food chain as an associate. But love prevailed and they were married on October 18, 1992.

Interestingly Barack and Michelle waited almost seven years before having children. Their first daughter name Malia Ann Obama was born in 1999 with Natasha (often called “Sasha”) following two years later in 2001.

When asked about what made her fall in love with him she replied “for the same reason many other people respect him; his connection with people.”

Even though her husband is the center of attention, Michelle has zero concerns about fidelity in their marriage. She told Ebony magazine in March 2006, “I never worry about things I can’t affect, and with fidelity . . . that is between Barack and me, and if somebody can come between us, we didn’t have much to begin with.”

Michelle’s impressive resume includes: Former associate dean at the University of Chicago; a member of six boards of directors including the prestigious Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and Tree House Foods; and Vice President, Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals. In this position she was responsible for all programs and
initiatives that involve the relationships between the hospitals and the community as well as management of the hospitals’ business diversity program.

Michelle’s professional relationships were helpful when her husband in 2004, then a state senator, ran for the United States Senate, where he faced a primary dominated by some of the Democratic Party’s most powerful political families.

In this 2004 race, Obama had the support of influential black business leaders, some of whom had closer ties to his wife than they did to him. According to Newsweek, a former boss of Michelle Obama’s, a powerful black woman Valerie Jarrett, chair of the Chicago Stock Exchange, served as finance chair of Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate campaign.

After Barack was elected to the U.S. Senate, Barack and Michelle choose to keep their children in Chicago, where Michelle continued her career as well. “We made a good decision to stay in Chicago so that has kept our family stable,” Michelle Obama told the Chicago Tribune. Every Sunday the family attends services at the Trinity United Church of Christ.

According to reports, Michelle has mastered being a mother, career woman and the wife of a politician. When Newsweek magazine trailed her in 2004, the reporter could not help but notice a to-do list for her two daughters Malia and Natasha that
included time for “play.” She is in bed most nights by 9:30 and rises each morning at 4:30 to run on a treadmill. This level of discipline and organization helps her manage her public and private pressures with poise. In New Yorker magazine Michelle
noted that the life of a political wife is “hard and that’s why Barack is such a grateful man.”

But there’s more to it. “Barack didn’t pledge riches” Michelle explains to Newsweek. “Only a life that would be interesting. On that promise he’s delivered.”

First All-Black Female Flight Crew Makes History

2009-05-18T01:28:00.000-04:00

Four African American women made history last month when they took an ASA flight from Atlanta to Nashville. They weren't passengers. They were the nation's first all Black all female flight crew.

Captain Rachelle Jones, first officer Stephanie Grant, and flight attendants Diana Galloway and Robin Rogers worked an ASA flight from Atlanta to Nashville they never expected to make history. In fact, it was a matter of chance.

"The first officer became ill and was replaced with Stephanie," said Galloway.

"When I got to the cockpit and I saw Rachelle -- we just met a few weeks prior," Grant said. "And I was just ecstatic when I saw her in there."

"We did not realize the historic ramifications of it," Rogers said. "We were just like, okay this is gonna be fun."

But Captain Rachelle Jones got it right away. She and Grant in the cockpit, Galloway and Rogers in the cabin -- all Black, all female.

"I said this could be a first, so let's be on our P's and Q's," Jones said.

"I think we had a little more pep in our step," said Galloway. "I think we were just so proud."

Jones is one of only ten black female airline captains in the country. She used to be a customer service agent for Delta. Piloting was never on her radar until a friend suggested it.

Atlantic Southeast Airlines Captain Rachelle Jones completed her upgrade traning in April 2008 and has now become the airline's first Black female Captain.

As little girls, they'd never seen anyone who looked like them piloting a plane. Now for other little girls, they're proof you really can be whatever you want to be.

"Fate may have a little bit to do with it, but for everyone that will look at us as role models or look to aspire to be what we are today, they need to know that it was hard work and dedication to get here," Grant said.

"Young girls need to see that yes they can be flight attendants and yes they can be pilots," said Jones. "The sky is the limit."

Navigating The Friendship Highway

2009-05-18T01:25:00.000-04:00

Whether you're attending a new school or looking for a date, meeting people and making friends can be awkward and challenging. However, it doesn't have to be so hard. Try a few of these simple tips, and you'll be on your way in no time

1. Listen and Ask Questions
Other people like to know they're being heard and that their ideas are appreciated. By being a good listener, you let others know that you value what they
have to say and, by extension, who they are.

You can let others know you're paying attention by making eye contact while they're speaking, then asking a question or two about what they're saying. If the conversation goes well, ask the person for his or her phone number or email, then make plans to hang out.

2. Give a Compliment
Everyone loves an ego boost. Noticing something you like about someone and sharing it with him or her is a great way to forge a connection and start a conversation.

When giving a compliment, be honest and genuine.
Even if you're complimenting something very small—like the color of the person's shoes—it's likely to be appreciated. You might even receive a compliment in
return!

3. Detach Yourself From Technology -- Temporarily
You're less likely to notice who's interested in you if you're constantly checking your email, voicemail and text messages. Being online or on the phone also
sends the message to others that you're unavailable.

Put away your cell phone from time to time and take a look around. Who seems funny or interesting? Which people in the room have you never talked to? Who
pays attention to your ideas? Make a mental note and spend a little time getting to know these people face-to-face.

4. Join a Club or Team
Having an interest in common with another person gives both of you something to talk about. No matter if that interest is reading, rugby or rock 'n' roll, pursuing
it with other people is fun and gives you a sense of meaning and belonging. Clubs, teams and other groups also work toward common goals, which is inspiring, teaches you how to solve problems and helps you bond with others.

Investigate the clubs and activities at your school or place of worship. Check out the course listings at your local community center, YMCA or parks and recreation department. Form a band or a book club, or start an interest group online. You'll have a circle of friends before you know it.

5. Volunteer
A strong desire to help others is attractive to most people, whether they're looking for a friend or a date. It's also extremely appealing to colleges and
scholarship programs. Channeling this desire into a volunteer project is a great way to meet others, build community and work toward common goals.

You can volunteer in your school, community or church. Many teens clean up parks, tutor younger students or help at food pantries, animal shelters or
hospitals. Nonprofit organizations always need volunteers as well: Find out if Habitat for Humanity, the Sierra Club, the Red Cross and other nonprofit
groups have chapters near where you live. Chances are, you'll find other teens—and nice people of all ages—volunteering their time.

6. Get a Job
Getting a part-time job at a place where other teens work is another way to meet people and work toward common goals. Even if those goals involve folding sweaters or cleaning toilets, you'll have something to complain about -- and bond over -- with others.

7. Form a Study Group
Does your math teacher give super-hard exams? Is your history teacher always giving pop quizzes? Round up a few others from your class to study together each week. Ask your teacher if you could pass around a sign-up sheet or make an announcement about the group after class.

When your group gets together, share notes and chat about class. Find out what your classmates like about the teacher and what they can't stand. Make flash
cards together or quiz one another. Bring snacks and share what's going on in your life. You'll have new friends before you know it.

8. Laugh
Letting others know that you think they're funny makes them feel good and shows them you're interested in what they think. It also shows you have a good sense of humor, which is one of the top things teens look for in a person, whether it's a best friend or a boyfriend or girlfriend.

From Jessica Stevenson, for About.com

The History of Christmas

2009-05-15T14:49:00.009-04:00

Christmas, celebrated by most Christians on December 25, commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Americans, like many of the world’s peoples, have developed their own Christmas traditions and observances, and these have changed greatly over time.

Today, most Americans blend religious and secular customs with their own family traditions. Thus, even though Christmas is for many Americans a religious occasion, the federal courts have upheld its status as a legal holiday. As one court reasoned, “by giving federal employees a paid vacation day on Christmas, the government is doing no more than recognizing the cultural significance of the holiday.”

DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMERICAN CHRISTMAS

The early New England Puritans frowned on the often boisterous Christmas celebrations they witnessed in Britain. In 1659, the Massachusetts colony briefly criminalized observance of the day and Christmas remained a regular workday in much of New England and Pennsylvania. Other parts of British North America, however, celebrated with gusto, with costumed revelers passing door to door and receiving small gifts of food and drink.

The modern, more commercialized Christmas began to emerge in the 19th century with the new custom of purchasing gifts for young children. Seasonal “Christmas shopping” began to assume economic importance. Other Christmas traditions similarly began during the 19th century. Santa Claus -- derived from the Dutch Sinter Klaas and the German Saint Nicholas -- assumed the persona of a jolly dispenser of gifts and pilot of a reindeer-drawn sleigh through such works as the 1823 poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” and an 1863 Harper’s Weekly portrait by the illustrator Thomas Nast. Many organizations, from the Salvation Army charitable organization to the Coca-Cola Company, since have employed Santa’s image.

According to legend, Christmas trees date back to Martin Luther, the 16th century German cleric whose critique of established Catholic Church practices precipitated the Protestant Reformation. According to legend, Luther brought home to his children and lit with candles a fir tree one Christmas Eve to remind them of the wonders of God’s creation.

The custom spread to Britain and the United States in the 19th century. Today, many contemporary Americans either purchase a cut, fresh evergreen tree or a reusable aluminum and plastic model. Placed in the family living room, the Christmas tree is decorated with lights and various ornaments, typically small orbs depicting angels and other figures associated with the holiday. In some families, Christmas gifts appear under the tree on the morning of December 25, deposited there by family members, or, as smaller children might believe, delivered by Santa Klaus after landing reindeer and sleigh on the roof and traversing the chimney -- all after the children are fast asleep!

Mass-produced Christmas cards began to appear in the last quarter of the 19th century. In 1996, Americans purchased and mailed an estimated 2.6 billion Christmas cards. These might depict religious scenes or else convey more secular, often humorous, messages. With the rise of the Internet, electronically transmitted “e-cards” are an increasingly popular option.

With Christmas shopping vitally important to some retailers, Christmas has expanded into a “season” of its own. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed moving the Thanksgiving holiday to extend the shopping period between that holiday and Christmas. Today, the day after Thanksgiving is known as “Black Friday.” An important shopping day (some stores open hours before their normal time), it pushes some businesses into profitability, or “in the black,” and can account for a substantial proportion of annual profits.

This extended Christmas season is about far more than shopping. For many Americans,it is a period of general good will and an occasion for charitable and volunteer work. To some extent, non-Christian holidays celebrated at roughly the same time of year--most prominently the African-American Kwanzaa and the Jewish Hanukkah--blend into a broader “holiday season.”

"It's A Wonderful Life"(1946) have been joined in recent years by "A Christmas Story" (1983), based on the tales of the radio raconteur Jean Shepherd. Christmas-themed animated programs often appear on television. Some, like "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", date to the mid-1960s, and are enjoyed by today’s children and their nostalgic parents alike.

An increasing number of radio stations now adjust their formats to feature Christmas music, sometimes exclusively, during the four weeks to six weeks before the holiday. Live and recorded performances of such classical favorites as the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and J.S. Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” peak during the weeks before Christmas.

The holiday’s original religious meaning remains for many its most important element. Some congregations create manger scenes -- dioramas of the stable where Jesus was born, complete with figurines representing the infant Jesus and those present at his birth. Many churches hold well-attended Christmas Eve candlelight or midnight services. Some include a Mass of the Nativity or a dramatization of the birth of Jesus.

As with so many aspects of U.S. cultural life, Christmas in the United States reflects the values of a free and diverse people.

http://www.america.gov/st/diversity-english/2007/December/20061226154528abretnuh0.7518579.html

Exercise, Your Body Needs It

2009-02-01T04:17:00.000-05:00

Alright, show of hands. Who has been told the regular stuff about exercising? You know, the 8 glasses of water a day, 30 minutes of “vigorous” exercise a day, etc. Guess what? Exercising daily is not even as hard as they make it out to be. I’m serious. I have a few ways to stay healthy, and most of them don’t take more than 10 minutes!

Example 1: I do 30- 40 crunches (sit-ups) daily. I do them right before I go to bed, or first thing in the morning. It only takes about 5-10 minutes, depending on how many you want to do. You don’t have to do thirty. You can do as many as you feel comfy with. But, if you want to push yourself, raise the bar every time until you're comfortable with a number. (If you do 10, then raise to 15, then 20, and so on.)

Example 2: Ok, tried and true tip. If you take the car everywhere, save your parents some gas and walk or ride your bike. Or, youmight want to roller-skate! ( It’s very fun, and not many people know how to do it.) Try it. If your school is walking distance, walk inthe morning. That way, if you live someplace hot, then it will be cooler.

Example 3: Surprise your parents and clean the house! (Hear me out, guys. I know it sounds really weird.) Putsome of your favorite upbeat music on, and clean to the beat. That way, you feel good, and you have happyparents!

Example 4: If you sit in a chair all day, learn some exercises for your arm and shoulder muscles. They’ll keep you occupied, andkeep you from feeling too stiff.

Remember, these are just a few examples. If you’ve got more, we’d love to hear them! Go to the feedback page, and write us some feedback! Also, if you don’t like the regular way, then try something fun. You won’t even realize you’re exercising! Dance classes, karate, or a sport, like volleyball or soccer all provide excellent ways to keep healthy. Use it as an excuse to try something new. You won’t regret it!

Letter From The Editor

2009-02-01T04:16:00.000-05:00

This e-zine has been launched as a family venture. We hope that it will serve as an alternative to many of the current print and electronic media directed towards preteen and teen girls. We feel that girls and young women like to see images in media that are reflections of themselves and the women they hope to become. A reflection of all of our beautiful skin colors, hair textures and shapes/sizes.

BECOMING! TM looks to provide this and more. The intelligence and potential of girls is evidenced by their inquisitive and caring manner, fueled by their hopes and dreams, and encouraged by the family/teachers/friends who love them. We want to nurture that intelligence, strengthen self-esteem, and bolster every girl’s resolve to become the most phenomenal woman she can

We also realize that there are many girls who are not interested in learning how to be a size 0, they just want to be healthy. They may not want to find the best bargain on knockoff purses, but they would love the best information about applying for scholarships and getting into college. They don’t want to know the latest gossip, but are more interested in making and keeping good friends. They may not be interested in the buying the latest lipstick, but would rather recognize and enhance their own natural beauty. They don’t want to be the next video vixen, they plan to become the next doctor to discover a medical breakthrough or the President of the United States!

To this end, we decided to write, print and publish our own version of an e-zine suited to the needs of girls aged 9-18. Included in these pages are the issues my daughters and their friends discuss, celebrate, debate and laugh about, the issues and ideas that are important to them as regular preteens and teens. Beginning with this issue we will invite your feedback and your letters about the issues that are important to you because this e-zine is for all girls (and their moms!). Soooooo…..

Read. Discover. Enjoy.

Become…………………the best you!

Sincerely,

Emma Troy

s mailto:submissions@Becomingonline.com