For Dreamers, Thinkers and Achievers
By Cheryl Mattox Berry Have you ever looked at a classmate and wished you had her life? She has it all: popularity, great clothes, beautiful hair, long lashes, cute boyfriend, an SUV and fun-loving parents. Her life is perfect. And yours, well, so-so. Don’t be fooled by outward appearances. Nobody’s life is perfect. The girl […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Consequence (noun) – A result or effect of an action or condition. My cousin, who is a sophomore in high school, got caught with a bag of marijuana in his book bag. Consequence: A five-day suspension and come-to-Jesus meeting with a police officer. At a different school, the senior class president and […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry It’s senior year. All your friends are excited about applying to colleges. Mom and dad are bugging you to narrow your choice of schools. The dates for the next ACT and SAT are fast approaching, but you haven’t registered yet. It’s not that you’re procrastinating. Truth of the matter is, you’re […]
Continue ReadingBy Paola, 16, junior Most girls my age got new shoes, accessories and cellphones for the start of school. I got new running shoes, workout videos and a scale for my weight loss program. As I wrote at the beginning of the summer, I’ve struggled with my weight for a very long time. I wanted […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Comedian Steve Harvey was right on the money with the title of his best-selling book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. Specifically, I’m referring to the first part of the title, act like a lady. You can be just as powerful and have more impact being a lady than you […]
Continue ReadingBy Paola, 16, junior Most teenagers, I think, don’t apply themselves in school anymore. They just want to get their 2.0 GPA and graduate. They don’t strive for anything higher. I learned from a very young age to try my hardest and challenge myself, which is why I was put in the gifted program in first […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry The public service announcements appear on television and flash across the movie screen in big, bold letters that jump out at you. The message is clear: Teens, don’t text and drive. You may kill yourself and/or others while sending trivial messages. In one commercial, a young man suffering from a brain […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Dear Sixth Graders, Welcome to middle school. It’s exciting being in this new place, but it can be confusing, chaotic and challenging. No. 1, it’s noisier. No. 2, everyone moves at a faster pace. You probably feel as if you’re in the midst of a herd of cattle being swept along. […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Dear Freshmen, Welcome to high school. You’ve finally arrived after eight long years, longer for those who started in pre-K. High school is a big, noisy place full of girls who seem to know where they’re going in life. Not to worry, you’ll develop that level of confidence, too. If you’re […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Reality TV characters Evelyn Lozada and Chad Johnson unwittingly taught fans what happens for real when one person hits/head-butts another person. One gets hurt (Lozada); the other goes to jail (Johnson.) You would never know that watching reality TV shows. There are seldom any consequences for unprovoked punches, jabs and slaps. […]
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