For Dreamers, Thinkers and Achievers
By Cheryl Mattox Berry As you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, take a few minutes to thank those who have supported you in big and small ways this year. Was there a teacher who saw that you were struggling and offered words of encouragement or extra time to complete an assignment? A […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Aretha Franklin, Train, Notorious B.I.G and The Staple Singers recorded hit songs about respect, but I think a lot of people have forgotten what the word means. Here goes: Respect (noun) – a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities or achievements. – Oxford Dictionaries […]
Continue ReadingBy Paola, 16, junior Independence is something our parents teach us from a very young age. They’ve always told us, “Don’t depend on someone to do your homework for you!” and “Don’t rely on someone to give you information, find out yourself!” However, in our teens, we sink back into dependency. Now, we rely on […]
Continue ReadingBy 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 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 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 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. […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Olympic gold medal gymnast Gabrielle Douglas deserves a platinum medal for the way she dismissed folks who made negative comments about her hair. What started as a few posts by black women on Twitter and Facebook about how her hair needed to be better groomed grew into a firestorm. Douglas promptly […]
Continue ReadingBy Paola, 16, junior When I decided to lose weight this summer, I realized that I needed to drastically change my eating habits. I ate junk food at least once a week and a bunch of snacks, mostly chips or gold fish, throughout the day. On my new eating plan, I discovered that you don’t […]
Continue ReadingBy Paola, 16, junior Many girls wear baggy clothing, thinking that no one will figure out that they’re trying to hide their bodies. In reality, the oversized clothes make them look worn down and lazy. Hiding under clothes instead of playing up your best features affects your self-esteem and confidence. I know from personal experience. […]
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