Got the Break-up Blues? Get Over It!

By Paola, 16, junior Most of us have been through it and know the feeling all too well: the break-up mood. Over the past few months, I’ve noticed that my friends and other girls often get into a really depressing mood after they’ve gone through a breakup with their boyfriend or girlfriend. That’s perfectly acceptable. […]

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Must-See Movies Starring Real People

By Cheryl Mattox Berry Finally, movies that don’t include vampires, wizards and superheroes. Two movies that opened Friday feature good story lines and real characters to love or hate. The first movie, Pitch Perfect, is about a female college a capella group vying for cred on campus and a national title. The girls selected for […]

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Off Limits: Dating Friends of Ex-Boyfriends

By Cheryl Mattox Berry My girlfriends and I have had two hard and fast rules since high school: We don’t  date each other’s ex-boyfriends nor do we date the ex’s best friend. Reason: It gets too complicated. I thought these were universal rules etched in stone. However, I’ve learned that one of the rules – […]

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Your Classmate is Not Perfect

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 […]

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Think About Consequences Before You Act

By 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 […]

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Thinking of Skipping College? Read This First

By 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 […]

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Paola Revises Weight Loss Plan

By 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 […]

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Think and Act Like a Lady

By 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 […]

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Did You Get the Message?

By 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 […]

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What to Expect in Middle School

By 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. […]

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