Essay Writing Tips
“Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.”
John Jakes
Writing is like a journey: you start with a blank sheet of paper and what appears on it in the end of the trip depends only on you. You should go through every stage of essay writing process described in this guide to write the essay that:
- is focused;
- is logical;
- is clear;
- is well-structured;
- is deeply–argumentative;
- grabs the reader’s interest from the first lines;
- does not pad;
- provides illustrative evidence;
- gives credits to sources.
This journey may take a long time and be challenging at times, but do not step back. Our guide will be a constant beacon lightening your path as you proceed.
Getting along with your teachers
Your algebra teacher wears clothes from 1985 and always mispronounces your name. Your English teacher loves to start classes with pop quizzes. It can be hard to think of these givers of grades as real people. However, they eat pizza, watch movies, and enjoy sports on the weekends, just like you. So how can you get along with your teachers?
Why Work on Good Relationships With Teachers?
A good relationship with a teacher today may help you in the future. You will need teachers' written recommendations to apply to a college or for a job after high school. And if you are thinking about going into a career in science, who better to ask about the field than your science teacher?
Teachers are often plugged into the community and may be the first to find out about local competitions, activities, or contests. They also may know about grants and scholarships. Sonia's Spanish teacher found out about a contest for exchange program scholarships in
Teachers are often asked to appoint students to student offices, or they may recommend students as volunteers for special community programs. All of these activities can help you get into college or get a good job.
Teachers who care are another group of adults in your life who can look out for you, guide you, and provide you with an adult perspective. Many are willing to answer questions, offer advice, and help with personal problems.
How to Develop Good Teacher-Student Relationships
We all have our favorite teachers - those who seem truly interested and treat us as intelligent beings. But what about teachers we don't know as well (or even don't like much)?
You can do lots of things to get a good connection going with your teacher. First, do the obvious stuff: show up for class on time, with all assignments completed. Be alert, be respectful, and ask questions.
Show an interest in the subject. Obviously, your teachers are interested in their subjects or they would not have decided to teach them! Showing the teacher that you care - even if you're not a math whiz or fluent in French - sends the message that you are a dedicated student.
You can also schedule a private conference during a teacher's free period. Use this time to get extra help, ask questions, inquire about a career in the subject, or talk about your progress in class. You may be surprised to learn that your teacher is a bit more relaxed one-on-one than when lecturing in front of the whole class.
It is possible to try too hard, though. Here are some things to avoid when trying to establish a relationship with your teacher:
- Not being sincere. Teachers sense when your only motivation is to get special treatment, a college reference, or a job recommendation.
- Trying to be teacher's pet; Your behavior will come off as phony and your classmates may start to resent you.
- Giving extravagant gifts; It is OK to offer a small token of appreciation to teachers if they have been helpful to you. However, flashy, expensive items could send the wrong message, and a teacher is usually not allowed to accept anything expensive.
Common Teacher-Student Problems
If you're having problems with a teacher, try to figure out why. Do you dislike the subject? Or do you like the subject but just can't warm up to the teacher?
If you don't like the subject being taught, it can affect your relationship with the teacher. Some students say it helps them to think of classes that seem like chores as stepping stones toward a bigger goal, like getting a diploma or going on to college. That allows them to keep the class in perspective. Other students say they try to find the practical value in classes they do not like. You may hate math, but learning how to calculate averages and percentages can help you in everything from sports to leaving a tip.
If you find a subject hard, talk to your teacher or a parent about extra tutoring. If you find it boring, talk to your teacher (or another favorite teacher, friend, or parent) about ways to see the subject in a different light. Ian constantly fell asleep in his sophomore history class because the past seemed so removed from reality. But things changed when he mentioned his struggle over a project to his homeroom teacher. The teacher talked to Ian and found out that his great-grandfather had fought in World War II. He suggested Ian use his great-grandfather's letters in his project. Not only did Ian get an A, he also learned a lot about a family member he barely remembered from childhood.
What if you just don't like the teacher? When it comes to working with teachers, personality can come into play just as it can in any relationship. People naturally just get along better with some people than with others - it is impossible to like everyone all the time. Learning to work with people you do not connect with easily is a good skill to have in life, no matter what your goals are.
If you feel at odds with your teacher, pick your battles carefully. Questioning a grade or asking to retake a test once is fine. However, second-guessing a teacher's judgment on your grades all the time may annoy him or her. Constantly squabbling over a few points on every assignment can cause friction in your relationship.
Common courtesy and respect are basic requirements of any relationship. Just as teachers need to be fair and treat everyone equally, students have responsibilities too. You do not have to like your teacher or agree with what he or she says, but it is necessary to be polite. If you need to be out of school for medical or other reasons, let your teacher know. And it's your responsibility to make up the work from missed classes. Don't expect your teacher to hunt you down or take class time to fill you in.
Too much disciplinary action can show up on a student's permanent record. This means that when someone asks for your high school record, they can see the things you did - even if they happened years ago.
Just like personal problems can sometimes slow you down, the same is true for your teachers. Job stress, family issues, or health problems are all factors that can affect a teacher's performance, leaving him or her cranky, irritable, or unable to concentrate.
What to Do if You Do not Get Along
Before you try to get out of a class to escape a teacher you do not like, here are a few things you can try to make a difficult relationship work:
- Meet with the teacher and try to communicate what you're feeling. Tell him or her what's on your mind, using statements such as, "It embarrasses me in class when I feel like my intelligence is being put down" or "I can't learn in class when I feel like only a few people ever get called on to participate." See if you can work it out between the two of you.
- Ask yourself, "What can I learn from this teacher?" Even if you do not worship his or her personality or lectures, dig deep until you find a subject in which he or she is very knowledgeable. Focus on that part of the teacher's personality, and use him or her as a tool for learning. Not only will you gain more knowledge in that subject, but also a closer relationship with your teacher may help you understand one another better.
- Talk to students who are doing well in the class and ask them for tips, tools, and a plan of action to get along with the teacher better. Sometimes having a second set of notes can be helpful, so asking a classmate who is willing to share them with you is a great idea. If you are too shy to talk to another student, study his or her actions and behavior in the classroom and try to follow that lead.
- If you still can't get along, make an appointment with the school guidance counselor. He or she will offer many tips and suggestions for getting more out of difficult teacher relationships. Sometimes a guidance counselor can act as a mediator between you and the teacher.
- If your relationship problems cannot be solved in school, then it's time to tell your parents or guardians. Let them meet with your teacher and try to work it out.
Chances are that you will not encounter physical or verbal abuse (like racist or sexist comments) in the classroom. However, if a teacher has done or said anything that makes you uncomfortable, immediately report his or her actions to your parents, your guidance counselor, another teacher, the school principal, or an administrator.
Teachers are there for more than just homework, and they know about more than just their subject matter. They can help you learn how to function as an adult and a lifelong learner. Undoubtedly, there will be a few teachers along the way who you will always remember - and who might change your life forever.
Autism
What Is Autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder that some people are born with — it is not something you can catch or pass along to someone else. It affects the brain and makes communicating and interacting with other people difficult. People, who have autism often have delayed language development, prefer to spend time alone, and show less interest in making friends. Another characteristic of autism is what some people describe as "sensory overload": Sounds seem louder, lights brighter, or smells stronger. Although many people with autism also have mental retardation, some are of average or high intelligence.
Not everybody with autism has the exact same symptoms. Some people may have autism that is mild, whereas others may have autism that is more severe. Because it affects people differently, autism is known as a spectrum disorder. Two people with the same spectrum disorder may not act alike or have the same skills.
As many as 1 in 500 people have autism, and it's four times more common in guys than in girls. Although doctors do not know exactly what causes it, researchers believe autism is linked to differences in brain chemicals (neurotransmitters). These differences may be caused by something in our genes — families who have one child with autism have a higher risk of having another child with autism or a similar disorder. Research suggests that it's probably a combination of genes that causes the disorder, not a single autism gene.
Sometimes you may hear other developmental disorders mentioned in the same way as autism, such as Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder. These disorders, along with autism, are all considered pervasive developmental disorders. People diagnosed with any of these disabilities have problems with social skills and communication.
What Do Doctors Do?
Autism is usually diagnosed at a very young age, when a child is 1 1/2 to 4 years old. There are no medical tests to determine whether someone has autism, although doctors may run various tests to rule out other causes of the kid's symptoms. The best way to identify autism is to watch how a child behaves and communicates. Parents can help by telling the doctor how the child acts at home. Then a team of specialists —, which may include a psychologist, a neurologist, a psychiatrist, a speech therapist, and a developmental pediatrician — will evaluate the child and compare levels of development and behavior to those of other children the same age. Together, they will decide whether the child has autism or something else.
How Is Autism Treated?
Autism is not treated with surgery or medicine (although some people with autism may take medicine to improve certain symptoms, like aggressive behavior or attention problems). Instead, people who have autism are taught skills that will help them do the things that are difficult for them. The best results are usually seen with children who begin treatment when they are very young, as soon as they are diagnosed.
Special education programs that are tailored to the child's individual needs are usually the most effective form of treatment. These programs work on breaking down barriers by teaching the child to communicate (sometimes by pointing or using pictures or sign language) and to interact with others. Basic living skills, like how to cross a street safely or ask for directions, are also emphasized. A treatment program might also include any of the following: speech therapy, physical therapy, and music therapy, changes in diet, medication, occupational therapy, and hearing or vision therapy. The same specialists who helped diagnose the condition usually work together to come up with the best combination of therapies to use in addition to the educational program.
By the time, they are teens; people with autism may be taking regular classes, attending special classes at the high school level, or attending a special school because of ongoing behavioral problems.
What Are Teens With Autism Like?
Because their brains process information differently, teens with autism may not act like other people you know (or each other, because the severity of symptoms of autism varies from person to person). They can have trouble talking and sometimes communicate with gestures instead of words. Some spend a lot of time alone, do not make friends easily (and may not act as if they want to), and do not react to social cues like someone smiling or scowling at them. They often do not make eye contact when you are talking to them. They also find it hard to join in a game or activity with other people. If they are sensitive to sensory stimuli, they might draw back when hugged or startle easily when they hear a sudden noise, even if it's not very loud.
Some teens with autism are passive and withdrawn, whereas others are overactive and may have tantrums or act aggressively when they are frustrated; it is important to realize that this is part of the disorder. Many teens with autism also continue to have intellectual limitations and learning problems. Because they do not have the ability to express emotions like anger and frustration in more acceptable ways, teens with autism may express themselves in ways that seem inappropriate. Many have difficulty coping with change and get anxious if their daily routine is altered. In more severe cases, a teen might fixate on different objects or ideas or display repetitive motions like rocking or hand flapping.
One common misconception is that people with autism do not feel or show emotion. Although they can feel affection, they often do not express it the same way others do. To an outsider, this can come across as being cold or unemotional.
Living with Autism
Perhaps the most difficult part of coping with autism is interacting with other people every day. Because the brain of a teen with autism works a little differently, learning to communicate can be like learning a foreign language. This can make it hard for people with autism to express them or for other people to understand them, so just talking with a classmate becomes stressful and frustrating.
When even a casual conversation requires so much effort, it's hard to make friends. Teens with autism may have to think constantly about how other people will perceive their actions and make a conscious effort to pay attention to social cues the rest of us handle without even thinking. Basically, it takes a lot of work for a person with autism to do what comes naturally to most people.
So if you know someone who has autism, be extra patient when you are talking with him or her. Don't expect a person with autism to look at things the same way you do. You should also realize that some behaviors you think are rude (like interrupting you when you're talking) come from a different perception of the world: It's tough for people who can't read social cues and recognize the natural pauses in a conversation to know when to jump in with their own thoughts. The more understanding and supportive you are, the more enjoyable your time together will be.
Despite all the day-to-day hurdles, though, many people with autism lead fulfilling, happy lives on their own or with help from friends and family. Most teens with autism like school, and some can attend regular classes with everyone else. They have individual tastes and enjoy different activities, just like you do. Some people with autism go on to vocational school or college, get married, and have successful careers. Consider
Going to College
Taking the Stress Out of College
Katie realized that the things she had been realistic about turned out to be the easiest to deal with. She had expected to find it hard living away from home, not only in terms of missing her family but also in dealing with practical stuff like washing her own clothes. However, because she anticipated these issues, Katie found them less stressful.
Living away from home tends to be the toughest adjustment for first-year students. You've had a clear role within your family all of your life: the family comedian, the mediator, maybe the translator. Whichever role you filled at home, when you're gone, you're not sure where you fit in. It may seem like your family is doing fine without you, and you may feel uncomfortable or sad about these changes.
You may also feel homesick in your first weeks and months. The first thing you should know if you're longing for your old scene, friends, or even your bratty little siblings, is that homesickness is very common. In fact, just about everyone experiences it at some point in his or her life. So how do you deal with feeling lonely or left out?
Try to identify your feelings and fears, and talk about what you're going through. The sooner you deal with these issues, the sooner you'll feel better. If you are homesick, it can help to call, write, or email your parents, other family members, and friends from home to let them know how you're doing and to tell them you miss them.
Who else can you talk to? For starters, that person sharing the dorm room with you. Roommates can be great built-in buddies. As first-year students themselves, they're probably experiencing many of the same fears and worries that you're dealing with.
But what if you don't get along with your roommate?
Meeting Roommates and Making Friends
In some cases, it can be a good thing if you and your roommate aren't much alike. A different perspective on things may be helpful. But it's probably wise not to expect that you'll be best friends with your roommate because it can set you up for disappointment. Katie came to college expecting to be best buddies with her roomies. But over time it felt like the two of them made her the third wheel. With a switch in roommates and a change in attitude about what to expect, she ended up having a blast.
Not everyone can switch roommates, though. That's why it helps to start with the idea that you'll respect your differences no matter what.
If you and your roomie don't get along, it can help to find someone you do feel understands you - which should be easy on a campus with plenty of people. Giving new students an opportunity to meet is one idea behind freshman orientation. And many schools have student organization nights where all of the campus clubs gather and promote their organizations, so you can meet people with the same interests as you. You'll also meet tons of people in class or in your dorm.
If you're really having roommate or friendship troubles, make a stop at the school counseling center. All universities have one, and first-year fears are something the counselors know well. The counselors will either talk to you one-on-one or if there is a peer group for students who are feeling like you, you can choose to join it. Talking to others who are in the same situation can be comforting. You can also talk to your RA about any adjustment or roommate problems.
Some students turn to alcohol, heavy partying, excessive sleeping, smoking, or drugs to deal with their first-year problems. Unfortunately, students who resort to getting wasted all the time to cope with their new situation often find that too much partying brings lots more problems, like interfering with their ability to keep up with assignments, papers, and exams. In the worst case, it may mean getting in trouble with the college judicial department.
Staying Healthy Away From Home
Sore throats, sprained ankles, and wisdom teeth that act up are as common among college students as homesickness. It's very easy, especially in a dorm environment, to catch bugs like the flu. People come in and out of your room all the time, and some of those who are sick may pass it on. And who has time to go home to the doctor when they get sick?
With this in mind, universities have created health centers staffed with doctors, nurses, dentists - even nutritionists and counselors - ready to tend to your needs. Check out your student orientation packet or your school's website to find out more information about the health center and where it's located.
Insurance Plans
Some schools require all students to have no emergency health care insurance. In these cases, the school usually offers a low-cost insurance plan that can be paid for at the time of registration and used worldwide. These plans often cover basic health care and injuries sustained in intercollegiate or club sports as well.
At other schools, however, health insurance is optional and not necessary to receive treatment at the health center. But there is a charge for medical services.
Before you go to school, look into whether your school requires health insurance and discuss with your parents what kind of health insurance you have, if any.
Emergency Care
Knowing about the health insurance you carry or the location of the health center is not all you need to stay well, however. You might need to get a prescription filled, or you might become injured and need emergency treatment.
When you get to school, check to see if your health center offers 24-hour medical attention. If not, make a point to learn how to access emergency medical care through a local emergency department or urgent care clinic. Write this information and any important phone numbers somewhere you can easily find them if necessary.
You should also find a pharmacy. Although some schools offer a pharmacy on campus, other students may need to venture off campus to find one. It is no fun to go hunting around for these things when you're sick - being prepared can really help!
Prevention Tips
It is great to be prepared if you get sick, but better yet, how can you prevent getting sick in the first place? The usual measures, like washing your hands frequently, also apply at college. Nevertheless, you will also have to think about community bathrooms, shared computer terminals, and cramped living quarters, all of which make germs excessively happy.
If you spend time in the school computer labs, it is a good idea to carry some antibacterial hand lotion in your backpack. When your roommate gets sick, use a germ-fighting solvent to occasionally wipe down shared things like doorknobs, telephone receivers, and remote controls. Moreover, do not underestimate the power of eating well and getting a good night's sleep. As always, the best defense is a good offense.
First-Year Food
You've landed in a buffet-style eating universe and there's unlimited double-decker chocolate cake. Many college campuses have many fast-food restaurants within easy reach of dorms or classes. Why not have pizzas for dinner every night? Moreover, you will probably find that ordering Chinese food or cheese bread with friends at 2 AM is a common activity after a night out.
Most students tend to binge a bit at first, sampling everything and snacking late at night. Eventually, many gain weight (the "freshman 15"). But is it so horrible?
Both girls and guys do more maturing during their college years, so some weight gain is to be expected. Unless a person gains a lot of weight, the problem is less about the weight gain than what may happen as a result: excessive dieting, which tends to bring about a seesaw effect of dieting and binge eating.
How to avoid this roller-coaster food ride? Eat normally and at regular intervals - usually three meals with one or two healthy snacks - at the same times each day. That way, you'll train your body to be hungry at those times and then you will be responding to your inner signals. Eating when you're hungry and only eating until you're full is eating in a natural way.
But chowing down when you're bored, munching because your roommate has pizza (even though you've already had dinner), or snacking on chocolate simply because you're stressed, means you are overriding your body's natural signals. This tends to lead to more chaotic eating and weight gain.
So now you know when to eat, but how about what to eat? Pay attention to that new food pyramid you've been seeing. Eating right is all about balance. You'll want to eat foods from each group every day. If your meals include too many items from one food group, it's at the cost of nutrients from another. Eating from many food groups doesn't just give the body a well-rounded diet - it satisfies your mind's craving for variety, too. So don't worry about eating a candy bar, just don't use it to replace a well-balanced dinner.
A final note about food: It's tempting to pull all-nighters with the aid of caffeine. Experts suggest limiting your caffeine intake to 100 milligrams or less per day - this will help you to prevent becoming a caffeine fiend (caffeine is addictive) and to avoid withdrawal symptoms like headaches and irritability. Most people think caffeine is only in coffee, but watch out for it in soft drinks, iced teas, and over-the-counter medications.
First-Year Fitness
Staying fit is easier than ever at college - a good thing, because students should aim to get 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise every day. You don't have to go out for a sport to enjoy an hour of Frisbee in the quad, a morning jog around campus, or a game of soccer with people in the dorm after class.
Get started by checking out what's offered at your campus recreation center. Many rec centers rent equipment and offer classes in everything from aerobics to yoga to self-defense. You'll probably have access to a school gym, which may include exercise equipment, a pool, or a track. If you're lucky, your school might have amenities like a rock-climbing wall! And if indoor exercise doesn't appeal to you, some colleges and universities offer excursions within the area like horseback riding, yoga at sunrise, a ski/snowboard trip to a nearby mountain, or even white-water rafting.
Staying healthy isn't only about what you put in your body, it's also about what your body puts out. That means effort, energy, and exercise to keep you powered up during college.
Saying you are Sorry
Saying you are sorry is called apologizing. When you apologize, you are telling someone that you are sorry for the hurt you caused, even if you did not do it on purpose. People who are apologizing might also say that they will try to do better. They might promise to fix or replace what was broken or take back a mean thing they said.
How Does It Make You Feel?
When you apologize to someone — and really mean it — it's because you have stopped to think about how the person may have felt because of what you did or said. When you stop to think about the other person's feelings, you begin to feel sorry for your behavior. You might even feel embarrassed or ashamed if you did something that you knew was wrong.
Even if what happened was an accident or you did something you did not mean to do, you would probably still feel sorry if you knew the other person's feelings were hurt. After apologizing, you might feel a little better (the other person probably will, too). When you apologize in a caring way, you can feel good because you are trying to make things right again.
What Does An Apology Sound Like?
There are many ways to apologize. Here are some examples:
"I'm sorry about the mean thing I said to you."
"I'm sorry I lost your book."
"I was mad, but I shouldn't have called you a name. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry I hurt your feelings."
"I'm sorry I yelled at you."
"I'm really sorry I hit you when I was mad. That was wrong. I won't do it anymore."
When you apologize to someone, he or she might apologize back to you: "That's OK, I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have teased you." Then maybe you can both feel friendly again.
When Should You Apologize?
Kids might need to apologize if they hurt or teased someone or lost something that belonged to someone else. They might need to apologize if they broke something (even by accident — oops!), or if they did something they knew was wrong — like telling a lie or breaking a rule on purpose. Maybe they did something their parent told them not to do, or maybe they didn't do something they were supposed to do.
Kids might need to apologize to each other or to a grown-up. Grown-ups can apologize, too — to other grown-ups or even to kids. After all, even grown-ups make mistakes sometimes. By apologizing when they are wrong, grown-ups can set a good example and show kids how to do the right thing and apologize when they need to.
What If You Were Angry?
Everyone feels angry with someone else now and then. Being angry is OK — and nothing to apologize for — but knowing how to tell someone what made you angry is important.
When little kids are angry, they might hit, kick, or scream. They do not have much self-control, and they might not yet have learned that it is wrong to hit someone because they are upset. However, as kids get bigger and can use words, they know better than to hit, kick, or scream when they are angry. They learn to express their feelings with words. Of course, the words they say when they are angry might be stronger or louder than usual — but the words do not have to be mean. You can tell someone you are upset and why without putting that person down. You can be honest about how you feel without being unkind.
But sometimes anger takes over and kids might lose self-control. They might say mean things, lose their cool, and hit or push someone. Afterward, most kids realize that even if they were right to be angry, it is not OK to behave that way. That is when an apology is definitely needed.
Does Apologizing Fix Everything?
Saying I'm sorry when you need to is the right thing to do. It does many good. However, by itself, it might not be enough to make everything all better again. Sometimes along with an apology, a person needs to fix the mistake or say they will try to do better. Sometimes doing a nice thing for the person after you apologize helps show that you really are sorry and want to be friendly again.
Sometimes a heartfelt "I'm sorry" fixes everything right away. Other times, it might take a while for someone to feel friendly after you apologize. You might need to give the other person some time. Even after you say you're sorry, you might still feel bad about what you said or did — but you can feel good about apologizing and about making up your mind to do better.
When someone apologizes to you, you might not feel like being friendly again right away. Occasionally, if a person does not change, you might not want to be friends anymore. You might feel relieved and glad that the other person apologized and admitted being wrong. But if someone keeps behaving in mean ways or does something that keeps hurting, you might not feel the same way anymore. Just because someone apologizes to you does not mean you have to be friendly again. That part is up to you.
Drinking alcohol
The grown-ups in your life have probably told you that you are not allowed to have alcoholic drinks, such as beer or wine. However, what do kids think about this issue? Most kids said teens that drink alcohol are not cool. More than 90% of the kids said they are very uncool (86%) or uncool (6%). In addition, 89% of kids said that drinking alcohol at their age (9 to 13) was never OK. That shows that many kids are smart about the dangers of alcohol. They probably know that it is risky for kids to drink alcohol because:
- It can make them sick (like making them throw up, pass out, or worse).
- It can hurt their ability to make good decisions.
- It can make them do things that are embarrassing.
- It can get them into trouble (with parents or police).
- It can be addictive, meaning that the person might start needing alcohol to feel good.
But what about the kids who didn't agree? Three percent of kids said, at their age, it was always OK to drink alcohol. In addition, although 90% of kids said they never tried alcohol, or only tried it once, 6% of kids said they often drink more than a sip - every week or every month.
Young kids who drink might be kids who don't have common sense, take risks without realizing danger, or don't listen to adults. Kids like this often have other problems, such as being disrespectful to people or property. They also might fight, lie, steal, or bully.
"Some kids might drink because they have problems they don't know how to deal with," says D'Arcy Lyness, a child psychologist. "These kids need caring adults to help them solve their problems in a healthier way," she says.
Drinking alcohol is bad for your brain and your health, but kids who drink can decide to be successful at stopping. Caring adults can teach kids how to show and receive respect, take better care of themselves, and make better choices.
Kids might start drinking alcohol because it makes them feel good at first or like they can escape their problems for a while. The trouble with this is that drinking alcohol makes them feel bad or sick afterward - and they may become addicted to it. And as for the problems - they're still there anyway, because escaping doesn't solve any problem.
Why do kids try alcohol? Here were the top three reasons kids gave:
1. to look cool
2. to see what it's like
3. because other kids are doing it
All kids want to be cool. The good news is that most kids we surveyed don't think drinking makes a person any cooler. However, the few kids who said they drink seem to believe it does. In other words, they might think they are cool, even though other kids do not.
It's easy to see how a kid might get the wrong message about alcohol. If you have seen beer commercials on TV, the people drinking it seem like they are having a good time. They often feature bar or party scenes or people watching sports on TV. Why can't kids have this kind of fun?
Well, alcohol also has a darker side. Alcohol is a depressant. That means it slows down or depresses the brain. Like many drugs, alcohol changes a person's ability to think, speak, and see things as they really are. A person might lose his or her balance and have trouble walking properly. The person might feel relaxed and happy, and later start crying or get in an argument.