STAGE OF LIFE       Share Your Story       Coupons       Education Resources
Sign Up Now!

Dangerous Games

Poll Question : What games do you know your kids/peers are playing (Poll is closed)
Choice Votes Statistics
The Cinnamon Challenge dfd2 1 100 %
The Gallon Challenge dfd2 0 0 %
Chubby Bunny dfd2 0 0 %
The Ice and Salt Challenge dfd2 0 0 %
The Choking Game dfd2 0 0 %
Water Chugging dfd2 0 0 %


Joined: 3/15/2012
Posts: 3
14vicmcw
Okay, so there's something I gotta say. I'm all for some of the exotic and extravagant things my peers are doing. BUT LET ME BE CLEAR. This includes piercings and dying hair and wearing chains. I don't think kids in our generation should be sheltered. Let us rebel. SAFELY.

And that brings me to the point of this blog.

I was reading a news article a minute ago (Yes, some of us still do that.) about the Top Six Most Dangerous Games that kids are playing nowadays. Now who in the WORLD came up with this complete crap?! Who was stupid enough to start this trend and is my generation really as ignorant as this article proves beyond reasonable doubt?

I used to wish my friends were wittier like in the comics I read online, or the funny pictures. Before I realized how degrading and offensive today's humor really is. Never did I think I would have to wish that my generation was more intelligent that they really are. I can't say I'm a Pessimist. I'm more of a Realist, but even I can be pretty Optimistic. I try to find things to look forward to. I try to dispel all the doom and gloom by finding something positive to focus on.

But there's nothing positive about these games. Nothing. They are pure, unadulterated stupidity.

First, there is what's called Water Chugging. What you're supposed to do is drink as much water as you possibly can while resisting the urge to relieve yourself. There are two reasons why this is completely unsafe. One, holding in any sort of waste like that is unhealthy. It can damage the liver and let bacteria into your system. Holding that in can kill you if you do it long enough. Two, getting that much water into your system causes "Hyperhydration." Hyperhydration is when the excess amount of water causes the Sodium in your body to dilute to dangerous levels. Basically flooding your system. There was a woman in California, I believe, that competed in a radio contest consisting of this. She won. Her prize? She died. -__-

Second, there's the Choking Game. The name itself should give you a hint as to the intelligence of this game. Although, most reading that name'll hope to God that it's a facetious and inaccurate title. SORRY. It's not. It's serious. What kids are doing, is restricting their air--within an inch of consciousness--and then releasing the pressure. They do this to get high because of the Euphoric kind of feeling that they get in that tiny time window before passing out that they let go. C'mon people, that kind of foolery kills off Brain Cells. Ever feel bad about yourself for failing that test, or that class? If you play this game THERE'S YOUR EXPLANATION, SHERLOCK. -_- Maybe I'm completely ignorant and Brain Cells have nothing to do with IQ, but I doubt that's the case. It sounds stupid not to be connected.

Thirdly, there's the Ice and Salt Challenge. Now, this one must not be that popular (thank God) because I haven't heard of this one. What you do is wet an area of the skin, sprinkle table salt over it, and then press an ice cube to the area with pressure. It's supposed to test pain threshold. It doesn't sound painful, right? Well, here's why it is: Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (Common knowledge), but the salt reacts with it, lowering the freezing temperature to (at it's lowest) zero degrees. That's right people, a big zippo: 0. This causes what I like to call freezer burns. Why? Because it's frozen, right? It's ice. But. It still burns you as badly as pressing a hot coal to your skin would. This can leave scars and can cause first, second, and third degree burns.

Fourthly, there's Chubby Bunny. When I first heard about this, it seemed harmless. But, the more I learned, the more I was glad that I'd never been dumb enough to try it. It's basically a contest. People stuff as many full-sized marshmallows into their mouths as possible. The winner is the one who can stuff in the most and still be able to say that words, "Chubby Bunny." This is dangerous because they put so many into their mouths, that they have to start seeking other places in their mouths, including the throat, and more tightly packing the marshmallows. Idiots. I can see maybe putting one in each cheek and saying it for a laugh, but stuffing your mouth with those ginormous things? You're an accident waiting to happen. There was an Elementary School girl who played that at a school's animal fair--She died. Getting the hint yet, kids?

At Mambo number five, we have the Gallon Challenge. I think this was popularized by the "Jackass" movies. You're supposed to drink an entire gallon of milk in an hour and not vomit. Which, geniuses, is impossible. The stomach canNOT process that much lactate at one time. It's impossible to not vomit it back out. What's worse is the challenge is specific to Whole Milk. Being Lactose-Intolerant, I wouldn't do this regardless, but that kind of thing could very well kill someone like me, I'm sure.

And lastly, number six, and the most widely known and popular stupid game, is the Cinnamon Challenge. Teens, if you cheered at its mention, do me a favor: Go into your bathrooms, turn the water in the sink on, wait until it fills, stick your face into the water, (drink some, I don't care) shake your head from left to right for about seven seconds, pull your head out. Drain the water. Go to your room, grab a pillow, and smack yourself in the face. Yes, that was a long and stupid punishment, but a punishment nonetheless. Anyway. The Challenge is to take an obnoxious amount of the raw spice Cinnamon (obviously) and put it in your mouth and keep it there for 60 seconds without any water whatsoever. WHAT. C'mon! This is OBVIOUSLY stupid idea. Common Sense says that any DRY SPICE that coats the inside of your mouth is going to make you cough and beg for water. Common. Sense. That you all seem to lack. This seems stupid, but not so dangerous, right? Wrong. You choke for one, you get dehydrated for two. If that's not enough to deter you from trying it, look at it this way: It can cause your lungs to collapse, it can cause fluid to build up in your lungs. It. Can. Easily. Kill. You.

I beg the youth of my generation to think about what they're doing. Think about the fact that there may not BE a "next generation" because we'll all be dead if these shenanigans continue. Now, there are exceptions. There are. Some of my peers, I highly respect and have an immense amount of faith in. But, it's the ignorant ones of my generation that make me question how many of us are really all that intelligent. I do consider myself intelligent, I consider myself to have Common Sense. My proof is in this blog right here and the fact that I was good enough to become a featured blogger.

I used to wish that my generation was wittier, though less offensive, in their humor nowadays. Never did I expect that I'd be wishing they weren't so ignorant. I shouldn't be disappointed in a group of people I identify with. That's not what being part of a group is about. Being part of a group means that you're proud to associate with others like yourself. And although I can't change that I identify with the Generation Y people, I shouldn't have to wonder if I was born in the wrong time period.

I want to be proud of my generation, I do. But them doing things like this on such a regular and wide range makes that hard to do. I just hope that someone else can find a reason to believe in us again.
Rate this:
Comment by mars


Joined: 4/17/2012
Posts: 5
first of all i totally agree with this dude. i tried my very best to rate this article five stars but it was to hard for me. plus its my first day blogging. i highly think that their is every generation doing something like this. Maybe some of these teens do this because they're friend do it so they do to act cool and not be all left out. or this could to led to peer-pressure. to mostly honest teens this days don't really think about the consquences about the games. not to be all mean but thats the way i look at it.
Posted: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 9:05:53 PM
Rate this:
Comment by cricket


Joined: 4/17/2012
Posts: 3
First of all I totally would totally rate this blog five stars but it's taking forever for all the stars to upload. Well anyways I've actually learned some new things, like the ice and the salt making a sort or freezer burn action. Not as I'm going to try any of them. I personally hate when somebody always has to ruin something. But me hearing all this makes me think of what i'm not doing compared to other teens. Most of all these crazy things that teens do is probably because their friends are doing it. (peer pressure).
Posted: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 9:05:53 PM
Rate this:
Comment by Whopp3rSR


Joined: 4/19/2012
Posts: 2
Games like this test your skill for survival. The ones that die, don't survive. the one that do learn a valuable lesson. But the ones that truely survive are the ones who watched these kids play these games and suffer the consequences.

When games like this are played it shows how kids are just seeking a thrill ride and they find the best--most of the time the funniest--solutions to do so.
Posted: Thursday, April 19, 2012 8:00:25 PM
Rate this:




Stage of Life About Us StageofLife.com is a free blogging community for High School students and teens, archiving stories and essays in an online life journal.  Check out the writing contests, discounts and other resources for High School students and teenagers.  Register to start your free profile, share an essay about your life, and help us change the world, one story at a time.

Past Student Writing Contests

 May 2013 national student writing contest

May 2013 national writing contest for students

May 2013 National Writing Contest:  Share a Special Memory of Your Mom, Grandmother, or Important Woman in Your Life?


Writing Contest Details:  It's May, and we're honoring Moms and Grandmothers this month.  So we're asking students to take ten minutes to respond to our writing prompt: "Share a Special Memory of Your Mother or Grandmother." 

Simple.  Yet Powerful. 

We want to hear a special memory about an important woman in your life.  Get details and enter the FREE Stage of Life national writing contest to share your voice with the world...


StageofLife.com student writing contest
 
Writing Contest for Teens on StageofLife.com 

April 2013 National Writing Contest:  What Current National or International News Story Do You Think More Teens and College Students Should Care About, and Why?


Writing Contest Details:  There is a LOT going on in the news.  For instance, the day we posted this April 2013 monthly writing contest, we saw headlines for news stories on the following topics...

Nuclear armed North Korea's aggressive militaristic talk, North Dakota passes most restrictive abortion bill in US history, US Supreme Court debates gay marriage, Cyprus Banks and Economic issues in the Euro Zone, Pope includes women for first time in Holy Thursday rite, US Senate group resolves key immigration issues to move ahead with overhaul of US immigration policy, China's losing battle against polluters, Obama makes impassioned plea for gun control legislation, NCAA Basketball Tournament enters Final 4, Obamacare...and many others.

Keeping these news headlines (and others you may have recently read, seen, or heard in mind), our question this month was..."What current news story or event should teens and college students care about...and why?"

THIS CONTEST IS BEING JUDGED

 
Writing Contest for Teens - StageofLife.com 

March 2013 National Writing Contest:  When have you applied the phrase "No Fear" in your life?


Writing Contest Details:  Every teenager or college students has fears.  Some are things you can touch, like snakes.  Some are situations you want to avoid, like public speaking or test taking.  Some come from childhood stories, like ghosts or monsters.  And some fears are things that unfortunately find us, like terrorism, natural disasters, or cancer.  

However, we can't live in the shadows of our fears everyday.  To do so would dishonor the act of living.

So this month, the Stage of Life national writing contest prompt is simple:  "As a teen or college student, how have you applied the phrase "No Fear" in your life?"

Teens and Fear - StageofLife.com student writing contest

 
 Student Writing Contest - Favorite TV Shows February 2013 National Writing Contest:  Why Can't You Turn Away From Your Favorite TV Show?

Writing Contest Details:  It's winter, and we're in the middle of a new season of TV programming (as most of you know who have been fervently waiting for your favorite shows to begin again).

For good or bad, people everywhere are spending more time indoors right now, plopped down in front of the warm glow of their favorite television shows.  Glee.  Breaking Bad.  Mad Men.  The Bachelor.  The Super Bowl.  American Idol.  Boardwalk Empire.  Nashville.  Survivor.  Downton Abby.  Homeland.  Modern Family.  And the list goes on.

Whether you love Golden Globe nominated TV programming found on the cable channels or the popular reality TV series found on all of the major networks, we want to know what one TV show makes you stop in your tracks, put on your cozy clothes, and jump up on the couch for 30-60 minutes of "me" time.


Teens and TV - StageofLife.com student writing contest

 
Gun Rights vs. Gun Control - Where do we go after Newtown? 

January 2013 National Writing Contest:  Where do we go after Newtown?

Writing Contest Details: What solutions, if any, would you propose to Congress, parents, school officials, gun advocacy groups, or the NRA after the tragic event in Newtown this last December? 

Or, on a more emotional level, how do you simply feel about this event and what changes, if any, did it make in you?

And for everyone...where do we go from here??

View our Writing Contest Summary on Teens and Guns.

Teens and Guns - StageofLife.com student writing contest

 
Teens and Body Image
 

December 2012 Writing Contest:  How will you be the change in 2013?


Writing Contest Details:  In looking towards 2013, we want to hear how you will "be the change." This open-ended writing contest question can be addressed in a 500-word essay in one of three ways:

1.  On a philosophical level, what needs to be changed in 2013 in your community, city, state, country or the world?

2.  Or...on a personal level, what will you do to make a change in yourself in 2013?

3.  Or...how have you already helped change the world and how can you spread your message to others in 2013?

As a part of this month's topic, we're also asking teens in our national survey how they feel about one very important "change" topic...body image.

View Summary Report:  Teens and Body Image - Be the Change

StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teens and Body Image

 
 

November 2012 Writing Contest:  What was the most inspirational or important book you've ever read?

Writing Contest Details:  After years of asking teens to submit personal, inspirational essays about everything from their favorite songs to their favorite movies, surprisingly, we never asked students to write an essay about their favorite book.

For those of you familiar with StageofLife.com, you know we're one of the nation's leading digital literacy initiatives.  So it's about time we celebrate one of the foundations of literacy itself... books!

We're asking high school and college students to share a 500 word essay about their favorite book and how and why it made an impact on their life.

View Summary Report:  Teens and Books

StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teens, Books and Literacy


 
 StageofLife.com student writing contest - Sports and Family

October 2012:  SPORTS & FAMILY - How have sports positively (or negatively) shaped traditions in your family?

Writing Contest Details:  The month of October is rife with professional sports.  The World Series is played this month, along with college football, NFL football, NASCAR and NHL hockey seasons all being in full swing...not to mention the NBA basketball season starting too.

This led us to wonder how sports (American or International) play a role in forming family traditions (positively or negatively), so we're asking high school and college students to share a 500 word essay about the impact of sports as it relates to their family traditions.

View Summary Report:  Teens and Sports

StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teens and Sports

 
Political essay teen writing contest - StageofLife.com

September 2012:  POLITICS & PASSION - Share a story about what one political issue is most important to you in the upcoming U.S. Presidential election.

Writing Contest Details:  With the U.S. presidential election coming up in November, our student writing contest this month asks teens and college students to share a personal essay on the current state of the union, and in particular, what one issue is the most important topic for you in the upcoming U.S. Presidential election.

We call this important issue your "passion issue."

Other components of the writing prompt also ask you to share if your parents' political viewpoints have made an impact on yours and which Presidential Candidate is best suited to make the lives of teens and college students better over the next four years.

View Summary Report:  Teens and Politics

StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teens and Politics

 
Stage of Life writing contest - teens and music 

July & August 2012:  MUSIC - Share a story of a song that played an important role during a unique time in your life.

Writing Contest Details:  Music plays an integral role in our lives.  There was the song that was playing in the background during that last slow dance on your first prom.  The song you listened to over and over after your first break-up.  Or the song you and your friends belted out at the top of your lungs one summer night around a campfire.

We all have stories tied to songs that have become a part of who we are, thanks to those songs playing in the background during key moments and milestones of our lives.

For our July and August writing contest, we want you to share a 300-500 word essay about how a particular song impacted you during an important time in your life.

View Summary Report:  Teens and Music

StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teens and Music

 
 

June 2012:  NATURE - How has nature inspired you?

Writing Contest Details:  With summer upon us, students will find themselves out of school...and outside!  Or...will they?

According to Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, today's children (and adults) are deprived of a basic necessity we have as humans...to connect with the outdoors.  Louv labels this phenomenon (that many saw happening but couldn't quite articulate): "nature-deficit disorder."

Between jobs, Facebook, online gaming, or bad weather, many teens will forgo opportunities to feel the grass beneath their toes, to breath in a summer breeze, to let sun touch their skin, and to otherwise connect with the planet around them.

But we know that can't be the case for everyone...can it?  Are we all experiencing nature-deficit?

How has nature inspired you?

View Summary Report: 
Teens and Nature

StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teens and Nature

 
 National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month May 2012:  TEEN PREGNANCY - What do you attribute to the decline of teen pregnancies?

Writing Contest Details:  According to the latest teen pregnancy statistics from the CDC, U.S. teen birth rates are at an all time low.  But the last report still showed a total of 367,752 babies were born to teen girls aged 15–19.  In honor of May being National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, we want to hear from teens and college students about why they think teen pregnancies are dropping.

What's the reason?  What's happening at your school or with your friends or in your community

VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  Teen Pregnancy Prevention

StageofLife.com Teen Trends: Teen Pregnancy Prevention

 
 High School Writing Contest  

April 2012:  MOVIES - What movie has made the biggest difference in your life?

Writing Contest Details:  In honor of the hottest student movie ticket in town right now, "The Hunger Games" (based off the YA fiction novel of the same title by Suzanne Collins), we wanted to find out what films speak to teens and college students.

Which movies inspire you? 

VIEW SUMMARY REPORT: Teens and Movies

Teen Trends: Movies

 
 Poetry Writing Contest

March 2012:  POETRY - Dedicate a Poem to Someone Who Matters

Writing Contest Details: In preparation for April’s National Poetry Writing Month, we are asking teens and college students to write a poem in dedication to someone who matters in their life.  Whether it is a family member, friend, teacher, celebrity or kind stranger, write an original poem about what that person means to you. 

VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  Teen Poems

Teen Trends: Poetry

 
Love Writing Contest 

February 2012:  LOVE - What's Your Definition of Love?

    Writing Contest Details:  Teens and college students find themselves in an on-going dance as they court, woo, avoid, or try to win the romantic affections or attention of someone they like, admire...love.

    Consider these famous quotes about love...

    • "If you have it [love], you don't need to have anything else. If you don't have it, it doesn't matter much what else you have" --James M Barrie
    • "All we need is love."  --John Lennon
    • "Young love is a flame; very pretty, often very hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart is as coals, deep-burning, unquenchable."  --Henry Ward Beecher
    • "Love is like pi -- natural, irrational, and very important." --Lisa Hoffman
    • "For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.   I can live without money, but I cannot live without love."  --Judy Garland
    • "Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love."  --Albert Einstein
    • "If you can't be with one you love, love the one you're with."  --Stephen Stills

    It goes without saying that love can be either the happiest emotion or most tragic.  Just look at your parents.  Your grandparents.  Romeo and Juliet.  Or Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries.  From happy to tragic to absurd, love runs the gamut.  But these platitudes are all relative, because love will always be different for everyone.  How can we pin down a definition of love?

    VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens think of love...

    Teen Trends: Love

     
    Person to Watch Writing Contest 

    January 2012:  Person to Watch in 2012?

      Writing Contest Details:  Last month, TIME magazine named "The Protestor" their Person of the Year for 2011.  That got us thinking...okay, but who is the person to watch in 2012? 

      So, in looking back at the last 12 months and considering the future, who would you nominate as the Person to Watch for 2012, and why? 

      Whether it's a celebrity, an innovator, a politician, a cultural icon, an up-and-coming artist, a rising star or someone more personal in your life, we want to hear, in 500 words or less, who your Person to Watch for 2012 would be.

      VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See who teens chose as the Person to Watch in 2012

      Teen Trends: 2012 Person to Watch

       
       High School Writing Contest

      November & December 2011: AWARENESS - What issue or cause should receive its own "awareness" month?

      • "There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.” -Winston Churchill
      • “The time is always right to do what is right.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
      • “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mohatma Ghandi

        Details:  We saw NFL players wearing pink throughout October in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month.  We will pay tribute to the role of African-Americans throughout February during Black History month.  Now think about the topics on which you're passionate, and share your thoughts on a single issue or cause that should receive its own awareness month. 

        In your essay, please creatively tell us...

        • Is this a local, regional, national, international or planetary issue?
        • Why is this issue important?
        • Who does the issue impact?
        • How could the message be spread?
        • Are there any organizations, companies or blogs currently trying to make a difference to increase awareness on this issue?

        VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens wrote about awareness

        Teen Trends: Awareness Issues

         
         High School Writing Contest

        October 2011:  TRUST & SAFETY - Do you trust our institutions to keep us safe?

          Details: As we look ahead to Halloween, there are scarier things than ghosts and goblins in the lives of today's teenagers and college students. 

          For instance, from a historical perspective, Baby Boomers grew up living under the threat of nuclear Armageddon, complete with classroom drills to hide under their desks in the case of nuclear attack.  However, today's teenagers and college students have been growing up in their own unique time: 

          • The threat of internet predators, cyber-bullying, and other online dangers.
          • The threat of school shootings and lock-downs.
          • The threat of terrorism.

          How do you, as a student, feel about these threats, and do you have trust in your parents, school or government (the major institutions around you) to keep you safe?

          VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens wrote about trust and safety

          Teen Trends: Trust & Safetey

           
           High School Writing Contest

          September 2011:  EDUCATION - Teacher Appreciation essays

            Details:  It's the big back in school month.  You're either loving it, hating it, or experiencing a mixture of both.   In fact, some of you may already be waiting for final bell to ring (even if it's only 9:45am).  However, no matter how this year is starting out (good or bad), we know that there have been certain teachers and classes in the past that stand out in your mind...

            This month, think back to a favorite class or educator (teacher/coach/director/principal).  Whether it was their attitude, the way they taught, or a life lesson you learned from their class/sport/activity, how did this person make a positive impact in your life?

            VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens wrote about their teachers.

            Teen Trends: Teacher Appreciation

             
             

            August 2011:  SELF-REFLECTION - Letter to Me

              Details:  We want you to write a letter to yourself.  Yes, you heard us...a letter to yourself.  Take 15 minutes, alone, and spend some time thinking about the upcoming school year.  Think about the things you want to accomplish.  The things you fear.  Think about where you've been and where you're going.  Think about how your summer has been going.   What are you looking forward to?  What are you dreading about the return to school?  Think about your goals.  Think about if you're looking to make a big change this year...or simply survive? 

              After all of that thinking, now write a "Letter to Me."  This is a letter addressed to yourself.  Tackle some of the topics we've outlined above...or get creative and come up with your own original angle for the letter.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens had to write to themselves in our "Letter Me" writing prompt

              Teen Trends: Letter to Me

               
               

              July 2011:  BULLYING - Have you ever been bullied, teased, or picked on? If so, about what?

              Details: Whatever you want to call it, bullying is a problem in many schools and continues to be a hot topic in the national press.  We've know many students experienced some form of bullying during high school.

              Our writing contest question this month asks teens and college students to share their stories about being bullied or about being the bully. The student is then asked to write a short essay about that experience.

              Were you once a bully who regrets it now?  Share your experiences with us and help prevent students from bullying others.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens shared about being bullied.

              Teen Trends: Bullying

               
               Teen Trends - Parent Interview Writing Contest

              June 2011:  PARENTS - What is one thing you don't know about your Mother or Father?

              Teen Trends:  How well do teens really know their parents?

              Our writing contest question this month asks teens and college students to interview their parents and ask them to share ONE thing about themselves their son/daughter doesn't already know.  The student is then asked to write a short essay about that experience.

              Did you learn something that shaped the way you think about your parent?  We call this contest the "Parent Paradigm Shift."
               

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what teens learned about their parents...

              Teen Trends: Parent Relationships

               

              May 2011:  OBSTACLES - What was the most difficult thing you overcame this school year?

              Teen Trends:  What major obstacles stood in the way this school year?

              From friends to family to graduation to grades to self esteem, teens go through a lot in a school year.  Tell us about one area or experience that caused you the most trouble, but that you were eventually able to overcome.

              Help inspire another high school student to gain some courage to tackle or navigate their problem by sharing your experience.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See what challenges teenagers face today...  

              Teen Trends: Challenges

               
               Teen Writing Contest about Prom

              April 2011:  PROM - Is prom a positive or negative teen tradition?

              Teen Trends: How do teens feel about prom?

              Going to prom is a high school milestone, and prom traditions have been around for decades.  Dresses.  Dinner. DJ's.  Dancing.  For most teenagers, it's about celebrating life with friends and/or a significant other.  However, we've all heard the "negative" aspects often associated with prom too.  Drinking.  Drugs.  DUI's.  Damaged self-esteem.  Date rape.  So we want to know - is prom a positive or negative milestone.  

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about prom...

              Teen Trends: Prom

               
              Teen Trends and the Media

              March 2011:  MEDIA - What form of media impacts your life the most, and why?

              Teen Trends: How do teens feel about the media?

              The "media" is an undeniably powerful entity in our daily lives, and even more invasive for teens and college students, a generation growing up with more forms of media choices than any other generation before them.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about the media...

              Teen Trends: Media

               
              Writing Contest for Teens about Marriage

              February 2011:  MARRIAGE - What is the value of marriage?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about marriage?

              This contest came out in February 2011.  The month of love.  Valentine's Day sits right in the middle of this month and helps (or in some cases forces) all of us to pay homage to the idea of romance...love. We got little controversial this month and asked teens to share their point of view on marriage.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about marriage...

               
              Writing Contest for Teens about Making the World a Better Place

              January 2011:  MAKE A DIFFERENCE - What organization, company, non-profit or 'cause' will help make the world a better place?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens want to better the world?

              Our mission on StageofLife.com is to help change the world, one story at a time.  What a better way to do that than to ask teens and college students about worthwhile causes we should all know about.  This was an opportunity for teens to shed light and share with us their favorite non-profit, company, organization or 'cause' that could help make the world a better place.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about making the world a better place...

               
              Writing Contest for High School Students about Money

              December 2010:  MONEY - What is your relationship with money?  How do you spend (or save)...and why?

              Teen Trends: How do teens feel about money?

              Money....Cash.  Coin.  Greenbacks.  Pesos.  Gravy.  Deniro.  KaChing.  Moola.  So we're curious...how do teens and college students feel about money?  Whether the student knew a homeless teen or has a friend living in the penthouse, we wanted to know about their relationship with the almighty dollar.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens feel about money...

              Teen Trends: Money

               
              Writing Contest for Teenagers

              November 2010:  GIVING THANKS - What are you most thankful for?

              Teen Trends: What are teens grateful for?

              This writing contest rolled out in November 2010.  We all get busy during the day-to-day routine of our lives, but it's important to stop once in while and reflect on what matters most, and to give thanks for that.  Keeping that in mind, we wanted to hear from teens about who or what, in their lives right now, should receive public acknowledgment of their thanks.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See for who and what teens are thankful...

              Teen Trends: Thanksgiving

               
              Writing Contest about Stress and Teens

              October 2010: TEEN STRESS -  What stresses you out, and how do you cope with that stress?

              Teen Trends: How do students deal with stress?

              From classes to homework to jobs to extra curricular activities to social outings, teens and college students are maintaining hectic schedules.  Add on top of that any current relationship hardships, social issues, e.g. bullying, illnesses or other personal problems and it's not surprising that many young people feel...stressed.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens deal with stress...

              Teens and Stress

              .

               
              Who Is Your Hero?

              September 2010:  HEROES - Who is your hero?

              Teen Trends:  Who would a teenager name as their hero?

              We wanted to talk about heroes, both big and small, with high school and college students.  We asked teens to name their hero, it could be a family member, someone famous, or an everyday person in their lives who is quietly making a difference, and then write a 500 word essay about that hero.  You'll love these responses.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See who teens nominated as their heroes...

              Teen Heroes

               
              How Would Teens Improve Education?

              August 2010: EDUCATION - What suggestion(s) do you have to make a positive change at your school or with the educational system as a whole?

              Teen Trends: How would teens improve education?

              We wanted to know how students were perceiving their educations, educational environments at their high schools, colleges and universities and the overall trends in education.  We asked the teens for ideas on how to improve the educational environment.

              VIEW SUMMARY REPORT:  See how teens would improve the educational system...

              Teens and Education

               
               Writing Contest for Teens about Food

              July 2010: FOOD - Do we have an obligation to take better care of ourselves by making changes in the way we eat and/or buy and consume food?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about food, obesity and nutrition?

              TV shows like NBC's Biggest Loser are big hits and books like Michael Pollan's Food Rules are flying off the shelves.  Even film documentaries like Food, Inc. and Super Size Me have pushed into the mainstream consciousness.  It goes without saying a tipping point is occurring in our society's awareness in regards to people's relationship with food.  Obesity in America is reaching an epidemic...but are people ready or really willing to change?  Is our addiction to unhealthy food too hard to break?

              See how teens feel about food, obesity and nutrition...[this summary report is being pulled from the essay archive for posting here soon]

               
               Writing Contest for High School Students about College

              June 2010: COLLEGE - What is the most difficult thing (for you) about college?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about college?

              We want to know what's making the college process or college itself difficult and why.  Financial aid?  Application process?  Juggling classes and work? What is making college difficult?  This contest was held in partnership with "Take America to College" initiative.

              See how teens feel about college...[this summary report is being pulled from the essay archive for posting here soon]

               
               Writing Contest for Teens about the Environment

              May 2010: ENVIRONMENT - What is one behavior you can either change or incorporate into your daily life that will reduce our negative impact on the environment?

              Teen Trends:  How do teens feel about the environment?

              The negative environmental impact and tragedy of lives lost from the BP off-shore oil rig disaster was obvious.  What we wanted from our high school and college students entering this month's writing contest was not their outrage about how this could have happened, but rather, share one solution (big or small) that can help combat man's ever-reaching environmental impact.

              See how teens feel about helping the environment...[this summary report is being pulled from the essay archive for posting here soon]

              Find Us on Facebook      Follow Us on Twitter     Read our Founder's Blog

              StageofLife.com is an education-based, grassroots, non-partisan, free blogging community with a mission support digital literacy by making the world a better place, one story, essay and blog at a time.  Stage of Life users (teens, college students, Millennials, Gen Y, Gen X, and Baby Boomers) can share and archive their life stories via their Stage of Life profile page and specialized content includes digital literacy resources, lesson plans and writing prompts for Language Arts teachers and other writing educators, monthly writing contests for high school students and older generations, student blogging initiatives, blog directories, and financial literacy tools, including Life Rewards® - a free discount program for all Stage of Life users, readers and writers dedicated to providing printable coupons and coupon codes tailored towards each stage of life.

              Terms of Service and Privacy