I was a little stressed about going through everything. I mean, who wants to throw away memories? But I also knew I couldn’t keep that many boxes at my parents’ house anymore. They laid down the law and said I could keep one box. From fifteen to one. So…I started organizing. A big trash bag at my side, I rifled through my past for hours. And hours. And hours. It takes a LONG time to go through that much stuff. But you know what? It was kind of fun. I had to share some of the goodies from my trash/treasure hunt. I found a note from my friend Jake in 10th grade (something I’m sure he wrote while trying to avoid paying attention in chemistry) and I laughed for ten minutes after reading it. The note says it all:

Then, I found a picture from senior prom. I will say I am about the palest human being on the planet but my family had just gotten home from an awesome beach vacation so I look really tan.

And I found all of my student IDs. These were like hitting the jackpot. You can see how I changed from 8th to 12th grade (except Junior year – my wallet was stolen in 11th grade so that student ID is long gone). Talk about a trip down memory lane.

8th Grade (The year my family moved to Salt Lake City from Bellevue, Washington. That was a HARD, hard year for me.)

9th Grade (Braces off, yay!)

10th Grade (Finally in high school – the 3 year Junior High thing was kind of torture.)

12th Grade (Senior year, ready for the next step at college, but I definitely have good memories of this year.)

]]> http://sarahburningham.com/2011/01/going-back-to-high-school-in-boxes/feed/ 4 http://sarahburningham.com/2010/01/dear-sarah-the-pressure-to-be-beautiful-is-too-much/ http://sarahburningham.com/2010/01/dear-sarah-the-pressure-to-be-beautiful-is-too-much/#comments Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:26:07 +0000 Sarah B http://sarahburningham.com/?p=804 Dear Sarah,
For a long time I really didn’t think I was pretty. In fact, I thought I was really ugly, and I had really low self-esteem. For a while I didn’t really think about it all that much, but now it keeps replaying in my head. I feel as if none of the boys are interested in me, and none of them find me attractive. I’m going to be a freshman in high school next year and I really would like to meet a great guy and have a boyfriend, but where do I start??? And what can I do to feel better about my appearance?

Dear Reader,
I’m so glad you asked this question. So many of the girls I know have felt exactly like this. There’s a lot of pressure to look a certain way and if you don’t, you might feel unattractive. The truth is, and I know this sounds cheesy (but it’s true!), beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.

The first step to feeling good about how you look is finding, and playing up, what makes you beautiful. My friend (and favorite makeup artist, Carmindy) calls this “feature focus.” Take a step back from the mirror. Think about your favorite feature. Maybe it’s your big eyes or your soft hands or the fact that you don’t have to flat-iron your hair when you want to wear it straight. Now, what can you do to emphasize this favorite part? Maybe some simple mascara or a manicure will make it pop. I’m not into a lot of makeup (and most guys aren’t either!) but sometimes a little something can give you that extra oomph you need and help boost your confidence. And remember that beauty comes from within, too. The fact that you can play Beethoven’s entire 5th Symphony on the piano or can do Beyonce’s “put a ring on it” dance, makes you beautiful.

Now, about the guys. Self-confidence is contagious. People want to be around those who make them feel good about themselves. And part of having self-confidence around other people is to not think so much about how you look. You won’t hear a really funny joke if you’re focused on whether or not your lipgloss is the right color. Try to enjoy the moment. You’ll have more fun and the guys you meet will, too!

xxx
Sarah

And when you need a little reminder of what beauty really is, re-watch this Dove video on the distorted view of beauty in magazines:

“My daughter is willing to bag groceries, but only at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. She wouldn’t mind selling clothes, but root around in a dusty storeroom for size 7 loafers? Never. In my neighborhood, I’m surrounded by kids who have grown up considering summertime leisure a birthright, and now find their parents unwilling or unable to fuel their cars or fund their lattes.”

Now, hold on a minute. I know what it’s like to have a particular job in mind. My first summer job was at a bookstore – my dream job! – but it took my a month of looking before they hired me. And I had looked everywhere, not just places I would like to work, but places I thought would hire me. Even the snow shack in the grocery store parking lot. (Apparently, I wasn’t qualified to make snow cones. I’m probably still not. I’m way too big of a klutz.)

But do you think teenagers are really being snobs? Or is it really just that hard to get a job these days? I tend to think our economic state is making it nearly impossible for even the most well-meaning, willing-to-do-anything teen to get some summer work. What do you think?

Oh, and if you’re looking for some more unconventional ways to fund your summer fun, check out this old post of mine on thrifty teens.

I find is particularly interesting that in this time of financial worry, there are so many articles on parents talking to their teens about money. It shows that money is a big concern for people right now and I think it's a good thing for you to learn some financial tricks now, because soon you'll be in college and at some point you will be faced with the decision how to spend the last $15 in your wallet–buying a book for a class or ordering pizza. (I was there more often than I like to admit and while I usually went for the book, I did order pizza a few times.) Here are my favorite articles and a few tidbits of advice from them:

• The Deseret News (Salt Lake City) this article is the best one I read…It says, a recent Charles "Schwab survey showed that 71 percent of parents think the best way for teens to learn about money is from guided, hands-on experience or from a parent's example, but few involve their teens in family budgeting and spending decisions. In fact, the survey said parents were more likely to teach their teens how to do laundry (70 percent) and how to cook (68 percent) than how to regularly save money (54 percent), how to budget money (49 percent) and how to pay bills (43 percent)." Basically, your parents want you to understand money but aren't giving you a real chance to learn about it. You should definitely be more involved, even if it's just by an occasional trip to the grocery store to see how much your fam's food costs.
• Omaha World-Herald has great advice that gives teens a little more control over what they're learning financially. "Give children the opportunity to make financial decisions with a little guidance at first, said Kay Kruger, a teacher at Gordon-Rushville High School." I love this because if you're earning money at a summer job or something, you should have a say in how you spend it. Not to mention, you're the one who's stuck penniless when the money's gone!
• The Statesman (in India! – even other country's are teaching their kids about cash) This article is all about pocket money and allowances and how much is enough. I'm fascinated that it's basically the same discussion as you would find in your hometown.
• The Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio) says to "involve your teenagers in devising a plan to save for their college fund." This is a good one because your parents probably talk to you so much about getting into a good college that you might as well look at not only what grades you have to have, but what kind of cash, when you're deciding where you really want to go. I mean, hey, you're involved in every other step of the college application process. Starting to create a financial plan should be part of it.

What's the best financial advice you're ever gotten? Are you good with money or does it burn holes in your pocket?

Anyway, I was thinking about the show and one of the best parts was watching Dave give the Top Ten List. That night it was the “Top Ten Signs You’re Watching a Bad Monster Movie” (Cloverfield has just come out and Dave didn’t recommend it.) Since then, I’ve been making all sorts of random top tens lists in my life. (Random fact, the way I got on to the school paper in high school was writing a top ten list of why they needed me. The faculty advisor loved it and I was on.) Anyway, since I’ve become a sort of top ten addict, I decided to write the top ten things I’m excited for this spring. Here goes:

1. Wearing flip flops. I love how havaianas are plastic but don’t cut into your skin.

2. Having the sun stay up later and later. Hello, 8:00pm walks home through the park!

3. Getting a little color on my cheeks. I’m super scared on skin cancer (this is the best fake tanner ever) but I love having just a touch of sun on my face. Right now I look like Casper’s big sister.

4. Free summer concerts in Central Park!

5. Going on my book tour!!

6. The fact that the new Indiana Jones movie is coming out on May 23rd! I love the first three. How could you not?

7. Sitting outside at cafes (it’s not Paris, but better than inside, don’t you think?)

8. Getting to pet all the little dogs that are walking around with their owners. I wish I could have a cute, fuzzy, little puppy.

9. How the month of May is usually the perfect temperature in New York! (The rest of the summer is pretty much sweltering hot and you sweat just standing there, so May is heaven.)

10. Jamie Lidell has a new album coming out at the end of April. Remember that Target TV commercial “a little bit more, a little bit more?” Can’t wait to see what Mr. Lidell has to offer this time around.