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Christian Youth Church isn't the only place to meet other Christian teenagers. Young people from around the world are using Usenet for ongoing discussion. On the Web, you'll find more forums as well as a variety of Christian-oriented teen resources. Web:
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Cool Science Do you like science? Do you think it's fun to experiment with stuff, see what happens, and then try to explain it by making up a theory? I bet you'd like some science projects that are fun. For example, you may not realize it, but right this very minute there's DNA in your fridge. (Don't tell your mother.) In fact, your kitchen may hold the tools you need to start becoming a scientist. These Web sites have directions for various fun science projects, some of which you can do at home. (By the way, DNA -- deoxyribonucleic acid -- is the substance used within cells to store the information needed by the cell to reproduce and to carry out many of its functions.) Web:
Girl Stuff So you want to be popular, you want to be cool, you want the guys to notice you, and you want to fit in. Well, there are three things you can do. You can hang out with other girls at the mall, you can IM your friends and talk all night, or you can check out these resources that are just for teenage girls. (As I am sure your parents have told you, growing up is all about making the right choices.) Web:
Girl's Health As you grow up, you are going to have various health questions that are specific to girls. When you do, check with these Web sites, where you will find important information that can help you. They cover such topics as periods, changes to your body as you grow, eating, exercise and medical problems. Web:
Marijuana Facts As illegal drugs go, marijuana seems relatively benign, but, as with any drug that affects your mind, you should have the facts. Long-term marijuana use can sap your ambition and significantly decrease your success in life. (I have seen it happen to more than one person.) Moreover, the more you get stoned, the more you make tiny changes to your brain that, eventually, become irreversible. Web:
Meeting Teens on the Net As you know, teenagers all around the world are using the Internet. Maybe you would like to meet some of them and perhaps find a penpal. Hints: (1) Don't give out too much personal information (such as your address or phone number). (2) If you make a friend on the Net and you decide to meet in person, do not go alone. Take a friend or have an adult along. Web:
Preparing for College Going to college is absolutely the best thing you can do to prepare yourself for having a successful life. People like to remind you that it is easier to get a good job when you have a college degree. That's true, but there is a lot more to it than that. When you go to college you will train your mind for (at least) four years, and that training will help you for the rest of your life. At the same time, you will learn a lot, and the more you know, the better. Even subjects that seem irrelevant now have a way of becoming useful later in life. Finally, college is an important social experience. You'll meet many new people and make new friends. But most important, you will have a lot of fun -- something your high school guidance counselor may forget to mention. So go to college. Now that we have that settled, here are some Internet resources to help you prepare, choose and apply. Web:
Straight-Edge Straight-edge (usually abbreviated as sXe) is a practical way of living that was an offshoot of the punk rock scenes of the early 1980s. Originally, sXe was a philosophy based on the simple tenets of having fun -- especially at loud volume -- but no drugs, no smoking and no promiscuous sex. Since then, sXe has grown and evolved. There have been many sXe bands around the world as well as countless teenagers and young adults who have adopted a sXe lifestyle. Some people have extended the definition of the word sXe to being a vegetarian and becoming involved in social issues such as environmentalism. In general, the sXe lifestyle varies from person to person and place to place, but what it always seems to have in common is the belief that it's possible to lead a clean, wholesome life and still have a lot of fun (at loud volume). Web:
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Teen Chatting The great thing about working on the computer and saying it's a school project is that when you are grounded and you can't leave the house, you can still talk to kids your own age and have fun. There are lots of special chat areas just for people your age. Pick the one that is appropriate and talk all night long (or until you have to go back to doing your homework). Web:
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Teen Dating As a teenager, you can have a lot of fun dating. You can also have problems, so if you need a bit of help, you can turn to the Net for advice and information. If you are not yet dating (and remember, there is no hurry), this information can help you get started comfortably. Web:
Teen Driving Tips Driving can be a lot of fun, especially when you can drive well. Here are some tips for new drivers. Read the hints for driving to school, around town and in the country. Learn about driving in bad weather, when to pass (and when not to), fatigue and buying a used car. Note: This Web site was created by a teenager who is a new driver. He did a good job: the tips are great. (Hint: This is a good place to show your parents when they ask why you spend so much time on the Net.) Web:
Teen Movie Critic Remember the last time you went to a movie theater, and you sat behind a mouthy young teenage girl who couldn't stop talking during the show, and, on the way out, explained to her friends and everyone within earshot just what was wrong with the movie, the actors, the director, the music and the popcorn? Well, here she is again, alive and well on the Net. Web:
Teen Places There are a lot of Web sites on the Internet constructed for teenagers by well-meaning teachers and parents, and I can tell you, in two words, what these sites are like: bor ing. Here, then, are some Web sites I think you'll really like. You'll find chat rooms, news, art, advice and things to read, as well as information about movies, music, jobs, travel and sports. You'll also have a chance to meet people and make new friends. Web:
Teen Resources If you are a teenager, the last thing you want to do is listen to me giving you advice. So, instead, I'll just point you to some interesting teen-oriented Web sites. You're on your own. (Of course, if you really do need advice, I'll be glad to help...) Web:
Teen Talk and General Discussion Here are some lively places where teenagers can write about anything they want. The traffic is high, and there are a lot of diverse opinions as well as some thoughtful messages. This is a great place for you to meet other kids, and to let everyone else know what you think. Usenet:
Teenage Literature Sometimes, someone will do something that turns out to be one of the biggest favors anyone ever did for you, but you don't realize it till years later. I still remember the day (I was in high school at the time) when I was standing in the library next to my friend Joe. (Joe was the Smartest Person in the School.) "Joe, I need something good to read," I said. "Can you recommend something?". He went to the shelf and pulled off a book by P.G. Wodehouse. "Try this," he said, so I did. Now, over 30 years later, I have a large collection of Wodehouse books, many of which I have read and reread several times. Perhaps, in these lists of book recommendations, you'll find something that will change your life. (If not, try anything by P.G. Wodehouse.) Web:
ThinkQuest ThinkQuest is a collection of Internet-based activities for teenagers, in which kids work with other people (including teachers) to create Web-based learning material. Although it sounds dull, ThinkQuest is actually a cool thing to do. Unlike most teenage activities created by adults, this one is actually a lot of fun. Web: Volunteering for Teenagers Many young people would like to volunteer within their community, but they don't know where to go. If this is true for you, the Net can help. Volunteering is good for just about everyone, especially for teenagers. If you are a teenager, you probably know that it is easy to be a bit too concerned with your own problems. By helping someone else, you change the emphasis of your life (at least for a few hours a week) from your own concerns to those of others. In the long run, volunteering will help you learn about human nature and build character. In the short run, you'll have fun. So why not give it a try? Web:
Young Investors and Entrepreneurs Every day you make decisions. Some are unimportant ("Which cereal should I eat?"), while others are very important ("What college should I go to?"). Learning how to make decisions well is an important part of life, and nowhere is it more important than when it comes to money. If you practice financial decision-making when you are young, it will help you a lot when you become old (that is, over 25). Here are some Web sites that will help you learn how to invest money or start your own business. In general, I encourage you to spend your youth having fun (while you are educating yourself). However, I do recommend that you spend some time learning about how money works, and how you can make it work for you. Web:
Young Writers So you want to be a writer. Good. My advice is to practice every day, and stick with it no matter what. I can't guarantee that writing a lot will make you intelligent, good-looking, successful and adorable. All I can say is it worked for me. Web:
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