Or is it four years, or five decades, but definitely when
the polar bears start swimming to New York
The sea groans and rumbles
As waves upon waves of human trash clog her up
She sniffles amidst the crushing silence
Sea snot collects on her waves
History starts to crumble
Our oldest trees cut down
Nature groans and shakes
In a futile effort to stop the abuse
The planet prepares itself for destruction
The pain is unlike anything she has ever experienced before
Crops shrivel up in the infernos that run rampant across the landscape
Such displays are necessary to attract humanity’s short attention span
Animals feel nature’s anguish
They flee North
Until they cannot go any further
More lives snuffed out by humanity’s greed
The most vulnerable of the population suffer
Heat waves overwhelm the wounded, elderly, and sick
Surely we did not mean to wage warfare on the defenseless
But it is only a matter of time before conditions deteriorate further
Schoolchildren sullenly trudge across the parched land
The sky turns black as clouds suddenly gather
They look up, hopeful for the touch of the fabled snowflake
Warm rain drizzles, then the omnipresent sun returns
In some places floods wash away human remains
Our ancestors disturbed by Nature’s wrath
They weep as they behold the desolate world around them
For the fate of the next generation
Art and Poem by Daniel Liu, age 16, New York.
Daniel Liu adds: “I am a sixteen year old writer that lives in New York. I am very passionate about the issue of climate change, as it is an enduring issue that grows ever larger with each generation and is deserving of attention from all of society. These poems are a testament to the various consequences of climate change in every aspect of society, from agriculture to insurance. To this extent, I hope that these poems are enough to inspire a sense of alarm for the Earth’s future, but just as importantly, hope that humanity can unify in order to reverse the ecological damage that has been done. It is in times of great crisis that innovation and change are at their peak, and humanity’s resilience is shown through our uplifting moments.”
The desperate family feels the vicious sting of betrayal
When Insurance blacklists the entire zip code
Businessmen reassure themselves of their morality
Accepting this debt will only cause their bankruptcy
But what of
The newborn baby, still fresh from the womb
The elderly grandparents, who have worked decades to afford the house
The first casualties of the consequences of the war humans wage on the planet
How long must the injustice go on
How many icebergs must melt
The gushing stream of the Earth’s blood
Will overwhelm us if change is not forthcoming
Art and poem by Daniel Liu, age 16, New York.
Daniel Liu adds:
“I am a sixteen year old writer that lives in New York. I am very passionate about the issue of climate change, as it is an enduring issue that grows ever larger with each generation and is deserving of attention from all of society. These poems are a testament to the various consequences of climate change in every aspect of society, from agriculture to insurance. To this extent, I hope that these poems are enough to inspire a sense of alarm for the Earth’s future, but just as importantly, hope that humanity can unify in order to reverse the ecological damage that has been done. It is in times of great crisis that innovation and change are at their peak, and humanity’s resilience is shown through our uplifting moments.”
Threats, not peace Threats of creating what we fear most—a Third World tragedy Threats of cutting the strings that connect us all together Threats of destroying people’s land People’s territory
Forget about peace Why doesn’t peace ever show up? Why is humanity always one step from falling off the steepest cliff? Why do we sabotage ourselves and ruin others? Why does publicity break us down?
Fake news Exaggerated news REAL news This news is very real This news disrupts all peace that ever could be
So, what are we supposed to do? Fight? That’s not peace Do we cut them off from the world? And risk getting cut off too? Definitely, not peace
Why should we even save them? What have they done for us? If we throw the lifesaver to them in the deep water We could drown instead, sink straight to the bottom
But humans should save each other Give them air Bring them to the surface Save them from their greatest fears
It’s our job as human beings To let our humanity show And to try to have peace on Earth Because peace unites us all as one
Imagine that a young girl, with a normal life, has just come out as a part of the LGBTQ+ community to her classmates. That girl’s life has just changed because she has discovered something new about herself, but the needed support from her peers is nowhere to be seen. The classmates who don’t understand, give her weird looks, the classmates that do, sit in silence. Even the teacher is confused because that teacher was never taught about what LGBTQ+ means. Because of all this, the girl who expected support from her friends is left in awkward silence, feeling like she isn’t normal. LGBTQ+ is a community of people who have a gender or sexuality that is different from what people think of as normal. Plenty of people know this but a lot are unaware. This leads us to the question, should LGBTQ+ be taught in schools? Yes, definitely! There would be less bullying and happier students that are more prepared for the real world if we teach LGBTQ+ in schools!
My first reason is that there would be less bullying if kids learn that being LGBTQ+ is normal at a young age. According to StopBullying.gov 32% of bullying is directed towards kids that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Kids make fun of what they don’t understand so if they already know about LGBTQ+ then much less bullying would take place. If less bullying took place, it could also lead to better student grades and attendance rates. Because of school bullying, kids get anxiety which causes a lot of stress. All this stress can lead to lower grades. Also these LGBTQ+ bullies can cause kids to fake sickness or stay home just to avoid school. School should be a safe place to learn and have fun, and a student should never have to wake up with fear of going there.
Another reason is that if we teach LGBTQ+ in schools, it helps kids come out of their shells faster which makes students feel more comfortable, not just in school, but anywhere! Many kids suffer from wondering about their genders and not knowing can cause a lot of stress. Some students know that they are not comfortable with their assigned gender from birth, but they don’t know what that means. Thoughts such as “Do I like being a he/him or should I be a she/her or a they/them or maybe none of them? I don’t understand all of these pronouns!” go through some students’ heads every day. If it was taught in school they could understand more and know that they have support from teachers and their peers. Also it could make it so much easier for a kid to come out if their peers already knew what LGBTQ+ means. A kid shouldn’t be forced to keep explaining what their pronouns mean or what their sexuality means. If kids already knew then all these questions wouldn’t have to be asked.
Lastly, LGBTQ+ should be normalized so students can be more prepared. When a kid is young they are more impressionable so it’s best to normalize the LGBTQ+ community at elementary school ages. For example, most kids grow up with “boy” and “girl” being the only two genders and only boys and girls date each other, but when they grow up into the real world, they are going to be very surprised There are many pronouns people can use and anybody can date anybody. Schools are meant to teach students and prepare them for the real world so normalizing the community should be one of the priorities.
Although some religions might go against the LGBTQ+ community, kids have the right to learn about it. I know certain religions state that a member of the religion cannot be a part of the LGBTQ+ community but that doesn’t mean they can’t support it. Of course schools should never force someone to do anything that goes against their religion, but learning and supporting the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t make you a part of it. Also if parents truly refuse to let their children learn about LGBTQ+ for religious reasons they can always put them in a private or religious school. Even if religion is the reason a few parents wouldn’t want their child learning about the LGBTQ+ community, that’s not an excuse not to teach it. When it’s taught you will have happier students who are bullied less and are more prepared for the real world.
This community is constantly growing and more and more people are feeling comfortable with expressing their true colors. The world is changing so, don’t you think it’s time schools changed too? Schools would benefit so much from teaching students about the LGBTQ+ . If you also believe that schools would benefit from less bullying and happier students who are more prepared for the LGBTQ+ filled world, then spread the word! LGBTQ+ should be taught in schools!
By Fathima Nazer Karakkadan, h.s. sophomore from India, living in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
There’s a certain tragic enchantment in crumbling bridges
A prominent result of our actions.
A beauty in empty swings and abandoned parks,
Of unattended grass and dusty books.
The world listens to no one,
Each day is a reminder of how mortal we are,
Truly insignificant in the course of happenings
The sun combusts red now,
A revengeful fire,
Calling the attention of the ignorant beings of then,
Who did not care.
Taps don’t drip water anymore, there are no tides,
But constant sobbing of the hopeless
And the sons who used to drink to their sins.
Writings of good and evil
On morality and wicked
Have all been torn away
By vicious forces at hand.
Desperate prayers are not a remedy
For the annihilating moon
And the constant danger
Of our benighted neglect.
By Fathima Nazer Karakkadan, a high school sophomore student from India, living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Postscript: Fathima adds:
“To me, the biggest mystery in this world is its end. This is in no way a light topic, but everything must come to an end, and that includes our universe. And what better way to analyze it than to imagine it? ‘The Irreversible Apocalypse’ are my predictions on the course of events when the sun will combust, the sky will split and the world ceases to be. Those days are most probably filled with regret and remorse and indignant human beings who have no choice. When the world retaliates for what we’ve done to it, how could we ever stand a chance?”
Princess Diana (1961-1997). Portrait by Jon Bush, Massachusetts.
“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997). She was a member of the British Royal Family and mother of Prince William and Prince Harry. Her kindness, activism and position made her an international icon.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Portrait of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg by artist Alix Mosieur of Loraine, Oregon.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020) served as an associate justice of the U. S. Supreme Court for 27 years. She was appointed by President Clinton and became the second woman to serve in this important judicial capacity after Sandra Day O’Connor. Justice Ginsburg was a well-known champion of gender equality and women’s rights. She died on September 18th, 2020, at the age of 87, after her battle with pancreatic cancer. You might like to watch RBG (2018), a documentary about her life.
Rosa Parks (Feb. 4, 1913 – Oct. 24, 2005)
Dr. Jean Moule (sitting next to Rosa’s statue outside the Eugene LTD Bus Station, above) writes in her Skipping Stones magazine (April – May 2015) column, “Rosa Parks (Feb. 4, 1913 – Oct. 24, 2005) has become a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement and an international icon. She is an image of one lone person taking a stance that made a very big difference. She was sitting in a part of the bus that allowed Colored (African American) people unless it was needed for a White rider. When she was asked to move back to make room for a White passenger she would not. Rosa was 42 years old at the time and she was no more tired than anyone would be after a long day of work.
Rosa said, “I did not want to be mistreated, I did not want to be deprived of a seat that I had paid for. It was just time… there was opportunity for me to take a stand to express the way I felt about being treated in that manner. I had not planned to get arrested. I had plenty to do without having to end up in jail. But when I had to face that decision, I didn’t hesitate to do so because I felt that we had endured that too long. The more we gave in, the more we complied with that kind of treatment, the more oppressive it became.”
You can read Professor Jean Moule’s Nana Jean Columns in her latest book, Seeking Warmth and Light. FMI moulej@oregonstate.edu.
Tang Li was born in the United States, and she speaks and learns to write in English, Mandarin, and French. She has had one-year horseback riding experience She is very fond of riding and taking care of horses, and she misses those good old days. She wants to be a veterinarian in the future; her dream hasn’t changed since she was four years old.
In Tang’s realistic fiction, Horse Dream, she used the main character Molly to realize her dream, by choosing an ideal location and a dream horse to ride. She began her creative writing by introducing Molly: “Hi. My name is Molly. I am ten years old and was born in Paris, Texas. Yes! It may sound crazy and this Paris even has an Eiffel Tower, just like the one in France. But this Eiffel Tower has a gigantic cowboy hat! My house is just a few blocks away from the Eiffel Tower.
“I have always dreamed of being a cowgirl. Horses are such beautiful animals! I begged mom and dad to sign me up for horseback riding lessons… In school, my favorite part was recess because I got to swing high up on the swings and to see the horse pasture on the other side of the school wall. My favorite horse was a horse named Fiona. She is a brown quarterback horse with a white mark shaped like a rhombus between her eyes. I always hoped to ride on Fiona someday.”
Museums can provide an essential, interactive, and engaging way to learn about cultural history—both for our own culture, and the culture of other people. Without knowing our history or roots, we may not fully feel like we belong—especially if we have differences from other people in a society (ethnicity, heritage, etc.). Many museums in the United States help teach about the multicultural history of the country. Some of these museums are located in the nation’s capital—Washington, D.C. They include the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, among others. If you get the opportunity, take time to explore them!
1. National Museum of African American History and Culture
One of the newest additions to the Smithsonian family of museums is the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It shows the history of African Americans, from the first slaves brought over to the U.S., to the reconstruction era after the Civil War, and the civil rights movement of the 20th century. The museum helps visitors understand the impact of these experiences through stories, interactive exhibits, and the overall atmosphere. Many visitors say the experience is very powerful. and that it helped them better understand the history of the United States, because the history of the country has been significantly impacted by the history of African Americans.
The museum also contains exhibits and cultural items showcasing the lives of famous African Americans, from basketball player Kobe Bryant to singer Chuck Berry. It shows how these cultural icons have contributed to American culture and inspired countless people of all races, and it teaches about the racial barriers they faced in climbing to their success.
The museum also shows how African American culture is not just a unified block. There are different African American subcultures in various regions of the country. We see how geography affects the traditions, identity, and community of a group of people. Thus, African American culture in Chicago will be very different than in Birmingham, Alabama, for example.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture not only helps African Americans better understand their own history, but it also helps people of all races understand the contributions of African Americans in shaping the country’s culture and history.
Another museum that tells the powerful story of a people is the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. It offers visitors a glimpse into an event that killed six million Jews—approximately two-thirds of Jewish people in Europe, during the 1930s and ‘40s. The museum depicts some of the events leading up the Holocaust, the horrors of the genocide that occurred, and how the events of that time shaped global history and culture. The exhibits help us understand how and why the Holocaust occurred and how to ensure something like that does not happen again. To that end, there are also other exhibits that detail types of genocide occurring in the present day, in places in the world.
One floor of the museum is dedicated to understanding how the Nazi Party gained power in the 1930s. This is particularly poignant because it shows how blind hatred for a group of people can lead society to allow extremist governments into power. Obviously, it is possible for this to happen again, unless people avoid getting complacent when they see hatred swelling in a society.
Another floor is dedicated to showing the Nazi’s policies towards Jewish people, including their ostracization, relocation to concentration camps, and mass murders. The final floor covers the liberation of Jewish people from concentration camps and the events after the Holocaust. The museum depicts these eventsthrough photos, Holocaust artifacts, historical footage and commentary.
The museum also hosts conversations with Holocaust survivors to provide first-hand takes on the experience, and has special exhibits dedicated to other genocides around the world, including those occurring in Burma, Sudan, and other places. Furthermore, it has online exhibits that generate further discussion about events and people related to the Holocaust, including Anne Frank, the 1936 Olympics held in Nazi Germany, and global responses to the event.
Visitors to this museum come away with a much better appreciation for the specific details of what occurred during the Holocaust and why it is so important to be aware of what is going on in the world today, so we can avoid another atrocity like this from happening again.
3. National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian
Located in Washington, D.C. with a branch in New York City, the National Museum of the American Indian is also a part of the Smithsonian Institute. This museum presents a lot of information that is left out of school textbooks about the history of Native Americans, Native American treaties, how Native Americans viewed the relationship between people and nature, and more. It’s the first national museum dedicated to Native Americans and has a series of rotating exhibits that ensure during each trip you take there, you learn something new.
As the first national museum in the country dedicated to Native Americans, it not only contains objects, photos, media, and videos about Native Americans who lived on the land that is now the United States, but it also offers exhibits about Native people from what is now northern Canada all the way to the southern tip of South America. The exhibits don’t just show people the ways of Native American life, but they also give a taste of the Native American spirit. People who have Native American heritage can learn about their ancestors and get in touch with that aspect of their culture; People who don’t have that heritage can learn about the unique traditions, perspectives, and ways of life of people who lived in this part of the world long before European settlers arrived.
Additionally, a new Smithsonian museum, the National Museum of the American Latino, will be constructed in Washington, D.C. Although an opening date is not yet available, the museum will be dedicated to showcasing Latino history, art, culture, and scientific achievement. It aims to show how these contributions have influenced American culture overall.
While it won’t be ready for a while, there are many other museums around the country that you can visit and learn about Latino heritage. One of these is the Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin, Texas. This museum strives to preserve Latino and Mexican art and cultural artifacts, and it also aims to engage with the community in discussions about Latino heritage. In addition to showing the art of various Mexican and Latino artists, it conducts outreach events, cultural programs, and hosts speakers. Some of the rotating exhibits contain work by up-and-coming artists and teenagers. Others focus on showing the variety of traditions and lifestyles within the Latino community. Visitors get a much richer appreciation of the diversity of Latino culture.
Museums can be powerful learning experiences. We often may walk out of the doors feeling solemn, as though we have learned something important, because we see in vivid images and stories how various ethnic groups have been treated or persecuted. Many ethnic groups have faced violence simply because of who they are. Visiting museums is an enriching experience, providing a detailed knowledge about the history of different cultures in a way we do not get at school.
“My dad said he saw something in here yesterday,” Reeza said. “Amelia, when did you get here? Do you have insects in America? Ants? Worms? Caterpillars?”
“I got here a few days ago. Yeah, we have bugs.” I replied, trembling. “Do you like them?”
“Yeah, they’re cute. You might see a few in here today.”
Do I really want to go in there with all these slimy, creepy bugs? Yuck, I thought. But she seems nice and I’m finally meeting someone my age.
We were standing as tall as the grotto, a small cavern of rocks my grandparents gathered years ago from the Panay Gulf beach across the street. It was a house for various statues of animals carved by a local artist from the village. A frog, a turtle and a carabao stood strong, stationary, and well-preserved from the scorching Philippine sun. Reeza gently placed her left hand on the arch to peer inside. I did the same with my right hand, feeling secure touching the coarse, solid entrance.
“It smells in here. It’s been rainy this June.” Reeza pointed to the cracked ceiling as she carefully knelt in between the statues. “How long are you going to be here with your grandpa?”
“It’s cooler in here. I’ll be here until Sunday. Then to my aunts’ for school,” I replied, ducking my head in and kneeling on the prickly, pebbly ground. I gently wiped the sweat pouring off my forehead now that we were away from the morning sun. I wondered when I’ll stop sweating and get used to the heat like everyone else here.
We surveyed the black, grainy floor. My right hand unknowingly grabbed something furry and squishy on the grotto wall.
I let out a piercing yelp.
“What is it?”
“It was just moss. Sorry,” I said.
We returned to exploring the darkness. Then a deep, rumbling call echoed inside.
“Have you been to the beach?” Reeza asked. “Let’s go there tomorrow morning and see if the fishermen caught some sharks. I want a picture with it.”
Yuck, I thought. Sharks seem slimy.
Tookoo! Tookoo!* Big, bulging eyes glowed towards me.
“Eeeek!” I screamed and we hurriedly stepped back.
Gecko Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines
A gecko the size of my arm scampered out of the cavern, climbing up and blending in with the banana trees behind the grotto.
“He’s harmless,” Reeza replied. “He’s usually inside a house. He sleeps during the day and is up at night looking for bugs to eat.”
“What was he doing here?”
“Maybe cooling off,” Reeza said. “Do you guys have geckos where you come from?”
“None in Michigan.”
“We’re used to them. They’re everywhere here.”
House Geckos? Shark fishing? Bugs everywhere? Will I fit in?
We stooped back into the grotto. My gaping mouth caught the salty sweat running down my forehead. I swallowed and breathed deeply, relieving the cottonball feeling stuck in my throat. Reeza waved me in.
“I can’t. Bugs creep me out and I’m scared of geckos, sharks and whatever else is here,” I said, lowering my head towards my flip-flops. “Maybe I should just go home now.”
“Oh!” Reeza gasped, her finger pointing at me.
A gust of wind whistled and relieved us from this tropical heat. I slowly eyed the right side of my face without moving a muscle in my body. Something was dangling, gently caressing the side of my cheek.
“Run!”
We squealed, bumping into one another on the way out. We bolted out of the grotto and leapt across the front yard. My heart was pounding, my legs were wobbling forward, one after the other. Somehow, we managed to reach the driveway. We collapsed on the cement, panting, and clutching our heavy chests.
“Look!” I yelled, pointing to her back.
Reeza shrieked and pranced in a circle, her hands waving up in the air. She’s a girl on fire. As I peeled the snakeskin off from her shirt, she slumped down and brushed her body with her hands.
“Thank you,” Reeza said, panting.
We examined this leathery object.
“It’s actually soft.”
“So pale and long.”
“My teacher last year brought snakeskin to school. She told us that snakes molt or shed their skin in one piece. They do this when they’re growing,” I said.
“I didn’t know that,” Reeza replied, tilting her head. “Snakeskins don’t scare you, but geckos and little bugs do?”
“I guess not,” I said, giggling. “I’m just not used to the ones you have here. Not yet anyway. Snakeskin is one thing, but a real snake is…”
“Gross.”
“Jinx.”
We sat, laughing and crying with the snakeskin in between us.
I wonder what else we have in common, I thought.
“Do you like soccer?”
Playing Soccer in Pototan, Iloilo Province, the Philippines.
“I love soccer!” Reeza said, beaming. “Let me get my ball and see if anyone else wants to play. I’ll be right back.”
San Joaquin, Iloilo Province, Philippines (above)and A Boat in the Philippines (below)
Author’sNote: Tookoo! Tookoo! is the sound that a lizard makes.
Photos and story by Angelie Tumaghap Martzke, Michigan. She adds: “I was born in the Philippines and grew up part of my childhood there in my grandfather’s house... This story, set in the Iloilo Province, is inspired by my actual experiences there. Since I was 9-years old, I have gone back every two to three years and continue to speak my language of Kinaray-a. My background is in Social Work, receiving my Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University in 2008. I have worked with teens and adults providing individual, family and/or group therapy.”
In our society, we are constantly glued to our screens—phones, computers, and tablets (in addition to television). Thanks to online and remote classes, pandemic lockdowns, and restrictions against in-person social gatherings, our screentime has greatly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is much research that shows how this negatively impacts peoples’ mental health, physical wellbeing, and brain development—especially for teenagers. In this era of reduced in-person contact, where our daily lives often revolve around a screen, it can be hard to stay sane and safe. But it is very much possible with some effort and support.
Screentime. One effective way to do this is to set screen limits on the amount of time we spend on our phones, computers, and social media. Some days it may be hard to do, especially if we need to finish schoolwork or have a looming deadline. However, just the act of setting limits can help us reduce our screen time, even if we are not always able to fall within those limits. The result of setting limits is often a self-imposed pressure to finish a project faster or work more efficiently, and thus help make us more productive. There are settings on your phone and apps you use to help set screen limits and keep yourself accountable. If you do this, you may find that you get work done more quickly and have more time to engage with friends, family, and the real world.
Bedtime is Not Screentime. Another way to protect against too much social media or screentime is to end each day away from your phone or computer before you go to sleep. It may be difficult at first but you will feel so much more meaning in your life if you set time to engage with the real world. For example, instead of scrolling through Tik Tok or Instagram right before you go to bed, consider reading a book, playing with your pet if you have one, drawing, or even journaling about the highlights of your day. Not only will this help you sleep better and relax your brain, but you will likely find yourself being more fulfilled because you are able to engage with the real world in some way.
TV and News. We are constantly checking for the latest news and events around the world. Since the news has been so gloomy, especially the last few years, it can be easy to let this get us down and affect our moods. However, it is important to remember that news organizations try to frame news events in ways that get their outlet the most attention, so we should always be critical of how we understand issues. See if there are exaggerations or hyperbole in what you are watching or reading. Also, if you find yourself feeling extra gloomy or consistently depressed because of the news, take a break from it. After all, you won’t be able to solve the issues in society or the world if you are not doing well yourself.
Friends andLikes on Social Media. Another reason that the Internet, particularly social media, can be a toxic place is that young people often put too much stock in how much engagement they get on their social media posts. Many base their self worth on whether they get lots of “likes” or comments on social media posts. However, it is important to not get too caught up in this, as the number of “likes” or comments you get does not reflect reality. There are a number of factors that affect who your posts will even reach, so some of your best friends might not always even see your posts. Therefore, it is not beneficial, healthy, or accurate to think people care less about you just because you don’t get as much engagement on your social media posts. Conversely, if you get a lot of attention on social media, it is important to avoid getting caught up in the hype, because it still is not real life. Just because you are popular on social media does not give you the right to be arrogant, rude, or condescending in real life. Many young people also get jealous of others based on what they see on social media. If you see someone from school posting pictures from tropical vacation trips, for example, that doesn’t mean their life is always fun and happy. They likely have their fair share of hardships, but we generally only see the fun, happy moments from people’s lives posted on social media.
Online Scams. Online scams are nothing new, but scammers are now targeting young people with sly techniques. One of these newer scams targets teenagers. Scammers might impersonate social media personality accounts, hold fake contests, or ask you to be a brand ambassador for them. They may then tell you that you won the contest, and ask for your bank account information, or for you to pay them. The best way to recognize these kinds of scams is to see if they ask you to pay upfront fees, or for sensitive information. We should always do diligent research on any communications that ask for our personal information. You might search their website yourself to see if the offer you received is real or not. Ask questions to figure out if the organization is legitimate. If they ask you for upfront fees with a promise of a prize or commission later on, you should be very wary, as it may be a scam.
In addition to these newer scams, there are of course the older kinds, which often involve scammers sending you an email link, or unexpectedly asking you to “change a password” or otherwise provide them with personal information. You should always be wary when you get an email like this. Sometimes scammers impersonate organizations or people you know. Often, we can check the actual email address where it came from. If you get an email from a person or organization you do not recognize, do not open it and always be critical. As a rule, do not open attachments from people you do not know.
Real Life versus Virtual Life. For better or for worse, our lives are increasingly built around the Internet and digital technologies. While these technologies can help us, they can also degrade our mental health and quality of our friendships. Texting friends or seeing their Facebook messages, for example, is not the same as going for a hike with them. By setting limits on screen-time and social media use, remembering that social media is not a true depiction of your life or the lives of other people, and making time to engage with the real world, we can help maintain fulfilling lives. In addition, being critical of what you see online is very important, whether that’s from friends on social media, or messages from potential scammers.
We believe being aware of these issues and having media literacy can help you keep your personal information, money, and mental health protected.
Perhaps you might get some recommendations from a trusted adult—teacher, librarian, counselor, or a parent—about resources to learn more on this vital issue.
