Wearing what you want!

Hey bloggers, today's post is a topic that is very dear to my heart, and that is, surprisingly, fashion. I am an avid collector of sneakers, but also enjoy designer brands such as Louis Vuitton, Versace, Ralph Lauren, and many others. I have a large collection of shirts, jeans, sweaters, and just about every accessory known to man. While I like to think that my style is very original, and is solely based off of my own taste, and what I like, I have noticed some very interesting issues/trends that I would like to touch on in today's post.

There are two main topics I would like to focus on, that more or less intertwine with each other. The first is about the price of looking good; which in my opinion, does not exist at all! Teenagers are more worried about their image than anyone else, however it seems as though after the age of 13, what you wear seems to become infinitely more important than it was before 13. Many teenagers and adults associate fashion with designer brands, which can quickly burn a hole in your pocket if listen to all of their advertising, and let the fashion society pressure you into spending unnecessary amounts of money on products that are not necessarily worth the price that you pay. As a sneaker collector, I have seen many people be influenced by other collectors to spend non-expendable money on a pair of sneakers, simply to fit in. I have never been effected by peer pressure, and as I mature I'm becoming more interested in fashion and designer brands, regardless of what my image may be when I wear these brands or articles of clothing. While it seems hypocritical for me to write an article bashing designer brands, as I own something from the majority of the big companies; I will say that whenever I purchase these items, it is with money that I have worked for, and properly allocated for the specific purpose of spending on clothes. If you aren't careful, you may end up paying through the nose for something, when you don't have the capital to do so. The general idea I am trying to get across to my readers is that regardless of if you are spending 10 dollars on a sweater, or 500 dollars on a belt, make sure that you are able to do so, and do it because you want it, not because you think it will raise your status. I have met many people who do not own one article of expensive designer clothing, yet are still able to look amazing, and very "in" when it comes to fashion.

The second point I have is possibly the most important, which is to wear what you want! Going to high school, I am able to witness people either being teased about their choice of attire, or pressured into buying things that they may not actually want. Fashion and clothing is an expression of yourself, and who you are, not who anyone else wants you to be. To me, the coolest people aren't those who go with the status quo and dress similar to those around them, they are the ones who are unique, creative, and brave enough to wear whatever they want, and be comfortable in their own skin. My final advice to someone in any situation where they feel pressured to wear a certain type of clothing because of their "image", is that instead of following the trend, reach deep inside of yourself, and find the courage to become the trendsetter.

-Liam Cassidy

A day in the life of an NSS student

NSS (Northern Secondary School)

a Day in the Life of a Northern Secondary School Student

                       While all high school curriculum tends to be similar, and almost everyone will have a similar education when they finish high school, being a student of Northern Secondary can completely alter your high school experience, athletically, socially, and academically. The morning is generally pretty mundane, the announcements are read, you go to your first two periods of class, and then you are excused at 11:30AM when the bell rings. When the lunch bell rings at Northern, the world is your oyster, and the opportunities are seemingly endless.Northern has a massive amount of clubs, groups, teams, and other extra-curriculars, which keeps life at Northern very exciting. On Monday, I may be practicing for the Jr. Basketball team in the upper gym, and on Tuesday, I may be watching the hit show "Community" in the "Community Club"; which is dedicated to watching and discussing the hilarious television show. Academically, I have found Northern to be a very helpful and resourceful school; on top of the school's resource center and library, there are also tutor programs, as well as course help programs, run by teachers in their respective field. The great thing about Northern is that with over 100 clubs, teams, and organizations, there is something for everyone; whether you are into drawing, sports, watching television, playing video games, or debating, almost every student at Northern can find one club that fits their personality and interests!

-Liam Cassidy

Anger Management & Handling Stress

Throughout all of my life, I have had a little bit of trouble controlling my emotions, which would occasionally translate into sudden bursts of anger.I took anger management classes, as well as therapy to try and learn how to cope with my anger, so that when I felt like I was going to freak out, I could help calm myself down. The point of this post is for me to help others come up with solid methods that can help you cope with your stress, and manage your anger, using my experience as well as knowledge when it comes to anger management.

I've found that the most effective strategy is to either use an existing hobby, or take up a new hobby, in order to help reduce your stress levels and focus on something else. The actual hobby itself doesn't really matter, it could be biking, running, playing guitar, or reading, however try to select something that is stress free (for example do not pick video games, as these can sometimes cause more stress than they do relief). Whenever you are feeling upset, try working on your hobby; for example if I am feeling stressed out about something that happened with a friend of mine, instead of sitting around thinking about how upset you are, you should instead try to take your mind off of the issue and indulge yourself in your hobby. This strategy is a long term strategy, one that you can use whenever you feel like you need to calm down; it can also help you come up with a solution to the issue that may be bothering you, as after you have returned to a rational state of mind, you will be more likely to make good decisions that will help resolve the issue.

My second method is to use music; in an era where almost everyone owns a smartphone, tablet, or iPod, next time you are feeling stressed, put on some music that makes you feel relaxed and at ease. I find that even when doing homework, playing relaxing music can help take some of the stress away from the work, and make you feel more comfortable with your anger. If you are experiencing some kind of bullying or in an argument, you can also sometimes temporarily resolve the issue by ignoring them and putting your ear-buds into your ears, to help block out some of the negativity. However similar to the first solution, the only real way to fix bullying is to tell somebody about it, and address the problem head on; while these solutions are useful during the height of your stress, if you are being bullied the best thing you can do is reach out to somebody for help.

The third tactic I use is specifically effective when battling anxiety, which is to think of somewhere that you love, whether it is a vacation destination, a cottage, or laying on your couch watching television. Although it is the oldest trick in the book, whenever your stress levels are built up, closing your eyes and doing a little daydream is a quick and effective way to slip away from your tension for a few minutes. Hopefully after you have gone on your little mental vacation, you will be less stressed, and able to think clearly again.

I hope some of my readers use some of the strategies I have attempted to teach you today, and please let me know in the comments if they were effective for you, or if you have other methods that I didn't mention today that work for you! Thanks for reading!

Social Media and Privacy

I have been inspired by my comm-tech class to publish a post regarding privacy on social media, and what using social media means to the average citizen.

Currently, the internet and social media are the largest grossing industry, with thousands of new users popping up every hour. Almost a third of the world is using Facebook, and other social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Vine are on the rise. As a child, I understood that having a Facebook account would give away personal information, and that it could be potentially dangerous to put my life onto the internet for the world to see. I created my Facebook account at the age of 13, with the help of my mother, who made sure that my privacy settings were properly installed, so that a stranger's access to my account would be limited. At the time, all of these safety measures were appropriate, however now I am 16, and able to defend myself, as well as judge who and who not to associate myself with, both in the real world and online.

I am one of the many people who are not worried of their privacy online, and I am not bothered by the fact that a lot of what I do on the internet is tracked, and my data is sold by companies like Facebook. My first point of why I am not bothered by my data being sold is because I have nothing to hide, and believe that if someone is incredibly worried about their privacy, they are probably doing something wrong. If I agree to a privacy contract with a company before I use their site, then I have to accept the reality that they have the right to sell my data, or use it for whatever they want to. If anybody disagrees with that point, I would remind them that these privacy agreements are legally binding documents, that you signed up for. I have no sympathy for someone complaining about a privacy agreement, because these people chose to sign up for the website or app that they are using.

My second point is that many users of the internet seem to forget that companies running websites are just like your local shops, they are looking to offer you a service, in return for some monetary compensation. The main social media sites, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Vine, Google Plus, are all available in their best form for free, which means these companies are not being directly paid by you. I believe it is ignorant to believe these services, which cost companies millions to run, are being provided out of the kindness of these companies' hearts. Because I do not pay any money to use these social media platforms, I understand that the companies must sell off data in order to be profitable, and continue to provide free social media sites for me to use.

I conclude my opinionated piece with my personal opinion on the whole social media privacy situation, which is that if somebody is so bothered and upset by the fact their personal data is being sold to other companies or organizations, why wouldn't they just walk away from the sites, and not use the social media platforms that are available. The internet is not la la land, it is a part of the real world, and is a large industry, which means that we must be careful with our choices, and aware of what we are signing up for. For example, If I sign up to join the army, I cannot complain when I am asked to go to war, as I made the conscious decision to join the army reserve. Personally, I will never tolerate ignorance, and I cannot bring myself to be sympathetic for someone who doesn't make sure they understand the implications of their decisions, before they decide.