Teen Image and the Media

"I'm fat. I'm too skinny. I'd be happy if I were taller, shorter, had curly hair,straight hair, a smaller nose, bigger muscles, longer legs.Do any of these statements sound familiar? Are you used to putting yourself down?"

Like something I find my self saying thing like that but I also I hear that a lot in school from kids who personally I think are pretty and look just fine but they don't seem to understand what I say. I think everyone is pretty in their own way and you shouldn't let people bring you down. I know that doesn't always happen but I think the world would be a better place if we all cared about other people's feeling and were nice and understanding. There's a lot of reasons why we are the way we are but that's not right to blame other people because they didn't tell you to do it or say it. All though the media doesn't help any, you see a lot of ads and thing on T.V and movies but you don't usually see fat and ugly people not unless they are supposed to be fat and ugly, which still is kinda mean but people still play the part.

"some parents spend more time criticizing their kids and the way they look then praising them, which can reduce kids ability to develop good self esteem."

I know people who have  parents that  don't do nothing but bring them down and tell them that they look bad or mean things like that. I think its so wrong to say that or tell someone. I think your parents should be the ones telling your great and keeping on going and your the best not the other way around. Your parent should be the one thing in your life you know you have and can count on to always be there for you when you need them. I know that not everyone has great parents I mean I know no one prefect but I still think you should have at lest someone in your life that are like  parent to you.

."people also may experience negative comments and hurtful teasing about the way they look from classmates or peers."

 I see that a lot of that in class and really I see it a lot every where. I don't think its right that people say mean stuff to people all the time and they think its OK but really its not. I think if you don't have anything nice to say to just not talk at all. It's just mean and hurtful what if that was you someone was being mean to or saying mean things to you wouldn't like it now would you? Well then if your the people doing this don't you think you should stop. If your trying to impress someone by doing this I don't think they're wroth it. I think you should be in if they don't like you for you  then they are the ones missing out.

"teens have a picture in their minds of what a perfect body is and they try to measure up to that image."

 I think that a lot of teens have this picture of what they think the perfect body is and I think both girls and boys do it. I think girls worry about the weight thing more then boys, but I also think boys worry about having  bigger  muscles and things like that. I don't think there's a such thing as a PERFECT body because nothing or anyone is perfect. therefore there is no perfect body I think teens just look at T.V/movies or things like that and see the girls/boys and see how they look and bring yourself. which I think is not good for teens to do because most teens look fine.

Therefore, I say all that to say this don't change your self for no one no matter what because if they don't like you for who you are then there not worth one second of your time. I know it might be hard but trust me but its the right thing to do.