It might be scary to be calling a hotline and talking to someone who is basically a stranger. It could feel awkward telling someone whose face you can’t even see that you’ve run away, or are thinking of running away. Or maybe you’re an adult in a teen runaway’s life who is worried sick about their welfare. At our crisis line, however, this is what we volunteer for, what we work towards: helping those in need at their time of crisis when there doesn’t seem to be anyone to turn to. We may ask questions that seem awfully personal, but we promise that when we do this it’s not to gossip or to be really nosy. We do this so we can help you figure out what steps to take, what to do. Everything you say is kept in complete confidence; no calls are recorded, and we make sure to keep what we hear between caller and liner. If you’re scared to talk to someone, don’t worry. We’re there to help.
- Allyson
Getting Help
August 27th, 2010
Don’t Be That Guy With Crabs
August 26th, 2010
Being tested for STD’s is important. Whether you think you might have something or are just looking for something to do on a Tuesday afternoon. Knowledge is power and no one likes the guy that gives everyone crabs. Therefore, do not be that person and make sure you are 100% positive on what is going on in your body. It should not be embarrassing or shameful since it benefits everyone. Make it a part of the routine every couple of months and bring some friends along to join in on the fun. It is always good to be safe and use protection, and being tested is just as important to that process. No matter what the case may be, knowing and treating is always better than spreading something unknowingly. Get tested and be honest because those who do not tell aren’t swell.
- Ruben
A Little Bit of Perspective
August 25th, 2010
I had classmates in high school who, shamefully, looked down on some people in our school because they were in a less rigorous academic program, or didn’t act/look like them (which to them meant that they were less smart, less capable). That kind of attitude really frustrated me because these peers of mine (who thankfully were a minority in their opinions) tended to be from families who were well-off and whose parents, unlike that of a lot of the students in our school who weren’t well-off financially, had stable jobs and had a comfortable salary. I’m not saying that everyone who comes from an affluent family condones to this “let’s look down at everyone who isn’t like us” behavior, only that there was a minority of students who failed to see things from the perspective of someone whose conditions in life aren’t so good. They couldn’t see that for some of these students they looked down on, home isn’t always that stable, family life isn’t always so harmonious, and money, especially, wasn’t abundant. Those kind of conditions aren’t exactly conducive to a good studying environment, or just an environment to grow up in general, so why look down on someone for situations they (often) aren’t culpable of?
- Allyson
Little Obsessions
August 24th, 2010
Obsessions come and go, sometimes with age and other times with surprise interventions that your family tricks you into attending. People obsess over objects, people, and books for a period of time until they eventually lose interest (hopefully). I have had plenty of obsessions over the year, and they have faded, even the Harry Potter movies that I just wait until they come out on DVD instead of standing in the cold in the middle of the night. Anyhoo, it has come to my attention that I may have developed a new thing to consume my time. That bittersweet drug is called Netflix. Not only do they deliver movies to your door, but now you can watch movies/television shows online. The summer has only increased my appetite for this service. I’m watching complete television series in a matter of weeks and rarely do I get tired. What’s worst is my friends are all hooked, too. One friend watched the entire series of LOST in 2 months. With 6 seasons of hour-long, 20-odd episodes each, this might actually require clinical help. I can stop, but I hope it dies down. BTW, have you heard of Futurama because I just finished the second season and I think it’s really good!
- Ruben