Switched-On :: Blog

In case you’re wondering where Ruben has gone off to, he’s in charge of writing articles for Switched-On magazine for the next few weeks.

As for me, I’m Allyson. If you’ve read Switched-On magazine, you may recognize my name by some of the articles I’ve contributed. I’m a senior at my high school, so I like to believe that I’m a little less out of touch with youth today. But even at my age, at 17 years old, there’s no guarantee that I’ll reflect the perspectives exactly like that of youth in our generation.

For the next few weeks, I will be posting to this blog about various topics. Like Ruben, I will occasionally post about the current article in Switched-On magazine. At times I’ll post about some other topics that might be of interest to readers out there, and sometimes I’ll post about the National Runaway Switchboard as well.

- Allyson

You’ve probably begun to wonder who is behind this wonderful blog.

Well, as I have said in a previous post, this blog, along with the rest of Switched-On, is written for teens, by teens.  So let me tell you a bit about myself. As you may have already guessed, my name is Ruben and I am 16 years old, soon to be 17. As for hobbies, I’m into photography (but of course what angst-ridden teen isn’t).  Recently, I’ve started to take guitar lessons so that I can become a triple threat.

I am now more focused on my future, and kind of figuring out my life and what’s to come. I got involved with Switched-On after becoming a volunteer liner at the National Runaway Switchboard, which is the organization that sponsors this magazine. I started volunteering at the National Runaway Switchboard initially to complete a service hour requirement, but after experiencing being a liner and helping teens, I decided to get more involved by working on this blog. So there you have it – the person behind the recent posts.  I’d really like to do a post about what you have to say about the latest issue of Switched-On or anything else on your mind.  I’ve also been wondering what, if anything, you are doing to prepare for life after high school.

- Ruben

Hello and welcome to the Switched-On blog!  

As you may already know, Switched-On is an online magazine that provides teens with articles and resources addressing specific issues affecting youth.  In addition to that, you can submit letters in case you have a question or are looking for some advice on a specific problem. We also have a cool little poll about the current issue on the homepage so you can voice your opinion on that topic.  

So how does this blog figure in?  It will be updated more frequently – several times a week, in fact – with reflections on the current article, comment on the status of the poll question, and general musing about life as a teenager.  That’s right – both Switched-On magazine and this blog will be written by teens, for teens.   

As always, new issues of Switched-On can be found every two weeks at www.switchedonmag.org – check it out and give us feedback or write in with any questions.  Curious to find out more about the Switched On team?  Look for posts tagged “About Us” in the coming weeks.  So thanks for the hits, and share your opinions in the comments section.

- Ruben