Switched-On :: Blog

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence can encompass a large range of abusive behaviors between two people in an intimate relationship. It can be physical (attacking, sexual abuse, restraining, etc.) or emotional (verbal abuse, intimidation, etc.). The victim can range from males to females or from elders to children; it can be between parents and their children or between romantic partners. There’s a common stereotype that it’s only women who are victims of domestic violence, in reality, it can happen to anyone in an intimate relationship with someone including men, elders, teens, and children. This is an issue that needs to be discovered and addressed as soon as possible as long-term abuse can lead to a variety of consequences for the victims, both physically and emotionally. Although legal actions and intervention efforts are being taken, it is also important for those related either directly or indirectly to the victim to help report cases so that it can be dealt with. Your action can help.

For more, please visit http://www.ndvh.org/.

- Vivian

The recent Switched-On article is about teens and PDA. There is a lot to say about this topic for me. I personally hate PDA. I don’t want to be stared at. It feels weird just getting looks from strangers on the street. If teens are kissing in public they obviously are going to gets stares. I like to keep things quiet. Secondly, PDA, I think should be kept to a minimum. Sometimes it could get a little on the gross side. Plus if you are like the third wheel it doesn’t make hanging out any more fun. I do agree it is hard to find places to make out because at home you are supervised and school does have rules about it. It’s understandable that teens want to have their romantic time. It just shouldn’t be too much of it. It is also agreeable that teens do get yelled at when they have too much PDA but why not with adults? Adults can get overboard as well.

- Tatiana

On Saturday my boyfriend and I had gone to see a movie and to eat afterwards. After we got done eating we had no idea of what to do next. We were really bored. All of our friends were busy or couldn’t come out to be with us. So we decide to go to borders, look around and then we go to Barnes and noble. We stay there for awhile looking at books. Since we were really bored after that we decided that we wanted to go home. It was the best option. So we headed towards the bus. As we walked towards the main street we run into a garden. It was really pretty. We stop and look around. It also had a beautiful fountain. Flowers and little paths were on one side while the fountain was near a grassy area. We sit down and started to talk. We stay there for awhile. It was the most peaceful night I ever had. I learned from this night that having fun doesn’t mean you have to be doing something you can just be with someone you know/like and the time will go by.

- Tatiana

I’m in a relationship of four months. Recently my friend asked me the hardest question of them all: “Are you in love?”My answer was “I don’t know.”  I say it’s the hardest question of them all because how do you know if you are in love? What are the signs? Everyone has their own opinion of love. People say you get butterflies in your stomach when you’re around your significant other. Some just know. Love is a hard topic to explain. My own opinion on love is that: you want to be around that person every single minute of every single day, caring for them, helping them through rough times, always being there for them, and feeling the excitement of their presence. Those three letter words mean a lot in a relationship. “They can either ruin everything or fill in the missing puzzle pieces.” I think it’s good to wait to say those three letter words until both of you are ready to say it. You may not know when the right time is going to come but it will.

- Tatiana