These days we have become very reliant on technology. We were born in the digital age so of course we're so attached to technology.However, it almost seems we come out the womb glued to our phones. The age that kids are receiving phones or using them everyday is becoming younger and phones are a normal occurrence. The thought of not having our phone sends our heart rate in to overdrive and what would we do without Google? But we can survive without our phones and computer. In fact, I can prove that by suggesting a digital detox for every person reading this article.
So, I hear you asking, what is a digital detox? According to Wikipedia, ‘digital detox refers to a period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic connecting devices such as smartphones and computers.’ While this is the baseline definition, there are many variations, such as some people will completely ban all technology including TVs and all phones whereas some people may just stop using their phone or computer for a little while. I have done my own technology detox, but never by choice. As I have mentioned in other articles before, I went to Kenya for three weeks in 2016. While we were in Kenya, we weren't allowed our phones, so my phone was all the way back in England while I was 6,000 miles away. I did have my Kindle with me, so it wasn't a full detox, but in modern day it's a rare occurrence to be without a phone. I have to admit that it was very weird and almost disconcerting to not have my phone nearby. At the same time though, it was nice and refreshing not to worry about it or be distracted by social media. Another time when I've been a bit more full on with my digital detox is when we had a live wire in our house and We had to turn all the electricity off while it was fixed. This meant we were without lights, without Internet and without TV for around 12 hours. We were working by candlelight and wind up torches, and were reliant on our data packages if we wanted to use internet. But eventually our data ran out so we ended up reading books and playing board games and it was actually so much fun. It had been ages since we'd done something properly as a family without technology. It was such a fun night and I was almost sad when we got the power back. After that night, we decided to do a family games night every month… of course we never followed through with this. We let technology take over once again. Everyone needs a little break from their phone or their electronics. In 2015, Pew Research Centre conducted a study on teenagers (age 13-17) and their reliance and use of technology on a daily basis. 92% of the teens they asked said they used technology, social media and the Internet daily whilst 24% of that 92% said they used it ‘almost constantly.’ 50% of teens said they used it several times a day and 85% of teens said they had or had access to a smartphone. Facebook was found to be a dominant source of social media with over 50% of teens having and using an account. It's quite shocking really once you look at the figures. If you fancy going on a detox, here are some things to think about. 1 - WHAT? What are you going to give up? Are you thinking of just turning your phone off or are you wanting to go the full ten yards? 2 - WHEN? When are you going to give up this technology and for how long for? It doesn't necessarily have to be a long time. Even a day, or maybe just an hour. 3 - WHY? Why do you want to go on a detox? Is it to cleanse your aura and be free of all the negativity of social media? Is it because you need to focus and it's a distraction? Whatever the reason, be clear on that and stick to it. I don't necessarily think that technology is a bad thing - not at all. It can be a blessing. It gives you the ability to stay connected with people and to connect with new people. It means you can update people on your whereabouts at all times and save every moment of your life, every memory to that infamous Cloud where it's just safe and immortal. However, it can also be a curse disguised as a blessing for the same reasons. Personally, I would recommend a detox, despite all the downsides. It's important to take a moment for ourselves without social media bringing us down with its all consuming negativity. Whatever you decide, just be safe with it. Internet safety is as relevant as ever. Remember:
Stay safe, sunshine. Kenzie
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A funeral is difficult at the best of times. It's never fun to lose someone and when the timing couldn't be worse, well that's heartbreaking. Luckily, many of us have friends to support us and make us feel loved and more optimistic. Of course, they don't expect anything in return - but the time will come when they need your support at a funeral and it's your duty to be there for them.
I've experienced many funerals of my own and then some funerals of friends. My best friend's grandad died recently and a friend’s grandmother a few years back. I didn't get to go to the funeral for my best friend as I didn't know her family much at all however my mum knew the grandmother of my friend and so we felt it only right we attend. Different people deal with death in different ways. Some people need you there 24/7 and then some people want you to just leave them alone. Whatever they want from you is what you should give them. Even if you think it's the wrong thing to do, you should do it. You can't force someone to do something they don't want to do. You need to let them grieve and deal with this in their own way. If they want you to stay with them, stay with them. If they want space, give them space. Giving someone space when you know they're hurting can be hard. You often want to be there for them and make them feel better but if they want to be alone, molly-coddling them will make it worse and they will withdraw and push you away. So you need to make sure to give them that space as I've said. However, that doesn't mean abandoning them. You can still support them from afar by maybe sending a text every now and then, just to let them know you're still there and you're thinking about them. Support comes in all forms, shapes and sizes. Sometimes it helps if you tell them you know how they feel. That's what I did for my friends. I told them about how I felt when my grandparents died. Beware, that won't always help. My best friend was very thankful for me being there and appreciated me telling her about my experiences and it helped to make her feel less alone. However, my other friend sadly found it rather offensive and selfish of me, like I was turning the attention around so I was in the spotlight. It wasn't my intention at all but that's how it made her feel and that's okay and understandable and a totally valid way to feel. People need different things so make sure you ask if they'd like to know about your experiences, just to avoid offending them. It's important to know what's appropriate in this situation and also when it's appropriate. I really badly misjudged a situation once and it was a bad decision which could be and was seen as offensive. Looking back, I absolutely understand why and I wish that I had thought about my environment and the situation before doing what I did. During one of the hymns, my voice went weird and broke and ended up really high and operatic and when I heard myself, I cracked out laughing. This wouldn't have been quite as bad if my mother hadn't have realised, which made her start laughing. We were still laughing when the song finished and the family were walking out of the church. My friend saw me laughing and it made her extremely upset and angry and made me very uncomfortable. She confronted me later in the day and I realised the impact of what had happened. It may not have seemed inappropriate at the time or meant with malice but it came across very badly. Humour can be useful when dealing with grief but perhaps the funeral isn't the time or the place for that humour. It's important to remember when you're dealing with death that friends can and will help. They want to help. They don't need to, but they want to - because they love you and they care about you. Don't shut them out. The more friends you have around you, the better. One friend is good, two friends are great, but four friends are exceptional. Hence the punny title referencing the Richard Curtis film, ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral.’ No matter how many friends at with you, you need them and they want you to need them. Death is difficult but you can deal with it. Stay strong and fly high, angel. Kenzie Getting help can be really difficult. It's a daunting experience and a difficult time when you feel like there is something wrong with you, but different doesn't mean wrong and there are people to help someone. But getting help is often necessary - everyone needs a little help now and then. It is nothing to be ashamed of.
I first got help for my mental health when I was self-harming. I first reached out to Childline before reaching out to my school counsellor, my mum and my GP. From then on, I was much more open to asking for help when I needed it. Sure, it was still scary but I learnt how to recognise my need for help and how to go about getting it. There are lots of different paths to go down for getting help and lots of different types of help. GP A GP, if you don't already know, is a doctor. It stands for ‘general practitioner’ and they can diagnose you and prescribe medication from you if they feel it's necessary. They can also refer you to professional therapy or counselling. I went to my GP for my self-harm, my anxiety and my PTSD. He prescribed me medication for my anxiety and referred me to CAHMS, an adolescent mental health service. In order to get help from a doctor, you need to make an appointment either via the phone or online if you can. Counselling/therapy There are many different types of therapy. There is CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which creates a step by step process of how to help you and then there is talking therapy where you just talk about how you're feeling. One mental health service I have used is CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.) I didn't find it particularly helpful as it ended before I was feeling better and I had very little say in what happened in these sessions. The woman was nice enough but I didn't feel at all understood by them. I then had talking therapy with a local health service called Talkzone. That was much more helpful because I was listened to, understood and made to feel totally unashamed. In order to get help from a counsellor or therapist, you can be referred by a doctor or you can self refer. Online helplines As well as all the other in person services, you can get help online too. There are plenty of options for online help. There's Childline who you can talk to online or you can ring them at any time of the day 24/7, there's Kooth which is available until 10 pm and many more. Kooth was recommended to me by CAMHS but I recently found an even better online option called Turn2Me. It has a three-tier approach of offering self-help, help from support groups and professional support. I really recommend it. Most sites have a phone number online which you can access also. Friends and family Of course. Friends and family are always an option. Their job is to look after you and support you and help you when you're struggling. Just ask them - they will be more than happy to help you so make sure you reach out to them if you're struggling. Personally, I found friends and family most helpful. They have always been there for me. Help is really really important and is vital to recovery, or at least, coping. I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for all the support I have been given. I also found the online support really helpful as it was sometimes easier to talk to someone who I didn't personally know. Here are the ways to contact online forms of support which may help you as much as they helped me: Childline - www.childline.org.uk or 0800 1111 Kooth - www.kooth.com Turn2Me - www.turn2me.org Samaritans - www.samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.org or 116 123 NHS - www.nhs.uk Of course, our website is always open for you to read about our experiences and feel less alone. teenagerswithexperience.weebly.com Just remember: there is no shame in needing some help and there will be no judgement from anyone if you ask for it. Kenzie Christmas is approaching, creeping ever nearer and I know that some people will be starting to panic thinking ‘I have no idea what to get people for Christmas.’ I was this person for a while. I didn't know what to get anyone for Christmas and I was panicked. Panicked that they wouldn't get here in time, panicked that I'd forgotten someone, panicked that they wouldn't like their gift and panicked that I'd spent too much money and realistically couldn't afford it.
That's where this article comes in. I am going to give you some fun present ideas that in my experience, I have bought and my friends have loved or I have received and I have loved. They're mostly very affordable or even homemade but I can guarantee that they are some of the most thoughtful valuable gifts you could ever give or receive. 1. Scrapbook For my 18th birthday, my darling best friend made me the most beautiful thoughtful gift I have ever received. She made me a scrapbook filled to the brim with pictures and memories and quotes. The most amazing thing about it was she made it all by buying a notebook, some Post-it notes, a glue stick, some pens and using a free photo printing website. She stuck the photos on each page, wrote down where the photograph was taken and what the event was and used Post-it notes to create breathtakingly beautiful designs. It was such an affordable gift but it had such an impact on me and I couldn’t have possibly wished for anything more. You don’t even need the Post-it notes or an expensive woven silver diamond encrusted notebook - it can be the cheapest notebook you can find. The reason for this gift is one of the best gifts to be given is the thought behind it, and for that, it is priceless 2. A star Something I bought my friend for her 18th birthday was a star. You’re probably thinking ‘a star? Why did you buy her a star? You mean, a fake star.’ No, I don’t mean a fake star. I bought her a real star. Of course, that didn’t mean I went to space, captured a star, put it in a box and gave it to her. What I mean is I bought her a ‘Name a Star’ kit. This involves a star being assigned and the receiver of the gift can then name the star whatever they like. I bought my star kit for a very affordable price and it’s surprising how inexpensive they are honestly. This was perfect for my friend because she is extremely interested in stars and space but even for someone who isn’t a space enthusiast, it’s a lovely thoughtful present. 3. Memory jar/jar of smiles Back in 2014, I had a friend who was going through a really hard time. I wanted to do something special for her that might help her feel a bit better or at least help her remember how loved she was. So I had the idea of making a Jar of Smiles. I’d seen them online but I thought it was so much more special to make it myself, and rather than only give her enough ‘smiles’ for a month, give her enough ‘smiles’ for a year. So I spent weeks handwriting quotes and motivation on 365 tiny bits of paper and folding them up, desperately trying to stuff them into a jar without them exploding everywhere. But when she got it, she was particularly touched and it helped her mental health improve a lot. It cost me nothing except the postage as I had saved a jam jar to put them all in. You could replace the quotes with memories of you two or you could just give them the jar and a pad and some pens and they could fill it themselves - my mum’s best friend did this for her and my mum still uses it to this day. 4. Care package Someone I knew was in the hospital for quite a while and I and my friends didn’t get to see her as it was family only but we didn’t want her to forget about us or think we’d stopped caring so we gave her mother a huge care package to give to her from us. It was full of drawings, snacks, toiletries, letters, cards - all sorts just to remind her that we were thinking of her and sending her our best. The snacks were from a discount sweet store where you could get huge bags of perfectly good sweets for ridiculously low prices and the toiletries were a part of those big gift sets you can get. According to her mum, she loved it and I think that no matter what circumstances require a care package, it is perfect. 5. Baking in a jar This is a gift which can be made or bought. I bought it when I decided to give someone this gift but I think it would be just as lovely, if not lovelier, to make it. The whole concept of ‘baking in a jar’ is that you put all the ingredients someone may need to make cookies or cake, or whatever treat you desire, into one jar so they can just chuck it all in a bowl and it’s done. It’s the easiest way to make a cake, which is great if you want to bake but can’t bake. Then you can eat them together! 6. Cupcakes If baking isn't their thing but it is yours then rather than making them bake something, you could bake something for them. A friend of mine did this for every Christmas and birthday because she had very little to no money of her own to spend. She was a phenomenal baker and loved to bake and cook so that was her solution for inexpensive presents. Sure, they aren't something you can keep forever with priceless value but they have their own sentimental value and everyone loves cake, don't they? 7. A personalised calendar There are multiple ways to achieve this one. You can either buy and pay for one online which is likely to cost a tenner or two or you can make one yourself. One of my friends made them for all her other friends. She bought little calendar pads and inserts and printed off photos of things they liked, such as Harry Potter and Supernatural and stuck the photos and the calendar inserts onto a piece of black card and there was a cute little homemade calendar. If you want it to be even more personalised, you could print off photos of you and the receiver of the gift together. If you don't own your own printer, you could probably use one at school or college or use a free photo website as I mentioned earlier. 8. A Collage My friend who did the calendar didn't have enough calendar inserts for us all so for some of us, she did the same thing but without the calendar part. A collage can be a nice thing to hang or stick on your wall to fill some space and if a friend has taken the time to think about it and make it, it's even nicer. It doesn't matter that it didn't cost much if anything. It was really a lovely gift to receive and it's still on my wall to this day, despite the fact I'm not friends with her anymore. It's a really sweet gift. 9. Friendship vouchers I've never given this as a birthday or Christmas gift but I did something similar for my dad for Father's Day once. I bought him a little book full of ‘daughter vouchers’ which said things like ‘this entitles you to one car wash from your daughter’ or ‘one hug from your daughter.’ Just silly little things like that. So what I'm thinking if you could do this for a friend instead of at Christmas and make your own vouchers. It doesn't even have to be for a friend, you could do it for anyone. Make your own vouchers especially for them to give them things you know they'll like. For example, my best friend really likes going to the cinema. It's been a tradition since we became friends that we go to the cinema to watch horror films together. So one voucher for her could be ‘a trip to the cinema’ where you could maybe pay for her ticket or maybe not even that but just a guarantee that you will go to the cinema together. I think this is a really sweet idea and I know that I would adore it. 10. Christmas crackers This may seem like a bit of a weird one and you might be thinking ‘why would I give someone a box of Christmas crackers?’ Well, these aren't normal Christmas crackers. They aren't the ones with party hats and stupid jokes and weird toys inside. They're personalised. My aunt did this for our family a few years ago and we got one each for the dinner table after our proper present but you could make more and make that the proper present. Inside the cracker was something specific to us. It could be a little bottle of your favourite alcohol or soft drink or some nail varnish or a lipstick. Just little things but it's little things that remind you of them. It's the thought that counts and this requires a lot of thought. It is most likely one of the more expensive gifts on the list as you have to buy the contents of the crackers but it's worth it in the end. Those are my top ten ideas for gifts I think anyone will love this Christmas. A lot of them are homemade and full of thought and love and will be cherished by those who are lucky enough to receive one. Please let us know if you use any of them, we would love to hear your stories! Merry Christmas, everyone! Kenzie Coming out can be difficult. It's a new time with new experiences and sometimes you're only just coming to terms with your own feelings, let alone trying to explain to other people how you feel. This time isn't made any easier when you have people in your life who don't accept or support you or you're surrounded by people who make you feel different and unloved. This is called homophobia.
In 2017, The Independent released an article using figures from gay rights charity Stonewall which revealed that more than 1 in 5 homosexuals out of over 5000 people had been a victim of a verbal or physical attack in the past 12 months, due to their sexuality. This has risen by 80% over the last four years. However, another study also released by Stonewall in 2017 showed that homophobic attacks and bullying in secondary schools has dropped by a third, making it much less likely than it was 10 years ago. This doesn't mean that LGBTQ+ pupils aren't still at risk though. I came out for the first time when I was 14, and though my mum was fine with it as was my dad eventually, there were a few people at school who seemed to have an issue with my bisexuality. I would be standing in the dinner queue, minding my own business, when all of a sudden someone would come up to me and tell me that ‘people like you shouldn't be alive’ or ‘bisexuality isn't real, you're just a greedy lesbian’ or even ‘the world would be a better place if you killed yourself.’ I don't know how they found out - I guess rumours fly when you're a teenager in secondary school - but their hurtful comments really got to me and made me hate myself for not being ‘normal.’ I had struggled with my sexuality for over four years before this point and the things they would say didn't make it any easier to deal with. One thing to remember when you're the victim of a homophobic attack, whether it be verbal or physical, is that it's not your fault. It's very easy to blame yourself - ‘if I wasn't gay this wouldn't have happened’, ‘I should be normal’ - but you never chose to have these feelings. Something which you have no control over cannot be your fault. You have no control over someone else's actions or the way you feel, so never blame yourself. A second thing is that the only way in which anything will change is if you tell someone. No one can help you if they don't know what's going on. If it's in school, tell a teacher or a person of authority in your school. They can help you. If it's someone in your family or your circle of friends, then it's a good idea to tell a parent or another family member like an auntie or a godmother - someone you can trust. Of course, it's a more complicated situation if you're being attacked and abused by someone in your family but people can and will still help you. A third piece of advice is try to avoid them and cut them out of your life. If they aren't in your life anymore then they can't hurt you. Get out of their circle and get them out of yours. Sometimes you need to put yourself first and protect yourself. If someone you know is being homophobic, talk to them about it. Don't be aggressive or it is likely they will put themselves on the defense or even the attack, which is worse. Just talk to them about their actions and how they are making other people feel. Maybe then they can realise the error of their ways. If someone you know is a victim of homophobia, let them know that you support and accept them and encourage them to tell someone. By telling someone, the issue is much more likely to be resolved, allowing the affected to move on. Moving on happily is the best revenge in any hate crime. You don't deserve any of this. You deserve love and support and acceptance. You didn't ask for this. But you are important, you are beautiful, you are strong and you are unique. For more advice, here are some sites you can contact:
We all love you. Kenzie As a child, I think everyone (particularly girls) grow up believing that when they move out of home, they're going to live in a nice apartment with their best friend. I know I certainly did. A lot of the time, this notion disappears and doesn't end up happening but what about the rare occurrences when it does happen? Whether it is while you're at university or just a halfway house while you both get on your feet to buy your own house, it can be difficult knowing whether living together will ruin your friendship or make it stronger.
Recently, I started living with my best friend. Only for two weeks, while her family was away, but it was my first time living with someone other than my parents. I didn't know what to expect from it, but I learnt a few things whilst living with her and I'd like to share this advice with you so that if you end up living with a friend of yours, you can stay friends and keep your friendship as good as it has always been. There are three main things to address: First thing’s first, don't expect it to be like an extra long sleepover. Living with someone is very different to having a sleepover. At a sleepover you might stay up all night and eat nothing except junk food and spend all the time talking. However, when you're living with your best friend, it's likely that isn't going to happen. When going about your normal life, you need to eat somewhat healthily and get a decent amount of sleep, and you are going to run out of things to talk about when you're doing everything together. Me and my friend often didn't speak about anything meaningful in the two weeks we lived together. We ate normal food such as rice and chicken and vegetables for tea, and we slept in separate bedrooms, in proper beds and got up to 8 hours sleep each night. That doesn't make it less fun, or new and exciting, just know that it will be different to what you are possibly expecting. Similar to what I've briefly touched on in the previous paragraph, don't be worried if you don't speak all the time, everyday. When you're only staying for one day, you talk about everything all at once because you've got a limited amount of time to tell them everything you want to tell them. However if you're living together, your time is unlimited and you will start to run out of things to tell them. Me and my friend barely spoke on some days and we can usually always find things to talk about. It doesn't mean that you've fallen out or that you don't like each other, it's just the way it is sometimes. Third, make sure you pull your weight. You aren't a guest anymore. It is your house for however long you're staying there. It's your responsibility to clean up after yourself and to do the dishes or make dinner. It's not all your friend’s responsibility anymore. You may be happy to live in a pigsty but that's not fair. Those are the three main things to remember when living with a friend. I am well aware that it makes it seem extremely boring, but that doesn't mean that every day has to be like that. Sure, you may need to dedicate a day to housework or one of you may be working/volunteering or whatever you do for a living, but here are a few ideas to make living together exciting whilst still being responsible. 1. Plan a day out There's never any harm in spending a day having fun. You could go to a park or the cinema and just do what you would have done if you were hanging out like before, adding in a bit of fun. If you're living together long term, you could make it weekly or monthly. 2. Have a sleepover I know I said that living together isn't a constant sleepover and you may be thinking how can you have a sleepover when you're living together? But you can! Just do what you'd do on a sleepover like binge watch your favourite series, stick on a film, eat loads of junk food and stay up until the early hours of the morning! 3. Spend time doing things together. To have fun, you don't have to go out. It can really help if you find a fun activity to do together. You could do some baking or play a game. You could even do the housework together and play some music during that time to make it more fun. It doesn't matter what it is so long as you make the most of it. All I'm saying is make sure to have fun. Living together doesn't have to be boring. If you want any more advice on living with your friend, you can always contact me on my social media which you can find on my profile. Here are a few good articles which include other tips which I may not have covered: hellogiggles.com/love-sex/friends/live-bestie-stay-besties/ www.buzzfeed.com/augustafalletta/how-to-live-with-roommates www.youmoveme.com/us/blog/the-2-best-tips-for-moving-in-with-friends Kenzie Death is a very difficult thing to deal with. It's a known fact that everyone dies at some point. Around 500,000 people die in England every year and so it's common knowledge but that doesn't make it any easier to cope with when it happens. Especially when it's happening to you or someone you're close to.
I haven't had the easiest time with death to be frank about it. Since the age of 3, death has unfortunately been a massive part of my life by taking some of the most important people in my life away from me. I lost my grandad at 3 from an aneurysm and I didn't really understand death or what an aneurysm was then - I was a little kid, I didn't really know what that meant. I still don't really understand aneurysms now. All I know is I hate it for taking my grandad away before I can even properly make memories with him. Then at 5, I lost my uncle to dilated cardiomyopathy. The silent killer, they called it. I still didn't really understand but this time I attended his memorial. I was too young to attend his funeral. When I was 11, I went to my first funeral - the funeral of my dearest grandma. I fully understood death by this point and it was one of the hardest to deal with. It was such a shock - a heart attack - and it was the pain of knowing that, by admittance of the paramedics, she could never have been saved. Again at age 14. This time it was my grandpa, husband of my grandma. We'd slowly been losing him ever since she passed away but it was cancer that took him. The final and most recent death of someone who was close to me was my nan. She was in a care home and it was the most peaceful death of them all, if that’s a thing. I sat with her after she passed away, holding her hand and stroking her hair. It was the only person I got to really say goodbye to, properly. It never gets easier. The pain never goes away. You just learn to live with it. However, here are some tips to help you cope when the pain and grief is most raw.
If you need any more advice or tips on dealing with grief and death or need to talk to someone, there are places you can go. Our website is always available and we have some brilliant helpful articles to do with grief and death. www.teenagerswithexperience.weebly.com Our asks are always open as is our team social media and our personal profiles. Don't be afraid to use them. Other websites include: www.childline.org.uk www.hopeagain.org.uk www.bereavement-trust.org.uk www.griefencounter.org.uk www.muchlove.com Stay strong, my loves. Kenzie A lot of fun can be had at theme parks. One of the most popular theme parks in the UK is Alton Towers. But why is it so popular? What is so good about it? Well, you're about to find out.
Alton Towers is a theme park in a little town called Alton in Stoke on Trent in England, hence being called ‘Alton Towers.’ It has been open since 1980 and currently is home to 10 exciting rollercoasters designed mainly for adults and teenagers. It's not just for the older people. As I say, it has big scary rollercoasters, such as Nemesis and The Smiler, for older kids but also little gentle rides, such as Octonauts and Twirling Toadstool for smaller kids. There is quite clearly fun to be had for all the family. Some of the most famous rides are The Smiler and more recently The Wicker Man due to them being the most recent rides added to the park and, in the case of The Smiler, the accidents and issues which have taken place on them. I first went to Alton Towers when I was 12. I wanted to do it for my birthday as I'd never been to a proper theme park. I remember it vividly, which is unusual due to it being 6 years ago. I went with three of my friends and both my parents. It was a reasonably warm day: the sun was shining like a diamond, it was bone dry and there was a nice breeze to keep us all parkgoers cool. I was so excited. It felt like an adventure. I could challenge myself to win prizes, go on big scary rides to conquer my fears and have a fun day with my friends and family, laughing and running around after one another like we were toddlers again. I was right to be so excited. I can honestly say that Alton Towers has been one of the best experiences of my life, so much so that it has become an annual event for me and my best friends. My favourite ride is Galactica, a VR virtual reality rollercoaster which sends you in to space through multiple different worlds while turning you upside down and round and round on loop the loops and causing you to scream the whole way through. More recently, the Wicker Man has been catapulted to the top of the list. It is based on an old legend which surrounds the idea of people being ‘the chosen ones’ to be sacrificed to gods and leaders. In the middle of the rollercoaster, there is a giant Wicker Man sculpture which seemingly sets on fire as you hurtle through it. It is unbelievable and amazing and honestly one of the best rides, if not the best ride, at Alton Towers to date. I have been back multiple times since, having just as much fun and laughing and smiling (and screaming) the whole time. When thinking about why people love Alton Towers, there are lots of things to take in to consideration. Do they love the rides? Do they love the location? Do they love the history of it? Do they love the experience, the adventure of something new? Do they love the thrill? There are so many different reasons as to why people love theme parks in general. But Alton Towers stands out. After a lot of research and from talking to friends about their experiences, I've found out why that is. After looking on the TowersTimes forum asking why people love Alton Towers, a common theme is the atmosphere. A lot of people say there is some kind of magic about Alton Towers which is infectious and you just get caught up in it all. It's like you end up in a different world with so many new things to explore, so many happy people to meet and so many thrills to feel. Another thing is surprisingly, not the rides but, the location. As I have said, Alton Towers is located in Alton in Stoke on Trent. It is surrounded by green hilly countryside and hundreds of thriving majestic trees and high blue skies, making it such a pretty place to visit. The Skyride which transports you from ride to ride, from one side of the park to the other, is the perfect place to just enjoy the view and revel in the beauty of what's surrounding you. Alton Towers also houses a garden which you can explore to your heart’s content and it is something you might not find in other theme parks like Thorpe Park or Chessington’s World of Adventures. Of course, the rides do come in to it as well. But this poses another question. What do the rides at Alton Towers have that other places don't? Alton Towers are always open to being better and bigger than they were before, better and bigger than everyone else. They are always looking to find ways to make their rides better or the park in general. One thing that I haven't seen anywhere else is the VR virtual reality headset available on Galactica. By adding the option of VR, it gives you the chance to experience something that you couldn't experience anywhere else and it enhances the ride more than you could imagine. It's so different and unique. Another thing is the Wicker Man. It is a wooden rollercoaster which isn't common for rollercoasters of today. Wood is very unheard of in terms of rollercoaster materials and so by creating a wooden rollercoaster, it stands out. Plus, it gives the illusion of the wooden sculpture setting on fire which I definitely have never seen before. It's new and exciting, and that's what makes it different from all the other rides. There is also the fact that their rides hold some pretty good acallaides. For example, Rita is the 5th fastest rollercoaster in the UK and when it opened in 2005, it was the rollercoaster with the quickest start in the whole of Europe (as sourced from an article on the Independent’s website called ‘Hold on to your lunch: Rita is the fastest roller yet.’) Nemesis was Europe's first inverted rollercoaster when it was built and it was only the second one to ever be built in the world. As if that wasn't exciting enough, Oblivion was marketed as ‘the world's first vertical drop rollercoaster’ as it opened on 14th March 1998. If you ask me, everything you've just read is why Alton Towers is so popular. Is it the location? Yes. Is it the rides? Yes. Is it the adventure? Yes. Everything about Alton Towers is exciting and unique and gives you the opportunity to experience things you've never experienced before. It is brilliant for a day trip or a long weekend and is fun for all the family. What more could you want? If you want more information about Alton Towers, visit their website which is www.altontowers.com and feel free to visit the websites referenced in this article such as the TowerTimes forum - forum.towertimes.co.uk - or the article from 2005 detailing Rita’s speed and acallaides on the Independent’s website. Kenzie Something which has been on my mind due to the amount of festivals which I've attended this year has been how you are supposed to stay safe at festivals. Festival season might be coming to an end this month but that doesn't mean that people won't be attending festivals anymore. Perhaps you can use these tips for your September festivals or keep it for future reference regarding 2019 festivals.
Those of you who personally know me or follow my personal social media will know that I go to a lot of festivals. This year alone, I have gone to around 7 festivals and my family and I still have a few more planned. I love festivals. A lot of the festivals I go to are classified as ‘family friendly festivals’ so there is lots for kids to do, most people are very friendly and will help you if you're lost or upset and it's just generally a nice atmosphere. But what about festivals that aren't necessarily like that, or just big festivals like Reading or Leeds? How do you stay safe then? My first tip for staying safe at a festival is never accept anything from someone you don't know. There was an incident at a festival called Roystonbury earlier this year where someone was handing out chocolate with drugs in it. It caused some real issues for the people at this festival and even the organisers were victims to it. I wasn't at this festival but my parents were and it's a scary situation when it's so close to home. You don't really know whether the people you are around are trustworthy or not. If they try to give you something such as a drink or some food, there may have been something done to it beforehand which means it isn't safe for consumption. This could be really dangerous and cause illness or damage to the person who ends up with it. Not everyone will be out to hurt you, but it's better to be safe than sorry. My second tip is stay with people you know. Sometimes it's not always possible that you can get someone to come to a festival. Perhaps they can't afford it or they don't like the same music - whatever the reason, sometimes it is seemingly impossible. However, if there is any way that you can get someone to come with you then do it. There is the truth in the saying ‘safety in numbers.’ It could be a friend, a partner, a parent, a family member - it doesn't really matter who so long as you know them and are comfortable with them and you are prepared to keep each other safe. Another thing to keep in mind is go places together. It's one thing to have people go to the festival with you but what is the point in them being there if as soon as you arrive, you go your separate ways and do your own thing? Make sure to have a buddy system in place. Stick together, or at least make sure you know where the other person/people will be if you need them. At one festival a few years back, me and my dad were going to get food together and we set off together but I lost my dad in the middle of a crowd of around 15,000 people and I was terrified. I had no idea where he was and he had no idea where I was. Luckily, I managed to get hold of him and we arranged a meeting place but it proves how easy it is to get lost and it shows just how scary it really is. So make sure that if you're going somewhere, you either arrange a place to meet if you lose each other or you want to go off by yourself or you hold on to each other as you go. You really don't want to get lost. As well as keeping yourself safe, you need to keep your belongings safe. Nowadays, it is extremely uncommon for anyone to go anywhere without their phone. Phones can be expensive so you need to make sure that it and any other valuables are safe. You can do this by keeping them on your person at all times and never leaving them unattended. You could keep your essentials such as your phone, your money and your ID in a bag that you keep a hand on at all times so no one can pick pocket you or even better, you could put them somewhere that no one else can get to except you, like your shoe or in your bra/underwear. It might seem weird but it's actually very effective - I've tried it. Festivals are often seen as an opportunity to get completely recklessly drunk. It is also sometimes seen as an opportunity to drink while underage as some festivals don't tend to check the ID of the person buying the alcohol and even if they do, it's easy enough to get a person of age to buy the drink for you. I definitely don't condone/recommend underage drinking, despite the fact I have done it myself. It's not a good idea - there is an age limit for a reason and you really should abide by it. However, if you are of age, you should still make sure you are drinking responsibly. Alcohol can make people act differently to how they may usually act when they are sober so make sure you're taking precautions in order to keep yourself and the people around you safe. Also, alcohol doesn't hydrate you properly which isn't good during the summer months as temperatures can soar - particularly at festivals. You can keep yourself hydrated as well as reasonably responsible and sober by equalling out your alcohol to water ratio. Follow every alcoholic drink by a glass of water. The water will hydrate you and will also help to keep you from getting too drunk and ending up either injuring yourself or someone else and causing trouble. Despite all these rules and tips I have given you and the many incidents which have happened at festivals over the years, the vast majority of people go to festivals and have a great time and may become regulars at festivals for many years – going and having fun is your main priority! Staying safe doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your fun. You can easily max out the fun whilst still being safe and responsible. This can actually help you get the most out of your festival experience. If you do have any issues at a festival, it's a good idea to speak to an available steward or warden on site who can sort it out for you. You can also always refer back to this article in order to keep safe and there are other websites to help you. Here are some useful links:
www.safeline.org.uk
www.healthdirect.gov.au/
Just remember - stay safe but HAVE FUN! Kenzie I know how hard it is to feel stupid. I've felt stupid many many times in my life. It doesn't matter whether I fail an exam or have done badly at something simple or have just messed something up. I know what it's like to feel stupid.
I feel stupid because…
These are some of the few reasons I have felt stupid. They're different types of stupid though. Getting a D in my exam made me feel academically stupid. I felt like a D wasn't good enough and made me feel like I wasn't good enough or I wasn't intelligent enough. Breaking a glass made me feel like an idiot because how could I have been so careless as to not pay attention to the glass? It made me feel like a stupid careless person. Throwing a tantrum made me feel stupid because it was so silly. It wasn't worth getting angry over or throwing a tantrum. It was a little thing that was not worth the hassle and distress it caused. First things first. You're not stupid, however the act may be. For example, when you throw a tantrum. You aren't stupid for throwing a tantrum but the act of actually throwing a tantrum is stupid. So don't say things like ‘I'm so stupid’ or ‘why am I so stupid?’ Instead, acknowledge that what happened was perhaps not the best decision and was perhaps a bit stupid but that doesn't make you stupid. However stupid what you did may seem, there will always be something worse and even more stupid or more silly. Think of it this way. Once upon a time, there was a feud between the God of Water, Poseidon, and Emperor Caligula. Caligula got so mad that he ordered a wrath on Poseidon. However, because Poseidon was a god and had no physical form, this was a little difficult. So Caligula ordered his soldiers to stab the water. With SWORDS. HE WAS STABBING WATER WITH SWORDS. Of course this wasn't actually attacking Poseidon! How silly is that? See. I'm sure whatever happened was not as stupid as that. Finally, don't worry about doing something stupid. Everyone doesn't stupid things sometimes. Everyone can be a little bit daft. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Being daft or being silly can be fun. There are times when being serious and sensible are mandatory but being a bit silly is good too. You're not alone in this. You're not alone in anything. Kenzie |