Not So Dumb Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe started her career while working in a munitions factory in Burbank, California, where she was discovered by a photographer. She wasn't born into the business like all the stars you see today. She had a tough childhood. Her modeling career led her to become an actress and she signed her first movie contract in 1946. Some of her most famous movies include The Seven Year Itch (1955), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), and Some Like it Hot (1959). She soon become Hollywood’s most popular actress, along with the most prominent sex symbol. Every guy wanted her and every girl wanted to be her. She had many affairs with some very important men; such as the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy.

            Marilyn Monroe may have been considered a sex symbol of her time, but that doesn't mean she wasn't a strong and independent women. In the era of the 1950’s and 60’s, women were supposed to stand by their man and not speak unless spoken to. If women wanted to do something, they had to tell their husband and have them get it for them. Monroe was wanted by numerous men all over the world. If she asked for something it was brought to her right away. However she was very independent when it came to her personal decisions, such as her career. In the late 1950’s, Monroe was tired of playing the dumb blonde type and began studying acting with Lee Strasberg at the Actors' Studio in New York City. She wanted people to take her more seriously and not think of her as just a bubbly blonde who was pretty. She wanted the brains as well as the beauty.

            Marilyn Monroe was considered beautiful in her time; which explains why she was considered a huge sex icon in the 50’s and 60’s. To this day, men still drool over her gorgeous body. Women on the other hand, consider her attractive, but fat. Today’s society has told us that to be considered beautiful, you must be skinny. To be considered skinny, you cannot have any body fat and must have a stick figured body. In Monroe’s day, an hourglass figure was considered beautiful. Young female teens especially should look up to Miss Monroe because of her stunning body, not that toothpick thin model they see in Victoria Secret magazines.

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Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Death is a part of life, there’s no way around that. If we didn't have death, the world would be over populated to the point where life wouldn't be sustainable. Every living organism goes through the circle of life with death being at the very end. Thinking about death and the different ways to go can be horrifying to some and reassuring to others. It all just depends on your outlook of life. No one likes to see a loved one go on to a better place, however the way some people cope with the pain is unhealthy.

Coming to terms with the fact that he or she is gone is one of the first steps of the grieving process. You shouldn't pretend that they’re still here and they’re just out running an errand at the store. Once they have taken their last breath, they’re gone. They won’t give you hugs or a friendly smile anymore. They won’t send you birthday or Christmas cards in the mail. They won’t be there to take a picture with you when you reach those milestone moments such as your graduation or wedding day. Pretending that they’re still here but not in front of you is preventing you from moving on with your life.

Talk to someone. Don’t hide all your emotions inside and keep them bottled up. One day you’re going to get upset about something very little and unimportant, and that’s when all the tears and sorrows are going to come flooding out of you. All it takes is one hole in the dam to result in the whole thing collapsing. If you don’t have anyone specific to talk to, think about going to a therapist. They are there to listen and help you, not to judge you. If you don’t have the money for a therapist or don’t feel comfortable talking to a complete stranger about your problems, try video diaries. Set up a camera on a shelf or a counter of some sort, sit in front of it and talk for as long as you have to. You would be surprised at how fast everything will come pouring out of you. All the worries and sorrows will seem like nothing at all once they’re all out. When they’re cooped up inside your head for months or even years on end, they’ll begin to plant an idea in your head. The idea that you can never be happy without this person in your life so why bother try. Saying your problems out loud helps you realize that they’re true. That it’s not something your mind has been making up.

Closure is one of the last steps of grieving. This step may take the longest, or it may end up being the shortest. It all depends on the person and the way they see life. Many people want their loved one’s death to be justified. If he or she died at the hand of someone else, they want that person to be put away for what they took from them. If a disease is what took their loved one, such as cancer for example, a lot of people won’t find closure until cancer has been defeated. However, closure could also be considered acceptance. Accepting everything that happened to not only their loved one but themselves included. Rejoicing in the fact that the person they love is not suffering anymore can set someone’s soul free from despair and loneliness.

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College Bound Girl

As senior year begins and everyone talks about how they want to get out of here as soon as possible, many senior students haven’t considering the very obvious question. What comes next? May seems like a ways away, however the end of your high school career tends to sneak up on a lot of people. They don’t realize that time is running out and they have to make quick decisions about their future that take more than a couple of seconds to make. As May draws nearer, seniors get wrapped up in graduation, prom, graduation parties, summer jobs, etc. The seniors that have thought through their college plans have the luxury of sitting around and thinking about all those things. However, that’s not the case for many.

            Start your college search as soon as possible. Those people that are over achievers even started during their junior year. Taking college tours and begin looking at what careers are out there for them is a big first step in applying for college. If you don’t have a clue as to what you want to do or major in, that’s ok too. Many students switch majors once or twice while in college. As long as you have a general idea, you’ll be fine.

            College tours are a great way to figure out if a certain college is a right fit for you. You can go on a weekend that’s open to the public; however I find it easier and more beneficial to schedule your own private visit because instead of being in a large group, you have your own personal tour guide and advisor. Asking questions on a college tour is very important. You won’t get much out of the tour without asking the right kind of questions. Good questions to ask are questions involving tuition rates, financial aid, class sizes, professors in a certain major, dorm room related questions, etc. Don’t be afraid to ask too many questions.

            Once you have your college selected, it’s time to apply. Many colleges have easy applications online. All you have to do is fill out your personal information, then go to your school’s counselor and ask them to send your official transcript to that particular college. Depending on when the college is accepting applications, you should receive word from them within a week or two.

            If you get accepted, congrats and obviously you have to do your happy dance! Depending on the college, they should tell you what you have to do to register for housing and such in your admissions letter. College is a big step in life and in your career. It’s ok to figure things out along the way and make mistakes. Just make sure you learn from those mistakes and take it seriously.

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Be Yourself Ladies

Walking around in the halls of high school or driving around town, girls are constantly wondering what others think of them. They're wondering if their hair looks ok, or if they have something in their teeth, or they’re wondering if someone can tell they have a giant pimple on their face that’s very noticeable. Guys wonder about similar things, just not as much as girls. Girls feel pressured to look perfect because of the current society we live in. What most people don't know is that there is no such thing as perfection and it’s time girls start believing that.

            Girls spend hours every day trying to make themselves look pretty. Nine times out of ten, when girls leave the house they don't feel like they're pretty enough. They think if they would've had ten extra minutes they could look ten times better. Perfection never comes because it doesn't exist. You are your worst critique. You believe there’s always something wrong with the way you look and you feel the need to fix it.

            Girls judge other girls. It’s the human nature of the female gender. One of the reasons girls feel the need to look good is to impress not only boys, but other girls as well. Girls who don't feel accepted by society try to make themselves fit in by looking up to those considered “popular.” And those considered “popular” want to be perfect because they feel like they have to keep their status of being “popular.” The fact of the matter is that there is no such thing as being “popular.” Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

            Girls are under the impression that they have to be perfect to please a guy. Because of this, many guys are expecting girls to be perfect, which adds more pressure to girls feeling like they have to be better than they really are. Where does the cycle end? Ladies, we live in a man’s world but that doesn't mean we have to let them run our lives. Showing guys that girls are perfect just the way they are can be difficult, but not impossible. Be yourself. If a guy makes you feel like you have to change to be with him, he is not worth your time. Walk down the halls with your head up and a confident attitude. You are beautiful in every way and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

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