"Blind Devotion"

Recently I came across this video of a women who finds out she is going blind. She is afraid to tell her husband because her life was perfect and she doesn't want it to change. Once her husband finds out, what he did is incredible. If you haven't had a chance to see this video, take a look. 

Every girl fantasizes about finding the perfect guy. Love is hard for many girls, especially those girls who have been hurt in the past, and they will say yes to every man that comes along that makes them feel special. Those guys are not usually in it for the long run, and end up hurting the girl. This video shows real true love. It shows a guy who is willing to go out of his way in order to ensure not only her safety, but her happiness as well.  

A quote from this short film really caught my attention, and that is "Because that's what true love is, right? There's more than just a feeling, it's an action." Love isn't just something you feel. It's not the butterflies in your stomach or the "on top of the world" feeling you get when you're around them. It's an action. It's physically showing the other person that you love them through your day to day life. 

Men in particular should watch this video for many reasons. One reason being that this video reveals the secrets to being a good boyfriend and husband. It shows how to love your partner unconditionally in hopes that they return the love right back, which they usually do. Something else that boys tend not to understand about women is that we don't need fancy cars, big houses, and lots of money. All we need is for someone to love us and are willing to accept our love in return. This little eight minute video shows all of this, the only problem is most guys won't take the time to watch it. 

Word Count: 334

Tips for Surviving Prom Dress Shopping

Alright ladies, it's that time of the year again. The time for cute proposals, saving money for the stretch limo, and most importantly, the dress. Prom is just around the corner and I know some girls like to be over achievers and get their dress early, but for those of you who didn't even know you were going to prom, here are some helpful tips to make the search easier for you. 

Finding the right dress doesn't have to be stressful. Prom is a time to celebrate the end of the school year and more importantly, the end of your high school career. You're already stressing over college stuff, why add to the chaos by stressing over a simple little dress. The first step is to take a deep breath and know that everything is going to be alright. 

Most girls know the type of dress they like, however if you're not most girls, then that's ok too. Start by looking through catalogs or Pinterest, where many different styles of dresses can be found. If you ask a boy for his opinion, they will probably say a dress is a dress. However boys don't understand that a dress is not just a dress. There's corset back or there's a zipper. There's ball gown with lots of tulle or there's a straight down and silky. There's ruffles or there's sequins. So many choices, but in the end it's all about what you want, not what he wants. Get a dress that makes you feel special and not one just because he told you to. 

If you're more of a "try it on" type of person, get some friends together to go prom dress shopping. This way you get your friends' opinions, you get to try on the dress, and you can make a day out of it with your best friends. Shopping online is always an option as well. With online shopping, there are twice as many options. Many department stores don't have every single dress in stock, but their websites sure do. Websites such as Prom Happy and Just Prom Dress are very useful and have tons of dresses for all shapes and sizes. Many stores, especially around this time of the year, also give out promotional deals, such 20% off your online order of $75 or more, for online shoppers. These great deals are definitely worth looking into because it can help you save a ton of money. 

You don't need a $500 dress from Bloomingdales to make you shine like a star. If you're a girl working on a budget, try asking around first. Ask your friends who have gone in the past or someone you know with lots of dresses just sitting at home in their closet. Another good resource to use would be Facebook. There are Facebook groups out there that are specifically for selling old or used dresses; at least I know there's one for the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. Consignment stores would be another place to look if you don't want to spend a bundle. Their dresses are cheap and usually not too worn down. Places such as Stuff Etc. are very strict on what they accept to ensure you don't pay for something that's not worth paying for. Prom doesn't have to be expensive, however most girls make it so just because they don't know of these other great options that are offered to them. 

Word Count: 573

The Importance of a Part Time Job

Many high school students need money for college so they get a part time job in high school and in college. What they don't know is that they're not only getting a paycheck, but also the well earned skill of hard work. Hard work is not something that people just get. It's something that has to be earned. Students that don't have a part time job don't know what it's like to do legit work and they don't know what it's like to have to sacrifice a weekend of movies and friends for twelve hours of working. Every high school and college student should have the experience of working a part time job on top of their busy schedules. Some great places to look for part time jobs would be places such as the mall, local restaurants, or fast food. These types of places are always hiring high school and college aged kids.  

A part time job doesn't have to run your whole life. It is possible to juggle a job, family, friends, school, etc. When you get hired, just tell them you would like to work x amount of hours. Nine times out of ten, they'll work with you and your schedule. However there is such a thing as sacrifice. No one likes to miss a family or friend event for work, but you have to find that balance between sacrificing work for friends and friends for work. This is called compromise. It's not an easy thing to do but it's something that has to be done. Just remember that you can't please everyone, hence the compromise. However don't let your employer take advantage of you and make you work twenty some hours a week. Studies done by WebMD Children's Health have shown the negative side effects of high school students working too much. 

Hard work isn't the only plus to having a part time job during high school. It looks great on a college application or scholarship application. It shows colleges that you can handle a busy schedule, along with keeping up with good grades, community services, etc. When you hand over your paycheck to the bank teller, you get this sense of pride because that money was earned, not given to you. After awhile, those paychecks will add up as well. Soon you'll find yourself with a big bank account, which would make anyone smile. By having a job, you learn great social skills too. You learn to compromise with your boss and coworkers. You learn how to act around costumers, both the nice and rude kind. You learn how to deal with big decisions when under a lot of pressure. The list goes on and on.  

"It's not about what you know but who you know," author unknown. This well known saying is as true as they come. Employers are a great source for job recommendations or even letters of recommendation for college. As long as you're a hard working employee and you left on good terms, it will prove to help you later on in life knowing these people and making these relationships. 

Word Count: 518