Listen and Speak Up

As you go through school (elementary, middle, high) in the United States, you will see, or experience for yourself, a type of bullying.

I, from personal experience, have been on the bullying end more times than I can count, from the time I was 8, all the way through high school. And I still hear about it in college, even though I am no longer the one being bullied.

Why am I writing about this sensitive subject?

A boy that I knew from the time he moved to my school, all the way through to the time I graduated, was just sentenced to prison because he shot at a kid who had been picking on him relentlessly for years now, then tried to turn the gun on himself, feeling that that was the best way to escape the bullying. I also know a girl who just went through a terrible ordeal that involved her being beaten up for being different, and her family is currently going through stuff dealing with that. This beautiful girl is just about 18 (if not 18) years old.

I am not naming names, only because this will just bring up a huge fight.

What I am trying to get at is this-

Bullying is not just something that occurs inside the schools, and online (as we all know, cyber bullying has taken a surge in the last few years). Bullying is something that is learned by the children from their parents. Some of us know better, and will treat others as we want to be treated (anyone read the bible?). Others will take a page out of their parents book, and pass judgment on those who are not "normal," or are different from them, and will pick on those people.

After everything that I myself have been through, and then hearing about stuff that is happening even more through out the schools across the nation, I regret not having spoken up about the problems that I had gone through.

Ever had someone start a rumor about you being dead? Picked on you for a medical condition that you couldn't control?

I have been through it, and have friends who have been through it. None of us should ever have to go through something like that. It hurts us growing up, and it causes many problems in many places of our society (eating disorders [not just the loss of weight, but the gaining of weight] are a good example of an issue that pops up).

So before you start pointing fingers, making fun of people, and talking behind someone's back with the intentions of it being heard by them, think about this:

How would you feel if you were the one being picked on?

And parents, speak to your children. There may be issues that they don't want to bring up. If you ask them, they may be more willing to tell you what's going on at school if you tell them that you are there to listen to them.

Private has it right. Talk to your friends.

Friends, talk to your other friends. You know that they are more comfortable talking to you then their parents at most times. If you have noticed a change in their behavior as of lately, there might just be something that is causing them to not be their usual selves.

Again, I wish I had spoken up when I was in school. Though it probably wouldn't have done much, it would have gotten out there sooner.

I know, bullying has been around for decades. But, like I said, bullying is learned from the generation before, and is sent down by those parents who do not tell their children that it is not right to judge those who are different.

TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
DO NOT BE A BULLY.

Be nice. Do the right thing. Just because that person may LOOK and ACT weird, remember that you may LOOK and ACT weird to someone else.

New to the Blog Scene

Hello there, and welcome to my new blog!


I'm new to this, so things will be changed here and there as time goes on.


A little about myself: I am a graphic design student at SCAD in good ol' Savannah, Georgia, and am in my senior year. I have 2 minors (Architecture and Sustainability), but no one wants to read about that stuff.


NOW, the whole point to this blog is to communicate with others the stuff going on in the art world, things that seems to be of interest in general, and the occasional blog about political stuff (if I feel I need to vent about something). Feel free to comment and give me any suggestions, whether it be on a topic you want to read about, or something that I wrote made you want to punch me in the face. I'm all ears (or eyes in this case).


And on that note, my first blog will be about: *drum roll please*


CULINARY SCHOOL!


Now, what is a graphic design student doing writing about culinary school?


I believe it's safe to assume that all, if not most, of you know of the Food Network, something that I have been addicted to watching since I was only 9. And, at one point, I actually wanted to go to culinary school. And some part of me still does, but not for a couple years.


Question: How many of you like to cook? How many of you find it some what soothing? And now, how many of you can see yourself making a career out of it down the road?


If you answered yes to all of the above, then you may be doing the same thing that I have been doing for the last few months, which is looking at possible culinary schools. Or, at least thinking about if you could ever possibly pull off a career in the war zone of cooking. 


I have found a couple culinary schools that seem the right fit for me, but I know that not everyone wants to go for the same thing. SO, here are a few culinary schools (some of which you have more than likely heard of). Don't be afraid to go for it! You never know if it will turn out amazingly if you don't go for it at all.

http://www.chefs.edu/  

-Depending on what city you would want to go to, they offer certificates in pastry and culinary arts, as well as Bachelor's Degrees in Restaurant Management

http://www.jwu.edu/college.aspx?id=19510#fbid=vDNydt9lp1o

-With locations in Providence, Charlotte, North Miami, and Denver, the culinary arts program from Johnson and Wales offers Associate Degrees, Bachelor's Degrees, and, if you have some industry experience, accelerated programs that will earn you a certificate in just 12 months!

http://www.ciachef.edu/

-This culinary school has been around for 60 years, and has campuses in St. Helena, CA; Hyde Park, NY; San Antonio, TX, and, if you feel like studying abroad, they have a campus in Singapore! They offer Associates and Bachelor's Degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts, and a concentration in Wine Tasting. So go ahead and take a look!