The Not So Perfect Body essays

The Not So Perfect Body essays I wish I looked like that! Does this sound familiar? Millions of images everyday are pressuring teens today to be slimmer, taller, and stronger. No wonder more and more teens have a bad self-image of themselves and are willing to do anything to get the perfect body. The American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons says that the numbers of teenagers getting cosmetic surgery has more than doubled in the last few years, with the most popular surgeries as rhinoplasty (nose surgery), breast augmentation, liposuction, and otoplasty (ear surgery). Surgery is not the only way teenagers are working for the perfect body; eating disorders are becoming more frequent. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that by college as many as 4.5% to 8% of girls have had bulimia (an eating disorder associated with binging and purging and severe weight loss). Also 1 in every 100 women is diagnosed with anorexia (an eating disorder characterized by low calorie intake and extreme exercise in order to lose weight). The complications of these disorders can cause seizures, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, slower breathing rate, and has been linked to at least 1,000 deaths per year. Though eating disorders are usually associated with females, it is projected that over one million teenage boys also suffer from these disorders. Along with the obsession for a thin, slim, body, having a well-sculpted, muscular body is another aspiration for most teenagers. In 2001 over 400,000 teenage boys reported that they were steroid users even though the drugs are illegal in the U.S. Steroids are used to enhance their muscles and strength but in the end steroids can cause severe mood swings, paranoia, delusions, impaired judgment, heart attack, cancer, liver disease, and has lead to many other complications as well as suicide. With all these risks, then why would anyone gamble their health on such a superficial cause? ...

4 Reasons You Should Take the SAT

4 Reasons You Should Take the SAT As graduation nears, tons of high school students are asking themselves this question: Why should I take the SAT? Many colleges and universities out there dont require the SAT, and theyd rather get into a university that doesnt force them to take even more standardized tests. Thats a great question, and there are some very good reasons for you to just take the SAT, even if you dont want to. Read below to see the benefits you can get from making the choice to sit for the exam. The Universally Accepted Test If youre going to college, you kind of have to take a college entrance exam like the SAT if youre attending a school that requires one (some do not). All major universities in the United States accept the SAT as a college entrance exam; most accept the ACT. Scholarships Scholarships, kids! Yes. Money often follows an impressive SAT score. Check into your college of choices SAT scholarship requirements. Many schools dole out huge bucks for great SAT scores. For instance, St. Louis university has awarded $15,000 merit scholarships for a 1210 on the combined Reading and Math scores. Villanova has given more than $10,000 for a 1310. Your school doesnt offer cash for your score? No worries.  Even if your college or university doesnt offer scholarships for your SAT score, many community organizations and foundations do. Trust me, youll appreciate not having to pay back school loans when youre all grown up if you can get much of your tuition covered with a test, so get out there and  practice for the SAT  until your fingers bleed. Balance a Low GPA So maybe you hated your World History teacher, flunked the class to spite her, and ruined that 4.0. That doesn’t mean you dont have the brain skills to survive college. Scoring high on the SAT can show off your smarts to the college admissions team when your GPA doesn’t. And yes, although admissions committees take a look at you as a whole person, not just at your SAT score, it  is  one of the pieces that makes up the picture of you. You want it to be good.   Your Scores Follow You Around I’m not kidding. When you apply for your first entry-level job, your SAT scores (if theyre good enough) are going to be on your resume, because truthfully, your pizza delivery gig can’t showcase your reasoning ability like a 90th percentile on the SAT can. You wont have a lot of job experience right off the bat. Take the SAT to prove to your first future employer that you have the smarts to be successful at your job, even if intelligence is NOT really one of the things the SAT predicts or measures.   Here are the Top SAT Registration Questions to get you started on your SAT journey. Good luck!