Are you a texting walker?

If you are like most young people, you probably have found yourself walking and texting. Hopefully you haven't come face-to-face with a wall, rail or post because you were so into texting that you lost track of where you were. All you have to do is check youtube videos on 'texting walkers' and you will find all kinds of videos that you should find real entertaining, but show the hazards of doing this. To avoid any mishaps, keep your eye on your path since you are probably one of the 'texting walkers'.
Do you want to hear some other interesting statistics about your generation?
You are now known as the iGen.
You are in one of the fastest-growing generations who have your smartphone attached to your hand.
Amazon has always been a store with free shipping.
Sadly, the most important book is not in the school library, but for you of course, it is Facebook.
September 11, 2001, is taught in history class.
You have seen your parents struggle to find a new job in an unstable economy.
You are in the most diverse generation in U.S. history.
Other generations your age have not spent nearly the time looking at screens (computer and phone) as you have.
With all of this technology you have and know how to use, take advantage of learning how to be use it to prepare for college, to be successful in college and then how to make an impact for your future employer as well as society and the world.

What online presence do you want to project?

I happen to be reading an article about the presence that teens project online. If youhave a facebook, twitter, or tumblr account or some other social media, that means you should be thinking about how you project yourself online. Right now you are in high school, but soon you will be in college and eventually in the workforce. Below is information gathered from an article I recently read on online presence.

Do you know many college admissions officers are looking at kids' online presence on social networking sites? They have found information on these sites that could negatively impact over 10% of college applicants. Students have even lost scholarships because of comments or photos they've posted online. Many job recruiters may make hiring decisions that are influenced by a job seekers' online presence.

Things to think about include how to keep things private whilc creating a positive online presence. Use strong passwords that include numbers, capital letters and symbols. Check your privacy settings on social media sites. Routinely delete posts or photos that would be hard to explain to a college admissions officer or future employer.

Don't discover too late and learn the hard way about creating a positive online web presence.

Source: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

Good Advice

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore

If you are in for a great book that has true Texas flavor, then Texas Gothic is just for you. This book has it all. Mystery, adventure, romance and a true Texas legend.

Seventeen-year-old Amy Goodnight has long been the one who makes her family of witches seem somewhat normal to others, but while spending a summer with her sister caring for their aunt's farm in the Hill Country, Amy becomes the center of weirdness when she becomes tied to a powerful ghost. Follow Amy as she, her eccentric sister and a group of archeology students from UT-Austin as they dig through human remains to solve a mystery that may be tied to a long time Texas legend.

Blink and Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones

Blink hoping to steal some breakfast, is forced to go on the run after stumbling upon the fake kidnapping of a CEO and recovering the man's cellphone. While in his travels to find out more about what he witnessed, he meets up with Caution, a girl trying to ditch her drug-dealing boyfriend, who identifies Blink as a mark until he tugs at her heart strings.

This is a great read about two teens who are on the run, trying to survive and find their place in the world. Emotional and intense.

Blink and Caution is on the 2012 Tayshas High School Reading List.

Illegal by Bettina Restrepo

Nora, a fifteen-year-old Mexican girl, faces the challenges of being an illegal immigrant in Texas when she and her mother cross the border in search of Nora's father.

Ending up in inter-city Houston, Nora and her mother struggle to survive while living under the radar of immigration services. Follow Nora on her journey as she tries to find her father, earn money to survive and tries to figure out her way among the diversity of people in her neighborhood.

A realistic look immigration and the struggles of families to stay together.

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

While sitting in the airport with her parents, sixteen-year-old Gemma strikes up a conversation with Ty, a gorgeous young stranger. Before she knows it, she is drugged by Ty and dragged off to the Australian outback where she is held captive. Soon Gemma realizes this desert is so desolate and remote that any escape attempts are futile. In time she believe that Ty is not as despicable as she first believed. But, is she just tired of fighting and willing to give up or will this nightmare eventually come to an end. One thing she knows is that she is losing hope as each day passes.