TEENS CHAT WITH KIRSTEN

AFRICAN PROVERBS African Proverbs O n Wisdom * Wisdom is wealth. ~ Swahili Proverb   * The fool speaks, the wise man listens. ~ Ethiopian proverb * Wisdom does not come overnight. ~ Somali proverb * The heart of the wise man lies quiet like limpid water.   ~ Cameroon proverb * Wisdom is like fire. People take it from others. ~ Hema (DRC) proverb * Knowledge without wisdom is like water in the sand. ~ Guinean proverb * In the moment of crisis, the wise build bridges and the foolish build dams. ~ Nigerian proverb * If you are filled with pride, then you will have no room for wisdom. ~ African proverb * A wise person will always find a way. ~ Tanzanian proverb * Nobody is born wise. ~ African proverb * A man who uses force is afraid of reasoning. ~ Kenyan proverb * Wisdom is not like money to be tied up and hidden. ~ Akan proverb African Proverbs on Learning  * Instruction in youth is like engraving in stone. ~Moroccan Proverb * When you follow...

Many young people daily live stressful lives. Mentally and physically, they are tasked everyday to the point of exhaustion. The period of one's youth should be lived buoyant and invigorated. Youth is synonymous to zeal and zest, so, it is abnormal for a youth to be constantly uninspired, unimaginative, spiritless, tired and dull. Teenagers are facing more stress in today's world than adults did. Pressures to excel academically and meet up with the increasing high marks for university or other college admissions. Students are worried about their social status, judging themselves by the excessive importance placed on social media popularity. They must have more 'friends and followers' than the next mate. There is the constant pressure of 'belonging' which a teen faces. Also, stressors could come from family members, romantic relationships, excessive competition in sports and other recreational activities. The list goes on.  One of our readers told me h...

I have several inspiring travel stories and cherish the memories of places, cultures and people I have experienced. There is so much world out there and, so much to see and taste. My latest travel wish is to experience life in Seychelles, a beautiful island country in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa. Living in Lagos, Nigeria has made me love islands, beaches, and all the attractions. Seychelles has extraordinary sights to appeal to everyone's tastes. Seychelles Islands are famous for their deep-blue waters and sugar-white sandy beaches, natural caves, abundant plants and flowers, rare birds in colourful plumage.    Local Foods Here are some interesting facts I gathered about Seychelles: 1. Some of the rarest species of birds can be found in Seychelles, including the bare-legged Scops Owl or Syer. This specific owl is so rare it was once thought to have become extinct, but was rediscovered in 1959. You can find it at the Morne Seychellois Nationa...

By Kirsten OKENWA We know you; you like to frown your face and appear uninterested in all that happens at home or school. You lock yourself in your room, or, you hide in a corner all by yourself, just doing your own thing. Sometimes you are overwhelmed by feelings of sadness and a general apathy for life.  You are not alone. Teenagers the world over have emotional issues. Some are worse than the others. That is not to say that teens are an unhappy bunch; you just have your moments. We get concerned when these 'moments ' are affecting your relationships, joy, school work and zest for life. Teens should be vibrant and positive, full of energy and curiosity. But, when you are often sad and disillusioned over family problems, school challenges, or mistakes you made, it is time to seek help. You must not suffer alone for the world is on your side. You are special and precious to the society, with so much to give. Think about all the young people like you doing big things, or j...

 We get more and more emails from teenagers asking for counsel. Here is one we were permuted to use. Dear Kirsten,  Please tell me more on when I can start dating. I am a !3-year old boy. Thank you. Response: Dating is a beautiful kind of friendship between a boy and girl. It could be a school mate or someone in your religious group or neighborhood. When you say you are dating someone, it means you two enjoy each other's company and go out for social activities together. Sometimes this excludes other people. It is just the two of you enjoying reading, talking, sharing. It is often better to be in a group with other people so that you are better guarded against sexual activities. Treat the other person with respect, even as you respect your body. Try to spend some time apart, though. That way you can connect with other people who care about you, too. And you'll have time for goals and activities that matter to you.   When to start Dating? There is no right ...

AMAZING FEET OF MINE! Those funny-looking things at the end of your legs are incredibly complex devices. Here’s some info that may give you new respect for feet. • One quarter of your body’s bones are in your feet. Each normal foot has 33 joints, 26 bones, 19 muscles, and 107 ligaments. (Some people have 28 bones in each foot, and people born with extra toes, thanks to polydactylism, have even more.) • If your whole foot touches the floor when you stand, you have flat feet. Young children usually have them, because their foot bones, tendons, and ligaments haven’t yet formed arches. • It’s normal for some people to never develop arches, but flat feet can cause pain. On the other hand, well-aligned flat feet can be helpful, because they support the body’s weight over a bigger area. • Fully 75 percent of people have foot problems. For example, 60 percent of foot injuries in people 18 and over are sprains and strains. • In other, grosser news, 5 percent of the population have c...

We have received several letters from teens reading this blog and many of them have allowed us to publish them to encourage others. We will run a few: Dear Kirsten, I can't stop thinking about sex, especially when I have to do group work with my male classmates. I am so depressed. -Tolani, !4 year old girl Tolani, hello to you. I want you to get yourself together and cheer up!!! What you are going through is the same with millions of teens around the world.Persuade yourself to relax. Tell yourself that you can be free and happy around guys. T he more you try to stop these sexual thoughts, the more obsessed you will probably become about the issue. If you just relaxed and accepted this as a very normal part of being a 14year old, you could give yourself a break and probably laugh over it. Whenever you start to feel 'funny' or sexual, just stop and tell yourself you can get through this period of adolescence. It will be over in a matter of time. Quit being dep...

I have spent a lot of time thinking about what friendship really means to me. Who is my friend? How can I be a better friend? Through the years, I have enjoyed several friendships, and still do. I am blessed to think that there are friends who can wake me up at midnight to study for an exam, or challenge me to be the best that I can be.  I truly appreciate what I call- horizontal/vertical friendships. The horizontal friendship is the type we enjoy with our peers. People on the same level as we are. We share movies, books, gossip,etc. These are our daily buddies. The vertical friendship is one in which someone older is pulling you up, making you reach for the sky, inspiring you to greatness or simply motivating you regularly. It is indeed a blessing to have someone older who looks out for you. This person can be called a mentor. Let us all aspire to have this kind of friend. Also, the vertical friendship is one in which you are pulling someone up. You have become a mento...

Pawpaw time is here! I am singing my pawpaw song as I blend my juice.You should try to sing this song(to the Christmas tune of "Deck the halls"). Have fun with this juice recipe. Sing: Get your mugs and blenders ready Tra la la la la la la la la 'Tis the season for sweet pawpaw tra la la la la la la la la Oh! this blessed fruit from heaven Tra la la la la la la See how much I love my pawpaw Tra la la la la la la la la - Kirsten Okenwa INGREDIENTS: 1 small pawpaw, cut into small chunks 1/2 cup condensed milk 1 teaspoon vanilla flavouring 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1 tray ice cubes PREPARATION: 1. In a blender jar, put pawpaw chunks, condensed milk,      vanilla and nutmeg. 2. Blend at high speed for 30 seconds. 3. Add ice cubes and blend again. 4. Continue adding ice cubes in 3s. 5. Blend until creamy and serve immediately. YUM !!

NOW IT IS MORNING Now it is morning; the rain has washed the land clean: enjoy the fragrance of health and life. Now it is morning; the tears of the night is dried: enjoy the spring of hope in your heart. Now it is morning; a thousand and ten thousand steps to take: enjoy the rush of strength in you. Now it is morning; Be enthused, be hopeful: have courage, my friend. -Kirsten Okenwa

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THERE IS ALWAYS A COMMA  COMMA; that tricky, little punctuation mark that we often fail to use properly. I used to be as guilty as the next person in my misplaced comma, because I neglected the comma rules. Having learnt a few tricks in its use, I will share them below.  1. Use commas to separate items in a series.   Kunle had boiled potatoes, sliced tomatoes, and a glass of orange juice for breakfast.  2. Use commas after introductory words or mild interjections.   No, I won’t travel for summer. 3. Use commas to set off words of direct address.   James, did you wash your hands?  4. Use commas to set off one or more words that interrupt the flow of a sentence.   Wal-Mart, the big American supermarket, is opening in Nigeria.    5. Use commas to set off nonessential items: clauses, participial phrases, appositives. (Be sure to further study these grammatical units)   Toyota cars, the reliable auto...

I read this enlightening article at  http://www.newportacademy.com/teenage-hormones-and-sexuality/ . As you click on the above link, you will be inspired and informed about yourself, and why you act the way you do. An excerpt below: If you’re a teenager, you’re no stranger to the power of hormones. Starting as early as age 7 or 8, your body begins to produce the hormones that are responsible for the changes of puberty. Teenage hormones are the chemicals that cause the physical growth and sexual development that will carry you through your teens and into adulthood. As these substances take hold of your body, you’ll notice that your emotions, moods and sexual feelings are much stronger. You may also feel more impulsive and more inclined to take risks, like   experimenting with drugs or alcohol , driving without a license or having unsafe sex.  Peer pressure, low self-esteem and hormonal surges can lead you to take chances that could have a negative effect on yo...

9 THINGS GRANDMA WANTS ME TO TELL YOU 1. It is OK to be be different. Whether in style or at school. Do not feel awkward when you do not want to follow the popular trend. 2. It is OK to wear sneakers to church. Hey, you're a teen, not a sophisticate.  3. It is normal to have sexual feelings. What you do with it is what counts. The best way to get over those sexual hormones is to engage in pleasant activities like a reading club, sports etc. When you are alone, do things that will get your mind off sex e.g. studying, games, crafts, etc. 4. It is cool to say NO! when you are pressured to engage in sexual activities. A guy or girl that can't be with you in a 'clean' friendship isn't worth your time. 5. A guy will not become fatally ill if you refuse to sleep with him. 6. It's OK to cry. It's OK to be angry. 7. It is SO NOT COOL to obsess about your weight. Eat healthy, exercise, and ignore the fad diets. 8. Contentment is a virtue to ...

By Uduak Ahanse Our Reader's Summer Story National Theatre Lagos Hi everyone, I am Uduak and 16years old. I live and school in Asaba, Delta State. I am in SS2. This long holidays I came to stay with my elder brother in Lagos. I have the opportunity to work in his bakery as one of the sales rep. It is a big job for me because he pays me every week and I also meet a lot of people. I have made a lot of friends so far and also saved up some money. This is my third time in Lagos. I always love to come here because it is full of lively and friendly people. You also learn to be smart. Lagos used to be the old capital of Nigeria so it has a lot of attractions. I live near the national theatre in Iganmu area. It is a big, exciting building that surprises you when you see it at first. I have toured the area with my cousins and I like it a lot. Sadly, we haven't seen any play or activity there. During my work time, I move around with the bakery driver to deliver snack...

Can you share with us your study habits and ideas that have helped you excel?  I love to take quick notes as I study. During tests or exams, these notes become my pointers. How about you?

FUN AND EXCELLENT THINGS TO DO BEFORE SUMMER IS OVER. By Kirsten Okenwa The long days of summer unwinds before us. August is even more peaceful here in Abuja, Nigeria.  Have you been having a great time of holidays? Have you been enjoying the little yet great things of life? Like peace, water, fresh air?  Here are fun and excellent things to do before school begins in September. 1 . Read a narrative.  This may sound banal but, a novel is an excellent way to spend an afternoon. You school your mind to reading and imagining. You travel to exotic places you may never go to physically and you learn new words and expressions. Visit a bookstore today and buy a good novel. I am reading a Nora Roberts book called tears of the moon. 2 . Enjoy the outdoors.  Have you been spending time outdoors? Keep at it. August is a peaceful and colorful month. Enjoy fresh air at parks. If there is none around you, ask for permission to relax at a...