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Why anti-homophobic‘s are actually putting down members of the queer community

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Why anti-homophobic‘s are actually putting down members of the queer community

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Being anti-something has become a new religion. Everyone that does not agree with these extreme world outlooks is automatically seen as racist, sexist or homophobic. But why is that even a problem?

I personally see the problem in people judging others for having “wrong” opinions but in daily life not being supportive at all. Yes, that is a contradiction but it is one most people don’t recognize at first. While trying to proselytize others the real focus gets lost. To give you some examples I want to talk about the second hand experiences I made through my sibling who identifies as non-binary.

They gets bullied, called after and screamed at by random people or kids on the street or even teachers. Some say they must dress differently to fit in society and people blaspheme behind their back and don’t even try to act differently when they walks by. And now some of these extremist (I’ll just call them like that for now) really think that “gendering” would help that. Nobody ever asked them if that’s what they really want. My sibling for instance rather feels more discriminated by it. Of course they cannot speak for every non-binary person but deciding for them without even getting into conversation and accepting such humiliating behavior is not an option. You cannot just close your eyes if you truly want to include every human being. So, trying to proselytize others to “gendering” instead of actually helping is as bad as being discriminative or maybe even worse because you think of yourself as a better person.

To find an ending, I just want to ask you for not ignoring such actions and standing up for the ones that are being humiliated and excluded.

~ Jelena

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Struggling with daily challenges, mental health, crisis and wars is a part of many members that are included into the youth culture.

Defining where an important problem starts is non of our business when it comes to so many struggles people are dealing with.

Many teenagers with a culture background, that may come from syria, afghanistan, palästina,… struggle to life in peace. Fleeing from their own hometown means a big change, hoping for a better tomorrow and a life without having fears to get killed at night. The world, as a big community, should help this refugees to get a better life.

We all know that the EU has the opportunity to help refugees in a crisis, but why do they deport refugees with a different skin color/religion/ cultural background?

Looking at the current war between ukraine and russia, it is clear that the EU has to help those innocent people. Giving them asylum without any time limit, the same money as a citizen gets… offering them so much more better options than other refugees is kind of unfair. Isn’t it? That’s the whole point.

Studies show that most of the helping people that take care of ukraine refugees won’t help a south-asian refugee as well. Instead of getting the asylum the south-asian refugee begged for, he gets deported back into his hometown, where the war is still not over. Furthermore Sabine Hess, a professor at the university of Göttingen, said: "The whole global refugee policy resides discrimination and racism. Looking at what measures are used to keep refugees from the global south in their mass camps to keep them off from the EU". All these facts strengthen the points of racism.

On the one hand many people will agree with me, on the other hand many people will not name this as racism. In case I will go on with defining racism: "Racism is the prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group. Racism is also the belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially so as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another.” In a nutshell you can find all those indicators that define racism in our refugee policy..

Don’t get me wrong at this point, we still want the EU to help those innocent people from the ukraine. Our goal is it to get the same rights to refugees that are a part of another religion, that have a darker skin color and other cultural traditions.

Our youth culture has to deal with so many challenges, we have to relieve them! So I want you now to think of this facts, that are obvious indications of racism & stand up to beat this racism that has absolutely nothing to do in this century!

ela

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Friends and Family! - How does they influence teenager?  

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Friends and Family! - How does they influence teenager?  

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Friends, Family and school mates! They are part of your life. We are always in contact with them no matter if it is over the phone or in real life. We share the moments where we are happy, when we are sad or just need somebody to talk to. In addition, we spend our free time together. Once we have them, we often take friends or our family for granted. How important are they especially for our developing years? What is when you don´t have friends?

That having real friends affects you subconsciously and makes you happier.  It brings teenager a sense of belonging and the feeling of being valued by someone. Additionally, i gives them confidence, comfort and a safe place to talk about private things. A study has found out that a good friendship is linked with psychological well-being. The study uses data from 111.000 teenager. They have proven that teenager with a strong friendship network have fever symptoms of depression and have a better mental health. Another reason why friendships influence teenager in a good way is that they have someone to talk to when they are stressed. The study shows that friendships were particularly helpful for teens in stressful times.

Family, especially parents are a big part of every teenager's life. Naturally they have a relationship with them. Having a good parent- child relationship can help pre-teens and teenager develop friendship skills. In teenage years, young people often spend more time with friends and less time with their parents. That doesn´t mean teenager don´t need their parents. Being interested and available lets teenager know that they can turn to you when they need to. As long as your child isn´t doing anything dangerous, it is important to show support.

How does it affect teenager to not have friends?

Nothing is more threatening than being alone in a social network, but it is not unusual. A study found out that it is developmentally unhealthy to be alone all the time and avoid hanging out with a friend. Making friends is not always easy, some teenagers find it hard to make friends. An option can be including themself in a social activity where they are good at.

We should appreciate our friends and family. Having friends that actually care about you is something special. And when you find it hard to make new friends you can maybe join a join an association. There you will find people with the same passion.

- Isabelle

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How are we influenced? - A small insight

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How are we influenced? - A small insight

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Fashion, social media, friends… They all have something in common. Exactly – they are influencing today’s youth. This can have both positive and negative consequences.

The day of an ordinary teenager begins. The first question is, what am I going to wear today? Every day we face this decision and most of the time we are influenced by fashion. Fashion is used to demonstrate which social class you belong to. There are groups in the respective societies that are distinguished by different fashions. Today's youth hardly have the courage to wear their own style of clothing. That´s why millions of euros are spent annually on these particular clothes just because they are "in" at this moment. We do not want to be out of the ordinary, so we adapt to the general trend of our environment to a certain extent. The ideas come largely from social media, through which fashion trends spread widely in the fastest possible way. And social media, of course, are also usually checked immediately after getting up. Social media is used more today than ever before. When young people use social networks, they have the opportunity to form relationships and express themselves. However, this affects their identity and this is linked to their psyche. The first point is that young people compare themselves with other users. This comparison with the optimized and sometimes embellished self-portrayal of other users can severely damage self-esteem and lead to dejection and depressed moods. In addition, the compulsion to always be up to date leads to sleep deprivation. Influencers can, on the one hand, encourage young people to be more self-reflective, which can increase their self-worth. On the other hand, they can also trigger envy, peer pressure, self-doubt, and even the fear of missing out. Apart from that, social media is popular for private communication. They make everyday life easier. For example, teenagers communicate with their friends, who play a very important role in their lives. Everyone belongs to their friend group. Friendships give strength, self-confidence and much more. Young people can experience the influence of others directly. They adapt their behavior to others because it gives them a sense of belonging.

As you can see, the lives of young people are strongly influenced by external factors. They want to be like someone pretends to be. This shows that individualism has receded in society.

What do you think about it? How much are you influenced? And do you want to do something about it?

Johanna

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Why we need to keep talking about school shootings

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Why we need to keep talking about school shootings

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This blog post is not supposed to change the world. No one of the US government will ever hear about it and even if they did, it wouldn’t make a difference. But 22 people, 19 children between the ages of 7 and 10 included, recently have died in Uvalde, Texas. And they deserve the world’s attention to the cause of their deaths. For this reason the following text is meant to keep all of us thinking about school shootings. Because – let’s be honest – in one or two weeks the media will move on and we will all eventually forget about it.
Hearing news about another school shooting is devastating. Yet I have never been surprised by them. I have never felt like a new era in our time would start while waking up to a report about a school shooting. And that is perhaps the problem. From an outsider’s perspective I have simply accepted that school shootings are a part of the American world, or maybe even worse: of the American culture. I neither want to exaggerate nor generalize the issue here. But more than 250 people have died because of school shootings in American history. We must accept that this is an institutional fail that could have easily been prevented by stricter gun laws.
What do school shootings do to young people? First of all, they show that education is not safe. Education is the key to independence for young people. As Francis Bacon said: “Knowledge is power”. The access to education, knowledge and the power that possibly can result from those is a human right. Any country should provide safe education. If the right to own guns becomes more important than the right to be educated safely, it violates especially rights of children and young people, who are entitled to be protected, as they are more vulnerable than adults.
But school shootings may also signalize to young people that it is normal to live in fear of guns, shootings and rampages. Although this is currently the unfortunate case in the US, it doesn’t have to be like that. I, as a German student, have no idea how to behave in the occurring danger of a school shooting. Because it will never be necessary and I haven’t had to fear a school shooting ever in my life. Germany might not have perfect gun laws but “only” (yes, it is still a lot) 45 people (excluding suicides of some of the culprits) have died in school/university shootings here.
I personally am glad that most young people, that I know, do not have to fear guns in our   schools. Guns are not a safety tool.  They are the danger themselves. Let’s keep our schools and learning environments safe.I know, we are all tired of the topic. But we have to keep school shootings in discussion. Because that is the closest thing, we can do, to making a difference.

Meike

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why sexual orientation should be recognized as normal 

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why sexual orientation should be recognized as normal 

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Sexual orientation. Sex life. Dating and love.

These are all topics that accompany us teenagers constantly and everywhere. Topics that regularly make us despair. Topics that make us feel overwhelmed. Topics because of which we don't know who we are. Topics that make us feel different.

For us teenagers it is anything but easy, we are still discovering ourselves, finding out who we like, what interests us, who we want to be and what we want to achieve.

You hear in your own circle of friends that there is a new couple or a new love affair. Then you might ask yourself what it would be like if someone was into the same sex. What would the reactions of your friends be like? Are you weird just because you are different? No. You are not weird, you are you and you are lovable just the way you are. It's so sad to see so many teenagers uncomfortable or even afraid to be sexually different from what is considered "normal". There is no such thing as normal. Every sexual orientation is normal and wonderful. There should be no strange comments or looks just because it is unusual. Everyone should tolerate it. Everyone is allowed to decide for themselves who they love. There is no norm. As a teenager, you're allowed to try things out. Go on dates and be open. The right person will come along and love you just the way you are.

Studies also show that homosexually oriented people are now coming out at the age of eleven to fourteen instead of at the age of 15 to 20. However, the average age is still 20 because acceptance of homosexual people is only growing strongly in our generation. In the older generations, 86% only come out to one close friend at first, whereas the younger generations usually come out to more people because this simplifies their everyday lives and they can get into more contact with other homosexual people. At the same time they have a larger support system in their private environment than they had a few years ago. The time of coming out is always individual, because everyone finds out at a different time which sexuality they can identify with. Accordingly, there are always exceptions at the age of coming out.
Moreover, 30-40% of the people also declare that their lives have not changed after coming out. Neither positively nor negatively. So you can also see from studies the clear difference in acceptance among the different generations and the positive development for homosexuals becomes apparent.

Are you inexperienced and don't know how it works? Afraid of doing the wrong thing? Or say something wrong? You can only learn from mistakes. In all likelihood, the other person feels the same way you do. Try things out together. Talk to each other and exchange ideas. Discover and develop together. Be brave and respectful. Everyone will be at the same point as you at some point, it's perfectly normal. Get informed, ask your friends. No one should judge you for it, because everyone knows the situation. It is never strange or wrong. The first time is the worst topic in your circle of friends and you are still a virgin? you feel excluded and don't dare to say that you don't have any experience yet? Stand by yourself, be honest and trust yourself. Only you know when you are ready. Don't let anyone persuade you. Only through experience can you grow.

I can only say that nowadays this "being different" should no longer exist. For me, there is no such thing as “different” any more. I have experienced myself how frustrating it can be for a person to think they are wrong because they are not heterosexual. What kind of view is that? I know how difficult it was for the person to come out. I find it unbelievable that it still comes as a shock to some people to see gay couples on the street together. They are just people like everyone else. Sexual orientation does not change a person, they are no different from you. Detach yourself from this thought and support those who need you. Encourage them and be there for them.

Juli

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Most of you, if not all of you, have a game that you are completely crazy about, it's like the phenomenon with chocolate. Of course, there are also people who don't play games at all, while others have become so addicted that they need to be treated in clinics.... As you can imagine, these are NOT individual cases. So what does the rest do, how does the broad mass of "gamers" define themselves?

More than 80 percent of German 18- to 29-year-olds play computer games in their free time. It would be really strange if a boy didn't count himself to this majority, wouldn't it? At least that's what most people think. And that's exactly why there are those who play computers out of an unfounded compulsion from society, that's what they call it. I think it's all just imagination. Everyone, and when I say everyone, I mean it, is free to decide, no one is forced to do anything against their will....

If you've gotten this far, it either means you're lost and can't find your way out, or that the text has completely captivated you because you want to know what the truth about "gaming" is....

Let's talk about the benefits first. Many of those who play computer games claim that it makes them happy or even relaxes them, right? Well, look at it from a different perspective. Can you relax or calm down if you play a shooter (a video game in which weapons/violence is used) with a PEGI (Pan European Game Information) rating of 16 or 18, where the goal is to kill everyone who gets in your way? I think I'll just leave that question open.

But what is it about computer games that makes them so appealing? To be honest, I don't know myself. If that's the only reason you've been reading so far, feel free to stop at this point. But I would like to talk about the disadvantages first, before I answer the question in a conclusion from my point of view.

Computer games are addictive, you can fall into a very deep hole, and without help you may not get out. You're probably sick of these statements by now, but your parents aren't entirely wrong when they catch you playing in your room at 1 a.m., even though you have to write an important test at school the next day.

I don't think I know anything else relevant enough for this blog post.
Computer games are cool, awesome, go crazy, BUT if you don't play them wisely, they are still pretty dangerous. Probably the games don't make terrorists out of the kids who play them (at least not in Europe), but in the end, maybe you should take a quick look at the age recommendation before you buy a game. I mean, you don't buy hard alcohol at the age of 12, do you? No, really, don't do that, please!

If you spend, let's say, more than 20 hours a week playing videogames, then you really should change something about your behavior....

However, if you play a round of online games with your friends sometimes, then you're really fine in the "community of hobby gamers" and you don't have to worry about it.

If you liked this blog, feel free to leave a short comment, if not, just don't.

Let's see, maybe there will be a next entry on social media in this format.

Emilian

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The freedom of travel was taken away from the young generation

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The freedom of travel was taken away from the young generation

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Even though travel by aeroplane is ramping up again throughout the pandemic the young generation could not travel anywhere far away.

A humongous problem of the pandemic was that countless countries closed their borders for travellers, no matter if people were trying to enter by plane, train or car. These border closures forced everyone to stay in their own country.

This affected the young generation specifically because they could not spend their holidays or long weekends getting to know new countries, cultures and / or people. Another problem is that these people might go crazy or insane because they can not leave their country to have a change of scenery.

A very positive aspect is that most airlines are flying almost 100% of their pre-pandemic route network from 2019, some airlines are flying more than 100% of their pre-pandemic route network, but sadly some carriers are still suffering form the pandemic, for example Cathay Pacific with it’s hub in Hong Kong, because China has very very strict rules to enter the country.

This surge in airtravel can be traced back to the fact that a lot of people, and especially the young generation, want to leave the country and get to know new environments. They also want to catch up on the time they could not spend with their friends during the different lockdowns by traveling with them to foreign countries.

Alexander

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Legalization = Safety

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More and more young people are tumbling into a drug addiction. So, it is an undiscussable fact that drug use in Germany is running out of control. For this reason, it is not surprising that more than 4 percent of the 16 to 17 years  old students are alcoholics.

A big problem in our society is that the consumption of alcohol, also in younger ages, are accepted and tolerated. Alcohol is a dangerous drug, and it is a legal drug. Already in the age of 16 you can buy alcohol in Germany, after 18 you can also buy strong liquor than  beer or vine. This is a big difference to the US, there you only can buy and drink alcohol after you at the age of  21.

The long-term consequent of a high alcohol consumption is  for example esophagus cancer or heavy disease like cardiac arrest or neurological illnesses.

So, you really have to take care about your consumption of alcohol. The AOK health insurance company have already developed a system for people how need help with their use of alcohol.   You can find a link at the end of the text. But you also must take care about your friends and family. So if you have the impression that people around you have a problem with that  do not hesitate to talk with them about what you have seen and you think.

Concluding I would say that alcohol is a dangerous drug and more then 74.000 people per year died of alcohol. So please take care about yourself! Thank you.

You need help? Click below:

https://www.kenn-dein-limit.de/alkoholberatung/

More information:

https://www.tk.de/techniker/gesundheit-und-medizin/behandlungen-und-medizin/sucht/alkohol-2022948

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How to fly around the world and save the environment!

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How to fly around the world and save the environment!

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Jonas

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English blog entry Jonas Hutschenreiter 

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Impossible Standard is not discouraging at all

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Impossible Standard is not discouraging at all

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“The basis of philosophy of Impossible Standard is that no matter how hard you try, you can’t ever be good enough. The Standard rises as you do.” (p. 7 “History of the Rain” by Niall Williams)

During my daily wanderings through Instagram I stumbled upon this quote posted by my dear friend, and it got me thinking, is that actually so bad? You see, there has often been raised the question whether you should really strive for one single goal, because once that goal is achieved, life will have lost its meaning. And while many would agree that you need a mixture of living in the present and working towards something greater, the Impossible Standard solves the problem of meaninglessness completely: It makes sure that no matter how much you achieve, there will always be something to aspire to. Now, that might sound discouraging at first, but it makes perfect sense. No one will ever be perfect or achieve perfection, and conversely everyone can work on being their best self every single day. However, the fulfilment that you get during the process of reaching your goal is, in my understanding, key to happiness – it is the flow you enter where you are at your best. What results from the impossible standard is, that this process, this flow, never ends, without this meaning that you won’t ever achieve anything. Instead, the rising standard is what shows your progress and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Ultimately this means that you are not standing still, and you know that you never will be.

-Alexandra

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Dear readers today I wanted to talk to you about the subject of environmental protection. I think this is a topic that mainly concerns us young people because it is mainly about our future that we have to save and because in our age we can already contribute a lot to it. We are all already aware but here again the biggest problems: The climate change that threatens us more and more and we are beginning to notice it. the great temperature fluctuations, then the pollution of our oceans and our forests, the extinction of entire species only to make imaginable profits, and finally the big industries of the rich countries that often do not comply with the regulations in force. The main reasons for climate change are the exhaust fumes that our machines produce, including our cars, for the sake of climate change. Energy production is often still resorted to fossil fuels. Another problem is intensive livestock farming, not only that the animals have to live under terrible conditions, but they also produce a lot of greenhouse gases and for them our protective rainforest is deforested. In these reasons, our greed and unhealthy consumption can be rediscovered. Ozone holes over the poles are an other big problem . But what can young people do about it again? First of all, of course, see how you can maybe do much better yourself by not buying some products no longer and even sometimes take the bicycle that all helps because even the smallest gesture already leads to the right path also the reduction of meat consumption and not eating meat every day and certainly not the cheap meat from the discounter does not harm anyone. Also recycle is a good thing especially when buying mobile phones you can go back to sites like Swapie these sell recycled mobile phones. So instead of buying a new one you can also use a used one. The same applies when eating, many products have also in Germany season and can then be bought locally they taste not only better but are also good for the climate. All this can be done to reduce your carbon footprint and all this without political involvement because this results in completely new opportunities such as protests or youth parliaments or even join a party and then change the world.

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felix

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We all need it, but money is often scarce. But especially in adolescence it is particularly rare.
Therefore, most young people try to supplement their pocket money with the help of holiday jobs or other small additional income. But often enough, school performance suffers from mini-jobs or young people even sell illegal drugs, a very lucrative business in which the young people sometimes become dependent on larger drug rings from which it is not possible to get out. And so the young people make big enemies in such deals or just don't make it on the right track at all. Given these opportunities where selling drugs is the more lucrative business, some parents may want to reconsider their child's pocket money and set it higher so that the child doesn't get that far in the first place. You have to defer that young people have to save or work for their wishes is something good, which also prepares them for later life, but the pocket money should be appropriate for their age, because nowadays fashion trends or leisure programs also take up more capital than before.
Elias

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Johannes NEU

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Nils

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Where to draw the line between medication and addiction 

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Where to draw the line between medication and addiction 

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There are many cases of people having an addiction over something. Sometimes it’s drugs sometimes it’s medication and sometimes it’s even an action. But the question that Comes up is where is the line that defines medication or the urgent needs of something that helps you and an addiction?

Well looking it up you don’t really find the definition of this subject. So what we are looking at cars some information summoned older people who have or had addictions. So according to them an addiction is like an urge to consume Or to do something. When you’re not doing this you’re feeling nervous and you’re constantly thinking about the feeling that you have example while consuming something.

Find also shows in your health not only the mental health but also the physical health. Many people with addiction are saying that even though they know the addiction to drugs can kill them or damage their bodies, as soon as they’re off this chemical they are feeling the need to take it again and it’s not like when you have appetites on something sweet and small like you’re dying when you’re not consuming this chemical it’s like when you’re walking for Alice a jeep come home thirsty and throat itching needing water that’s the feeling they describe. But the problem is that even if they can resist this urge and get away from the addiction people often try to compensate their feelings with Drugs or overcompensation of medication so in a way It’s helping them with a problem. Or at least that’s one of many arguments they use. Because the same goes for medication you consume it when your body is needing help, When your body or your mind are not capable to heal your self without help but This still doesn’t answers the question where to draw a line between these two fractions.
Well I would say you can draw this line at the point where it gets unhealthy for your body or where it gets illegal for example drug use but where to draw the line and get help, that has to decide everybody for theire self's .
-Sophia

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Fashion in young ageDon't be into trends. Don't make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by thedress and the way to live." —Gianni Versace

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Fashion in young ageDon't be into trends. Don't make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by thedress and the way to live." —Gianni Versace

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It`s generally believed that fashion is a really big thing in our society. Many people love to discover and to follow new fashion trends. Young people want to be part of the fashion community and spend lot of money. Fashion is no longer just about what you wear, but who you are. In the quote, Versace addresses this new trend. Through your style you express who you are.

On the other hand. Fashion is expensive. Trending clothes are a lot of more expensive than normal items. Furthermore you should wear what you want and not what fashion tells you. For instance, you can make and create your own fashion statements.

All in all fashion influences your personality and changes your external perception.