Sista’s Keeper I AM my Sista’s Keeper
Winter 2017 Vol. 4, Issue 3
#GOALS Issue
Cervical Health Awareness The ABC’s of Healthy Relationships
We’ McDonald Voice of A New Generation
HOT Hairstyles
By: Ife Michelle Beauty
In the words of Denis Waitley, “Relentless, repetitive self talk is what changes our self-image.”; translation: “New Year, new me” = new hairdo! So while you are trying to keep those new year’s resolutions that you recite everyday of 2017, here are some 4 hairdos that will take your self image from mundane to unconventional!
The BIG Chop Straight, curly, colored, or designed, the big chop is a great way to reinvent your look! Low-maintenance and easy to switch up, a nice haircut will definitely add a sassy edge to you in 2017.
Undercuts & Shaved Sides For those wanting a change, but not willing to forgo all of their hair, undercuts or shaved sides are for you! Easily embellished with cool designs and your unique hairstyles, this style will have all eyes on you! 2
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To Try in 2017
Beauty
Asymmetrical Cuts Whether wearing your hair long, short, natural, weaved, permed, or braided, asymmetrical cuts can take a normal hairstyle over the top and be sure to turn heads!
Vivacious Color For those not willing to give up any of their beautiful mane, don’t fret: just change your style with a bold color. Whether a rinse, semi-permanent or permanent dye, bold colors like grey, glue, and green can bring the funk for your “new” hairdo!
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Black Skin Care Tips
Beauty
Keeping skin radiant all the time takes more than just using the right skin care products. It also means understanding what works, what doesn’t, and when it’s time to switch up your routine.
The Basics Know your skin. The most common skin concerns for Caucasian men and women are fine lines and wrinkles, acne breakouts, loss of skin elasticity, sensitivity and dry, dehydrated skin. However, for darker shades of skin, hyperpigmentation is the most common problem and is often referred to as dark spots, dark marks, uneven skin tone and melasma. Hyperpigmented skin is quick to develop dark spots and dark marks – from vigorous scrubbing, squeezing blackheads, sun exposure and even exfoliating. Cleanse, treat and moisturize according to your skin concern. No matter what your skin concern, it's important to be gentle – and to use a product that cleanses without stripping away essential moisture or irritating the skin. Hydration is key to beautiful, glowing, supple African-American skin; but be cautious about the moisturizer you choose; look for ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and Shea Butter that hydrate the skin without making skin oily. Use black skin care products that are specially formulated for your needs. Like millions of others, you've probably been frustrated by mass-market products that never worked on your skin. The problem isn't your skin – it's the products. Change your routine with the seasons. It's vital to be aware of how changes in weather affect your skin, no matter what type of skin you have. Dry skin may act more like oily skin in the summer, normal skin may feel more sensitive in certain seasons, and skin prone to hyperpigmentation may be more susceptible to dark spots in cold weather. The key is to notice these changes and to alter your routine accordingly. 4
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Do's & Don'ts DO use a Complete Acne System to clear existing acne and prevent future breakouts.
DON'T pick your zits! Picking, squeezing and popping pimples can spread infection and worsen breakouts.
DO use body lotion and moisturizer! Hydration is key to radiant, glowing brown skin.
DON'T use products with alcohol, harsh chemicals or fragrance and avoid "scrubbing" your skin.
DO use a mild, fragrance-free Gentle Cleanser and apply moisturizer within three minutes of showering to lock in moisture.
DON'T scratch. To relieve the itchiness, see your doctor for a topical cortisone cream.
DO use a gentle Hyperpigmentation System to even out skin tone without stripping away moisture.
DON'T scrub the skin or use abrasive black skin care treatments.
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Health
Cervical Health It’s never too early to think about cervical health and learn
Did you know that just about all cases of Cervical Cancer is caused by HPV (Human Papillomavirus) and can be contracted through sexual contact, including orally? What about the fact that you could be carrying the virus and show no signs or symptoms until it is too late? These commonly unknown facts, along with many others are why being proactive in your health is so important. As January carries the platform for New Year’s resolutions and goals, it is also Cervical Cancer Awareness month so gather your facts and add good health to your new year’s list! I’m sure you are reading this and wondering what is Cervical Cancer or HPV and how are they related. Cervical Cancer is when your cervix (the lower part of your uterus) is infected and HPV is the number one cause. Yet, cervical cancer is noted the most preventable cancer to date thanks to vaccines and early detection. Here’s how you can prevent the cause of HPV and Cervical Cancer:
Checkup & Follow-up
It is imperative that you get your yearly well-woman check-up. If you are sexually
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active and under the age of 18, do not be afraid to talk to your parents or someone you trust so you can be accompanied to your appointments. Silence could be deadly. Pap smears are a major part of detecting the virus or any abnormalities that could be fatal. If you have had your yearly visit and notice changes or symptoms (bleeding between menstrual cycles, heavy or bad smelling discharge, pelvic pain, etc.) that maybe abnormal, contact your doctor immediately. The earlier, the better.
Vaccinations There are three vaccines that are available for HPV which is given throughout a six month period. Parents, if you are reading this please take note that the vaccine has been made safe for children ages 9 & up and it is most affective if taken before becoming sexually active to avoid HPV infection. It is also been discovered that the vaccine has a higher immune response in preteens which is why parents are encouraged to vaccinate their children as early as possible. Many parents believe these preventive vaccines encourage their children to become sexually active and studies have proved
Awareness
Health
ways to prevent cancer as you continue become a woman By: De’Shauna Selby that this discourages children from asking questions or prompting “The Talk” with their parents/guardians.
Be Safe, Always!
The number one preventive method is none other than abstinence. But, if and when HPV vaccine does not protect against any you decide to become sexually active it is unsafe sex practices prior to receiving the shot, important to practice safe sex. nor does it protect against STD’s (Sexually Transmitted Diseases). Not just until you get comfortable but consistently. In doing so, you will prevent Consult with your doctor for further details, any risk of infection or disease. If you have including side effects which are rare. questions about safe sex, visit safeteens.org but please, talk to your parent or guardian first!
For more information on cervical cancer awareness and prevention, visit: http://www.nccc-online.org/
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Relationships
The ABC’s of Just like you need your body to be healthy, you
Generations of generations have tried to stand by the grounds of respect by first listening to our elders as you may know are people older than us. Senior citizens and elders are definitely the prime ownership of what respect says and how it should be worn. It is very important to have and to show respect in each relationship you portray on a daily basis. First let’s look at how respect can affect your everyday life. You may not know, but you deal with people every day and they observe you as you would observe others. There are a lot of different relationships that first starts with respect because without respect, you can ask yourself “Where would I be?” Do you feel that people will generally take you seriously if you aren’t being respectful? Look at different celebrities such as Oprah, Joyce Meyer, Denzel Washington or Jamie Foxx just to name a few. These people have come a long ways because of the respect they have for others.
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Have you ever seen them portray a negative image in the public eye or said anything negative that was going to affect some young lives or people that love them? No because they have been taught to humble themselves through the media and on a daily basis in their lives when nobody isn’t looking.
Friendships We all should know that you can’t call everyone you associate with, mingle with or even hang out with your friend. You will hear that from your parents while you are growing up and learning still. Sistas you are your own friend before you are anybody else’s. Don’t allow the world to corrupt your mind and soul and to think that everyone that is nice to you is your friend, those people are only telling you what feels right but isn’t. But to develop a healthy relationship, we must first
Healthy Relationships Relationships need your relationships to be healthy too. learn to respect ourselves as a person because if we don’t, who would respect us? Especially as young ladies we much know that we are worthy and should be treated like the queens that we are! But back to friendships, learn to value yourself enough and love yourself enough so that you are able to learn and care for others in a friendship. Choose your friends wisely meaning choose people to hang out with that are positive, going somewhere in life, not a gossiper, who is going to have your back and not put you down. Never allow yourself to deal with the negativity and the drama friends can bring. It is very important to engage in a healthy and stress-free friendship. Just practice valuing your friends and the relationships and most importantly, be involved with people who respects you and never puts you down! These are people that are surrounded by you. Peersn. can be people you see on the street walking past you, people that are sitting next to you on a bench by the bustop or someone that is on the elevator standing next to you. Although you don’t know them personally, it is still important to maintain that high respect level because like I said you never know who is watching you! Look apart and be apart in your daily routine. Like the saying goes, “Treat people the way you would want to be treated!” So respect others the way that they would want to be treated. Never engage yourself with the negative crowd nor surround yourself with drama that will deteriorate your image. Respect goes a long ways!
have told you the stories of when they were little back in the day and if they would even attempt to talk back to their parents, they will get a switch and whip them silly. I still hear these stories not only from my parents and my grandmother and from my peers as well. The generation that we are living in now doesn’t even know what respect is! It’s sad to say, but it is very true. You have kids that are three, eight, five, and eleven trying to take control of the parents and talking back. Some parents don’t even know how to handle the kid’s behavior because they are too much out of control. But respecting your parents is very important because it will teach you how to respect others and what it feels like to be wise. Respect always come from the home first and is supposed to be taught.
Teachers/Mentors
Showing respect in the classrooms and to people that are trying to help you further your education or just trying to help you period can take you a long ways in life. Why should somebody help a person that doesn’t even care about themselves? Even when teachers teach their students in the classroom, students must learn to respect their teachers and know that they are only trying to educate them for a higher learning. Education is important and teachers must show their compassion and caring towards students to engage with them. Building healthy relationships that is built on communication and self-respect will definitely take you a long ways. Just like I mentioned earlier, try to avoid relationships Parents in your life that is stressful and filled with negativity and drama. Enjoy life to the fullest with the people that Now this one right here is a MAJOR importance of you care about and remember that respect can go a long respect. I’m pretty sure your parents and grandparents ways! Winter 2017
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Voice of a
Generation Watch out world! We’ McDonald is a 18-year-old powerhouse singer who is aiming to be one of the world’s BEST entertainers, one song at a time.
W
hen We’ McDonald took the stage on season 11 of NBC’s The Voice, she blew the judges & viewers away with her performance of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good”. Her low-toned voice was very impressive, enough to get all four judges to select her during the blind auditions. However, when she introduced herself, there was a soft & sweet voice that blew everyone away too! She ultimately chose singer Alicia Keys to be her coach & made all the way to third place. Winter 2017
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Alicia Was The Key A self-proclaimed “old soul”, We’ says that she had a strenuous but overall great experience on The Voice. “It is definitely not for those who are not ready,” she says. “You have to have the midnset to make it through the competition because it will eat. you alive. You can’t cower.” We’ adds that the people that you meet and the experience makes you not think about being tired or the things that you miss. “At the end of the day, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.” We’ says working with Alicia Keys was phenominal and that she is everything that you would expect her to be, “She’s not a different person off-camera. She is who she is...very real and down to Earth.”
We’ adds that Keys was very caring but not like a ‘yes man”. “If something didn’t sound quite right, she would suggest that we try something new or different. She takes a strong initiative & was very dedicated.” Jazzy We’
A freshman at William Patterson University, We’s major is jazz vocals, which suits her voice well. She says thar she picked her blind audition song, “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone because she was doing just that...feeling good! “Most of time your blind audition song is given to you based on your voice & genre of music. However, they didn’t know what song to pick for me so I ended up choosing my own song,” she says. “I chose that song because it had never really been done before in the Nina Simone version. It’s so amazing because I just felt good & so I went out so that I could make everyone feel how I was feeling. I wanted to make an impression with the right song.” Advice for The Voice
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We’ says that if The Voice or singing is something that you really want to do then don’t let anyone stop you. “There are plenty of people in this world who get knocked down because of the words that people say or fear but don’t let it stop you.” she says. “There are a lot people who are not doing what they love or want to do on a daily basis. If you’re ready to do something for the rest of your life then you have to be ready to fight for it. Do your best because that’s all you can
About We’ Birthday: January 23rd Age: 18 Hometown: Patterson, NJ Favorite Food: Chicken Favorite Color: Blue and Green Hobbies: Drawing, doing hair & anything creative What’s on your iPod? Billie Holiday, Etta James, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin
do at the end of the day.” What’s Next?
While she couldn’t disclose exactly what all she has coming up, she says that she will still be in school for the spring semester. “The world is definitely open for me right now and blessings are coming,” she says. Goal To Be The Greatest We’ is just getting started but she eventually wants to be known as one of the world’s greatest entertainers. “I want to make sure I fight and work hard for that,” she says. She also has goals of working to empower young women and girls. “I want to support people who often get overlooked. It’s rough because in the music industry, you’re expected to look a certain way but I want to be able to push that out of society.
Connect w/ We’ @we_mcdonald
I want to be able to touch as many people as possible. Being Her Sista’s Keeper
We’ has four sisters and a female best friend who she has great relationships with. “I definitely have a really great support system when it comes to friends and family,” she says. “It’s great when you get home and see how much people have supported you behind the scenes. You make them proud and I don’t think there is a greater feeling.” We’s definition of being her sista’s keeper is that she is responsible for things that she believes in. “I am responsible for saying things and being vocal because I feel that I am my sister. If she is struggling then I am struggling too,” she says. “If she is doing great then I am doing great. I AM my sister’s keeper!” Winter 2017
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Getting Ready
Education Feature
This college prep timeline provided by Minnesota Office of Higher
In 9th & 10th Grade
7th & 8th Grade • Begin thinking about the high school classes that will prepare you for college. Take the most difficult classes you can handle. • Ask your parents or teachers to help you develop good study habits. • Practice setting and reaching goals. • Volunteer in your community. • Take interest and skills assessments to help you think about possible career options. • Talk with your school counselor and parents about careers that interest you want to explore.
• Take interest and skills assessments to help you explore careers options.
• Talk with your school counselor about career options and the education required for those careers. • Sign up for classes that will earn college credit • Talk with your parents during your junior year about saving and paying through Advanced for college. Placement, International Baccalaureate, • Talk with friends, Postsecondary teachers, counselors Enrollment Options or and your parents about College in the Schools. college. • Check if your school requires 10th graders to take the PLAN to prepare for the ACT.
• Enroll in a summer enrichment program. Sista’s Keeper
• Explore internships and apprenticeships. • Enroll in a summer enrichment program.
• Participate in extracurricular activities.
• Create a tentative high school class plan.
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• Review your high school class plan. Take the most difficult classes you can handle. Stay focused on your schoolwork.
Winter 2017
Want to go to college? It’s never too late to prepare... For more information, visit: http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg. cfm?pageID=1176
For College
Education
Education will show you what you need to do to get ready for college.
Feature
In 11th Grade
In 12th Grade
• Attend college and financial aid events. • Mentor others and have a mentor for yourself. • Take the PSAT in the fall to prepare for the SAT, and to identify areas where you need improvement. • Consider possible career options and investigate the type of education that is needed. • Request materials from schools that interest you and visit their websites. • Arrange campus visits to those schools that interest you. • Participate in extracurricular activities. • Request admissions and financial aid forms. • Sign up for classes that will earn college credit during your senior year through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Postsecondary Enrollment Options or College in the Schools. • Register for and take the ACT and/or SAT in the spring. • Review your high school class plan. Take the most difficult classes you can handle. Stay focused on your schoolwork. Make sure you are meeting your high school graduation requirements. • Enroll in a summer enrichment program. • Get a job to earn and save money for college, or explore your skills through an internship or apprenticeship. • Research private scholarship options.
• Stay focused on your schoolwork and take the most difficult classes you can handle. • Take career interest assessments and determine the education needed for careers that interest you. • Participate in extracurricular activities. • Volunteer in the community.
December-February • Apply to four or more colleges that interest you. Some may have earlier or later deadlines. (Make copies of each application.) • Attend a financial aid event if you haven’t already done so. Review a copy of Paying for College. • Apply for scholarships offered by the colleges to which you have applied. • Apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1. You and your parents will need the previous year’s income tax information to complete the it. • Review you Student Aid Report (SAR) for accuracy. Winter 2017
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By eighth grade, only half as many girls as boys are interested in math, science, and engineering careers. If each of us gives a girl our time and support today, she can find the courage, confidence, and character she’ll need to build a better tomorrow.