Blog

• 30 March 2020
• For Teens

Students, we are here for you. 

• 19 March 2020
• For Parents and Educators, For Teens, Technology

We have been told to wash our hands, distance ourselves from others, and sanitize every surface as if our life depended on it to protect our physical health from contracting Coronavirus or COVID-19.  But how can we ensure we are protecting our mental health too in the midst of all of this chaos?  

• 03 March 2020
• For Parents and Educators, For Teens

The concept of “do not try this at home” has discovered a new meaning thanks to viral challenges that have taken the internet by storm.  A category of entertainment in which one action goes viral and millions of people recreate it with the sole purpose of obtaining views. 

Since the start of social media, numerous challenges have taken the web by storm, all resulting in unique sets of consequences.  Currently, the skull-breaker challenge and the penny challenge are circulating TikTok encouraging dangerous behaviors.

• 20 February 2020
• For Parents and Educators, For Teens

Instagram has been growing in popularity as an online destination for portraying the most perfect and edited aspects of one’s life. A trend, popular among teenagers, gives young people a chance to be real or is it a chance to be too real???
 

• 30 April 2019
• For Teens

We hear a lot about the scary side of social media – from cyberbullying to screen addiction – but the online world is far from all-negative. There are many ways to use and contribute to social media in order to make the world and your life a little bit brighter!

• 18 April 2019
• For Parents and Educators, For Teens

Research shows that Gen-Z trusts digital content from influencers more than other sources. In 2018, an estimated 24.2 million posts on social media were brand-sponsored influencer marketing posts. 

• 20 November 2018
• For Teens, Guest Posts By Our Smarties & Ambassadors

Are You A Duck?  

By SGS Ambassador: Abbie Mueller (Student Writer)

Overview

It is a quiet, pretty fall day, and there is a beautiful duck with a bright green head and striped neck quietly gliding across the water.  He is so graceful that the surface of the pond barely ripples as he floats along, peaceful with his head held high. Underneath the water though is his secret.  His yellow webbed feet are paddling as hard as he possibly can! He struggles to move himself forward and stay afloat, all of his work below the surface hidden from people who admire his silent, perfect, morning swim...

This article will cover:

Instagram feeds aren't real life. 

Comparison and stress

Unrealistic standards and low self-image

Scary stats for suicide rates, anxiety, and depression in high-performing college students - Cornell University, Penn State University, Tulane University, and Stanford University.

• 18 July 2018
• For Parents and Educators, For Teens

If you’ve attended one of our Smart Girl workshops or talks, you’ll know we often discuss. Today, we’re going to dive into FOMO’s better side - the Joy Of Missing Out (JOMO).

• 04 July 2018
• For Teens

Last week on the blog, we discussed seven ways smart girls identify toxic friends. We delved into relationships and uncovered the signs of a negative friendship ranging from those who are threatened by your successes to those who are no longer fun to be around. It’s entirely possible that throughout that process, a certain “friend” came to mind. That means you’re a smart girl who identified a toxic person in your life. Although it may not feel great, it’s an important step to embrace.

• 27 June 2018
• For Teens

Friendships can be tricky to navigate, especially in middle school, high school, and even college. Friends fight and go through difficult times. Friendship is a two way thing, and every relationship faces its challenges, but it is important to know when a friendship may have run its course. Knowing how to identify toxic friends can help save you from stress and heartache.