My thoughts about FYI (if you're a teenage girl)

I am excited to get this blog started! I am a communications student and aspiring broadcast journalist. However, writing is important to my success as a journalist on television so I have decided to start blogging. Sometimes thoughts on issues come to me and I wish I had a place to write it all down. A blog sounded like the perfect place to express myself. Because these posts will be free flowing thoughts, my grammar may not always be the best. I'm not too worried about that at this point because I just want to get my raw ideas down on paper (ok actually on the screen).

I just read the post FYI (if you're a teenage girl) by Mrs. Hall. As I was reading it I had so many thoughts running through my mind. There are so many things wrong with her argument and things I believe many parents would disagree with. I recommend reading it before reading my post to give you insight into what I'm referring to.

First, I think there is an incredibly large issue we tend to ignore in today's society. Girls have started wearing less clothing, rappers write about more promiscuous "activities", and parents complain about it. Ok... so what are you doing to SOLVE the problem? Girls know they can get attention by taking their clothes off. It's really that simple. But you don't want your daughter to be receiving that kind of attention? Here's your solution. Build up her self esteem! Whether that be complimenting that 100% she got on her latest math test, or how well she played in her basketball game last night, or even the little things like "I really appreciate you putting away your laundry when I asked." If she starts receiving attention for what we would call the right things, she won't try to seek that attention elsewhere. Now, I'm only 19 and am not a mother, but when I do have children, building up their confidence is going to be my number one priority (along with their safety of course). [Side note: My mom always said my brother and I each have a bucket of self esteem that she would fill up each day. No one else in our life was allowed to remove from this bucket. They weren't required to add to it, but they sure couldn't take from it. I am incredibly confident with myself and owe it all to my parents.] Once girls start realizing there is more to them than their body, they won't feel the need to gain attention that way. Actually, if you start this early, they won't EVER feel the need to gain attention by using their body. Or as Mrs. Hall said, their arched back and pouty face.

Second, if girls are supposed to act like ladies, I demand that boys be expected to act like gentlemen. Nowhere in her article does Mrs. Hall state that she holds her boys accountable to treat these girls with respect. She just requires they make them disappear off their social media if they post sexually suggestive photos. Newsflash: they're going to look for it elsewhere. Your boys are probably a lot smarter (and sneakier) than you think.

Not only have my parents built my self esteem up so I don't find the need to gain internet attention, but I've also seen and heard about the consequences of things posted in poor taste. Take the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders for example. They are an incredibly elite squad of dancers and only a select few make the team. If the coaches and mangers of that team find anything remotely inappropriate on the internet (naked pictures, partying pictures, drugs, alcohol, etc.) your chance as a DCC is over. Done. Your lifelong dream will never come true. All because of one single post. Even if it's deleted, things can still be saved and found later. Kids- boys and girls- need to be taught to be mindful of what they're posting because one small slip up could ruin their entire chance at the job they've wanted their whole life.

I challenge you to go compliment your son or daughter on at least one thing they did well today that has nothing to do with their appearance.