Teen Girl Awareness

In 2013, the rate at which teenage girls are falling through the cracks is increasing. Reasons for this increase may include little to no self-confidence or worth, no mother or female role model in which to relate, or negative influences of female celebrities. However, there are ways to interchange the struggles of being a teenager and to move this issue in a positive direction.

One way to assist teenage girls is to organize an outreach program in the community that mainly focuses on group and individual writing exercises. Various writing exercises can be a way for these girls to face problems head on with the help and support of others that are or may have been in similar situations. Writings of this nature are healthy, both mentally and intellectually. Participants can experience ways to let go of negative attitudes and emotional baggage. For example, participants can write down their weaknesses or what they are struggling with, share them with the group, and burn the paper. Teens can also write down their strengths, put them in balloons, and blow up the balloons. One by one the balloons are popped to reveal what each person has to offer. The information is then transferred onto a banner so people can see all of their strengths together.

Another way to help struggling teen girls is to seek counseling. Versus group and individual exercises, counseling is a more intimate environment. Counseling helps teens to take responsibility for his or her feelings, thoughts, hopes, and deeper needs. Teenage girls are more self-conscience of how others may perceive them. They may feel more concerned for and at ease to have someone's undivided attention and not feel judged. This is a good way for girls to express themselves emotionally, whether it is good or bad. For instance, the practitioner has the child sort the affirmation cards into three piles: attributes she knows she has, attributes she think she has, and attributes she does not have. She can