The aftermath of Valentine’s Day can have some people questioning their relationship status.

While some people are out on dates, getting each other stuffed animals, chocolates, roses or balloons, others are sitting at home by themselves playing video games, snacking, watching TV or hanging out with their own friends.

“While everyone else is out doing things and having plans, I just end up sitting at home playing video games in my room all day,” senior David Hall said.

Some of the people who do not go on a date with a significant other can sometimes feel left out.

“Valentine’s Day does make make feel left out a little bit, but I have gotten used to it,” Hall said.

Feeling left out on Valentine’s Day may be due to the constant advertisement in stores, on TV or in schools on around and on holiday. Commercials, posters and propaganda are everywhere telling people they need to go on a date or find a date with someone.

“What makes me feel left out the most on Valentine’s Day is the necessity that exists in our culture today of having a boyfriend or girlfriend,” Hall said.

This constant advertisement of the holiday may leave some people questioning their status and if they really should find a significant other they can call theirs.

Other people find the holiday annoying and tacky. Some couples decide to just stay home and order pizza because they don’t find Valentine’s Day amusing.

One may find himself wondering if Valentine’s Day is really a day to celebrate love or to point out he does not have a significant other yet.

“I don’t feel left out [on Valentine’s Day] because, personally, I don’t need anyone to make me happy,” senior Kayla Esterle said.

While some people are feeling left out on Valentine’s Day, other may feel like the opposite. They might think they do not need anyone to make them happy as they are happy with themselves.

Every teen goes through blemishes and acne at least once in their teen years, and for most it is an everyday occurrence, but there are many different ways to prevent blemishes from forming.

Acne can occur from almost anything including stress all the way to genetics, and there are often multiple ways to treat different forms. Different forms of acne include whiteheads, blackheads, nodules and cysts, all of which are caused by multiple reasons, and there are both natural ways and hacks to get rid of it or reduce it in a short amount of time.

The easiest way to prevent acne is to take care of both the body and mind, meaning washing the face with mild soap or face wash regularly, eating right and drinking plenty of water. By doing these things it naturally reduces the buildup of toxins in the body and lets the body get rid of waste naturally without breaking out the skin.  

If the acne comes from another reason, such as a hormonal imbalance, it may be best to meet with a doctor and speak about the possibility of medications that would work better than a face wash and healthy living.

Many different face washes out there offer the same thing: clear skin and a happy body, but they are not for everyone and work for different body and skin types. For example, the X-Out seen on TV will not work for everyone as everyone is different and each body requires different strengths and ingredients that the skin will react and work best with.

Many people who struggle with acne often turn to “skin hacks” to treat and manage acne. Hundreds of different hacks can be found simply by typing it into Google. These hacks range from very simple tricks that require one or two ingredients to DIY face washes that can be made almost like a cake in a kitchen. Simple hacks may include placing ice, lemon, toothpaste, and even honey onto the affected blemish and holding it there for anywhere from a few seconds to overnight according to lifehack.org.

Do it yourself acnes treatments often have simple ingredients that are available in the household or at the local stores, and often can be cheaper, more effective alternatives to store bought washes and scrubs. Natural remedies are also very popular in the day and age as people now are concerned about what goes in their bodies.

A face wash that is both DIY and natural, according to stylecraze.com, has cinnamon powder, honey, turmeric, and lemon and is applied in the paste form onto the face for fifteen to twenty minutes.

There are many different ways to treat acne, and the best way to find a treatment that works is to try many different kinds. It is a good thing people have six years of teen-hood to find the perfect match.

By Victoria Riggs

People are reminded everyday about the importance of having a healthy lifestyle.

Eating nutritious foods and exercising regularly play a big part in being fit.

The latest technology trend in fitness are devices, such as Fit Bits, which challenge adults and teens to make exercise a part of their daily routine.

People cannot argue that exercise is wise for teenagers as they tend to spend more time inside watching television or playing video games and less time being active. Exercise is not only good for the body, but it also makes a person feel good on the inside as well. Teens should try to spend at least 60 minutes doing moderate physical activity each day.

Exercise benefits every part of the body because it causes the body to produce endorphins, chemicals that can help a person feel happy and increase self­ esteem. Exercise also promotes restful sleep.

Regular exercise enhances thinking and learnings skills, which may improve performance at school. Lastly, it can also give a person a sense of accomplishment when a certain goal is achieved.

Exercising improves appearance and assists in maintaining a healthy body weight as it burns more calories and develops a toned body; however, the amount of high ­intensity exercise needed to lose weight does vary with people. Some people may need to do more than 150 minutes of activity per week, and some may need to do less.

Diseases, such as type II diabetes, heart disease, colon cancer and stroke, which are found mostly with adults, are now becoming more common in teens. Exercise and maintaining a healthy weight helps reduce the risk of these medical conditions.

Working out will also help lower blood pressure and increase good cholesterol. Brisk walking, running and other weight ­bearing exercises strengthen bones which helps prevent loss of bone density.

Staying active as a teen is extremely important. Becoming involved with a sport or other activity will encourage regular exercise.

There are three components that make up a well­ balanced exercise program: aerobic exercise, strength training and flexibility training. Aerobic exercise gives the heart a good workout as it gets the heart pumping and quickens breathing. Team sports provide a great aerobic workout; however, biking, swimming and running are some examples that can be done individually. Strength training exercises, such as push­ ups, squats, leg raises increase muscle mass and help to build strong muscles.

When muscles are used, they become stronger and can increase endurance. Flexibility training activities helps the muscle and joints stretch easily and reduces the risk of sprains. Some activities like karate, ballet and gymnastics help a person stay flexible.

Staying fit and active is one of the biggest challenges teenagers face. If one is already exercising now, try to keep it up as it becomes more difficult to do as the schedule becomes busier.