Ariana Grande to be an honorary citizen of Manchester

Ariana Grande is to get honorary citizenship of Manchester under plans put forward but the city council. Grande is in line to be the first recipient for putting together the One Love Manchester Concert in honor of victims of the bomb attack at her previous Dangerous Woman concert.

People like Ariana Grande are what make us all believe in humanity again.

She is in line to be the first recipient for putting together the One Love Manchester concert in aid of victims that were affected by the bomb, which 22 people had died. As for the concert, over 50,000 people attended the One Love Manchester concert at Old Trafford on June 4th and millions have watched online. The concert raised almost 3 million euros for the victims of the Manchester Arena attack.

We say keep it up Ariana and for everyone else you can do great in the world as well, even if it’s a small act of kindness it can go a long way.

Here are some highlights from the concert:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/video/2017/jun…

If You Give A Girl Some Brothers

Even though I only actually have one brother, my two older cousins are more like brothers to me therefore I call them my brothers. Having a brother is basically like having a personal body guard and they will always have your back, no matter what. Having a brother can be fun, you learn to be rough and to stick up for yourself and you learn to never give up. Brothers show you that it’s okay to girly too and they will still play with you because they know it will make you happy. Although they might tease you and sometimes drive you crazy, you wouldn’t trade them for the world.

If you give a girl some brothers, they’ll teach her that boys can be sometimes hard to deal with. Having some brothers will make it easier to understand the male population as a whole. As a girl it’s hard to figure out why they think gross things are cool or why they always insist on watching the hockey game because their favorite team is in the finals (which don’t get me wrong I’ll let them watch it but I’d rather be watching Say Yes To The Dress). A brother can help through misunderstandings of a relationship and tell her what he really means because sometimes boys just don’t make sense. Having brothers is nice because they’re always there to give you advice and they can help you through break ups and heart aches.

If you give a girl some brothers, they’ll teach her how to be really patient. Being the sister it’s common to be prepared for any goofy tricks or pranks that your brothers might pull. Mine just so happen to love to mess with my phone. My one brother, Matt at Christmas hid my phone and didn’t tell me where it was for about an hour. My younger brother Max loves to knock my phone out of my hands when I’m least expecting it. Adam doesn’t really do anything like that, so thank you Adam. These silly tricks do indeed teach you how to be patient and to not get angry or frustrated too easily.

If you give a girl some brothers, she’ll learn to be tough. Maybe not in a physical sense because I’m actually not that tough in that sense but in a mental state definitely. You learn to stand up for yourself and make your voice heard. You learn to not get pushed around by anyone and if you still are being pushed around you always have your brothers to help you through it.

If you give a girl some brothers, she’ll get introduced to sports. From a young age all of my brothers were into at least one sport. There have been multiple times where I have watched sports with my brothers. Usually it’s hockey or the olympics but you learn the rules fast or else you get very confused and you want to sound like you know what you’re talking about.

If you give a girl some brothers, she’ll learn about chivalry. Brothers teach their sister how she should be treated by a guy. As the sister I look for a guy who will treat me nicely and with respect as my brothers do with their girlfriends (which they all have girlfriends). The way you let guys treat you is probably what you learned from your brother.

If you give a girl some brothers, they’ll always protect her. Not that I’m saying she can’t protect herself but sometimes a girl just needs to be protected by her brothers. You don’t have to worry about any creepy dudes around with your brothers in the picture.

If you give a girl some brothers, she can be their personal stylist. There’s no need to hire one when you have a sister around! Most guys have no idea what to buy when it comes to clothes so it’s the sisters job to help them out a little. If you’re brother is great at shopping and loves to then you will always have a shopping buddy!

And finally, if you give a girl some brothers, they will teach her to laugh a lot and be silly. Life can be pretty serious but having brothers by your side can make any situation fun, or at least more fun than it was. Brothers can teach you how to enjoy humor and practical jokes. Sometimes one of your brothers will let you in on a prank on another brother and it just makes it so much funnier. Learning to let loose and laugh a little can really make all the difference.

Thank you brothers for an awesome 19 years and I’m excited to spend more with you.

Things To Do With Your Dog

This weekend we made it down to the beach (Ocean City, Maryland) for St. Patrick’s Day Weekend. After taking the dogs for their morning walk, Teddy and I got to work. I was trying to get the sunrise in the background, but probably should have brought a flash, since I had to expose for either Teddy or the sunrise. This was the best I could do getting a happy medium. The last time I took Teddy out on the beach for his weekly shot, the second I got out of arms reach he took off on me… After I had to chase him for about 7 blocks, I kept him on the leash for this one. Luckily his fur hides it well, and he doesn’t know that the only thing holding him back is his own weight (since he is sitting on the leash). One other thing to point out about this photos is how you can sort of catch the purple tongue from his Chow half. (He is a German Shephard/Chow Mix)

Having a dog can be lots of fun but having the same routine over and over can become tedious. How can you add some excitement to your time with your dog?

Here are some ideas that you can incorporate into your weekly schedule:

1.)Go on a walking tour of your city – This is great if you live in a big city. Even if you have lived in your city for quite some time there may be things that you have not seen yet. It’s also great exercise for you and your pet.

2.)Throw your dog a birthday bash – If you know when your dog’s birthday is, you can throw them a party. Giving them special treats or maybe even a new toy can make your dog happy and can be fun for you too. Inviting over some of your friends dogs can make it even more exciting.

3.) Go shopping together in a pet friendly store – Even if you aren’t planning on buying anything, taking your dog for a car ride and for a walk in the store can be an enjoyment for both you and your pet.

4.) Go to the beach – If you live in a warm climate with beaches this could be the perfect place to take your pet. There is a lot of room to play fetch or to go swimming if your dog knows how to swim. Even taking your furry friend to a lake or dog friendly pool can be an adventure that your dog could enjoy!

5.) Frolic in the snow – Not everyone has a beach available all the time, so snow is the next best thing. Playing in the snow with your dog can be amusing and pleasurable to both you and your dog. You can even try sledding with your dog if they’re up for it.

6.) Visit a nursing home or hospital to cheer up patients – Having a well-trained dog can have many perks, and this is just another one! Spreading joy is one of the greatest gifts we can give and doing it with your dog is even better.

7.) Take a day trip to visit friends or family – Even if the trip is a short one, a new environment can be exciting for your pet because they can explore new things and meet new people.

8.) Watch the Puppy Bowl together – Every year for the Super Bowl, Animal Planet hosts the Puppy Bowl. It’s like the Super Bowl only it’s all animals and they play with toys. It’s a great bonding experience for you and your pet. All of the puppies in the Puppy Bowl are from shelters so during the puppy bowl you can adopt one of the dogs if you would like!

9.) Practice patience by balancing treats on your pet’s nose – This is a great exercise for your pup and in the end they get a treat! You can also teach your dog new tricks such as rolling over.

10.) Have a photo shoot – Taking pictures of your dog can always be a blast but adding a cool background or some props can make it that much better and in the end you get some cool photos out of it.

10 Things To Do With Your Dog

5 Reasons You Should Take Your Dog For A Walk

Now that the weather is getting nicer, it’s a great time to get outside with your pup and take a walk! It’s important to make time to head outside and go for a stroll with your dog because it offers some awesome benefits for you both!

Here are 5 reasons you should get outside and take your pup for a walk!

1. Taking your dog for a walk is good exercise for you and your pup! Making time for exercise for you and your pet throughout the week is beneficial for both you and your pet. Walking your dog is great exercise for both you and your dog and can also contribute to helping your pet stay healthy, agile, and limber.

2. A lot of jobs require you to work indoors for multiple hours in a row; therefore getting some fresh air is really nice after being cooped up all day. The same goes for your dog; while you’re at work they’re probably indoors all day as well. Going outside for a walk is a great way to appreciate our earth and to breathe in some fresh air. Going outdoors can actually ease depression. According to a study from the University of Michigan, nature walks are linked to enhanced mental health and positivity.

3. Walking does a lot to help our bodies and walking actually helps with digestion. Studies have shown that a post-meal walk can help with digestion. When walking, the rate at which food moves through the stomach increases. Walking also lowers blood sugar after meals, which decreases cardiovascular risk and potential signal diabetes.

4. Another positive about walking your dog is that it gives you and your dog a chance to bond. Because of work or school, you may not be able to spend as much time with your dog as you would like to, impacting the relationship you have with your dog. Walking your dog is a great way to show your dog that you want to spend time with them and connect with them.

5. Going on walks also increases trust between you and your dog since spending more time with your dog will increase the trust your dog has for you. For example, the more you get to know other people the more you trust them. This is how dogs react too. Giving your dog attention and love will show them that you care about them therefore they will give you trust.

5 Reasons To Take Your Dog For A Walk

The Extroverted Introvert

Personality types can sometimes be very generic. Deciding whether you’re more like an extrovert or an introvert can be quite tough because you might be a little bit of both. Well good news, there’s actually an in-between called ambivert. An ambivert is someone who has qualities of both extroverts and introverts. An extrovert’s way of thinking is: I’m drawn to people, I like social gatherings and I am pretty outgoing. An introvert would think: It’s draining to be around a lot of people. I prefer peace and quiet. I usually prefer to be alone in my free time. Simply an ambivert would say: It depends on the situation. If this sounds like you, keep reading.

Rather than thinking about this as a label, think of it as a spectrum. At one end are introverts, in the middle ambiverts and at the end extroverts. Ambiverts are the in-between and have a lot of similar qualities to both but isn’t one or the other. Being an ambivert can be sometimes confusing. On one hand you like to be alone, but you get stir crazy if you don’t leave the house after awhile. This is totally normal for ambiverts. You want your alone time, but you also want to see the world and explore what’s around.

Another way to think of ambiverts is this poem by Sum:

There is peaceful, there is wild. I am both at the same time.

Here are some real life examples to really tell if you’re an ambivert:

1. Social Gatherings

When in social gatherings, you either want to be invisible or you thrive. You can either be silent or the loudest in the crowd. It really depends on the people you’re with.

2. Being Chatty

There are some instances where your extrovert side just comes out and you can not stop talking, especially when you’re around your crush. When you’re extrovert side is out there is no stopping you, and there’s nothing wrong with that!

3. Not Being Chatty

There are other times where you don’t feel like talking at all. This might happen more when you’re around new people or a big group of people. Again, nothing wrong with this, it’s just the way you are!

4. Interaction

Some days, you just want to be busy all day and if someone else asks you to hang out, you thrive over saying you’re too busy that day. On other days you just want to stay at home, eat some pie and watch Netflix with your cat. Your happiness comes from both extroverted and introverted activities, but only doing one would be totally weird.

5. Seeming Shy

If you don’t know an ambivert very well, you might think they’re really shy. In the beginning of interacting with new people, ambiverts can be very shy, but once you get to know them you will see that there is actually a very extroverted side.

6. Being Nervous

Ambiverts are not nervous at all when it comes to public speaking or explaining something in immense detail in front of the class but when it comes to asking a waiter for a straw, that’s another story.

If you feel like you’re an ambivert, you probably are! If you want even more reassurance you can always take a few quizzes online. At times, we love attention and other times we run the other way. Being an ambivert is something to celebrate and in order to really understand an ambivert, you have to be really close to them. See if any of your friends are ambiverts and maybe now that you know what they’re personality really is like you’ll be able to understand them better. Ambiverts make the world go round, so embrace that you’re an ambivert!

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-extroverted-introvert

Writing About Why I Write

There are so many different forms of writing, poetry, novels, song and much more. I write because it’s a creative outlet for me. Although I also play music and do art, writing is another way for me to express myself. When picking out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, my initial thought was interior design. In 11th grade English class with Mr. Baxter, I realized that I loved to write. I was excited to take the English Regents because it was something I knew I would do well on. Since then, my love for writing has grown, and I’m happy to say I am a journalism major.

I write because I can inform others about a wide range of topics. Writing articles for the Odyssey has improved my writing tremendously. Every week is a new article and a new story. Another part of writing comes in reading, and in society there aren’t many who read. They’re more drawn to a listicle type of reading because they can read the title and look at the pictures and know what’s going on. Although listicles can be fun, I want to bring society back to when reading was a huge part of culture. Writing and reading are so important, and I hope that it becomes more popular again.

I write because I love it. Apart from articles, I’ve written a short screen play, poetry, songs and am starting to write books. Writing can take you on an adventure and let you experience something you may never get to in your life. Rather than in a movie, you can picture in your head what the characters look like, or how the artist feels, or even how you would write it differently. I also love writing because it isn’t just one person — there’s teamwork involved. The editors make sure there aren’t any grammatical mistakes and that it makes sense. There’s a publisher that makes sure it gets published. There are other song writers to help you get your message across in a song. Without all of those people, our craft wouldn’t nearly be as good.

I write because I love helping others. I’m currently writing for an internship for Sitting With A Cause, and they’re a wonderful animal charity, and I’m glad I get to share my writing with all of the supporters. If you’re looking for a creative outlet, try writing. You may think you won’t be good or that others might judge your work but if you’re happy with your work, that’s what really matters. No one said that your writing has to be on the internet. You can easily start off writing in a journal or take a writing class at school. Writing has brought us so far and to where we are today, and without it, communication would be so different. So next time you read something of any kind, remember all of the people that went into making that possible.

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/writing-and-why-write

To The Seniors On Their Last Day

First of all, let me say, congrats! You’ve made it through 13 years of school! The school year probably seemed to fly by, even though I know you had some moments when you felt like the school day was never going to end. Although most of you had senioritis, you’ve finished! Well almost — you still have the last day. The last day is a time where you can actually enjoy being with your friends and reflect on the last 13 years!

Take a breath and walk through the halls for the last time. In elementary school, you start off with your very own cubby, in middle and high school you’ve been upgraded to your own locker and now in college, you are in your own room! For the last day, try your very best to enjoy every second of the day. Thank your teachers and lunch ladies for a wonderful year. Also take some time to spend with your class — maybe it’s being in a big circle at lunch and telling stories about what happened over the years or maybe it’s trying to get everyone in your class to sign your yearbook. I will say though that the last day flies by fast, so get there early and leave later and appreciate all that you’ve learned at experienced over the years.

For the day of graduation, don’t do anything stupid before that. We wanna make sure you still graduate. When I was graduating, I was on stage the whole time singing with the choir, representing student council and reading names. If you’re on the stage during graduation, appreciate your peers and teachers on stage and talk to as many of them as you can because it might be the last time you ever talk to them. For the ones sitting in front of you, appreciate every one of them as well. Most of those kids out there you grew up with or did a school project with. Even if you have bad blood with some of them, be thankful for the lessons they have taught you and for the friendship you once had. For the students sitting down with most of the class, do the same thing. Appreciate everyone around you and be thankful for the experience.

After graduation comes summer, one of the most fun times of the year. Take this time to spend as much time with your friends as possible. After that summer, you all will be going to different places and making new friends. Maybe do an activity you never thought you would do or take a road trip. This is a time to finally relax and take some time for yourself as well. For seven to eight months you have been working so hard to impress colleges and your family and to prove to yourself that you’re college ready. By this time, you’ve graduated, so even if you’re doubting yourself, I’m telling you, you’re college ready. Take some time for yourself and reflect on your accomplishments and how awesome you are.

Lastly, when the time for college comes, don’t be scared. Every other freshman is having the same mixed feelings you have. When you move in, introduce yourself to everyone in your hall and I promise you, you will make friends. Also introduce yourself to all of your RAs. They will be an amazing help throughout the year, and if you’re struggling with anything they will always help you. College is an exciting time but also remember to take some time to do your work (well) and study for exams, and actually read your textbooks! They can help you a lot more than you may think. Join new clubs you never thought you would, take a variety of classes (even if you already know your major) and have fun. Congrats class of 2016, what and amazing journey you have coming.

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/to-the-seniors-on-their-last-day

What My Penfield Music Experience Taught Me

Ever since a young age, I have been in a music program of some kind. I was lucky enough to go to a public school that was practically a performing arts school.

Going through the Penfield music program has taught me so much about music but also about perseverance and patience. I remember the first time I thought about going into the music program. I was in first grade, and we had a spring concert for all of the kids that were already enrolled in the program. While watching the other kids, in my head I was thinking, yeah I can totally do that. That afternoon, I went to my mom and told her I wanted to play the violin. I have been playing the violin ever since then.

Violin soon led to guitar, ukulele, mandolin and piano. Learning all of those different instruments has shown me that you can do anything you put your mind to. My first violin teacher was Mrs. Andrews, and I commend her so much for putting up with all of the squeaky beginners. I started off in the Suzuki program and only orchestra kids know how annoying some of those songs can be. In my elementary career, I ended with book 3. Moving up to sixth grade, I never really went to lessons in school because that’s when I discovered my true love for singing. I had always loved singing before then but this is the time where I realized I’m a lot better at singing than the violin. In seventh and eighth grade, I went to a lot more lessons because I realized I need to get better at this instrument.

My music experience didn’t really start until I got into high school. My orchestra teacher, Mrs. Stewart, is one of the best teachers I have ever had and for the first time ever, I loved being in orchestra more than choir. If you register for choir, you have that class every day third or fourth period, but because I was an instrumentalist, I went once a week on Wednesdays. I had really good friends in both classes so I loved going to both and I loved music, so going to those classes was the best part of my day.

Sophomore year, I signed up for voice class, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. If you’re in orchestra or band, you have outside lessons, but in choir you do not, so voice class was kind of like my lesson, only it was every day. I loved voice class. Getting our musical theater song for the year was like Christmas for us. My teacher, Ms. A, has taught me so many techniques and has really made me such a better singer. Honestly, having the resources from this school has made me such a wonderful musician and person. If I were to recommend any concert to go to I would say go to the prism concert. Every aspect of the music program is a part of it, and there isn’t any clapping in between the acts so it has a really cool aspect.

I would love to thank the Penfield music program and all that it has taught me. It’s prepared me for college and so much more. I’m so thankful to have gone to such a wonderful school.

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/my-penfield-music-experience

To The Girls Living In My Freshman Dorm

Dear girls,

I would just like to say congratulations for being accepted to college and graduating high school! What an exciting time in your life. Freshman year is full of experiences and trying new things, and I’m so excited for you to see what college has to offer. If you are living in Alumni 116 in Fredonia, congrats. You have my room! If you’re looking into the room, I was on the right side. Dorm rooms are not as bad as you may think. Yes, it’s probably smaller than your room at home, but it’s a cute little space that you can relax in.

Some tips I would give you are to try new things, read your textbooks and be nice to everyone. In college, you’re trying to figure out what you want to do with your life, and there are many ways that you can find what you like. If you’re undeclared, I recommend taking as many different classes as you can. First, because you can take care of some of your CCC classes that way. Also, by taking a wide range of classes, you can figure out which subjects you don’t and do like. I also recommend looking at Rate My Professor before choosing a class or professor. The worst situation is that you get a boring class with a bad teacher, but no one wants that.

Read your textbooks. I wish someone told me this my first year. In high school, the textbooks are there to do occasional problems in, or maybe you had a reading assignment, but you rarely ever use them. In college, you actually have to pay for you textbooks. I know. It’s not fun. The textbooks actually have a lot of knowledge in them, though, and the professors won’t stop the lecture every time you don’t understand something or you didn’t write down all of the notes quick enough. The textbooks are really good help. Reading the textbook might solve your question, and it has all of the information in it that you missed for class. If the class you’re taking is for your major, that information can also help you down the road.

Lastly, be kind to people. High school is filled with drama no matter where you went to high school, and no one likes drama. If you do, just watch “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Always treat people how you would want to be treated because you’re all going though the same thing. Leaving home for the first time can be kinda scary, especially if you live far away. Get to know people and try not to judge them based on their appearance. Some of the best friends I have now I made my freshman year. Orientation is a great place to meet the people you will be going to school with. So take a breath, walk over and say hello. That’s all you have to do to meet new people.

I know college is a big step in life, but your older peers and professors are there to help you along the way. I hope this helped make college seem less scary. Also, the room isn’t haunted or anything like that, so don’t worry. Freshman year is going to fly by so make it the best it can be.

Sincerely,

Marissa

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/open-letter-girls-living-freshman-dorm

What It’s Like Having A Bad Memory

I’ve had a bad memory my whole life.

I remember going in for so many different tests so adults could figure out why I didn’t learn things as quickly as the other kids. After every test, my results would come out inconclusive. As it turns out, I just have a really bad memory, and other people out there with a bad memory can definitely relate. Sometimes it has its perks. For instance, when you want to forget an embarrassing event, you’re set. Most of the time, though, it’s hard because you forget everything. Most assume that people with bad memories don’t care, when actually we do. We just can’t remember.

School, no matter what age, is a very difficult time for people with bad memories. Taking notes is probably the easiest part of class, but remembering what you wrote down is the problem. Quizzes and tests are the hardest thing to prepare for. Multiple choice tests are usually OK because the answer is there. You just have to make sure you select the right one. It gets tricky when the test is all short answer and fill in the blank. Remembering specific things is very difficult for anyone, but when you have a bad memory, it’s even harder.

Everyone’s memory is different, but there are many of us that have bad memory. Some people with bad memories forget what they’re getting at the grocery store, or to pick up something from the way home from work. If you forget little things like that, your bad memory isn’t that bad. If you’re like me, you can’t remember childhood memories that well, or you remember an event differently than your friend, or you can’t even remember if you were there or not. Basically, people with bad memories have to figure out the best way for them to learn to make remembering things a lot easier. Some people are visual learners and some are auditory. Again, everyone’s brain is different, so we all learn in different ways.

Another struggle with having a bad memory is not remembering faces, names and birthdays. Every now and then, people with good memories forget some of these things. For instance, my cousin usually has a pretty good memory, but for some reason, he can never remember all of our cousins’ names, even though he’s known most of them his whole life. It can be really awkward in some situations when someone you know sees you, and you know that you know them but you completely forget their name, so you don’t know how to address them. Forgetting about a person is also really awkward and it happens to me way too much. For example, your friend could be talking about someone you knew, and you could completely forget they even were a person.

Having a bad memory definitely has its ups and downs, but unless you work on having a better memory, there really isn’t much that you can do about it. So embrace your bad memory, and know that you’re not the only one out there.

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/what-its-like-having-bad-memory