Newsletter #66 - How to take better photos at night; dealing with rejection when applying for jobs; grounding techniques

TeenHelp Newsletter

TeenHelp Newsletter #66 - October 4th 2015 - http://www.teenhelp.org

Welcome to the TeenHelp Newsletter! Our Newsletter contains a lot of useful information about our current work, including updates to our site and services, new resources, details of upcoming events, short bits of advice, interesting links and more!

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TeenHelp News

TeenHelp regularly makes changes to its site and services. Some of these are large and noticeable, and others are small and much less so, but each one contributes to the positive development of TeenHelp and how our users experience our community. Below are some of the most recent developments.

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Latest articles (September 3rd 2015)

Our team of talented writers bring our users a constant stream of fresh articles to read each month. Articles are being published regularly, so be sure to check regularly to see what we're doing. Some of our latest additions include:

Coping with the diagnosis of a chronic illness

Chronic illnesses are not like the typical sickness that one might encounter once in a while, but when it does happen, it lasts for a long time. This article talks about the many ways to cope with a chronic illness.

How to make button bracelets

Are you a person who enjoys making jewellery? This article talks about how to make button bracelets, a creative use for unused buttons.

The concept of virginity

The term virginity nowadays can seem very ambiguous, meaning a lot of different things depending on where we are from, how we were raised, as well as societal and cultural beliefs. This article talks about the concept of virginity as well as what the term itself means.

Traveling abroad

For many of us, travelling is a fun way to spend time away from home during long breaks. This article talks about some of the essential things to keep in mind when travelling abroad.

http://www.teenhelp.org/articles/

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Resources

TeenHelp works with a range of different organisations and websites in order to help and educate young people. Below is a selection of some of them. For a full list of the organisations we work with, please visit our Resources page.

http://www.teenhelp.org/resources/

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Teen-Babble

Teen-Babble is a website that has informative articles on a variety of topics including relationships, friendships, and parenting. There are also podcasts that give advice on topics such as overcoming bullying and ways to prepare for a job interview. Teen-Babble aims to provide support and advice to young people and teenagers.

http://www.teen-babble.com/

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Tips Of The Month

Each month we share small bits of practical advice that you can implement to improve your life or that of others.

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How to take better photos at night with your smartphone

In an increasingly digital age, many people are using their smartphone as their main camera, as it can be more portable and it has a multifunctional use. Here are some tips on how to take better photos at night with your phone.

• Stabilise your phone. Use a tripod or place your phone on a solid surface, such as a table, to reduce camera shake. If there is nowhere suitable to place your phone, use both hands, and don't spend too long capturing the picture. The likelihood of your hands shaking increases the longer you hold your phone up.
• Avoid using flash. If you are too close to the subject, it might make the photo too bright, and if you are too far away, using flash won't have any affect on the photo. Instead, make use of sources of light in your environment, for example, taking a photo near a street light.
• Don't use zoom. If your smartphone has a digital zoom, using it will cause the quality of your photo to reduce drastically, especially at night. Go closer to the subject instead, if necessary. You can always crop your photo later.
• Use the back camera. Most smartphones have a better quality rear camera. Although selfies are very popular these days, ask a friend to take a photo of you instead for a better quality picture.
• Try using night mode. Your smartphone may come with an in-built setting to take photos in night mode; if not, take a look at camera apps designed to help you take sharper photos. Play around with the settings to see which one works best for you!

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f221-art/

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How to deal with rejection when applying for jobs

Receiving a rejection letter, or hearing nothing at all, after submitting a job application can be very demoralising and frustrating, especially if it's a job that you really want. Here are some ways to be proactive and deal with it in a positive way.

• Don't take it personally. There may be several reasons why you don't hear back, from not enough personnel to deal with the volume of applicants, to the advert just being a formality, as the job was being filled by someone in the first place.
• Review your application. Did your application contain key words from the job description? Did you talk about your skills and strengths enough? Perhaps get a second opinion and discuss it with family and friends.
• Make contact, if you're really passionate about the job. If you haven't heard anything for a reasonable amount of time after the application deadline has passed, contact the organisation to find out if they have received your application, and if so, if they could provide any feedback on it. This will show that you're interested, and they may consider you if there are any more vacancies later on, and it will also help when you complete future applications. Remember to be polite and professional, as you may need to contact them in future.
• Keep trying. Each time you write an application, you are practising talking about your strengths and showing yourself in a positive way. This will also help for when you attend an interview, as it will become ingrained in your memory.
• Volunteer. Enquire about volunteering in the organisation that you want a career in. Sometimes the reason for not getting to the next stage is because of lack of experience. Volunteering is a good opportunity to gain experience, and the employer will be able to observe your performance at the same time. If the organisation does not take on volunteers, volunteering elsewhere is still a valid experience and will enhance your application.
• Consider joining a recruitment agency. Most agencies offer their services for free, so why not enlist their help? Talk to family and friends to find out which agencies offer the best service, but don't rely on them to do all your work.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f22-education-careers/

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Grounding techniques

Do you ever have difficulty staying alert in the present moment? Grounding is a way of helping you to cope with overwhelming feelings, such as stress and anxiety, by anchoring you to the here and now. Here are some ways to bring yourself back to reality.

• Use your five senses. Take some time to try to identify your surroundings using as many of your senses as you can. For instance, if you're at a store, you might feel the texture of a shelf or hear a couple having a conversation. Focus on objects in your surroundings and make a list of uses for them in your head. This will help you become more aware of the things nearby.
• Talk to yourself out loud or in your head. More specifically, make yourself aware of the date, time, and your location. For example, you might say, "It's Tuesday, September 15th, 2015. It is 12:04 am. I am in my room, on my laptop, listening to music. Repeat this to yourself as needed.
• Do things that require concentration. Keep a conversation, for instance. All the effort used for the conversation will help ground you a little bit. You could also play a card game, or work on some assignments for school.
• Make a grounding kit. Include an item for each of your senses at minimal. You might include a mint for taste, play-dough to feel, a bell to hear, a kaleidoscope for sight, and a perfume sample to smell.

http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f14-mental-health/

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Interesting Things (on TeenHelp)

A lot of content is posted to TeenHelp every single day, from threads to articles, social groups to albums. But it is difficult for even the most veteran user to keep on top of it all, so we have selected a few items from among the masses that we thought were interesting to draw your attention to.

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Threads

Perfect day, what would yours look like?
There are a variety of events that could make a day amazing. Talk about your opinions on what makes the perfect day.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f29-g...urs-look-like/

How often do you bath/shower?
People have different habits when it comes to hygiene. In this thread, discuss how frequently you bathe or shower.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f3-ge...u-bath-shower/

How do you protect yourself?
When engaging in sexual activity, it is important to use protection to prevent STIs and pregnancy. Share your favourite methods of protection.
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f6-se...tect-yourself/

The vaccine debate
The topic of vaccines and their benefits and risks has been a controversial topic in the media recently. What are your opinions on vaccinations?
http://www.teenhelp.org/forums/f38-c...e/#post1202579

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Social Groups

Duolingo Owls of TeenHelp
Duolingo allows users to learn a new language for free. Are you a member of Duolingo, or would you like more information? Join this group to discuss the app and share your experience.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups...wls++teenhelp/

The Children of Time
Doctor Who is a popular science fiction show. Are you a fan of this show? This group allows you to meet others interested in the show and discuss your favorite aspects of it.
http://www.teenhelp.org/socialgroups...hildren++time/

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Picture Of The Month

Each month we feature a picture by one of our users. If you would like to see your picture here please contact us by replying to this Newsletter, emailing us at contact@teenhelp.org, or messaging our Publications Team Leader (Halcyon) on the website.



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Upcoming events

Discussion: Managing stress (Saturday October 10th 2015)

We can feel stressed when there are so many things demanding our attention at once. While a certain amount of stress is necessary, for example, to help us complete an assignment, too much stress can lead to mental health problems. This discussion will teach you how to recognise what triggers your stress, how to help you manage stress, and how to get support for it.

Discussion: Learning to make friends (Saturday October 17th 2015)

Friends can be a great source of comfort, warmth and support, and bring fun and enjoyment to our lives. Yet many of us find it difficult to make and keep friends. Join this discussion for advice building strong friendships and reinforcing the friendship that you may already have.

Discussion: Building confidence and self esteem (Saturday October 24th 2015)

If you have low confidence or self-esteem you may find yourself unable to carry out certain tasks or feeling that you are disliked by others. These feelings might hold you back and stop you from enjoying life to its fullest. Join this discussion to learn techniques to give your self-esteem a boost, and how to work on building confidence for a more fulfilling lifestyle.

For more information about upcoming Facilitated Chat Room Discussions (FCRDs), and the times that these discussions will take place, please visit our FCRD page.

http://www.teenhelp.org/chat/discussions/

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Donate to TeenHelp

In order to continue providing free services to young people around the world, TeenHelp requires a constant income of voluntary donations to support our regular costs. If you are able to, we ask that you please donate any money you can to us, even if it's only a few dollars.

http://www.teenhelp.org/donate/

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Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr

Our social networking pages are a great place to get a lot of high-quality information. We aim to connect you to interesting organisations, volunteering opportunities, events, news stories, pictures, videos, and more!

Facebook: http://www.teenhelp.org/facebook
Twitter: http://www.teenhelp.org/twitter
Tumblr: http://www.teenhelp.org/tumblr

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Editorial team

Publications Team Leader/Editor-in-Chief: Haley (Halcyon)
Senior Newsletter Editor: Cassie (Calico.)
Newsletter Editor: Dez (*~Sparkly Queer~*)
Newsletter Editor: Jenny (coolkid98)
Newsletter Editor: Nicole (eumoirous)
Newsletter Editor: Rishy (Pirouette)

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