Showing posts with label Katie Johns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Katie Johns. Show all posts

What Barbie Can Teach Us About Self Acceptance


There’s a new girl in town! Rumors of a new “natural Barbie doll” are spreading like wildfire. Instead of the tall and skinny typical Barbie, artists have taken the average measurements of women to create this doll that is much shorter and “fatter” than a typical Barbie doll.

Society puts so much pressure on women and even young girls to look a certain way, and I really think this new Barbie doll can send an alternate message: embrace yourself. Tv shows, magazines, movies and billboards can give girls and women the idea that they need to be skinny to be pretty or to feel comfortable.

Not too long ago I wrote an article for my old high school’s newspaper about a Barbie that was covered in tattoos. It seems as if Barbie is trying to cover all the bases when it comes to representing women in today’s society, which is a good thing, but why did it take this long for someone to come up with the idea for an “Average Barbie?”

I took a sociology class and when we came to a unit about media, I was shocked when my teacher showed us a Dove ad that highlighted how much work actually goes into making a model look “beautiful.” The model sits through hours and hours of hair and make-up and then the photo shoot. After the shoot there is even more time editing on the computer screen, including pulling the model’s face in to make it thinner, arching her brows with the click of the mouse and other unnecessary edits. It certainly couldn’t have made the model feel good to be edited, and it certainly made women in society feel inferior about their beauty. We live in a society where beautiful people get more attention whether they be models or actors, and it is nice for someone to create a doll that doesn’t look like it’s a model.

Social media seems to be a big factor in what society deems as beautiful. To society, a size zero is pretty, but for health, a size six or even 10 is a lot better. This new Barbie relates to women who aren’t celebrities and who live life under the radar.

However, sources say that the response to this new Barbie is mostly on the negative side, with people saying she looks sickly. We live in a tough society, and it’s beginning to be clear that people are never going to agree on what the “right” look is. People think the traditional Barbies are too pretty but the new average ones are ugly. While this Barbie looks extremely natural with acne and what looks like bags under her eyes, the message the doll sends is still a good one.

I love the idea of this new Barbie, and I only hope that they make more of her so little girls can grow up knowing they don’t have to be perfect in society’s eyes.

By: Katie Johns | Image: Source

6 Reasons Why We Love Disney Movies

Image Source

They’re cute, they’re animated, they make you laugh, they make you cry and their target audience is 5-year-olds, yet everyone aged 3 to 80 makes time to watch them over and over again. Yes, you guessed right, I am talking about Disney movies.

With the recent release of Disney Pixar’s "Monster’s University" I started thinking about why, no matter our age, we spend our time watching these movies. Some of the first movies I watched as a little girl were "Cinderella" and "The Lion King," and I still love watching them. I mean, at the age of 3 I would watch "The Lion King" about four times a day wrapped up in my Lion King sleeping bag while laying in my Lion King tent; I had the whole nine yards.

The Disney Empire is immortal. It has to be more than the fact that as a child they helped our imagination grow and as a young adult they make our hearts melt.

Image Source

What does Disney do that makes us come back for more and more year after year? It’s more than Disney magic, I’m sure. There is just something in the air that makes the little kid in all of us come out to play when the castle lights up at the end of the previews.

Here is why I think we love Disney movies at every age:

1. They teach us how to dream
As a child, Disney characters like Cinderella, Snow White and Ariel make us believe that anything can happen if we put our minds to it. Even "Alice in Wonderland," which is a complete dream, shows us just how vast our imagination can be. "Peter Pan" is one of my favorites and might be the best example of learning how to dream. From the fairy tale land to the creative characters, viewers learn that they can create and make any place into something spectacular. 

2. As we grow up they help us hold onto our childhood
I still love watching Disney movies, and I’m 19. I would rather watch a Disney movie over some romantic comedy because essentially they are the same. Peter Pan’s motto is “never grow up,” and with a little pixie dust in our hair we never have to when we watch a Disney movie.

3. They teach us how to be ourselves
"Tarzan" is the story of a boy who grows up his whole life among gorillas only to fall in love with another human and must decide which “life” is for him. Pinocchio has to learn how to stop lying and prove he is worth “being a real boy” by just being himself. Disney lesson #456 -- always, always, always be yourself.

4. They make us think anything is possible
Dumbo, for example, is the cutest elephant with the biggest ears ever and are the butt of many jokes. However, with the help of his little mouse friend, Timothy Dumbo proves to the entire circus that his wings give him a special gift -- he can fly. Anything is possible if you try, according to Disney, and I really think that people carry this message with them their entire lives. "The Princess and the Frog," from Disney Pixar, is a great example of doing the impossible. Tiana never thought she would own her own restaurant but she didn’t think she could do it until reaching her lowest point -- being turned into a frog. With a little Disney magic, she reached her goal.

5. They give us unrealistic expectations of love
Seriously, think about it. Prince Charming hunted down Cinderella after she lost her shoe, Prince Eric loved Ariel even though she was a mermaid, and Belle managed to turn a beast into a handsome young man. I think the hidden message here is that love conquers all or something like that, but come on, no guy is going to chase down a girl if she loses a shoe. "Up," a classic Disney Pixar movie, is honestly an adorable love story, and most people would probably give anything to have a love like Ellie and Carl did. I know I would.

6. They help us understand that family is the most important
"Brave," a Disney Pixar movie, taught us that no matter how embarrassing or annoying our family members get, at the end of the day you will always love them. Wishing they were different doesn’t do anything to improve relationships. "Tangled" is another movie that highlights the importance of family. I mean, not all of us are kidnapped princesses, but still, it tugs on your heart strings that her parents continuously look for her and send lanterns into the night sky for her. Also, my mother now sings the song “Mother Knows Best” whenever I fail to take her advice, so the music in the movies sends some message as well.

Why do you love Disney movies? Let us know in the comments below.

By: Katie Johns

What to Do When Friends Change


One of the hardest things about going to college is leaving your childhood friends. A lot of it comes from a fear of the unknown; will they forget me? Will they stop talking to me? When I see them again will things be different? I can only answer the last question: yes, some things will be different.

In some cases, things will change for the better. However, here, I am talking about when things change for the worst. Change is bound to happen, and although you don’t notice yourself changing, the first thing you notice are your childhood friends changing, and it can cause a lot of problems.

Everyone experiences different changes. Sometimes friends become boy crazy, others turn into party animals, some cannot stop obsessing over their brand new friends, and some change into all three of these things. Your conversations with them become all about them and their crazy weekend; they never ask about you and how you are, and it becomes incredibly frustrating. However, it is not worth losing a friendship over.

Let’s break it down.

The best way to go about fixing friendships and getting feelings out is to simply talk it out. As hard as it will be, it’s better to get everything out in the open. When I went through this I waited way too long to bring up how I was feeling and it turned into a complete mess. When you are telling your friend how you’re feeling, you need to be honest, not harsh. Being rude to her is not going to make the situation better, but rather will only make them more defensive. When you tell your friend she is changing, she is bound to say that you have changed too. Make sure you let her explain her feelings as well.

When you have both said your peace try to come to an agreement about how you guys can improve your friendship. Try stepping up and being the better person by starting the conversation with her and hopefully she will follow your lead and things will begin to improve. If your friend goes back to being the crazy she was before, talk to her about it again.

If she cannot stop obsessing over a boy, try and change the subject to something else, like class or family; it might not work but it definitely gives you a break from having to hear about Mr. Monday all day. Do the same thing when your friends won’t stop talking about all the crazy parties they’ve been to.

If your friends are obsessed with their new friends and it starts to bother you, bring up old memories you guys have. It will definitely make you feel better, and it will remind them of the friendship you guys have and all the incredible memories you have made.

We all change when we go to college, but it is really hard watching people you’ve known forever change into completely different people; it hurts. Sometimes not much can be done, but if the friendship means that much, trying to work it out is the best and only option.

By: Katie Johns | Image: Source

How to Cure Homesickness


Being homesick is something almost every college student faces and can sometimes even be too much to handle. Since I’m from the suburbs of Chicago, coming to Columbia meant being six and half hours away from home with few visits. When my parents and I decided that I would be staying in Columbia this summer I quickly learned how to combat homesickness.

1. Skype, FaceTime, Ovoo
Any video type of social media is a lifesaver. They’re an extra boost over texts and phone calls because they allow you to semi talk face-to-face with the person on the other end. Although it may be difficult, try scheduling an exact time each week when you will Skype your family or best friend. If that doesn’t work, random Skype sessions with my best friends back home never failed to put a smile on my face.

2. Don’t dwell on the fact that all of your friends at home are together
This is a hard one to follow. When you get a Snapchat of four of your best friends at home all hanging out, don’t get upset. Just think, I’m here being independent, making new friends and making memories that will last me a lifetime.

3. Find things to do that will take your mind off not being home
My roommate and I have found a multitude of different events going on in Columbia to pass the time. There is at least one Farmer’s Market going on during the week, Stephen’s Lake Park has a beach along with a great path to walk, and don’t forget that The District has a lot of cute clothing boutiques to browse.

4. Visit home or have visitors come to you
One time you go home and the next time friends and family come to you. When you go home you get to visit all of your places (for me downtown Chicago), eat at your favorite restaurants and visit with all of your high school friends. When friends come to you, you get to show off Mizzou’s pretty campus, take them shopping in the District, eat at Shakespeare’s and show off your own apartment.

5. Have some of your new college friends around
It will make things a lot easier to have friends who are going through the same thing as you. My roommate and I, for example, are both from the Chicagoland area and were both deemed to stay in Columbia by our parents. We know it’s rough to be far from home, but we have each other, and knowing someone understands where you’re coming from makes things easier.

6. Make sure you know why you’re staying in Columbia
For me, I am working to get residency in Missouri so I can get in-state tuition, but if I didn’t have a clear reason to be here, I would be at home. If you’re not sure why you’re staying here, you’ll probably feel a little more homesick. If you’re not taking class or working, for example, your friends who are staying here will be doing those things and you’ll be left alone until they finish class or are done with work, giving you extra time to think about home.

7. It’s okay to call your mom crying
Seriously, it is. I do it more than I should, too. I’ll call her because something went wrong that day and I’ll beg my mom to let me come home. But both her and I know that going home isn’t the solution. That would just defeat the purpose of me being in Columbia and learning to be independent. Moms are the best for providing reassuring words and a laugh. When I tell her I am completely out of groceries, my car has no gas and the toilet in my bathroom is definitely on the verge of breaking, she laughs. These “catastrophes” we have now are one day going to be things to laugh at in a year or maybe even next week.

Being homesick is unavoidable, but it is possible to find ways to help cure it. These seven things have sure helped me this past year and especially this summer.

By: Katie Johns | Image: Source

Balance Summer Fun and a Job Like a Pro


There comes a time when summer isn’t just for going to camps, hanging out by the pool and sleeping in. As the years go by everyone learns that summer is the prime time for making money, even if working isn’t exactly high on the summer bucket list. It’s a dilemma we all face as we grow up: balancing fun in the summer with a job. However, if gone about the right way, fun and money can both be made in those short summer months.

Here are a few helpful tips for balancing summertime with worktime.

1. Plan far in advance
That means plan everything from a simple lunch date with a friend to a weeklong family vacation with plenty of time to organize your work schedule. If you know your family is going on vacation at some point during the summer, sit down with your parents and plan it out so you can go into work and talk to your boss about time off immediately. The same goes for visiting friends. It will make your life easier as well as everyone elses’ lives easier.

2. Find a summer job that isn’t extremely demanding
Working 9 to 5 in the summer is such a bummer; look for a job that is morning only or just at night. Restaurants, for example, aren’t always open all day. Some don’t open until the evening during the week, which means employees can sleep in everyday before work.

3. Make friends at work 
If you become close with your co-workers your job will seem a lot more enjoyable and can even lead to some pretty amazing friendships outside of work as well. Although having good friends at work can distract you from actually doing your job, it will still make you a lot happier about having to work while all of your other friends get to hang out at the pool.

4. Don’t be afraid to request days off from work
You will not be the only one during the summer months wanting some time off. Employers know that as a college student you want to visit your friends and family during the summer, and as long as you give them plenty of notice and work hard before your time off it shouldn’t be a problem.

5. Don’t go to work with a negative attitude
If you go in with a negative attitude you will hate your job, but if you work with a positive attitude you will learn to like it and maybe even love it. Also, your boss will notice your negative attitude, and that isn’t a good thing. Businesses want positive employees who help the company thrive.

6. Think of all the money you will be making 
This should be your number one motivation for working in the summer. Plus, the money you make can pay for those road trips to visit friends, late night Andy’s cravings or Taco Bell trips and new summer clothes.

Follow these easy steps, and you just might have enough money to fund all of your summer adventures!

By: Katie Johns | Image: Source

Why We Can't Stop Watching "The Bachelorette"


It’s back. Another season of the highly addictive yet disappointing and drama-filled show we all hate to love, "The Bachelorette." There is something, actually many things, that make us tune in every Monday night to waste two hours of our lives while watching the most immature of the immature compete for the heart of one incredibly naive girl.

Here’s why we can’t shake "The Bachelorette" addiction:

1.  Any girl can only dream of having 25 hunky guys vying for her heart. I mean, come on, don’t say you wouldn’t love that. As Desiree Hartsock said over and over Monday night in the season premiere, “I feel like Cinderella.” It’s true, too. Getting to wear long and beautiful gowns while 25 guys beg for your attention is nothing short of unthinkable for some girls. Unless, of course, the men are a little too forward and creepy, which Hartsock was not lacking in her batch of hunks.

2. Who wouldn’t love travelling to some of the world’s most beautiful places with dreamy guys with washboard abs? It has become somewhat of a fact that every contestant on "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" is beach-body ready; it almost seems like it’s part of the criteria for being on the show. So, if you take beautiful people to beautiful places nothing can go wrong, right? Wrong. Remember Tierra from last season of "The Bachelor?" I’m sure you do. She was an absolute nightmare. She’s the one whose temperature dropped dramatically after plunging into freezing Lake Louise and had to be taken to the hospital. After being confined to her bed she still showed up to the party after the group date and caused tons of drama. She just loved attention. Let’s also not forget that the proposal at the end of the season takes place on a tropical island somewhere that seems to exist only in fairytales, and that thought alone can make any girl go weak in the knees.

3. Even if the men and women on this show are incredible good looking, viewers can always get a confidence boost somehow. For example, when we first meet the contestants we are told their name, age, hometown and job. Half of the contestants are “students,” a few of them are models we’ve never ever heard of and then there’s that one girl who was a funeral director and that one guy who is a magician. So while you’re sitting on the couch wishing you were one of those models no one will ever hear of, just remind yourself that at least you don’t work with dead people all day or perform magic tricks for a living.

4. This show requires no thinking at all. Seriously, none. Viewers know from the moment those contestants step out of the limo who the bad guy is, who the sweetheart is and who that backstabbing, two-faced, sweet talker is (looking at you, Wes from Jillian’s season). And, as viewers learned with Monday’s premiere, it is pretty easy to spot those creepy dudes, too. Here, of course, I am specifically speaking about Jonathon, who wanted nothing more than to sneak away to the fantasy suite with Desiree instead of enjoying the cocktail party. Desiree later sent Jonathon home early after feeling disrespected and probably a little creeped out. (Also, that ER doctor Larry runs a close second for creeper of the bunch.)

It does help that viewers see everything that the blinded Bachelorette doesn’t. While the princess is off slumbering away we get a glimpse of the dudes on their own, and the same goes for the show’s counterpart, "The Bachelor." We know who is hated, and we know who everyone is jealous of. If only we could help out the poor damsel in distress.

5. It’s cute in a pathetic kind of way. Take Juan Pablo from this season. After stealing Desiree from the other men he brought her outside to play soccer. His plan was adorable until the 24 other guys decided to join in on the fun. Exhibit two, Diogo, who showed up dressed as an actual “knight in shining armor,” was sent home at the rose ceremony. These dramatic entrances and passes to woo Desiree are adorable, but being your typical self is fine, too. 


I will forever be a fan of "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," no matter how stupid or crazy it may seem; it’s the show you hate to love and love to hate. The series is like a train wreck waiting to happen. I’m not psychic, but I feel like this season is going to be dramatic, heartfelt and everything in between, and I cannot wait. 

By: Katie Johns | Image: 1, 2
+

Copyright 2014 On Campus

Designed by Template Trackers