I think I’ll sit in a new spot in health everyday. As long as I don’t take anyone’s “spot,” it won’t matter. There’s no one in this class who I really know. I mean, there are people in this class whose names I know, and I know about them. I just am not really friends with any of them. Such is the tightly defined world of a teen.

Health, in and of itself, is pretty pathetic. I mean, I guess I know why this class exists. But you know what? A class where the textbook is defining things like “good character,” because people need to learn what “good character” is, makes me sick.

Steps to Be Self-Confident and Assertive

Step 1. Always use the six questions in The Responsible Decision-Making Model to evaluate the possible consequences of your decisions.

Will this decision result in actions that promote health?

Will this decision result in actions that protect safety?

Will this decision result in actions that follow laws?

Will this decision result in actions that show respect for myself and others?

Will this decision result in actions that follow the guidelines of my parents and of other responsible adults?

Will this decision result in actions that demonstrate good character?

A positive response to each of the six questions helps guarantee that a decision is responsible. The more often you make responsible decisions, the more self-confidence you gain. You become more assertive and more confident when expressing yourself.

Step 2. Imagine a shield of protection in front of you when peers pressure you to make wrong decisions. If peers make negative statements, imagine the statements bouncing off your shield. The statements don’t through to you.

Step 3. When you doubt yourself, talk with a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult. Your parents or guardian can give you a moral boost and help you resist negative peer pressure. Teens who are self-confident and assertive appreciate and rely on their parents or guardians who support and encourage them.

See step 3? I think it’s because parents and guardians don’t/can’t give the kids, who rely on them, a moral boost that textbooks like this are needed. As I was reminded again this morning, the American education system really, really sucks. The Brittish system swallows. (Okay, bad joke.)

In other news, the nurse is coming to this class to do some stuff on stress. But we already did this in Math!

The guy behind me has yogurt in a tube, like an elongated ketchup packet. The latest technology advance. It’s called ‘Go-gurt.’

I think I’ll move to Britain.