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Nicki's View

Nicki is a typical teenager with a not-so-typical perspective. A premature baby, Nicki is blind, has Cerebral Palsy, and Spastic Diplegia. Follow her insights in her column, Nicki's View.

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My First Semester Studies

Published: Sunday, 4 January 2009

Christmas break brings a close to the first semester of my homeschooling, and the New Year brings a beginning to my second semester. During my first semester, I took English 4, French, and Physical Science, all of which will spill over to the next semester. In the second semester, I will add two classes that I needed to finish from my last year at public school, English 3 and Geometry.

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calendar of years

Top New Year’s Resolutions

Published: Sunday, 4 January 2009

Ordinarily, I don’t succumb to the phenomenon of New Year’s Resolutions.  I think the entire custom rather inane; if you intend to do something, you will, and if you don’t, a thousand resolutions won’t make you do so.  However, this year I’ve decided to try it, sort of as an experiment about what sort of influence the support of a group can have on a person’s willingness to follow through—with you as my support group. Perhaps the thought of posting occasional progress reports about what I am doing to fulfill my resolutions will spur me to

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New Year 2009

New Year’s Resolutions

Published: Sunday, 28 December 2008

Ordinarily, I don’t succumb to the phenomenon of New Year’s Resolutions.  I think the entire custom rather inane; if you intend to do something, you will, and if you don’t, a thousand resolutions won’t make you do so.  However, this year I’ve decided to try it, sort of as an experiment about what sort of influence the support of a group can have on a person’s willingness to follow through—with you as my support group. Perhaps the thought of posting occasional progress reports about what I am doing to fulfill my resolutions will spur me to

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cell phone

Driving While Using the Cell Phone

Published: Friday, 26 December 2008

As a blind individual, one thing I will never be able to do is drive. However, I do ride with my mom and also with my friends at times. Mom is a very safe driver; she watches the road and never eats or talks on the cell phone while driving. But many other people do drive while distracted. One estimate held that cell phone distractions alone cause 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year. And, among teens, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death. That is why I am an advocate for a new device I read about recently that is aimed at cutting down on road

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sand running through hands

Teens’ Biological Clocks Really Are Different

Published: Sunday, 21 December 2008

Teens have been saying for quite some time that they genuinely do not feel sleepy until later in the evening.  However, parents have often attributed this more to a willful insistence on keeping their own hours than anything more substantive.   Now, however, a new study conducted in New Jersey has found that teens’ biological clocks are actually quite different from those of adults. This may necessitate quite a few changes in the way our society or at least that part of it dedicated to adolescents, functions.

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brown bag gift wrapping

“Green” Alternatives to Traditional Gift Wrap

Published: Friday, 19 December 2008

While reading about some excellent “green” alternatives to traditional gift wrap, which I plan to share with you shortly, I was reminded of a story Mom told me about one Christmas when I was a mere babe and too young to remember.

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Online Christmas shopping

The Insanity Called ‘Christmas Shopping’

Published: Sunday, 14 December 2008

Mom and I have always abstained from the Christmas rush in the department stores, preferring to do any ordering online. This year is no exception—for several reasons.

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Christmas Decor

Another Year: Another Party

Published: Friday, 12 December 2008

Last week, members and friends alike gathered for our local NFB chapters’ yearly Christmas party. I must admit I thought about not going, since it was freezing cold outside. But, in keeping with my resolution to attend more social events, I mustered up my willpower and braved the cold!

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happy teenagers

Making Time for Social Events

Published: Sunday, 7 December 2008

In a few days, Mom and I will be attending the annual National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Christmas party. I vividly remember that the first article I wrote for this blog detailed my adventures at the 2007 party.  It’s odd and quite shocking to realize that so much time has gone by in what seems to be almost the blink of an eye. I’ve been very busy this year, as well as coping with a myriad of health issues, meaning that I have not been nearly as involved with the

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empty stage scene

The School Play

Published: Friday, 5 December 2008

Mom and I ventured out last evening to see my friend, Heather, perform in her school play. It was quite a long drive, but we decided to go anyway as Heather was in dire need of moral support.

Despite the fact she is totally blind, Heather decided to take drama, which she said became an interesting experience. The school play was the culmination of all her hard work.

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