Most people look forward to Valentine’s Day, but for me it’s the most dreaded day of the year, other than going to the dentist. Read more...

---

A lot of girls who are in relationships often forget that relationships are a two way street. Read more...

---

What is family? Is family the people you grow up with? Or is family the people that you spend countless hours with? Read more...

---

The following originally aired on KQED-FM.

By: Rachel Krantz

“You guys have been dating 5 months? And you're going to live out of a car together for how long?” That was the reaction we usually got when we told people about our summer plans.

Staring out of opposite windows in Minnesota, it was starting to seem like a valid concern. My boyfriend Ethan and I were just 2 weeks into our romantic journey, but the honeymoon was definitely over.

We'd come up with the idea just a few months after we'd met: What if we took all summer to drive cross-country and collected America's first love stories? The idea was simple and lovesick, like our new, seemingly flawless relationship.

Read more...

---

Living in a family as the only boy with six sisters isn’t always the sweetest thing, but I love my sisters no matter what and I will always protect them. Read more...

---

By Jonquilyn Hill

I’ve been avoiding making this post for sometime now. Because I hate the cliches associated with it. And once you post it people always think you’re dopey, corny, pining, angry, etc. I promise I’m none of those things. This is just something that’s been on my heart, and hopefully it’ll touch the right people at the right time. So, here it goes:

Love.

It’s everywhere. At least the idea of it is anyway. Turn on the radio, read a book, even look at your tumblr dashboard and you’ll see it.

Read more...

---

Is love really a holiday? Or did hallmark just create a holiday based on a feeling? In my opinion it’s almost a conspiracy. Think about it; Valentine’s day occurs in the middle of February, right at the end of the holiday season, Hershey’s chocolate and jewelry industries can make their last few commercials of the season filled with couples snuggling by a fire with heart shaped truffles or ice skating in circles and clumsily just falling into the perfect position to propose. Read more...

---

Technology is nosing its way into our love lives.  With Valentine’s Day around the corner, romance is pulsing through cyberspace. Two love-related tech innovations are worth taking a look at.

“Heartbroker”
This online match service claims that your friends know you better than you know yourself.  As a user, you choose a friend to be your “Heartbroker.”  This person creates a profile for you, and rates you on attractiveness, intellect, humor, kindness and “outgoingness.”  The idea is that friends will be honest, so the danger of ending up with someone who doesn’t fit their profile, is less likely. The idea is to move away from “self-promotional” language found on other dating sites, and put the social aspect back in dating, according to Social Times.

According to the article: “Once you approve the testimonial from your Heartbroker, it is displayed on your public profile, which can then be viewed by other Heartbroker users...The attribute ratings, on the other hand, remain confidential to encourage honest feedback, and are used to determine compatibility with others. Friends can also try their hand at playing Cupid with Heartbroker by suggesting matches to their single friends.”  The site is currently exclusive to Facebook. 

Google for Weddings
Google has released a site to help you plan your wedding.  Wedding planner Michelle Rago helped design the site and the templates that are available. 

With the tools on the site, you can create invitations, engagement announcements, and photo albums.  In addition, there are Google Doc spreadsheets that allow you to budget your spending, your time, and the responsibilities. There is also a sweepstakes to win $25,000 and the wedding of your dreams, planned with the assistance of Michelle Rago. 

Read more...

---

By Rayana Godfrey

It’s almost Valentine’s Day again; time to buy cards, bears, and candies for the one you call your own. That is what Valentine’s Day is about, right? Well, that’s what stores like Target make us believe.

I think Valentine’s Day is becoming too much of a “ money thing,” meaning people have forgotten the true value of the holiday and are starting to believe it’s about what you can buy. Valentine’s Day has become another holiday lost in the market along with other victims such as Christmas and Easter. Instead of people genuinely expressing their love for someone, they let their money do it for them. It’s as if they’re saying, “Hey babe, I don’t know how else to say I love you, so I spent all my money on gifts. Happy Valentine’s Day!” It’s nice and all, but do people understand WHY they’re actually doing it? The Beatles said, “Money can’t buy me love.” I guess nobody else got the memo.

Another thing that bothers me about Valentine’s Day is the expectations people have. My friend said, “People always want you to buy them stuff and that’s not what it's all about.” She’s right. Valentine’s Day is beginning to seem like the day where couples reach their hands out and ask the other, “So…where’s my gift?” What happened to the kisses and hugs and long walks on the beach? Why is it so hard for people to say, “I love you” and go on with their day? Whenever you walk into ANY store during late January or early February, you are instantly greeted by flowers, stuffed animals, candy, and cards. You find yourself bombarded with things you think you have to by to meet your partner’s expectations. And the worst part is…most of these things go unappreciated.

Honestly, if I had a Valentine, I wouldn’t expect anything from them except a simple, “I love you. Happy Valentine’s Day.” A gift would be nice, but unlike a lot of people, I would actually appreciate the gift instead of seeing it as something I deserve. I don’t want to eliminate the holiday as a whole, but what’s the point of celebrating anything if you aren’t doing it for the right reason?

Read more...

---

King Topoyiyo's poetry discusses topics any teenager can relate to: parents, school, love, and tough decisions.  But he is not your typical teenager. He is incarcerated.

King Topoyiyo (a pseudonym), is a former gang member who grew up in San Francisco.  Despite not going to elementary school and dropping out of high school in the 9th grade, he learned how to write and speak in English on the streets.  At first, he did not enjoy writing, but during his incarceration he found that writing was a way to free his mind.  King Topoyiyo’s mother and late brother are his inspirations for writing.  He is currently incarcerated in the Youth Justice Center and has been awaiting trial for over two years.

The Youth Justice Institute (YJI) works to improve the lives of youth involved with the juvenile justice and foster care systems by linking them to appropriate services and by facilitating positive changes within the systems that affect them. Alejandro Ante, from YJI, made it possible to share some of Topoyiyo's poetry with Youth Radio. 

“I am the Rebel Son”

I am the son of the mother

who cried because her son

was taken away from her.

I am the son of the streets

who is standing on a corner

trying to make money.

I’m the brother who is trying to

protect his little brother from

getting hurt.

I’m the rebel son.

Who don’t like to be told

what to do. 

My real name is Duende, the name I go by

People call me Duende,

and I like it like that.

I am from the project where 

people struggle to survive, 

everybody sticks together, 

away from the 5-0 who are trying

to get you locked up.

I am the rebel son.

 

Read more poems here.

Read more...

---