"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed."— Maya Angelou A family-friendly Thanksgiving program with host Kirpa and her cousins Milan and Jatin as they celebrate gratitude, food, music, travel, and joy. Thanksgiving is a time of connection, a time to apologize, and forgive. Kirpa advises that life doesn't need to be perfect to be beautiful — and that's the heartbeat of Thanksgiving. Have gratitude for the sunshine and the rain and even the rainbows that follow. Milan talks about being kind. Jatin shares his music appreciation. All three encourage being grateful for the little things. We wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and we are thankful for you. Be blessed. Bio: Jatin, Express Yourself! Teen Radio's newest reporter is a junior in high school with an amazing sense of humor. He loves music, and he has been playing drums for many years and is part of a rock band. He loves science and working out! He is looking forward to being a part of teen radio with his cousin, Kirpa, and brother Milan.  Follow us: https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio https://www.starstyleradio.com/guests-express-yourself https://www.facebook.com/ExpressYourselfTeenRadio/ https://www.facebook.com/BTSYAcharity/ https://www.instagram.com/expressyourselfradio/  Sign up for FREE Newsletter: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/ Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: https://www.bonfire.com/store/be-the-star-you-are-merch/  Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617 Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are/   Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220  Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/
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How Teens Preserve Their Culture
"If we are to preserve culture, we must continue to create it." by Johan Huizinga Culture is not only about connecting the past to the present, but it is also a way we form our identity; it is a part of the puzzle in our lives. Host Julia and reporter Milan discuss the importance of studying culture and keeping one's heritage and culture alive. Milan talks about how culture forms our identity and shares how teens can illustrate the importance of traditions through events, social media, writing, and more. Julia shares information on the Chinese Opera Program she founded. Jing Shao Nian is a youth-led Chinese opera program that teaches students the foundations of Cantonese and Peking Opera through weekly rehearsals, vocal training, movement workshops, and cultural history lessons. Through the program, students gain confidence in using Mandarin or Cantonese, develop a stronger sense of identity, and build public speaking and performance skills. Julia then interviews a student leader of Jing Shao Nian, Samantha, who talks about how her relationship with Asian culture transformed after joining the group. She describes a typical performance and the effects it has had on the participants and the audiences. Embracing our cultures enhances our lives. Communities are connected through culture.  Visit the Jing Shao Nian website (with lots of photos): https://www.jingshaonian.org/ Read the newsletter on a Cultural Thanksgiving: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/a-cultural-thanksgiving?  Follow us: https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio https://www.starstyleradio.com/guests-express-yourself https://www.facebook.com/ExpressYourselfTeenRadio/ https://www.facebook.com/BTSYAcharity/ https://www.instagram.com/expressyourselfradio/  Sign up for FREE Newsletter: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/ Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: https://www.bonfire.com/store/be-the-star-you-are-merch/  Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617 Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are/   Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220  Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/
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Preparing for College Applications
 " The future belongs to those who prepare for it today." - Malcolm X  Although college applications can be stressful, there are small steps to take to make the process feel less overwhelming! Host Diya walks you through actions that will help you fill out successful applications to colleges that will be best suited to your life preferences. Stay organized and start early. Put all your extracurriculars, deadlines for essays, and application fees on spreadsheets and checklists. Research colleges that best fit your personality and interests. Do you want urban, suburban, or rural area? What about going to a small, medium, or large university? Diya advises taking small baby steps every day to make your life easier!  Follow us: https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio https://www.starstyleradio.com/guests-express-yourself https://www.facebook.com/ExpressYourselfTeenRadio/ https://www.facebook.com/BTSYAcharity/ https://www.instagram.com/expressyourselfradio/  Sign up for FREE Newsletter: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/ Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: https://www.bonfire.com/store/be-the-star-you-are-merch/  Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617 Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are/   Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220  Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/
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Teens and Gun Control
 On August 5th, 2012, when Express Yourself!™ teen, was a toddler, he, his brother, and his mother stopped for three minutes at a gas station on their way to their Sikh temple. Those three minutes saved their lives as a gunman began a mass shooting. Today, host Kirpa and reporter Milan discuss gun control and what teens think about it. There are an estimated 400 million to 500 million civilian-owned firearms in the United States, with some estimates putting the number at around 1.5 firearms per person. This means there are more guns in the USA than people. Kirpa indicates that for many teens, gun violence isn't just something they see on the news. It's something that's shaped the way they grow up. Surveys show that nearly 70 percent of teens support stronger gun laws. Milan shares the mass shooting story and also provides the language of the 2nd Amendment. He believes that the crime rate and mass shootings would be reduced by limiting guns and increasing controls. Guns kill. Teens want restrictions to stay safe. This generation of teen is growing up in a storm, but they're learning to build umbrellas out of their courage. They're not waiting for permission to speak — they already are. Maybe it's time we start listening. Follow us: https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio https://www.starstyleradio.com/guests-express-yourself https://www.facebook.com/ExpressYourselfTeenRadio/ https://www.facebook.com/BTSYAcharity/ https://www.instagram.com/expressyourselfradio/  Sign up for FREE Newsletter: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/ Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: https://www.bonfire.com/store/be-the-star-you-are-merch/  Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617 Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are/   Listen to all Express Yourself!™ Teen shows at https://sites.libsyn.com/560220  Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/express-yourself/
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How Teens Have Grit
"I've learned you are never too small to make a difference." Greta Thunberg  With college deadlines looming and pressure mounting, this week's broadcast turns inward, toward the grit it takes to be a teenager in a world obsessed with perfection. Host Julia opens the show with a commentary on the myth of effortless success, breaking down how real grit isn't gold stars or motivational quotes, it's bombing a test and still showing up. She explores the emotional grit behind staying in friendships, choosing honesty over silence, and knowing when to quit without giving up on yourself. In the second segment, Julia zooms in on what it means to be the youngest in the room, at meetings, on boards, in spaces where adults run the show. She unpacks the labor of being taken seriously: the double standards, the polite dismissal, the subtle performances of "maturity." Julia offers tools for power, how to hold your voice, speak with clarity, and not let the silence erase your presence.   Follow us: https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio https://www.starstyleradio.com/guests-express-yourself https://www.facebook.com/ExpressYourselfTeenRadio/ https://www.facebook.com/BTSYAcharity/ https://www.instagram.com/expressyourselfradio/  Sign up for FREE Newsletter: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/ Buy shirts and hats with BTSYA logos: https://www.bonfire.com/store/be-the-star-you-are-merch/  Listen to StarStyle®-Be the STAR You Are!® shows: https://sites.libsyn.com/556617 Or https://www.voiceamericamedia.com/show/starstyle-be-the-star-you-are/
Express Yourself! is an entertaining adolescent fusion program where passion, productivity, and possibility populate the airwaves. Produced by Starstyle Productions, LLC as an international outreach program of Be the Star You Are! charity, the radio program, Express Yourself! is a show for, by, and about teens. Hosted by teens and teenage field reporters from around the country, Express Yourself! is THE destination for teens to be heard. Within the walls of the young adult community, listeners are uplifted and encouraged to be the stars of your own life. Through collaboration and conversation, a global campus of young people express their views. Topics include anything that kids talk about-books, music, making a difference, technology, school, art, humor, writing, tough talks, health, sports, films, family, friends, foes, fashion, and fun. Come play in STAR country and Express Yourself!, Sundays at 3 PM Pacific on VoiceAmerica Empowerment.