"Gun Violence in America- What Should We Do?"

I'll never forget the first time the envelope arrived at my mailbox. It was June, 1999 and I was extremely excited to open it. My whole body was shaking. I couldn't help, but think that my letter actually made a difference. President William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton replied to my pleas on gun control and violence in our schools. At the time, I was only ten years old and terrified because the Columbine massacre had struck our country. You never really appreciate life or your families until something that tragic occurs. At ten years old, I felt the need to make a difference and attempt to alter the laws in America. The former president thanked me for my concerns about possible medical detectors and stricter laws. He assured me that he would do everything in his power to ensure the safety of America's youth. My heart never smiled as it did that day. An even bigger smile crossed my face when I reached the end of it. It was signed, "Sincerely, Bill Clinton" and addressed from The White House. I never felts as proud as I did that day. My entire family was proud of my attempts. I never knew how serious gun violence would become. I didn't think that so many children would perish for selfishness. I thought gun violence would stop after harsher laws were enforced, but I was naive. It would continue throughout the years and override every ban in the country. I've learned that there is no absolute way to control guns. Anyone could get a hold of their parents weapon and snap. They wake up one morning and make a decision that doesn't only cost one life, but millions across a nation. I do not understand how anyone could pick up such a powerful weapon and aim it at a child. After careful evaluation of the facts, I think that they are severely unstable. I believe that every individual in this country that owns an armed weapon and has a license to shoot must undergo a psychological evaluation, along with the entire family unit. You never know when someone will explode and steal their parents gun. Therefore, it is vital that psychological states are closely dissected. I know that it won't change the past, but it will help the future. You never know what is going to happen. One day you may kiss your daughter, sister, son, niece, nephew, brother, grandchild, etc. "goodbye," and it could be the last time. Nothing in this world is certain, so Americans must unite. Remember, we can all make a difference, I know I did.

"Sex Trafficking- Every Parent's Nightmare"

Imagine walking outside, going on vacation, shopping at a store, etc. and never returning home. Many girls all over the world disappear every day, never to be found again. All of these girls have a parent or family member that never gives up hope. Unfortunately, many of them aren't discovered because they're sold into a sex slaving business. The girls are tortured, drugged, raped, and given to the highest bidder like a piece of rag. Many people vow that it'll never be their daughter or that things like this only happen over seas, but they're wrong. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, and at any time. It's a serious crime that is extremely difficult to trace and there are kidnappers all over the world, who sit and stalk locations, looking for the "perfect" victims. There are many movies and documentaries that reveal the brutal truth. Sometimes, it's extremely difficult to stop these culprits because they make themselves untraceable. Many groups have come together to help support survivors. One of them originates in one of the most sex trafficked countries on the planet, Cambodia. I have always been interested in reading up and following cases because of the tremendous emptiness it causes my heart. 3strands, is an organization that supports these girls and they were made familiar to me through a normal shopping routine. I purchased a bracelet for my sister and I that symbolizes the strength of these young survivors. It's three strands and clasps at the number 3 with love, freedom, and empowerment. Each bracelet has red seed from a tree in Cambodia that represents the way men see these used girls, as trash. When they come together on the bracelet, the red seed symbolizes their survival. Each bracelet is handmade by a young girl, who has been saved, which is truly remarkable. Everyone should google 3strands and buy a bracelet to show their support. Always keep in mind, the sad truth, you could be next.

"The Drug Epidemic- How Easy Are they to Get a Hold of?"

Xanax, Oxycodone, Adderall, Percocets, etc. How easy is it for American youth to get a hold of these drugs? As a matter of fact, it's one of the easiest things to get a hold of as long as their is a "physical ailment." All doctors want to do is prescribe something for the pain to make it disappear. It wasn't long ago that my sister was a high school student. One day, she had a sore throat and my mother decided to bring her to a local pediatrician. At the time, she was sixteen years old. The doctor concluded that she had swollen glands and gave her a prescription for Percocets. Are you shocked? Yes, I wrote Percocets. Percocets for a sore throat. I'm sure many of you are thinking it is insane. Well, my sister did not fill the prescription. Instead, she immediately phoned my mother, who called the doctor and gave him a few choice words of her own. For those of you who don't know, Percocets are pain killers, which are highly addicting. Most pain killers only limit the soreness for a short period of time. If a person begins taking pain killers every day, eventually, their dosage will need an increase because they will no longer work for the person. Most of the time, it is all in the patients mind. Doctors prescribe many prescription drugs to make money off of patients and because it's the easy way out. It's extremely frightening to think that some doctors believe that the answers to cure an ailment lye in a little pill. If younger patients are prescribed these drugs every day, the addiction age will spiral to an all time record. How could anyone prescribe these "heavy duty" drugs to teenagers when they know that they commonly destroy lives? In my opinion, it's pure laziness. It saves the doctor a trip from discovering the real troubles. How is it that only in America this is common to occur? We live in country that revolves around drugs and prescriptions. Unfortunately, Tylenol no longer does the trick. Another drug that is easy for children to get prescribed is speed. Parents who think their child is hyperactive brings them to a psychiatrist, who in turn decides the parent is right and gives them medication. Anyone can go to a psychiatrist and tell them that they have problems focusing and as long as they're convincing, they can get Adderall or Ritalin. What people don't know is that these drugs are an epidemic in America. Once a child is given a prescription, the dosages are tripled once a year because they no longer "work." What parents don't know is that most addicts were diagnosed with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) as children. So before you contemplate on medications to control your child's behavior, make sure you know the risks. Unfortunately, they could be next.

"The Amanda Knox Case - An American Held Captive in Italy"

From the beginning, this case has been intensely controversial stirring up a commotion all over the world. I remember the day that it all started as if it were yesterday. I had recently returned from studying abroad in the same country that has captivated my soul in many ways, Italy. I was at home with my mom watching the news when an alert came in about an American student overseas killing her roommate. I was in complete shock. There were many strange things that I heard happened with study abroad students, but murder wasn't one of them. According to Italians, they came to their country, trashed the cities, were sex crazy, and sloppy drunks. Americans had an atrocious reputation in the country. When the case broke out, the only thing that crossed my mind was revenge. Could the Italian system be making an example out of this young girl because they were fed up with American behavior? Was Amanda Knox their vengeance? Or, did she really slay the innocent English victim, Meredith Kercher in cold blood? I have read up on the case and it sparked my attention because it hit so close to home. I have seen both sides of the story and am outraged at the way the case was handled. I am a firm believe that their are three sides to every story Amanda's, Meredith's, and the truth. In this case, there are five sides, which includes Rudy Guede's and Raffaele Sollecito's, Amanda's boyfriend. Unfortunately, Meredith will never be present to testify on her own behalf. Her life was stolen by a true, ruthless, assassin. There are many holes in the stories presented to the courts. The forensic evidence was tainted and Amanda appeared guilty in every sense of the word. She never displayed a sense of remorse for the death of her roommate. One thing that can never lie is Rudy Guede's DNA that was found at the crime scene. The question that remains unknown is if Amanda and Raffaele were involved in the crime. Amanda was either highly naive or genuinely guilty. She screwed up on many occasions, which included waiting to contact law enforcement and taking a shower in a bathroom covered in blood. After evaluating the evidence against Amanda and Raffaele, which included their fingerprints inside the home, their indifferent reactions, and remorseless composure, I certify their guilt. I do not believe they robbed Meredith of her life. I believe that they may know more than they are revealing to the public, but they are innocent of this intense and brutal crime. They're guilty of smiling and moving on with their lives, while what is left of Meredith withers away. All evidence suggests the Rudy Guede, a former drug dealer in Perugia, the town where the girls lived, is the sole murderer of Meredith Kercher. If he was tried in the United States, he would receive a harsher punishment. Sixteen years will never be enough for the torture that Meredith sustained before her life was terminated. I can never imagine the immense pain that Meredith's family is sustaining as they go forward with their lives. I understand their profound anger, but I do not understand their will for a continued trial that may convict Amanda and Raffaele of a harsher punishment than Rudy Guede. In my opinion, his sentence will never be enough. He senselessly murdered a girl who was initiating her life. If the brutality is relived and Amanda and Raffaele are tried again, will Meredith ever truly rest in peace?

"The Most Splendid Three Tenors in the World-" "Il Volo"

Last night at 8:00 PM EST, I had the opportunity to travel to Miami Beach and watch "Il Volo" perform at the Fillmore in the Jackie Gleason Theatre. Of course, on the way to the show there was a lot of congestion on I-95 S. I was also running late and never imagined that I would make it in time. Especially since, it was a spur of the moment invitation. My father actually introduced "Il Volo" along with their Italian manager to their American promoter. I was given the opportunity to sit in before the initial proposal was made. It was extremely enthralling and was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I never imagined that "Il Volo" would have such a profound effect on the crowd. When I first heard them spread their lips and hold a note, I was speechless. Three very different voices, meshed into a perfect tune. They all have diverse personalities and angelic voices. Gianluca is the "pop star" of the group, Ignazio reminds voice reminds me of one of the most famous opera singers in the world, Andrea Bocelli, and Piero's articulation is similar to the late, Luciano Pavarotti. It was a pleasure to attend the concert and sit in the orchestra section. The boys have an incredible sense of humor and were able to entertain their audience at every glitch in the show. I never imagined that they would address their crowd. It was exceptionally poignant because they spoke in a language that was not their own. They also sang in English, which I usually do not like to see because sometimes there is an accent. I also feel that the mother language is the most impressing one. Contrary to my usual beliefs, I was left jaw dropped. All of the hairs on my arms stuck straight up. The crowd was going insane for these three Italian boys. It's also intensely inspiring because it's difficult for Italian artists to sweep America off their feet. Unfortunately, many Americans are into Latin artists because they're the "future" of this country. So, it's electrifying to see that these boys have not only captured America, but their youth. There are no words to describe the feeling, as an Italian American living in a country, which does not fully embrace the culture or importance of the language. In this country, a job applicant must comprehend Spanish to completely succeed. All other languages appear insignificant. Luckily, I am fluent in both Italian and Spanish. My pronunciation in Spanish is not as well as Italian, but I move along well. I understand everything and am able to respond. I am in love with Europe, especially Italy and it brought comfort and peace to my heart to watch these boys sing. I truly believe, that they have what it takes to succeed and further fulfill a dream that many can only wish for in America. God Bless them!!!!

"My Thoughts"

Have you ever sat somewhere and completely cleared your mind? It may seem easy, but it's not. It requires a lot of meditation, concentration, and patience. Recently, I felt the need to purify my inner soul. Throughout the years, I've had extra negative energy around me that I felt the need to toss out. A few weeks ago, I came up with the idea of starting yoga. So far, I've been to two beginner's gentle yoga classes and one all level hot yoga session. To be honest, it has truly been a a cleansing experience. My mind and spirit are slowly integrating with one another. As everyone else, I have many struggles. It's extremely difficult to initiate my career, which depresses me. Some days, I find myself pondering about my life and wonder if it will improve. I'm terrified that I will become trapped in my current lifestyle. Don't get me wrong, the money is amazing, but I received an education and believe that I can succeed in the industry that I belong in. I don't insult anyone that has made the industry a product of their career, but I know I can do more. I'm afraid that if I continue in this industry that I will become a product of it. I believe that people will only see me as my title, which is already happening. To whom it may concern, I am much more than my title. I am a highly educated woman with a passion and I plan on pursuing my dreams. Please do not feel free to insult my intelligence. You have no right! I will conquer the world and my career. When I do, I will try not to smack it in your face. I'm tired of being judged. I do not deserve that punishment. I refuse to age before my time.
Sincerely,
Vittoria Santini