>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm siena. let's start with our top story for this week. we've all seen those cute paper balloons in stores. you fill one out when you donate money. but you may wonder, who does your dollar help? scott has the story. >> ♪ and i just can't pull myself away ♪ ♪ under her spell i can't break ♪ ♪ i just can't stop ♪ >> musician ne-yo,

"american idol" david archuleta, and comedian nick cannon -- they're just some of the celebs who support the children's miracle network hospitals. but 15-year-old alena galan and millions of kids like her are the real stars of the charity. >> want to open it? >> alena gets a special present delivered to her house once a week. it's not clothes, jewelry, or games. alena's gift is medicine that helps keep her alive. >> so, i have a rare genetic disorder called maroteaux-lamy, or also known as mps 6, and i take an enzyme replacement once a week to help me live and grow. it's my enzyme. >> she has to go through a long procedure called an infusion that pumps the medicine into her veins. >> super! it's four hours and ten minutes on a pump. oh, she's beyond brave. she's very brave. and it's because, you know, the importance of getting her medicine. so, she knows she has to do it. >> health professionals like

pearl are able to help kids like alena deal with their medical condition -- in part, thanks to donations to children's miracle network hospitals. >> well, i think it's great that people in our community have contributed to my care because then i know there's people out there who actually care and that want to help. >> you might be at a costco or a wal-mart and see our children's miracle network hospitals balloon, and you can pay a dollar, and that donation will go to your local children's miracle network hospital, whichever one is in your community. >> alena regularly visits the hospital. >> what our program does is it teaches children about their illness and about the procedures that they'll have while they're in the hospital and how to cope with any pain and anxiety they might encounter while they're here. and without the support of children's miracle network hospitals, we wouldn't be able to maintain that program. >> alena's been a part of the hospital's child life program ever since she was 3. that's when her family realized

she was sick. >> you don't expect that you're gonna hear news that this little, thriving, little kid probably wouldn't make it through her 25th birthday. >> the disease affected alena's ability to grow and move around. >> when i was little, when i didn't get the enzyme treatment, i wasn't able to reach my arms high, but now i can make my arms go high. i couldn't run as fast, but it hasn't affected me any way. i could just do what any normal child could do. >> and that's given her something to sing about. >> ♪ raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens ♪ ♪ bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens ♪ >> alena's vocal about her illness, because she wants people to know they can help other kids like her. >> ♪ ...my favorite things ♪ >> she also practices what she preaches. alena helps raise money for children's miracle network hospitals as their poster child. >> do you have what it takes to

be a leader? we'll hear from students who are on their way to becoming officers in the navy and marines, when "teen kids news" continues.

>> it's one of the best colleges in the country. it's free. and its graduates help protect us all. here's an up-close look at the u.s. naval academy, where students learn to be leaders. >> they patrol above -- and below -- all seven seas. their fliers are the top guns of combat aviation. they're often the first to hit the beach, prepared to fight or as part of an american humanitarian effort. they are the men and women of the united states navy and marine corps. many of the officers who command these forces started their careers here, at the u.s. naval academy in annapolis,

maryland. >> it's a very special type of person that chooses the naval academy. it's an unbelievable education. it is free. you do get a job when you leave, but there is that element of commitment to the country and also an element of self-discipline. >> i love the atmosphere. i love being around all the history. the naval academy's been around since 1845, and the tradition is astounding. it's great being a part of that. >> i think the naval academy offers a very unique opportunity to discover yourself, to grow as a leader, and to basically live and learn with the best and brightest i think in our nation. >> we're trying to find the horizontal distance and the function of the number of pumps in the squirt gun. today we're doing a reverse-engineering experiment. as you can see, they've got these squirt guns. so, they're gonna pump it a few times with some water in it and see how far it will spray. and then the next thing that

they're going to do is disassemble it, and we're going to try to write mathematical equations that describe the behavior of the squirt gun. the ultimate end game of this class is to get students excited about engineering and to get them familiar with the principles that they'll be using in the next three years here at the naval academy. >> classes like these help make the academy one of the top engineering schools in the country. >> so, right now my partner and i are getting our models set up so that we can conduct the lab for our "principles of ship performance" class. >> finding out how to prevent capsizing is certainly a good thing to know if you're going to be a naval officer. >> it's cool to get both the engineering side and the practical side of it. >> that's why hands-on training is so important at the academy whether it's learning how to handle a boat powered by wind or by engines like these yps. >> yps are yard-patrol craft. they're 108-foot and 130-foot training vessels used to go

anywhere from key west up to boston. we have a pretty wide operating range. >> 36 degrees spark advance on the engine, okay. we're starting at 36, and we're going to go advanced as we can. >> in today's navy, officers also must understand the complex aerodynamics that keep fighter jets in the air. >> i decided to come to annapolis because my father was in the navy, and he flew planes, and i decided i wanted to do the same thing, follow in his footsteps and serve my country. >> the compression ratio goes from 5 to 1 on a centrifugal to a 50 to 1 in a compressor like this one. >> we are definitely a technically oriented school. we are very heavy into the math and sciences, and we have a great engineering and mathematics curriculum here, but we also serve humanities and social sciences, as well. >> our students attend classes and have to complete a degree program, just like at another university.

they take a well-rounded curriculum. >> and you can major in anything from political science all the way to electrical engineering. >> the naval academy has a language of its own. for example, the students are called "midshipmen." >> the term "midshipman" actually comes from the olden days, when younger boys were training to be sailors on the ship, and they lived in the middle of the ship. but now the term is used, it's gender neutral as a student at the naval academy. >> the entire student body about 4,400 midshipmen, is referred to as the brigade. it's made up of smaller units such as squads, platoons, and companies. when they march in formation it's called a "parade." a hat is a "cover." and this door does not lead to the office of the headmaster. i'll explain that in a minute. >> we want those students who strive to be leaders in their community. >> students face a lot of competition to get here. and you need to be recommended by a member of congress or by

the vice president. but don't let that scare you. their offices will be happy to help, if you have the right grades and character. >> so, we know and understand those students exist in all places and all corners of the country. so, we like to attract those students. >> we'll have more on the naval academy when "teen kids news" continues. remember that door marked "head"? it's navy-speak for...

>> it's hard to believe, but after the american revolution, congress shut down the navy to save money. because of the need to fight pirates, president george washington won funding in 1794 for a permanent navy. then, in the 1840s, the u.s. naval academy was established in maryland. each year, more than 1,200 students, called "plebes," arrive to start life at the

academy. what they experience during "plebe summer" is something they'll never forget. >> [ laughs ] plebe summer occurs the summer before you enter the naval academy. it's about two months of training that everyone has to go through. it's intensive. it's to break you into a military environment, especially for those who've never been involved in the military in any aspect before. >> so, you're gonna get a crash course in physical fitness. you're gonna get a crash course in military indoctrination. you're gonna get a crash course in just overall discipline, time management, and bearing. you're gonna do push-ups you're gonna do sit-ups, you're gonna learn who your friends are, you're gonna become one with the brigade of midshipmen. >> teamwork is definitely a watchword here. in fact, it's tradition to end plebe year by placing a midshipman's cover -- a hat -- on top of herndon monument. talk about teamwork! >> there are definitely points especially during plebe year where i thought to myself, "you know, carolyne, you gave it all you could, but this is it, you know? this is where the line ends for

you." and someone would come along and say, "you know, you got a little more." and i crossed what i thought was my limit, and it's come to a point where i honestly don't know where my limit is because every time i've set the bar somewhere, someone has helped push me past it or i've come to learn to keep pushing myself. >> just like on a ship midshipmen here live in rather close quarters. they all reside in bancroft hall, said to be the largest college dormitory in the world. it's also where they all eat. >> before noon meal on weekdays we have something called noon-meal formation. every company forms up by platoons, and the naval academy band will play "anchors aweigh," and we will march in bancroft hall and go eat. >> like other college students midshipmen compete in sports play instruments, do theater community service, and all kinds of clubs. and, as we reported, admission to the academy is free. >> what you pay is a commitment.

so, you're committed to the four years that you're here, and then after that you're going to be committed to five years of service as a leader within our nation's military, particularly the navy and the marine corps. >> at this point i'm hoping to go to a destroyer, or ddg, out of pearl harbor, hawaii. >> i'm going to join the submarine force. >> i hope to be a surface warfare officer in approximately seven months and enter the fleet. serve on a destroyer or a cruiser, ideally. >> wherever they go after graduation, these new officers in the navy and marine corps take a lot with them -- training, honor, confidence, and friendships that will last a lifetime. >> you cannot imagine the friendships that you make while you're here at the naval academy. >> well, you can start thinking about it as early as seventh and eighth grade, really. the service academies in general and the naval academy specifically, you want to just start to establish a relationship with the academy, and that's essentially submitting your name to our contacts database and going on

to our website and just checking things out. >> i know undoubtedly that even once i leave this institution and we all scatter throughout the world on different deployments, different stations, we're still gonna have this bond. we're still gonna be friends. we always share this one experience that is the naval academy. >> the motto of the academy is... that certainly explains why ours is undoubtedly the best navy in the world. to find out more about the u.s. naval academy, check out the link on our "teen kids news" website. >> in "flag facts," the state that gave us two of our most important national treasures. girl: hi, mom. hi, sweetie. [ beep ] man: how's it going, buddy? i'm bored. [ beep ]

i think i'll ride my bike. [ tv playing ] [ beep ] it may never be this easy to help your kids find balance but you have more power than you know. the we can! parents' handbook and web site can help you maximize that power. you'll learn how to help kids choose healthier foods... and how to make it fun for them to get active. who can help kids maintain a healthy weight? we can! visit the we can! web site for a free parents' handbook plus tips, tools and resources. a message from the u.s. department of health and human services.

>> whatever state you call home has a flag all its own. here are the facts about one of them. maybe it's yours. >> in 1681, the king of england gave land in the new world to an englishman named william penn. since the area was rich in forests, it was named "pennsylvania," which is latin for "penn's woods." >> pennsylvania is a wonderful agricultural state. actually 30% of the state is considered agricultural land. and that's represented on the state seal, and the state seal is featured on the flag. there are corn stalks, there are sheaves of wheat, there are plows, and then above all this is a ship, and that's meant to represent the importance of philadelphia as a port city. >> the flag's blue background represents loyalty and justice.

it's the same color blue found on the american flag, which originated in pennsylvania. >> well, june 14th is flag day in the united states, and that's because in 1777 the continental congress met in philadelphia, and that's when they accepted the first-ever american flag. >> the declaration of independence and the constitution were also written in pennsylvania. despite these contributions to our federal system pennsylvanians did not want any government to have unlimited powers over their state. so, emblazoned across their state flag for all to see is the motto, "virtue, liberty, and independence." and here's another influence pennsylvania had on colonial america. when william penn drafted the state's first constitution, he included religious freedom for all. that provision became the model for one of our nation's most precious rights. with "flag facts," i'm harry. >> car crashes are the number-one killers of teens. that's why the

national road safety foundation wants you to keep your hands on the wheel, your eyes on the road, and your mind on driving. [ school bell rings ] >> all right, guys, so, guess what. the dance is this saturday. >> are you going? >> yes. let's all go together. >> oh, that sounds awesome! [ engine turns over ] >> okay, so, you know the theme tonight is all school spirit. everything spirit... >> rachel, rachel. hey, rach. >> seriously? >> oh, yeah, face paint, rachel. [ indistinct talking ] [ heart beating ] >> coming up, we talk to "the voice's" brandon chase. >> ♪ ...shine through all the pain ♪ ♪ her eyes ♪ plans tonight kevin? yep, going to ryan's house for a party.

i guess that's ok. just be home by ten. what, it's friday night. the curfew you have imposed is an egregious infringement upon my social well-being and freedom. speaking of freedom - it is preposterous to suggest that i must have my homework done before playing video games. i also dispute your contention that i keep my room clean, and the vile task of taking out the garbage is beneath me. i know my rights, and you can't tell me what to do. ryan's party- here i come. thank you kevin. mom, dad, you have thirty seconds for a response. does ery conversation with your teen turn into a debate? call the boys town national hotline at 800-448-3000, or visit parenting.org. trained counselors are on call 24-7 to help with parenting problems - big or small. don't wait for your next debate. be out there! be out there! [female announcer] time was, kids did what came naturally

spending free time running barefoot through the grass wading knee deep in streams, climbing to the tallest branch. but today, american kids are more likely found texting, watching tv, or gazing at a computer screen. they spend more than seven hours in front of electronic media. something essential has been lost. childhood's connection to the natural world. that's why national wildlife federation created the be out there movement. kids moving indoors causes a host of problems from obesity to adhd. but outdoor play can go a long way to improving kid's health, body, mind and spirit. it helps them stay fit enhances creativity and attention spans and could even make them better students. do your part. be a part of be out there. there's a reason why they call it the great outdoors. learn more at be out there dot org. [kids shouting] be out there!

>> brandon chase is not your normal 21-year-old. he started playing music at the age of 14. at 15 he finished high school, and by 17 he had a masters certificate for songwriting from berklee college of music. most recently, he was seen on season 5 of "the voice" on coach blake shelton's team, but he was eliminated during the knockout rounds. now working on a new album and making his acting debut in the movie "8 days," he took some time out of his busy schedule to join us. hi, brandon. >> hi. how are you? >> good. you've already accomplished a lot in your 21 years. were your life and career always so smooth sailing? >> definitely not. i wish i could say that everything is just easy-breezy all the way through, but i've definitely had my struggles and challenges. i've had people tell me that i couldn't do things, that i wouldn't be able to make it to a certain point, that i just wasn't good enough. i have such a desire and such a passion to do this as a living to do this as my career, and i

can't even see myself doing anything else other than music. so that passion, that drive has really moved me forward and has allowed me to just overcome every obstacle along the way. >> how did you become so interested in music? >> none of my family was in music. so, it was just never even a thought until, you know, i was that age of 13, i went to church camp that summer, and my life just kind of totally got transformed and changed. and as soon as i got home, i told my parents that i wanted to home-school, and i did that and started interning at my church every day and just through that process of just serving and just giving my time and heart, an opportunity came up to be a part of the youth worship team, and i had no idea why but i just felt so called and just felt like it was what i was supposed to do. so, i went to that audition, not knowing really what i was gonna do, but i just went and i grabbed a microphone and started singing a song, and from there i just never stopped singing and

that just became my one desire and passion for life. >> very cool. what made you try out for "the voice," and what was that experience like? >> you know, it's kind of funny. some people just audition and audition for different shows and whatnot, but for me i never really wanted to be part of like a singing reality show. i never really -- i just couldn't see myself doing that. but i got to a place in my career where things were kind of just moving a little slow, and i knew something was on the horizon, but i didn't really know what it was. and about that same time i got an e-mail from "the voice" inviting me to a private audition. so, just gave it a shot. went out for the audition, which was in houston, and i was from arlington, texas. so, it's about a 4-hour drive. so, jumped in the car and went and did it, and that just turned out to be a really great opportunity for me and opened a lot of doors for me. >> you have a lot fans around the world who call themselves "chasers." of course we know that your last

name is chase, but does that mean anything else? >> yeah, you know, it's so much deeper -- at least it is for me, and i hope other people think so, as well. for me, being a chaser is about chasing your dreams and your desires. you know, my biggest thing is just inspiring and encouraging other people, and i hope that when they call themselves chasers it's because they're inspired and encouraged and inspired and encouraged to follow their dreams and to chase after the things that they love. it's really nothing about me. it's more about the individual calling themselves a chaser because they're believing in what they're doing. >> looks like you're chasing your dreams, too. your song "arise" is in the upcoming movie "8 days," and you also act in it, as well. can you tell us about that experience and why this movie is so important to you? >> yeah, you know, it's just a cool, cool thing to, you know, say you're in a movie. it was a lot of fun during the whole process of filming, but,

you know, for me why it's so special and important is because it's over a topic that is really crucial for our time because there's a crime that's been going on that not a lot of people know about, especially here in the u.s., and it's about human trafficking. and to me just the whole thought and idea of just buying and selling human souls is just something that i just can't even fathom. you know? there's a lot of horrible things that go on in our world -- selling drugs and selling other things that are obviously not good, but selling and buying a soul is just -- to me, is just the ultimate crime. so, bringing awareness to that fact and hopefully bringing an end to it because of the awareness -- that's what's so special and important to me, and i'm just so grateful to be a part of it. >> any advice for teens who want to follow in your footsteps? >> as long as you believe in something and you give it 100% of your efforts, 100% of your heart, you can't be

unsuccessful. there's no other option but to succeed, as long as you believe in it and just put your whole heart into it. then literally the sky is the limit. you just -- you can't fail. as long as you believe, then you're gonna be okay. >> "sound" advice. thank you so much for joining us. >> absolutely, thank you for your time. >> if you want to listen to more of brandon's music, check out the link on our website. >> that wraps up our show, but we'll be back soon with more "teen kids news." thanks for joining us and have a great week.

adventures brought to you by seaworld and busch gardens. for more than 40 years working to preserve the world we share. it's "puppy night"-- one step on a long road that leads to something special-- a canine companion for independence. hi everyone, i'm jack hanna.