The Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition is a group of dedicated teens and young adults who are committed to promoting awareness about mental health issues and risks for mental illness.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Cuidando de tu salud
"En los últimos 25 años, el porcentaje de niñas que están sobre peso se ha duplicado", dice la American Academy of Pediatrics. Las niñas que son parte de minorías tienen el mayor riesgo de obesidad infantil. Este grupo de minorías incluye a las niñas latinas. El sobrepeso puede causar problemas de salud crónicos como la diabetes tipo II. La falta de atención de la salud pone a los grupos minoritarios en un mayor riesgo de ser menos saludable.
Algunos de los obstáculos que una latina se enfrenta al tratar de acceder a la atención de la salud incluyen la lingüística, las creencias culturales, y la situación financiera, de acuerdo con, el Center for Studying Health System Change. En algunos casos puede ser un reto para que una mujer latina entienda inglés por lo tanto, se sienten intimidados a buscar atención médica, ya que puede ser que los proveedores de salud no les ayudarán en su lengua materna.
Además, la cultura juega un papel en el cuidado de la salud. Específicamente en la cultura latina algunas de las familias creen en la medicina holística en lugar de la medicina occidental tradicional. Entonces eso resulta en no ir al médico, según dice la investigadora ,Catalina Dower. Además, financieramente hay muchas familias latinas que son de bajos ingresos, según el Censo 2010 de Estados Unidos, que hace que sea difícil pagar la atención médica.
Estar sano y prevenir la obesidad es muy importante. Si usted se encuentra en una situación donde usted no ha visitado a un médico en un largo periodo de tiempo le aconsejo que tome el control de su salud y haga una cita. A continuación ice una lista de algunas clínicas locales en Santa Rosa. Algunas ofrecen servicios gratuitos a los adolescentes, mientras que otros ofrecen una tarifa muy baja. No se sienta avergonzado de buscar los recursos que pueda necesitar, ya que están aquí para su uso.
Elsie Allen Health CenterPhone: 707-528-5770599 Bellevue Avenue, G17Santa Rosa, CA 95407Web: www.myelsie.orgView Map
The Vista Family Health CenterPhone: 707-303-36003569 Round Barn CircleSanta Rosa, CA 95403View Map
Southwest Community Health centerPhone: 707-547-2222751 Lombardi CourtSanta Rosa, CA 95407
Taking care of your health
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Un blog de nuestra lider Alexis Vargas: Abrazos, no Drogas
A blog from our leader Alexis Vargas : Hugs not Drugs
Monday, September 12, 2011
Un blog de nuestra Lider Aolani Contreras: La clave para una vida exitosa es el equilibrio
Pablo menciono algunas cosas que usted puede hacer para poder aliviar el estrés y me gustaría añadir a esa lista:
Guest blog by Peer Leader Aolani Contreras: The key to a successful life is balance
*You can take time to watch your favorite show
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Un blog de nuestro Líder Pablo Cruz, La Rutina Diaria: ¿Cuánto tiempo hasta que nos cáiganos?
Guest Blog by Peer Leader Pablo Cruz, Daily Routine: How Long Until We Fall?
Monday, September 5, 2011
¿Tatuajes hechos en casa?
Otros riesgos contra la salud incluyen, unos granos que pueden salir en la piel llamados granulomas que se forman alrededor de la tinta del tatuaje de acuerdo con Mayo Clinics. Después de que el tatuaje se aplica también es importante de mantenerlo en bien estar. Mayo Clinics, dice que el vendaje se puede quitar después de 24 horas y luego debes aplicar una pomada antibiótica en la piel tatuada mientras se está sanando. Use jabón y agua para mantener limpia la zona tatuada. Evite la aplicación de crema hidratante y la exposición al sol para que permita que el tatuaje se sane adecuadamente. Pero se necesitará alrededor de dos semanas para que el tatuaje se sane. Así que ten cuidado de no picarte las costras, para que no corras el riesgo de una infección.
A pesar de que un tatuaje hecho en casa puede ser más barato, al largo plazo podría llegar a infectarse y será mucho más caro. Se llevará a minutos u horas para conseguir un tatuaje, pero tomará varios tratamientos para eliminarlo. Aunque yo no estoy en contra o para los tatuajes, es importante conocer los peligros y los pasos para un buen cuidado de tatuajes. Antes de ponerte un tatuaje es muy recomendable de que pienses bien lo que deseas y si es algo de lo que no te arrepentirás en diez años, porque todos sabemos que los tatuajes son permanentes. Como una joven de 18 años, mis gustos han cambiado con los años y sería un desafío para mí tomar la decisión drástica de hacerme un tatuaje y esperar a quedar satisfecha a medida de que envejezco. Hay por lo menos un 50% de probabilidad de que un tatuaje puede ser no deseado en una edad más avanzada. También la posible eliminación de un tatuaje, con todo el dolor que lleva debe ser una consideración.
Homemade tattoos?
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
El acoso escolar no sera tolerado!
El acoso escolar es cuando alguien sigue haciendo o diciendo cosas que tienen poder sobre otra persona. No sólo el acoso escolar afecta a una persona mentalmente sino también físicamente. Algunos de los efectos del acoso escolar son la depresión, estar nervioso y distante, no querer ir a la escuela, ansiedad y tendencias suicidas. Si usted o alguien a su alrededor está siendo intimidado hay algunas cosas que usted puede hacer para detenerlo. Ignorar al agresor y aléjate. También es importante hablar con un adulto de confianza acerca de la situación, te escucharan. Si ves a alguien siendo intimidado siempre debes de tratar de ponerle un alto a la situación, por que si no lo haces el mensaje que estás dando es que tu estas de acuerdo con el acoso escolar.
El SCPOC ha estado trabajando en un video para crear conciencia sobre el acoso escolar. Vaz a poder verlo en un par de semanas pero por ahora me gustaría animar a todos los estudiantes a que le pongan un alto al acoso escolar.
Bullying will not be tolerated!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Conducir borracho = Peligro
Drunk Driving = Danger
Casey Goodwin, a twenty year old college student at Cuesta Vista in San Luis Obispo, was an active teen who participated in programs such as, Friday Night Live and the California Youth Council. She was recognized as an advocate for the prevention of underage drinking all over the state of California. Not only was she committed to the prevention of alcohol but she had dreams of one day becoming a high school teacher. On March 13, 2003 Casey’s dreams and life were taken away by an eighteen year old drunk driver who hit her on the road. The eighteen year old was driving to work after he had some beers when the incident occurred. Casey was on her way to celebrate her mother’s birthday-she never made it. When her mother Lynne Goodwin arrived to the hospital that Casey was taken to she vividly remembers when the doctor stated that Casey’s bones were broken and they would need to perform surgery. Not only that but they also found that every vital organ in her body, except her heart had sustained irreplaceable damage. Casey’s brain had also, been damaged on both sides leaving her with no brain waves. That is when Goodwin realized that the doctors could not do anything for Casey and she had to accept the painful reality that Casey was gone. Casey’s funeral was attended by over 2,000 people including family members, friends, politicians, police officers, and colleagues.
The eighteen year old drunk driver did not suffer any injuries but he was sentenced to ten years in prison for vehicular manslaughter. He was driving 100 miles per hour when he took Casey’s life away. Casey’s mother wrote on the Casey’s Pledge website, “I have spent much of my professional life working for and with young people to prevent them from harm that can result from risky behavior. These young people have also included my own children. Ironically, while my children did know the harm that can result from drinking and driving they were not safe from it. It was the kid that didn’t know, that took my child’s life.” That is why it is important to be an educated teen to prevent incidents like this one.
Casey’s mother works for the Friday Night Live Chapter and she spends a great amount of time educating parents and teens about drunk driving and how she has had to live with her daughter’s death. While attending the Youth Convergence Conference in Miami, Florida in 2008, I had the honor to listen to Goodwin give a presentation about Casey. Goodwin starts these presentations by introducing Casey’s life story and slowly she advances to how her daughter passed away. But not until the very end of her presentation does she mention that she is in fact Casey’s mother. The facial expressions on everyone are unbelievable. Not only does this ending impact everyone in the room but we feel grief towards Casey’s mother and anger towards that eighteen year old for drunk driving. Tragedy’s like this one affect the family directly and everyone around them. I truly believe that stories like Casey’s should be told because it will give the listeners an urge to educate teens on drunk driving.
In honor of Casey Goodwin, Casey’s Pledge has been developed. This is a pledge where teens pledge not to drink and drive or get in a car with a drunk driver. I encourage all teens to take the pledge and to make this healthy choice. Remember, not only is your life in danger but also the life of others as well.
Here are few ways you can support Casey’s Pledge:
-Hang out with people who have a positive impact in your life.
-Don’t drink and drive.
-Take the pledge to your school and raise awareness.
-Be the person that does the right thing!
-Be safe! Stay alive!
Friday, July 15, 2011
¿Porqué debemos pasar el Dream Act?
Why should the Dream Act be passed?
When students are in situations like Tony’s, I can imagine why they do not want to reach for higher education or they perform poorly in school. This is what happened to Beldem’s second student “Grace.” Grace arrived to the United States at age four but she never realized that she was illegal until her parents told her when she was in high school. Upon learning of her status she became depressed and her grades began to fall. But she proudly worked hard and improved her grades and along with that she began to engage in community service. Beldem says, “65,000 Dreamers graduated from American high schools this spring. With a social security number, theses students can buy health, life and car insurance policies, pay fees and, most importantly taxes. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that if the Dream Act passes, Dreamers will collectively contribute $2.3billion to government revenues between 2011 and 2020.”
I can relate to what Beldem has witnessed in her journalism class with students that are Dreamers. I have many friends who are in similar situations but there is one that stands out in particular. I will call her “Sandy”. Sandy came to the United States at the age 4 after her mother became a single-mother with two children. Sandy has excelled in school especially in two areas, History and Math. Maintaining a GPA of a 3.7 and giving the community over 800 hours of community service. Sandy takes every opportunity she has to expand her knowledge in school and her community. She wants to go to a university right out of high school with the desire of becoming a dentist or a broadcaster. She is very confident overall but one insecurity that challenges her in not having citizenship. She will depend entirely on scholarships that do not require a social security number to pay for tuition. Imagine a bright courageous girl who will be the first in her family to attend college as she faces a long term challenge of paying for school, living expenses, finding a job, getting a license, and not being able to qualify for financial aid. These obstacles have slowly diminished her dream of attending a university right out of high school. She does not limit herself but she does realize that it will take longer to accomplish her dream than it would if she had a social security number. But then she faces the reality that without a social security number she may never reach her dream career because she will not be able to obtain a job.
If the Dream Act is passed not only will the dreamers contribute as tax payers like Beldem mentions, but they will have the opportunity to further their education and make our country a better place to live in. Their opportunities will be equal and more students may become motivated to be someone in life. I personally know that for my friend Sandy it will allow her to fulfill her career goals and one day give back to the community like a good citizen should. But in the end like Beldem says, “We should pass the federal and state Dream Acts because it’s the right thing to do.”
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
¿Te estas preguntando que es lo que va hacer SCPOC este verano?
Are you wondering what the SCPOC will be doing this summer?
The Peer Leaders range from the ages of 16-24 and they come from different high schools including Elsie Allen, Maria Carillo, Piner, and the Santa Rosa Junior College. To learn more about each and everyone one of them go onto our website and click on the “about us” tab.
The Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition is also very excited to table at community events and to volunteer in projects related to raising awareness on mental health. If you are planning an event and you would like the Peer Leaders to come and table they will be glad to do so. On August 13th the Peer Leaders will be at the Summer Day and Night Festival volunteering. We hope to see you there!!! Also help the Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition of Sonoma County meet their goal of 500 Facebook likes!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Una breve introducción de la Coordinadora de Medios de Comunicación Social
Estoy muy emocionado de escribir blogs para el SCPOC y escuchar a la opinión de todos. Algunos de los temas que se discutirán incluyen la depresión, ansiedad, trastornos de la alimentación, la reducción del estigma, la prevención de las drogas, salud sexual, y muchos más temas interesantes. Nuestros blogs serán bilingües, así como puestos de nuestro Facebook. ¡Yo te animo a que conoscas todos los recursos que SCPOC pone en Facebook y tambien a que hagas comentarios en los blogs!
A brief introduction from the Social Media Coordinator
Friday, May 20, 2011
Exciting news! A post from SCPOC Facilitator Shana Friedman
It's been a long time since I have blogged for the Sonoma County Peer Outreach Coalition! The beauty of a peer-led campaign is that our group of transitional-aged youth does all the work outreaching to other transitional aged youth. That means that as the Group Facilitator I get to do all the other work that does not involve outreach...like paperwork and grant reporting. Ah, the Peer Leaders have a lot more fun than I do!
Anyway, I am excited to report that there are some big changes happening to our campaign in the next three months. The SCPOC has received generous funding from the Office on Women's Health to complete a specific project. The primary focus of our project will be implementing bilingual content into our campaign. Our Facebook, Twitter, and this blog will all be written bilingually to help us reach our diverse followers.
I would like to thank our Intern Hannah Davis for her year of hard work on this blog and the SCPOC campaign. Hannah has graduated from Sonoma State University and will be moving on to new and exciting adventures of her own. Thank you Hannah! You will be missed!
I would also like to welcome Deisy Vargas to our team. Deisy has been hired as the Social Media Coordinator to work specifically on this project for the next three months. Desiy has already started recruiting new Peer Leaders to work on this campaign. If you are interested in volunteering, please comment on this blog, on our Facebook, or send an e-mail!
Our anticipated start date is June 1st! Keep following our social media sites and let us know how we are doing!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Technology: Helpful or Harmful? By Hannah Davis
Do people rely too much on technology in today’s society? Are we getting to the point where we would rather send a text or instant message instead of calling someone or talking face to face? Could younger generations be losing important social skills due to the ease associated with talking through media devices instead of in person? Has technology made society more distant and impersonal?
From personal experience I can see both sides of the argument. On the positive side I can be more direct and honest when I’m communicating in any way besides face to face. I have a hard time expressing anger, frustration, and fear in conversations, but when I am not directly talking to another person I feel it’s okay to show these emotions. In a way, the cover of technology allows me to open up more and voice opinions that normally I am too concerned to express.
Another thing I like about technology is that it is quick. Instead of writing a letter (does anyone really do that anymore?) and waiting for it to get there, the recipient to respond, and it to get back to me, I can Skype with someone instantly. With the new technology, people can video chat with people in other countries, which is allowing them to stay connected.
Technology also removes another burden for me. I don’t know if others feel the same way as I do, but when I am communicating in person I begin to worry about what I am about to say and if it will be positively received. On the other hand, when I am emailing or texting someone I am able to carefully chose my words and fully think about what I want to tell the other person. This takes away some of the pressure I feel, as well as helps me find ways to clearly communicate to others.
But can that also be a negative aspect? Have I come to rely on technology to help me communicate and forgotten how to talk to people in person? Sometimes I worry that my shyness is perpetuated by my ability to hide behind social networks and emails. Instead of learning to talk in front of groups, which is a huge fear of mine, I can instead write a blog. I’m still getting the point across, just in another form.
But is it okay to avoid interacting in person? I have observed people neglecting those they are with to text a friend. People will take a call and end up talking to the person on the other line longer then they will to the person they are with. People are so use to using technology that people are even starting to break up with their significant others through email or social networks instead of in person. Are all of these things acceptable?
It seems people can become addicted to forms of media and communication. People in many of my classes are so obsessed with staying connected through their phones that they can’t even turn them off for an hour and a half; they must sneak text messages when the teacher isn’t looking. Others take their laptops into class and instead of paying attention are distracted by Facebook or YouTube.
So as we can clearly see technology that helps us communicate has created positive and negative issues. It helps us stay in touch, helps us communicate, and can allow us to be more open and honest. At the same time it can cause us to ignore those around us in favor of talking those who are on the other line or computer, keep us from socializing and learning how to communicate in person, and can be addictive.
So, we must ask ourselves each one question; does the ever expanding technology hinder or help us? The answer may vary for every person, and because of this everyone needs to assess their own involvement with technology. If it is starting to negatively impact your life then it’s time to consider how to cut back or improve what you are currently doing. If you are able to cope and thrive with all the technology, then maintaining that is important.
Monday, May 9, 2011
How the Teen Years Can Affect You By Hannah Davis
The teen years are very turbulent. Sometimes we encounter things that may frustrate and scare us as we age during this time. There is a lot of change going on physically, emotionally, financially and educationally.
Physically we watch as our body hits puberty; hormones start to go wild as we get more testosterone or estrogen, hair starts to grow in new places, we begin to have sexual urges and our appearance and voice change. With these changes many teens are excited to enter the dating world – we want to experience the thrill of falling in love, having our first kiss, getting to say we have a boyfriend or girlfriend, and perhaps engage in sexual activity.
Teens need to learn to deal with is their new found urges. Giving in to sexual desires may lead to feelings of guilt, worry and regret or happiness and empowerment. If they are happy with their decision they may stop controlling their desire and instead give in. This is dangerous because a person may start to have sex without protection with possible results of STI’s or pregnancy, or result in getting a reputation for being easy or a player. On the other hand, if a person feels pressured into losing their virginity or engaging in certain sexual actions they may become depressed or turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with their decision.
These physical changes can and often do impact us mentally and emotionally. As our sexuality and body mature we must face new experiences, some good and some bad. For example, we watch others and compare our body to theirs and may worry that we are changing too quickly or slowly. As we get more self conscious about our bodies we may begin to get self-esteem problems and see our physical appearance as less then desirable. This can sometimes lead to eating disorders or other troubling habits to control and achieve a desired look.
During the teen years we begin to take on more responsibilities. We get jobs which allow us a new form of freedom; the ability to buy whatever we want with the money we have worked hard to earn. But with power comes great responsibility. Perhaps our college tuitions aren’t being paid for by our parents, so we begin to worry about keeping enough money to support ourselves. Taxes, bills, student loans, and other money issues may start to enter our lives. This can lead to stress and possibly depression if you feel that you don’t have enough money to do all the things you want and need.
But those aren’t the only things that teens must learn to deal with. There are multiple school changes, with the hardest most likely being the transition from high school to college. This change brings a teen more independence but also more money issues, responsibilities, and stress. We move out of the house (and potentially very far away), we get roommates, even tougher classes, and the added pressure to find out what we want to be when we grow up as well as attaining that goal through education. A lot of the time we don’t know anyone at the school and therefore meet and make friends with a whole new group of people. All these things can be hard on a person and lead to problems in their life.
I am sure there are other changes I have forgotten to mention. Each person has a unique life and experiences their teen years differently. For some they may ease on through, others may struggle at every turn, and those left over will have their high and low moments. The good thing is most people understand what teenagers are going through, having experienced it themselves, and want to help you through any hard times your teenage years may bring you.
Remember that change is necessary and good. It allows us to try and do new things, explore who we are, and grow up. Sometimes being a teenager may seem like the worst thing ever but keep in mind that soon you will be older and will be able to look back on these years.
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Facts on Suicide By Intern Hannah Davis
Suicide is a very serious topic that many people avoid talking about, but some things need to be discussed. If this saves even one life then it has been worth every second it takes me to write this blog.
First off let me start by saying if you or a friend is having suicidal thoughts get professional help immediately!
According to www.teensuicide.us, four out of five teen suicide attempts are preceded by clear warning signs. If you think a friend may be suicidal you should look for these signs:
they withdrawal from people they love such as family and friends
they either loose or gain a lot of weight
they starts to sleep all the time or very little
they begins to give away their possessions
there is any talk about suicide
they stop participating in activities they use to enjoy
they pick up self destructive habits such as drinking, driving recklessly, and taking drugs
If any of these things are occurring you should talk to people you and your friend can trust. This can include teachers, family members, a school counselor, doctor, or an adult friend. You can also contact certain support groups by calling 1-800-suicide to reach The Hotline For Suicide Crisis, the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-talk, or 911. There are also helpful online resources at http://www.yellowribbon.org/, http://www.save.org/ and http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.
Sadly suicide is the third-leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 24. The risk increases when there are firearms easily accessible to a suicidal person. Rates for girls are higher in their number of attempts, but since the common method for women is drugs and cutting, they survive more often. Boys, on the other hand, die about four times more often then girls because they use more dangerous methods such as hanging, jumping from heights, and guns.
What can cause a person to want to end their life? Teens who are depressed, may be using alcohol and drugs, could have been subject to physical or sexual abuse, or may dealing with their homosexuality in an nonsupporting family or environment; these are just a few examples of what lead to a higher risk for attempting suicide. Other factors include a family history of suicide or depression, lacking a supportive network, feeling isolated, and feelings of distress, irritability, or agitation.
Since so many teens attempt or succeed in committing suicide, chances are you know someone who has done this. I remember in junior high school one of the students hung himself in the bathrooms. Even to this day I get upset when I think about the loss of this person. It is typical and okay to be angry at the person who killed themselves. You may be mad that they gave up and left you behind. Or you may feel guilty because you couldn’t stop them from hurting themselves. Or you may feel confused, lost and sad. All of these emotions can be very strong and need to be discussed with a trusted person, preferably a counselor or professional, in order to help you get through these hard times.
Monday, April 25, 2011
The Pressure to be Perfect By Hannah Davis
Why are looks so important to our society? There are stereotypes abounding about what the perfect man or woman should look like. A desired man tends to be tall and muscular while women need to be lean, tall and endowed with large boobs. People are struggling with their reflection because society has put so much pressure on everyone to be attractive and seductive.
I don’t know about you but I feel the pressure to always look my best, buy the trendy clothing, and use dieting and exercise to reach that impossible body image of models. While I may not actually do all these things, there is a voice in the back of my mind that says I should. Others are dealing with these demands by undergoing drastic processes like plastic surgery. Others are developing mental disorders such as eating disorders or body dysmorphic disorder where they believe themselves to be ugly even if they have no noticeable flaws.
In regards to plastic surgery, the trend is quite frightening to me. Since 1997, there has been more than a 162% increase in cosmetic surgery. The top five surgical procedures for men, according to the ASAPS’s 2008 statistics on cosmetic surgery, were liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, hair transplants and breast reduction surgery. Women’s top five was breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdonimoplasty and breast reduction. There is now even a television show called Bridalplasty that has women competing to earn cosmetic surgery so their wedding can be “perfect”. I watched an episode once and was shocked when the show’s host told the contestant being kicked off that “she would have a nice wedding, but not a perfect one” because she wasn’t going to have a change to get surgery. This message alarms me and makes me wonder if society has gone too far in its reach for perfection.
Then there are eating disorders, which are more common then you may think. According to South Carolina’s Department of Mental Health, around 8 million Americans have an eating disorder and almost half of all Americans personally know someone who has an eating disorder. Whether it is anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder, these disorders have been attributed with the highest level of mortality when compared to all other mental illnesses. The treatment is costly and not very effective; many people don’t even try to get help.
Why is it that 50% of girls between 11 and 13 see themselves overweight? What has allowed us to have anorexia as the third most common chronic illness among adolescents? Is it all the celebrities who have had eating disorders, the media’s pressure to be thin, or because of a pervasive mindset that has found its way into our culture?
And then there is body dysmporhic disorder, also called imagined ugliness, where people are excessively dissatisfied with a part of their appearance, imagined or minor imperfections, which constantly occupy their thoughts and make them feel horrible. These individuals obsess about the imperfection and use compulsions to try and relieve tensions. Because they are ashamed or upset by their appearance, people with body dysmorphic disorder tend to avoid others by staying home or covering up their perceived imperfection.
When I researched the disorder I came to a very helpful website called kidshealth.org, which has information for parents, kids, and teens. On their website they stated that the disorder tends to start in the teen years and may be caused by a combination of an imbalance in serotonin levels and cultures messages about body image. If the problem isn’t treated early on it can continue into adulthood and affect the person’s life in many ways, including unpleasant thoughts about their body, long and repeated grooming processes, and eventually isolation that results in dropping out of school or losing a job in order to avoid people who will see their imperfections.
All of the above processes show how people try to deal with society’s pressure to be perfect and its affect on men and women. Each is a severe issue that needs to be looked at in order to help those people develop a healthy lifestyle and outlook on their body.
So let’s take a stand against modern society’s perception of beauty. Let’s all embrace who we are, flaws and all, and accept that what we have is beautiful.
If you need help with an eating disorder please contact the National Eating Disorders Association at 1-800-913-2237 or at their website http://nationaleatingdisorders.org/.
Do we want to be a cookie cutter society where everyone looks the same; women are tan, blonde and skinny where men are rippling with muscles, athletic, and tall? Personally I don’t want that future. If you don’t either then take a stand and tell someone they are beautiful for exactly who they are. Look into your mirror and believe the person staring back is perfect. Learn to love yourself.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Motivations in School
An article posted on Psychology Today caught my attention. In Barry Swartz’s “Do Grades As Incentives Work?” the author wonders if grades make students merely work harder. In other words, he asked is the pressure to complete all assignments to get an ‘A’ teaching us anything besides how to get work done. Are we learning the material? Or are we regurgitating what teachers say in order to get a high GPA?
Why do we study hard? For many it’s to get a good grade. But shouldn’t it be for the love of learning?
In my humble opinion I believe that students, by the time they have reached college for sure, but most likely by junior high or high school, have learned that to get the grade we must recite exactly what the teacher says. Most people are afraid to challenge a teacher’s ideas in fear that they will be punished with a lower grade. So, we reread our notes right before a test and recite word for word what teachers want to hear. And as soon as we walk out of the classroom the valuable information slips away.
We also must think about the students. There are the lucky few who barely have to open a book, can skip class, and still get an “easy A” without really trying. Can people honestly say these kids have learned anything that semester? It may be more realistic to say these particular students are able to use their skills in certain techniques such as writing and test taking which allows them to slide on by without effort. They have achieved the desired grade, but learned nothing.
On the other side we see students who struggle to get good grades and really want to learn but aren’t able to do so. Schwartz says in his article “the students in the bottom half of the class--students whose learning we want to encourage--know that the odds of high grades and high rankings are stacked against them. If we corrupt students' souls by convincing them that the main motive for learning are high grades and honors, we end up de-motivating, and de-moralizing, those students who have little chance for the top rankings.” Over time they begin to give up and stop trying to learn.
So it looks to me like the grading system is flawed. Instead of focusing on learning valuable information we can use in the future, we are instead using any means possible to get a good grade, or we simply stop caring. Either way this isn’t helping students prepare for their future.
But what can be done? It isn’t likely that any time soon schools will even consider getting rid of the grading system, so how can teachers encourage students to work hard and actually learn at the same time? That is a question that isn’t easy to answer. Thankfully everyone goes through school and therefore has valuable information and feelings in regards to this topic. Maybe one of us, the frustrated students who are ready for something better, who will eventually discover a way to improve our school systems.