A Generation at Risk

Week 5. Option 2.

Option 2: After reading "Marijuana: Know the Facts," are the rates of adolescent marijuana use increasing or decreasing? What factors do you think are responsible for this recent change?

According to "Marijuana: Know the Facts," the rates of adolescents' use of marijuana is increasing. Sadly, the numbers have almost doubled. 

Is this my generation?

I am no teen... but I was just there yesterday. Just a short, 5 years ago. 

We go to a party. Its readily available. 

As a young girl in high school I remember going to a friend's house and people smoking marijuana trying to get me to do it. People rolling who knows what and doing "lines" of only God knows what. I stared in amazement... this is the kind of stuff I only saw in movies. After a short "season" of partying in my younger years, I am so thankful I never got too deep into it. But, oh, how the young girl who dropped out of high school because her life was ruined from drugs, pregnancy, or any number of things could have been me. That could have been me. What a scary, and humbling thought. 

The rates of adolescent marijuana use are increasing...and increasing quickly. "The downward trend in youth marijuana use during the late 1990s has ended. In 2009, according to NSDUH, the rate of past-month marijuana use among 12- to 17-year-olds climbed to 7.3%.19 This is significantly higher than the rate (6.7%) in 2006, 2007, and 2008," states the article. According to the article, this may be because of, or at least correlated with the fact that fewer young people today see smoking marijuana as a "great risk". Its becoming more normal to do it to these young teens. I think that has things become more common, people become more desensitized- without always considering the long-term, or short-term consequences. Another reason I think could be that smoking marijuana is more common to see in the media and movies than it was in the past. Just like cigarettes made their way into popular movies and celebrities, now marijuana is doing the same thing. 

It is a sad truth, but a truth that needs to be addressed. I was happy to see in the article that the government is trying to focus on more of the prevention side of the issue now. Slowly over time, I think people will start to see the truth in all this madness and hopefully teens will get a good grasp on it before its too late and things spiral out of control.

To be or not to be Smoke-free....

Week 4. Option 2.

Option 2: Ask an undergraduate student if they would be in favor of a completely smoke-free campus policy (there are no wrong answers, just ask their opinion). Ask them to provide a reason to support their decision. Why do you agree or disagree with them?

When I asked Elena, my friend who just graduated from BGSU with her undergraduate degree, whether or not she would be in favor of a completely smoke-free campus policy, and why, she didn't hesitate much in her response...
                        "I am impartial. While I do not think its wise to smoke, I do not think more rules will help anybody. The government already tells us what to do enough. Inside a building? No. Outside? I don't care." -Elena

I agree with Elena's stance on this issue. I also do not think its wise to smoke... however, I think that completely banning it would just make people want to do it more. Not that I think we should legalize all drugs for the sake of that argument. But I think smoking is something that can only really inflict harm on the person smoking (unless of course they are smoking inside a closed space, which is now banned). But smoking a cigarette is harmless to other people, as apposed to for example, someone drinking and driving who could cause danger for others. This is a free country, so people should have the right to make their own decisions even if its taking a risk for their own health. The only time this rule should NOT apply, I think, is when it threatens another life. So, by all means, if you want to smoke outside, as long as you're not blowing smoke rings in someone else's face, have at it.

Work hard - play hard?

Week 3. Option 1.

"Describe several ways alcohol abuse could impact grades. Do you think it’s possible for students to “work hard and play hard”?"

According to a study in "The BACCHUS Network", abusing alcohol has a very negative impact on students in college. 

Obvious? Perhaps.

Obvious enough for people to take action and make changes? Doubtful.

Its an obvious elephant in the room that college students are widely known for their high levels of partying and alcohol abuse. Its the stereotype many people thing, but don't always voice. How much truth does it hold? And if it holds truth? How much is it actually impacting the ratio of graduates to non-graduates? 

Can a student really work hard and play hard, and be well enough at the end of the day to feel accomplished. Hard to tell. However, I'm going to go ahead and guess- no. Then again, could it depend on our definition of how hard is playing hard and working hard? I think balance is important in everything in life... and if not balance, then at least harmony. Harmony is when everything may not be perfectly balanced, but the things that need to have heavier weight do, and the things with lighter weight do. This allows harmony-- a "just right" amount of everything. Can you be harmonious when playing hard and working hard? When do the two start to affect each other? I think that you can't just be harmonious with this. There is nothing wrong with drinking but you have to think about two things- how will this effect my work tomorrow? and how will this effect my health tomorrow? If both of these questions are honestly answered- the response would equal something related to not over-drinking.

So, up to this point I have just been stating my opinion. How about we look at some facts.

According to "The BACCHUS Network", abusing alcohol effects your grades in more serious ways than we may think. It effects things like memory foundation, abstract thinking, problem solving skills, attention and concentration, and perceptions of emotion. These are all things that, if impaired, can heavily effect a student's performance in college. 

Here is a direct quote from "The BACCHUS Network" showing some raw numbers that leave an impression:

Alcohol use can result in missing class, doing poorly on tests or projects, disciplinary issues, or other problems.
The following statistics show on average, students who drink the most alcohol receive the lowest grades:

• "A" students average 4.21 per week
• "B" students average 6.03 drinks per week
• "C" students averages 7.76 drinks per week
• "D" and "F" students average 9.97 drinks per week 

A 30 Second Commercial - starring...

me...?

 

Week 2. Option 2: 

"Write a “30 Second Commercial” for yourself. Briefly include your background, your current interests, and your goals for the future. Describe some situations where you might use a “30 Second Commercial” to introduce yourself."

Well, talking about ourselves can sometimes be the easiest thing to do, but it can also sometimes be the hardest thing to. I personally have a hard time with the idea of it being a "commercial"- because commercial = selling something. I guess its good to practice this... as I will soon exit the college world and enter the "real world" and start looking for jobs. In job interviews you definitely have to be able to "sell" yourself and talk confidently about your strengths and weaknesses. Another example of situations where you may need to be able to introduce yourself with a "30 second commercial" is in just networking and meeting people. Networking is a very important part of almost any career. So even though it may feel awkward and be difficult to talk about myself in that way, you have to start somewhere...so, here goes nothin'! :)

 Meet Angelica Cristina De La Torre. Also known as Gelly (pronounced like jelly, yes, like the food). 

And soon to be Angelica May. In exactly 93 days, Gelly will be marrying Ricky. Ricky and Gelly...sittin' in a tree. Hard to believe how quickly time has passed...and oh, what a journey it has been.

Gelly was born in Tallahassee, Florida- but currently lives in sweet little Ohio. Gelly is passionate about her faith in God, her love for family, friends, art, music, and people. She is studying Social Service and Mental Health right now, and will be graduating soon.

In the future, Gelly and her soon-to-be husband Ricky, are excited about serving and working wherever life's adventure takes them. They would love to be involved in campus ministry, service projects, and mission trips. Individually, Gelly hopes to always stay up to date with the latest information and findings on human psychology as Counseling is a route Gelly would be interested in pursuing one day. 

Life is an adventure. Gelly loves adventures and is excited to see where life takes her, thrilled about all the possibilities, while also desiring to take things one day, and one step at a time. Learning to live in the moment and find happiness in the present is important to her, and will continue to be.

Peer Educators as Paraprofessionals

Week 1. Option 1.

Paraprofessional:
                   a job title given to people in various occupational fields- such as education, healthcare, engineering and law, who are trained to assist professionals but are not themselves licensed at a professional level. 

What a cool and interesting idea- this concept of the paraprofessional.  In spanish, the word "para" means "for". With the context being similar to when you say, "____ is for you." The Greek prefix "para" as used here indicates beside or side by side (as in "parallel"); hence, a paraprofessional is one who works alongside a professional.


The paraprofessional:

• is able to perform tasks requiring significant knowledge in the field
• may even function independently of direct professional supervision
• lacks the official authority of the professional. 

What is a paraprofessional? Acting as paraprofessionals, how can peer educators have a positive impact on campus?

It is both encouraging, and weight-baring and challenging to think of ourselves, the soon-to-be peer educators, as paraprofessionals. All this talk of encouraging. Why are are we encouraged? Encouraged to do what? To be what? We are encouraged to have a positive impact on campus, and in our own lives.

Why so encouraging? Being a peer educator, and a paraprofessional is E.N.C.O.U.R.A.G.I.N.G...

E-- energizing possibility. A rush that strengthens you to stand up in front of a group of people, held    responsible for teaching them something that could change their lives. 

N-- nomination = a possibility of being selected. Not everyone can be a peer educator. It is something that you work hard for, and then, if you are selected, this is incredibly encouraging.

C-- Chosen. To be chosen is an honor. Chosen in a group of students who are like-minded to help lead and teach your peers. This. is. encouraging.

O-- Openness. In the class we are expected to continue the tone of the open environment which the instructors have already set. Every peer educator that we have seen come do presentations, is very unique- they are themselves. Everyone is open to our individual styles and personalities.This. is. encouraging.

U-- Unhindered growth. We are challenged and we are pushed. This potential for unhindered growth encourages us to keep trying and not be afraid to try new things- like, standing in front of a class room for "improvised speeches"... ;)

R-- Responsibility to share. Just as the definition of paraprofessional mentions, we are given this great set of tools and knowledge, and it would be an injustice to hide these things away and not share them with our peers.

A--Action. As a college student, and really as human beings in general, we have something in us that is always wanting to take action and make a difference somehow. Being a peer educator, and in turn a paraprofessional, is a great way to take action and actually DO something. This is so encouraging to know that we will actually be hands-on and making a difference in people's lives.

G--Give. Some words included in the definition of the word "give" include: contribute, supply, transfer. Give back to our community hear at BGSU. Contribute, doing your part, supply tools and services, and transfer knowledge and information. Knowing that you are able to do all of this for your peers, is so encouraging and makes you feel so good about yourself.

I--Innovative. To know that you are a part of a group of students on campus that are innovative is so inspiring! (Well, there's another one- inspiring!)

N-- Notable = Worthy of attention or notice; remarkable. It is so encouraging to know that being a part of this great on campus group of peer educators will make me a more "notable" person for future opportunities. Not many people are equipped to be a paraprofessional at such a a young age.

G--GREAT. 'Nuff said. :)

It is encouraging to be accepted be a part of such a special group of paraprofessionals. But, of course, "with great power comes great responsibility."