Overeating, Self-Image, and Social Media

Overeating
When you hear the term “eating disorder,” you may associate it with shockingly skinny individuals who are lying on their death bed. But, it applies to more than just that. Compulsive overeating is an eating disorder in which the sufferer eats an obscene amount of food on a regular basis. People who are compulsive overeaters see food as a way to fill a void in their life. They will eat whenever they’re feeling stressed or upset about something in their life. To a compulsive eater, the words “just go on a diet” are as heart-wrenching to hear as if an anorexic heard “just eat.” It’s a mental disorder. 

It’s common sense that what you eat can determine your weight and health, but this doesn’t register as well in overeaters. They will eat anything to fill the emptiness or overwhelm the emotion they are feeling. So this causes a problem known as obesity. Obese is a term that is used to describe extremely overweight individuals. Overeating is a relevant issue today, especially in America. Like I said earlier, overeating leads to obesity. Here in America, our obesity rate has grown a whopping twenty percent in roughly thirty years. Specific states are singled out; for example, Louisiana has the highest obesity rate in the nation. I feel very passionate about this issue because I feel that it can be easily prevented. The health issues that surround being overweight and unhealthy are numerous. What if we could nearly stop all of those? This world would be a better place to live.

There are a lot of organizations in place to try preventing and stopping obesity in America. A popular advocate is Michelle Obama. She has made it her personal goal to help end childhood obesity, and she has done so by changing the ways school lunches are prepared and served to children. Another organization is the National Action Against Obesity that acts by educating schools and the general public about healthy and unhealthy habits. I think that a great way to reach out to people about overeating and obesity is to not start off by calling them fat. We don’t want to hurt people, we want to help them. So, I believe that if we go at an angle that focuses on healthy living, it will be more effective in whatever way we choose to get the word out. With this angle I believe that through presentations, and other kinds of media, we can combat this issue head-on. Being healthy is for everyone!

Self-Image
Self-image problems are issues that people associate with their bodies and self-esteem. Many young girls look through magazines, or their pinterest, facebook, twitter, instagram, etc... and see what is defined as "beautiful" in this day and age. According to these online communities, beauty is seen as: tall, but not too tall; skinny, but not anorexic; big boobs, but not fake ones; clear skin, but tan; blonde hair, but not bleached; blue eyes, but just the right size; a big butt, but not too big; and slim legs, but very muscular. If you step back and look at society's requirements for beauty, you'll be shocked at how impossible it is to attain these. This media teaches us that if you're not all of that, you're ugly. A lot of girls, and even boys, believe that they aren't good enough to find a significant other, or even be happy! This is the problem in this situation. Self-esteem comes from self-peace and when you can't feel happy about who you are, then you're at a high risk for low self-esteem.

I think it's important to combat this issue to show our society that beauty isn't supposed to be a barbie. We need to show that being yourself, loving yourself, and being healthy is what should be considered beautiful. A saying that I love is "these aren't thunder thighs, they're wonder thighs!" We judge our own body parts while forgetting to thank them for what they do for us! Personally, I know that my thighs are what help me dance so well and base in cheerleading. Without them, I'd be weak! 

This issue is everywhere. In every school. In every classroom. At some point in our lives, we are all self-conscious about what we look like. We need to quit the comparing and start the praising. So, I would combat this issue by talking about what happiness and self-peace mean. Will you really feel happier if you look a certain way? Will you ever find self-peace if all you do is hate yourself? No, you will not for either of these questions. I want to start a "Love Your Body" revolution where we praise our figures for what they actually do for us! Live your life, love your body!

Social Media
Albert Einstein once said, "I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction." Well, Einstein, that day has come. Social media is a constant, updated, real-time setting that we learn about our friends on. Instead of talking face to face, we stare at a glass screen that vibrates when someone is interested in talking to us. These tiny glass boxes contain some people's whole lives! Social media has taken over our attention span, our ability to be amused, and lowered our communication between humans. 

I think that this issue is particularly important to combat because we need to recharge our communication skills or we will all end up mute someday! (Yes, that's an exaggeration, but still). This issue affects every single person I've ever known! You can't get away from it these days, even my grandparents have smartphones that they facebook on! 

I think a great way to go about this issue is to have everyone try out a 24 hour period without social media or their phones. I think it would be a good experiment to show how much time we consume with it. If we can get the point across that social media isn't everything, I think we can make a difference in people's lives! Down with the technology.

Cheerleading and Children: Blog #6

Believe it or not, there is a debate over cheerleading routines and stunts. Some people think that cheerleaders dance too provacatively and perform too dangerous of stunts. These people would like the government to crackdown on these issues by forming regulations. I do not agree with this. As a cheerleader, I know that there are already enough safety regulations to follow and adding even more would be annoying. IHSA (Illinois High Schools Association) provides a very intricate system of rules that cannot be broken. In the state of Illinois, stunting in high schools is safe. As for the provacative dancing regulations, thats why we have coaches. If something is too risque, our coach will intervene. Also, dancing is a way to express yourself. If you regulate that, you're telling people to regulate their expression. This would be infringing on the first amendment. 

Choosing the sex of your unborn child is wrong. New technology proposes the option for parents to genetically modify the sex of their child in order to ensure they have either one sex or the other. This is wrong because it is not God's plan, it can lead to a gender imbalance, and may open the door to even more genetic modifications. God has a plan for everyone, believers or non-believers and that plan involves the miracle that is a baby. Choosing which sex your child is is disrupting His plan, which is considered wrong in the church. Another problem with this new technology is gender imbalance. China is a prime example of a gender imbalance. Most families want a male child and will do anything to get it. This causes a primarily male society which provides a great imbalance. Genetic modifications don't just stop at choosing the sex of your child. This could lead to families choosing specific traits and features. You're basically going to "Build-A-Baby Workshop" and creating your child. We need to accept that not all aspects of our life can be planned and perfect. Parents should love their children just how God made them, because they are miracles.

An Overview of the Republican Party

What makes the Republican party different? Why are they represented by an elephant? What's their stance on controversial topics? These are some of the questions I will set straight in my informative essay about the Republican party. Over the past few years,  I have learned quite a bit about this topic; I feel that with adequate research I can write a great informative essay on it.

I would like to research the history of the republican party, some of it's most influential people, and previous beliefs. Researching the actual history of the party could uncover some interesting facts like the elephant and color red. Who started the party, and why? These are the questions I soon hope I can answer. The history of the Republican party will provide great background information for the essay.

Next, I'd like to talk about their stance on certain, current controversial topics such as gun control, gay marriage, abortion, and Syria. Many have a cruel perception of what the party believes and don't give it the time of day. I hope to talk about the party's views enough to help people understand why they agree or disagree with them.

Lastly, I'd like to break all stereotypes that are made about the Republican party. They're not all gay-hating, old, upper class white men sitting in their office. The myth that all republicans are white is very false; plenty of other ethnic groups are involved with the party, and not all possess a lot of money. I would like to explain that your race, gender, and ethnicity do not determine your political beliefs.

I feel that I can find plenty of research, in newspapers and periodicals especially, that will assist me in explaining the party that millions affiliate with. The significance of conveying this information would be to educate people on a party that partly dominates our country today. After reading my paper, I hope that people will have better knowledge of what makes up the Republican party.

A Nordstrom Quesadilla

Quesadillas are a popular Mexican food that provide delicious flavor and satisfaction. One does not need to be from Latina descent to enjoy this meal. In fact, making this entree can result in a huge success for anyone's taste buds. Some people like to add veggies and meats to add to the flavor and benefits, but I usually like to keep it simple with just cheese. All you need is a stove, a pan, a spatula, some cheese, and tortillas.

Start by heating the stovetop to a little above the medium setting. Place the pan on top of it and wait a few minutes. If you'd like to be absolutely sure, pour some water on the pan to test the heat. If the water sizzles and evaporates quickly, it's ready. Next, place one tortilla on the hot pan and sprinkle the cheese of your choice evenly over it. Once you're pleased with your cheese amount, lay the second tortilla on top of it. From here on it's all a waiting game. Keep a close eye on your quesadilla to make sure it doesn't burn. Check on it every minute or so by using a spatula to lift a corner of the tortilla up. When it is a golden brown, use your spatula to flip it over to the other side.

Congratulations! You've successfully cooked one side of the quesadilla. Repeat the checking process with this side, and when ready flip it over to the other side again. Continuously flip for a minute and then turn off the stove. You've completed your quesadilla cooking. Grab a plate and place your entree on it. Find a napkin and maybe some salsa to compliment the great Mexican food. Enjoy your Americanized quesadilla and have a good day.

Digging Deep

Personal Narrative Essays are supposed to be about something significant in your life, but I haven't done much yet to qualify for that. There have been a lot of moments worth telling, don't get me wrong. What has me in a bind is that it has to be a whole essay and have a meaning! So after really thinking about what I've done in life, I've decided that my trip to Africa in 2009 and breaking my arm in 2010 are prime candidates. 

During the summer before my eighth grade year, my grandparents took the entire family to Africa for an adventure safari. All 16 of us hopped on a plane in Chicago, and 36 hours later we landed near Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. This was going to be our home for the next 14 days. We spent a day or two in the city of Arusha to get to know the culture; the next day we drove into the wild safari. We saw so many kinds of wildlife, foliage, land formations, and people. In the middle of the Serengeti we stayed in tents exposed to any animal that would dare come near. This especially frightened me and put me out of my comfort zone. What if a lion, elephant, rhino, or any other animal decided that my tent was a threat and attacked? Those four nights, I barely slept at all! After leaving the Serengeti, we visited other places such as the Ngorongoro Crater, Tangire National Park Reserve, and Masai Villages. But at the very end of the trip we visited a small mountain village called Thloma. There, we had the opportunity to rebuild a kindergarten classroom and interact with the children there. This event was eye-opening. We brought with us old clothing, school supplies, things to decorate the classroom with, and lunch. For lunch, we introduced the young children to an American peanut butter & jelly sandwich. They were amazed with how different it was; it was weird to think how different their childhoods are. After lunch we got to play games; the boys went and played "football" and us girls learned a few things about each other. They taught us Swahili schoolyard chants, dances, and games. I gave my old Hannah Montana concert t-shirt to a little girl and she immediately put it on a lit up with a smile. Interacting with these children is something I'll never forget. At the end of the day, I realized that they taught me more than just schoolyard traditions; they taught me a new perspective. 

My whole life I've been very active and athletic. When I was around 4 years old, I decided that I wanted to be a competitive gymnast. My mom signed me up for gymnastics lessons and got my passion going. By the age of 9 I was on the competitive team at a level 4 and constantly at the gym practicing. I kept up with this same thing until I was twelve and at a level 7. Going into 7^th grade I wanted to be in cheer, volleyball, and track; so, I had to quit gymnastics. But, I didn’t totally stop. I continued to go to once-a-week tumbling lessons for the rest of that year. By 8^th grade, I wasn’t even going to classes anymore. During cheer season Amber convinced me to get back into tumbling, but at her gym. We went to a few lessons and I loved tumbling again. But this feeling was going to be short lived. At the fourth week of lessons, I was just casually going to do a pass across the floor when tragedy struck.

I ran out and in mid-flip I somehow decided to stop then and there. My arm snapped in two spots and I went black for a moment. The next thing I remember is holding up my left arm and looking at it; my arm was in the shape of an “S.” Moments after that, I began screaming and to be honest, I don’t remember much else. I was in a neck brace, in an ambulance. I couldn’t feel my left side and I was so scared. We arrived at the hospital and the doctors drugged me up, fixed me up, and sent me home. Since that day I haven’t stepped one foot on a tumbling floor or flipped since. This experience taught me that things that I feel are big parts of my life are things that I can learn to live without.

Tremendous Travels 2013

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.” I couldn’t agree more with that quote by Saint Augustine. To me, travel is an important aspect of life; it puts you outside of your comfort zone. I have been lucky enough to get to experience what it’s like to be out of your comfort zone. Being in over ten countries before I even turn eighteen has broadened my view on life. This summer in particular I went to Europe with the school trip. We visited London, Paris, Florence, and Rome. In each city, we made memories that will last a lifetime.

On June 13, we touched down in London, England. We reached the ground and the fun began. We were all jet-lagged, unshowered, and a little crabby when we took on the town. That first day we got to experience the London Eye and a relaxing tube ride to our dinner. The next day we were fast and furious. We saw as much as we could in the smallest time possible. Buckingham Palace was definitely one of my favorites. The flag that signaled the Queen's presence was up so that was pretty cool! We got to see the changing of the guards, which was very exciting. I got to experience the love the British people have for their leaders. Later that day we got free time; most of us girls went shopping. Have you ever heard of Jack the Ripper? Well, I hadn't either, but after dinner that night I learned that he was an infamous serial killer. We went on a walking tour to see all of the places that he murdered and got to investigate the scandal. I believe he was working for the royal family, but we will never know!

After London, we were on to Paris. Two years ago, I visited Paris for eight days; so, coming back was what I was looking forward to the most. Paris has always been my favorite city! The people, the food, the atmosphere...it's all just so perfect! Everything and everyone is so chic, confident, and romantic. We visited the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Arc di Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, Les Invalides, Montparnasse Tower, Champs Elysees, and Spanish Quarter. My favorite will always be the Eiffel Tower; seeing something so iconic in person is unreal. I'm taken back at the fact I've been there twice; I am so blessed. There's also something about Parisienne nights that makes me never want to leave. People are dancing on the river banks, kissing in the streets, and putting their love locks on the lock bridge. To me, Paris is all about feeling and culture rather than sightseeing and touristy things.  If I could come back to Paris every two years for the rest of my life, I would be in heaven.

Have you ever ridden on a night train? I don't recommend it. From Paris to Florence we were sqeezed into a cramped, six person-cabin with three layers of bunks on each side. We were on this for twelve hours and had to visit Florence (unshowered again!) the whole next day. But, to say it was worth it is an understatement. Florence was one of my favorite days of the trip. We toured the very quaint downtown and then had seven hours to do whatever we wanted. Five of the girls, including myself, chose to take on the climb to Piazza de Michelangelo. Florence is hot to start with, and when we were there it was record heat. Needless to say, we were sweaty messes by the end of it. But the sweat was so worth it. The view from the top of that hill was breathtakingly beatiful; I'll never forget it. You know what you see on those Olive Garden commercials? I saw it in real life. Looking over Florence, you could see the beautiful midieval city on one side, majestic mountains on another, and a lush valley on the other side. It was a highlight of the whole trip. En route from Florence to Rome the next day, we stopped on a small hillside village called Assisi. This was my absolute favorite day of the trip. This small town is where I ate the best meal of my entire life. The pasta was impeccable! It's here that I fell in love with Italy...and gelato. On the last day, we got a whirlwind tour of Rome. First stop: the Vatican. Being Catholic, this was very special to me. Seeing where my religion first thrived was fascinating. Michelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel is the best piece of artwork that I've ever seen, and the fact that it's on a ceiling is just mind blowing! The mind-blowing didn't stop there; our next stop was St. Peter's Basillica. St. Peter's Basillica is a maginificent structure that stands nearly five hundred feet high. Just above it is where the new pope first debuted himself. It was so amazing to get to see that. Later that day we went exploring through "underground Rome" (aka where all of the ruins lie). We learn about the ancient structures in Rome in school, but you don't learn how big they or how sturdy they still are. To see them in person is just a whole new kind of learning. We ventured through the Roman forum and the Colosseum under the scorching Italian sun. Last stop was the Pantheon and the Trevie Fountain. Did you know that there is a huge hole in the ceiling of the Pantheon, but when it rains the inside never gets wet? Crazy! I loved the Trevie Fountain a lot; it was just so delicate and pretty. I hope that I'll be back to Italy again some day.

Back to Blog #1

Aaaaaaaaaand we're back for another year of schoology, blogger, writing, and freaking out! Being in Honors English III last year really prepared me for College English. Last year really tested my writing skills and challenged me; I hope this year will do the same. When I reflect on my academic writing from previous years, I can see a progression my abilities. I can see myself getting really stressed out with this class, but it all being worth it in the end. From last year I can see that my strengths are in opening statements, valid arguments, and creative wording. Madi Schulenberg commented, '"When you write you sound very sophisticated." I would agree with that as well. I am pretty confident in my writing ability. But there are always weaknesses, and I have plenty! There is the on-going love/hate relationship with conclusions and organization issues that I can definitely work on this year. Oh, and we can't forget about the random awkward wording problems, too. Let's just say I 've got a lot to improve on. I really enjoy the writing process that I developed last year; it worked fairly well for me. If this year is anything like last year, I think I'll be just fine.

Since this course is brand new at our school, of course I have questions...but I haven't thought of them yet. As the semester progresses I think that I'll run into a few questions. I'm actually very curious as to how this class is going to go. I just thought of a question: Will you be grading similarly to how you did in Honors English III? That's the only question I can think of currently. I'm very excited to get to write in different styles because my whole academic life we've been doing the same old things; it's getting boring! I'm assuming that this class should spice things up. Of course, it'll be hard and that will be my only apprehension. Kind of like fear of the unknown; we're the new class so I can't ask older students for advice! But that fear is what keeps me interested! Should be a great senior year!