weight issues

I believe that you should not be too worried about the actual number of your weight. If you look good, then there is no reason to stress about the numbers. In some cases, yes weight matters if it is affecting your health. These “ideal” weights that are accepted are not for every person. Everyone is an individual, with individual shapes, and individual needs. There is not a chart that can tell you exactly what is appropriate for you. The key is to be healthy, maintain a good weight, and live an active lifestyle. It is a common myth that college means you are going to gain weight. There is the ever so popular “freshman fifteen” that everyone speaks about. News flash, I am a freshman, soon to be sophomore and I certainly have not gained fifteen pounds while in college, if anything I have lost about ten. Do not listen to the fads or compare yourself to celebrity bodies. If you are discouraged, do not concentrate on simply losing weight or looking a certain way. Find some healthy changes you can make and focus on balanced, realistic ways to improve your self image. These small changes can actually have a significant effect on your body.

Condoms

I think that it is crucial to use condoms during sexual activities. This is a precaution that saves you from many many health issues. Many college students know that condoms are important but fail to use them due to the lack of information. Many college students also do not want to purchase them. A twelve pack of popular trogon condoms sells for about thirteen dollars a package, this could get expensive, really fast. You should not let this be a influencing reason not to use them. Condoms are crucial to your sexual health so you should not hesitate to use them. If cost is an issue, go to a local health center on campus… you can usually purchase a regular twelve pack for about five dollars. Oh and you know how guys store condoms in their wallets? P.S this leads to parenthood. The friction from the latex being in your pocket can cause the rubber to deteriorate and become ineffective. Also, you should always check the expiration date on condoms, because news flash, they do expire. Safe sex is always a better option. It saves you from the humiliation of carrying a std or even AIDS. It also saves you the risk of being pregnant, which is something most college students try to avoid. That’s just my two cents.

Eating Disorders

As I read the Student Health magazine I realized a shocking statistic. At least 80 percent of American women are unhappy with their appearance. Celebrities and the media don’t help much, because they lead women to believe the myth that we can never be too thin. I find that to be very untrue. There are people in my life that are dealing with eating disorders and it controls your life. These girls become sickly and they don’t even realize it. They are too focused on losing weight and looking thin that they don’t realize when they become unhealthy. They thrive off the compliments that they get on looking good, and when they get to a certain point, I have discovered they usually continue to lose in order to keep the attention alive. Perfectionism and stress can be a dangerous combination. When you are obsessed with being perfect and are also stressed out it can drive you to do things you would not ordinarily do. There are many symptoms of eating disorders such as questionable food behaviors such as skipping meals, disliking once favored foods, obsessive compulsive behavior, trouble concentrating, being in a state of constant stress, feelings of depression, anxiety, guilt, loneliness, and desperation. If you see any of these signs in yourself or someone you know please contact the schools health center or a support group, it could save a life.

Piercings and Tattoos

I read the article in the March Student Health 101 magazine about tattoos and piercings and the risks involved. Personally I have had good experiences with both. I have 3 piercings in each ear that are completely healthy with no infection. I also recently got a tattoo in October of 2007. It was not on sudden impulse so I do not regret it. I thought long and hard what I would like to have because I knew that it was permanent and the risks I was involving myself in. I got it done in a legitimate tattoo parlor where they wore gloves and cleaned the tools. I have had no problems with bleeding or infection since I got my tattoo. I am very satisfied and am actually considering getting another one over the summer. They are rather addicting. To me there is something so unique about body art. It can never leave me, and no one else will have anything quite like it. As I read the article I found it interesting that the statistics are not gender biased. There is almost an equal number of males and females with tattoos. 16% of Americans have at least one tattoo and only 17% of them regret it. I find all this very interesting.

sexual assault

Sexual assault happens to so many teenagers and young adults. In order to protect yourself you need to know what sexual assault is. Sexual assault is any type of unwanted penetrative sexual contact, and it carries the highest criminal penalties. Every state, school, and person has its own definition. Students can find out their own state’s laws by calling a local or national crisis center. Most sexual assaults are not by strangers, they are by victimized women who know their assailant. You can be assaulted by boyfriends, classmates, friends, acquaintances, or co workers. Just be very careful who you trust, and know what consent means. I believe that silence is not consent. Just because you don’t say no doesn’t mean your body language isn’t saying no. Some women do not have the strength or courage to fight back or say no. Just as no means know, you need a clear, verbal or non-verbal yes before proceeding with sexual activity. The key to staying safe on a college campus is to travel in groups and keep an eye out for danger zones. The story of a college girl getting raped is all too familiar, just don’t make it your story.

part 4 cont'd

I just have found very few answers to this problem. I have researched the history and trust me, there is enough. I just haven’t found any protocol or action we could take that wouldn’t be a hit to the government. There is just not a sensible solution. This is a global issue that can never be completely solved. I honestly know there will never be a time when everyone is able to live the middle class lifestyle or above.
Throughout all the research I have done, I have not found any plan that I think could help solve this problem. It is up to the people to donate to charities, and in turn for those charities to help the poverty stricken people in their community. The government does all that it can to help them out, but there is only so much they can do. I can’t imagine a society where everyone is taken care of. If there was such a thing then all the lazy people in the world would just choose not to work and get a free ride off the government.

part 4

Poverty and Homelessness are issues that have to be faced in any region of the world. There are so many different aspects that it is almost impossible to think there is a solution. In fact, I don’t believe that there is a solution. I think there are measures that people as individuals can take to try and prevent one or both, but there is no big plan to solve the whole problem. If there was such a plan, it would already be in affect.
I believe that some action should be taken. I think the government should step in and help those who are in need, and they do with programs such as tin care and welfare. Although these actions are already set in place, people are still denied their basic human needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. This is just not right. I don’t think that anyone deserves to live on the streets.
I think Memphis, and other cities in the United States should set up more free housing. Whether it be through housing programs such as MHA or THDA, or simply more shelters for people in desperate need to turn to. That is one of the few ways we could help this problem. But we will never be able to force job availability, or a permanent boost in our economy to help these people out.