Powerpoint Presentation

Reflection

Making a Difference

Composition Writing II has made me realize why I’m often misunderstood.  I am now aware of the fact that I did not know how to effectively communicate verbally, nor in writing.   The funniest and weirdest thing is that I’ve always and still do enjoy writing, but I had always considered myself a pretty decent writer.  Boy was I way off base on that one.  There is so much more to writing than just knowing how to make a complete sentence or using proper grammar.

Writing is something we do every day.  Whether it be writing a recipe, take a phone message, writing directions, taking an order at a restaurant, or leaving a list of instructions for the baby sitter, it all involves writing.  Writing to persuade or inform is altogether different. 

I have learned that writing on an academic level requires and introduction to the thesis of points to be discussed.  Citing sources and referencing your information (APA style) is a big deal in academia.  Failure to cite is plagiarism and could potentially affect a student’s performance.  I now have a better understanding of using short paragraphs as an intro to my next point.  This is so much better than having many points and paragraphs all jumbled together where nothing makes sense, which is what I use to do.  I understand the meaning of “sometimes less is better.”

 Additionally, using Kaplan’s outlining tools helped me to develop my thesis and keep my paragraphs flowing in a chronological order.  Using the outlining tool during the pre-writing process turned out to be more effective than the paper graphic organizers I was use to using.  As a matter of fact, during this course was the first time I ever used the Writing Center, and when I received my essay back, they used paragraph outlining to help me better organize my paragraphs.  This will definitely be my preferred method for pre-writing as well as editing and revising.

Wherever my future may lead, I have now developed skills in this class that will assist me whether I’m trying to organize a community to get involved in fighting obesity, or putting together a business plan for a program, or perhaps trying to persuade a school to serve more improved school meals, I feel confident enough to know that I have acquired a certain level of knowledge and skills that can be used in every aspect of my life, personally and professionally.

I’ve enjoyed every aspect of this course and my classmates in particular.   Everyone brought something that someone could use, no matter how small or large.  We were all trying to get to the same place.  A place where we could become better individuals with the skills and knowledge of knowing how to create expression through communication.  This is writing in its simplest form.  I appreciated all feedback from peers and well as Professor Parent.  I took it all as positive and another step towards getting better.

Be Blessed!

Anita

Letter to Editor

Letter to Editor

Dear Editor,

            My name is Anita Felder, and I’m currently pursuing a degree in the Health and Wellness field.  As a mother, wife, and grandmother of five, I’m deeply concerned about the obesity crisis specifically, among our children and adolescents.  The obesity rate among children and adolescent in Covington is 12.4%.  This is closer to the 14.6% rate for the entire state of Georgia.  I think that is shameful in a population of only 100,000 people.

            Most parents I talk to like to point fingers and blame others for why their children are either overweight or obese.  But really, who’s at fault here?  Is government to blame?  Is it the Food Industry?  Media?  Or perhaps school administrators?  There is certainly enough blame to go around.  The truth is, we are all responsible for this crisis, and parents in particular need and should be more accountable for what and how much their children are eating.  We may not be able to control what they’re eating outside the home, but we have the power and the authority to practice good eating habits inside the home.

            Parents are well aware of the obesity crisis among children and adolescents, but are either in denial, don’t care, or don’t know where or how to begin in getting their child to eat healthy and maintain a quality level of physical activity.  Other parents may have given up, but not from lack of trying.

            I know I may not be able to solve the obesity rate for the state of Georgia, but I would like to give it a shot here in my local community, and eventually branch outwards.  My goal is to help educate parents about the importance of proper eating habits and physical activity.  I can show them how they can gradually and effectively wen their children away from unhealthy eating practices and start eating a variety of foods that will include nutrients for good health and that will enhance their over-all well-being.  Additionally, there are a number of ways parents can involve children in physical activity, such as limiting their screen time.  For example, child wants to watch his/her TV or play video games, parent wants child to exercise.  What’s a parent/child to do? Simple. If child don’t exercise, then child don’t watch TV.  It worked in the 50s.  It can work in today’s society.

I’m asking that you help me by informing the public that a call to action meeting will take place at the Newton County Library on January 22, 2013. Interested participants can contact me via email at XXX or by telephone at XXX-XXX-XXXX.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Anita Felder

Essay - You Can Make a Difference

You Can Make a Difference

Parents today know that we have an obesity crisis among our children and adolescents.  The epidemic has risen to its highest level than any other time in U.S. history.  In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that 17% of children and adolescents are either overweight or obese.   In an article from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), Dr. Goutham Rao reports that 13.9 percent of children two to five years of age, 18.8 percent of children six to 11 years of age, and 17.4 percent of adolescents 12 to 19 years of age are obese.  Healthcare costs were estimated at 71 billion dollars during 2008-2009 (Education, Summer2012).  Obesity does not discriminate.  It affects people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.  For example, the state of Georgia childhood obesity rate is 37.3%, compared to the second highest of 44% in Mississippi, with the lowest percentage of 23% in Minnesota and Utah (Childhood Obesity Trends, 2007).  These are staggering statistics and a call to action because it indirectly affects every American in the country.

            As parents, we are the driving force in the lives of our children and must set good examples in the environment in which they live, eat, and breathe.  In order to make a difference in decreasing the rate of overweight and obesity, the change has to come from within the confinement of our homes.  Although this crisis started long ago for reasons we might not understand; and yet, does it matter? Because each of us have a unique opportunity in which we can began to make a difference in the lives of children.

As a child growing up with 11 siblings, we lived in a three bedroom house with only one bathroom, and one television set in the living room.  Can you imagine having only one bathroom in today’s society?  At that time, there were only three networks: ABC, CBS, and NBC, and they all went off the air at 10:00p.m.

I know things are a lot different today.  I think technology is on the verge of being dangerous for children.  When I say “dangerous” just look at the obesity rate in this county among children and adolescents.  If we choose to ignore that there is a problem with the amount of time children spend in front of the tube, then years from now, our children will be wondering the same thing we’re wondering today…obesity and how did we get to this crisis.  If your child has a television in his/her room, and is spending more than 7 hours a day watching music videos, their favorite movie, TV show, or playing video games, they are spending too much time in front of the television.

In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that children between the ages of 8- to -10 spend an average of 7.5 hours a day using entertainment media.  A study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics (2001) revealed that 32% of 2- to 7-year olds and 65% of 8- to 18-year olds have television sets in their bedroom.  The more time our children spend in front of the television increases their chance of weight gain and will likely spend less time on physical activity.

There was not a lot of TV watching back when I was a child.  Some of my childhood activities consisted of things like waxing and buffing the hard-wood flooring.   I didn’t care much for moving everything from one room to the next, nor the sometimes painful act of waxing, but gliding across the floor with a rag underneath my feet was like ice skating on a frozen lake. 

Some of my fun in the sun activities included things such as jump rope, bike riding, hop scotch, playing jacks, swimming, hide-in-seek, tree climbing, racing, and dodge ball, just to name a few.  When my siblings and were bored or stuck inside the house, we created various games like counting the number of vehicles, or a made up pick a number game.  Childhood experiences such as these are part of my belief that collectively, we can and must get back to the basics of helping our children to grow up in an environment that encourages growth and influences healthy behaviors.

As a parent myself, I don’t feel that children should be deprived of enjoying what makes them happy, and they really don’t have to.  But as responsible and caring parents, our job is not to be our child’s best friend (not to say you can’t), but to be one with power and the authority to positively influence your child’s behavior.  If we limit their screen time; ditch the television set in their bedroom, get them involved in some form of physical exercise, and set up some ground rules for healthy eating habits, then this will be a great first start.

The biggest challenge for some parents may be getting younger children to eat newer or certain foods.  According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Factsheets, Tips, and Advice, children will learn and love a variety of foods when they’re served often and with other foods.  They’re likely to try a variety of food when seeing other children or grown-ups eating these foods or when they’re prepared in different ways.  My personal favorite is letting the child chose the foods to try themselves (USDA.gov).

Adolescents on the other hand, enjoy foods such as cheeseburgers, pizza, fries, chips, cookies and sodas.  According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2010), foods that are high in fats (saturated and trans acid fats), added sugars, and refined grains may increase the risk of chronic diseases. 

Consuming a McDonald’s cheeseburger for example, will give you 330 calories with 30%g of saturated fat.  When you add medium fries, you’re also adding 453 calories and 19%g of saturated fat, plus a 150 calories and 41g sugar if you add a small coke. I’ve spoken to parents who can, and others as well, clearly see that their child is overweight; and yet, they refuse to acknowledge that there is a problem.

 

Some parents may fool themselves into thinking their child is just going through a phase and will grow out of it.  Suppose they don’t grow out of it.  Let’s suppose they continue to gain weight, then they get teased about how fat they are becoming, grades drop, friends are scarce, and then they shift inwards where food becomes their comfort and best friend.  Who’s doing the most harm to whom?  If this is you, then you’re part of the problem, not to mention the psychological pressure you’re putting on your child. 

            Similarly, writing this paper takes me back to an experience I had with a fat person.  At the time, Jane (not her real name) never bothered anyone.  In fact, I think she was a bit of a loner.  Maybe that’s why she was targeted.  It didn’t help the matter that she was also bigger than most other kids in my class.  I was a bit of a clown and could always be counted on to do something stupid. 

It started one day while we were having lunch in the cafeteria.  Some of my so-called friends had been teasing Jane, and they dared me to pour a carton of milk on her.  Needless to say, she beat the crap out of me while my friends just stood there laughing hysterically.  I learned a valuable lesson at nine years old.  Jane was sad because she was fat and didn’t have any friends.  I felt bad, and she and I eventually became good friends.

            The moral of the story is that there is a stigma and psychological effect associated with children who are overweight or obese. In a book written by Bray, Bouchard, et al (1998), Goffman states that the stigmatized condition such as a physical deformity is always apparent to others, and that “fatness” carries a negative connotation whereas, “thinness” does not.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) further states that the psychological stress of targeting an overweight or obese person can cause low-self-esteem, hinder academic performance, and can even persist into adulthood.

Education and prevention is the key to making a difference in your child’s life.  It is not the school, government, media, or the food industry’s fault that our children are overweight or obese.  That is not to say they didn’t help contribute to the crisis.  Contrarily, we as parents are the first line of defense in ensuring the growth and health of our children.  We have to be accountable for the standards we set within our own environment. 

Changing our mindset and patterns of behavior about eating healthy and being active must not start with us looking to the government, our schools, nor anyone else to fix the problem, but rather, start with the person in the mirror because that’s the one with the greatest influence.  Don’t wait until your child is bullied because of their weight, or becomes addicted to watching TV and playing video games, where you almost have to pay them just to get them to exercise, or worse yet, stricken with an obesity-related illness, before you decide to do something about it.  Begin today, to make a difference in the life of your child.