Spring "NO" Break
Time flies when you are in college! That I can promise. So since spring break has ended and it's back to the usual routine of papers and speeches and MORE reading then practice, parties, sleep and start it all over the next week. I'd like to reflect on my spring break. But as the title states I had no break. I just had time away from school but it seemed like I was still in class. I had a huge midterm to study for that I took my first day back from spring break. I also had an essay to write for another class and the research for a essay in another class. A LOT of work? I know but that's the life of a college student, well a nursing student. I may not be into my major courses yet but I do have rigorous workloads. In between the studying and the research I did manage to get a few zzzz’s in there but I felt as though I was still in class and on campus; the difference was instead of teachers it was my mother and instead of the irritating classmates it was my siblings.
Finally I have some time to blog and talk to my fellow eagles. I hope all of you have received your letters of acceptance CONGRATULATIONS! But you aren’t an official Eagle just yet there is still a lot to do. There is the orientation and the WOW! (week of welcome) and once you complete those events the last is the convocation and the end of the week of welcome where you receive your official Eagle Pin--something that you will hold sacred forever! Wear it proudly. I hope you cherish your memories that you create now. Have the most fun you have ever had at your senior prom, on senior day share all of those memories from your previous years. Cherish the friends that you make and look forward to those you will make in college. The day of graduation is starting to get closer and closer reflect on all your years in school cherish them! It seems so long ago for me when only it was last year that I walked across the stage and received the greatest accomplishment to date my diploma. That moment time slowed and became still I looked to my family full of joy and I looked to my fellow classmates and I thought of all the experiences that lead to that single moment and I don't regret anything before that moment. So to you graduating in May or June enjoy the moment but do not let the fact that you finished high school let you slack in college because it only gets more rigorous.
Dealing With Death
Wow! it seems like it has been forever since the last time I blogged. Well a lot has been going on with me and one important issue that I would like to address is the stresses of college and dealing with the death of a loved one while in college.
The first of February I lost my great-grandmother. It has been the hardest thing to deal with since I've been in school. I felt like I would lose it and not be able to finish school. But I've had support from professors, advisors, and those that were close to me. The whole week I did not attend class and felt like I was slipping into depression. I thought about leaving school and taking the semester off , but I had those to around me that kept me positive and able to return to school after her death and get back into campus life. One thing I will say is that make sure you communicate with your professors they are not here just to give you a hard time. They really understand that we all have our own issues to deal with and they will work with you as long and you communicate to them ahead of time. One of the most important reasons for me not leaving is the fact that I am the eldest great-grandchild and my great-grandmother was the proudest one at my high school graduation and too see me going to college and making something of myself made her so happy. So the thought of leaving I knew would have been unacceptable. I will be the first in my family to graduate from college. I knew that is what she would have wanted. Here I am continuing my education in her honor and for my benefit. I miss her so much and it hurts everyday but slowly I am healing and getting through my lose. It was hard because I was so close to her and I had just talked to her the day before she died. I wasn’t ready to lose my grandmother, but it was her time. One memory that I will keep is the talks we had, we would always talk about school and how she would be at my college graduation, and how proud she was of me. As long as I have my memories of her and the special moments we shared I will be ok and the process of healing will be just a little easier
Know Your History
Hello to my fellow and prospective Eagles. I hope all has been well with my fellow eagles, and the future Eagles. I hope those college apps are in or on the way to the university and the acceptance letters have been received or waited on. I do apologize for being M.I.A for a while. [Read previous blog]. But I am back. The month of February is dedicated to black history and the recognition of the accomplishments that many blacks. I had planned on blogging about influential African Americans each day and their accomplishments. So since I couldn’t on the last day of February I will list all twenty eight and hopefully you will take it upon yourself to research them on your own .
1. Dr. James E. Shepard
2. Tom Joyner
3. Marian Anderson
4. Dorothy Dandridge
5. Madame CJ Walker
6. Martin Luther King
7. Bill Crosby
8. Ben Carson
9. Ronald McNair
10. Michelle & Barack Obama
11. Maya Angelou
12. Oprah Winfrey
13. Russell Simmons
14. Jesse Owens
15. Shirley Chisolm
16. Erwin "Magic" Johnson
17. Alex Haley
18. Cicely Tyson
19. WEB Dubois
20. Ida B. Wells
21. Maxine Waters
22. Dr. Johnetta B. Cole
23. Mahammad Ali
24. George Washington Carver
25. Harriet Tubman
26. Nat Turner
27. Dred Scott
28. John Willis
Whew! School is getting Stressful
Greetings! So it seems like it has been forever since I blogged. This semester has really been hectic, I feel l like I am actually in college. My professors this semester are coming at us hard with assignment after assignment. I have one exam tomorrow and another the day after. Whew! But I have found some time to blog about what’s been going on lately. My troupe recently had tryouts which went great we got a lot of new members, we also have a show coming up in April I will keep y’all posted on the progress and the dates. I hope you will attend. Find out what it is like to be a part of Bon Vivant. Oh and Lastly for those of you all that are fashion savvy and model, I encourage you to tryout fall 2010, come be part of NCCU's #1 Modeling troupe. Okay enough of that; back to business.
I have been swarmed with homework and writing assignments just yesterday I was given the assignment of reading W E B Dubois book "Souls Of Black folk" which is a 300page book and I have to write a 3-5 page summary by next Thursday. I only have a week and a half to do this assignment. WOW!! Only a short time, but hey when you are in college you get these assignments. It seems like a challenge but I am sure and determined to get this assignment done and turned in on time. Using those good organizational skills that I have I plan to read the book by Saturday and start writing on Sunday so that I am finished Tuesday, use Wednesday as an editing day and Thursday turn it in. I really hope all goes well. Seems stressful right? well i balance out that between my modeling troupe and styling hair. I style hair in my free time for various people around campus to help relieve some stress. It's just something about being creative with hair and having fun that allows you to get away from the stresses of schools. I advise that you find something to involve yourself in during your years here to help balance out the stress of school. It helps more that you think. Well that’s All I have for now, Until next time. Stay focused, I would like to leave you with a few quotes that will greatly benefit you.
I have been swarmed with homework and writing assignments just yesterday I was given the assignment of reading W E B Dubois book "Souls Of Black folk" which is a 300page book and I have to write a 3-5 page summary by next Thursday. I only have a week and a half to do this assignment. WOW!! Only a short time, but hey when you are in college you get these assignments. It seems like a challenge but I am sure and determined to get this assignment done and turned in on time. Using those good organizational skills that I have I plan to read the book by Saturday and start writing on Sunday so that I am finished Tuesday, use Wednesday as an editing day and Thursday turn it in. I really hope all goes well. Seems stressful right? well i balance out that between my modeling troupe and styling hair. I style hair in my free time for various people around campus to help relieve some stress. It's just something about being creative with hair and having fun that allows you to get away from the stresses of schools. I advise that you find something to involve yourself in during your years here to help balance out the stress of school. It helps more that you think. Well that’s All I have for now, Until next time. Stay focused, I would like to leave you with a few quotes that will greatly benefit you.
"Destination= Graduation" -Chancellor Charlie Nelms (NCCU)
“The ultimate expression of generosity is not in giving of what you have, but in giving of who you are.” -Johnnetta B. Cole
Samples Of my hairstyles
The Time Has Finally Come.....
Well Happy new year to all, and what a new year it has been. So many things have been going on since the year began. So where do I begin? Classes have started back and I've noticed that they are beginning to get more difficult than they were last semester. But I am up for the challenge. I've noticed that I've joined the league of the well seasoned college student. After one semester of college I have learned a lot about the do's and don’ts of college. One important issue that I want to touch on is financial aid. Now is the time to start. I cannot stress the importance of filling out your FAFSA (link it to WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV) and completing the last little bit of your college applications to guarantee that you will be set for the following year. For most college seniors this is one of the most important times of your life, trying to decide where to go, what you plan to study and where you plan to live. This is also an exciting time, because you are graduating and going from a young adult to a full grown independent adult. There are some things that I would like to leave with you as advice when deciding for college
1. Visit all potential schools and ask plenty of questions including the weird and unimportant questions.
2. Facebook works wonders. I would advise that you find someone that attends the school and talk with them about their experiences. This person will become a sort of mentor. I am willing to help those who ask questions.
3. Fill out your FAFSA (link it to WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV) ASAP, and this will help you in determining if you need loans or apply more scholarships.
4. Attend any open house events as this will be a helpful experience establishing relationship with potential professors and peers.
5. Once you have committed to a college make sure all last minute paper work such as transcripts housing fees and misc. expenses that may come up.
That’s all I have for now.
P.S. for all incoming freshman please join the Facebook group to chat with other prospective eagles, advisors and current students NCCU Class of 2014 (Official)
1. Visit all potential schools and ask plenty of questions including the weird and unimportant questions.
2. Facebook works wonders. I would advise that you find someone that attends the school and talk with them about their experiences. This person will become a sort of mentor. I am willing to help those who ask questions.
3. Fill out your FAFSA (link it to WWW.FAFSA.ED.GOV) ASAP, and this will help you in determining if you need loans or apply more scholarships.
4. Attend any open house events as this will be a helpful experience establishing relationship with potential professors and peers.
5. Once you have committed to a college make sure all last minute paper work such as transcripts housing fees and misc. expenses that may come up.
That’s all I have for now.
P.S. for all incoming freshman please join the Facebook group to chat with other prospective eagles, advisors and current students NCCU Class of 2014 (Official)
Blogging for the last time
so to all my fellow eagles and prospective eagles. its time to say goodbye until next year..well next semester. This semester has gone by so fast. I can hardly believe it. I want to first say that college is not all fun and parties, it takes hard work and determination. Secondly I want to say dont abuse your freedom in college I have seen some close friends as well as fellow peers misuse it with some huge consequences. If I had one thing I want all incoming freshman to remember is responsibility and organization. As stated in a previous blog, organization is your best friend, it will help you through your college years. I would also like to say that you shouldnt stay in your room all the time. All work and no play makes for a horrible time. I would suggest that you get out there and join some clubs you will not only have fun, but you will get your community service as well. When it comes to your finals you shouldnt wait til the last minute to study. I know that all teachers say this and in High school you may be able to get away with not studying because its the last few chapters you studied. In college it is a totally different story. YOU MUST STuDY THe WHOLE SEMESTER. This is the only way you will be successful in studying for your finals. I really dont have anything else to say but I would like to leave you with a quote.
"Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly. " -Thomas H. Huxley (1825 - 1895)
"Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly. " -Thomas H. Huxley (1825 - 1895)
until next year................HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!
Important Health Topic
I’ve noticed and found that African Americans tend to not got to the doctor regularly and take notice to symptoms of disease and infection whether it is mental or physical. This is partially due to the fact that they do not trust doctors and feel that there is unfair treatment in their care compared to that of Caucasian patients. I’ve also noticed that in the mental health world that many African Americans with bipolar disorder either go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed as schizophrenic and they are put on medications for the wrong disorder. It has been shown by the professors at the University of Connecticut that people of color including Latinos have excessively been misdiagnosed. Their plan is to find out why so many have been improperly diagnosed.
"Patients suffering from depression or bipolar disorder who only receive medications for schizophrenia will continue to experience their original symptoms," he said, "and they will be at risk for very poor outcomes.(1) My opinion is simple that doctors need to treat all patients fairly. These statistics aren’t shown in patients with fair skin so I feel that there should be more initiative to diagnosing people of color. One factor about why this is an issue is because of health insurance and lack of as to the type of service that the patients receive. Most people of color have little to no health insurance and so they are going to free clinics or less qualified doctors to receive treatment, and because they can’t pay much the doctor doesn’t take much initiative in diagnosing them so they receive the wrong diagnosis, the wrong medication, and it leads to negative results.
Another reason for [what?] African Americans is that underestimate the impact of mental disorders. Many believe symptoms of mental illnesses, such as depression, are “just the blues.” Issues of distrust in the health care system and mental illness stigma frequently lead African Americans to initially seek mental health support from non-medical sources.(2) I have seen from personal experiences that African American specifically shrug things off and put it off as something minimal when it is really something more than that. I’ve had three family members diagnosed with bipolar disorder. They shrugged it off at first as something minimal as having the “blues” or just “being down”. It progressed and things got worse but they never went and got help for it. For one family member it became so bad that he became a danger to himself and others. He was committed to the Psychiatric ward of the hospital and it was then found that he suffered from bipolar disorder. It was then that we found out the other two showed the same symptoms and assumed it was bipolar disorder. Part of the reasons why my other two family members never went for help is that they grew up during the civil rights era and never trusted the doctors because they kept the mentality that doctors aren’t fair and they discriminate against people of color.
People of color, especially African Americans, should take more care of themselves whether it is the mental or physical aspect of health. I also believe that doctors should take more initiative and care when diagnosing people of color in concerns of a medical disorder. The original purpose for the free clinics were so that people with little or no health insurance had someplace to go and receive effective and efficient medical at a low cost. These principles should be forced upon these clinics to ensure the correct treatment of people of color specifically. In return we break the chain of misdiagnoses and improper treatment of people of color. This will, in reaction, encourage more people of color to regularly see a physician and maintain mental and physical health.
Sources Cited
1. "Bipolar Disorders and African Americans." Bipolar Disorder Research Study (2005): n. pag. Web. 17 Nov 2009..
2. "African Americans." American Psychiatric Association. . 2009. AMA, Web. 17 Nov 2009..
3. “African American Health.” 2009. NLH, Web. 17 Nov 2009.
"Patients suffering from depression or bipolar disorder who only receive medications for schizophrenia will continue to experience their original symptoms," he said, "and they will be at risk for very poor outcomes.(1) My opinion is simple that doctors need to treat all patients fairly. These statistics aren’t shown in patients with fair skin so I feel that there should be more initiative to diagnosing people of color. One factor about why this is an issue is because of health insurance and lack of as to the type of service that the patients receive. Most people of color have little to no health insurance and so they are going to free clinics or less qualified doctors to receive treatment, and because they can’t pay much the doctor doesn’t take much initiative in diagnosing them so they receive the wrong diagnosis, the wrong medication, and it leads to negative results.
Another reason for [what?] African Americans is that underestimate the impact of mental disorders. Many believe symptoms of mental illnesses, such as depression, are “just the blues.” Issues of distrust in the health care system and mental illness stigma frequently lead African Americans to initially seek mental health support from non-medical sources.(2) I have seen from personal experiences that African American specifically shrug things off and put it off as something minimal when it is really something more than that. I’ve had three family members diagnosed with bipolar disorder. They shrugged it off at first as something minimal as having the “blues” or just “being down”. It progressed and things got worse but they never went and got help for it. For one family member it became so bad that he became a danger to himself and others. He was committed to the Psychiatric ward of the hospital and it was then found that he suffered from bipolar disorder. It was then that we found out the other two showed the same symptoms and assumed it was bipolar disorder. Part of the reasons why my other two family members never went for help is that they grew up during the civil rights era and never trusted the doctors because they kept the mentality that doctors aren’t fair and they discriminate against people of color.
People of color, especially African Americans, should take more care of themselves whether it is the mental or physical aspect of health. I also believe that doctors should take more initiative and care when diagnosing people of color in concerns of a medical disorder. The original purpose for the free clinics were so that people with little or no health insurance had someplace to go and receive effective and efficient medical at a low cost. These principles should be forced upon these clinics to ensure the correct treatment of people of color specifically. In return we break the chain of misdiagnoses and improper treatment of people of color. This will, in reaction, encourage more people of color to regularly see a physician and maintain mental and physical health.
Sources Cited
1. "Bipolar Disorders and African Americans." Bipolar Disorder Research Study (2005): n. pag. Web. 17 Nov 2009.
2. "African Americans." American Psychiatric Association. . 2009. AMA, Web. 17 Nov 2009.
3. “African American Health.” 2009. NLH, Web. 17 Nov 2009.
