Heart Disease- The Leading Cause of Death in the US

I really didn't know what I would want to use as a topic for my You & The World Project, so I started searching for ideas and what I came across was the topic of heart disease, heart disease is a condition that takes even more lives than cancer, which to me was a huge shocker. I have a lot of people in my family who died from heart disease, such as my Aunt Pearl who had went into cardiac arrest and went brain dead, because of lack of oxygen and blood going to her brain for too long. I am at an alarming risk for heart disease, because on my dad's size most of his family has high cholesterol and on my mom's side of the family a lot of people have diabetes. My parents always tell my siblings and I, to eat healthy and try to stay active so that we can live long lives. Habits such as drinking alcohol, lack of exercise, and eating foods with too much carbohydrates and trans fats puts people at even higher rates. 

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6208a8.htm  Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for people living in the United States in 2014.
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6208a8.htm Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for people living in the United States in 2014.
Conditions such as heart infections, valvular heart disease, weak heart muscles, etc. The most common type of heart disease is blockage or the narrowing of the blood vessels, that pump blood directly to the heart, the disease itself is called coronary heart disease. Some babies are born with heart conditions and defects like Congenital Heart Disease, the newborns blood flow can be blocked completely, go the wrong way, or slow down. Signs of this is babies having shortness of breath, a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and fingernails, fatigue, and poor blood circulation. If you a parent of a child you should at least go get a heart test for your child, because they can show little to no signs of symptoms, but will affect the child in their later stages of life. Older people and babies aren't the only type of people who are at risk for heart conditions and defects. Teenagers are too, one of the heart diseases that teenagers are at risk for is Coarctation of the Aorta, or COA. The Aorta is the part of the heart that carries blood away from the heart, when someone has a coarctation of the aorta, the aorta is narrowed at some point. This affects the entire bodies' blood circulation, because the left side of the heart has to work harder to pump blood to pump blood through the narrowed aorta, this leads to higher blood pressures in the arms than the legs, cold legs and feet, shortness of breath, and chest pain. 
Source:https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/tetralogy-fallot This is an example of what a normal heart should look like compared to one with a heart condition
Source:https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/tetralogy-fallot This is an example of what a normal heart should look like compared to one with a heart condition
A stroke can be linked to heart disease, when a blood clot blocks arteries that carries blood to your brain it'll cause your brain tissues to get damaged. A type of stroke is a Hemorrhagic, this type of stroke happens when a blood vessel in brain breaks or ruptures. The blood then seeps in to the brain tissue and causes damage to the brain cells which then leads to a stroke. Another type of stroke is Ischemic stroke, where blood clots form in the brain's blood vessels, these clots block up the blood flow to the brain's cells, about eighty percent of all strokes are caused by this. The clots can happen after a heart attack which is a form of heart disease, the blood clots are usually caused by plaque buildup, which is a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is called "hardening of the arteries", this is when cholesterol and calcium begin to build up on the wall of the arteries, forming plaque. Over time the plaque may narrow the artery and blood flow through it. This condition affects other parts of the body such as the pelvis and legs, causing poor blood circulation, slow healing of injuries, and erection problems. 
Source:https://www.belmarrahealth.com/atherosclerosis-prevention-natural-home-remedies-diet-exercise/   This is what Atherosclerosis looks like.
Source:https://www.belmarrahealth.com/atherosclerosis-prevention-natural-home-remedies-diet-exercise/ This is what Atherosclerosis looks like.
I want to change the number of people who die yearly from heart diseases, because, they eat foods with too much sugars and fats. I'm no better than anyone else, I do make most mistakes that people with heart diseases make and I see that I consume a lot of food that are high in sugars and trans fat. We should all try to look out for ourselves and each other to make sure that we eat healthy and get lots of exercise so that we can keep our hearts in their best shape possible



Sex Sex in Philadelphia (or lack thereof)

A teenager in the United States is likely to experiment sexually at some point before adulthood. While perfectly natural and fun, if preventative measures are not taken against STDs, STIs, or pregnancies, embarrassing and possibly threatening ailments can change teenager’s life forever. There are so many things that can be done to prevent something like this from happening. I want to highlight this exact point throughout my project, and make prevention an easy thing to do.  I am interested in the subject of safe sex awareness because of the fact that if you are still in highschool, you should NOT be in a situation where you have a child, or need to deal with an unflattering illness for years on end. That is something a student should never need to worry about!

Image result for diagram
In this diagram, it is illustrated that Philadelphia has a large amount of STDs, when compared to other cities. Philly has a very high rate of both gonorrhea and chlamydia.

I have zero personal connection to this topic. The people I know that do choose to have sex usually do it safely, and make it a casual and not unusual thing. I admire this, because I feel like there is a weird stigma towards safe sex, or rather, having to worry about putting a condom on, having  a conversation, or making sure you’re ready before sex. It matters to me that this stigma is wiped away, and replaced by an enthusiasm to be safe! That being said, it is important for teenagers to realize that it is essential to take precautions and be careful before, during, and after sex.


Within the various resources I explored, I grimaced at the various statistics, stories, and other sources that ultimately paint a disgusting portrait of chlamydia, different pregnancy rates between races, and infertility. The CDC reported in 2015 that 229,715 children were born to 15-19 year old women. While actually being lower than previous years, the CDC incidentally reports that that the U.S has a “teen pregnancy rate [which is] substantially higher than other western industrialized nations”. While unwanted teen pregnancy certainly affects the individual, it’s essential to consider how the people living among this problem go through. The CDC has also reported that “teen pregnancy and childbirth accounted for at least $9.4 billion in costs to U.S. taxpayers for increased health care and foster care, increased incarceration rates among children of teen parents, and lost tax revenue because of lower educational attainment and income among teen mothers.” Pregnancy and STIs can be avoided using multiple tools and dialogue. There are multiple tools (condoms, lubricant, dental dams, etc.) that make sex between you and another person safer, and more comfortable.

Conversation and preparation before sex, albeit awkward, can make sex easier, and possibly less harmful. Many agree that even though it may be weird to talk about wearing condoms, or using other measures to prevent STDs, it is better than a possible lifetime of embarrassment from an STD.  (image gathered from this source).


To conclude,  throughout my research, my pre-obtained knowledge of the subject I decided to dive into was added on by facts I had no idea were true! Who knew that race, economic status, and other factors contribute to pregnancy statistics? Prevention is a very easy thing to accomplish with you and  sexual partner. When you take the precautions needed before sex, both you and your partners are safer as a result.

Such as the ones included in this photo, there are many ways to use birth control. Often, you can find condoms or other methods to prevent pregnancy/STDs for free in school, or outside location.



The Wage Gap: A Costly Problem

Currently, white women make 78 cents for every dollar that a white man makes.. For example, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women make 65 cents for every dollar that a white man makes. Right below them is African American women who make 64 cents to a white man’s dollar.  Below them is Native American and Alaskan Native women who make 59 cents to a white man’s dollar. Latina or Hispanic women make 54 cents to a white man’s dollar. I was surprised to find out that Asian American women make the most a 90 cents for every dollar that a white man makes.


Now, let’s look at this graph that shows the breakdown of the wage gap by race


wagegapbrokenupbyrace-011
wagegapbrokenupbyrace-011

The definition of the wage gap is the difference between men and women in median wages. This affects most women in the workforce. According to the American Association of University Women (AAUW), if we keep improving how we have been for 50 years white women will be making the same amount of money as white men by 2059. This is only white women, for women of color there is still a ways to go.

Women also get paid less because employers try to compensate for the time that they may go on maternity leave. This is unfair because women should not be penalized for taking care of their children. If a man were to take time off to take care of his children he would not be penalized payment-wise.

This issue is important to me first of all because I am a young adult coming of age in this society. When I am looking for a job I do not want to be steered towards lower paying jobs when I am perfectly capable of being in a higher paying position. I do not want to be paid less than I deserve because of my gender.  I don’t want my kids to grow up in a world where they are taught that women should be valued less than men.  I am also passionate about this issue because it has been around for as long as women have been in jobs. It’s unfair that women have to be treated as less than equal just because of the their gender. Why is it that more women graduate from college than men, but women still get paid less. Shouldn’t we be basing salary of experience and qualification, not gender?

Women are often not given the same access to jobs that are dominated by men. They are often steered towards lower paying and less desirable positions. There are way more women in lower paying jobs than men. Even when there are jobs that have a high population of women, they are less valued than those that have a lot of men.
This leads to high poverty rates for women. In 2016, out of women ages 18-64, 13% lived in poverty. Men of this age only were only 10%. Retired women receive less social security benefits than men. Once they are retired, 11% of women are in poverty while only 8% of men are.

this graph shows the difference of poverty for women and men

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women_poverty3 (1)
women_poverty3 (1)

To solve this is issue, we have to change people’s minds. We have to remind them that women can be just as qualified and capable as men, and that they deserve to be seen as so. Sadly, this may take awhile to change this. People do not like to be told that what they have been taught is wrong. What’s popular is not always right, what’s right is not always popular. To get behind this issue people have to learn to value everything that women have to offer. I hope to learn more about this issue and what people are doing to change it.

See my annotated bibliography here

Industrial Farming: The Demon Behind Your Dinner

Industrial farming is an issue I have known about for years, however it is only more recently that I have come to realize how devastatingly impactful the consequences of industrial farming are. As a vegetarian I have a more personal tie to industrial farming through the specific problem surrounding animal welfare in the practice. I have never eaten meat and it is my lifelong philosophy never to do so. However while I do personally attempt to refrain from eating any and all animal products, I will not boycott you for eating a burger. I have nothing against meat consumption - I just have a vehement hatred of the rate at which we are consuming meat as Americans and of the treatment of the animals who are our country’s main food source.
Screenshot 2018-02-23 at 1.00.13 PM
Screenshot 2018-02-23 at 1.00.13 PM

Oftentimes, adult female pigs spend the majority of their lives in these two-foot wide pens, without any room to turn around, her sole purpose is to produce and nourish more offspring.


But animal welfare isn’t the most depressing affair in the complicated monster that is industrial farming. Industrial farming is a “system of chemically intensive food production developed in the decades after World War II”. During the Technological Revolution in America, everything was being industrialized from clothes to machines and it seemed to be the most logical explanation to industrialize food production as well. Yet there are a few reprehensible consequences of industrial farming that need to be addressed.

First of all - monocultures. A monoculture is the cultivation of a single crop in a given area meaning that only one crop is grown in one place for a long period of time. In traditional farming techniques, the location of crops are rotated across the given land which allows the soil to replenish itself. Different crops give and take different nutrients to and from the soil. By only planting one crop, you cause a dearth of nutrients in the soil - and if the practice continues for long enough, the soil becomes virtually unusable.

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Screenshot 2018-02-23 at 1.25.49 PM

Black-and-white photo of the remains of Iowa land after being used for industrial farming.


Now that all the healthy, usable soil on the land is gone, more forests are cleared for farmland - destroying habitats and a source of fresh, clean air for the world as well as making the entire area more susceptible to drought.
Screenshot 2018-02-23 at 1.28.31 PM
Screenshot 2018-02-23 at 1.28.31 PM

Farmland in Brazil that used to be part of the Amazonian Rain Forest.


Don’t forget about the pesticides. Used to drive away the insect pests and weeds from the monoculture fields they are commonly attracted to - pesticides sound amazing. You kill the bugs, you get the food. However what the supporters of the industry somehow continually forget to tell you is that the food you are receiving and eating is still covered in those harmful chemicals. Those harmful chemicals that can lead to an abominable collection of health issues and the destruction of the surrounding environment. Pesticides also run off into water sources, causing algae to grow and making the water virtually undrinkable.
Screenshot 2018-02-22 at 9.54.12 AM
Screenshot 2018-02-22 at 9.54.12 AM

The aforementioned phosphates are the result of this disturbing amount of algae growth

in Lake Erie which is affecting the water supply of Toledo.



All of this is to say that industrial farming is a practice with innumerable issues and I am excited to use this project as an opportunity to bring awareness and possible solutions to them.


Link to my annotated bibliography.

Child Marriages Around The World

In many countries around the world there are laws that prohibit people from getting married before they are 18 years old, in some cases 21. With that said, there are 93 countries that allow people to get married before they are 18, and with parental consent. These laws fuel child marriages and support the tradition that is held in so many countries. While child marriages affect both young boys and girls, the marrying of young girls is rooted in gender inequality and poverty. I am eager to learn about this topic, because it is something that heavily affects girls my age. I want to educate myself and help reduce the severity and rate of child marriages.

In many parts of the world, girls are not valued as much or the same way that boys are. In most countries that have different ages for when boys and girls can get married, the ages for girls are lower than the ages for the boys. They can sometimes be seen as a financial burden on their families. When families marry their young daughters off, they are transferring that “burden” onto her husband and his family. It is also seen as a practice in some places simply because it’s been happening for so long. Marrying off a daughter after they hit puberty is seen as the next step to her becoming a woman, and someone's wife or mother. In some cases families think that by marrying their daughter, at a young age, they’re protecting her from sexual assault and violence.


Below is a graph that shows the amount of girls that are married before 18 in the different regions of the world.

                                                           Image result for child marriage statistics 2017 around the world

While child marriages are common in parts of the world like Niger, Chad, and India, there are still cases and issues with child marriages in the United States. Most people probably think about places like Africa and the Middle East when they hear the term “child marriages”, but what they don’t realize is that it was, and to some degree still is, an issue in the United States as well. An article that was posted by the  National Public Radio (NPR),stated that 25 out of 50 states don’t have a minimum age for when a person can get married and there are only 8 states that have the age set at 16 or lower. This article also discusses the judge and judicial approval of a marriage. There are 2 states with laws that specifically say that a judge can’t approve a marriage solely based on parental consent. Even in states that have the age set at 16 or higher, judges are usually allowed to disregard the law and allow for the marriage to happen.

Everywhere child marriages takes its toll on the children being forced into marriages. Marrying as a minor could lead to dropping out of school, mental/physical health problems, and they become very susceptible to abuse from their partners. Around the world girls who marry before they’re 15 are 50% more likely to be physically and sexually abused by their partner. Unless they fight back and resist the marriage, they lose their right to an education and the right to how they want to live their lives. This is one of the most damaging systems/practices in my opinion.


Below is a map of the United States, that shows the minimum legal age for marriage. It also shows the 25 states that don’t have a legal minimum age.


Screenshot 2018-02-23 at 11.25.52 AM
Screenshot 2018-02-23 at 11.25.52 AM
It’s important for people to be informed about child marriages and the laws and practices that support it. I have become more aware of how they are still able to happen today, but also what’s being done to reduce the rate that they are happening at. I hope to learn more about how I can further help with this issue and support the end of child marriages everywhere.

Peer reviewed Light pollution-Tyler Carter


Light pollution:



Light Pollution


I am interested in light pollution because it  affects animals and the horizon and it is making animals unable to see the north star, to go south for the winter. Also we can´t see stars. I learned that it affects birds. It kills insects too. It is way too bright for the animals. Light pollution is when the sky is orange and foggy. It is about how lights at night can damage your eyes when you get older because the white lights is as bright as the sun. I learned how it affects insects, bugs, and nocturnal animals by making them lost without the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper. In fact, light pollution is getting worse, and it can affect your health and your sleep.

Light pollution is an important topic to me because I miss seeing the stars. I always tell my mom to turn off the lights when we´re not using them because it affects our health and

wastes electricity. Light pollution is a widespread problem every year, but we can stop it by turning off the lights.

I don´t understand why people would need so many lights. Red lights are enough for big buildings. Street lights are okay, too. Fun fact! The bright lights confuse nocturnal animals at night for ex: turtles follows the light and end up on the boardwalk of  beaches. There are 10,000,000,000 lights in the united states. But Los Vegas has over 42.3Billion light beams in lukor sky.  That is about 32.3 billion more than the U.S.

Here is the link to my annotated bibliography.

Media and Body Image

 Media is a means of mass communication and it can include print media, TV/Movies and online. Social media is way that we can share our lives and ideas with others. Our body image is how we see our body and ourselves, Growing up in the modern age most kids have phones and they see certain things, like pictures that might be photoshopped. The media and how we feel about ourselves, and our body image are very important things, especially to teenagers. Social media can make it even more complicated because teenagers on on social media sites constantly.  


Social platforms can be both positive and negative. For example, social media can help us raise money for causes but it can also increase bullying, give teens a negative sense of how they look and so on. We grow up looking at  pictures of how models look  and so we want to look exactly like models. People associate this problem with girls but that is not correct and boys can struggle with it too. Body image is connected to social media and we are shown in social media and all media images that can cause dieting problems because of the pictures the teenagers are looking at images This needs to be fixed.


   I am interested in this topic because it is a problem that affects teenagers and the way they think about themselves. My cousin recently directed and produced a documentary called “ Straight Curve” documentary and she worked on it and talked about this topic for years. This got me interested in the media and body image. I think that this topic can affect most teengagers and for  some it is worse than others. For me, I can look at some unrealistic pictures and become self conscious about the way I look. I also have some friends that do the same thing. This matters to me because I want to try to help people understand  that if they look a certain way they are not better or worse than other people. I think this topic is important for others to know about because this is a serious problem. If you get the information out there maybe people can try to stop it or help people they know with this problem.


   A psychologist found that the media’s portrayal of women and girls especially causes body image  issues and can cause dieting, wanting to be thin, and body surveillance. Body surveillance is when someone is constantly looking at the way there body appears and not always feeling comfortable with it.  Social media like Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram images and reports can  cause this. I read this article and it was about a girl getting bullied for the way she looked. She even got rid of most of her social media friends because she was afraid of being made fun of. This is not just a teenage problem and this affects the adults. The article said that about 60% of the public feel ashamed about the way they look. Studies  show that girls are more vulnerable to what they see on social media. There are alot of statistics like 35% of them are worried about being tagged in a picture that is not attractive. There are 27% feel stressed about how they look in a picture that is already posted. There are 22% who feel bad about themselves if there picture is ignored. This needs to stop. Look at these 2 images and notice how one is photoshopped and one is not. His teeth are whiter and many of his face lines are gone. The media uses photoshopping a lot and Aerie is one of the few companies that has a promise to show people as they really are.


Image from facetune
Image from facetune
Before and After of Actress Scarlett Johansson
Before and After of Actress Scarlett Johansson

I am not saying that social media is a bad thing but I do think people but teenagers in general need to stop comparing themselves to other people or being worried about if  you looked good in that picture. I hope to learn a lot about this topic and also I hope to teach other people about this topic. I am curious about why there is not more research on how men and boys are shown in the media. I also want to learn about we can use the media for good. I am looking forward to helping the community.    



The Elderly Living In Isolation

When I was a toddler, a 64 year old woman took care of me. She was married and had three children, two boys and a girl. Many years later, her children married and had their own children. One of those kids is my cousin. My cousin was the lady’s company until my cousin had to leave her. One day my mom called the lady and she asked to talk to me. We talked for a good half an hour. She told me about her life and how she missed me. I told her that I held her to a very high esteem. As we were talking, it was really sad when she “wished her family could visit her”. The last time I talked to her was two years ago. Now, I understand that she feels lonely and isolated from her family.  I used to call her grandma and she was really nice to me. Then, I realized that many people might feel isolated from the world and others might realize that they are alone and old.


I want to help people who feel lonely, therefore I researched what was like to live in isolation. Seniors who live in isolation are in the ages of 65 and older, most of these seniors don’t have any kids meaning that there is no one looking after them. Feeling isolated can affect them both physically and mentally. Seniors that live in isolation often experience elder abuse, seniors who are part of the LGBT community fall on the range of seniors that are isolated the most. Living in isolation can cause depression, high blood pressure, and long-term illnesses. Also, elders who feel isolated tend to be pessimistic about their future. All these things are something our community should be worried about. One day far from this one I would not like to feel like that. If I get to feel like that I will want someone to help me go through that moment in my life.




This is a picture of an elderly woman sadly looking out of the window. What could she be thinking? Is she waiting for someone? Is she hoping someone will visit her?


The website Senior Advice provides a video of two elders,Roy Croucher and Margaret Nickless. They talk about how it is like to feel that they are old and lonely. In the video, Margaret talks about how sad it is to realize that when you get home the only thing you see are “empty rooms”. Roy follows up with that and says that every Saturday night he waits for a call “sitting down near to the phone so I can answer right away”. Roy gets a phone call once in while from volunteers at the senior center he goes to. When he gets that phone call he claims that it might be the only call he could get in a day Like Margaret, he also talks about realizing that his house is empty. Adding to that Roy says that sometimes he waits for his dead wife to cross the door, but he knows that it will never happen. Their situation is really sad, as a community we should support people like Margaret and Roy. These people are in need of an “I care about you”.


Just imagine if that was the case of your grandma, the grandma that bakes cookies and brownies for you. If it was your grandpa, the man that enlightens your day with compliments and advice. Imagine if that person was your parents, imagine if that was you in the future. The website Aging Care, explains how we could  help our friends living in isolation. The person who is helping is called a caregiver, the relationship between the caregiver and the senior is all about listening and communicating. According to T. Byram Karasu, MD "They are lonely because they are alone," "They [seniors] are put in nursing homes, assisted living communities, etc. Those are totally disorienting experiences." Seniors are lonely because there is no one to help them, the mission of the caregiver is to listen and observe. It all starts when the caregiver offers their pair of ears to listen them, but while they are opening themselves the caregiver should be able to record those forgotten activities that the person used to do, after that,the caregiver could incorporate those activities in the life of the elderly person.



This picture shows that there is a higher percentage of people dying of loneliness than excessive drinking, obesity, and air pollution.


Sally Abrahms wrote an article about 6 steps that will help to reduce isolation among elderly people. Sally Abrahms says that if we know the situation in which the person is living in, if they like animals,, and acknowledge the resources we have available. We can help that person feel better, feel confident and important. It is time to help the people in our communities. Just like children, seniors are part of our community.


Knowing all that information makes me feel powerful, I feel I can make a change in someone’s life by telling them that they are important to me.  I Personally did not know that this was a serious problem in our community until one day I was going to school and a lady about 73 years-old got on the bus she was friendly and was going to her work like she had told her friends. I was amazed by what I’ve had heard that morning. Months later, I saw the same lady with a huge smile and tired eyes that could tell me that she has been through a immense adventure, a person who is full of advice to give, but she was staring at the window of the bus, she was tired and her smile disappeared. I don’t know if she is feeling isolated or if I am just making assumptions from what I saw on a ride on the bus. A senior could be feeling lonely and I would be glad to help. The elderly living in isolation is that topic that sometimes we want to avoid because we don’t know what to say or what to do about it. If we are so called the “change”and “the future”, then we should start caring more about huge issues like, seniors living in isolation.



This is the smile we want to see in someones face.


Annotated Bibliography

Are Pit Bulls Really That Dangerous?

Many people say that a dog is a man’s best friend, but many people say that dogs are vicious wild animals. Pit bulls are great examples of these pets. While some of them can be tough animals, many of them are super sweet, caring, and compassionate dogs. This breed in particular matters to me because I have seen ugly, stereotypical “dangerous” pit bulls in the media, but I know they are not true. I have a pit bull of my own that counteracts these negative things. I have met so many pit bulls who are kind, loving, and loyal. My goal is to spread awareness so everyone can understand how lovely pit bulls really are. It is important for others to see this problem because of the high rates of pit bulls on the streets and in shelters. There are too many stray dogs, which can be dangerous to a normal passer-by. When there are too many dogs in an animal shelter, they are euthanized (or “put down”); then these dogs are killed for absolutely nothing.

Pit bulls, short for American Pit bull Terriers, were originally bred to be bait for bulls. They were later used to fight each other for entertainment. Because of this history, pit bulls can be a little more aggressive towards other dogs, but it does not mean they are vicious. The ASPCA says that “The reality is that dogs of many breeds can be selectively bred or trained to develop aggressive traits… Despite our best efforts, there will always be dogs of various breeds that are simply too dangerous to live safely in society.” This means that only so many efforts can be made to help these pets not be aggressive. While some pit bulls are still more combative, because of their nature, if they were not raised right, they are combative.

Image result for pit bulls aren't dangerous

Pit bulls are actually very nice dogs, and according to the American Temperament Test Society, they are the second nicest; just below Labrador Retrievers.


Luckily, many people love their pit bulls, myself included. They are so hard not to love. The ASPCA recognizes October 28th as “Pit Bull Awareness Day”. They understand how important it is to share the good things about pit bulls. They say, “Sharing these stories is important because when people look at a pit bull-type dog or imagine one, different images and ideas come to mind, and those images are often inaccurate and unfair.” Since so many people have a bad image of pit bulls, it is necessary to show them the good ones.

The National Pit bull Awareness Day website is another website that spreads awareness for the love of pit bulls. Their goal is to educate people on how some pit bulls can be tougher, there are so many that are not. Similarly to the ASPCA, they want to change the negative image associated with pit bulls. There are so many websites, like this one, devoted to spreading positive awareness for pit bulls. It shows that there are many people who want to help spread awareness. Sadly, there are also so many people who don’t.

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A pit bull puppy with text that expresses that people are the problem.

Even the head of the American Pit Bull Foundation, which provides information about pit bulls, thinks people are the problem, not pit bulls. Sara Enos writes how people do not recognize the huge responsibility of owning such an energetic dog, which results in these dogs being abused, or left in shelters or on the streets. As a pit bull owner, I can say that pit bulls are a big responsibility, but my family adopted him knowing how big of a responsibility he’d be. We manage and we helped my pit bull to become more responsible for himself. For example, if he needs to go to the bathroom, my family and I trained our pit bull to bark when he needs to go. Pit bulls, as well as every other dog breed, need their owners to have patience and be caring when it comes to training them. If their owners do not have those qualities, then their pit bull could have a fiercer personality. My family and I are doing our best to properly train our pit bull in order for him to be an ideal dog.

Image result for pit bulls aren't dangerousImage result for pit bulls aren't dangerous

Left: A pit bull and toddler snuggling; which shows how loving these dogs are

Right: Pit bull puppy with text saying how it will only be a monster if he is treated like a monster

In summation, the personality of a pit bull derives from their treatment. If they are not treated well, they will act accordingly. This research proves that the majority of American pit bull terriers are not the violent dogs seen on the news. When raised right, they can be lovable and affectionate. Dogs are a man’s best friend. They just have to be raised that way.

I Can't Sleep and Neither Can You.

Sleep disorders are a huge problem in all age groups, especially teens. It is recommended that all teens get about 7-9 hours of sleep every night, but only 15 percent of all teens reach that amount.



Statistics for lack of sleep from students and reasons for it, according to an article on The Tartan.


A lack of sleep is something I could relate to more than other personality disorders such as eating disorders or depression. Sadly, I am NOT part of the 15 percent of teens that get 9 hours of sleep EVERY NIGHT. A lot of teen sleep problems are caused by homework, extracurricular activities, and lack of health prioritization (this is only part of a whole list). I, along with millions of other teenagers, (sometimes) fail at time management when it comes to homework. This happens very frequently with lots of other teenagers, but homework and extracurricular activities are NOT classified as sleep disorders, right?

A lot of teens suffer from what is called Insomnia. One in three people will have insomnia at one point in their lives. Insomnia is when someone simply has trouble falling or staying asleep, or simply when a teenager fails to get enough sleep throughout the day. If insomnia lasts for at least a month with no relief at all, then doctors can call it chronic, meaning there’s more than one cause to it. The most common cause is stress, but a lot of other factors can lead to it, such as home/family problems, and physical discomfort. Exposing your eyes to sensitive light can also take away sleep.

There is also a sleep disorder called Sleep Apnea, which seems worse than insomnia, despite it being less common. Sleep apnea is when breathing is restricted for up to a few seconds at a time due to blocked airways. There’s more than one kind of sleep apnea, one being called obstructive sleep apnea. This happens when the muscles in the back of your throat are relaxed, causing them to close in. The other form of sleep apnea, called central sleep apnea, is when the brain fails to transmit signals to breathing muscles.  

Statistics say that over 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and 70 million suffer from disorders of sleep. They both detract sleep, and lead to more stress and depression, and depression could lead to countless other diseases and disorders, including Alzheimer’s, a disease that shrinks the brain. Also, this affects more of the younger generations (millennials) than Gen Xers and Boomers. The American Psychological Association says it’s mainly because of stress, and that one third of teens say that stress has left them lying awake at night. The stress level has increased over the past year for the teenagers who don’t sleep for 7-9 hours every night.


Top: Percentages of what stress results in the most; Bottom: Percentages of how much of each generation has sleep disorders; both charts are according to the American Psychological Association.  

Based on my research, it turns out that a majority of all teenagers in this generation don’t get 7-9 hours of sleep every night, and their lack of sleep results in multiple things, such as stress and depression. The causes include(but aren’t limited to) homework, sleep apnea, and insomnia. I’ve heard this from multiple and professional websites, but I plan to hear what my close friends say, through surveys and asking them in person.


My annotated bibliography is right here.


Living High School

For my You and the World project I decided to talk about a very serious and life changing thing, and that is drug abuse. According to WebMD Drug abuse is when you use legal or illegal substances in ways you shouldn’t. You might take more than the regular dose of pills or use someone else’s prescription. You may abuse drugs to feel good, ease stress, or avoid reality. But usually, you’re able to change your unhealthy habits or stop using altogether.Many high school students take many risks and tend to try new things and one of those things is drugs. Most high school students use these drugs for recreational use and they do it because of their curiosity or from peer pressure. According to Luxury Rehab Center “Adolescence is a time to try new experiences, take risks and explore new identities. While all of these developmental changes can lead teens in a positive direction, they can also lead to drug abuse if a teenager falls in with the wrong crowd, has a difficult home life or is a victim of trauma. Today many teenagers have easy access to drugs and alcohol, and experimenting with chemical substances doesn’t necessarily mean that a teenager will turn into an addict. However, parents should be alert to the possibility that if a teen’s behavior or personality suddenly changes, drugs may be involved.” While highschool students are subject to try new thing, substance abuse becomes a growing problem when high school students become obsessive over the drug they are using. “Adolescence is a time to try new experiences, take risks and explore new identities”. While all of these developmental changes can lead teens in a positive direction, they can also lead to drug abuse if a teenager falls in with the wrong crowd, has a difficult home life or is a victim of trauma. Today many teenagers have easy access to drugs and alcohol, and experimenting with chemical substances doesn’t necessarily mean that a teenager will turn into an addict. However, parents should be alert to the possibility that if a teen’s behavior or personality suddenly changes, drugs may be involved.” According to a rehab center.  Drugs are anything ranging from marijuana and alcohol to harder versions of these substances like vodka and heroin. This information is important to prevent your friends and family from going down the wrong path to losing their social life, inability to keep up academically, lose organization in life, and damage their body in some consequences death.


This issue has affected teens all over the World but mainly the United States. Most drugs change your state of mind to a ‘high” state. This state alters your perception of reality and usually releasing dopamine in the brain which is the feel good hormone in your body which you usually feel when you are rewarded or feel pleasured. According to The Drug Abuse Website sponsored by the government most drugs affect the brain's "reward circuit" by flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. This reward system controls the body's ability to feel pleasure and motivates a person to repeat behaviors needed to thrive, such as eating and spending time with loved ones.  Teenagers often are willing to take the risk and drawbacks of the drug due to its outstanding positive effect of being high. The most commonly used drugs consumed by adolescents are marijuana, nicotine, and alcohol all of which have been fairly popularized around young adults and adolescents. The real issue with these two powerhouse drugs and more is not if they should be legalized or saying “Don’t do drugs” the real issue is the countless stigmas and false information about these drugs and since most adolescents do not know the real truth and drugs are more like the forbidden fruit adolescents are ambitious enough to try the substances to see what it’s all about. We need to come together and clear the air about drugs before it becomes a bigger problem like drug abuse to prevent teens from harming themselves.


This is a picture of an adolescent burning marijuana wrapped in paper and smoking this, the structure being used to smoking is called a joint.
This is a picture of an adolescent burning marijuana wrapped in paper and smoking this, the structure being used to smoking is called a joint.
This infographic shows just how many teenagers regularly misuse drugs to alter and benefits their mood.
This infographic shows just how many teenagers regularly misuse drugs to alter and benefits their mood.
This graph shows the younger you are the more dangerous and susceptible you are to falling into drug abuse thus damaging your brain. This also shows dependence of the drug, even when it may not be needed.
This graph shows the younger you are the more dangerous and susceptible you are to falling into drug abuse thus damaging your brain. This also shows dependence of the drug, even when it may not be needed.
This infographic shows how most smokers started when they were teens and use it regularly and this long term use could be due to addiction, dependence, and or repeated recreational use.
This infographic shows how most smokers started when they were teens and use it regularly and this long term use could be due to addiction, dependence, and or repeated recreational use.

WNBA- Rights vs. Reality

Did you know the average ticket prices in the WNBA in 2011 were $15? This is crazy considering that there are tickets in the NBA sold for thousands of dollars. I’m going to be do my You & The World project on Women in basketball. I’m interested in this topic because I am female who plays basketball. I take this sport seriously so I felt like it would be helpful to know how the WNBA and college women basketball players were treated. I learned that there is a huge difference between a NBA and WNBA player, and it’s not just the difference in the gender. In one article I read called “ Top WNBA Salaries vs. NBA Salaries: Who Gets Paid More? “ I learned that Steph Curry made 11.4 million dollars in 2016. Yet, the highest paid WNBA player, Nneka Ogwumike gets paid 95,000 dollars. Steph curry isn’t even the highest paid NBA player and he gets paid over 75% more than Ogwumike. Ogwumike works just as hard as Curry to get to where she’s at right now. There are many wage gaps like this in the WNBA

Image result for nneka ogwumike

This is a picture of Nneka Ogwumike from her twitter's profile picture.


This is the problem. Women aren’t treated as equals to men. When young girls see this, they get discouraged. Sometimes as a result of being discouraged, people give up. You might not think this is a big deal but it can become a major problem.The WNBA is small. It only consists of 144 players at maximum. So if there are a bunch of women the WNBA because of the shortage of pay there will be no WNBA. Without a WNBA why would colleges offer scholarships to their women’s basketball teams? Many people use these scholarships to go to school, so that’s a significant amount of women not attending college. A big cause of under pay in the WNBA is the fact that the WNBA doesn’t get enough publicity. The more people watch the WNBA and buy tickets to their games, the more money they make. The WNBA gets their funds from the NBA.

The WNBA’s structure is completely different from the NBA’s as well. There are 349 women’s basketball college teams. This is great but it’s also one big system filled with heartbreaks. There are only 12 teams in the WNBA conference and only 12 players permitted to a team. In the NBA there are 30 teams. There are at least 14 players per team and 491 players in the league total. No wonder why WNBA players aren’t getting paid what they deserve. The WNBA doesn’t have enough publicity because the league is too small.

Image result for all wnba teams

These are the name of all twelve teams.


I want to change the salaries, team expansion, and amount of publicity the WNBA has. An idea I had was to write a letter to the WNBA and NBA explaining how unfair this is to all the hardworking females that want to play basketball. If they expand the players in the WNBA maybe more people would watch and buy tickets to games. With more people watching, the publicity would go up, along with the money they indorse. Then female basketball players would get paid the equivalent amount to men in the NBA.We need to act on these problems because our actions can determine the next woman’s future.


This is my annotated bibliography.It has most interesting facts I’ve found about this topic.


Catcalling----Hey Baby! I'M NOT YOUR BABY!!!


   Image result for catcalling images


This is a sign about things men do to get women's attention when catcalling and how they feel about it.

                      https://www.theodysseyonline.com/catcalling-is-harassment

Growing up is not as easy as it may seem, especially if you are a young woman. We are in a society where men feel the need to make snarky comments about our bodies without thinking twice about it.  As women some of us develop at different ages. Some girls can be 12 with a well developed body that makes them perceive as a woman at least 18 years old. So men believe it is okay to make sexual comments towards them without thinking that they may be under the age of consent. While learning new things I want to have a clear understanding on the view of women being harassed in some way of catcalling. I know that there will be many stories that will be very harmless to the person but also stories that will seem extreme for a guy trying to get a woman's attention especially if you do not know what their intentions of where they are coming from. My goal of this project is to bring awareness to people around our community even the that catcalling is a product of harassment. Many people feel as though it is such a thing that makes people feel uncomfortable and threatened while walking down the street but, it's time we try and do something to stop men from doing outrageous things when it comes to trying and talking to a female.

I am very interested in this topic because catcalling is something you witness everyday. Someone is either staring you down or even making remarks that make you feel unsafe. For example Ashley Ross would take precautions “I’ve even gone to such lengths as wearing a sweater over my workout clothes every single time I step out the door, even midsummer, as my curves in Spandex seem to give men—of any age, race or neighborhood—the welcome invitation to comment on my body.” She would do this because she felt unsafe in her surroundings while she felt confident in her body but other people felt as though it was their opportunity to gawk over her body. I feel as though this is something to make aware to people because this affects the way women view themselves. This topic matters to me because I have experienced instances where I myself have been targeted by men between the ages of 15-25 stare me down or even scream out trying to get my attention. Which makes me feel threatened and even unsafe in my surroundings. I feel as though readers should know about this because it gives them information about what is occurring around the world if this personally hasn’t affected them because everyone may view catcalling different. Doree Lewark is someone who feels as though she is a fan of catcalling saying “When I know I’m looking good, I brazenly walk past a construction site, anticipating that whistle and “Hey, mama!” catcall. Works every time — my ego and I can’t fit through the door!” Now this makes you think about how many women feel this way. Do they really look for the attention or are they genuinely afraid when walking down the street in some spandex after going to the gym?

This is a significant issue in the world because it makes themselves feel as though that this is their fault because of their choice of clothing or even makeup they decide to wear that perceives them to be older than usual and maybe more appealing to older mean. This outrage of catcalling has gone out the roof, “a staggering 98% of women surveyed in 2008”, reported that they had experienced cat-calling and harassment, which is completely insane these number have stayed the same and it is now 2018. When thinking about it these acquisitions men are getting from making comments about any little thing they see on a woman's body are making them feel as though anyone will brush off their comments and go on with their day. In reality this doesn't work that way, there are many risks but the main risk of stranger harassment to mental health is its effect as a chronic stressor a stressor can be any environmental or external event  that causes stress to an individual, which becomes chronic when it is experienced on multiple occasions over time. The effects placed on anyone creates difficulties of actually feeling safe while even working or just walking out of their front door into their cars. It's insane. All of this research will help everyone see that they are not the only ones going through catcalling everyday and how it is not their fault at all but the thirsty men out there that feel as though it is their job to compliment a woman without realizing them feeling unsafe or even threatened.


     These are the statistics of Street Harassment in the United States.

                                                     https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/news/street-harassment-statistics



All of my research has impacted the way I have started to think about catcalling. What I am truly wondering about is what if the tables were switched and women were making these comments. Would the men feel mentally and physically unsafe or will they just take everything as a complement and boost their confidence about themselves. Also what is going on to stop or bring awareness because when looking at the data there is hardly any current information from 2018 only from the span of 2008 to about 2015. What I hope to learn about while going on is how to make this problem significan at this very moment because of all the data being almost 10 years old when trying to find information about something that is occurring all over the world not just in the United States. I want to make this known again and show that no matter what peoples opinions are that they need to take a stand and make something happen.




Image result for catcalling images

                 Catcalling isn’t just in the United States it is happening around the world this image was taken in France.

                   https://collegecandy.com/2017/09/21/france-catcalling-law-legal-details-full-story/

If you want to check out more of my research check out my Annotated Bibliography:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1semQkUFkWIfrTt7-4D7wBLAFR4YS0_vT0ISagUwy2bw/edit?usp=sharing



I Abhor Animal Abuse;I Amend Abuse

Kayla Kelly                                                                                                                            2/23/18

English 9

Ms. Giknis

You and the world projet       

                       I Abhor Animal Abuse;I Amend Animal Abuse


                           My Dog

Before                                           After

How many animals get abused in the U.S

https://www.petsafe.net/learn/help-prevent-animal-cruelty

The Numbers are high considering the chart, 60% of all abused animal victims and 60% of them are dogs, 83% are cats and dogs, and if you think how many people abuse animal across the united state.The SPCA is is a good choice , because most time they have to euthanize animals if they don’t have enough room, but They said the don’t ethinzia adoptable animals, and they try to save as many animal as much they can which is also why it is also a good choice, and  they are getting less animals in so they don’t have ethinize as much, and maybe more room. And animal abuse is a very serious problem, and SPCA is still good because they try to help as much as they can, it is like me trying to help every homeless person of the street and taking them in to my home I can’t do that to all of them, I don’t have enough room to do that, not to mention I have small house, so I would have to let go of some people like what SPCA does, but now they probably don’t do it as much ( they do not accept birds , dogs, cats, small animals). An the ACCT is a good choice too because like my interviewer said the ACCT  is an open it take shelter,so they will take any animal bird, cats, dogs, etc. So if you know you can’t take care of an animal please take it to ACCT, or any shelter, because if you know you can’t take care of it it is a form of abuse and it is better off in any shelter. She also said that abuse is what they regularly see so don’t be afraid to take the animal in , but if it would be related to the police like your neighbor is the abuser then call the PSPCA.And if you help lessen the number of animal coming in , and to help people take care of animals, and if you don’t know how to take care of an animal but you enough money to take care of one then you can look on web sites and ask for help, don’t be embarrassed, there is more people like that than you think.

I have a dog(the first picture above) that is probably been through that, Although we don’t know her back story besides her being shot 16 times and her being still here, not to mentions she had a couple of disease before the adoption center got her, and usually dog adapt and if she was wild she probably would not have a disease, but who knows she may have escaped, but I mean she is in my family's care for about 2 years in march 12th and she is very happy and she is always wagging her tail, beside when she goes for a car ride, tha vacuum goes on , and if we put on a tv show that has a gun shooting a one point like a mystery show,or if there is a fake gun like a nerf gun near, which would be the trama

Rabies: why most people terrorize dogs.

https://www.tes.com/lessons/ZfjkR0gtFqB-jQ/animal-rights

Dog are Abused 20% More Than any Other Animals in the U.S


But  Abuse can’t get unnoticed, and that means we have to start speaking up, I mean the abuser doesn't have to know a thing, most calls are autonomous, and you don’t have to tell the person that you going to tell, like almost every one of my site say to do, because it is important.And what is even more important is that 100% of people who commit  sexual homicide has a history of animal abuse which is kind of bothering that a lot of them do that, and it doesn't mean the other way around so if there is a neighbor who is abusing an animal doesn't mean they will commit sexual homicide so don’t be afraid to do your own actions and report them.Not to mention abusers, abusers don’t give the animals enough room for  them sometime to breathe and grow, or give them too much room, like the whole yard but can’t use all of the yard because they are chained up from the picture in many sites. Which is again terrible, considering the effect, which is physical and mental health issues.Or animal hoarder, I mean they collect animals and are like I can take care of them even though they obviously cannot, but they completely think they can handle everything but they have a lot cats, dog, etc.

And to kind of wrap this up a bit, I read the laws(which I suggest for you if you care for animal, because one of my site suggests it too in one of the steps for reporting animal abuse). first, animal abuse penalty includes the officer to file a felony charge(a felony is a severe crime and is viewed severely by the society, and can include murder, robbery, kidnapping, etc)dog fighting is already a felony, and breaks down into different grade pentaly’s base on how hard the abuse is. And veterinarians have civil immunity( where you don’t get served the punishment) now I don’t get too much of this but if they actually harm animals I think they will get charged because rules are rules, I think it is only for checking things from the dog and stuff. And a little bit obvious but if they commit animal abuse they will have to give animals. And did you know there is a new law that if someone abuse horse’s they will be charge the same charge as abusing dog and cats.




                           





                                          Annotated bibliography

  1. “Animal Cruelty”Learning to give,https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/animal-cruelty

The definition of animal abuse is the acts of violence or negling the animal on purpose or at least mostly on purpose.and it is important to know which ones are which because, police or animal control will know and asses the problem, like if it is dog fighting, and you say i don’t know abusing an animal in a backyard, they might think oh only one and not bring enough equipment, to ring them to a shelter. This abuse can cause physical and emotional pain, considering my dog whenever she hears gunshots(even on TV, plus we live near an country club that has an gun range) she gets scared and when we first got her she was jumpy and whenever and man/boy try to take her collar off she would growl, but when me or my mom took it off she did nothing(she is fine now and is very happy and understands that we will not hurt her and stuff because now my dad and brother can take her collar off) so that memory will live on.

  • Animal abuse is very cruel and hurtful to other animals (I do not trust SPCA because if they run out of room for animals, they ethiniza some animals)

  • It is very horrible because animal are just like us, they have feeling just like us, so it is very unfair for someone to do that to an animal.

              2.“Animal abuse and Human Abuse: Partners in crime” PETA,https://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animal-issues/companion-animals-factsheets/animal-abuse-human-abuse-partners-crime/

Studies have shown that aggressive animal are likely to be abused because people are afraid and a coward. 100% of sexual homicide  has a history of animal abuse.Albert Desalvo killed 13 women and abused puppies so it can back up my reasoning.

  • It is very usual for a sexual homicide person to abuse animals

  • And I am not surprised that aggressive animal get abused more,because again people are cowards

3.“Animal Abuse”Amarican Human https://www.americanhumane.org/fact-sheet/animal-abuse/

4.I didn't know that there was steps, I kind of knew some signs but I am not sure whether I will recognize the signs.owners often neglect their pets because they don’t know there pets need, but most of neglect is on purpose.but outrageous because human system can take calls right at that minute, but they get a lot calls so they will not take the call right at the moment.

  • We can testify or sign a complaint about the abuse like how you sign a complaint about noise

  • Neglect in both children and dogs are horrible  and can result in death

“Reasons for abuse” wildlife rescue and rehabilitation http://wildlife-rescue.org/services/advocacy/animal-abuse/

5.Actions can be active and passive, like hurting the animal and not doing anything for the animal. Like some kid decapitated dog and stuff and setting fire on their tails and butts.Passive actions can cause severe pain to a dog or cat

“ U.S Animal Abuse records deleted-What we stand to lose”National geographics.https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/02/wildlife-watch-usda-animal-welfare-trump-records/

The roadside Zoo neglected the animals including premature death. And making the monkey Dehydrated while performing experiment on them that is just rude.and whipping elephants and changing them.

  • I love elephants so I hate that they would do the elephants

  • And I hate that the family zoo would do that and I wonder if they ethinza



Extra websites:

http://placerspca.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/faqs.pdf

http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-law-basics/what-distinguishes-a-misdemeanor-from-a-felony.html

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/animal-cruelty-pennsylvania-libres-law-20170628.html

https://www.today.com/pets/aspca-adoption-euthanasia-s-down-animal-shelters-t109029


Player Safety in the NFL - A Concussion a Day Leads the Player Astray

A Concussion a Day Leads the Player Astray

Have you ever had an issue on your mind that you just wanted to help solve? The NFL has a huge issue with player safety. That might not seem to a major issue to you or me, but it impacts a lot of people inside and outside the game. It affects all the people within the NFL as well as the 22 million people (on average per game) who watch each game. Too many players are getting hurt each year. Even though the league has tried to help with the major injury issue, what they have done only impacts a small fraction of the entire league. Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL, has tried his hardest to prevent injuries, and many players agree with that statement. I want to help make the NFL a safer for the players  and more enjoyable for the fans  to watch.

This graph shows how many injuries there were per game in the last 4 years. It is also separated by which day the games were.


Player safety in the NFL is a big deal. Almost 300 players had to leave the game because of a concussion that will impact them for the rest of their lives, and about 6 players had to leave due to an injury every game! Many people who watch the sport rarely know the true details of each injury, and they believe that it might only affect the player for a few weeks or months. Little do they know that some injuries will have lasting effects. There are many players who had to retire from the sport they love because of an injury they did not know was going to happen. People like Bo Jackson, Joe Theismann, and Kevin Everett who never could have imagined what happened to them. These people should the world how nasty the NFL can be and how the rules need to change.


One of the major injuries that is caused by concussions and hard hits to the head is chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a disease that grows over time inside your brain that can cause different symptoms over the years. There are 4 different stages and the symptoms get progressively worse. . Another big issue with CTE is that it can only be diagnosed through  an autopsy; which means that scientist and doctors only know if a person has CTE once they are dead. A famous story about an NFL player who had severe CTE is Aaron Hernandez. He was with the Patriots before being found guilty  of murdering a total of three  people. While he was in prison, he commited suicide with a bed sheet, which is when doctors then found out that he had CTE. Doctors believe that is what lead to him being so violent and being suicidal. That is just one major case though. There are many other former NFL players who had CTE and committed suicide.  Dr. Ann McKee did a study that looks at many former NFL players brains. She found out that 110 out of 111 of player’s brains had some stage of CTE. She also found that high schoolers will already have mild cases of CTE at their age.


This is a picture of the brain with CTE and how CTE looks like in its different stages. The brown stain is the tau protein, and over time the tau protein spreads until it is the entire brain. Tau protein can be both good and bad proteins, but in the matter of CTE, it is bad.


Another major issue with player safety is the length of the NFL  Some people think that pre-season should be shortened or just eliminated. Other people think that there is no issue with it or that it should be increased. Many people debate that pre-season should still be 4 weeks, because even though there are injuries in the pre-season, there are also injuries in practice and in the regular season.  Pre-season produces almost the same amount of injuries as practice so if the pre-season is eliminated, that would get rid of at least 25% of injuries.

The reason that player safety in the NFL is an issue is because there are many kids who want to play in the NFL. A lot of teenagers play football in high school and some play college football and others also make it all the way to the NFL. Many people say kids are the future and if kids are playing football and get minor stages of CTE, that could very dangerous to their health, since their brains are still developing. Some people even believe that high school football should be banned due to the danger it poses for their safety. Player safety among the NFL should be important to understand, because people should not want other people to be put into risky situations.

Player safety is a huge issue to me because I am such a huge football fan. Last season, I saw many players out for the season and that upset me. I know that football has a huge risk factor, but there has to be a way to decrease injuries. In my opinion, it just makes the game more enjoyable to watch without players getting season-ending injuries. Football is just so important in my life, and to see preventable  injuries makes me mad. Concussion and ACL tears should be more avoidable all together and that is how I hope the NFL will be one day.

The research that I have done has changed my view. I know a lot more about how the brain is affected because of the concussion. I also learned a lot about CTE and how that connects to NFL athletes. After doing the research, it makes me want to solve the issue of player safety even more. I still have to read more about pre-season and different injuries. I want to learn more about the risk of the NFL and any more surprising brain injuries.

The link to my annotated bibliography is here.


Stop Racial Microaggressions Now

“In 1966, 44 percent of American teens thought racial discrimination would be a problem for their generation. Now nearly twice as many—82 percent—feel the same way.”
“In 1966, 44 percent of American teens thought racial discrimination would be a problem for their generation. Now nearly twice as many—82 percent—feel the same way.”
Rochester racism awareness campaign.
Rochester racism awareness campaign.
My projects focus is on Racial Activism and racial ignorance amongst the youth (Racial Microaggressions). Racial Activism is the act of saying racially insensitive things in an effort to make these seem like facts to others. Racial ignorance is doing things racially insensitive, but not for the purpose of being racist. Just being ignorant of racial problems in America and ignorant to racial identity. I want to start a conversation about race with a fishbowl conversation and making clothing that focuses on topics we need to talk about.  
This topic interests me because of students I have seen have been known to fall into these two groups. I think these are problems in our school that need to be addressed. If these are ignored they will spiral out of control years down the line. Studies were done at that relate racial issues with depression. “We investigated the relationship of racial socialization experiences to the depression symptoms of 160 Black adolescents, including lethargy, low self-esteem, cognitive difficulties, social introversion, irritability, guilt, pessimism, sad mood, instrumental helplessness, and overall depression.” This is very important for the mental health of minorities. Studies from Newsweek show a large increase on how teenagers view racial discrimination. “In 1966, 44 percent of American teens thought racial discrimination would be a problem for their generation. Now nearly twice as many—82 percent—feel the same way.” This is important and needs to be talked about. If these problems are not addressed then the current generation will not be as mentally stable as they need to be. If they are constantly discriminated against then they will not grow up with a proper mindset. People around these problems need to know about it because it can be an important learning tool for teenagers. 
        The importance of this subject is massive. If it is ignored then this generation may not turn out the way that they are needed. If the country ignores these problems so will the current generation. This will not be safe for the country and its people. Racial issues need to be discussed like on Rochester campus. Students on this campus ran a racism awareness campaign. This is not an aggressive movement it just wants to start the talks about racism. I don’t know what these talks lead to because I don’t attend Rochester, but I believe they lead to some change from the administration of the school.
        Racism has evolved and each time it has gotten more secretive. The American people need to be educated about this new beast. The PBS Newshour talked about this. The entire system is built to be racist, but not everyone knows this. Some people even believe that racism does not exist in the present day. “Americans think of racism as Bull Connor or the Ku Klux Klan, but today, racism is far more likely to be embedded in institutions.” Many Americans think that racism is the brutal oppression of minorities, but that just is not true. This new breed of racism is not the open oppression of minorities, but instead the secretive oppression and manipulation of those groups. Current racism hides in the shadows and it needs to be shown to those in light because they are the ones who can make a change. Starting a conversation about racism and how it hides to prey on those who do not know where it hides will help many people. Racism will be stopped because we have to stop it. We have to educate. Bibliography

Illegal Animal Trafficking

I have known about illegal animal trading for a long time but I never really thought about it. When this project was introduced, where we were told to pick a problem in the world to research and become an expert on; it was hard for me to find what topic I would pick. I finally concluded on doing my project on illegal animal trading. I would not be able to even imagine a world without animals and the fact that many of them are becoming extinct makes me really sad. I thought that I should try to bring awareness to people. When buying products in a foreign country, tourists can sometimes be the contributors to the illegal animal trade as they buy an exotic animal or something made from animal. After doing some research, I found out that animals are smuggled in all different ways and that endangered animals are more popular since they are more rare.


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Animal products being illegally sold in in China’s Laomeng Market. Photo credit: Alpha. 7


Animals that are endangered have a higher demand in illegal trading. According to the, Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, “Illegal wildlife trade is also often unsustainable, harming wild populations of animals and plants and pushing endangered species toward extinction. Endangered animals and plants are often the target of wildlife crime because of their rarity and increased economic value.” The fact that endangered animals are the most wanted in illegal trading, causes endangered animals to be even more vulnerable. This can bring them to the brink of extinction and also makes it harder for conservation organizations to help raise the population numbers of endangered animals as they are either killed or traded off.

The reason why illegal animal trading is such a massive industry is because of the low risk the task pertains. The World Wildlife Fund says, “Corruption, toothless laws, weak judicial systems and light sentences allow criminal networks to keep plundering wildlife with little regard to consequences. These factors make illegal wildlife trade a low risk business with high returns. The poachers—often poor locals—are the usually the only ones caught, leaving the real masterminds and their network safe and operational with the ability to strike again.” The big organizations rarely get caught trading illegally because local people are the ones selling illegal products and who end up getting caught. As reported by The U.S. Department of the Interior, “Poaching wildlife is viable because the monetary gain often exceeds the income that would be available from legitimate sources. Last spring, the Associated Press reported that a poacher can earn $180 for the tusks of a forest elephant and $6,000 for its meat in an area where the average legally earned income is $1 a day.” Traders that work for big corporations usually live in countries with low income, where their income can increase by them trading animals.


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When animals are traded they are treated really bad as they are hidden in many different ways. As stated by Smithsonian, “Animals ripped from their habitat suffer, of course. They are smuggled in thermoses and nylon stockings, stuffed into toilet paper tubes, hair curlers and hubcaps.” Traders hide animals in all different ways to be smuggled and transported to be sold. Even when alive, the animals are put in uncomfortable situations so that they are not found.


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Yellow-crested cockatoos hidden in plastic water bottles. (Image: Jefta Images / Barcroft Media)


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Live turtles being illegally shipped in potato sacks in Vietnam. (© CI/photo by Peter Paul van Dijk)


Illegal animal trafficking is a big problem that contributes to the declining of animal populations and to species to extinction. Big corporations employ people from countries of low income to work for them and sell animals. When animals are transported, they are stuffed into all kinds of places so that they are not heard or seen, which often causes injuries and the death of these animals. Illegal trafficking is one of the main factors driving wild species to risk of extinction. While was looking for pictures to put in my post, I ran across many that showed animals being shoved in all different places, and rhinos with their horns cut off. It was really heartbreaking to see how these animals were being treated. I hope that this will change because even though this problem seems like a circle hard to break, we can help by avoiding buying illegal wildlife animal products.


Annotated Bibliography



Bystander Effect

It was 2017 in the late afternoon. I was in 8th grade, it was the 3rd day of spring break. I was hanging out with some friends near my old school’s playground. We were all just chilling doing what kids normally do. Then all of the sudden, I see a gang of 16 kids attacking a kid. I didn't want stand there and watch a helpless kid get beaten up, so I intervened by telling them to stop. What happened next was a blur. I felt a sharp pain on the left side of my face. The world was spinning, everything was spinning, I felt more pain on my face and a group of people surrounding me. They were taking turn, swinging punches at me. When it felt like forever, they stopped and fled the scene. I was then escorted to my friend’s house, my face and shirt cover with stains of blood. After I was cleaned up, I realized that none of the other people around us helped, they just watched. I thought to myself: “Why were we the only ones helping the poor child? Why didn't they help out when we started to become the victim?” That when I became interested in the bystander effect. My goal is to learn why bystanders just watch something bad goes down when they can easily intervene to prevent something bad from happening. So I decided to investigate more about the bystanders effect in my “You & the World Project”.


This photo shows a bullying happening in front of these kids but they decided to go along with it and video tape it.

Many people have become victims to the bystanders effect each and everyday. Bullying happens in front of a crowd 88% of the time. Student do not like to see a bullying happen 90% of the time, but only 20% percent of the time people from that crowd actually take action to help stop it. Why is there only a low percentage of people help prevent bullying from happening, if almost everybody does not support what they see? Well for one thing, people fear of becoming the next victim. They don’t want the attacker targeting them and get harmed. Some bystanders actually join the bullying and making it worse. Some people would keep on encouraging it and with the digital age, we put it down on tape and posted it on social media.  People also think that it none of their business to engage and it not affecting them. People believe that they are powerless and have no idea what to do when trying to help someone out.


This graph (on slide 28) shows the percent of people who reacted to help assist someone when there an amount of people around them. As you can see, most people react when they are alone than others around them.

Bystanders can also be influenced by the number of people around the situation. People are more likely to intervene when there a few people to no one. But the more people their are, the less they are to intervene. When people don't react, other people think it is okay to do the same.


 

This line graph shows how the fewer the people around the person who needs aid, the more likely they will jump in and help them.


What I hope to learn as I dive deeper into this project is to understand what going on in the minds of bystanders. I want to interview people who have witness someone who needed aid but never did anything.  I want to know what they are thinking as they see this. I want to know why did they choose to either act or not act at all. Finally, I wanted to conduct a survey seeing how many people had recently been a bystander.  


Rocket to the Stars!


SAVE THE DATE: Friday, April 13th for the 2018 Home & School Association's annual Silent Auction & Social at The Ethical Society. Festivities begin at 7pm. Follow this link for everything you've always wanted to know about the auction but were afraid to ask - Silent Auction 2018