ARTICLE ARCHIVES
Old YOW columns
Summer Days Drifting Away
Many, if not all teens, are bemused with their summer activities. With summer inching its way up the steps, we’re pressured into making decisions that could either make or break our summer. Well, hopefully, with my previous experiences of the do’s and don’ts of summer, this will help you couch potatoes out of your pajama’s and out into the world of possibilities.
Freshmen year, I spent my entire summer, sitting at home, watching reruns of shows I’ve missed due to school and ate practically everything in site. Sure it sounds pleasant chilling on the couch in those comfy shorts with the baggy t-shit, and catching up with Friends and Real World, BUT excessive laziness caused me to gain extra LBS. It was a shame, seeing the fat grow and grow. But, it was a consequence I suffered from for not planning fully as to what I will be doing for those 2 and a-half months of freedom. Trust me teens, it’s one thing staying at home every now and then, but doing it everyday, prepare your self for buying clothes the next size UP.
Sophomore year, I decided that the fat that accumulated from summer and the holiday season had to go. So I set a schedule for myself. My summer was set to get into shape and sitting around was definitely not the way to get to that goal. I decided to run 8 laps around the near by path in the heart of the park early in the morning. This early run, was ran every day, and was not to be skipped. I not only built up stamina to endure 12 laps within the same amount of time it took to do 8, but I also got a kick-butt tan. I also noticed it gave me more energy. I actually survived the day without wanting a nap or counting down the hours till bedtime. Running wasn’t the only factor to losing the weight, eating healthy and making sure you get the proper servings of each food group helped. I starved myself from chips, soda, candy and ice cream (despite it’s cure to heal the summer heat) and feasted on fruits, yogurt and water and juices. Within a 3-month frame of a complete 180-degree turn around, I went from that dreadful XL to a form-fitting Small.
Junior year, I decided to think outside of the box and applied to jobs. A job will not only keep you busy but will keep those pockets full and will keep mommy’s and daddy’s credit cards in good condition. Jobs will teach responsibility and will help prepare us for the real world. It instills a good budget and helps you appreciate the outcome of proper financing. BUT, the best part of all, you get to have money in your hands at all times, allowing you to do whatever you want to do (to some extent that is).
Also, visiting colleges will help you decide where you want to head to, where you want to be an incoming freshmen and where you want to spend the next 4 crucial years of your life. A hands on experience of the life of a college student will inspire you to aim high to reach your goals and this will come in handy when those “senioritis” symptoms start to show.
So teens learn from my experiences and decide which one you fit into and go off, do it! While you’re at it, read those summer reading books, don’t procrastinate and rely on SparkNotes to save you from your laziness! But importantly, enjoy your summer and be safe. Live life to the fullest, carpe diem!
February 2005
FEELING STRESSED???
So you didn't study enough, or maybe you studied until 3 in the morning and you didn't get enough sleep. No matter, you feel stressed about the test that the teacher's about to hand out. Here are a few ways to release some of your stress in that moment of anxiety.
1) Breathing: Try counting to five as you take in a deep breath, and count to five again as you exhale. Repeat five times. Imagine breathing out your tension and breathing in relaxation.
2) Finger Fan: Extend your arms straight out in front of you with palms up. Spread your fingers as far apart as possible and hold for five seconds.
3) Upper-Back Stretch: Sit up straight with your fingers inter-laced behind your head. Keep our shoulders down, lift your chest and bring your elbows back as far as you can. Hold for ten seconds.
4) Ear to Shoulder: Lower your right ear to your right shoulder and hold for ten seconds. Repeat on your left side.
5) Over Head Reach: Raise your arms over your head and inter-lace your fingers with your palms facing up. Keep your shoulders down and stretch for 20 seconds.
Next time you have a test, try getting plenty of sleep the night before after studing. Sleeping actually helps your brain absorb all of the information you studied.
March 2005
Diabetes
By Johan Yeoh, Lowell High School YOW
Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.
There are 18.2 million people in the United States, or 6.3% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 13 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.
In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.
With the FPG test, a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl signals pre-diabetes. A person with a fasting blood glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher has diabetes.
In the OGTT test, a person's blood glucose level is measured after a fast and two hours after drinking a glucose-rich beverage. If the two-hour blood glucose level is between 140 and 199 mg/dl, the person tested has pre-diabetes. If the two-hour blood glucose level is at 200 mg/dl or higher, the person tested has diabetes.
March 2005
Green Tea: the NEW Atkins
By Francis Lucero, Lowell High School YOW
Green tea, you ask? Green tea is the prime drink to aid you in many aspects of heath. If you didn’t know, Green tea contains antioxidants that are known to do good in various ways, such as: reducing cholesterol (none of us should be worrying about this just yet), reducing blood lipids (also known as fat), improving blood vessels function, protection against cardiovascular disease, inhibiting the growth of cancers in the early stages, limiting the plaque buildup in Alzheimer’s disease, having antibacterial properties, aiding digestive, skin, respiratory, and dental health, also aiding weight loss by inducing a thermogenic effect which helps to burn fat.
What makes Green tea different from other teas? Unlike many other teas, the steaming process used to produce Green tea keeps many of its beneficial nutrients. Other teas, such as Black tea, lose their beneficial nutrients during the steaming.
Zen Priest Eisai of Japan says that Green tea has several effects in traditional Chinese medicine, such as: having a sobering effect and preventing sleepiness, giving a general sense of well-being, preventing rashes, having a diuretic effect, preventing poor digestion, energizing the body, and quenching of thirst.
The positive effects of Green tea prove its worthiness and it outranks the many “Hollywood diets”. Though, do not expect Green tea to be the only means for a lean new you. You must incorporate a well-balanced meal: proper servings of fruits, vegetables, protein, etc., as well as a hardcore workout session (exercising). You can purchase a venti cup of fabulous Green tea from Starbucks for $1.98, at Boudins for $1.00 or at Noah’s bagels for $1.00, as well, so DRINK UP!
April/May 2005
“Lowell and Drinking”
Christina Limcaco, Youth Outreach Worker
“They think, ‘Lowell students are smart enough to not drink. That’s the scary thing- Lowell kids are smart enough to drink and still get passing grades.” –Anonymous.
Drinking at Lowell High School is a major issue that many of the faculty and administration continue to ignore. Many of them fail to acknowledge the fact that it is a huge problem and will not go away unless acted upon.
Students have been known to horde alcohol in the bushes to later drink at school dances and events. One Youth Outreach Worker even admitted to witnessing students drink from mini bottles in the bathroom, which is just disgusting and pathetic. Drinking in a place where people urinate and shat is not very appealing to the senses.
An uproar occurred after Winter Ball due to the Student Body Council’s misguided act of giving away tequila shot glasses away as part of the gift bag. They quickly apologized and converted the glasses into candles. But really, if it is a school wide known fact that drinking is a problem, why pretend that it does not exist? There are no groups, no speakers, and no posters, nothing that indicate drinking as a major problem.
The Wellness Center, Peer Resource, and Nurse Rainey are available for help and information, but they cannot stop this epidemic on their own. It is only a matter of time until a student gets alcohol poisoning or into a car accident, then finally will it become a recognized problem. Until then, school officials will remain blind to something that is both a danger and major concern to Lowell High School students.
bravenet.com