Final Reflection

Week 13

This week we took a tour of the local Goodwill! Not only was it interesting to see how they distribute all of the things people drop off there, but I learned that they employ mentally disabled people. I thought that was very cool. Paige and I brought snacks and we did an activity to find an outfit for an interview under $20. We completed our letters to our respective senators with mine being about the water quality for communities surrounding the Great Lakes. It also wrapped up our Eco-Chic Lifestyle Changes. It was fun to make those habits!

Week 14

This week we presented our junk projects... mine being a traveling storage case for your backpack or purse.

We also created an online learning activity for our group members to complete. Mine was designed to raise the awareness about water quality locally.

Learned about myself...

 In this course, I learned a great deal about myself. As I get older, I continue to become better at critically thinking. Each and every class period of this course helped me with this. I also learned that if I make something such as a lifestyle change part of my daily routine, it can become a habit before I know it.

Learned about the environment...

Although this course has opened my eyes to such new depths in this department, I still have trouble remembering that many others don't have the knowledge I do about environmentally friendly things and instead of categorizing them as ignorant I should just tell myself they need the proper education to behave the way I do in correspondence with the environment. I am continuing to work at this.

Learned about blogging...

I may continue to blog! I haven't decided yet if I will continue to be as constant about it, but I definitely think it is a great way to post things about myself and my feelings in regards to whichever topic I like. It is fun to have something like this that is a little different than other social networking sites, like Facebook. 

This course has been eye-opening. I recommend it to all Health Majors in the future and will remember the things I learned throughout my life. Happy Finals Week!    

Eye Opener: Online Learning Activities

Paige's E Health Blog- Concepts Relating to Obesity in America Learning Activity

This activity asked for us to read some links about obesity and answer questions about some of the statistics.

1.)  Obesity can cause ________________ referred to as high blood pressure and can harm the arteries.

2.)  ______________ are highest at risk for obesity.

3.)  _____ percent of children in the US are considered obese.

4.)  Obesity is a _______   ________ treament.

5.)  Obese children's __________________ skills are greatly hindered, mainly due to the disease.

6.)  _________   ___________ is positively correlated with the risk of becoming obese.

7.)  Increased consumption of ____________ foods have assisted to rise the trend of obesity.

1. Hypertension
2. Native Hawaiians
3. 33 %
4. life-long
5. socialization
6. socio-economic status
7. highly processed

Mal's Rain Forest- Relay for Life Learning Activity

This activity was to make sure we knew what Relay for Life was and how we could get involved.

3 Things I Learned...
1. has been up and running since 1985!
2. starts with a survivor's lap... VERY COOL.
3. they place bags with candles inside to remember those who have been lost to cancer

How to get involved in my area..   August 6-7, 2010 at Patton Park in Lake City, MN

I have actually participated in this event before and it was a great experience.

Ashley's Green Lily Pad-  Flouride Around You

 

I know, how original, but I took a picture of my toothpaste. Although this was one of the only things I can think of, since I use it everyday it almost wouldn't seem right if this wasn't the object I picked. I use it at least twice a day and I get this certain kind because most Crest toothpastes give me canker sores.. bummer, I know. Without toothpaste? Oh man, I can't imagine what my teeth would look like, especially since I enjoy chocolate on occasion ;) If I found out there were deadly chemicals in it? Another toughie, since I really rely on toothpaste. I would have to say that I would try to find another brand then, because I can't see ever eliminating toothpaste from my life. 

Advocacy Project: Water Science

According to the Water Pollution Guide... Heavy metals from industrial processes can accumulate in nearby lakes and rivers. These are toxic to marine life such as fish and shellfish, and subsequently to the humans who eat them. Heavy metals can slow development; result in birth defects and some are carcinogenic.

The EPA estimates... drinking water systems will need to invest
$150 billion over a 20-year period to ensure
clean and safe drinking water.

The purpose of this activity is to raise your awareness about the real statistics of water use around the country. The following website allows you to submit your personal water use information and then shows you statistics from other people's personal water use around the country!

Since my project is centered around water quality, I wanted to show you how much we rely on clean drinking water and how hard it would be if somewhere like the Great Lakes became too polluted for us to use it as a water resource. Go to this questionnaire and complete each question. After you enter your information, look at what others contributed around the country. Some of the stats are a bit shocking! 

This next link I'm having you click on, is an opinion survey. This shows what our current water worries are. Complete this activity the same way and check to see what others answered around the country!

All of these activities are provided by the United States Geological Survey.

Click here to see the current water quality around the state of Minnesota.

Hopefully these activities and links have raised your awareness about how water is one of the most IMPORTANT resources. Keeping large fresh water resources like the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River clean and safe is something we shouldn't take lightly.

(Next time you are back in your hometown, see if they do any kind of water quality testing there. If they don't encourage them to start!)

Read 'n' Seed 6: Final Review of "Smashed"

 

Overview of the entire book.

Smashed was a book about a girl's journey through her relationship with alcohol. It started with her first sip in her early teen years and continued on to well after she was out of college and she finally got to the point where she finally realized her drinking was out of control and her life was on a downward spiral. She quit drinking altogether and reflected upon the past eight or so years of her life. 

  Three most significant things.

1. Her own realization of the problem after years and years of excessive drinking was astonishing.

2. Her viewpoint throughout the entire book of what it was like to be in a sorority and to base your college life on the partying and drinking rather than grades and classes was crazy to me.

3. One of the most important points of the book I thought were how she went through friends like crazy when they had drinking in common. They would go through their lull together and then get in a huge drunken fight and just like that it would be over. It was weird to think she didn't have any stable friends.

  What does it mean to you? Why is it important?

Not only did this open my eyes to the things that could be going on around me in college and I am not even aware of, but this makes me a little bit worried about when I have my own kids. I don't imagine the drinking and partying part of college is really ever going to die down and I'm sure someday I will have to be on the parent end of the situation. To think of the things Koren's parents had to deal with after she had some hospital trips and stomach pumping incidents makes my stomach flip.

  Do you recommend this book? Why or why not?

I highly recommend this book, especially for those who have drank excessively in college. It fast forwards you to the time in your life where you will look back and wish you would have done it differently, without so much of the drinking. Maybe this book can help, or has helped, someone before it is too late.

 

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 10: Overall Project Reflection

What was your SMART goal? Did it change at all during the project? 
My SMART goal was "I will take 3 minute showers, except on days when I shave, I will allow myself 7 minutes". I only edited this once towards the beginning, by making it shorter because it was too easy. 
What helped you be successful? What things got in your way? How can you address these in the future?
It helped me to have a timed cd or music source playing while I showered to measure my time accurately. That way if the song was coming to an end, I knew it was time to wrap it up. Since we live in a creaky, old Duluth house, sometimes the irregularity in the water temperature made showering in general difficult, but I worked through that. That is something Duluth renters will have to live with until the end of time. (ha) 
How did you benefit from this project? What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about behavior change?
This goal turned into a habit for me. I learned that if I continue with something long enough it just becomes part of my life and I don't even need to think twice about it. I also recruited other people towards the end to try my lifestyle change as well. It was rewarding to see others taking the same initiative.
How did others and/or the environment benefit from you changing this behavior?
From shortening my shower time, I not only saved water but our utility bills went down. We saved money and less water was wasted. Success!

Will you continue this behavior? Why or why not?
I sure will! Since it became a habit, it won't be hard at all to keep it up and since it is so good for the environment and our checkbooks, I don't see why not.
What recommendations do you have for others about making a lifestyle change?
I would say make it achievable. If you know you can do it and you succeed, that is when you make it harder. If you make it part of your routine, that is when it will become a habit.

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 10 by Amy@Eco-Chic With Amy 

Share and Voice: Take Action to Stop Global Warming

I wanted to find some ideas that we can all partake in for my last Share and Voice to fight global warming. The site I found, StopGlobalWarming.org: Take Action had some really good ideas that are easy to take up and can do a big part... Read on!

1. Use compact fluorescent bulbs

2. Inflate your tires

3. Change your air filter

4. Fill the dishwasher (i like this one!)

5. Use recycled paper

6. Adjust your thermostat

7. Check your water heater

8. Change the AC filter

9. Take shorter showers (yay me! my eco-chic lifestyle change)

10. Install a low-flow shower head

11. Buy products locally

12. Buy energy certificates

13. Buy minimally packaged goods

14. Buy a hybrid car (maybe in a couple years :) )

15. Buy a fuel efficient car

16. Carpool when you can

17. Don't idle in your car

18. Reduce garbage 

19. Plant a tree

20. Insulate your water heater

21. Replace old appliances

22. Weatherize your home

23. Use a push mower

24. Unplug un-used electronics

25. Put on a sweater

26. Insulate your home

27. Air dry your clothes

28. Switch to a tank-less water heater

29. Switch to double pane windows

30. Buy organic food

31. Bring cloth bags to the market

32. Buy the bracelet

33. Turn off your computer

34. Beat a meat reducer

35. Ditch the plastic!

Click on the website link to get more in-depth with each of these. Go Green!

Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Official

December 7, 2009
Senator Amy Klobuchar
United States Senate
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-2304

Dear Senator Klobuchar:

Safe, clean drinking water in our communities is at risk. Factories and businesses in the Great Lakes area are dumping their wastes into our freshwater resources and putting the health and safety of our families and communities in jeopardy. I ask your vote for the bill H.R. 54: Great Lakes Water Protection Act.

This bill regulates the wastes being dumped into the Great Lakes and funds programs and activities to help keep this water safe. It in a sense watches over the people sampling and checking the water, and makes sure that they are doing the job properly.

I believe this bill is extremely important to the people of Minnesota and the surrounding areas of the Great Lakes. Our families and communities depend on safe drinking water as a part of our growth and development and if this is at risk, so are our families.

If this bill passes, it can ensure the survival and flourishing of our families in this area. It will allow up to continue to live and survive this region and not have to worry about the health or safety of each other in the community. Not only will this help the people of Minnesota, but in all of the Great Lakes communities. There are many states that rely on the Great Lakes for water, even parts of Canada.

You  may know Carl Levin, a US Senator from Michigan. Michigan is also very reliant on the Great Lakes for clean water and he has fought for many years in favor of the regulation of these lakes. Please join him in the fight.

I hope that i have gotten through to you how much keeping this water clean means to myself and my community. We are a few of many people in the Great Lakes area who depend on this water for our survival. Let me know if there is anything else I can do as an individual in my community to make this bill known and passed.

Thanks again for your time, I look forward to hearing back from you!

Sincerely,

Melissa Herzig
(contact information)