RCL Post 5

According to Planned Parenthood’s website, 40% of women have had an abortion before the age of forty five. The strongest argument that Planned Parenthood enforces is a woman’s right to choose. They believe that women have the right to make the best decision for their health and well-being. They think that this decision is personal, and women know the best actions for themselves and their family. Since a woman is on her own path in life, she can decide whether to have an abortion or not. I believe that the choice revolves around the baby and not the women. Since the baby is growing after the moment of conception, he or she is living. Growth is a sign of life, so killing an innocent child is unethical.

Another argument that Planned Parenthood supports is that parents want to be the best parents they can be for the children they already have. According to the website, 60% of people who have abortions already have kids and want to focus on children they have. They believe that individuals who are not parents have babies later when they are ready. I believe that all parents should love all of their children equally. There is no difference between the love for the unborn children and their current children.

In addition, another argument defines the importance of considering many factors when thinking about having a child. Women have many different emotions and feelings about having children. According to Planned Parenthood, women have abortions because they feel that they are not ready to have a child, they want to focus on work or school, they were sexually assaulted, or they do not want to be a parent. I believe that these are valid reasons for not wanting to keep the child after he or she is born. However, I believe that adoption is the solution to these problems. If parents do not feel ready to have a baby or do not want children, then they can give the child to deserving parents who are unable to conceive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RCL 4: Persuasion Essay Outline

  • Introduction: To express her distress, Elizabeth Levitt, mother of three children, exclaimed, “You are thrown into this industry you know nothing about. You are so bewildered, so completely anxious. There are periods where you are depressed, and there are times when you cannot believe how much improvement there is.”  One of Elizabeth’s children, Bradley, has benign congenital hypotonia, which is a disease that reduces the strength of his motor muscles. Bradley’s disease impacts his effort to walk and use his legs. In addition to her concerns as a mother of three, she is constantly concerned about her son, Bradley, who she has to watch over more carefully and give her undivided attention.  At times, Elizabeth Levitt, feels as if she is alone in taking care of her son and assisting him with his disorder. Over the years, Elizabeth has learned that Bradley is enjoying his life, despite his limitations.
  • Thesis Statement: Although policies exist to assist with the payments and treatments of children with chronic illnesses, new programs should be made to provide emotional support to these children and their families so that the children never lose hope for their futures.
  • Audience: Policy makers or hospitals
  • Issues with specific hospitals
    • CHOP provides excellent immediate care
    • For long term care, the parents are expected to help the children physically and emotionally
      • Unfair expectation for young parents
  • Importance of Access to Health Insurance Coverage
    • Children need to have health insurance to ensure that they are properly cared for such as routine check ups, vaccines, and treating acute and chronic conditions, injury care
    • Children with private or public health insure are more likely than children without health insurance to get regular source of health care
    • Kids could be able to get health insurance through private coverage or public programs like Medicaid (1966) and children’s health insurance program (1997)
    • Adolescents were more likely not to have health insurance or have private coverage compared to young kids
    • Youngest age up to five were more likely to be insured and more likely to have public coverage than children between 6-11 and 12-17
    • Dangerous for children to lack health insurance especially if they suffer from chronic illnesses
  • Improvements for covering the management of a chronic illness
    • All plans cover essential benefits
      • Large health care plans are not required to cover essential benefits such as asthma or diabetes
        • Pay for doctor visits, lab tests, prescription medicines, preventative care, behavioral health services, hospital care, and rehabilitation

RCL Post 3: Deliberaton Reflection

During our deliberation, State of Mind, many students expressed the importance of mental health on college campuses. Therefore, throughout this deliberation, we discussed ways to enhance the quality of CAPS at Penn State, to increase knowledge and awareness of mental health disorders, and to extinguish the stigma that surrounds mental health. Working to improve these aspects of mental health would increase students’ understanding of these disorders and would increase the number of college students who receive help from the services provided by Penn State. Since the mental health of students is valued, the community at Penn State must expand its resources and increase the awareness of mental health disorders.

For the first approach, students discussed the benefits of improving the website of CAPS so that more students will know how to schedule appointments and will be able to learn about the services that CAPS provides. In addition, increasing the number of counselors that CAPS employees would decrease the wait time for students to schedule an appointment so that more students are willing to seek assistance. For approach two, students discussed the importance of storytelling for decreasing the stigma around mental health. If students are exposed to other individuals similar to them who have suffered from mental health disorders, they will understand their difficulties with more compassion. Lastly, for approach three, students agreed that educating faculty at Penn State would be beneficial because they interact with students the most. Also, students discussed a required class or section of freshman seminar that would focus on mental health disorders and services so that more students will be educated on this important topic. Through increasing the awareness and knowledge about mental health, students at Penn State would be more willing to seek help and to stand up for the end of the stigma around mental health.

 

RCL Post 2

In the article, “New CAPS resources focus on student empowerment,” Penn State news reveals that CAPS has created new resources to help students feel comfortable with who they are.  CAPS has created text and call lines and assessments for students online to be treated in a faster way.  WellTreck is a wellness assessment that students take to help them understand what activities make them feel better or worse.  From this new addition, students can realize the patterns in their life that bring joy as well as stress.  Students use WellTreck by themselves or with other counseling.  In addition, CAPS provides two crisis lines that are available any day and time.  Students are able to speak to someone in the middle of a panic attack or if they are thinking of hurting themselves.  Life Hacks is another addition that CAPS has initiated.  Life Hacks sessions include group discussion to help students deal with stress and anxiety.  These are beneficial because students can understand that they are not the only ones who feel isolated or alone.

Another article that discusses mental health at Penn State, “CAPS Chat program puts counselors where the students are, also emphasizes the importance of mental health and stresses the various resources provided by CAPS.  A new program was created in 2016 to place counselors in South Halls where they offer CAPS Chat.  CAPS Chat is a safe way to talk with counselors informally and feel supported by the Penn State community.  These meetings can discuss topics such as adjusting to college, family problems, stress, anxiety, or academic pressures.

These articles will be beneficial in the deliberation discussion because they discuss the services that CAPS provides.  These articles are very informative and allow their readers to recognize the importance of mental health on college campuses.  These articles would be beneficial for first year students at Penn State because they discuss the benefits that CAPS offers its students.  By knowing about the advantages of CAPS, students will learn that seeking help from CAPS could be very effective.

Works Cited

“CAPS Chat program puts counselors where the students are.” (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2018, http://news.psu.edu/story/423568/2016/08/31/campus-life/caps-chat-program-puts-counselors-where-students-are

Curley, C. (n.d.). “New CAPS resources focus on student empowerment.” Retrieved February 14, 2018, http://news.psu.edu/story/495703/2017/11/27/campus-life/new-caps-resources-focus-student-empowerment

RCL Post 1

My group’s deliberation title is “State of Mind.”  For our deliberation, we are focusing on the issue of failing to address mental health issues on campus.  Increasing mental health awareness and improving treatment for individuals with mental health disorders is important for college campuses.  These issues are triggered and worsened by the stress and anxiety that college adds to our lives.  Since mental health issues affect so many college students, our group created suggestions to improve treatment for individuals for our deliberation.  Our ideas include improving CAPS, creating an accepting and understanding environment, and promoting general education about mental health disorders.

My role is to research approach one, which is the ways to improve CAPS.  Pritika and I contacted a counselor from CAPS, and we want to interview him or her in the future to gather more information about the services that CAPS provides Penn State students.  We will be asking the person we interview about the mission of CAPS, the free visits offered to students, the number of students that utilize CAPS’ services every year, the services used by most students, whether CAPS will transfer students to outside sources, and the reasons behind students from failing to seek help from CAPS.

Pritika and I are currently examining CAPS’ website to learn more about its benefits.  We learned that CAPS provides individual, group, and couples counseling to its patients.  We also learned that CAPS provides help with depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.  CAPS has physicians, dietitians, and mental health providers that work together to help patients with eating disorders or body image issues.  Our goal is to implement changes that will enable students to know more about CAPS.  For example, during New Student Orientation or freshman seminar, all students should actually visit CAPS to hear a counselor speak about the help that this resource provides.  Many students do not know the location of CAPS or about the free visits that CAPS initially offers.  We believe that if students actually went to CAPS and spoke to a counselor, then they would be more likely to utilize its resources.

Kevin’s Legacy

 

On the day of my AP biology final exam my senior  year of high school, I could barely contain my anxiety.  I felt butterflies twisting and turning in my stomach as I walked into the front doors of my school.  As I walked down the hallway, I noticed pictures of girls with bright and glistening smiles at their graduation.  I thought to myself, “If they can do it, so can I.”  However, as I walked into the classroom to complete my final exam, my confidence dwindled.  I sat in the very front row because looking at people taking their test in front of me is very distracting.  While we were waiting for everyone to arrive, I sat quietly at my desk with my mind racing.  My anxiety took over and prevented me from focusing on doing my best.  Instead of motivating myself and reassuring myself that I studied hard enough, I kept thinking if only I had an extra day to study, if only I took regular biology, if only I did not care about this class.  Once I started fabricating “what if” scenarios, I knew I needed to take a deep breath.  

When my hands stopped shaking, I took both sleeves of the sweatshirt I was wearing and wrapped them around my fingers.  I started to calm down because I remembered what sweatshirt I was wearing.  The words, CHA football, glistened on this sweatshirt, while the sun beamed off of them from the window.  Once I looked down and saw the glowing letters on my sweatshirt, a sudden sense of peace filled my body.  This sweatshirt is my source of comfort, my source of serenity, and my source of hope.  When I wear this sweatshirt, I not only think but I know that my older brother, Kevin, is always watching over me. 

My brother tragically drowned in the pool in my backyard during my brother and sister’s birthday party on June 8, 2012. That day, I not only lost my big brother, but I also lost my best friend, my hero, and my protector.  Everytime I think about this traumatic day in my life, I think about the meaning of my brother’s life.  Kevin had a brain tumor, when he was five years old.  The doctors told my dad that he would not be able to walk again let alone run.  By living with immense positivity, Kevin never let his disabilities prevent him from competing.  As a boy with no fear, he never passed up the opportunity to try out for a team.  Walking and running with a limp, never being the fastest, and never being picked first did not deter Kevin from doing what he loved.  Defeating all odds, Kevin persevered through his hardships and received an athletic scholarship to play football for Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, which is embodied through Kevin’s navy blue sweatshirt.  

Although I have struggled the past six years, I have gained strength.  I am able to use this strength to help others who have endured similar challenges.  Even though these hardships in my life have caused an immense amount of pain, they have also provided me with unique perspectives.  I stress less about the unimportant aspects of life, I know that feelings of despair and anger are temporary, and I am more sensitive to those who are vulnerable as a result of hardships.

Kevin’s legacy has become my motivation.  I dream of becoming a pediatric psychiatrist, and Kevin’s inspiring accomplishments encourage me to focus on my goal.  Becoming a doctor is a difficult career path, but the fact that my brother could transform from a boy in a wheelchair to one of the best football players on his team motivates me to view the future in an optimistic light.  I want to be a pediatric psychiatrist to care for and know inspiring children like Kevin.  My special connection and bond with children with disabilities has inspired me to assist my father in creating Kevin’s Foundation of Hope.  The Foundation’s mission is to encourage children with disabilities to accomplish the unimaginable.  

I believe in hope.  I believe that you cannot control what happens to you, but you can control how you react.  I believe that God allows individuals to experience certain difficulties that they are strong enough to endure.  Although I worry about one day forgetting Kevin’s voice, I have days where I put on his big sweatshirt and instantly feel as if he is hugging me.  I know he is protecting me and that I will never forget him.  Even though I cannot touch or see Kevin, he will always be my hero, my inspiration, and my motivation.  

 

Rcl #6

In the novel, It’s What I Do, Addario expresses her conflicted feelings about the difficult work she does.  Although addario is passionate about her career as a photojournalist, she must immerse herself into the lives of the people in her photographs.  Through empathizing with foreigners, Addario must sacrifice the life of comfort that she is accustomed to living.

Before she traveled to Darfur, she left behind clothes, shoes, water bottles to decrease the amount of weight on her back.  She endured extreme heat while trudging through the desert with a heavy backpack.  Through this journey, Addario realized that the villagers were used to the heat and lack of water.  On the second day of her journey, without thinking, Addario thought that they could buy water bottles.  Her false assumptions clarify the need for privileged individuals to appreciate their blessings and to utilize their gift of being able to explain scientific research.

Sympathizing for the people she photographs encourages her to take her career as a photojournalist to the next level.  In order to relate to her audience, she views herself from the way that her readers would observe this situation.  She encourages us to sympathize and empathize with people from various cultural identities and backgrounds.  This new way of thinking about the world increases our knowledge about the world and our ability to problem solve in the future.

In my passion blog, I will emphasize the conflicts of the hard work that you have to put toward taking care of your dogs.  Even though dogs are playful and joyous animals, they require attention so that their basic needs are met.  Feeding, brushing their fur, walking them around the neighborhood, and taking them to the vet are some of the tasks that are required by dog owners.

Public Controversy Contract

Research
Madeline: I am researching the history of the American Red Cross, and how the controversy was able to occur.  I will be looking into the different places that the red cross has donated to see if we can find a trend in where the controversial missing funds started to disappear.  This research will be important in explaining the controversy because by looking at the history of the American Red Cross, we will be able to see how something like this controversy could occur.
Alexis: I am researching the argument that the American Red Cross puts up a front of being a key asset to society through its relief efforts. However, this has been official investigations into where their donations actually go. It is slowly being revealed that there are excessive “administration costs”, where a chunk of the money goes to. There are even testimonies of former American Red Cross volunteers who said that this organization forced them to drive around empty trucks, instead of actually providing hurricane relief. This hidden side of greed is the main issue bringing this organization to people’s attention.
Kate: I am researching the counter argument for the belief that the American Red Cross is dishonest.  I have discovered that the American Red Cross is beneficial for helping with smaller disasters.  Only so much money can be used for helping with these catastrophes in the state of emergency.  In addition, the American Red Cross is known for efficiently providing immediate assistance such as offering temporary shelter, food, water, hygiene kits, and blankets.  This organization does not specialize in rebuilding destroyed the homes and schools of destroyed areas.
Production
We will be working on all of the script writing, videotaping, and acting all together.
Editing
We will edit this project together after we are finished videotaping so that we can incorporate all of our ideas to finalize our project.

Controversy of the American Red Cross

Our public controversy topic involves the legitimacy of the American Red Cross, which people believe is an honest organization.  Although the American Red Cross strives to help victims of disasters,  this organization proves to be untruthful in its efforts to support individuals affected by specific tragedies.  For example, according to an article for the National Public Radio, individuals are uncertain about where the five hundred million dollars raised by the American Red Cross was used after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.  The American Red Cross promised to help the Haitians build permanent homes and provide clean water, but after five years there are neither new homes nor schools.

I am researching the counter argument for the belief that the American Red Cross proves itself as dishonest.  I have discovered that this organization is meant to help disasters that are small because otherwise they have extra money to spend in various ways.  According to the article, The Red Cross Won’t Save Houston, the American Red Cross is unaware of how they should spend the money that they raise. This extra money should be used by other charities, which is what staff members tried to accomplish.  Since only a small portion of money can be used to help individuals during the state of emergency, not all of the money raised to help this disaster was used efficiently.  In addition, this organization sent three members of its staff to Haiti after the earthquake occurred at first, which was not enough people to be in charge of rebuilding Haiti.  Even though buildings in Haiti needed to be reconstructed and developed, the American Red Cross is not known for rebuilding and redesigning destroyed areas.  The American Red Cross is known for providing immediate help after catastrophes such as offering blankets, temporary shelter, or hygiene kits.

RCL #9 TED talk Script Draft

Topic: Human Trafficking
Purpose: The purpose is to increase awareness for human trafficking, which causes human beings to believe that they lack free will.
Thesis Statement: Young adults who have experienced the trauma of human trafficking must be treated medically with respect.

Introduction:
Attention Strategy – Since I want to be a pediatrician, I want to learn about patient care especially patients who have endured hardships.  I want survivors of human trafficking to be treated equally with dignity and respect as survivors instead of pitied as victims of this problem.

Body:
Main Idea  – Survivors of human trafficking endure abuse and torture that deeply affects their mental, physical, and emotional health.
1. Victims experience poor living and working conditions, violence, abuse, malnutrition, and substance abuse.
2. From these major impacts on their lives, survivors deal with depression, anxiety, trust issues, and PTSD.
Main Idea – Medical Professionals are unaware of the warning signs of human trafficking, which prevents them from stopping this form of modern slavery.
1. In a study of Canadian medical school students, 88.8% of people were unaware of the signs and symptoms of human trafficking
2. 76% of these students thought that learning about these signs was important in medical school
Main Idea – The silence regarding human trafficking must end.
1. Sober houses should be created for survivors of human trafficking so that these young girls and women can support each other through their long journey of recovery.

Conclusion:
Concluding Remark – Through raising awareness and breaking the trend of silence toward this tragic reality, survivors will encourage other survivors to strive for the recovery that they deserve.

Slides – The slides will emphasize the trauma that these young teenagers experience who are not extremely different from us.
Slide 1: A survivor of human trafficking’s story.
Slide 2: A survivor of human trafficking’s story.
Slide 3: A survivor of human trafficking’s story.