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Autism Spectrum Disorder is a widely misunderstood condition by the public. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be defined as a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.
However, there is so much more to what ASD really is and what it looks like. There is a wide range of traits in different humans with ASD. For example, a 21 year old experienced female with ASD will look different than a 5 year old male with ASD. Autism looks different in boys and girls with their wide ranges of age. According to the Kreiger Report, “Boys with ASD may tend to engage in disruptive behavior to gain objects, while girls with ASD may tend to engage in disruptive behavior to get attention. Girls with autism are more likely than boys to also suffer from anxiety and/or depression,.” aAlong with other distinct differences.
Miss Central Pennsylvania Meghan Sinisi is an autism advocate and educator. She advocates for autism acceptance and integration in public and educational buildings. A big part of her fight with autism acceptance has been finding a good way to include children with ASD in schools. She suggests that schools “uUtilize peer tutoring and mentorship so that students can teach and learn from one another. Children with special needs have valuable experiences that we can learn from, just as much as they can learn from us. Expose all grade levels to peers with a variety of ability levels. The more that children are taught about disabilities and integrated with students at a young age, the more likely they will be to be aware and accepting of differences.”
An issue that is proposed by all autism advocates is the misconceptions and discrimination against those diagnosed with ASD. According to Autism Speaks, most people who are diagnosed with ASD are seen as anti-social and extreme introverts. When in reality, in most cases these children and adults just need someone to approach them about it. They have a harder time communicating their desire for said relationship. It isn’t that they lack emotions and don’t feel emotions, but rather they don’t have the ability to communicate them like a person without ASD can. Dez Bach is a mother of two children, Kayleigh and Gavin. Gavin was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. “One misconception of autism is that people with the disorder are intellectually disabled. People with autism are often gifted with certain abilities. Gavin’s gifted in visual memory. His brain is a lot like google images. He can remember every little detail of an object or something shown to him just one time. He can logically place things into categories based on logics, numbers and spatial patterns. People with this gift are thought to have the highest IQ’s on the planet.”
As a community, we need to band together and make places more fitting for each other. People who are diagnosed with ASD can be extremely sensitive to loud noises, big crowds or bright lights. According to Meghan Sinisi, Autism advocate and educator, “Live by the golden rule. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Do not treat a person differently because of a disability or diagnosis. Be kind and considerate to everyone you meet, regardless. Support and get involved in organizations, such as the Special Olympics or Best Buddies, that empower individuals with autism and other disabilities to live fulfilling lives and make meaningful friendships. Be aware of how you can make environments more accessible to people who have sensory difficulties (e.g., Having noise-cancelling headphones or sensory stimulation kits available, encourage public spaces to respect noise levels, etc.). Be respectful of everyone’s unique abilities and needs and celebrate diversity.” People with ASD are people too and our community should be inclusive of them with community events.
It is so important that as a community, its members work to include everyone in the community, putting any and all differences aside. Inclusion and acceptance is so important for people of all ranges. In society, there is a stigma against the ASD community. Inclusivity is something that many people in the ASD community suffer from. Whether that is in school, or public places like the grocery store. They are set aside and treated by many as if they have some severe illness, when that is far from the truth. People with ASD have beautiful and creative minds, they are no different than you and yours. No matter our differences, we are all human and all deserve to live in peace and unity with one another.
Eighty seven percent of high schoolers in the U.S do not get the recommended 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep on school nights, according to a National Sleep Foundation poll. Lack of sleep can lead to many physical and/ mental health problems. In a time when sleep is crucially needed for high schoolers to perform to the best of their academic abilities, it seems many are not meeting these recommendations.
When asked about their thoughts on the current school start time, CHS Junior Annie Austin said, “I think it is far too early. It doesn't allow me to get enough sleep at night after completing homework and extracurricular activities. It causes me to be tired and not work as hard during the day.” Annie wakes up at 6 a.m. and usually goes to bed at midnight after completing homework and work.
It has always been an important notion that being focused and engaged in school is crucial. You may have heard this from various teachers and adults, but this can be extremely difficult when many adolescents are not getting enough sleep. Many would say the solution is to go to bed earlier, but that can prove difficult. In the article “School Start Times for Adolescents” from the American Academy of Pediatrics it states, “On a practical level, this research indicates that the average teenager in today's society has difficulty falling asleep before 11:00 PM and is best suited to wake at 8:00 AM or later.” Alarmingly, Lack of sleep can lead to health problems. “Many middle and high school students are at a risk for adverse consequences of insufficient sleep, including impairments in mood, affect regulation, attention, memory, behavior control, executive function, and quality of life” The negative effects of sleep deprivation play a huge role on high school students academics.
Getting enough sleep is prevalent in today's society. Many dismiss their alarms for another 5 or so minutes of sleep, but sleep is crucial for high school students. It has major impacts on the overall health of students. AIn an article by the University of Washington; “Teens Get More Sleep, Shows Improved Grades and Attendance With Later School Start Time, Researchers Find” addresses the issue. Lead author Gideon Dunster, who is a University of Washington doctoral student in biology, said:; “The time at which teens generally wake up is socially determined. … This has severe consequences for health and well-being, because disrupted circadian rhythms can adversely affect digestion, heart rate, body temperature, immune system functions, attention span, and mental health.”’ Sschool start time affects students’ physical and mental health, making it difficult to engage in school.
A study conducted by the University of Washington showed the positive effects of later school start times. “The researchers hope that their study will help ongoing discussions in education circles about school start times. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended in 2014 that middle and high schools begin instructions no earlier than 8:30 a.m, though most U.S high schools start the day before then.” Many top researchers and organizations have expressed the benefits and need to change school start times, yet many schools in the nation have not.
Lack of sleep can have further damage on high schoolers' lives. An article by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,: “Schools Start Too Early”, states that “Not getting enough sleep is common among high school students and is associated with several health risks including being overweight, drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, and using drugs, as well as poor academic performance.” Sleep deprivation from school can have long lasting effects. The abuse of substances can be devastating for students and ultimately have a major impact on them later in life. It goes on to say “During puberty, adolescents become sleepy later at night and need to sleep later in the morning as a result in shifts in biological rhythms.”
Many schools across the country start before the recommended time of 8:30 a.m. The effects of these early start times have a negative impact on high school students. Sleep is important for students' emotional, physical, and mental health. Many researchers say It is important they are given this crucial time.
CORTLAND, NY -- Cortland High School Special Education teacher Mr. Trevor Rohlin was nominated as the December Teacher of Month Award recipient. Mr. Rohlin has been working at CHS in that role for 13 years.
Typically, Mr. Rohlin spends his day in his resource room. He also co-teaches with Mr. O’Donnell for U.S. History, Economics, and Participation in Government, and with Ms. Barrett in 9th grade Global History I.
December saw a mix of in-person learning for some students and remote-only for all at times during the month due to COVID-19 numbers within the building. “I don’t like remote learning because all of the kids are gone. Being remote can make it more difficult to communicate,” Mr. Rohlin said. “I like when the kids are in school giving off positive vibes.”
As a special education teacher, Mr. Rohlin described his thoughts on helping students during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s great that we have technology to utilize during the pandemic, otherwise teaching and learning may not be taking place,” he said. “On the other hand it is sometimes difficult for students to engage and participate due to glitches or the network being down, WiFi issues, ect. So, at times it is difficult
to reach students because they are home and you can not directly model or clarify for understanding like you would when students are in front of you. I prefer face-to-face discussions with students…. I think it’s much more efficient for comprehension and communication.”
When remote, he said his role doesn’t change much despite the difficult circumstances for himself and his students.
Congratulations to Mr. Rohlin, Cortland High’s December Teacher of Month Award recipient.
Applying to colleges may seem very scary and a lot to think about, but here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be! The process can actually be very easy and stress- free if you just keep these following tips in mind!
There is a lot to think about when it comes to applying to colleges, so my first tip would be to start the process early. Junior year of high school would be a great time to start looking into colleges and get a look into what each university has to offer. This way you have time to find different aspects of colleges that you really like and other things that you don’t like. For example, do you prefer a big or small college, do they offer a good program for what you want to pursue, is it an environment that you would thrive in, etc. Current Cortland High senior Olivia McKenna, who has recently gone through the process of applying to colleges, stated “Start researching some colleges the summer before senior year, if not sooner,” when I asked what tips people would give students who will be dealing with the process soon. Another Cortland High senior, Claire Dearie, also replied to this question saying “Start early and be very thorough.””. Getting a jumpstart to this process is extremely beneficial and will only help your future.
Another tip I would give to people starting this process would be to not doubt yourself and don’t be modest. If you are a person who is involved in a lot of extracurricular activities, then add those to your application and explain how they have impacted your life and how they have helped you be the person that you are today. Colleges will be much more interested in your application and having you as a student if they see that you are interested in a lot of things and enjoy being involved in activities. In an article written on the best extracurricular activities to show on your application to peak admissions’ interest, Post University wrote “While it’s important to include extracurricular activities that are related to your chosen field or area of academic interest, colleges also want to see that you’re well-rounded and have a wide range of interests. Putting creative activities on your application is an effective way to show this. For example, if you’ve been part of a theater group or other performing arts group, you should mention this on your college application.” This shows your creative side to them and will make them look deeper into your application, and could even lead to you getting a scholarship to help you pursue your extra interests. You have every right to be proud in your accomplishments so why not show them off!
A major stressor during this whole process for most people is the big scary essay, but what if I told you that it’s not scary at all?. No matter what your prompt is, the best thing you can do for your essay is be true to yourself and write from your heart. Don’t be cliche while writing your essay;, the college admissions board reads over tens10’s of thousands of essays and the only way to stick out to them is to write from your personal experience and from your heart. They don’t want to read the same “shoot for the stars” generic speech that they’ve already read fifty times that day, it’s not personal and it doesn’t seem like you put much care into it. In Campus Explorer’s 10 College Application Tips Need To Know, tip number 7 states “Stay true to yourself. Depending on the essay prompt, reflect on your experiences or express your opinions with sincerity and originality. This is your chance to demonstrate your individuality so avoid regurgitating the stale ‘“shoot for the stars’” speech.” Adding details like your own personal experiences, writing about something that you feel very strongly about, and making it more personal will show them that you care deeply and can express that through your writing. The whole point of this essay is to show them who you are, what you care deeply about, and what shaped you into the person you are today, so show them exactly that. They want to get to know what makes you stick out from everyone else so like I said in the last tip, don’t be modest! Be proud of what makes you, you!
Your college applications aren’t meant to make you want to rip your hair out! By keeping these tips in mind the process will already be easier on you! Remember that you can’t get more unique than your own personal experiences, so add in everything and anything that made you into the person you are: a. Anythingwhere from a volunteer experience, to a major event in your life that impacted you in ways that others couldn’t imagine. By starting all this early it takes away the stress of a rapidly approaching deadline and gives you time to put 110% into it all. By putting your all into this application, you will have a better chance at getting into the college of your dreams!
Coffee. It’s what energizes many in the morning, the warm smell and noise of the coffee machine at seven AM, getting ready for the day ahead. People may get it at home and make it themselves, people may swing by their favorite coffee shop, or even the old reliable fast food chain for their morning cup of joe. Teenagers, adults,and families who are on their way to work and school put it in their daily routine to have a daily cup of coffee. The drink has been laminated to our pop culture, appearing in many movies and referenced in music countless times. The Starbucks logo is even the 5th most recognized logo in the US, according to a survey in 2020 by Promotique, even beating Google, which logo appears everytime you want to search something. But is there more to the caffeinated king?
No one actually knows who or when coffee was first invented. Many legends exist and there are traces of when it was first invented and discovered, one being a goat hearder’s goats eating berries from a tree on the Ethopian Plateau were suddenly energized. After going back to his monastery with the berries he made them into a drink that let him stay awake during prayers. The drink was quickly spread around the monastery and soon even to the Arabian peninsula. This is when large-scale coffee cultivation really began and it was grown in many places in the middle east. Coffee houses also started to pop up in the countries it was being grown in. Thousands of pilgrims experienced the drink for the first time on their way to the holy city of Mecca, and knowledge about it started to spread. Europe soon began to receive the drink through trade and importation, but it wasn’t as well received as it is today. Venice condemned it as being the work of the devil and others were suspicious of the drink, but still coffee houses proved popular as soon as they were formed. This was carried on as it came to America, only being beaten by tea until the Boston Tea Party, where coffee became the more favored drink. Many places around the world started massive plantations to farm coffee like India and Indonesia. As people spread out, coffee did too until it was everywhere like it is now.
Though coffee has been around so long, most commercial coffee franchises we see now only started from the 1950s-70s. Starbucks was formed in 1971 in Seattle, and only had four stores by the 80s. In the 90s the chain really started when the new president Howard Shultz started serving not only coffee and equipment, but drinks like espressos and cappuccinos. This, combined with a giant expansion across North America, and even outside of the country led to Starbucks becoming the biggest coffee chain in the world. 21 years earlier a small donut and coffee shop named Open Kettle in Massachusetts rebranded itself as Dunkin’ Donuts and started to spread across Massachusetts, soon opening its first real franchised restaurant in 1955. Boasting 52 varieties of donuts, the store was a hit, and grew more than the original chain, with 100 restaurants by the end of 1963. That’s 12 restaurants a year, and one a single month! By the end of the 70s the store had 1,000 locations, and was continuing to grow.
But why did these franchises grow so quick? Why did people love them? One of the reasons is, they’re simple. Even writing this, I just ordered a drink from Starbucks named a “Vanilla Creme”. That name tells me two things, that it tastes like vanilla and it’s creamy. With a menu so large and simple names like this it’s easy to get lost in what someone might want, and it’s (most likely) on purpose. For 50 years people have now grown up on Starbucks coffee, and other coffee brands similar to it, so it’s their definition of coffee. Bigger coffee chains have super special flavors and packages and names and designs that are appealing to come back to. Most regular people on vacation will go to the Starbucks sign to get their coffee instead of a premium cafe for a quick pick-me-up. Not to mention the atmosphere they created in each location of a cozy cafe. This also contributes heavily to their brand, and the reason people keep coming back.
But strangely, according to a survey taken by the CHS Voice, only 18% of CHS gets their coffee from the two major franchises, Dunkin’ and Starbucks, the majority of which favored Dunkin’ Donuts as their caffeine provider. But then where do the 65% of people who enjoy coffee get their fix of caffeine every morning? That’s an easy question to answer: home. Almost 40% of the population of CHS who drink coffee just use a classic Keurig, or another way to make coffee at home. A lot of people don’t seem to have a certain place, and just get coffee from wherever is convenient that day.
But where does the other 42% who drink coffee every morning go? We only covered 48%. For that, we have to go local. In 1999 two people moved from Seattle, Washington, to Central New York, determined to open a drive through coffee shop. In 1999 they set up shop on the corner of Pomeroy and Port Watson, and the first Coffeemania was born. The chain now has three locations in Cortland County and provides Coffee to places like BRU 64 and SUNY. The chain also sells its own kinds of coffee in most stores in the area to roast at home, so many who are drinking at home also drink Coffee Mania branded coffee, even if they’re making it at home. Their merchandise can be found everywhere at CHS, and it’s not unusual to see students carrying a black cup labelled Coffeemania into the building every morning.
But then the final question: Why do people like coffee so much? 65% of CHS likes most coffee, and 21% only likes certain kinds, so what's the difference?
Students may just be wanting to be energized in the morning, getting up for school at 7 can be a challenge sometimes, but the same can be said for energy drinks. Coffee is so available and usually cheap, that people can get it pretty much anywhere. The same places where they sell cold energy drinks, people can also get a steaming cup of coffee, usually for cheaper depending on the place. Any route that can be taken to the school it’s possible to run into a place that serves coffee, and if it’s a fast food chain it could have a drive-through, making it incredibly easy to get a drink. Then people can also buy some for home and use K-cups or a coffee machine to quickly make their own at home every morning. Then if someone only likes certain kinds of coffee, it’s easy to get different flavors and things like creamer or sugar to enhance the flavor. There’s such a variety anywhere you get coffee it only takes choosing something different of a menu to find your new favorite. From the survey, in asking what CHS attendees favorite flavor of coffee there was a large margin of favorites. From “Hazelnut” to “Hershey's Chocolate”, and “Vanilla” to “Peppermint Marshmallow”. There’s an infinite amount of possibilities across thousands of unique coffee shops.
Coffee is something that many enjoy, whether it be the aroma, the taste, or the atmosphere of a cafe or shop. There are so many aspects to coffee that lead to its popularity amongst almost everyone who drinks a cup of joe every morning to wake up. If 80% of Cortland High drinks a cup a day, then there must be something keeping them coming back.
History of body modification- Body modification has been around for centuries. It’s been used to symbolize a person's culture, beliefs, personal expression, and emotional coping. The dates of tattoo’s origins can be found all the way back to 5,200 years ago. They were down the iceman's spine, across his right knee, and also ankle joints. According to Professor Don Brothwell, who studied the iceman, believed they were there for health purposes. He stated the distribution of the tattoos “ Correspond to areas of strain-induced degeneration, with the suggestion that they may have been applied to alleviate joint pain and were therefore essentially therapeutic.””. Before the iceman was discovered, the Egyptians were believed to be the first to experiment with tattooing. Opposing today's commonalities, women were the only ones tattooed during these times. Although there is no written record of why women were the only ones tattooed, it is believed that it was because of symbolic protection during pregnancy and childbirth. They were also used as adornment, honoring their gods, and increasing a man’s desire for her. Moving on to modern tattooing, tattoos were considered vulgar and not praised. One of the first western tattoo artists was C.H. Fellows during the mid 1800’s. He practiced on naval fleets and various ports. A significant artist was Martin Hildebrandt, who was allowed to travel between the Union and Confederate camps during the Civil War. He was the best known artist during the time and he would tattoo military ranks and a soldier's wife or girlfriend.
Developments- In 1891, Samual O’Reilly patented his invention of a handheld machine that allowed the needles to move up and down automatically. This machine made the tattooing business boom overnight. By the 1900’s there wasn't a single major city in America that didn't have a tattoo parlor. There was a steady increase from then until the 1950’s. By then 25% of Americans had a tattoo or piercing. But after that, the 80’s blew up. Over 65% of Americans now had some sort of tattoo or piercing. Nowadays tattoos in particular are increasing at a steady pace. In the article “More Americans Have Tattoos Today Than Seven Years Ago” which was written in 2019, an Ipsos poll revealed “Three in ten Americans have at least one tattoo, an increase from 21% in 2012.” There are now over twenty two thousand tattoo parlors in the United States. You also have to be at least 18 to get a tattoo;, if you are under 18 then you may bring a parent and have them give consent.
Price and affecting factors- Tattoos can be very cheap or can be thousands of dollars. It’s really just up to you and what you decide to do. The biggest factor is how large the tattoo is and how detailed its need to be. Of course, big tattoos with lots of details are going to be the most expensive:, these can be around $5,000. While small, simple tattoos can be as cheap as $30-$100. After this factor, there are many little things that cause a big difference, s. Such as the artist you choose, where the shop is located, the artist's hourly fee, the colors you choose, and even where it is located on your body. These factors can rapidly change the price of your tattoo. If you're interested in getting a tattoo you should prioritize finding what suits your budget best and then go from there. The best way to go would be finding a reliable artist that specializes in the type of tattoo you want.
Risks- There aren’t many risks that come with getting tattoos. Personally, I would say the biggest one is not liking it or regretting it. Tattoos are with you for life, unless you decide to get it laser removed which also costs a lot of money. There are a few health concerns though, including allergic reactions, skin infections, blood borne diseases, burning and swelling, and overgrowth of scar tissue. According to Mayo Clinic “Red, green, yellow, and blue dyes can cause allergic skin reactions, such as an itchy rash at the tattoo sight. This can occur even years after you get the tattoo.””. But these risks can be easily reduced by going to a tattoo artist for safety precautions such as wearing gloves, properly sterilizing equipment, and throwing away used needles.
One who speaks from experience- Elmira Ccollege freshman, Lindsey Smith, celebrated her 18th birthday by getting two tattoos. Lindsey decided to get a lavender flower with a design around it and two tiny hearts next to each other. Her reasoning behind her lavender flower is because it's not only her favorite flower, but it reminds her of being calm, and also happens to be her favorite scent to diffuse. Her adventures won’t stop there though:, she plans on getting another tattoo of an iris flower on her ankle to symbolize her college. The advice Lindsey recommends to anyone thinking or getting a tattoo is “When getting a tattoo, be sure that you are absolutely sure and absolutely in love with the design because once it’s there, it's stuck for life (unless you pay a lot of money to get it removed)”.
“Cat: a carnivorous mammal (Felis cactus) long domesticated as a pet and for catching rats and mice", defined by Merriam Webster. Just a quick Google search with the help of Oxford Languages would describe them as "a small domesticated carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout, and retractable claws.” ".This may be a literal definition of what a cat is, but they are so much more on the inside. With all the funny videos you've seen over the internet, how would you describe them?
Growing up, my parents always were against the idea of having pets. Whenever my siblings or I would bring it up, they would respond with either “ We are not home enough to take care of an animal” or “when all of your siblings move out, we can.”''. Me being the youngest child, I took this and ran with it. As I grew up, I had two pet fish and a green anole. As you could probably guess, these pets didn't last very long. By the time I was in 6th grade, all I wanted in the world was a little kitten. Every birthday and Christmas all I asked for was a kitten. Sadly truth, they never got me one. I eventually gave up on the idea of a kitten and never really thought about it again.
On August 21st, 2018 I had just gotten out of work and was sitting at the table eating dinner, when I was looking at my friends Ssnapchat stories. A girl who had graduated from CHSortland a few years prior had posted a picture of six6 kittens that were completely free, and she wanted people to pick them up ASAP! I clicked by it at first, not thinking much of it. Then I thought hmm… I’m 15 now with a job, and almost all of my siblings have moved out. Why not get the cat? I knew if I had asked my dad if I could get it, he would say no. So, me being the sassy 15 year old girl that I was, took it upon myself to get this cat and sneak it into my house. Yes, without telling my dad-- or anyone. After messaging her and making sure there was still a kitty available, I got a ride to her house. At 9 P.M., it was pouring rain and I walked up to her door to see her standing there with a kitten, the size of my hand. She handed over the cat and left it at that. I was in shock, and started realizing what I just did. This little kitten was mine now, and I was so thrilled, yet so terrified of my dad's reaction. He wasn't home when I got back so I locked her in my room, and got everything set up for her. He came home and fell asleep in the recliner, so I brought my kitten downstairs and just set her on my dad's chest. He woke up in complete shock and disappointment, that I would even do such a thing.
Over time, my dad grew to love Kikki and is now very fond of her. Our family would be so weird without her now, and I’m so grateful I went with my gut and got her. Throughout the past years since I got Kikki, we’ve grown so close. One of the most important things to me is she always seems to be there when I'm upset, and always comforts me when there is no one else to. My friends make fun of me because of how “obsessed” I am with her, but I wouldn't change it for anything. Kikki loves sleeping on my chest and believe it or not, loves watching The Grinch.
Now that i've shared my connection with my cat, I’d like you all to think about your connection to or your /opinion on cats. In the article, Your Cat Has a Much Deeper Emotional Connection to You Than You Might Think by Zee Krystic, it shares that overtime cats build a deep, emotional bond with humans surrounding them. If you are a cat owner, you definitely can see how this is true! Chris MacDuffee, Senior at Cortland High, has a cat named Harley, who is black and grey, and 10 years old. When asked “What is your favorite memory/moment/thing to do with your cat?” he responds with “Lounging around the house and watching some movies.””. Chris’ cat, Harley, has been with him for more than half of his life, and cherishes his time spent with him.
After sharing my personal experience and bond with my cat, and fellow classmate, I hope you can find your own meaning or /definition of a cat. They may just be a pet to some, but to others they are so much more.
Is the pressure or obsession from parents on their children to have phenomenal grades all school year becoming too much for students? Are these parents affecting their children’s mental health negatively or positively?
Many parents instiall in their children at a young age that education is important and of course the children never really question it. Over time, a parent’s pressure can cause the child to become constantly stressed. The student can begin to believe they are not good enough because of lower grades they may recieve. Parental pressure leads to stress and anxiety and just makes the child afraid to fail.
Different negative things like sleep deprivation, cheating, always worrying, or being burned out can happen to the children. The high expectations and pressure can cause some children to suffer with blood pressure problems, making them very tired and detached from others around them. Dr. Daniel Zamir is a clinical psychologist who stated “We need to debunk the thought process that a student's grades define them as a human being.”,” He says. Many children and teenagers just believe that their grades are tied in with their identity. He also stated “I found that, you know, learning, the most important pieces of what I’m taught is really important and that grades are important to some extent. But, um, they’re not everything and you can still achieve and get where you want to go, even without getting straight A’s,” Zamir says. Those students should be more focused on learning the material in school then just worrying about the grade, but that's what the parent most likely installed in them.
To sum up everything that has been stated, pParental pressure has a big impact on multiple students and their learning and mental health during the school year. This pressureAnd can affect their children both positively and negatively--m. Mainly negatively with causing things like stress & anxiety.
https://www.psychalive.org/student-stress-pressure-and-self-attacks-interview-with-dr-daniel-zamir/
Did you know that an estimated 7.2% of the world population is believed to have some varying form of ADHD? According to the organisation, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or better known as CHADD, “Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 11 percent of school-age children.” As we all know, COVID-19 has been an issue with every person; after being on the internet a lot I’ve noticed that ADHD has been popping up a lot in students and even some adults. The CDC describes ADHD as “one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or be overly active.”
ADHD isn’t just a simple ‘I can’t focus, and I get a bouncy leg sometimes’ type of situation; there are three major types of ADHD. First on the list is Predominantly Inattentive Presentation (PIP): where it is hard for the individual to organize or finish a task, paying attention to details, or to follow instructions and/or conversations. This person can also be easily distracted or forgets details of daily routines. Next, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation, which is what most neurotypical people associate with ADHD, these people tend to fidget and talk a lot. It is hard for them to sit still for long. The younger children may run, jump or climb constantly. Feelings of restlessness are also common and have trouble with impulsivity. Someone who is impulsive may interrupt others a lot, grab things from people, or speak at inappropriate times. Impulsiveness may lead to more accidents and injuries than others. It is hard for the person to wait their turn or listen to directions. The last is a combination of the two where the two major classifications, also as a person gets older, new symptoms may arise and some may go away.
Paying attention can be difficult for a neurotypical (someone who isn’t classified as neurodivergent) person, but adding an issue such as ADHD can prove to be even harder. Online schooling has been a challenge for everyone in the year 2020-2021; but to eighth grader, Corinne (AKA: Stormy) Zimmerman, it has proven to be even more of a challenge. Stormy had been diagnosed with ADHD in 3rd grade and has been working hard to try and get over these mental hurdles. “School is tricky, I find myself twitching and getting distracted by the things around me, even if it’s something small like a speck of glitter on the table. My core classes are boring too, which makes things harder.”
“Many people with ADHD experience bouts of overstimulation, in which they feel bombarded by overwhelming sights and sounds. Crowded venues, such as concert halls and amusement parks, may trigger ADHD symptoms. Allowing adequate personal space is important for preventing outbursts, so avoiding crowded restaurants, rush hour congestion, busy supermarkets, and high-traffic malls may help diminish troublesome ADHD symptoms,” according to the healthline magazine. After asking Stormy what tended to get her riled up the young student responded with, “My math class, it can be very loud. I also struggle with that class, and she doesn’t explain things very well so I end up not understanding.”
On the official CDC website, they claim that “Scientists are studying cause and risk factors in an effort to find better ways to manage and reduce the chances of a person having ADHD. The cause(s) and risk factors for ADHD are unknown, but current research shows that genetics plays an important role.” Upon further reading a few things they had linked to causing ADHD was, “Brain injury, Exposure to environmental (e.g., lead) during pregnancy or at a young age, Alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy, Premature delivery, and Low birth weight. Research does not support the popularly held views that ADHD is caused by eating too much sugar, watching too much television, parenting, or social and environmental factors such as poverty or family chaos.”
How are some ways you can help get ADHD symptoms under control? On the CHADD website, you can find that experts say, “Treating ADHD often requires medical, educational, behavioral and psychological intervention. This comprehensive approach to treatment is sometimes called “multimodal” and, depending on the age of the individual with ADHD, may include: parent training, medication, skills training, counseling, behavioral therapy, educational supports, education regarding ADHD. Working closely with healthcare providers and other professionals, treatment should be tailored to the unique needs of each individual and family to help the patient control symptoms, cope with the disorder, improve overall psychological well-being and manage social relationships.” ADHD is not a curable thing, but if managed and caught at a young age it can be dealt with properly and gives the child as normal of a childhood as possible.