Articles by m|xiong

Today is the last day of work and I had a lot of fun this summer.  I learned a lot about my community, issues among teens, graphic designing and I also learned a lot about my friends and co-workers.  I’m glad I had this job because I met a lot of really nice people.  Five important things I learned this summer are: 1) More about STD’s, how to avoid them and what they can lead to. 2) I learned more about photography skills and editing photos. 3) The media has a big influence on tobacco use and alcohol consumption. 4) How The Twins market to their fans and I learned more about Target Field. 5) I learned more about body image and obesity.

I’m going to remember these things that I learned because they will help me in the future and they will guide me and help me make better choices for myself and others.  I can use these skills in my future job because I may need to use the computer or use cameras, so I already have experience with it.  In the future I plan to attend a 4 year college.  Since STEP-UP work has ended, I’m planning to go find a job so I can work during school.

Healthy relationships are being able to trust your partner and being honest. You know each others boundaries and are comfortable.  Theres no pressure or force, and theres not a lot of stress.  Unhealthy relationships has a lot of stress, pressure, force, and lack of trust and honesty.  Arguments would be settled unfairly. Arguments are also healthy, but the difference is how the conflict is handled or settled.

The last nine weeks we have been talking about several topics.  We talked about our community, obesity, body image, tobacco, drugs, alcohol, meth, HIV, beauty, and love.  I learned a lot this summer and made several postcards.  Some things I learned are that many car accidents occur because of alcohol, tobacco use can effect your brain and the way you think, HIV means Human Immunodificiency Virus, and that beauty is different in everyone’s eyes.  The girls had a day to go to the movies and we watch Zookeeper.  The movie was great and very funny.  The guys went on a canoe trip and I heard from them that it was a fun experience.  We also had a tour of the Target Field and we got to meet the Vice President of the marketing.  I learned a lot about baseball and how they market to their fans.  Here are some postcards I made over the summer.

The past few days, we’ve been talking about HIV and AIDS.  HIV stand for human immunodeficiency virus.  AIDS stand for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.  We talked about what it is, how it began, how it spreads, and how to prevent it.  Last week a girl named May came in to talk to us about it and today we had two people to come talk to us more about it.  HIV can spread by sharing needles, birth from mother to child, and having unprotected sex.  They also tested us because its good to get tested at least once a year.

The past few days of work had been fun and I learned a lot about meth. This week we made brochures, postcards, and a fact sheet on crystal meth.  We also came up with slogans and took some pictures.  The girls were suppose to go on a canoe trip on Tuesday at Lake Calhoun but it was raining that day so instead we went to go watch a movie, The Zookeeper.  But the boys had a chance to go on Thursday because it was perfectly sunny that day, no fair!  A lady also came in to talk to us about having protected sex and about colleges.  She informed us on many things and we did some activities.  At the end she gave us gift cards, candy, and some other stuff.  Even though one of our supervisors can’t be here, we try our best to stay on top of everything.  It has been a great experience so far.

Peer pressure happens with all kinds of people, everywhere, and any time.  Peer pressure is when your friends or people your age influence you to do something you don’t really want to do.  Its persuading and encouraging the person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behaviors.  Peer pressure is only human nature but a way you can deal with peer pressure is to simply say “NO” and ignore the person or people.  Some people don’t mean to peer pressure, maybe they just want to have fun together so you don’t have to ignore them forever.  Dealing with peer pressure maybe an uncomfortable situation but if its something you know you shouldn’t be doing, then make your choices, don’t let someone else make them for you.

1) Fear beer all year.

2) Drinking alcohol is like having someone urinate in your mouth.

3) Alcohol, its like buying liver cancer.

4) I’m a young lady, and I’m not shady….I also love candy.

Painful

Obsession

Intoxicated

Seizures

Overdose

Nasty

who: A young adult

what: passed away

when: after a party

where: in a car crash

why: because s/he was drunk driving.

____________________________________________

who: A teenage boy

what: got alcohol poisoning

where: in his room

when: after he got dumped by his girl

why: because he was depressed.

If the world…had no alcohol, it would be much safer.

Tomorrow is always…a fresh start.

My father had said once…don’t drink until you are of age.

A good friend…wouldn’t peer pressure you.

Pressuring someone…is a crime.

Jumping off a bridge is like…throwing your life away.

Love will always…be better than alcohol.

Genuine friendships are…strong without alcohol.

The grass is…greener with no alcohol.

When you feel down…don’t take a sip, just dip.

Picking friends is like…choosing what life you want.

Being alone is…better than being with alcohol.

No matter what…stay away from alcoholics.

Live life to the fullest but….alcohol free.

A philosopher once said…alcohol kills.

The weatherman’s forecast states…that its a sunny day without alcohol.

Your future is…more likely to exist if you don’t drink.

If I were to chose..alcohol or happiness, I’d choose happiness.

The media…doesn’t need alcohol in it, that goes for you too.

If I had an app it would…discourage alcohol.

A photo describes…1,000 things.

A mother’s love is…like no other.

A father’s love is…not like alcohol’s love.

The world could be…a better place.

Getting struck…is like getting drunk.

Using an escape rope is like…quitting drinking.

There is no need for…stupid actions and loss of memory.

If I could I would…help you quit.

Dear Mr. President…alcohol is bad for you.