Countless for sales signs around the Baltimore, Md. area. Photo taken by Asia Hinton/ Towson University student
Selling a house is a time consuming process that may take up to several months.
However, with helpful hints from Real Estate Agent Alyssia Essig, it may have just gotten easier.
Listen to her helpful suggestions for trying to sell a home.
J’Vaughn Gorham trying to stay healthy by lifting weights at Towson University’s Burdick Gym (Photo taken by Asia Hinton/ Towson University
Would you consider yourself a healthy college student?
If so, you’re one of the lucky few. While staying healthy is not an easy task for some people, it has become an even harder task for many college students living on campus. After all mom’s not around cooking dinner every night, forcing you to eat veggies or to get out the house and get some exercise.
However, while trying to stay healthy is a “class” by itself, some students at Towson University are finding ways to make mom proud.
Check out some of their stories.
J'Vaughn Gorham making health one of his top priorities. (Photo taken by Asia Hinton/ Towson University student)
Towson University senior J’Vaughn Gorham finds time in his busy school schedule to engage in various activities that keeps his body healthy.
View slideshow on ways he does this.
For my non linear story:
* I want it to be well organized
* I want to have links that connect to each story and slideshow
* I also want to have a link that direct my readers back to the main page
* I want my trunk to be a paragraph that gives full details of what’s to come, wanting my readers to read more.
I plan on:
* Starting my story early so that I have enough time to add all extra details
* I want to take a picture that encompasses all the elements of my nonlinear story
* I also want to add links that will help my viewers with health issues
– Such as links to near by doctors offices, fitness clubs and healthy food marts
Since my next topic will be about STDs I plan on writing a story that deals with the importance of STDs among college students. I am planning to talk with some college students about their thoughts on STDs, while planning to also talk with a physician on ways students can prevent getting an STD.
By doing this I hope to pull together all my stories and multimedia’s into one unit, hopefully, making it easier for students to access while also encouraging many students to try to maintain a healthy body.
Greasy and fatty foods are all around us, making it difficult for individuals to try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, J’Vaughn Gorham, a senior at Towson University, finds time throughout his busy school schedule to make wise health decisions.
I will be basing my slideshow on Mr. Gorham; examining ways that he chooses to stay healthy. Some factors will include:
• places where he exercises
• the type’s foods he eats
• protein shakes he may drink
• as well as other factors that leads him into making good health choices.
By doing so, I hope this will encourage other college students to make wise health decisions if they have not already.
Tiffany Teal a junior at Towson University, choosing to eat a healthy salad at the Newell Dining Hall located on Towson Universities campus. (photo taken by Asia Hinton/Towson University student)
Students at Towson University are tired of the greasy food selections at the cafeterias and are trying to find a healthier approach to eating. Listen to one student’s opinion of the foods on campus and ways she’s trying to become healthy. Read More <
Health as you know is my general topic for this blog. I first decided to inform you on the importance of the H1N1 virus, ways you can keep from being infected and most importantly the vaccination for such a virus, but now it’s time to move on and began discussing ways in which college students as well as others can eat healthy. In my audio story, my plan is to informing college students on the:
By doing so, I hope that college students find healthier ways to diet and ways to keep a healthier body.
Dowell Health Center at Towson University (photo taken by Asia Hinton/ Towson University student)
Towson, Md. – Justin Jackson, a 20- year- old junior at Towson University, did not think that the H1N1 virus was a big deal until it hit close to home, when his roommate began coughing, sneezing and exhibiting signs of a slight fever.
“To me, the whole swine flu thing wasn’t a big deal until I personally had an interaction with someone who may have had the virus,” said Jackson. “It was a scary sight.”
Jackson, who’s been living in a Towson dormitory for over three years, says this is the first time he has ever experienced such a bizarre and frightening incident.
The H1N1 virus, commonly referred to as the swine flu, is a pandemic that has been plaguing the world for nearly a year. Countless citizens have died from this virus and thousands have been hospitalized. Those mostly at risk are college students, especially those living in campus dormitories.
“I feel like I’m more in danger because I have a better chance of getting the virus since my roommate and I share everything,” said Jackson.
Worried that he may contract the virus, Jackson has opted to stay out of his room for almost two weeks, which is not part of his normal routine.
“About 85 percent of the time I am out of my room,” said Jackson. “Normally after I get out of class I would take a nap in my room, do my homework and my roommate and I would watch TV or play the Xbox; but now I am never in my room. I either go to the dining halls, to the lobby of my building or to the library to do my homework, and I try to spend some nights in my friends’ dorm rooms instead of mine.”
Jackson, who rarely would use hand sanitizer, now carriers a bottle with him everywhere he goes and frequently washes his hands, but he feels that this is still not enough and wants to know what else he can do in order to stay immune from this deadly and wide-spread virus.
Kate Reeder, a coordinator of health promotion and education services at Towson University’s Dowell Health Center, strives to inform students on the importance of keeping a healthy body, a healthy immune system and most of all, stresses to students ways in which they can keep from being infected from the H1N1 virus.
Reeder’s number one tip to students is to wash their hands properly using an antibacterial soap.
“If you sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice in your head while your washing your hands, that’s the correct amount of time you should be washing and getting in between your fingers and around all surfaces,” said Reeder. “If you can’t wash your hands, than using an antibacterial gel would be the next best thing.”
Reeder also emphasizes for students to try not to touch their mouth, nose or rub their eyes during the day, especially if they have not washed or sanitized their hands. Doing so would increase ones chance of easily spreading the virus quickly to ones self.
If a student suspects that they may have the H1N1 virus, Reeder urges students to first call the Dowell Health Center in order not to expose others to the virus, especially if it’s one that can be self treated by over the counter medications such as throat lozenges, decongestion medication and ibuprofen fever reducers.
Reeder also tries to tell students that if they do believe that they may have the virus, but are afraid of missing numerous classes, not to worry, because the university has put together a policy concerning H1N1.
“The professors are suppose to excuse anyone who has flu-like symptoms from class,” said Reeder. “So nobody should be getting a hard time about not being in class if they do feel sick, and they shouldn’t be requiring a note from a provider or anyone here at the health center. How the work will be made up is at the discretion of the professors, but the main policy here is that students are excused.”
Reeder’s last advice for students, specifically those who may have roommates that are sick, is to continuously keep your room clean.
“Wipe down surfaces like door knobs, keyboards, phones and especially anything that’s shared in communal space between the roommates,” said Reeder. “Use an antibacterial wipe, letting the surface remain wet for a couple of minutes before you dry, in order to kill all bacteria that may be present.”
Reeder also advises students to get the flu shot as well as the swine flu shot when it becomes available for students free of charge at the health center.
While Reeder gives many students tips and precautions to prevent from getting the flu, 19-year-old Earl Johnson, a sophomore at Towson University, says he has always taken precautions since his awareness of the swine flu.
“You have to treat it like any other disease; you have to take the necessary steps and precautions like washing your hands often, using hand sanitizer and wiping down everything you use with alcohol pads,” said Johnson. “It doesn’t bother me that other students are sick; if I keep my body healthy by eating the right foods and taking the necessary precautions to be free of bacteria, then I should be okay.”
Although Jackson once thought that the H1N1 virus wasn’t a big deal, he now sees that it is something that could affect him. Getting the flu shot was never on Jackson’s to-do-list, but now he feels that it is something of importance in order to protect his self as well as others around him.
“I do feel now that it’s necessary to get the flu shot,” said Jackson. “I have already made arrangements to see my doctor.”
The swine flu is still a pandemic that is affecting the lives of many people. More citizens are dying from this flu everyday. An article from the BaltimoreSun.com entitled “Swine flu claims the life of a child” , emphasis that this virus has yet to come to an end.
Destinee Alicia Parker, an eighth grader at the Montebello Elementary/Middle School, died of swine flu Tuesday, September 29, 2009. She is one of Maryland’s first youths who have died from the swine flu with no other underlying health conditions. It wasn’t until September 21, that Destinee began to feel sick as she became out of breath while walking up her schools stairwell, even though Parker did not have asthma. Camille Bell, principal of Montebello, notice Parker’s breathing, called Parkers’ father, James Parker, and took Parker to the nurse. When it appeared that Parker’s condition was getting worse, the nurse called an ambulance and Parker was taken to the University of Maryland Medical Center. September 23, doctors confirmed that Parker’s illness was due to the H1N1 virus.
Although this article does a great job in explaining the kind of kid Parker was, as well as her future dreams, it does little to explain what Parker was doing the weekend she spent the night at her mothers house, which is where she may have contracted the virus. This piece of information may allow others to see if she acquired the virus while vacationing with her mother or could she have possibly gotten it from another student at school. I also believe that the writer of this story could have elaborated more on the fact that Parker died from the virus, having no other harmful health conditions. For example, many people that had H1N1 died because of other health problems they had as well, yet Parker was a healthy child and was still unable to overcome the virus. Elaborating on this piece of information will further notify citizens that regardless if one is healthy or not, H1N1 can and possibly will take ones life. Further more, the writer of this story interviewed doctors who are telling citizens that if their conditions are not as bad, than they can be self treated. However, it goes on to explain that health officials don’t know why some children contract harsher cases of the flu than others. Parker’s condition was not at all bad at the beginning, for she only had problems breathing, if it weren’t for Bell taking her to the nurse and calling the ambulance Parker may have died at school or at home, all because doctors are telling citizens that if a child’s symptoms are not that severe it can be treated with over the counter medication.
On a lighter note, the writer does give citizen’s information on what groups of people will be administered the H1N1 vaccination first.
“The state will distribute vaccines to county and city health departments…and schoolchildren will be among the first to get them…first in line in the state will be students up to 24 years old, health care workers, pregnant women, those caring for an infant and those older than 24 with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease. The general population is advised to get vaccinated in later rounds through their doctors or local health clinics.”
Also, the writer gives readers tips to avoid the flu and symptoms as well as signs to watch out for if one thinks they may have the flu, which is beneficial to anyone.
“To avoid the flu: Wash your hands often, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve. Wipe common areas such as door handles, phones and keyboards frequently.
•If you have the flu: Expect fever, cough, sore throat, chills, headache, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea or shortness of breath. Stay home and do not return to school or work until you have been fever-free for 24 hours without medication.
•Seek medical help if: children have serious underlying health conditions and have flu symptoms; have bluish skin color for fair tones and grayish skin color for darker tones; aren’t drinking enough fluids; are so irritable that they don’t want to be held; have a fever with a rash; or have symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough. Adults should see a doctor if they have difficulty breathing or pain in the chest or abdomen; sudden dizziness or confusion; or severe or persistent vomiting.”
Moreover, if I had to do an article on someone dying from swine flu, I would try my best to see where the person may have contracted the virus, why such person died if they were completely healthy and most importantly I would further investigate why doctors believe that such cases can be treated at home, when this virus has taken the lives of thousands of people world wide.
There are many different ways that a writer can approach a story. Some ways in particular are known as the:
As stated before, since the swine flu is the most talked about topic in the media, I decided to write a story about one person’s journey that had the swine flu. I plan to write a profile story on a student at Towson University, who spent either their summer vacation having the swine flu or who had the swine flu during the fall school semester. While also getting the students’ in depth experience of having the swine flu, I also plan to talk to a nurse at Towson University’s Dowell Health Center, asking questions as:
By not only getting one students’ struggle as well as fear of having the swine flu, I am also getting an experts advice that could maybe help many students on campus who believe that they may have been exposed to the swine flu or know someone who has.
