Should Students Get Mental Health Days Off From School?

 

rawpixel.com

    Yes. I believe that students, perhaps those in middle school but definitely those in high school, should be provided the opportunity to take mental health days off from school. As students enter their teenage years, there are so many different things to think about and manage all at once: schoolwork, activities, sports, hobbies, friendships, and family... The list goes on and on. And so it is often difficult to balance all of these aspects at once. As a result, sometimes many students end up lowering their mental health from their priority list for too long, that they become drained. 

    But does time stop and wait for them to recharge? No. The world keeps moving forward, and these exhausted students just end up becoming even more exhausted. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), "1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year." Additionally, the CDC states that about 20% of high school students have seriously considered attempting suicide. I strongly believe that students should not be driven this far. I believe schools should offer the option for students to take a few days off of school to catch their breath and recharge; an escape route from the loop of exhaustion.

    In addition, I believe that schools should host regular mental health awareness activities. Schools should also provide lessons on maintaining good mental health (i.e. coping techniques, time management, prioritization, etc.) I believe this would significantly help students avoid falling into continuous exhaustion and prevent them from needing to use mental health days too frequently.

    However, after talking to some Uni friends about mental health days, I noticed a problem that I myself have run into and am not sure how to solve. Although mental health days are offered at Uni, the fear of the amount of work that would be missed and would have to be made up prevents them from being used. Especially since class periods are almost double the length of regular class periods, the amount of learning and work done in each hour can be overwhelming to catch up. This leaves Uni students without much choice. It's either "do it now with the rest of the class" or "make up everything you missed later while learning new topics." Naturally, lots of students lean to the option of continuing to go to school, despite their fatigue. What could be done about this problem of students being afraid to use mental health days? How could mental health days be more accessible to Uni students?

Works Cited

Gaylor EM, Krause KH, Welder LE, et al. Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/su/su7201a6.htm#suggestedcitation. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

“Mental Health Conditions.” NAMI, NAMI, www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions#:~:text=1%20in%2020%20U.S.%20adults,and%2075%25%20by%20age%2024. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023. 

The Learning Network. “300 Questions and Images to Inspire Argument Writing.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Feb. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/02/01/learning/300-questions-and-images-to-inspire-argument-writing.html. 

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

A look at Primrose from Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

By Ana A

        Katniss Everdeen, that is who the "Hunger Games" series focuses on. The Hunger Games series is a dystopian series set in the fictional nation of Panem. The Capitol holds an annual event called the Hunger Games, which the 12 districts (similar concept to USA's States) are forced to compete in. Katniss volunteers to take her sisters spot as the district 12 representative in the games and in future actions absolutely breaks the capital. Katniss begins her journey in the series as a likeable and neatly kept individual, however, by the end of the third book, she becomes insufferable. However, this isn't about her but her younger sister Primrose. 

Primrose's main focus is not on herself as many young teens have, but on others. This perhaps is her most positive quality in all of the hunger games books. After seeing many injured during the war of Panem "Prim had set up a medical area for the injured," which saved hundreds of lives (Collins 35). She would risk her life even to go out on the front lines and care for the injured, putting her own life at steak meant absolutely nothing if it meant that others would be helped. When her sister was crying about her personal problems, Prim was there to comfort her. When her mother was struggling to be a single mother, Prim was there. She helped those who were even supposed to be helping her. Despite other characters treating her like garbage, she was there for them.

        Prim even creates a sort of "soft spot" for everyone, including animals. Prim owns a cat, Buttercup, and a goat, Lady. Both animals love her dearly. Buttercup in fact only has eyes for her. Primrose has always cradled him and made sure that he was cared for, just like every other living being that she has encountered. Besides Buttercups' own name hers is "the only word that means anything to him,"(Collins 43). Lady is a different story, she is a nice easy-going goat, different from Buttercups challenging demeanor. Ladys favorite person though is still primrose. She would always allow Prim to do things to her, such as pet her, that she wouldn't allow others to do.  

        Even Prim, who is a delightful character has a negative trait. However, her many, many positive characteristics outweigh her only negative trait, her vulnerability. Prim's vulnerability greatly becomes less and less of an issue throughout the books. In the first book Primrose wants to act and help others but is limited by her age, as a 12-year-old she can't do much to help. However, as she is on the brink to turn 14 in the last book, she has worked the hardest out of her entire family and has been quite far on her journey to be a leading medical professional. Other characters acknowledge her positive qualities and mention it frequently such as even Katniss, who usually only sees the negative side in many says that Prim "has inherited the best qualities our family has to offer,"(Collins 125). At various points throughout the rest of the novel many others agree and boost this opinion. Prim is the best thing that the hunger games as gotten.

Who's the real villain?

 

spoilers for Prodigy and Legend by Marie Lu

(scroll down)

Sarah Bolton

(image from Amazon.com)

https://www.amazon.com/Prodigy-Marie-Lu/dp/0142427551

The Patriots and the Republic have been enemies for years, the Patriots trying to bring back the old America, and the Republic trying to take over the current-day United States. The old Elector, closest to a modern-day president, has just died, leaving his son in charge. The old Elector had many enemies, as he was a harsh ruler. Because of that, people automatically assume that his son, Anden, will be the same. Commander DeSoto, or Razor as the patriots call him, is the leader of the rebel organization. He is one of the Electors’ closest commanders.

June and Day, the protagonists, one the Republic’s prized prodigy and the other the Republic’s most notorious criminal, joined the patriots. They have been tasked with the assassination of Anden. However, when June goes to lure him into the trap, she learns that Anden isn’t so bad. He actually wants to help Day, and improve his reputation with the lower class. Razor is a high enough class to know this. Yet he still wants him dead. He also told no one about Anden’s true intentions.

So who’s the real villain? I think that Anden is really trying to improve his reputation, not just trying to trick June. There is evidence that he’s trying to do things his father never would’ve done behind the scenes, not just in front of her. However, I don’t think Razor is evil. No matter how kind the Elector is, he will always see the colonies, the Republic’s enemy, as better. Therefore he doesn’t care who the Elector is, he just wants them dead. He’s given up any hope for the Republic, knowing that the only positive for it is its downfall. He’s trying to keep it a secret and convince everyone that Anden’s antics are just acts so that they don’t realize that the Republic might be on the path to a change for the better.

While June used to be the Republic’s star, and so she’s swayed more easily, Day will probably be very skeptical. As much as he wants his brother back, as Anden has said he’ll do, he’s been the enemy of the Republic his entire life. I could see this going one of a few ways. Day might believe this is a trap and stay with the patriots. If this happens, June will most likely keep trying to convince him. He might trust the Elector and go find his brother. While it is a possibility it’s a trap, I don’t think it is. He also might pretend to trust the Elector, but assassinate him instead. If he does this, there’s a very small chance he’ll get his brother back, unless the patriots get it for him, as they said they would.

Discovering the Secrets of the Universe: Brianna Gibson

       Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

By-Benjamin Alire Saenz

   In this novel, Aristotiles (Aristotle) sets out to discover the secrets of the universe. This becomes a main theme in this novel. Discovering the secrets of the universe is almost the same as asking someone, "What is the meaning of life?" As Aristotle and his best friend Dante live on with their lives, they notice that every little thing unfolds one of these secrets. Things as little as stars in the sky. 

  To discover the secrets of the universe was not a concept that Aristotle and Dante could easily understand. They waited for where life took them, and saw what it had to offer. We as people are not meant to know the secrets of the universe, but if we are curious enough, we will try. Along his journey to discover these secrets, Aristotle also became familiar with secrets within himself. This novel not only focuses on the world around Aristotle and Dante, it also focuses on Aristotle and Dante themselves. 

   Aristotle was like a blank slate before he met Dante. He didn't know anything about himself. He spent years trying to discover his own self out. When he met Dante, his secrets and wonders relating to himself were discovered. He came in touch with his emotions, hobbies, and overall sense of self. Discovering the secrets of the universe could mean a lot more than the literal universe. It could mean discovering yourself, as Aristotle, along with Dante did. 

As the story moved along, Aristotle and Dante never figured out the literal secrets of the universe. They more so took what was special to them, and made those their secrets of the universe. Things as small as birds, the night sky, and other animals like dogs. All of these secrets symbolized something large in their life, though they were so small. Discovering the Secrets of the Universe is really what you make it.

In conclusion, no can really discover the secrets of the universe. It's more of what you make, and decide to label as something important. Something important enough to be a secret or mystery. The theme of discovering and self discovery is one of the greatest themes in this story. To Discover the Secrets of the Universe, is to discover the little things in your life, that may not be so little in your eyes. 

The Importance of Imperfections - Irene Kim

Eventown book cover

    Eventown, written by Corey Ann Haydu, is a novel centered around an 11-year-old girl named Elodee. The story begins by illustrating Elodee's life in Juniper: the never-ending sighs in her house, her always-gloomy parents, and "friends" who look at her weirdly and don't invite her to their birthday parties. Her life wasn't always like this. Everything had changed a year ago. Something happened that day--something sad--and it hurts to remember. The dark cloud that has been looming over Elodee and her family since that day seems as if it will never disappear. 

    Until, one day, Elodee's parents announce that they will be moving to a new town: Eventown. At first, Elodee and Naomi aren't too happy about the move. There won't be any cars or TV. In other words, no fun! However, they both know that there needs to be a change. Something needs to change to shoo the sadness away. And their parents are smiling for the first time in what seems like decades. How can they argue when their parents look so happy?

    When they arrive at Eventown, everything is perfect. The beautiful scenery, the ice cream, the neighbors, the school... But Elodee notices a strangeness among the perfectness. The way they only play "the Eventown Anthem" a dozen times every music class because it's the only song they have in Eventown... the way all of the girls doing gymnastics, her sister included, do the exact same routine the exact same, perfect way... the way her ice cream never falls over or melts no matter how long she waits... the way all of her cooking from the Eventown recipe book ends up perfectly delicious every time... Everyone around her seems to be in love with the perfectness, but Elodee thinks differently. Of course, it's kind of nice having everything work out the best way possible every time, but she misses the not-so-perfectness. Elodee misses Naomi's not-so-perfect flips that made the good ones more special... her wacky cakes and slightly burnt fried chicken... Even though these things before Eventown weren't perfect, they were so much more fun and special. But it seems like Elodee is the only one who thinks this. Everyone else seems to have forgotten this specialness. All of their memories before Eventown seem to have disappeared. And Elodee's are starting to fade too.

    The author's message on appreciating imperfections stood out to me. I think our world today focuses too much on perfectness: getting perfect test scores, doing perfect pirouettes, getting first place... We often forget to appreciate the imperfect moments of our lives, even though they are the ones that make the perfect moments more special. Imagine the weather is perfect, every meal is delicious, and you never make a single mistake every day for the rest of your life. Sure, that would be nice, but these perfect things wouldn't be special anymore. I believe that imperfect moments are equally as important as perfect ones, because they are what make the perfect moments shine. And I think we, in the world today, should take a moment to stop and appreciate these imperfections sometimes.

Do We Still Need Libraries?

 https://archive.nytimes.com/learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/do-we-still-need-libraries/?rref=collection%252Fcolumn%252Flearning-student-opinion

by Sarah B

Image Source: https://archive.nytimes.com/learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/do-we-still-need-libraries/?rref=collection%252Fcolumn%252Flearning-student-opinion

Libraries are important assets in our society. They have been around for a since before 600 BC (Pettegree and der Weduwen), and have continued to be useful. They provide useful information hard to find elsewhere. At least they did. However, now that we have the internet, that information is available readily in the palm of your hand. Some people think that libraries aren’t relevant anymore. However, I don’t think that’s true. While there is a lot of information on the internet, not all of it is reliable. However, library sources are reliable, as they are picked and chosen. Also, for many people, a physical book is much more preferable to an electronic one.

Libraries are good book sources for people of all ages. When I was younger, and still today, I used to love the library. I would check out books that I didn’t have at home, instead of buying them. More recently, I would check out books about certain topics needed for a school paper, and use them as a reliable source. I mainly checked out books at my school libraries and my local library. I mainly go to the school library, since it’s more convenient.

Normally I check out a book every week or so, but It’s been a while since I even picked up a book. I’ve been busy lately, so reading isn’t at the top of my priority list. But normally I use libraries to check out books for fun reading, like fantasy. I look for the next book/book series on my reading list and go check it out if I don’t have it at home. Sometimes, while physical books are preferred, I will read an e-book. My book-checking-out preferences are school library, e-book, and local library, in that order.

One reason why Libraries may not be receiving the proper funding is that the people in charge are picky with where they send their money, and they may think that libraries aren’t important with the internet. However, this isn’t true. “A study conducted at Ghana University of India showed that 53 (32.1%) respondents indicated that they use library occasionally and 69 (41.8%) of the respondents use library often” (Azam et al., 39).  They continue to be useful and provide both credible information and a place that anyone can go to. Libraries should continue to be funded, and even get an increase in funding.

Azam, Mehreett, et al. “Female Students’ Preferences, Internet and Library Usage at The Islamia University o f Bahawalpur.” Pakistan Library & Information Science Journal, vol. 51, no. 1, Jan. 2020, pp. 38–44. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lls&AN=141232369&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Andrew Pettegree, and Arthur der Weduwen. The Library : A Fragile History. Basic Books, 2021. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=2948452&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Is 13 reasons why bringing awareness to teen mental health or glamorizing it? trigger warning: suicide

  

Brianna Gibson

O'Brien

Language and Literature 2

October 12, 2023

Is 13 Reasons Why bringing awareness to teen mental health or glamorizing it? 

t.w: suicide

      The Netflix drama covers topics relating to suicide, depression, sexual assault, and violence in schools. The series was cancelled on June 5, 2020 for its negative impact on young adults. While some young adults found it disturbing and off putting, others felt that the show was overall a great depiction of what teens today go through. They felt represented, and seen. An example of the disturbance felt by audiences, a now deleted scene from the show. This scene showed the suicide of a young teen named Hannah Baker, who was one of the main characters in the show. Hannah recored 13 cassette tapes regarding the people who did her wrong. She left these tapes behind for people to find. Unfortunately, this scene raised a drastic suicide increase in teens. These results and reactions were what originally began the controversy. 

      I personally, believe that the show explained many of the struggles of teens today, but they were not executed in the right way. I would not say the show glamorizes teen mental health, I would rather say it doesn't depict it as what it entirely holds. Many shows today do not accurately show the problems that many young adults face today, and I felt that this show added to that list. Today, one of the three largest national pains in the U.S are suicide deaths. To create a show discussing a topic that has been glamorized, ignored, and dismissed for years, I would expect for it to be done in a better way. Various reviews of this show from people who have dealt with even the thought of suicide found this show disgusting, and misrepresenting. 

       The show covers Hannah's suicide by explaining how she did it, and why she did it. In my eyes, it almost seemed as if they turned it into a game. Having the 13 cassette tapes waiting to be found, it just seemed odd. Aside from the idea of the cassette tapes, the show had potential. In the original trailer for the show, Clay Jensen (protagonist as well as Hannah's dear friend) quotes, "...and everyones so nice, until they drive you to kill yourself." I feel that this quote showed one of the moments in the show that had potential, and meaning. Though this quote and speech in general brought awareness to teen mental health, many moments in the show were not accurately done, and caused distress in many viewers. However, the shows main idea was a great concept. I just think with more time and input, the show could have been better. 

In conclusion, I believe that the show is not doing its full justice to the nationwide issue of suicide. Though some points bring awareness, the statistics and removal of the Hannah Baker scene say a lot. Just the fact that suicide rates increased seems to be a clear sign that something was not done correctly. A show discussing suicide in the first place should include a trigger warning, (as the show did not), and help lines for viewers watching. The removed scene just gave viewers ideas regarding suicide, and pretty much helped them complete the plan. Overall, I believe the potential of the show would have been great, if it were just done better.