I had a great experience with this class!
What interests me about the topic "Adolescent Health Promotion"? Is it different from what you reported at the start of the class?
My opinions of adolescent health had changed, because I really got a better understanding of the social structure and norms influencers for and against health for that age group. It is a much more unique age group than most others and has it's own
How did this class impact me as a health professional?
I'm hoping that the skills and techniques I learned in this class will help me create more effective and realistic health promotion policies and programs for adults and adolescents alike.
Where do I go from here?
I may not be facilitating workshops like the one we did right away, not in the short term anyway, but I will take with me the approaches we learned both for my work and my life. With a better understanding of the learning approaches for adolescents, I think I will be a better policy analyst and a better sister.
Thank you for this great experience and fun class!
Fraser
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Lalida's Final Personal Reflection
Hi all! I had a great time learning with everyone and from what has been posted so far, it seems that everyone else feels the same. Success! Here's my final reflection:
What interests me about the topic "Adolescent Health Promotion"? Is it different from what you reported at the start of the class?
It's very interesting to me all of the different aspects of adolescent health there are and how complicated each one is. It's amazing how many different influences there are on each decision a teen makes when it comes to their health. At the beginning of class, I was completely baffled by the the thought processes behind a teen's health decisions, but after completing the class and workshop, I feel that I understand their mental processes better. I now see that there are a variety of aspects that teens consider when making their health decisions, even if they don't seem to be the most conscientious to me.
How did this class impact me as a health professional?
As a health professional, I feel that I am better able to comprehend the fact that there are many aspects to individuals' health decisions that I can not see or would not think of. This will definitely come in handy. In order to create a successful health communication program, I would need to know the factors that impact their decisions in order to have the most effect.
Where do I go from here?
From here, I hope to be able to better understand individual health decisions and to appreciate the complexities behind them. I will continue to learn about different population and health communication techniques to hopefully improve health communication programs and public health. I hope to work with adolescent populations since I've seen firsthand that they do actually care.
Good luck to everyone in your future endeavors and have a great rest of the summer! Hope to see you guys around!
What interests me about the topic "Adolescent Health Promotion"? Is it different from what you reported at the start of the class?
It's very interesting to me all of the different aspects of adolescent health there are and how complicated each one is. It's amazing how many different influences there are on each decision a teen makes when it comes to their health. At the beginning of class, I was completely baffled by the the thought processes behind a teen's health decisions, but after completing the class and workshop, I feel that I understand their mental processes better. I now see that there are a variety of aspects that teens consider when making their health decisions, even if they don't seem to be the most conscientious to me.
How did this class impact me as a health professional?
As a health professional, I feel that I am better able to comprehend the fact that there are many aspects to individuals' health decisions that I can not see or would not think of. This will definitely come in handy. In order to create a successful health communication program, I would need to know the factors that impact their decisions in order to have the most effect.
Where do I go from here?
From here, I hope to be able to better understand individual health decisions and to appreciate the complexities behind them. I will continue to learn about different population and health communication techniques to hopefully improve health communication programs and public health. I hope to work with adolescent populations since I've seen firsthand that they do actually care.
Good luck to everyone in your future endeavors and have a great rest of the summer! Hope to see you guys around!
Christina's Final Reflection
What interested me about this course? Is it different from what interested me at the start of the course?
At the start of the course, I was more focused on individual choices and their impact on personal health. But working through the ecological model for the portfolio reminded me of the additional layers we have to take into consideration – peer relationships especially with adolescents, but also policy considerations. For example, our workshop included education around emergency contraception, and we learned firsthand that the maze of differing state and local laws and regulations can be confusing and complicated for health educators/communicators and our audiences. So, it was a useful exercise to remind us that all of the personal communication and education takes place in a broader context.
How did this class impact me as a health professional?
In my initial reflection I talked about the challenge of persuading adolescents of risk and their own mortality. I had lamented that it is difficult to achieve a balance between communicating health risks while still encouraging them to take creative risks that enable them to achieve. But I found many of the teens in the workshop to be very level-headed and grounded in the reality of risks. Many of them really seemed to get the fact that their choices today can impact their quality of life down the road. So, while I am still interested in getting the right balance in risk communication, the experience reminded me to credit their survival skills and common sense.
Where do I go from here?
My professional life is focused more on mass communication rather than interpersonal communication. I tend to work on big, national communication and social marketing campaigns like the launch of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. I am gearing up now for a campaign to increase enrollment in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). So, I don’t think I’ll have the opportunity to lead community-level workshops among adolescents in the near future, but I think the experience of the course has opened my eyes to what I should be looking for when we sign up partnering organizations for these big campaigns.
Personally, I enjoyed the course because it took me out of my natural habitat and comfort zone. I also enjoyed observing and admiring my colleagues in action!
At the start of the course, I was more focused on individual choices and their impact on personal health. But working through the ecological model for the portfolio reminded me of the additional layers we have to take into consideration – peer relationships especially with adolescents, but also policy considerations. For example, our workshop included education around emergency contraception, and we learned firsthand that the maze of differing state and local laws and regulations can be confusing and complicated for health educators/communicators and our audiences. So, it was a useful exercise to remind us that all of the personal communication and education takes place in a broader context.
How did this class impact me as a health professional?
In my initial reflection I talked about the challenge of persuading adolescents of risk and their own mortality. I had lamented that it is difficult to achieve a balance between communicating health risks while still encouraging them to take creative risks that enable them to achieve. But I found many of the teens in the workshop to be very level-headed and grounded in the reality of risks. Many of them really seemed to get the fact that their choices today can impact their quality of life down the road. So, while I am still interested in getting the right balance in risk communication, the experience reminded me to credit their survival skills and common sense.
Where do I go from here?
My professional life is focused more on mass communication rather than interpersonal communication. I tend to work on big, national communication and social marketing campaigns like the launch of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. I am gearing up now for a campaign to increase enrollment in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). So, I don’t think I’ll have the opportunity to lead community-level workshops among adolescents in the near future, but I think the experience of the course has opened my eyes to what I should be looking for when we sign up partnering organizations for these big campaigns.
Personally, I enjoyed the course because it took me out of my natural habitat and comfort zone. I also enjoyed observing and admiring my colleagues in action!
Kevon's Final Reflection!
WOWWW! What an experience, I really enjoyed this class. It was a breathe of fresh air after the tension of last semester! I really enjoyed learning the different techniques Alis and Sara shared with us. I feel really privileged to have worked with such an awesome group of colleagues, I especially enjoyed taking what I learned to the youth. This was my first time interacting with the teens in DC and it was great, and welcoming. Working with the youth at Metro Teen AIDS reconfirmed that I am definitely in the right profession. Seeing their enthusiasm encouraged me to bring my best to them.
What interests me about the topic “Adolescent Health Promotion”? Is it different from what you reported at the start of the class?
The youth are really relying on us to relate a clear and powerful message about HIV and AIDS. I also realized that I am not as disconnected from the youth as I thought I was. I just got to remember not to call them "children, babies, little people"! LOL! They are youth on their way to adulthood, but they are clearly not adults...BUT they do face some extremely adult situations unfortunately. :-(
How did this class impact me as a health professional? Where do I go from here?
I know I have my limitations as in what I will and will not teach, but the things that I am confident in addressing in this health issue will bring forth positive change. I am confident that the faith I posses in God will shine through with each message I present to the youth, if its about HIV/AIDS, Teen Pregnancy, Violence or whatever! So where do I go from here? I know I can do it, now I have more strategies to bring these messages across. Team Impact you ladies were awesome as well! After working with crazy groups and teams throughout my first year at GW, I honestly found it a blessing to work with you! May everyone keep the faith and be successful in all your future endeavors!
• •
God's Peace and Blessings,
Kevon
What interests me about the topic “Adolescent Health Promotion”? Is it different from what you reported at the start of the class?
The youth are really relying on us to relate a clear and powerful message about HIV and AIDS. I also realized that I am not as disconnected from the youth as I thought I was. I just got to remember not to call them "children, babies, little people"! LOL! They are youth on their way to adulthood, but they are clearly not adults...BUT they do face some extremely adult situations unfortunately. :-(
How did this class impact me as a health professional? Where do I go from here?
I know I have my limitations as in what I will and will not teach, but the things that I am confident in addressing in this health issue will bring forth positive change. I am confident that the faith I posses in God will shine through with each message I present to the youth, if its about HIV/AIDS, Teen Pregnancy, Violence or whatever! So where do I go from here? I know I can do it, now I have more strategies to bring these messages across. Team Impact you ladies were awesome as well! After working with crazy groups and teams throughout my first year at GW, I honestly found it a blessing to work with you! May everyone keep the faith and be successful in all your future endeavors!
• •
God's Peace and Blessings,
Kevon
Erin's Final Reflection
Now that the class is said and done, I dont think that my interest in AHP is any different than it was in the beginning of the class. As a health professional, this class has allowed me to have the opportunity to see how AHP works in a community setting and explore the things that I like, and dont like, about delivering health programs in such a setting. I do wish that I participated in the MetroTeenAIDS presentation, only because I feel that the school presentation was EXACTLY what I do on a daily basis with my students - not different from the norm - something that I had not thought about when signing up. But I at least got the opportunity to observe, which was great! From here I continue my career in adolescent health programs. Although I would like to venture outside of the school system, I am unsure if that will happen at this time. But I will definitely be working with adolescents wherever I go!
Kafui's FInal Personal Reflection
Taking this course gave me the opportunity to apply the lessons that I not only learned in class but my overall education with the university. As I came into the course I wanted to have the opportunity to work with fellow classmates and also learn information about adolescents that I did not have the chance to learn before taking this course. I must say that was achieved, not only did I have the opportunity to work with my classmates in creating a lesson plan and actually conducting it, I was able to see other facilitator styles from my peers and instructors. Being able to see and apply those skills in a “real” world situation was a favorable component in the course. The outcome of each workshop conducted was worth experiencing in an educational setting. In addition, I felt the assignments and classroom activities were very appropriate. It gave us the opportunity to practice what was immediately taught and also gave us the opportunity to experience the activities that we were planning to disseminate to our intended audiences. Some of the topics discussed and learned in class will assist me in both the planning and dissemination stage of creating youth programs in my public health career. Overall, I enjoyed the course and will apply some of the skills learned to my interaction with the youth population.
Edelmira's Final Reflection
I really enjoy working with adolescents and discussing issues of health with them. It’s strange though, because I always get this weird mix of intrigue and utter freight just before speaking with them. As I said in the beginning, adolescence is a time period that fascinates me because it is so often the most difficult time in a young person’s life. I recall personally feeling as though no one understood me. So now it is my mission in life to work to understand adolescents (or at least to make them feel like someone does), so that I can help them successfully, and healthily transition into adulthood.
Yet, it is amazing how different this experience can be as an outsider (non-adolescent). I feel that this course has helped me gain a ton of information about the ecological context of adolescent life that will aid me as a public health professional to adapt to their varying worlds. I hope to work with adolescents’ in the future in ways that can positively impact them throughout each of the interwoven levels of the ecological context.
Yet, it is amazing how different this experience can be as an outsider (non-adolescent). I feel that this course has helped me gain a ton of information about the ecological context of adolescent life that will aid me as a public health professional to adapt to their varying worlds. I hope to work with adolescents’ in the future in ways that can positively impact them throughout each of the interwoven levels of the ecological context.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Dana's Personal Reflection
I actually have a lot more interest in Adolescent Health Promotion now after I have completed this course. Now I feel like its a lot easier to impact adolescents than I initially thought at the start of he class. I have truly enjoyed the experience of designing, planning, and implementing the workshop. This class is truly different from other MPH classes I've taken as it focuses on feasible short term workshops rather than long-term interventions. I would recommend this class for all MPH students in the health promotion track.
I am hoping to take what I learned in this class and conduct health promotion workshops for adolescents this summer in Bahrain. My older brother actually works in the Youth Division of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and generally conducts photography, painting, and science workshops all summer long. I've already been talking to him about the potential to engage these youths in health promotion... looking forward to seeing what happens.
I am hoping to take what I learned in this class and conduct health promotion workshops for adolescents this summer in Bahrain. My older brother actually works in the Youth Division of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and generally conducts photography, painting, and science workshops all summer long. I've already been talking to him about the potential to engage these youths in health promotion... looking forward to seeing what happens.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Brooke's Final Personal Reflection
My interests in adolescent health promotion remain constant. The principles of workshop design learned in this class will further enable me to interact and guide youth in the relevant psychosocial context. Typically, I interact with youth in a one-on-one setting, but this class has helped me understand how to move my skills into the group realm, with particular focus on how to let youth play off each other and act as peer educators. This has become my finishing class on facilitation. Next steps...I'm taking my skills on the road, either to an academic adolescent medicine program at a hospital in Philly or Fairfax (to be determined).
Friday, May 29, 2009
Brooke's Initial Personal Reflection
As a pediatrician who is about to finish her last month of a 3 year fellowship in Adolescent Medicine, this course strikes close to my heart. I have selected to work with youth age 12 and up preferentially, but am most often in the one-on-one setting with them or in large group settings, e.g., classrooms. My office runs many workshops for teens, but I haven't participated in them as much as I would like. Therefore, I hope to gain the following 2 things from this course: 1) greater comfort facilitating non-judgmental discussions, in general; 2) an understanding of workshop principles, so that I can spot each technique in use during other workshops I observe. By nature of my training and job, I bring medical expertise to the world of adolescent health promotion. In particular, I have greatest experience with inner-city, African-American youth. In addition, I have a strong background in non-judgmental interviewing of youth about very personal issues, ability to assess readiness for behavior risk change, and practice with motivational interviewing techniques. I hope to apply these skills when working with other youth subgroups and in understanding the macro-issues of adolescent health promotion.
-Brooke Rosman
-Brooke Rosman
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Fraser's Initial Personal Reflection - Summer 2009
My recent research and work includes nutrition and physical activity promotion, especially among school-aged youth and adolescents, by encouraging individual responsibility in leading healthier lives and removing barriers to making healthy choices. However, I have only concentrated on the policy behind the health promotion, not the education and workshops that would actually spread the message to the target audience. For this reason, I’m interested in getting the real feel of how a workshop like this would run in a high school environment--especially one in DC where obesity and food insecurity are common. I look forward to pushing myself to be comfortable in this new environment.
In addition to learning more about how to run an effective health promotion workshop, I also expect to learn more about the adolescent learner and the techniques and strategies that make an impact for them. I want to use this knowledge to make the policies I suggest more impactful and successful for promoting the overall health and well-being of adolescents. Personally, I hope this information will help me understand my 19 year old brother and his past struggles better.
I'm looking forward to a short but great summer session!
Fraser Rothenberg Byrne
In addition to learning more about how to run an effective health promotion workshop, I also expect to learn more about the adolescent learner and the techniques and strategies that make an impact for them. I want to use this knowledge to make the policies I suggest more impactful and successful for promoting the overall health and well-being of adolescents. Personally, I hope this information will help me understand my 19 year old brother and his past struggles better.
I'm looking forward to a short but great summer session!
Fraser Rothenberg Byrne
Edelmira's Initial Post...
What interested me about this course?
Enrolling in this class was a decision that came to me both very quickly and very easily. Adolescence has always been a period of particular interest to me. It is the reason that I aspire to become a pediatrician, and the biggest driving force that led me to teach immediately after graduating from my undergraduate institution. I remember during that stage of my life going through several emotional ups and downs. I always felt that if I could just get through that awkward stage, that I would reach back and help others who felt misunderstood and/or out of place.
What interested me about this course was the opportunity to learn strategies to promote healthy living amongst adolescents. As a teacher, I always got excited when I was able to motivate my students to make a positive change. As a perspective public health professional, I anxiously await the day when I can get adolescents to make long-term positive changes to promote healthy living.
What do I expect to learn/gain from this course?
In this course, I want to learn how to communicate with adolescents across their wide age spectrum, in a manner that is both appropriate for their understanding, and effective in its approach. I hope to learn methods that have been tested and proven to work to best reach them. At very minimum, I hope to learn what not to do when trying to promote adolescent health. I wouldn’t want my ignorance to reinforce negative behavior within my interest group.
What do I skills/abilities to I bring to adolescent health promotion?
I am excited about the final project because it gives me a first-hand opportunity to use the skills/abilities that I have acquired as a teacher and current public health student.
As a former 7th and 8th grade science teacher in Prince George’s County Maryland, I come equipped with two years of experience working with adolescents ages 12-15. During my tenure, I gained a wealth of knowledge and skills that I trust will assist me in carrying out the activities throughout this course. These skills include, the ability to present information using a multi-faceted approach. I have found that adolescents are not all equal in their learning styles. Some students learn best through performing exercises, some are visual or auditory learners, while others may be a combination of the three.
Additionally, in my class I mastered the ability to get my kids excited about learning. It is my hope that this skill will transfer in the final workshop. The skill that took the longest to develop, and that which I am most proud of, was learning how to balance discipline and classroom order, while simultaneously building a caring teacher/student relationship with many of my students.
Enrolling in this class was a decision that came to me both very quickly and very easily. Adolescence has always been a period of particular interest to me. It is the reason that I aspire to become a pediatrician, and the biggest driving force that led me to teach immediately after graduating from my undergraduate institution. I remember during that stage of my life going through several emotional ups and downs. I always felt that if I could just get through that awkward stage, that I would reach back and help others who felt misunderstood and/or out of place.
What interested me about this course was the opportunity to learn strategies to promote healthy living amongst adolescents. As a teacher, I always got excited when I was able to motivate my students to make a positive change. As a perspective public health professional, I anxiously await the day when I can get adolescents to make long-term positive changes to promote healthy living.
What do I expect to learn/gain from this course?
In this course, I want to learn how to communicate with adolescents across their wide age spectrum, in a manner that is both appropriate for their understanding, and effective in its approach. I hope to learn methods that have been tested and proven to work to best reach them. At very minimum, I hope to learn what not to do when trying to promote adolescent health. I wouldn’t want my ignorance to reinforce negative behavior within my interest group.
What do I skills/abilities to I bring to adolescent health promotion?
I am excited about the final project because it gives me a first-hand opportunity to use the skills/abilities that I have acquired as a teacher and current public health student.
As a former 7th and 8th grade science teacher in Prince George’s County Maryland, I come equipped with two years of experience working with adolescents ages 12-15. During my tenure, I gained a wealth of knowledge and skills that I trust will assist me in carrying out the activities throughout this course. These skills include, the ability to present information using a multi-faceted approach. I have found that adolescents are not all equal in their learning styles. Some students learn best through performing exercises, some are visual or auditory learners, while others may be a combination of the three.
Additionally, in my class I mastered the ability to get my kids excited about learning. It is my hope that this skill will transfer in the final workshop. The skill that took the longest to develop, and that which I am most proud of, was learning how to balance discipline and classroom order, while simultaneously building a caring teacher/student relationship with many of my students.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Kevon's Initial Personal Reflection
What interested me about this course?
Honestly a friend and fellow colleague of mine informed me about this course and it seemed to be like an important class to gain a brigher perspective of adolescents. Before I came to GW I volunteered with the teen ministry at my church. During my time with the children I always wondered of different ways I could possibly reach out to them and relate to them. I have a heart for children and the adolescent years are so crucial in their mental, physicial, and spiritual development. As another classmate mentioned that it has been a while since she was a teen, I know its been a little while since I conquered that awkward time in life. But I also realize how detached I really am from the younger generation. I really do not know what to expect from this class but I am interested in the learning possibilities.
What do I expect to learn/gain from this course?
I am definitely looking forward to developing a workshop, I never did this before but I am excited. I want to learn the diverse social groups that seperate one adolescent from the other. Once again I must re-interate I feel like I am so detached from the youth, but to be even more honest, I felt detached from them even when I was one of them. LOL! All jokes aside, I want to emliminate any types of prejudice I might have against adolescents and just understand them a little better. I do know this might be too much to expect from a six week course but I do have high expectations.
What skills/abilities do I bring to adolescent health promotion?
I am very creative. As a youth leader at my church in Memphis, I planned several events for the teens. My communications skills are great, I like to talk but I love to listen more. I want to know what is on the young people's minds. What are their views of living healthy lives. As explained earlier, I have a heart for the youth especially adolescents and I intend on developing a public health professional career that focuses on them. I have experience in mentoring adolescents, so it is not too challenging for me to develop trusting relatiionships them.
Honestly a friend and fellow colleague of mine informed me about this course and it seemed to be like an important class to gain a brigher perspective of adolescents. Before I came to GW I volunteered with the teen ministry at my church. During my time with the children I always wondered of different ways I could possibly reach out to them and relate to them. I have a heart for children and the adolescent years are so crucial in their mental, physicial, and spiritual development. As another classmate mentioned that it has been a while since she was a teen, I know its been a little while since I conquered that awkward time in life. But I also realize how detached I really am from the younger generation. I really do not know what to expect from this class but I am interested in the learning possibilities.
What do I expect to learn/gain from this course?
I am definitely looking forward to developing a workshop, I never did this before but I am excited. I want to learn the diverse social groups that seperate one adolescent from the other. Once again I must re-interate I feel like I am so detached from the youth, but to be even more honest, I felt detached from them even when I was one of them. LOL! All jokes aside, I want to emliminate any types of prejudice I might have against adolescents and just understand them a little better. I do know this might be too much to expect from a six week course but I do have high expectations.
What skills/abilities do I bring to adolescent health promotion?
I am very creative. As a youth leader at my church in Memphis, I planned several events for the teens. My communications skills are great, I like to talk but I love to listen more. I want to know what is on the young people's minds. What are their views of living healthy lives. As explained earlier, I have a heart for the youth especially adolescents and I intend on developing a public health professional career that focuses on them. I have experience in mentoring adolescents, so it is not too challenging for me to develop trusting relatiionships them.
Christina's Initial Reflection - Summer 2009
What interested me about this course?
Adolescent health promotion was my original impetus for joining the MPH program. Because behavior - hinged on decisions and choices - accounts for so much of the morbidity and mortality in this age group, I thought it would be the area where health promotion / education could achieve the greatest impact. Having now completed more than half of the MPH program, my interests have expanded, but I still believe adolescent health is where we can achieve the greatest good... if we can figure out what messages, experiences, visual cues, etc. will actually motivate young people to engage in the behaviors and make the choices we recommend, which brings me to...
What do I expect to learn from this course?
My dilemma about health promotion for adolescents really comes down to this: How do I persuade them to make sound choices and engage in healthy behaviors when I, at their age, completely ignored or even countered those same recommendations? What will resonate with them? What will break through? What will be relevant and credible for them? And how can we communicate health risks - persuade them of their own mortality - while still encouraging them to take creative risks, academic risks and other risks that will spur them to transition successfully to adulthood, dream big and achieve? We want to encourage them to think for themselves and learn through experience, but we don't want them to suffer in the process. What can we say or offer that won't sound hypocritical or out-of-touch?
So, what skills / abilities do I bring to adolescent health promotion?
I like to think I bring empathy, respect, a willingness to listen and decent communication skills to the task... but last summer, when my 19-year-old nephew was arrested for marijuana possession, I confess I was at a loss for words... what words will resonate? What will break through? What will be relevant and credible?
Adolescent health promotion was my original impetus for joining the MPH program. Because behavior - hinged on decisions and choices - accounts for so much of the morbidity and mortality in this age group, I thought it would be the area where health promotion / education could achieve the greatest impact. Having now completed more than half of the MPH program, my interests have expanded, but I still believe adolescent health is where we can achieve the greatest good... if we can figure out what messages, experiences, visual cues, etc. will actually motivate young people to engage in the behaviors and make the choices we recommend, which brings me to...
What do I expect to learn from this course?
My dilemma about health promotion for adolescents really comes down to this: How do I persuade them to make sound choices and engage in healthy behaviors when I, at their age, completely ignored or even countered those same recommendations? What will resonate with them? What will break through? What will be relevant and credible for them? And how can we communicate health risks - persuade them of their own mortality - while still encouraging them to take creative risks, academic risks and other risks that will spur them to transition successfully to adulthood, dream big and achieve? We want to encourage them to think for themselves and learn through experience, but we don't want them to suffer in the process. What can we say or offer that won't sound hypocritical or out-of-touch?
So, what skills / abilities do I bring to adolescent health promotion?
I like to think I bring empathy, respect, a willingness to listen and decent communication skills to the task... but last summer, when my 19-year-old nephew was arrested for marijuana possession, I confess I was at a loss for words... what words will resonate? What will break through? What will be relevant and credible?
Kafui’s Personal Reflection- Summer 2009
Since entering GW in the fall 2007, I knew I wanted to focus on Adolescent Health. Unfortunately when I entered GW, I never had the opportunity to actually take a course primarily focusing on youth, a population in which I plan to serve and work alongside with in my future career. As an alternative option at GW, I made sure that many of my class projects I worked on had some sort of focus with youth. In addition, I made sure to gain further “outside” experience with youth by volunteering with organizations that primarily work with them within the Washington DC area. I initially wanted to take this course in the spring but my schedule did not permit it and now I am excited that I have the opportunity to take this course this summer.
My expectations for this course range from learning about the diversity that exist among adolescences to effective ways in working with youth on solving major health disparities. I am also excited to learn about the various insights and experiences that my colleagues who are also enrolled in the course have about this specific population. In addition, through the lectures and any assigned readings I hope to gain further knowledge that I did not have prior to the course.
For this course and any future plans with adolescent health promotion, I plan to provide my honest and genuine passion for youth through my assignments, projects, services, and, etc. I plan to apply what I have learned outside the classroom to inside the classroom and vice versa. I also intend to reflect back on my past experiences, receive constructive criticisms where necessary, and find ways to enhance them for the future.
My expectations for this course range from learning about the diversity that exist among adolescences to effective ways in working with youth on solving major health disparities. I am also excited to learn about the various insights and experiences that my colleagues who are also enrolled in the course have about this specific population. In addition, through the lectures and any assigned readings I hope to gain further knowledge that I did not have prior to the course.
For this course and any future plans with adolescent health promotion, I plan to provide my honest and genuine passion for youth through my assignments, projects, services, and, etc. I plan to apply what I have learned outside the classroom to inside the classroom and vice versa. I also intend to reflect back on my past experiences, receive constructive criticisms where necessary, and find ways to enhance them for the future.
Erin's Initial Personal Reflection (Summer 09)
After earning a degree in Community Health / Secondary Health Education, I have spent the last 5 years educating high school students in Prince George's County in the areas of health and personal wellness. This course peaked my interest because it is my goal to move from the class room into a more community based setting after the completion of my program this summer.
From this course - I hope to "get my feet wet" in the realm of community based adolescent health education / promotion and also gain a real life / application view of how I can successfully merge my skills as a classroom educator with my skills as a public health professional. Although I am sure there are similarities, I am sure there are many differences in community based health promotion that I have yet to discover.
I am hopeful that my years as a classroom teacher will come in handy when trying to think of creative ways to engage participants. I also believe that other skills such as program planning, discussion facilitation / questioning, and organization will also be helpful. Although these are useful and very critical skills when working w/ teens, I am also looking forward to being involved in a "free-er" setting than the classroom where there are a lot of rules - that are not necessarily implemented or welcomed by the instructor - but being able to connect w/ teens about their health without SO many of the regulations and set-backs that come w/ being in a traditional classroom.
I look forward to working with everyone in the coming weeks! HAPPY SUMMER!!!
From this course - I hope to "get my feet wet" in the realm of community based adolescent health education / promotion and also gain a real life / application view of how I can successfully merge my skills as a classroom educator with my skills as a public health professional. Although I am sure there are similarities, I am sure there are many differences in community based health promotion that I have yet to discover.
I am hopeful that my years as a classroom teacher will come in handy when trying to think of creative ways to engage participants. I also believe that other skills such as program planning, discussion facilitation / questioning, and organization will also be helpful. Although these are useful and very critical skills when working w/ teens, I am also looking forward to being involved in a "free-er" setting than the classroom where there are a lot of rules - that are not necessarily implemented or welcomed by the instructor - but being able to connect w/ teens about their health without SO many of the regulations and set-backs that come w/ being in a traditional classroom.
I look forward to working with everyone in the coming weeks! HAPPY SUMMER!!!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Lalida's Initial Personal Reflection
This course is actually one of the courses I was looking forward to the most this summer (I'm also taking biostat, policy, and another 209 topic course). Not only would it fulfill my credit requirement, but it also is something I'm very interested in. I find myself intrigued by the actions teenagers decide to take (my younger brother is 17) and baffled by the idea that I was also once a teenager myself. Although I'm relatively young, I feel so displaced from that time in my life and find it difficult to comprehend why teenagers choose to do the things they do, even though I am aware of the mental processes behind their decisions. I'm hoping this class will allow me to become more familiar with the reasons for teenagers' actions as well as ways to promote healthy behaviors amongst the population. In regards to the skills I bring to adolescent health promotion, I have previous experience as an undergrad promoting overall health and wellness (including alcohol and drug abuse, sexual behaviors, fitness and nutrition, and wellness) to my peers. Although undergrads are on the older side of the adolescence scale, they sometimes had the same thought processes of adolescents much younger than themselves. In terms of knowledge, I have taken courses in health psychology, middle childhood and adolescent development, social psychology, and cognitive development that will hopefully help all of us understand adolescent health promotion a little better. I know this sounds corny, but I am looking forward to learning with all of you this summer!
-Lalida Thaweethai
-Lalida Thaweethai
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Personal Reflection 1
Adolescent health promotion interests me, because adolescence is such a critical time for self-empowerment, self-realization, and behavior change. As I'm in the health promotion track, I'm very passionate about issues that can most easily be changed through interventions with youth, as their behaviors are much less ingrained than older populations. These issues include smoking cessation, reducing road traffic accidencts, nutrition, obesity, etc. Although I must admit that I'm nervous to attempt and reach out this population through our workshop in this class, I'm excited to learn practical methods to engage youth and foster healthy behavior changes. I also hope to learn how to bridge the gap between theory and practice! Although I have never conducted a workshop before, I hope that the classes I took in youth delinquency (undergrad), community psychology (grad), and program planning (grad) will add to discussions in class.
-Dana
-Dana
Friday, May 8, 2009
Jana's Reflection on Pregnancy Prevention Workshop at Bell
I really enjoyed the topic of Pregnancy Prevention. It was a bit difficult for Katy and I to narrow down our scope of discussion about Pregnancy Prevention because we were not sure if the number one priority should be on contraceptive use, the cost of a child, accept that people already have children, etc.
We were able to gather GREAT information from sites like:
All in all I think that we did the best we could with the limitations we had- which is how it is!
Thanks again to the students at Bell for having us in your class!
We were able to gather GREAT information from sites like:
(check them out! they just literally updated their site a couple days ago)
http://www.stayteen.org/
http://www.sexetc.org/
We were able to talk to quite a few of our Latino friends who are in the School of Public Health who gave us great insight about the best ways to approach the topic. We also looked at best practices through the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancies. With May 6th being the National Day to prevent Teen Pregnancies it was a perfect time to find up-to-date resources.
A day or two before presenting our workshop at Bell we learned that we might not have the opportunity to use the Internet to show a video that we picked out to show the youth. We did our best to try and download the movie however nothing worked to be able to access the movie. We were pretty bummed because we are pretty sure the youth would have really liked it! (but here it is for everyone else!- ha ha I can't embed it because it is "not suitable for minors" and this blog won't allow it)
During the workshop we learned that the youth were fairly knowledgeable about most of the types of birth control. They were not however familiar with Emergency Contraception. Because it took so long going through all the forms of birth control we were not able to get to the fun activity that I was going to lead. I was also pretty sad about that. :(
It seemed however from the evaluations that we did ok. The kids liked the condom packs that I put together with information that I put together about where they could gain access to birth control in their area as well as the websites that I listed above. I really enjoyed the experience and I wished that we had had more time and the appropriate resources for the workshop.
All in all I think that we did the best we could with the limitations we had- which is how it is!
Thanks again to the students at Bell for having us in your class!
Jana's Final Reflection
Formal education in Adolescent Health Promotion was not something that I had considered until I moved to DC and spent time actually getting to know DC. It is because of the people that I meet day in and day out most literally on the street, on the metro, in the grocery store, or at the mall that I became actively interested how I could make a difference in changing the course of key behaviors that affect adolescents lives. I also literally enjoy the free spirits of many youth and strive for more youth to be able to be free spirits. I have a fun time in the classroom setting, chillin', and talking about things that I feel like I was never able to talk to anyone about when I was an adolescent. I do think that I am good at connecting with adolescents becasue most of the time they are shocked that I either know what they are talking about or that I am willing to take the time to sit down and talk with them. I also think I am able to keep it "real" with the youth, which at times I feel many adults lack. Because of some of these characteristics I wanted to be able to utilize them in a manner that would do the most good. That is why I decided to take a class in Adolesecent Health Promotion. I have however come to realize that I do not have the skill set (yet) to be the most effective health promoter and that I need to spend more time gaining an understanding to become comfortable with content to promote to the youth.
Adolescent Health Promotion has shaped my public health experience professionally in various aspects. I feel that I am more aware of my strengths and weaknesses as well as I have FINALLY be able to gain some useful skills that I can use not only in a volunteer realm but clearly in a work setting. I appreciated the fact that I was able to learn, make mistakes, and at times in my mind nearly "fail." I think however that the youth are fairly forgiving and will help you learn. As a professional I appreciated the constant feedback, criticism, and positive reinforcements. I believe that they should be used more in all disciplines and all classes that are taught.
From this course I feel that I can only improve my skills. I will never look at a teacher the same again. I cannot believe the amount of time that I know I spent researching the particular topics that Katy and myself taught in our lectures, I know she spent a great amount of time and then we both spent a lot of time together. I know that in the future I would love to be able to have more of an input from the youth about type of learning styles work the best for them. I would also like to make more activities integrated with technology even though I realize that technology can at times be limited.
I have appreciated getting to know more about myself, but mostly the most effective tools to teach the youth. I believe that it is always important to evaluate your measures as an instructor, teacher, and at the end of the day to make sure that the youth you are working with had a good time (that is my own philosophy :)
Adolescent Health Promotion has shaped my public health experience professionally in various aspects. I feel that I am more aware of my strengths and weaknesses as well as I have FINALLY be able to gain some useful skills that I can use not only in a volunteer realm but clearly in a work setting. I appreciated the fact that I was able to learn, make mistakes, and at times in my mind nearly "fail." I think however that the youth are fairly forgiving and will help you learn. As a professional I appreciated the constant feedback, criticism, and positive reinforcements. I believe that they should be used more in all disciplines and all classes that are taught.
From this course I feel that I can only improve my skills. I will never look at a teacher the same again. I cannot believe the amount of time that I know I spent researching the particular topics that Katy and myself taught in our lectures, I know she spent a great amount of time and then we both spent a lot of time together. I know that in the future I would love to be able to have more of an input from the youth about type of learning styles work the best for them. I would also like to make more activities integrated with technology even though I realize that technology can at times be limited.
I have appreciated getting to know more about myself, but mostly the most effective tools to teach the youth. I believe that it is always important to evaluate your measures as an instructor, teacher, and at the end of the day to make sure that the youth you are working with had a good time (that is my own philosophy :)
Katy's Final Reflection
I signed up for this class with a general interest in learning more about adolescents because they are a popular and yet very unique audience for public health interventions. So many programs targeting adolescent fail to engage them and promote behavior change because they don’t fully understand their view of the world, particularly health issues. At the same time, adolescence is a critical time when youth make decisions that can impact their future health. Although I have no specific intentions toward working with adolescents, I recognize that they have unique characteristics that set them apart from other commonly targeted populations. Developing my skills in working with adolescents will provide me with useful experience that I will likely put to good use throughout my career in public health.
This class has altered my outlook and helped me to change my expectations for my public health work. Having the experience of working in the real world and actually seeing individuals learn new things and accept them puts behavior change expectations in perspective. I aspire to work in communications and marketing which is inherently more of a desk job and you rarely get the opportunity to witness individuals taking in your messages. I think the workshops have helped me to more clearly understand how adolescents process health messages. Although I may not intend to work directly with adolescents in a workshop setting, the lessons I have learned and the experience I have gained will guide any communication and marketing materials I am a part of developing.
Ultimately, I think the best way to promote behavior change is to meet people where they are at. Because communication and marketing campaigns are not interpersonal forms of communication, they need to better understand how, why, and where adolescents will receive health information. This class and the workshops have helped me to better understand where adolescents are coming from and how they learn new health information.
Better understanding the unique characteristics of each population subgroup is something that is hard to do in the context of a graduate program but I feel that adolescents are a critical population that public health professionals must work to understand. For whatever population I may be working with in the future, this class has made me realize the importance of understanding them and the context in which they view the world in. This experience has shown me that the best and most reliable way of doing this is by interacting acting with them in their environment and showing that my interest is in truly understanding them in order to improve their health.
This class has altered my outlook and helped me to change my expectations for my public health work. Having the experience of working in the real world and actually seeing individuals learn new things and accept them puts behavior change expectations in perspective. I aspire to work in communications and marketing which is inherently more of a desk job and you rarely get the opportunity to witness individuals taking in your messages. I think the workshops have helped me to more clearly understand how adolescents process health messages. Although I may not intend to work directly with adolescents in a workshop setting, the lessons I have learned and the experience I have gained will guide any communication and marketing materials I am a part of developing.
Ultimately, I think the best way to promote behavior change is to meet people where they are at. Because communication and marketing campaigns are not interpersonal forms of communication, they need to better understand how, why, and where adolescents will receive health information. This class and the workshops have helped me to better understand where adolescents are coming from and how they learn new health information.
Better understanding the unique characteristics of each population subgroup is something that is hard to do in the context of a graduate program but I feel that adolescents are a critical population that public health professionals must work to understand. For whatever population I may be working with in the future, this class has made me realize the importance of understanding them and the context in which they view the world in. This experience has shown me that the best and most reliable way of doing this is by interacting acting with them in their environment and showing that my interest is in truly understanding them in order to improve their health.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Jana's Reflection on Mary's Center Dating Violence Workshop
It is no secret that I am typically involved with working with the black youth of today so it was with great pleasure to stretch my knowledge base to plan a lesson with my fellow student and friend on dating violence for Mary’s Center. I will say that planning the lesson was not without fear and apprehension. I always want to make sure that everything that is prepared is conveyed in way that is meaningful and well received. One of my fears was that the youth at Mary’s Center wouldn’t trust me (an outsider) with the information about dating violence that Katy and I had so diligently prepared to teach.
Katy and I made a solid team. She worked on the mapping and I was able to work through details with the choices of the handouts with the lesson plan as well as the photo voice. I kept going back and forth about showing a clip from the movie “Enough,” but I wasn’t sure if I should show it because in the end J Lo’s character kills her abusive husband. I felt like our short 45 minute workshop didn’t have the time to cover self defense as well as other questions that may arise from the video clip. I do think that the clip may have had a different effect from actually showing physical violence occurring. Showing the two photo’s of Chris and Rihanna embracing and then showing the photo of Rihanna after the beating did have a stark impact so I feel that the point of the exercise was realized.
Katy and I both arrive at Mary’s Center with plenty of time to prepare the “classroom” we did have a few technical difficulties and it would have been better to have those worked out with more time but I also feel like we really made it work.
Looking back I wish I could have had the ground rules written out for everyone to view and like Alis and Sarah said refrained from “shhhh shhhing” people. I actually don’t typically do that so I am not really sure why I started.
All in all I really enjoyed myself and learned a lot about myself and what I need to work on about myself as a teacher/educator I wish I could have spent more time getting to know the youth that were there and most importantly I would have from time to time just liked to have sit down and attempted to facilitate a more engaging open conversation.
Mary’s Center. . . THANK YOU for having me!!!!
Katy and I made a solid team. She worked on the mapping and I was able to work through details with the choices of the handouts with the lesson plan as well as the photo voice. I kept going back and forth about showing a clip from the movie “Enough,” but I wasn’t sure if I should show it because in the end J Lo’s character kills her abusive husband. I felt like our short 45 minute workshop didn’t have the time to cover self defense as well as other questions that may arise from the video clip. I do think that the clip may have had a different effect from actually showing physical violence occurring. Showing the two photo’s of Chris and Rihanna embracing and then showing the photo of Rihanna after the beating did have a stark impact so I feel that the point of the exercise was realized.
Katy and I both arrive at Mary’s Center with plenty of time to prepare the “classroom” we did have a few technical difficulties and it would have been better to have those worked out with more time but I also feel like we really made it work.
Looking back I wish I could have had the ground rules written out for everyone to view and like Alis and Sarah said refrained from “shhhh shhhing” people. I actually don’t typically do that so I am not really sure why I started.
All in all I really enjoyed myself and learned a lot about myself and what I need to work on about myself as a teacher/educator I wish I could have spent more time getting to know the youth that were there and most importantly I would have from time to time just liked to have sit down and attempted to facilitate a more engaging open conversation.
Mary’s Center. . . THANK YOU for having me!!!!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Jana's First Reflection
I was thrilled when I saw the listing for the Adolescent Health Promotion Class. After spending a year and half in the District I have gained a great passion for the youth of today in DC. I spend a lot of time talking to the youth I meet on the street, at the grocery store, the mall or wherever about smoking, or going to college, or how it is growing up in the district. The stories that I hear about violence, teen pregnancy, drugs and in general day-to-day life in the District will forever haunt me. It is because of these experiences that I have a great respect for the youth in DC. The youth need as much encouragement because everyone around them expect them to fail. On the other hand I have a lot of fun talking to the youth because I am the most seemingly unsuspecting person that the youth might listen to . . . but for some reason sometimes a few people do listen to my soapbox on health related issues or just life in general. I have learned so much from the youth in DC, and I would like to learn how I can do more to help them more.
I hope to gain a more formal knowledge of how to present and communicate health education in an effective and age-appropriate manner. I would also like to be become more familiar of the policies regarding what can be taught about particular health-related information in the DC public schools in general. I am hoping to learn how to plan for a lesson or workshop in the most effective and also fun manner that students will have the most meaningful experience about the topic being discussed.
I feel as though I have a fairly good understand of the DC area and the poverty that is affecting the district. I have spent a lot of time in the community talking to the youth on the street and have also spent a lot of time networking with the youth. I pride myself with striving to keep up on the latest "hip-hop" news, and trends so that I can know my audience. I am not afraid to ask questions, approach basically anyone and to be always ask for help!
As I post on this blog I would like to showcase some of the talented youth that I am in contact with. . .
Crucial Thoughtz aka Paul Spires. . .
for more posts about DC youth of today check out my blog at http://nwtose.com
I hope to gain a more formal knowledge of how to present and communicate health education in an effective and age-appropriate manner. I would also like to be become more familiar of the policies regarding what can be taught about particular health-related information in the DC public schools in general. I am hoping to learn how to plan for a lesson or workshop in the most effective and also fun manner that students will have the most meaningful experience about the topic being discussed.
I feel as though I have a fairly good understand of the DC area and the poverty that is affecting the district. I have spent a lot of time in the community talking to the youth on the street and have also spent a lot of time networking with the youth. I pride myself with striving to keep up on the latest "hip-hop" news, and trends so that I can know my audience. I am not afraid to ask questions, approach basically anyone and to be always ask for help!
As I post on this blog I would like to showcase some of the talented youth that I am in contact with. . .
Crucial Thoughtz aka Paul Spires. . .
for more posts about DC youth of today check out my blog at http://nwtose.com
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Katy’s First Reflection
My first public health internship required me to do extensive research on adolescents, specifically on how to most effectively market new health behaviors to them. It was during this research that the complex nature of adolescents became obvious. Through my work and schooling it has become obvious that working with adolescents requires a specific understanding of what makes them tick. In addition to gaining the knowledge necessary to work with adolescents, the ability to gain practical experience working with adolescents attracted me to this course.
I am most looking forward to the practical experience that I will gain during this course. Most of my experience in public health has occurred in an office setting and I am looking forward to the opportunity to develop portfolios and work in the community. I also hope to gain a more clear understanding of adolescents that I can carry with me into my future professional work.
My schooling and experience have helped me hone my abilities in health communication and marketing. I have specific experience in creating materials and programs for adolescents, both professionally and academically. My undergraduate education also provided me with a solid base of health education methods that will contribute to the creation of health workshops.
I am most looking forward to the practical experience that I will gain during this course. Most of my experience in public health has occurred in an office setting and I am looking forward to the opportunity to develop portfolios and work in the community. I also hope to gain a more clear understanding of adolescents that I can carry with me into my future professional work.
My schooling and experience have helped me hone my abilities in health communication and marketing. I have specific experience in creating materials and programs for adolescents, both professionally and academically. My undergraduate education also provided me with a solid base of health education methods that will contribute to the creation of health workshops.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Welcome 2009 Spring Semester Students!
Change is in the air! At these very auspicious times for our world, you will be taking a class that will allow you to connect your academic knowledge, your uniqueness, and the 'tricks' learned in this class to the world of adolescents that is waiting for you to join in and bring about change... and be changed!
Both Prof. Sara Marques and Prof. Alis Marachelian have created this space for you to track your personal reflections, anecdotes, and 'lessons learned' in the course of the spring semester.
We hope you enjoy this journey towards understanding a bit more that special stage in life called 'adolescence' -now as the adults that you are- as well as to develop and apply your skills as Health Professionals in teaching "health" to youth with the interactive, youth-focused strategies and techniques learned in and outside the classroom.
We have made this blog 'public' and we've seen all the "traffic" it's had since your predecessors started writing their reflections. Feel free to browse but not copy! The wisdom gained through your unique experiences, ideas developed, and challenges you've overcome will be a valuable asset to all those who read it. Please write knowing that the whole world will be reading!
And so, we begin our journey together...
" A candle will never lose its light by lighting another candle"
Both Prof. Sara Marques and Prof. Alis Marachelian have created this space for you to track your personal reflections, anecdotes, and 'lessons learned' in the course of the spring semester.
We hope you enjoy this journey towards understanding a bit more that special stage in life called 'adolescence' -now as the adults that you are- as well as to develop and apply your skills as Health Professionals in teaching "health" to youth with the interactive, youth-focused strategies and techniques learned in and outside the classroom.
We have made this blog 'public' and we've seen all the "traffic" it's had since your predecessors started writing their reflections. Feel free to browse but not copy! The wisdom gained through your unique experiences, ideas developed, and challenges you've overcome will be a valuable asset to all those who read it. Please write knowing that the whole world will be reading!
And so, we begin our journey together...
" A candle will never lose its light by lighting another candle"
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