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.