Trauma Caused by Eating Disorders

It was estimated that about eight million people have an eating disorder in the United States. Eating disorders have become a growing problem as Hollywood becomes more extensive, and the standards for appearance greatly increase. Anorexia and bulimia are the most notorious eating disorders, and have the greatest impact on people today. Unfortunately, many women and men have had complications with this issue, and some of those difficulties have even resulted in death. Eating disorders can cause harm to your health, mental stabilization, and affect others around you.

Many people have problems with eating disorders, and a good amount of these people have had experience with neglect and variations of abuse as a child. A number of experts believe that some cases of anorexia and bulimia come to being by harsh life as a child. After reading many stories of certain people that have come into conflict with eating disorders, I would agree with those opinions. In almost every story I read, there was something about that person’s childhood and how it related to the starting of their eating disorder. Take Kathy’s story for example. Kathy is a mother with three children and had a 35- year battle with an eating disorder. She would rise before her husband and children to go on a ten mile run. Kathy limited her food intake and aggressively pushed herself to exercise non-stop. However, she was a daughter of an alcoholic father in her childhood. She was pushed constantly by her parents to be the best at whatever she did. Although she doesn’t blame them for her eating disorder, she feels that her family environment taught her to meet everyone else’s expectations and standards, but not her own. You can see how childhood played a role in Kathy’s struggle with an eating disorder.

Some cases of anorexia and bulimia are deeply impacted by childhood, and it is proven that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. A study conducted by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders stated that five to ten percent of anorexics die within ten years after having this disease. It also reported that only thirty to forty percent of anorexics ever fully recover. There are many different ways to get treatment to these awful diseases including therapy, support groups, and medical monitoring. However, it is not always easy getting that help because of the high prices associated with those treatments. This is part of the reason why the majority of anorexics don’t always fully recover. Everyone needs to be fully aware of how calamitous these eating disorders are and how they can ruin your life.

It isn’t always easy dealing with these afflictions, and it could quickly turn your life in the wrong direction. Eating disorders are atrocious; and they are most definitely preventable. Everyone that is struggling with an eating disorder needs to realize they are not alone, that they are one of the eight million who constantly battle against a disease, and that they can survive with treatment and support.

Bibliography
"DMH." South Carolina Department of Mental Health. 17 Nov. 2010 .
Joerger, Teresa. "Eating Disorder Stories." 2010. www.caringonline.com. 17 Nov. 2010 .

Does Patriotism Still Matter?

Patriotism means devoted love, support, and defense for one's country. Patriotism is a noun; a person, place, or thing. If I was asked to define patriotism in my own words, I would say it is passion, support, and loyalty towards your country. Patriotism definitely still matters and is very important to have.

Patriotism is defending one's country, and it starts with the little things. From helping a neighbor to honoring our country by serving in the military; it's all patriotism. Even a holiday was established to honor America with devoted patriotism. This holiday is called Independence Day. It is held on the fourth of July and help displays the love for our country. The citizens of America dress in red, white, and blue; the colors of our flag. There are so many things you can do to show patriotism!

We are very lucky to have as many rights as we do in this country. Without our freedom we wouldn't be able to do numerous things! I find my myself wondering how hard and different it would be in other countries and how grateful I am for everything I have! Overall, patriotism is a wonderful thing!

Cyber Bullying and How it Leads to Bad News

Since fifty- eight percent of kids admit they have bullied online before, cyber bullying continues to be a big issue in the United States. It leads to suicide, suicide attempts, and poor work ethics during school, at home, and other places. Some reasons why certain people cyber bully is because they might be watching sitcoms or movies that include bullying and making fun of people. Other reasons people get the idea to bully is because they feel a state of jealousy or want revenge on someone. Unfortunately, as teens become more technology savvy, this bullying takes place on the Internet. Using the Internet to harass, bully, or assault people, and teens in general is not the right solution.

Using the Internet to bully certain people is not right, and it leads to many deaths. Megan Meier, a thirteen year old girl, was in to MySpace and other social networking sites when she got a friend request from a “hot” boy named Josh Evans. With her mother’s consent she added him. It all went downhill from there, Josh Evans along with other kids posted malicious comments on her MySpace and it eventually led to her hanging herself. Megan Meier had other problems too, she was overweight for a while, had ADD, and depression problems. Those problems plus the insulting comments really got to her and she died three weeks before her 14th birthday. This is a truly tragic story and goes to show you how bad cyber bullying is and can be. Another teen named Ryan Halligan took his own life in October of 2003. He was relentlessly bullied by the same group of guys once he got in to middle school. Ever since kindergarten he was in special education programs at his school until 5th grade, therefore he was not as academically caught up as some of the other students. That is what started his never ending bullying problem. As he got older he became a part of Instant Messaging. The night he took his own life was caused by a rumor spread by the same bully. This bully had told everyone Ryan had had something done to him that therefore caused him to be gay. Ryan was humiliated and the bullying only got worse. This is what led to his suicide. You can tell that bullying on the Internet is just as bad as bullying with words and in person.

Bullying on the Internet is harmful to teenagers, and statistics state that forty two percent of kids have been bullied online and one out of four kids has had it happen more than once. So many of these kids and teenagers have pushed their selves over the edge because of these vicious threats and comments they receive. In no way is cyber bullying right and many people have created groups against cyber bullying. They get together within their communities, schools, and even work places. They speak to kids and help them understand some of the consequences of cyber bullying and how bad it really is. Krysten Moore, former Miss Teen New Jersey is a big supporter of no cyber bullying. When she was a teenager she herself was cyber bullied by students and friends, she tells her story to many kids and how she once considered suicide. She has a big influence on kids and teens and speaks publicly often on television shows and events. Krysten hopes to make a difference in her community and in other locations. These stories go to show you that bullying is not right and eventually can cause deaths.

Cyber bullying takes place in many places and different types of bills and laws are trying to get passed against this issue in our nation’s capital. A bill aimed to make cyber bullying a federal crime is being considered in Washington, D.C. I believe this bill should get passed because cyber bullying is not right in any way and causes so many deaths. Being a teenager in middle school I have a good outlook on all different types of bullying. I have experienced bullying myself and can reasonably say it is not a great way to deal with certain situations. Bullying can easily affect someone’s self esteem and mental health. Once you know you are being cyber bullied or bullied in general, the right thing to do is tell a trusted parent, adult, or guardian. Cyber bullying can be a very hard thing to deal with, that way if an adult knows; you will have someone there for you and it can be easier to get through.

Cyber bullying can be a very difficult thing to deal with, and overall is a huge problem in the United States. Using the Internet to insult and bully people is in no way right. You can see how much it affects different people in society today. Cyber bullying is very dangerous and powerful, how would you deal with it?

"Cyberbullying Continued After Teen's Death." 29 March 2010. www.CBSNews.com. 21 September 2010 .

Name poems

D- deep
A- amazingly stunning
N- never mean
I- intelligent
E- extraordinary
L- loving
A- accomplished



C- courageous
A- amazing
T- talkative
H- hyper
E- excellent
R- retainer
I- incredibly beautiful
N- never is mean
E- extremely dangerous(:

Soccer is a team sport. Soccer is an individual sport. Soccer is kicking, shooting, passing, throwing, scoring, dribbling, trapping, defending, attacking. The feeling you get because the fresh grass is under your cleats is soccer. The feeling you get when it's just you and the ball dribbling and cutting throughout the field is soccer. The feeling you get when you make one good pass that sets someone up to score is soccer. When you score because of a good pass it's soccer. The victories and losses you share as a team and as an individual is indescribable and amazing. The winning or losing of your little battles could cost you the game. Somewhere inside you find that little spark of confidence that tells you, you can do anything you want. When you get on the field that spark is suddenly released and you don't care about anything else besides your team, how you play, and the victory that could be yours. There is so much more to soccer than meets the eye and I wish everyone could experience the feelings inside when playing this sport.

Devious Tom


In the short story of “The Glorious Whitewasher” Samuel Clemens, otherwise known as Mark Twain, creates a mischievous main character named Tom. Tom’s standing with his paintbrush and whitewash. He knows Aunt Polly’s carefully watching him, but he can’t bare standing in the hot weather and painting instead of hanging out with his friends. Tom bribes everyone around him while he only thinks about himself.
Tom is a troublemaker and he is also very devious. It starts out as a regular sunny day, the first point in the mode of comedy. Aunt Polly needs Tom to paint the fence, so Tom says he will do it. But, knowing Tom, he will find his way out. The second point to the mode of comedy is conflict- when Tom doesn’t want to whitewash the fence.
Since Tom doesn’t want to paint the fence, he bribes his friends into doing it for him. Marvels are used as a symbol in this story. They symbolize bribery, because Tom gives the big marvels to his friend in order to get him to paint the fence. Before you know it, Tom ends up with all the marvels, because people start paying him to paint the fence. All of the toys he ended up with were like all the money in the world to Tom.
While Tom’s friends pay him to paint the fence, he has nothing to do except for play with all of the gifts he received. It all returns to normal when Tom runs out of whitewash and his friends can’t paint anymore- the last point in the mode of comedy. You can see that in society today a lot of people use others for their own good. Just think, wouldn’t you want to earn everything you have by working for it and knowing that you did everything you could to get it, instead of having it handed to you?

Wish Wisely


In the story "The Third Wish" by Joan Aiken, a wonderful man named Mr. Peters is created. In the forest he stands by the river, visiting Leita. The soft fur on her feathers soothes him, and he wonders what it would be like if she was never with him even in spirit. Mr. Peters learns that if you’re granted three wishes, use them wisely.
First, Mr. Peters drives his car to the forest. He thinks it’s so beautiful! This is normal everyday life, and is the first point to the mode of romance. When he gets to the forest, a swan is tangled in thorns and branches. It just happens that the swan is the King of the Forest. When Mr. Peters saves the swan, he asks for three wishes in return. The King grants him the wishes but reminds him to wish wisely. Each wish is symbolized by a leaf. Therefore, making the three leaves major symbols in this story.

Mr. Peters knows the leaves are sacred, so he knows he has to wish wisely. He uses his first wish to ask for a wife as beautiful as the forest. Surely, he’s granted the wish but he soon learns that his wife Leita is also a swan. Leita has a sister who’s a swan too and misses Leita misses her so much! Joan Aiken writes “She was weeping, and as he came nearer he saw that tears were rolling too, from the swan’s eyes”. As you can see, Leita was not happy in human form. A mild conflict occurs, the second point in the mode of romance.

Once Mr. Peters finds Leita not happy, his second wish is used to change Leita back to a swan, because he knows she is happier that way. This is the resolution which is the next point in the mode of romance. Joan Aiken’s style of writing is very unique. She uses modern ideas with contemporary ideas. She also incorporates different symbols throughout the story nicely. A very important symbol in this story is the gold chain Mr. Peters gave to Leita for marriage. When she turned back to a swan, she still had it dangling from her neck. This symbolizes the power of love.
Love was symbolized throughout the story, and a new beginning occurs. Mr. Peters dies with a smile on his face and he never used his third wish. In society today, we have to learn to be happy with everything we have, and to always wish wisely. Even though Mr. Peters wishes weren’t granted to better him, in a way he learned something about life and that is always important. Just think, what would you have wished for if you were granted three wishes?