4 The Voice, For students, By students 1 November 3, 2010
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Diabetes
can be
prevented
By Alicia Bayat
Voice Staff Writer
November is National Diabetes
Awareness month. According to
the National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), as of2007 a total of 23.6
million people in the United States
have diabetes. That is 7.8 percent of
the American population. 5.7 mil
lion are undiagnosed.
The American Diabetes Asso
ciation (ADA) has launched the
Stop Diabetes Movement. Their
goal is to have one million people
join in the first year to help fund
research, prevent and stop diabe
tes in the United States. The web
site to the ADA is www.diabe
tes.org.
According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
(CDCP), as of 2007, more than 2.4
milliondeaths were attributed to di
abetes in this country. Diabetes is in
the top 10 of the leading causes of
death here as well.
A chronic disease such as diabe
tes is among one of the most com
mon, costly and avoidable health
problems in this country.
Diabetes is a group of diseases
marked by high levels of insulin
and/or production. It can lead to se
rious illness or premature death. It
is preventable and manageable once
you have been diagnosed. It can be
managed with diet, exercise and
consistent medical care.
Diabetes can lead to serious com
plications such as blindness, limb
amputation, kidney damage'and
cardiovascular disease. It can be
managed and complications can be
lowered with proper healthcare.
Overweight people are at risk of
developing pre-diabetes. This is a
condition where individuals have
higher glucose levels than normal
but not high enough to be classified
as diabetes. People with pre-dia
betes may be at risk of developing
type-2 diabetes, severe heart con
ditions or stroke. Type-2 diabetes
accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all
diagnosed cases.
Developing diabetes after being
diagnosed with pre-diabetes is not
inevitable. Losing weight, increas
ing activitiy and changing diet can
help those with pre-diabetes to con
trolling and even reverse thek prog
ress towards fiill on-set diabetes.
Were your midterm grades slacking?
By Shirley Townsend
Voice News Editor
Midterm grades have been in for quite some
time now.
Unfortunately, many students are not happy
with their grades and are scrambling to find new
resources and methods to do better in the sec
ond half of the semester. A college education is
essential in life. It can help students represent
themselves well in many different aspects of
life, but it all begins with finding a personalized
learning strategy that works best for you.
Unlike high school, your parents and profes
sors won’t hold your hand in college. It’s all
about initiative, time management, motivation
and finding the will to do better. When you re
ceive disappointing midterm
grades you can do two things,
straighten up and fly right, or
make an appointment with
your professor and/or aca
demic advisor for guidance. If
you’ve received a D or F, mak
ing an appointment is a must,
not a choice.
Remember, the role of an
advisor is to advise. If they
were responsible for ensur
ing you showed up to class and did your paper
instead of attending the party, they’d be called
your babysitter, so don’t expect your advisor to
help you if you are not taking responsibility and
helping yourself. Opening up to your advisor
about any personal issues going on may benefit
you. Advisors are humans and former students.
In many instances they identify with things that
students go through. They can help you build
time management programs or encourage you
not to take a certain course that may not work
well during any adverse situations you may be
going through.
Meeting with your professor is proactive
because it helps you build a solid start for suc
cess in the respective course. He or she might
provide you with some helpful study tips, op
portunities for extra credit, and/or rare chances
to make up assignments or tests you may have
missed, if you can provide a strong defense of
your newfound plan to do well in the class.
Contrary to ridiculous popular belief, professors
do not want you to fail.
“To be successful in school, you must have
work ethic and you must be willing to learn.
You must be willing to work hard in order to
be successful. That does mean at times making
sacrifices, like skipping out on some social ac
tivities but the results are well worth it,” says
Tatianna Mosley, director of Volunteer Affairs
for SGA. “Social activities are always going
to be here on campus but you only have one
opportunity to make your mark inside a class
room.”
“You also must be willing to leam,” she says.
“The Professors here at Fayetteville State offer
so much advice and wisdom. You must be will
ing to talk with them and leam from them, not
only inside the classroom but outside as well.
“They have already been in our shoes, and
walked the paths we want to walk, in my opin
ion their advice is priceless and something that
everyone can benefit from.” Ms. Mosley says.
Tips for success in school
Eat Breakfast!
It is extremely important
to eat somewhat of a break
fast before starting your day.
Foods such as fruits, cere
als, and oatmeal make great
breakfast foods because they
help stimulate your mind and
they also keep you full. When
one leams it is important to be
focused and interactive, break
fast makes it easier to do both.
Campus Research
Look for organizations on campus that might
be able to provide extra tutoring or educational
assistance in your course of study.
Complete Assignments
Completing each and every assignment on
time accomplishes a couple of scholastic goals.
First, it shows your instructors that you take
their classes seriously. When it comes time for
them to hand out grades, it will be in the back of
their minds. Second, completing homework on
time actively involves your brain in the studied
material.
Take Notes
Showing up for class is one thing, but active
ly engaging yourself is another. Make an effort
to listen and digest information that is given
or lectured. While you’re listening, take notes.
This allows your brain to process the informa
tion more accurately.
Ask Questions
When you don’t understand a concept during
a lecture, ask questions. Your brain leams more
quickly if questions are answered as soon as
they pop into your head. Asking questions also
proves to your teacher that you are interested in
learning what he/she has to say.
Go to Class!
College students can attest to the fact that
simply showing up for class dramatically im
proves scholastic performance. Attendance
shows a commitment to scholastic career as
well as a dedication to the class and study mate
rial.
Seek Extra Help
Some classes are much more difficult than
others. When you find yourself in a situation
where you need more help, reach out and ask.
If your instructor is not available for study ses
sions, seek a tutor or a fellow peer. Doing bettef
in school means you are able to recognize and
seek help for your weaknesses.
Prepare for Exams
Exams usually dictate a large portion of a
class grade. Begin studying for them at least
one week in advance. Review study material
and complete review worksheets.
Review Material
Each day before class, review material that
was discussed during the previous class. If your
brain is kick-started before class, you will have
a better retention rate of new material. Review
ing also helps if there happens to be a pop quiz
that day.
Get a Study Buddy
Using a study buddy to complete worksheets,
homework assignments, and study for exams is
one of the best ways to do better in school. It
allows both partners to leam and share informa
tion gained while having fim.
Eat Regularly
Never'let yourself get hungry during class or
an exam. When your stomach is hungry, your
mind doesn’t function at peak levels. The mind
wonders and doesn’t concentrate on the task at
hand. Keep healthy snacks with you at all times
during school. It will help to improve your per
formance.
Take Mental Breaks
Every brain needs some time to relax and
take a break. Allow your mind time to energize
and rejuvenate during school or long class pe
riods. Take a walk, briefly close your eyes, or
get a drink. It takes work to do well in school.
You could be the smartest person in class and
still get the worst grade. Doing well in school
means that you are dedicated to learning no
matter how difficult the material.
Meeting with your
professor is proactive
because it helps you
build a solid start for
success in the
respective course,
E NEED YOUR VOICE
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