Competition #4

For the second time this season, my squad brought home a 1st place trophy. After only having one practice this week to change the dance and tighten things up, I'm very happy with our performance. However, a few stunts did fall but we recovered and kept going. Our sharp motions and keeping our spirits up throughout the whole routine were our most improved areas this week. This week at practice we will not be changing anything; we'll just continue to tighten things up and make sure all the stunts consistently hit.

Eighteen Today!!

Today is my 18th birthday.

In my eighteen years of life;

I have spent 12 years cheerleading (kindergarten-present),

5 years playing basketball (kindergarten-5th grade),

2 years playing field hockey (7th and 8th grade),

and 2 years doing gymnastics (4-5 years old).

I've also spent 7 years singing (6th-12th grade).

This June I will graduate and complete my 13 years of public schooling.

I have gone through many career options through out my school career; I wanted to be a teacher,

lawyer,

singer,

actress,

and finally now I've decided to do something with biology,

maybe a pediatrician.

I got my first job the summer before junior year,

and will have worked as a lifeguard for 3 years after this summer.

I got my first car, a maroon Hyundai Accent, the summer before junior year.

Aspirin Linked to Reducing Cancer Deaths

"Many Americans take aspirin to lower their risk of heart disease, but a new study suggests a remarkable added benefit, reporting that patients who took aspirin regularly for a period of several years were 21 percent less likely decades later to die of solid tumor cancers, including cancers of the stomach, esophagus and lung. Participants who had been assigned to the aspirin arms of the studies were 20 percent less likely after 20 years to have died of solid tumor cancers than those who had been in the comparison group taking dummy pills during the clinical trials, and their risk of gastrointestinal cancer death was 35 percent lower. The risk of lung cancer death was 30 percent lower, the risk of colorectal cancer death was 40 percent lower and the risk of esophageal cancer death was 60 percent lower, the study reported. The specific dose of aspirin taken did not seem to matter — most trials gave out low doses of 75 to 100 milligrams — but the participants in the longest lasting trials had the most drastic reductions in cancer death years later. While Dr. Jacobs said the study design was valid, relatively few women were included in the trials, making it difficult to generalize the results to women. Dr. Alan A. Arslan, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and environmental medicine at New York University School of Medicine, who did an observational study several years ago reporting that women who had taken aspirin regularly had a lower risk of ovarian cancer. (Aspirin Helps in Reducing Cancer Deaths, a Study Finds)"


The thought that a simple over the counter drug, like Tylenol, could decrease your likelihood of developing cancer is amazing. While aspirin’s do have some side affect one of them being stomach ulcers; the study had the patients taking the aspirin in small does, not large enough to do any damage. Also, while a study had been done that gave evidence that suggested women who took aspirin regularly were less likely to develop ovarian cancer; this study that suggests that aspirin may also lower your likelihood of developing cancer of the lung, stomach, or esophagus can not be said to account for women, too, since only a few were used in the study. However, if this study becomes proven fact then Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and Advil can expect some increases in sales.

Cell Phone Usage Linked to Behavioral Problems

"Evidence of harm from cell phones continues to emerge: First there was the possible cancer link, and now there's suggestion that those little hand-held devices may affect children's behavior. Children who had exposure to cell phones both in the womb and after birth, up to age 7 had a higher likelihood of behavioral problems than those who had no exposure, researchers said in a new study in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. The behavioral problems include hyperactivity and attention and social issues. The association between cell phone exposure is not terribly strong, Kheifets said. Also, the authors do not yet know the mechanism behind the connection between cell phones and behavioral problems. One theory is that cell phone use may lead to excess secretion of the hormone melatonin, which can affect the mother's metabolism and may influence the development of the fetus's brain. But this is just a speculation, Kheifets said. There is also no way to know whether the mothers were telling the truth about the amount of cell phone time they had. It's impossible to tell from this research whether cell phone exposure really causes behavioral problems. Still, given how many people use cell phones in the world, it's important to keep an eye on possible harms, Kheifets said. She recommends limiting exposure to radiation through the use of hands-free devices. (Behavioral Problems)"

First off, I'd like to say that the connection between the two things is not very strong and more testing and research needs to be done to prove that cell phones cause behavioral problems in children. Second, if you are sincerely worried about your child developing behavioral problems from cell phones; don't use one as often as you normally would when you are pregnant and don't let your child have a cell phone till middle school. A child doesn't need a cell phone in elementary school anyway. As for this study, I feel it will be really hard for anyone to prove that cell phones have a direct effect on the behavior of a child due to the other variables that also cause behavior problems, like the way the child is brought up (nurture) and the genetic make-up of the child which determines personality (nature). However, like I said earlier if you are sincerely worried for your children take the necessary precautions to keep them safe.

Competition #3

This performance was our best so far this season; every stunt hit and everyone did their tumbling. However, we did get second place. This was mostly due to a deduction because our dance was not "age appropriate." I love our dance and feel that it is not the slightest bit inappropriate for high school aged teenagers; but cheerleading is judged on preference and the judges were middle aged women who apparently did not enjoy our style of dancing. This is the second time we have been warned about the appropriateness of our dance, so this week at practice we are changing it. A big part of cheerleading is putting together a routine to fit the preferences of the judges. The scores are in their hands and if they do not like your routine, they will not score you as high even if your routine was more entertaining to the crowd. This may seem unfair but it's just another thing you have to be conscious of when putting together a cheerleading routine. This week at practice, we'll find out the consequences to not meeting these requirements.

Cheerleading: Sport?

For the past few years, cheerleading and whether it is or is not a sport has been debated over and over again. In my opinion it is a sport. But it all depends on what your definition of a sport is. I define sport as an athletic activity, which requires some sort of skill. Cheerleading fits under this definition, where stunting, jumping, and tumbling would be the skills required. But some argue that the definition of a sport is an athletic activity, requiring a skill and competitors. This is where cheerleading gets debated. Regular high school cheerleading, while it may be athletic and require skills; they do not have competitors. However, competitive cheerleading does meet this requirement. Ok, so you'd think that maybe people could agree that competitive cheerleading is a sport, but no. Then the way sports are refereed or judged comes into play. And cheerleading unlike other sports, such as football or baseball, is a subjectively judged activity. A competitive cheerleading routine is judge by more than one person, and one judge may like your routine better than another, therefore scoring you higher. Where as in football, the ball is either in the end zone or it isn't; taste and preference doesn't matter. This part of cheerleading is what is keeping it from being declared a sport. But whether or not cheerleading is declared a sport, I will still participate and stand-up for the hard work and great athletes that enjoy this activity.

College Essays

As a senior in high school, this year I have to go through the application process if I expect to get accepted to a college. The actually application is not difficult to fill out; it's the essays that have me stumped. They want you to write something about yourself, which describes who you are and why you would be a good fit at that college. But what if you don't know exactly who you are or why you would be a good fit, because I'll be honest I'm just applying to different schools because they are the top schools for science majors not because I think my personality would add to the college. So what do I write about? I think I've finally come to the conclusion to write about why, when, and who influences me to be a science major.