Dealing With Pain: Article Review/Summary

                The article I read is about working through the pain of training. Michael Stott uses quotes from trained professionals and former swimmers to back up his facts. This article states the difference between soreness from training and pain due to more serious injuries. Everyone who was interviewed for this article says that they would always tell themselves to push through the soreness because that is what makes you better. However, if the pain is sharp, burning, or anything of the like, it could be something more serious. Also, if the pain lasts for more than 4 weeks, a doctor should be contacted. They describe beating the discomfort as “physical vs. mental limitations.” They all said that pushing through the mental stuff is what makes a swimmer great. They also say that if the swimmer feels like it may be something more serious, they should ice the location and see a professional if it gets worse. Basically, this article focused on deciphering between pain from training and pain from an injury that needs to be corrected. Michael Stott says the quickest way to recovery is using rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). Finally, this article tells of a “Return-to-Swim Program” that allows swimmers to swim while rehabbing from an injury, which could be a good thing to mention in my final project!

Citation: Stott, Michael J. "Dealing With Pain." Swimming World 50.3 (2009): 32. Middle Search Plus. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.

Press Release

In August of 2011, Margaret Schofield, Hall County student, started on an adventure that confirmed her dreams of becoming a Nurse Anesthetist. Margaret took advantage of the Hall County Honors Mentorship which allows students to explore their field of interest. While mentoring at the Gainesville Surgery Center, Margaret has been able to sit in on surgeries ranging from dental restoration to cataracts. This experience will carry her into her future nursing programs. Having this experience in high school will allow her to have a leg up on her competition and also allow for her to get used to the job of a Nurse Anesthetist.

Also while mentoring at the center, Margaret has been able to file folders of hundreds of patients. These folders allow her to look at an operation note and also pictures of knee arthroscopies and even colonoscopies. These surgeries are surgeries that she may have to see when she is working as a Nurse. During one of the surgeries she saw, the young girl have a reaction to the anesthesia. This mishap allowed Margaret to see how you are supposed to react in this situation. Everyone in the room stayed calm and let the girl’s body relax before continuing with the administration of the anesthesia.  

Margaret is so happy she decided to join the Mentorship Program. She has put a lot of time and hard work into her experience, but it was worth it. She will be forever grateful to Kathy Mellette for providing this opportunity to her. She is so excited to go to college and start her path to being a Nurse Anesthetist. Without this experience, she may not have been as sure of her future. She believes that she has met people who will always be there for her and always willing to recommend her for varying positions. Margaret is so happy she had this experience at the Gainesville Surgery Center where “our primary focus is providing our patients and families with superior quality ambulatory surgical services in a warm, friendly and caring environment."

Be A Provocateur

Name someone you consider a provocateur (may be in history, current or someone you know personally). Please share why you consider this person to be a provocateur. Do they display resilience and/or courage? How?

My dad is the first person who comes to mind when I think of a provocateur. When change is happening, he is the best person to lean on because he can always keep his cool. He has also invented a couple of inventions, so he is constantly thinking about the next big thing that the world needs. My dad also recently just started his own company, and while it was getting started, he never told us that he was scared or wanted to quit. He handled the uncertainty with grace and his company has now received some really big deals with big name companies. I don't know very many people who would be able to handle the stress of starting a company, so my dad's courage is inspirational! When my dad sees something new such as an invention or a billboard, the first thing he notices is how to make it better. If he's not a provocateur, I don't know what is!

What can you do (develop or improve) to increase your chances of becoming a  provocateur?

I think I could learn a lot by observing my dad. However, I also think a positive outlook and concern for others is a big part of being a provocateur. It seems like to be a provocateur you have to look out for changes that will be for the greater good. To become one, I need to learn to open my mind to change and ideas. I also need to learn to voice up my ideas when they come to me instead of just pushing them aside. 

Vulnerability

How would you answer, “Sometimes, I am afraid that I am not ……enough”.

Smart

How do YOU define vulnerability?

I define vulnerability as something you are afraid of and allowing people to reach that part of you and tear you down because of it.

Why do you struggle with vulnerability?

It's hard to let people completely in. You are always afraid that they may take advantage of your weaknesses and make you feel even more vulnerable than you already were. Also, what if you let someone in and then decide to push them away, then you have formed a new vulnerability and the whole cycle will begin again.

What did you tell yourself when faced with something you thought insurmountable?

I told myself that if I achieved what others told me I couldn't, I would feel so good about myself. When I reached my goal, I discovered I was right and I knew that I could do whatever I set my mind to.

MINDSIGHT

1. Which of the three R’s do you feel you need to develop?

I need to work on Resilience. I have a hard time with picking myself up after I fail at something I planned on doing. 

2. What are three books you’ve read in the past year?

Hunger games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay

3. As a child, what did you do in your free time?

When I was younger, I would play school with my friends in my basement. We would use old binders and each day, a different person would be the teacher. we would help each other with homework and act like the kids in our class.

4. What’s a goal that has been on your list for a few years?

My main goal is to go to college and get my nursing degree.

5. What do you actually do with your free time?

I don't really have free time anymore. I'm always busy swimming or doing homework. If I do have free time, I usually spend it on Twitter.

6. What types of activities energize you?

I love swimming and running. I also enjoy shopping, but that doesn't happen very much anymore.

7. What famous people intrigue you?

I love Josh Hutcherson, I think he is so cute and very interesting! I am also very interested in Chelsea Handler because she is hilarious and seems to lead an entertaining life. Also, Lauren Conrad interests me. She has the best taste in clothes, and she has her own website dedicated to fashion and beauty that inspires me to try new things with my hair and outfits.

Technology

 VIDEO: STROKE

For my final project, I will use Prezi to show the different injuries and complications that swimmers may face and springing from that, I will show the ways to treat and prevent these things. I will include pictures and show videos of professional swimmers to show the correct form while swimming to avoid injuries to major joints such as shoulders and elbows. A website that will come in handy while completing my project is http://www.swimsmooth.com/injury.php. It shows how to prevent shoulder injuries by showing the correct stroke form, posture, and body rotation. This website has a lot of useful information that is related directly to my topic.

The video above shows how Michael Phelps, Olympic swimmer, swims freestyle. Freestyle is the most common swim stroke. If you have proper form then you lower your chances of injury.The picture of the man swimming shows the proper breathing technique, which can also help avoid shoulder injuries. Finally, the diagram of the ear shows how swimmer's ear occurs. I don't know any swimmers who have not experienced swimmer's ear and knowing how it occurs helps us understand how to avoid it. These are all going to be included in my final project.

A website that relates to my mentorship is the website of the surgery center where I mentor. The website is http://www.gainesvillesurgerycenter.com/ 

Understanding Empathy

This week our assignment was to watch a video by Daniel Pink about empathy and also to take a quiz on how empathetic we are. On the quiz, I scored a 52, which is about average. Usually, women will score a 47, so I suppose I'm slightly above average. I would say this quiz was pretty close on the scaling. I have been told that I'm understanding of people and I know that usually I will try to see the other person's point of view in a conversation. I believe that people are born with a certain amount of empathy. However, I think that parents can definitely teach their kids to have at least a little empathy. A part of this is just having manners. If kids have manners, then they will be polite towards the feelings of other people and therefore show some empathy. 


My sister, although she can be rash, is very good at observing both sides of a problem. When she is having problems with someone, she will take the time to understand where the other person is coming from. Also, when I have a problem with someone, she helps me to decide what the next step should be judging by how the person will react to different situations. 


However, I also know someone who could use a few tips when it comes to empathy. One of my former friends only thought of herself when her feelings got hurt. She wouldn't even bother looking at where the other person was coming from and she didn't take the time to think about how that was affecting her friendships. If you got in an argument with her, it wouldn't be over until you said she was right even if she was wrong. Living without any sense of empathy is toxic to any relationships that person may have with another person.

Final Project Draft

1.) I need and want to know this:
I need to know the different injuries that swimmer's face from their training. I also need to know how chlorine can affect your skin and hair. I want and need to know how to avoid these injuries, since I swim myself. It would also be interesting to know if there are certain home remedies or herbal ways to heal your dry skin and hair after they have been damaged by chlorine.


2.) What is your essential question?
My essential question is "how can I predict health issues that may affect a competitive swimmer, and how can these be avoided?" 


3.) How do you envision using technology to best show case your project?
I would like to use some sort of computer program that I could do a web kind of design on. That way I could state the injury, and then branch off showing how to avoid the injury and how to fix it once it has occurred. I will need to do research to find different kinds of presentation programs, maybe something like Prezzi would work well!


4.) What will you do for your "real inquiry"?
I will most try to find time to ask one of the nurses at the Surgery Center if they know anything about the more common injuries that I research. Maybe if it is something more general and something that may need to be operated on, they could help me with the costs and the procedure and all that kind of stuff. To find out how best to avoid the injury or ways to rehabilitate it, I could also go to my swim coach. When I have had swimmer's ear or shoulder problems, he has always known the best way to heal it fast, he would be a good person to talk to!

New Year, New You

This week's assignment is to come up with a one word New Year Resolution. I chose "Meet". The reason I chose this word is because I will be going to college in the fall and I would like to meet new people. Also, while I still have a few months left, I would like to meet more people at school so that when I come home on breaks, I can catch up with the people from home. By meeting new people, I hope to broaden my horizons!


The second part of this assignment is to identify things that we envy or lie about. I often envy people who have a lot of money and throw it around like it doesn't mean anything. I don't have that privilege so when people talk about spending money on useless things, I wish I could do that comfortably. Also, I envy people who get to travel a lot because one of my dreams is to be able to travel to different countries and discover different ways of life. Often when people travel outside of the country, I ask them all about their trip when they return and find myself living vicariously through them. Kind of embarrassing!!!  The thing I find myself lying about the most is how I feel about situations. When I am upset about something, I tell people I am fine and never admit what I'm upset about. I realize that I need to stop doing this because often people don't know that what they do upsets me and then I have no justifiable reason to get upset at them when I finally pop. I think if I have to lie about it so much, I should probably open up more and let people know what's going on, and maybe get some help!