York EDFE 1101 Adolescent Development and Health

Link to short film:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQADfr4iE1o I created this short film during the last year of my undergrad in animation. The film focuses on our journey on this earth, and how each and every human has a choice to either be a light or to be consumed by darkness. It is in our human nature to be weak and to fall, but we our saved in the end by the one light that still remains: God. At the end of the day, we're all humans, we all come from the same source and we end our journey in the same place. What matters is what we do here on earth, and how we learn to be the best version of ourselves while making the world a better place. In terms of students, teachers, and the education system, we all have a choice to be loving and accepting of one another, despite our differences. To be inclusive is to love, and that is the greatest gift of all.  When I have my own classroom (in the Catholic school board), I believe that it is my responsibility to uphold and exhi

Link to video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXlTH6DQAXc Here is another rendering from the TV series, Everybody Hates Chris. In this episode, it is Chris' first day in high school, and after years of being conditioned and bullied for being the only black kid in elementary, he is so used to getting beaten up that he expects it in high school. The moment he find out that he isn't the only black kid at the school, he feels a great sense of acceptance and belonging...feelings that every teen longs for, whether they are marginalized or not. Professor Gaetz mentioned in one of his lectures how crucial it can be for teens to be accepted, regardless of their race, gender, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation. Not only will this have a positive impact on a teen's life, but it can help to make social institutions safer and more inclusive.

Link to article:  https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/alcohol-drinking-women-1.4890268 In one of my previous posts I mentioned a study (a national survey) that took place several years ago which outlined how males were more susceptible to alcohol abuse. The article mentioned above, published just yesterday (November 3rd, 2018) says that these numbers are changing, and that "girls aged 10 to 19 have higher hospitalization rates for alcohol abuse than boys the same age" which I found very shocking. 

Link to poem:  https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/meth-2 This poem, written by a teen struggling with drug addition, features a touching story about overcoming desires and breaking free from the slavery of an addition to drugs. What once promised "a better tomorrow" (line 4) and "peace of mind" (line 8) only ended up with him being deceived (line 10), still wanting (line 12), and filled with fear (line 15), shame (line 25) and pain (line 26). It is only from line 27 to the end of the poem where he speaks of his longing to "see life without depression" (line 29), and he makes up his mind to leave behind his old habits (line 39) and to look forward to the future, knowing that he is free (line 43) and that he has finally found himself (line 44). I was moved by this poem because I have been through addiction and depression (although not related to drugs), but I can certainly relate to the pain and shame he expresses. Students go through a rol

Link to article:  http://journal.cpha.ca/index.php/cjph/article/view/2268/2371 Reflection I was rather shocked to see the amount of drug use that Canadian youth are being exposed to, which was displayed in several charts and graphs in this national survey. This article mentions many factors that can contribute to the increase in drug use among teens and young adults. One factor in particular is the fact that provinces have their own laws on legal drinking age. The legal drinking age in Ontario is 19, whereas in Quebec it is 18. I remember when I was in Grade 12, during march break that year, a bunch of my classmates arranged to go to Montreal for several days to take advantage of the legal age being 18 in Quebec. I think that provinces should be consistent when it comes to things like this -- why have the legal drinking age be different in another province? The legal age to consume alcohol should either be 18 or 19, but this must be applied to each and every province without an