Fourth Blog Assignment

Though I have learned a lot from writing blog posts, I feel as if I have learned a lot more from reading my classmates blog posts. It's interesting to read their posts because you come across a lot of students that encounter similar obstacles and struggles as they go through the research process as well.

So, for the third and FINAL time...I am changing my topic...
I am doing how the media affects females. It sounds really broad, but if you think about it, the affects it has on females in college, teenagers and adults are all the same. The reason I chose this topic is because it is really personal to me. I know Ms. Ingram knows, but for those of you who don't know I am currently in the Army ROTC program here at UNCC. One of the reasons why I joined is because I knew it would keep my body in shape. I am constantly thinking and worrying about my body image. It has been something that I have been struggling with for a while. You probably would not have guessed that because I don’t usually talk about it, but it’s the truth. After I watch a movie or look at a magazine with really thin models, it ALWAYS makes me want to go and work out. I am a female and I understand the struggle other girls go through when it comes to their body image so I felt like this was a good and very personal topic to do.

Throughout this whole blogging process I have definitely learned a lot about myself. For example to be completely honest, I did not even want to post the reason behind why I chose this topic because who wants to admit to having a problem with their body image?? BUT..what do I have to lose right?! Throughout my research process I feel like I am really challenging myself because I do not like to be very vocal about a lot of things, this being one of them. But I realized, this is what makes it more interesting for the reader and also it helps me learn to put myself out there and to be open. I can’t wait to see how my research turns out!!!  

Struggle...

I am really having a difficult time finding sources that I could use for my previous topic so I think I'm going to switch it up and do another topic that I find I can really relate to as well. I'm thinking of changing it to the effects coffee has on college students. Specifically on our mental health. Reason being is that coffee is something that I along with most college students drink in order to keep themselves awake while studying for that exam for the next day. It is also often times the first thing we intake when starting out our day.
Dr. Randi Fredrick points out in his research the effects of caffeine on mental health that coffee can be a cause of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, etc. This article was shocking to myself, because who would have ever guessed that something as simple as coffee can be a cause of so much damage to one's health...
I have found a couple of sources but I need a lot more in order to support my ideas on this topic. One of the challenges that I've faced was finding sources for my previous topic, which led to the changing of the overall topic. I feel as if I can find a lot more information on my new topic which is great!! I've found a lot of sources online, now I just need to find some books and other sources (possible from the library). I'm a bit iffy about this topic, but it's a start..
I might need to stop by during my teacher's office hours and just get some more ideas. I feel if I were to talk about it then maybe it will be easier to get a good start...I don't know..We'll see I guess.

Well, I guess everyone will figure out what my topic is on Thursday when I turn in my first draft..   

My Topic...

There are so many topics that I would love to research when it comes to health. People who know me know that when it comes to health, I have a lot to say (often times, to much)...Especially when it comes to physical health. I try my best to stay physically healthy by working out and eating the right foods, however that doesn't always work out to well. Being a female, I often feel the pressure to stay in shape. I realized recently that I don't work out and try to eat healthy for myself, but I do it for others. I do it because this is what our society expects from us as females. But why? How did it come to be this way? How does the media affect the way women view themselves? These questions are something that run through my mind constantly. Almost on a daily basis. Why is it that in certain African countries, being over weight is viewed as beauty, however in our society it is viewed as ugly. I as a female, can honestly say that I stress over my physical health, so are diets actually good for you even though they are the cause of stress?? That is what I would like to research for my project. The relation between diets and stress. This is an important topic. 40% of American girls as young as 9 years old report being or having been on diets to lose weight. If young girls are already stressing themselves from that young of an age, it is just going to get worse as they get older.  This is hard to grasp. Yes, if you are successful at losing weight then you are bettering your health, but along side of that, if you are stressing over it then aren't you damaging it as well?

 I've had some trouble researching this topic, which makes me a bit iffy about claiming this as my topic on this blog, buuuut we'll see what happens

I have SO much work to do on narrowing my topic. I know I want to do something along these lines, but I don't know how to clearly state my topic!!! AAAHHH this is hard...