Identifying Local Opportunities
Downtown Gainesville, Florida (https://sweetwaterinn.com/blog/gainesville-fl-downtown/)
There are numerous opportunities around my local area of Gainesville, many of which are documented in articles from local newspapers. For my purposes, I examined some recent issues of The Independent Florida Alligator (issues from the past three months). Listed below are five different articles in which I summarize the main points of the article, identify a problem illustrated in the story, and describe who (in general) that identified problem afflicts.
"College can amplify disordered eating"
https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028290/07819
Summary: Many college students don’t have money for food, as they have little to no income and have many other costs weighing on them. Students also fear the "Freshman 15," being particularly conscious of gaining excess weight. The combination of limited access to food and body image issues causes some students to eat smaller meals, split meals, or skip meals altogether.
Problem: Disordered eating (whether previously disordered or newly disordered) is intensified by the expense and availability of food.
Who: College students are the main people afflicted by this eating issue, as they may have previous eating disorders and fail to possess the resources to eat in a healthy manner.
"The circus that is college life"
"College can amplify disordered eating"
https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028290/07819
Summary: Many college students don’t have money for food, as they have little to no income and have many other costs weighing on them. Students also fear the "Freshman 15," being particularly conscious of gaining excess weight. The combination of limited access to food and body image issues causes some students to eat smaller meals, split meals, or skip meals altogether.
Problem: Disordered eating (whether previously disordered or newly disordered) is intensified by the expense and availability of food.
Who: College students are the main people afflicted by this eating issue, as they may have previous eating disorders and fail to possess the resources to eat in a healthy manner.
"The circus that is college life"
https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028290/07817
Summary: Many students feel the need to juggle numerous extracurriculars alongside their classes, as they believe they will look good on their resume and they see their peers doing even more ease. Students carry this perfectionist attitude, inevitably causing them to overload themselves with activities of different clubs and organizations for which they just don't have the time or energy.
Problem: Students fail at properly prioritizing, scheduling, and coordinating their lives, specifically with reference to their attempts at being involved (in college).
Who: College students and young adults in general are susceptible to this time management issue, as they take on responsibilities/time commitments that they simply can't handle.
"New environmental sustainability club to begin at UF in fall"
https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028290/07817
Summary: Fiona Gain was a UF environmental club hopper until she began the UF chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby, which aims to address policies that reduce carbon emissions. Members of the chapter are trained to properly campaign for a desired environmental policy that promotes solutions for climate change.
Problem: The current environmental policies are insufficient, as our carbon gas emissions still need to be reduced in sustaining our environment.
Who: People concerned with the future of our environment are afflicted by this issue, as the destruction of our planet equates to the destruction of their futures or their children's' futures.
"UF applicants can now use the Common Application"
Summary: Many students feel the need to juggle numerous extracurriculars alongside their classes, as they believe they will look good on their resume and they see their peers doing even more ease. Students carry this perfectionist attitude, inevitably causing them to overload themselves with activities of different clubs and organizations for which they just don't have the time or energy.
Problem: Students fail at properly prioritizing, scheduling, and coordinating their lives, specifically with reference to their attempts at being involved (in college).
Who: College students and young adults in general are susceptible to this time management issue, as they take on responsibilities/time commitments that they simply can't handle.
"New environmental sustainability club to begin at UF in fall"
https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028290/07817
Summary: Fiona Gain was a UF environmental club hopper until she began the UF chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby, which aims to address policies that reduce carbon emissions. Members of the chapter are trained to properly campaign for a desired environmental policy that promotes solutions for climate change.
Problem: The current environmental policies are insufficient, as our carbon gas emissions still need to be reduced in sustaining our environment.
Who: People concerned with the future of our environment are afflicted by this issue, as the destruction of our planet equates to the destruction of their futures or their children's' futures.
"UF applicants can now use the Common Application"
https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028290/07816
Summary: While people previously had to use Coalition to apply to the University of Florida, students can now use the Common Application. Using the Common App is easier, as it allows students to apply to multiple colleges on the same platform; however, it is arguably less personal than the previous application program, Coalition.
Problem: The current platforms for the college application process either lack accessibility and ease or lack personability, making the application process less enjoyable than necessary.
Who: High school or transfer students applying to colleges suffer this problem, as they are the ones that are required to use semi-flawed application platforms.
"Florida: The home of hot girl summer"
Summary: While people previously had to use Coalition to apply to the University of Florida, students can now use the Common Application. Using the Common App is easier, as it allows students to apply to multiple colleges on the same platform; however, it is arguably less personal than the previous application program, Coalition.
Problem: The current platforms for the college application process either lack accessibility and ease or lack personability, making the application process less enjoyable than necessary.
Who: High school or transfer students applying to colleges suffer this problem, as they are the ones that are required to use semi-flawed application platforms.
"Florida: The home of hot girl summer"
https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028290/07815
Summary: The effects of global warming are clearly felt here in Florida, as the recorded temperatures this past summer have exceeded all previously recorded temperature averages from the past century. The temperatures continue to gradually increase, giving rise to greater attempts at environmental sustainability efforts. People have attempted to decrease their efforts by switching to reusable containers, reducing waste, buying secondhand clothing, and using reusable water bottles all in the name of reducing their contribution to global warming.
Problem: The decisions and actions of people around the globe have effectively harmed our environment, leading to global warming. This warming can be felt especially here in Florida, making summers even more treacherous than in prior years.
Who: Every living being on the planet Earth is affected by this issue, as the Earth is everyone's environment in which we all reside. Negative changes to our environment means negative impacts on our lives.
Summary: The effects of global warming are clearly felt here in Florida, as the recorded temperatures this past summer have exceeded all previously recorded temperature averages from the past century. The temperatures continue to gradually increase, giving rise to greater attempts at environmental sustainability efforts. People have attempted to decrease their efforts by switching to reusable containers, reducing waste, buying secondhand clothing, and using reusable water bottles all in the name of reducing their contribution to global warming.
Problem: The decisions and actions of people around the globe have effectively harmed our environment, leading to global warming. This warming can be felt especially here in Florida, making summers even more treacherous than in prior years.
Who: Every living being on the planet Earth is affected by this issue, as the Earth is everyone's environment in which we all reside. Negative changes to our environment means negative impacts on our lives.
Hey Kira! I am very impressed with all the different problems students at the University of Florida have to face. The fact that some students cannot afford food is truly terrible and I think that the university should be able to do something about it. It really is a bummer how most of the problems on your blog directly affect students yet it is clearly not their fault.
ReplyDeleteHey Kira, I really enjoyed the articles you wrote about; I like you picked issues that are relevant to our local community here in Gainesville. I think you brought up very good points in your article discussions. Additionally I admire that the issues you look at go deeper than simply material things. For instance, you talk about how UF students can do more such as your example with the Environmental sustainability club as well as expressing concern for students that are struggling to afford meals or simply cant find the time to eat on a regular basis. I feel like this issue affects more students than most people would think.
ReplyDeleteHey Kira,
ReplyDeleteI liked how all of your articles relate closely to issues that students face. I connect with a few of them because I definitely remember skipping meals to save money freshman year, juggling too many extracurriculars at once, or struggling with college applications. I did not know about the environmental sustainability club, but it sounds really interesting. Lots of clubs and events with eco-friendly missions have been popping up, it will be cool to see how they impact habits in the future to avoid rising temperatures.