23. March 2009 by student.

Most people who are involved in sports first got started in that sport when they were young and because their parents wanted them to stay active and involved.  There are a select group of athletes who choose to play at the highest level possible.  These athletes generally go from playing at a recreational level, to high school, to college, to professional level or the Olympics. 

From the high school level and above these athletes are put under a great amount of stress.  Whether the stress comes from their parents, peers, coaches or fans, the stress and pressure is there.  Many athletes are constantly trying to gain an edge on their teammates and opponents, in order to be the best. Besides the satisfaction of personal accomplishment, athletes often pursue dreams of a medal for their country, a college scholarship or a place on a professional team.   

Now the correct and healthy way to become the best would simply be working hard everyday at practice and pushing yourself to be better than you are.  Instead of putting in the extra effort necessary to be the best, some athletes are choosing to, in essence, cheat.  These particular let the pressure of becoming the best, break them.  Some athletes may choose to take performance enhancement drugs.   A common choice for athletes is taking an anabolic steroid, which enhances muscle mass. 

I feel that it is sad that this is what many athletes have turned to.  It is upsetting to believe that some of the world’s favorite athletes are cheating.  I believe we can find ways to manage this problem and one way would be to drug test more often at the collegiate and professional level.  The NCAA is trying to make sure athletes are staying clean, but they only chose to do two random drug tests a year for all athletes.  The NCAA chooses two to three athletes per sport (once in the fall and once in the spring) and tests them for illegal drugs and performance enhancement drugs.  I understand that testing more than twice a year will cost more money, but I believe it would be money well spent.  If athletes go through college knowing there is no way possible they can use drugs, then it will force good habits into their future.

I also feel that the colleges should start having a mandatory meeting at the beginning of every school talking about the negative effects of steroids.  If the pure fact of being kicked off the team and no longer being able to participate in college sports is not enough, the colleges need to mention the negative effects steroids have on the body.  For example “designer” steroids causes men to grow breasts, become bald, shrunken testicles, and infertility.  While in women it causes their voice to deepen, increase body hair, and baldness.  These steroids also may cause liver abnormalities and tumors, aggressive behaviors (such as rage and violence), depression and inhibited growth and development if taken at a young age. 

Athletes need to understand that there are healthy ways to become a more elite athlete.  I think the NCAA and the professional sporting organizations can help limit the amount of illegal drug use greatly by drug testing more randomly and often.  I understand that no matter what there will always be athletes trying to find different ways to take drugs, but if we can make the number go down even a little, I would be happy.     

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23. March 2009 by student.

The drinking age in the United States should be changed to 18 or 19.  I believed it should be lowered based on history, other countries and the fact that many college students are participating in underage drinking. 

In the past theUnited States has tried to enforce prohibition laws to lower irresponsible drinking.  “These laws were finally repealed because they were unenforceable and because the backlash towards them caused other social problems.  Today we are simply repeating history.”  With the drinking age being set at 21, and college students ranging from the ages of 18 – 22, underage drinking is happening at every college.  “Drinking by these youth is seen as an enticing “forbidden fruit,” a “badge of rebellion against authority” and a symbol of “adulthood” (Engs).  There are statistics supporting the fact that those under 21 are more likely to be heavy drinkers.  22% of all students under the age of 21 compared to only 18% of students over the age of 21.  When comparing all drinkers, not only students, 32% of drinkers under the age of 21 are heavy drinkers compared to 24% of legal drinkers.

            TheUnited States has the highest drinking age in the entire world.  Japan and Iceland has a legal drinking age of 20 and South Korea has a legal drinking age of 19.  Every other country in the world either does not have a drinking age or the legal age is set at either 16 or 18.  Of these countries whose drinking age is set below 21, there are not excessive drinking problems.  I believe that by having a lower drinking age and not making a big deal about alcohol, people are more responsible when consuming it.  Young adults in other countries do not need to hide the fact that they are drinking and they learn to drink responsibly.  I feel that if the United States were to lower the drinking age, people would learn to be more responsible with it. 

            I strongly believe that the drinking age should at least be lowered to 18, because in the United States we are considered an adult at the age of 18.  This is the age when people are considered adults for most things, like firing a weapon and putting their lives on the line in battle.  Our country trust 18 year olds to vote, be on a jury, fight in war, but we do not trust them to consume an alcoholic beverage. 

                It is true that once the drinking age was changed back to 21 in 1984, the number of driving fatalities for 18 to 20 year olds fell 13 percent.  There has been an increase in other problems related to drinking during this time period as well, especially among college students.  There are studies that prove the number of kids vomiting after drinking, cutting class after drinking, missing class because of a hangover and getting lower grades because of drinking have all increased since the drinking age was raised back to 21.  This indicates irresponsible drinking.  “This increase in abusive drinking behavior is due to “underground drinking” outside of adult supervision in student rooms and apartments where same age individuals congregate and because of lack of knowledge of responsible drinking behaviors.”

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23. March 2009 by student.

žThis issue is seen in the media constantly. For as long as I can remember there has always been one celebrity getting attacked for being to thin, and for every thin celebrity the tabloids attacked five heavier women. It’s a sick game the paparazzi is playing to sell photo’s and keep a  job. But really what they are doing is starting an epidemic. Our world has become obsessed with weight, diet, and who is on the cover of the next People magazine and weather or not she slimmed down. And, what makes this so serious is the publicity these magazines get, it’s not like some classified that might get skipped over, its there at every checkout counter, on every entertainment tonight. Millions of people obsessed over one individuals god given body. But society tricks you into thinking its normal, and they do it by advertizing how all of these celebrities are losing weight, and how much better they look. What you don’t realize is that you, yourself are part of the media’s influence, you as well are being influenced. However at least with the magazines, you have a choice to look away, giving the poor celebrities a break, and actually go online and research it. The differences; unreal. On the internet the focus is no longer on Nicole Richie or Jessica Simpson, but rather on this past month’s National Eating Disorder Awareness week. I spent hours online researching, and all I stumbled across was one solid article after another, I’m sure we can all agree I wasn’t going through US Weekly.

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