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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

Palo-Santo-Candles

Being Present as the Future Unfolds

by Hannah Adamson

Spring has finally arrived and so has Decision Day and AP exam season. Needless to say, May is a big month for many teens, especially seniors.

For those of you who aren’t familiar, Advanced Placement (AP) courses are high school classes that are taught at a college level. In May, these courses have standardized exams that determine if students can get college credit. Many students spend countless hours studying for these exams and can find them overwhelming.

While they do offer a way for students to make themselves stand out to a college and even get a jumpstart on college credits, they can also cause a lot of stress. It is important for teens to remember that relaxation and sleep are just as important as studying. Even taking a walk in the sunshine can help to relieve stress. Studying is beneficial only if it is done in moderation.

May is also a big month for seniors as they make their final decisions about post-graduation plans. May 1, Decision Day, is often seen with many students wearing college apparel. After late nights of submitting applications and days of checking the mail for decision notifications, we finally have a concrete plan of what is happening next year. This is also an exciting time for those who are planning to take a gap year, travel, join the armed service or dive right into working. Going to high school is a major part of being a teen, and these last few months are bittersweet as some aspects of childhood are ending and adulthood is beginning. Just as the flowers are blooming and nature is starting anew, so are we in many ways.

I think the most important thing to remember amongst exam stress and anticipation for the future is to enjoy the present moment; to take the time to enjoy the weather, spend time with friends, appreciate family and connect with your true self. Instead of rushing through these spring days, slow down and appreciate this part of the journey.

 

Hannah Adamson is a senior in high school. She practices meditation and takes ThetaHealing courses with Reshma Shah in Westfield, New Jersey.

Teen Voices
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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