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Teen Voices: Resolute: Desirably purposeful, determined and unwavering

by Isabella Dussias

With a new year come new resolutions—new promises we hope to keep but sometimes forget to abide by. Yet, when we stick to our resolutions, it can make all the difference in the new year. 

When I surveyed some of my high school friends on what kind of resolutions they would make in 2020, I got a plethora of responses. Some wanted to improve their eating habits and try to lead a healthier lifestyle. Others wanted to exercise more and pay more attention to their physical health. Many shared that they wanted to focus on improving academically. 

Why do we embrace this self-reflection in the new year? Who started this tradition?  Was the past year really that bad? Do teens feel that they need resolutions or a fresh start? 

The answer is an overwhelming “yes” from my peers. I guess we are always striving for perfection, especially in a society where teens often feel judged. Maybe that’s partly due to our own battle with self-confidence as we are emerging as adults. So, we make our resolutions to exercise more, eat healthier, be more organized, etc. You’ve heard them all. 

The tricky part is how do we keep these resolutions? The answer is the “resolute” in “resolution”. The hard part is the follow through, the determination to be the best we can be, to be more confident, more assertive, more thoughtful, more kind, and maybe even more kind to ourselves. 

So, my New Year’s resolution is to be more resolute—to actually carry out the things I have resolved to do, to be the best version of myself. 

I wish you all a happy and healthy 2020!

Isabella Dussias is a 16-year-old singer-songwriter/composer from New Jersey. She enjoys writing about issues that are important to today’s youth, and she believes music is an important outlet to connect people and share messages through the creativity of lyric and melody. For more information, please visit IsabellaDussias.com.


In-Print Local Insights Teen Voices January 2020
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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