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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Teen Voices: Staying On Track

Jun 03, 2020 03:45PM ● By Isabella Dussias

I don’t know about you, but I find it hard to stay on track these days. In addition to the stress of this current public health crisis, adapting to new schedules and a new way of living is also trying. While there is less time spent commuting, my days are still filled with online studies, working on college applications, doing household chores, and communicating with my friends.

Normally, the busier I am the more I get done. Now, though, even with a lot of self-directed goals, I have more time on hand. The extra time is good, but it is also a little daunting. I feel the youth of my generation are used to always being scheduled, sometimes over-scheduled. My parents have told me that when they were kids, they were outside all day, rode their bicycles everywhere, and had some, but not many organized activities. This is very different in comparison to my childhood which has consisted of scheduled play dates and various lessons and activities that I had been shuttled from, to and fro.

So now my regimented self is thrown into the water, no paddle, no flippers, just myself. That might sound melodramatic, but I am learning to adapt, to be self-directed and to use my time wisely. I’m learning not to waste countless, mindless hours on social media and to not drown in indecision about what to do next. I am learning to be more of a self-starter and not depend on where I will be slotted in for the next activity. 

Trying to stay on track and stay focused in times of uncertainty and crisis is difficult. For the teens of today, we are learning to adapt like those before us throughout history. Hopefully, we come through this stronger and more resilient. Stay safe and be well.


Isabella Dussias is a 17-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.





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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