North Carolina News Feed
The following articles were submitted to YCJN by
youth correspondents.
The most recent articles are presented at the top of the list.
Friend or Foe? Networking Sites
Provide Avenues for Personal Branding
By Daniel Wormstaff, 12th Grade, Kitty Hawk, NC - October 26, 2009
Facebook.
MySpace.
Twitter.
While some people use social networking sites as a way to build
relationships and find new friends, others utilize them as a way to build a name
for themselves through a process called personal branding.
“Personal branding is very similar to product branding, except a
person is the product,” said Kelly Giles, a social media strategist and 2009 UNC
Chapel Hill graduate. “We’ve all heard of brands like Tylenol and Walmart, and
we have certain attributes associated with those brands (Tylenol is the pain
killer that works; Walmart has low prices but questionable quality). Personal
branding is the process of shaping the attributes that people associate with
you.”
Giles is a lead writer for OptimalResume.com, a Web site
specializing in enhancement through career management.
Personal branding serves the purpose of providing a sort of online resume for
both potential employers and college admissions officers. Companies often use
social media through the internet as a method of examining applicants.
According to a CareerBuilder survey, 45 percent of employers used
social networking sites to research candidates in 2009, a 23 percent increase
since last year.
“Both job seekers and college applicants are trying to get someone
to ‘buy’ them. For someone applying to college or a job, you’re trying to create
a personal brand statement that says, ‘Hire me! Admit me! I’m better than the
competition, and I’ll do great things at your organization.’ You can write that
in your admissions essay or job application, but your case is much stronger if
you’ve established a track record of proving that statement, which you can do
through social media,” Giles said.
While social networking sites can be a blessing, they can also be
detrimental to a user’s name and reputation. College applicants and job-seekers
alike are discouraged from posting material that may be harmful to their “brand
name.”
“Most colleges do take a negative view of what is found on
the social networking sites.” guidance counselor Carol Davis said.
“There have even been some instances of students being refused
admission because of what was displayed on the site. We do talk with students
about the dangers, but most students still think the sites are harmless.”
A survey conducted by Kaplan, a company that provides educational
and career services for individuals, revealed that over 70 percent admissions
officers from the nation’s top 500 colleges and universities report receiving
friend requests from applicants.
Over 10 percent of officers have admitted to using consideration of
the applicant’s profile content as an evaluation tool and 38 percent said the
content “negatively affected” the impression of the applicant.
Some students disagree with colleges’ ability to consider profile
content when examining applicants.
“I don’t believe college admissions officers should be able to do
this.” said Susan Youngsteadt, senior and Park Scholarship nominee. “I know
people who party and have pictures (of it) on Facebook and still are on Dean’s
List in college. What someone does in their spare time doesn’t have to reflect
what their academic performance will be.”
While some advocate a right to privacy and acceptance of what some
consider propaganda, others believe that a better practice of discretion is
necessary.
“What you put on your profile is what you put out for the world to
see. If you don't want your mother to know you get drunk at parties, don’t put
it in print or on the Internet,” junior Jen Bryson said. “Colleges have the
right to know what kind of person they are possibly going to allow to attend,
and therefore represent their school.”
Many teachers urge students to use caution when posting personal
information on the internet, but do not advocate a complete reliance on
networking sites by colleges or employers.
“They should not use officially use Facebook for admissions
decisions,” teacher Steve Blackstock said. “At the same time, if you are serious
about your future education, job, or relationships, you will only put things on
Facebook that you want made public.”
Whether applying to college or searching for a career, the internet
can be either be a blessing or a curse. Through methods such as these in
personal branding, internet users are able to harness the opportunity to choose
which route to take in promoting a positive reputation or a heap of dirty
laundry.
“People judge your personal brand (initially, anyway) based on your
Google results.” Giles said. “What comes up when I Google your name?
Unflattering photos or a well-managed array of social media?”
Health Care: Reform Aims to
Provide Affordable Coverage
By Taylor Swankie, 11th Grade, Kitty Hawk, NC - October 26, 2009
The average cost of a family healthcare insurance policy costs
$13,275, about the same price as a new 2009 Hyundai Elantra, according to the
Kaiser Family Foundation.
Since 1999, health insurance premiums for families have risen 131
percent, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Congressional leaders say
that reform is necessary to stop the continuous rise of healthcare costs.
“Each year the costs of both healthcare services and the insurance
coverage that pays for them rise for consumers, and these costs rise at a much
faster rate than the rate at which people’s wages increase,” said Claire
McAndrew, Families USA Health Policy Analyst. “The result is that each year
healthcare costs, even for people with insurance, end up consuming more and more
of American families’ incomes.”
The number of people without health insurance reached 46.3 million
in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In North Carolina alone, Families
USA estimates that 1,480 people will lose their health coverage each week
between 2008 and 2010.
“It is not fair that Americans who cannot afford the costs of
insurance have to go without care or lose everything they have when they get
sick or injured just to pay medical bills,” McAndrew said. “People who don’t
have insurance often put off care as long as possible to avoid unaffordable
costs.”
The House of Representatives is currently working toward merging
three versions of a reform plan, at the urgency of President Barack Obama’s
administration. The basic idea is to provide a way for all Americans to obtain
affordable coverage.
“Overall, the bills make sure that all Americans have a place they
can go to obtain quality, affordable coverage and protects all Americans from
insurance company abuses that are most problematic when people become sick and
need their coverage the most,” McAndrew said.
The bills propose offering Medicare to low-income adults, even if
they do not have children, are not pregnant or do not have a disability.
Subsidies will be offered to those with moderate incomes to help pay a portion
of the costs.
“It’s very important for everyone to be covered by health
insurance, for their financial welfare and the facility that treats them,” nurse
Laura Youmans said. “I support (reform) if it can be provided with reasonable
cost to the American public.”
Insurers will not be able to refuse coverage or charge more to
those with pre-existing conditions. A virtual marketplace will be created for
consumers to compare costs and encourage competition among insurance providers.
“It’s safer to be paying for the health insurance,” sophomore Jimmy
Morgenroth said. “It’s a good idea (for reform to occur) because it will lower
prices for people and make (insurance) companies have to lower their prices.”
One concern is that healthcare reform will lead to a national
health insurance plan with the government in control of the system. Freshman
Katherine Ross said she would not support a nationalized system.
“I think the system is working pretty well. It’s fair for everybody
because if you work hard, then you can pay for health insurance,” Ross said. “I
don’t think people should be given free healthcare if not everyone gets it for
free.”
Families USA said that the proposed bills will not create a
national plan, like that of Canada or Great Britain.
“The government takes on the role of a ‘watchdog,’ creating a
marketplace where private insurance companies continue to sell plans to the
public, but with new rules to make sure that they sell coverage to any American
who wants to buy it and that they live up to their promises and help pay
people’s medical bills when they get sick,” McAndrew said. “Instead of leaving
everything up to the government, the model being proposed is one of shared
responsibility where there is a role for private insurance companies, employers,
individuals and the government in making sure that all Americans have health
coverage.”
Families USA said that healthcare reform will provide greater
security to those who already have insurance. Even if people lose their coverage
due to a job loss, they will have a place to turn where they can buy affordable
coverage.
“Our biggest priorities right now are making sure that the income
protections for middle-income people in the final bill are large enough to truly
protect them from unaffordable costs, and also making sure that the states have
all the support they need to expand the Medicaid program to all low-income
adults,” McAndrew said.
Healthcare reform discusses monitoring insurance costs in order to
pay for part of the proposal, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates
that it will cost about $1 trillion over 10 years.
“Along with monitoring how much of consumers’ premiums insurance
companies use for things like profits and advertising instead of on actually
delivering care, we can slow the growth in costs so that health insurance
becomes more affordable for currently insured Americans,” McAndrew said.
What remains unknown is what exactly will be covered in the final
bill and how healthcare reform will be paid for. It is yet to be determined if
taxes will be charged to wealthier families or if cost-saving measures will
cover enough of the costs.
“There are a lot of factors; healthcare is not an easy thing to
fix. It’s not like if I do this, then healthcare will be reformed,” junior
Rhonda Hindi said. “No matter what kind of plan comes out, someone’s not going
to be happy.”
Families USA supports healthcare reform and hopes that necessary
changes will be made to make insurance affordable and obtainable.
“The bills under consideration are a huge, historic step forward
from the current healthcare system and its many holes,” McAndrew said. “We want
to be sure that everyone, rich and poor, sick and healthy, have a place where
they can obtain quality, affordable health coverage. We want insurance companies
to play by the rules, not to avoid people when they are sick and need help the
most.”
N.C. Health Plan to Increase
Out-of-Pocket Costs for Some State Workers
By Taylor Swankie, 11th Grade, Kitty Hawk, NC - October 26, 2009
Unhealthy state employees will need to make necessary lifestyle
changes or face additional out-of-pocket costs for their healthcare premiums.
As of July 2010, members under the North Carolina State Health Plan
will have to testify that they are nonsmokers or prove they are working towards
tobacco cessation, or stopping tobacco use. By July 2011, members will have to
prove they are under a Body Mass Index of 40 percent or working towards weight
management. In 2012, the BMI requirement will be lowered to 35 percent. Members
who fail to meet these requirements will be penalized with higher health
insurance premiums.
“The Comprehensive Wellness Initiative was put in place by the
General Assembly to jump start health improvement (in members) and save money,”
said Linda McCrudden, N.C. State Health Plan Director of Communications. “People
will pay more out of pocket if they won’t give up smoking or make lifestyle
changes.”
The CWI states that members who fail to meet weight requirements or
continue to smoke will be enrolled in the 70/30 plan, which requires individuals
to pay 30 percent of their healthcare costs. Members who are within the
guidelines will be enrolled in the 80/20 plan, meaning that they only pay 20
percent of healthcare costs.
“It’s all about improving your health, the plan and saving tax
money,” McCrudden said. “We had to look at a way to hold people accountable for
their choices. People think we are discriminating, but we’re not. This is lawful
to do; it just may not sound friendly.”
The CWI will impact 560,000 members who use the state health plan
as their primary insurance and are not members of Medicare, according to Anne
Rogers, N.C. State Health Plan Director of Integrated Health Management.
“The Comprehensive Wellness (Initiative) has the potential to touch
the lives of 78,000 to 100,000 State Health Plan members, out of our total
membership of 665,000,” Rogers said. “It is estimated that, among State Health
Plan members, approximately 15 percent of members smoke (or) use tobacco
products, and 33 percent are obese. The CWI policy BMI requirements will impact
approximately 14 percent of members.”
Chronic diseases account for 70 percent of deaths in the United
States. Most of these diseases can be prevented by making lifestyle changes,
according to the N.C. State Health Plan website. Researchers who worked on
creating the CWI discovered that members who smoke cost the state an extra
$2,600 on healthcare, according to McCrudden.
“Smoking cessation and weight management were chosen as focus areas
because these lifestyle behaviors are linked to the most preventable deaths in
North Carolina, according to the N.C. Division of Public Health,” Rogers said.
The plan will offer resources and tools to aide in quitting tobacco
use and learn weight management skills. As of Jan. 1, 2010, nicotine patches
will be offered at no additional costs to members. Beginning Jan. 1, 2010
members will not have to pay for up to four nutritional counseling visits per
year. In addition, counseling and programs are available at the State Health
Plan website, shpnc.org.
“The company provides assistance in weight management and (tobacco
cessation),” teacher Jane Shipman said. “They didn’t do it cold turkey, they
gave us time to get it under control and they give assistance, so I think it’s a
good idea.”
Teacher Amy Powell believes that Dare County Schools’ employees
will be less affected by the CWI program due to the beach environment, which
tends to promote physical activity.
“I do not know too many teachers who are smokers or obese at this
school. Most people who live on the Outer Banks enjoy an active lifestyle and
get needed exercise,” Powell said.
Most employees feel that the CWI offers guidelines that can be
reached by making a few conscientious changes. Some argue that it is not fair
for them to have to pay higher health costs because of someone else’s poor
choices.
“I think it’s a good thing (to require) because smoking and being
overweight do have more health problems, therefore their healthcare costs more,”
said Robin Holton, Health and Allied Sciences teacher and registered nurse.
“It’s fair, especially since we are on a group policy, because it makes the rest
of us pay more. If you’re unhealthy, you should pay more (as an individual).”
McCrudden said the biggest challenge the State Health Plan faces is
communicating the changes and how the plan will help employees meet these
guidelines, without facing much opposition.
“I think people are mistrustful of healthcare changes at the same
time national healthcare is being reformed because anything new is causing a
stir,” McCrudden said. “We want to explain how it works and that it’s not our
goal to embarrass or tick them, but to save their lives. We don’t expect
miraculous change in a week, but we do want members to commit to lifestyle
changes.”
The CWI will require random testing of members by a hired vendor to
verify those enrolled in the 80/20 plan. Tobacco use will be tested by using a
saliva test. If a member fails the saliva test, a secondary blood test will be
completed on the same day to test for the level of cotinine, which comes from
nicotine. BMI will be verified with height and weight measurements.
“We are looking at reasonable ways to test folks, so that privacy
is protected. We will have workplace testing by a vendor who will work with the
human resources person to test some people on one day,” McCrudden said.
A physician certification can be used to exempt members who have a
medical condition that makes it difficult to participate in a weight management
or tobacco cessation program and allow them to remain enrolled in the 80/20
plan. The certification is also needed for members who are currently enrolled in
one of these plans to qualify for the 80/20 plan.
“If the person has a condition, they have an opportunity to have a
doctor sign a form saying that now is not the time to start a program (like
this),” McCrudden said. “They are not penalized.”
The CWI is designed to save the state money, as well as encourage
healthy lifestyles.
Shipman said, “I think it will help North Carolina find its way out of the
obesity situation it faces for children and youth because adults will take care
of themselves better. Because of that, I believe that both individuals and
insurance companies will save money in the long run.”
Global Threat: Swine Flu Takes
Toll on People Under 25
By Tori Eaton, 10thGrade, Kill Devil Hills, NC - October 26, 2009
Nearly every person under the age of 40 is wearing
a face mask in Detroit, Mich.
Students are required to wear face masks in many schools In Mumbai,
India.
The H1N1 virus, otherwise known as the swine flu, has caused
worldwide panic and citizens to take drastic action. More then 4,000 new cases
have been reported between Aug. 29 and Oct 16.
From fever to vomiting, the symptoms are turning up globally. With
more than 600 deaths in the United States since April, government officials are
taking precautions to slow the spread of the virus. Officials fear more than
2,500 cases are expected to turn up by January. The virus is contagious 10 days
after it leaves the system. However, students are not expressing concern.
“I’m not worried. It’s no different then the regular flu,” freshman Aaron
Zeigler said.
People under the age of 25 seem more susceptible to the disease
said school nurse Laura Youmans. Those with pre-existing illnesses, such as
asthma and HIV, and women who are pregnant are also at a higher risk. Out of the
600 deaths, 40 of them were children, including 12 who had never been vaccinated
for the regular flu.
Over 3,000 American colleges and universities have reported cases
of swine flu. So far, there has only been one college death related to swine
flu. Troy University freshman Andrew Salter, 18, of Valley, Ala. died on Sept.
4.
As of early September, health clinics are no longer testing for
swine flu because it is too expensive. Government health officials are focusing
efforts on an effective vaccine, Youmans said. Any flu-like conditions reported
outside of flu season are assumed to be the swine flu. Those who are
hospitalized are still to be tested for swine flu. As of Oct. 14, 104 students
have been out of school at FFHS.
“It’s a big deal. Our lives could be at stake,” sophomore Tyler
Klapprodt said. “People are dumb enough to bring it to school with them and put
other people in danger of getting sick.”
The federally controlled vaccine was released this month. Health
officials hope to vaccinate over half of the American population. Dare County
officials anticipate its first available release to priority patients by Nov. 1.
“I think we need to be concerned about the flu because it is a new
strand that hasn’t surfaced since 1976,” Youmans said.
Not much is known about the approved vaccine. The side effects are mild, but the
long term effects are still unknown. Many are enthusiastic about the impact the
vaccine will have on the pandemic.
“I got the vaccine because I don’t want to get swine flu. A lot of
people have it and I want to be safe,” junior Alex Wright said. “I’m a little
bit worried (about the long term effects) because it can get you kind of sick,
which I’ve been feeling lately, but honestly I don’t think it will hurt me.”
New Plastic Restrictions in Effect
for Coast
By Amulya Uppalapati, 10th Grade, Kitty Hawk, NC - October 26, 2009
Next time you walk into the local Wal-Mart or a
grocery store on the Outer Banks, make sure you are carrying your recyclable
bags. Otherwise, you will walk out carrying handle-free paper bags.
The PTSA sells reusable bags. Blue bags cost $5 and bags with
zippers, available in burgundy and pink, cost $7. About 800 tote bags have been
sold.
The use of plastic bags has been banned in retail stores that cover 5,000 sq.
feet or have five plus stores. Three North Carolina counties, Dare, Currituck
and Hyde County, will test the ban introduced by Sen. Marc Basnight to determine
its effect on the environment.
“I think that it is a good thing (that the law has been created)
because we are now able to use more environmentally friendly things that we can
recycle, instead of plastic that just goes into a landfill and doesn’t
decompose,” sophomore Colton Pennington said.
A total of 500 billion plastic bags are used annually on Earth,
with the United States consuming 100 billion plastic bags yearly. Only two
percent of the plastic bags are recycled according to DropThePlasticBag.org. The
Kitty Hawk Walmart uses approximately three million plastic bags each year.
Plastic bags have harmful effects on the environment and marine
ecosystem. Plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to decompose. A total of 100,000
marine animals die each year due to the plastic bags, according to Buzzle.com.
Marine animals are killed when they attempt to consume the bags, according to
EHow.com.
“Bags look like jellyfish in the water. It’d be a good lesson to
not take plastic bags to the beach because they easily fly away even if you’re
careful,” senior Carson Fish said. Fish is the president of the Global Help and
Awareness Club.
Based on a survey, 47 percent of North Carolinans agree with the
ban on plastic bags, while 31 percent are not in favor of the restrictions.
“I think that it is a really good thing that they banned plastic
bags,” sophomore Jamie Hagadorn said. “Most people don’t recycle their plastic
bags and they end up in a landfill never decomposing and left in the Earth.”
Stores have replaced plastic bags with recyclable paper bags, which
cost three times more than plastic bags, according to HamptonRoads.com. In
addition to offering recyclable paper bags, some stores sell reusable bags.
Junior Andi Urch said her family uses recyclable bags.
“I have always used my own shopping bags and know many others that
do the same,” said Earth and Environmental Science teacher Kathleen Neller. “I
try to recycle what I can and take care of the environment.”
In the United States, similar bans have been introduced in San
Francisco, Manhattan Beach, Fairfax, Oakland and Palo Alto, Calif.
“I definitely feel the rest of the country should start stepping up
to this program,” said Earth and Environmental Science teacher Jason Breiholz.
“It’s a huge environmental impact.”
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