Here are some compiled stories and advice from HIPE juniors and seniors:
"I TURNED A STRAIGHT GUY GAY, AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED!" There was a guy from freshman year that I became really good friends with. He would text me every day and would always try to hang out with me but he told me he was straight so I didn’t assume anything was up with it. But then over time he started trying to get closer and closer to me until he came out as bisexual. At first I didn’t know what to do with that but then when he came on to me we started dating. We ignored each other while we were “dating” and often weren’t on talking terms. At our school overnight, there was only one water spigot. I waited at the spigot because it was hot out and I knew that he would need water at some point. He chose to get super dehydrated and then finally walked a mile away to get water somewhere else. We were obviously done after that. "SHHHH!" Don’t kiss and tell! If someone asks you out or puts themselves in a vulnerable position, don’t talk about it with other people or be disrespectful. "FRIENDSHIP BETRAYAL TURNED INTO MY FIRST GIRLFRIEND" At the school dance, I danced with a girl that I liked. Then, she went to a sleepover with all of her best friends. Then the next day, I texted one of the girl's friends telling her that I did have feelings for the girl but was uncomfortable sharing them because I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. The friend told the girl I liked and she ended up asking me out the next day. I was shocked but it ended up working out for the best. "SLOPPY SECONDS" Sophomore year I was at this party with a bunch of schools including Urban. I saw the guy that I was in love with for all of my middle school years come down the stairs with his shirt fully unbuttoned asking for a condom because he was trying to lose his virginity to a girl that I knew. Anyways, he got the condom and then after thirty minutes, he comes back down and we start hooking up in the pantry. So I was sloppy seconds! "SUGAR DADDY GONE WRONG" In high school, I started dating someone that was older than me. I liked him because he was older, super attractive, and always did really thoughtful things for me. But, throughout the relationship, I had a gut feeling that he wasn’t interested in girls. Throughout the relationship, I kept getting more signs that he was gay. So, my advice: don’t date someone just because they’re older and attractive, be sure of what your motives and their motives are. "HOW THE FOOTBALL DUDE SAVED ME" There’s this girl I went to middle school with that I was genuinely friends with but I knew that she liked me. In high school, I was talking to one of the girl’s friends at a party. I didn’t know that my friend from middle school was there. While I was talking to the girl’s friend, the girl from middle school pulled me aside and confessed her feelings. She kept me in a conversation for more than 45 minutes. Out of nowhere, this 6’3 200 lb football player ran up from behind and tackled the girl, interrupting our conversation. Forever grateful to the football player for saving me from the awkward conversation. "NEVER HOOKUP WITH A GUY YOU 'KIND OF KNOW'" My sophomore year this guy I kind of knew and invited me over to his apartment. He told me his parents weren’t home and hinted about something going down. I took the BART for half an hour down to his house and we hooked up. Immediately after we hooked up, the guy started telling me about this date that he was planning for that night for an older girl that he was interested in. He asked me if I wanted to help set the date up or go shopping for flowers for her. BIGGEST REGRET.
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Author: Anna ('20)
*Please Note: This article was last updated on February 4th, as many of you are aware the pandemic is an evolving situation, where information was rapidly changing. This means that some of the information in this blog post may be incorrect at the time you are reading it, but that does not mean it is not a valid article (which is why we are keeping it up). Enjoy the article. Preface: This is an ongoing outbreak, meaning that some of the values, information, and circumstances may change. This piece was written on Jan 30 (and as such all of the numbers, information, & data are based on the information available at that time). But it still felt important to write as well-educated a piece as possible. TLDR: the CDC says, “the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time.” By the numbers: (Updated: Feb 4) → 20,630 confirmed cases → First detected early December 2019 (~2 months) → 20471 of those cases located solely in China → 425 deaths → 632 recoveries → 2788 severe cases thought to be currently present in China → 7th coronavirus known to infect humans → 11 infections in the US → 24 countries with infected → 1 death internationally (within the Philippines) → Over 57 million people and 15 cities were placed on full or partial lockdown (mainly, if not all within China) → Thought to have ~2% death rate (SARS roughly had a 9.6%) Context 2019 Winter Flu Season: → ~15 million people have gotten the Flu (in US) → 8,200 US deaths → World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the flu kills up to 650,000 people per year worldwide → Fatality rate .095% By the science: → Coronaviruses: a group of positive-sense single-stranded RNA, enveloped viruses. Most commonly seen to cause disease in mammals and birds, it’s linked to respiratory infections that range from mild to lethal. They are believed to cause a significant percentage of all common colds but are more infamously known for causing pneumonia and bronchitis (either directly - viral pneumonia/bronchitis, or secondary - bacterial pneumonia/bronchitis). → The Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) informally known as the Wuhan coronavirus, is the current virus spreading throughout China and other countries in the world. It is known as “novel” because it has yet to be named, only having originated in early December (although this timeline is still just a hypothesis). This is the 7th known coronavirus to infect people, thought to act similar to previous outbreaks, viruses, and consequent diseases, like Middle-East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). It is important to note that this virus is thought to be infectious during the incubation stage (before you have classic symptoms) and is a suggestion for why it spread so fast, but this is still unsubstantiated. As well it has been confirmed that human-to-human transmission can occur. The WHO has created the interim term "2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease" to describe the disease caused by the virus until it can be further designated. It's still not clear how deadly the 2019-nCoV will be, but fatality rates are currently lower than both MERS and SARS. Although, experts say that this will change as the outbreak continues. → The Outbreak: First detected in Wuhan (city), China, in mid-December 2019, has spread to all provinces in China and to other countries, including Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, France, and the United States. As stated in the numbers, as of Jan 30, there have been 8,235 confirmed cases of infection with 231 deaths, of which 8,124 cases were within China. As of Jan 30, the WHO has officially designated this to be a global health emergency. → Transmission: The human-to-human transmission is thought to occur similarly to SARS, MERS, and a variety of pathogens, through the “respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.” The CDC says that the transmission of SARS and MERS has generally occurred between close contact, and the only case of human to human transmission of 2019-nCoV in the US was between a married couple. The estimated basic reproduction number is between 1.4 and 5, with the majority of results below 3.8, meaning that infection of the virus typically leads to between 1.4 and 3.8 new cases. They also stress that various pathogens have different levels of infectivity/contagiousness and that “while the CDC considers this a very serious public health threat… the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time.” → Symptoms: “CDC believes at this time that symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure. This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS viruses.” Typical symptoms include mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Upper respiratory symptoms (sneezing, runny nose or sore throat) are less frequently noted. → Treatment: Since there is no specific treatment for the virus itself, the majority of treatment is on alleviating symptoms and preventing severe infections (ie. pneumonia). Multiple studies and testing are being done to establish the efficacy of existing pneumonia treatments and anti-virals, like protease inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. Various organizations and institutions have announced work on a vaccine, but it is important to note that a vaccine is not a cure, simply a preventative measure. → Origin: It is currently suspected that (live) animal-food markets may have been the origin of this virus (as was similarly thought for SARS) but this is still hotly debated. Such markets are though to be good incubators for new pathogens and viruses. Information from the CDC, described “[the] 2019-nCoV [as] a betacoronavirus, like MERS and SARs, all of which have their origins in bats. The sequences from U.S. patients are similar to the one that China initially posted, suggesting a likely single, recent emergence of this virus from an animal reservoir.” Prevention: As always it is still important to be alert & sanitary. The CDC gave the following tips on the best way to prevent the spread of most viruses/diseases:
(Update: Jan 31) Please note within the US: Foreign Nationals that have visited China within the last 14 days are being prevented from entering the United States. While US residents, citizens, and family (who have visited China within the 14) are allowed in but “Measures [sic.] to detect this virus… are being implemented.” This is widely seen to be unprecedented, and is being heavily debated in Sources: → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novel_coronavirus_(2019-nCoV) → https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html → https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/ 20200130-sitrep-10-ncov.pdf → https://weather.com/health/cold-flu/news/2020-01-28-flu-more-deadly-than-coronavirus → https://www.statnews.com/2020/01/24/coronavirus-infections-no- symptoms-lancet-studies/ → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_Wuhan_coronavirus_outbreak → https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/20/health/what-is-coronavirus-explained/index.html → https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html → https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/ 20200204-sitrep-15-ncov.pdf?sfvrsn=88fe8ad6_2 → https://www.hsacoalition.org/issue-analysis/new-2019-ncov-infections-lowers-the -mortality-rate-to-2-using-official-chinese-figures/ → https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/03/world/asia/coronavirus-china.html → https://roguerocket.com/2020/02/03/countries-impose-travel-restrictions-coronavirus/ Author: Anna ('20)
Part of HIPE’s job at Urban is to inform the Urban Community about their rights & what they can do to be healthy. This short article is meant to be a brief rundown on Minor-Doctor confidentiality rights in California. But first, some basic legal knowledge is needed. A “minor” is legally defined as a person who is under the age of 18, and when it comes to the medical world, minor-patient rights generally fall under two areas: informed consent & confidentiality. Informed Consent is the idea that a patient is able to know about their condition, most information regarding their treatment, and any predictable risks, benefits, or alternative treatments, and can then give consent to have that procedure done or not done. When it comes to minors, dependent on state law, they have the ability to give sole consent (thus not needing the consent of their parent) under certain circumstances or for certain procedures. Confidentiality, in relation to medical treatment, means that no information related to the treatment or procedure (like medical records) can be disclosed without the explicit permission & consent of the patient. But again when discussing minors this is subject to state law, as certain information can be disclosed to the parent regardless of the minor’s wishes. According to the California Healthcare Foundation, “Many states have laws that outline the specific circumstances under which minors may consent to receive health care services. These laws generally fall into two categories: (1) those that allow consent based on the status of the minor (e.g., married or emancipated) and (2) those that allow consent based on the type of health care service the minor is seeking (e.g., reproductive or mental health care).” This article will be going into depth on a couple of specific ones: Birth Control, STIs, & Alcohol/Drug Counseling. In California, as a minor, you have access to birth control (all kinds – including pills, IUD, shots, emergency contraception/morning after pill), pregnancy testing, abortion, prenatal care, labor, and delivery, care if you have been sexually assaulted, drug/alcohol abuse treatment (12+), mental health services (12+), and STI and HIV testing and treatment (12+) without the consent of a parent. But dependent on the situation parent can still be notified of your treatment. Birth Control: Very simply, any minor may receive birth control & health care provider is not permitted to inform a parent or legal guardian STI/HIV: Any 12-year-old or older can request testing or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS). Health care providers are not permitted to inform parents or legal guardians without the minor’s consent. The provider can only share the minor’s medical records with the signed consent of the minor. Drug/Alcohol: Any 12-year-old or older can “consent to medical care and counseling relating to the diagnosis and treatment of a drug or alcohol-related problem.” But if the program where you are getting this treatment is government-funded, your records will be considered confidential & no parent/guardian will be notified of your treatment. If the program where you are getting treatment is not federally-assisted/government-funded than it is mandatory that the medical staff attempt to contact your parent or guardian. But note, that California law gives Health Care Providers the right to refuse access to medical records if they believe that it will cause a detrimental affect on parent/guardian and patient relationships. *The chart (at the top) was created by the Adolescent Health Working Group lays out which services minors can receive without parental consent & which services are confidential. Sources: http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/dhsp/You/Adolescent_Confidentiality_Toolkit.pdf, http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/dhsp/Providers/toolkit2.pdf, https://www.nyclu.org/sites/default/files/thl.pdf, https://www.chcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/PDF-PrivacyPleaseHealthConsentMinors.pdf, https://www.chhs.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Committees/California-Child-Welfare-Council/CSEC-Program-Convening/CA-Moinior-Consent-and-Confidentiality-Laws.pdf, & http://dpbh.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/dpbhnvgov/content/Boards/RBHPB/Meetings/2018/CA%20Minor%20Consent%20Laws_Mental%20Health%20Services.pdf Author: Will '20
It’s Thursday night. You have four solids this term and unfortunately left all four classes of homework for tonight. You get home and decide to immediately begin working. You’re going to start your work when you get home, and by staying focused, you’ll finish before it gets too late. You decide to quickly grab a snack and take a break. Before you know it, it’s 8 pm and you haven’t even begun your work. So, how do you avoid this situation? And, more generally, how do you efficiently—and realistically—get all your work finished in a timely manner?
Lastly, be kind to yourself. Going to bed too late becomes a vicious cycle in which work takes longer and longer. Make sure you are conscious of your mental wellness, and be aware of the fact that your health is more important than any grade in any class. Are you someone who needs a break from the stresses of being in high school? Well, here are three HIPE approved ways to get what Jenn calls: "a natural high."
1. Download the NikeRun app (it's free on the app store) and go on some mid-week runs. The app lets you listen to running inspired podcasts, enables you to track your miles and times, and helps you stay motivated by setting weekly reminders for you to run. In a matter of weeks, you'll not only have a better headspace but physically feel better as well! 2. Bake! With the holidays fast approaching, making dessert is always a great way to stay festive. There's also no better reward than fresh cookies after completing your work. If you want to be inspired, here are two websites you can check out: https://www.marthastewart.com/312772/banana-bread https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/halloween-party-cutout-cookies/ 3. Spend your afternoon outside. Even if you have a lot of work to complete before the next day, it might be beneficial for you to try working in a park or your backyard. It's important to find solutions to make you happy and fulfilled throughout the week; that way, you will not only produce better work but feel more satisfied and relaxed in the process. Author: Yotam T ‘21
If you’re anything like me, after a long day of school and sports, you’ll go home and tell yourself you don’t have the energy to do homework. You’ll turn on your laptop and play some online videogame, binge that Netflix show with a name you cannot remember, or watch your favorite Youtuber’s newest vlog. Instead, try a nap and see how it treats you. Naps are sacred and undervalued, and once you figure out your ideal amount of nap time, you will find yourself waking up with more energy, being less tired, and most importantly having the determination to finish all of your homework. Waking up from a nap is like a reset button on your day. It allows you to keep yourself in check, making sure you are getting what you need to get done within the small fragments of your day that are divided by your nap time. You will come to a point where you realize that napping is like the break between double periods that your mind needs so it can reorganize itself. So take a nap, see how it feels. It may be new and scary the first time, but it will grow on you to the extent where at 2:50, when school gets out, taking a nap will be the thing you look forward to doing most when you get home AUTHOR
Roel ('21) (As of Friday, October 11th, 2019) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has now confirmed 1,299 probable cases of vaping related illness across the United States. The number of deaths has jumped from 18 last week, to 29 as of today. A 17 year old boy from the Bronx died last week, marking the youngest death linked to vaping so far. Doctors are still unsure of what exactly is making people sick. On October 3rd, the CDC revealed that out of the 578 cases where doctors were aware of what their patients were inhaling, 78% of patients said they vaped THC, while 17% said they exclusively used nicotine products. Many have been diagnosed with lipoid pneumonia, which is when "oils or fats have entered the lungs that should not be there," said Daniel Fox, a pulmonologist and critical care expert at WakeMed. Lipoid pneumonia is typically found in elderly patients, and usually related to choking or aspiration, which is why Fox finds it unsettling to see so many young people being diagnosed One patient, 18 year old Adam Hergenrede, who admitted to using vape devices for over a year, was hospitalized with severe respiratory sickness in August. He said his doctor told him that he has the "lungs of a 70-year-old. The lack of scientific information regarding long-term health effects of vaping is a large concern. "We are in desperate need of facts," said Mitch Zeller of the FDA. The statistics regarding this mysterious illness are rapidly changing, as the number of cases continues to rise. Currently, doctors advise the public to avoid vaping completely, until more reliable information is made public. sources: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/09/19/762306652/as-vaping-illnesses-rise-doctors-warn-of-possible-irreversible-damage-to-lungs https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/03/vaping-lung-cases-surge-to-more-than-1000-with-at-least-18-deaths-cdc-says.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/10/health/vaping-illnesses-cdc.html Authors: Anna K '20 Ella M '20
The return to school in the fall can be stressful so we have put together some fun fall-themed activities! Things to do Outside:
Great Food To Make: Pumpkin Bread
Homemade Applesauce for this recipe, it’s extra fun to go out and pick your own apples (there’s a famous orchard in Apple Hill where you can pick them) , however if you can’t or don’t feel like it, store bought produce is fine too
Author: Jack K, '20
For many students, including myself, Urban can often feel like a full-time job that can be hard to walk away from. Even after school ends, Urban continues to bring new challenges home with you, such as essays, projects and studying, which can make it seem impracticable to find time for yourself. However, I have learned that this does not always have to be the case. After two years of attending Urban, I finally learned that while there will be times when it is best to go home and work, mentally, working around the clock day in and day out will never be sustainable for 12 weeks. As my advisor told me, "It is impossible to sprint a marathon, which is why you must pace yourself by taking time for yourself throughout the trimester." Taking time for yourself can be many things. For some, it's running, for others, it's going to the gym, and for me, it's biking. Being able to channel your energy in another way outside of Urban is a healthy way in which you can find a balance between your school and personal life, which, for many, can be hard to implement into their lives at first try. I know my frosh and sophomore self would think something this sounds crazy, asking, "why would you want to waste time on yourself when you can finish up your work?" However, my argument now is, there will always be more work, but there won't always be more time, which is why rewarding yourself during the week is a good way for you to continue to have stamina throughout the trimester (marathon), while also taking advantage of your limited time in High School. Urban is and always will be a challenging environment that demands a lot of U, but Urban also wants U to be U, which is why letting yourself take a moment to tap into your passion is the best way to be a happy, confident, and prepared throughout your short time as a student at The Urban School. Author: Junior HIPE Member
*Speaking from the female experience of being in a relationship at Urban* Since my freshman year, I haven’t known Urban without having a boyfriend. I came in dating someone, broke up, almost got asked out by another boy, said no, then asked by another who I have been, and still am dating. I love dating, it’s just worked out that way for me. However, like many things in life, there are pros and cons to every situation. If you’re wondering what it’s like to be in a relationship at Urban, here are some things I’ve noticed from experience. (And hang on because things might get a little cheesy). To start with the good things, dating someone should make you happy. If you find yourself just generally in a better mood around someone, (they make you smile the brightest, laugh the hardest…) don’t be shy and ask them out! It’s always nice to have someone reliable to pick you up in hard times. I’ve noticed that even when I’m at my most stressful peak (such as in interims and finals week,) my boyfriend always manages to cheer me up. It may sound a little selfish but it’s nice knowing you have your own personal support system. I know I can always go to him with anything on my mind. This leads into another thing about dating, you get to know someone really really well. Their thoughts, emotions, hopes, fears, dreams, what makes them tick, their body (yes… their body)... The list goes on and on. And there’s always something new to explore. It’s comforting knowing someone so well, and what’s more is that they know you the same way. They know how to navigate your feelings when you might not even know how to! What’s also great is things get better with every new experience. Even in fights, getting past them is the greatest feeling. If you really like or love a person you’ll both work equally hard into keeping the relationship strong and healthy. We always use our mistakes as opportunities to grow both with each other and ourselves. Off of emotions, the physical aspect of relationships is great. If you stay long enough with someone, you’ll get to know each other physically very well. After countless hookups and realizing that I felt like I could read him like the back of my hand and he could the same with me, we ended up losing our virginities to each other. What was great about that was I felt 100% comfortable and ready to do it with him. We had talked about it and when we were both ready, it happened. Not to sound cliche, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I didn’t feel any pressure from him or friends, I wasn’t drunk or high, it was great and I knew he cared about me and felt the same. After that, every time we did it, it kept on getting better and better. Because I trust my boyfriend so much, I feel totally comfortable sharing what I do and don’t like when we hook up. And the same goes for him. In the beginning, when things were not communicated as much, certain things hurt. This was obviously detrimental for my body. When I finally told him what was happening, things were amazing. Communication is key. Trust me it will benefit both parties if you tell your partner what you do and don’t like in bed. Sex (or anything you like doing) will go from 0-100 real quick. I’ve never felt physically better. Something to keep in mind though, you should never feel like you have to do something in order to stay with a person. If they truly care about you, they wouldn’t/shouldn’t pressure you into doing anything you’re not yet comfortable with. Sex (or anything physical) should be enjoyed and not forced. Another thing about sex is the safety around it. Because I’m in a committed relationship, I can rely on not getting STDs because we’ve both been tested and assuming neither is cheating, I’m less afraid of getting syphilis or chlamydia. As they say, “when you have sex with someone, you have sex with everyone they’ve had sex with.” Not to scare anyone who is looking to hook up with a random guy, but personally I feel better knowing my chances of getting an STD are lowered due to my committed relationship. Alright, now onto the bad things. First and foremost, relationships are expensive. Though I love cuddling and watching movies with my boyfriend at home, that can sometimes get boring and we love going on dates! The downside of dates though is there’s usually a price to be paid, literally. Depending on where you go and what you do, restaurants are expensive and so are all other activities in San Francisco, even if you drive somewhere, there’s always fee’s you have to pay. Though money can’t buy love, it sure can buy good date spots. Emotionally, you have to juggle your emotions as well as your partners. During interims it’s great having that support but you have to remember they’re going through the same thing. You’re relying on them the same way they rely on you. You also have to manage your time with them split with school, friends, and family. Though you may want to hang out with them 24/7 it’s important to do your homework and dedicate time towards your family. It can sometimes be hard planning weekends when you want one on one time with your boyfriend, time with friends, and time with family and also time for Sunday homework. Another slight downfall is that relationships take more effort than just hooking up with someone. If you truly like the person, you have to actually fight for them if things go wrong, sometimes sacrifice a little bit of your sanity to talk them back into happiness and out of anger. You have to water it like a plant. When you stop watering, your plant will die. Which would be sad. The worst part about being in a long lasting relationship, is that you can get seriously hurt if you break up. Heartbreak is an awful thing, I’ve seen it interfere with everything in a person’s life. I never want that to happen to me and so I try to never think about the loomings of it. I love being in this relationship and I don’t even know how I’d feel if things ended. |
AuthorDylan M Archives
December 2023
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