Ashley+H.

Phase I: Who Am I? What's My Place?


 * What __really__ makes up your identity?

My identity is made up of my family, my friends, and my faith. Those are what keep me grounded. No matter where I go or what I do, as long as I have those in my life I will find comfort in who I am.


 * What __really__ makes up your sense of place?

My sense of place is a balance between my family and my professional environment. I grew up in a rural area, and there is something about driving down country roads surrounded by beautiful fields that just gives me peace and makes me feel at home. I can't go very long without visiting my parents for a delicious home cooked meal (those that just doesn't taste the same when I attempt to cook them!) and a good Sunday afternoon nap. I also value being in a profession where I can make a difference for people. It is very important for me to have a career that serves others, so that I can come home and feel good about what I did that day.


 * What roles do your identity and sense of place play when you work with others in a group project?

My identity and sense of place allows me to respect and value others, as well as work hard. I always want to give my best. In group projects, I am willing to listen to others thoughts and opinions, and contribute what I can so that the end product is a combination of everyone in the group.


 * What are the qualities that you bring to the GLIP conversation that will help you make a contribution to your global group?

I think I will bring a different perspective based on my background. I will be willing to listen, respect, work diligently, and compromise. I am very interested in learning about the different experiences and cultures of the members of our global group!


 * What is one local problem (where you live) that you believe needs to be addressed? Suggest some steps could you take to try to solve it?

One local problem I noticed is living a healthy lifestyle through fitness and nutrition. There was a McDonald's within walking distance of the school where I worked, and most of my students ate there for breakfast __and__ lunch //every// day! I admit, it is convenient and tempting to succumb to the temptation of fast food. I frequently crave it myself! But I can tell when I've had a week where I ate too much fast food, because it makes me feel physically different. I coached a swim team of approximately 100 kids, and their eating habits and physical health was very surprising to me.

I think the importance of physical activity and healthy eating should be stressed to our students. My father is a survivor of a heart-attack and was overweight for many years, and he quickly changed his life around when he was given a second chance. However, not everyone gets a second chance. I think teachers could incorporate interdisciplinary lessons dealing with physical health and nutrition easily into class discussions and examples. I also have a friend that implemented a fitness club with her students after school. I think awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle is the best place to start!


 * Finally, some problems have been around for a long time. What qualities do you think a person must have to step up and try to solve them?

In order to step up and try to solve problems that have been around a long time, I think a person must be open-minded, creative and courageous. It takes open-mindedness to recognize the problem, creativity to come up with a solution, and courage to try to do something about it.

Phase II: Sense of Place

Upload image (s) here:

Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" and this acorn sculpture is in the heart of downtown. This downtown square is used for many events, where the diverse dwellers of Raleigh gather together. Raleigh is a city that has a small town feel, and I think this picture helps capture that. It is a safe place to live - notice the policeman on the horse in the picture.

Use these questions to help you determine which picture shows someone else why your “place” is so special to you.
 * Does a scenic picture represent the beauty you believe that your town has?
 * Does a picture of a group of people represent and show a warmth and friendliness that your town has?
 * Does a statue or building convey the feeling of history that makes your place important and unique?
 * Is there a cultural event that represents the values of your home location?

What are your initial thoughts about how your image addresses the questions above? Later, you will be working with the members of your group to create a travel package that includes visits to each group member's home location (see Phase II)

Phase III: Identify Local Issue:


 * What is your local issue?** My local issue was having a healthy lifestyle through fitness and good eating habits. I think living a healthy lifestyle is a challenge for many people because it is so easy to grab fast food and it is also very easy to cook meals that are unhealthy. Healthy meals can be more expensive and more time consuming, so it may take a little more effort to make or even to research some that you like. People work so hard and want to come home and just relax, and it is easy to forget how our lifestyle choices now have a huge impact on our future health.


 * What can you do to be address the issue?** One thing that I can do it to help people be accountable to staying physically fit. I have workout buddies and we hold each other accountable for staying active. I can share my passion for being active and let others see the benefits of it, and I encourage people to be active. I have been involved in different races and have always done so with groups of friends. I am not currently teaching, but I have some ideas for what I can do when I am back in the classroom. One of my teacher friends created a fitness club with her third graders. They walked every day on the playground and made a goal to walk a certain distance. They tracked the distance on a map as though they were really walking across the country. Another friend was involved in a school-wide 5k that encouraged all of the students to walk or run.

==== " Physical inactivity is now identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. Physical inactivity levels are rising in many countries with major implications for the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the general health of the population worldwide." (Global Reccommendations on Physical Activity for Health, WHO 2011) ====
 * What is the global impact of your local issue?** The global impact of this issue is an increase in weight-related and nutrition related diseases. When I was in St. Lucia this past summer, our tour guide was showing us around the center of the city. She referred to McDonald's and Burger King as fat food, because she said everyone was so excited to get those restaurants on the island and everyone gained weight! While obesity and overweight issues related to health risks used to be prevalent in high income countries, they are now on the rise in low and middle income countries, according to the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/topics/obesity/en/).

Add these thoughts to your Group's Discussion Forum on Local Issues