HOW GREEN ARE YOU?

Hello everybody! Today I’m going to talk about an important topic: the environment. 

Almost everybody knows how faster our planet is getting sick: we have a lot of pollution, problems with ozone layer, desserts are getting drier, the poles are melting, etc. Maybe we don’t see NOW how that affects us, but in the future our grandsons will live the disasters of that.  

I think in school should be a class called “environmentally friendly practices” where since we are kids we can learn how to protect the environment. Regrettably, it seems like the planet is not an important topic for the government, because educational programs dedicated just a little part to talk about how to protect our environment so then when we are older we don’t remember basic things such as: turn off the lights, get short showers, recycling, etc. 

I have to be honest: I only do a few things. I don’t recycle because I always forget to do that, for example, in my house we don’t divide the trash in plastic, paper and cans. But there are some actions that I always do, such as turn off the lights if I’m not using it, walk a lot! Or use public transport so I don’t have to go by car.

I have never joined or supported any eco-organizations, maybe because I’m not interested in that or maybe because I don’t have the “care-for-environment” incorporated in my life.

It is clear that we have a lot of things to do about this problem, but no for us! For our future generations! They will receive all results of the mistakes that we have committed in our planet earth.  

What motivated me to study psychology?

I remember that since I was 12 years old I knew I wanted to study psychology because I was the girl that everybody used to talk their problems (so obviously I gave a lot of advices). I have always thought I’m a very empathic person so that was a good characteristic of me if I wanted to heard other people’s problems. What I didn’t realize was that Psychology isn’t only about listening and give advices, is also about biology, statistics, pathologies, complex human theories, etc.

Now that I’m studying psychology I feel great, I’ve learned a lot, even things I have never ever thought about… but when I started to know more I realized that my University don't give me all the knowledge I would like to have (for example, I love humanistic psychology but we had just one general course that talked about that).

I know a lot about theoretical psychology because it is important handle some concepts. I like how human beings try to understand some phenomena through theories and that’s why we have some theories such as attachment, human develop, emotions, etc.

But this discipline isn’t only about theories and studies; we have many ways to apply that knowledge. The different applications depend of the area where you are working. You can see the applications in the clinical area, working with a person o with a group of people, or in educational area, working with a whole school or in educational programs, or in neuroscience, etc.  

AN ARTICLE FROM THE GUARDIAN

Today's youth: anxious, depressed, anti-social

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/sep/13/childrensservices.mentalhealth

This article it’s about adolescent’s mental health. According to the biggest time trend study conducted in Britain, problems such as depression and anxiety have increased by 70% among adolescents. This big study done in Britain looked at three generations of 15-year-olds in 1974, 1986 and 1999. The study concludes that behavioral problems increased over the whole period, while emotional problems were stable until 1986 and have subsequently shot up. This means that mental health in adolescents has declined so it’s probably that 15-years-old will have more behavioral problems, for example lying, stealing, impulsive reactions, etc. Girls show more emotional problems and boys more behavioral problems.

“Time Trends in Adolescent Mental Health” is the name of the study and is the first to give information about this increasing concern that affects not only parents and teachers, also the welfare of teenagers. This study it’s related with a declaration from the Health Organization that said that the fastest growing mental health problem in the world, and particularly in the developed world, was among adolescents.

These findings are important because increase debates about how people are raising they children and they reflect parenting in early years and how Britain’s secondary educations system cares more about academic areas than other activities that adolescents needs such as sports, arts, etc.

The study did not look the possible causes of these problems.

Oh! Beautiful Vacations

After a year full of exams, study, jobs, wake up early in the morning, etc. you need a moment of rest… but not just a couple weeks, I mean you need AT LEAST two months, so you can do whatever you want or spend time on what you want. All human being needs that time.

My favorite activities are: sleep a lot, watch movies, go out, hang out with my friends, see new places, and spend time with my family. When I’m in Santiago, I like go to parks, restaurants, cinemas, friend’s houses, etc.  but If I can go out Santiago, I would like to be in the south.

I don’t know yet where I will go next holidays, but I know that I want to go out Santiago, that’s why I’m working, I am saving money.

I think I would like to travel with my family and my friends because with each one I will do different things. With my family we go to the beach, I play with my nephews, everything is relax but If I am with my friends, we will go to parties, meet new people, do fun things, etc.

Writing this make me want to be on vacations .