While reading through a couple of comments concerning my project and sitting down and evaluating the possible effects I would have by performing my project, I had a change of heart. A comment by Dr.Homan and deannawalker made me realize how rather vague my project attempt would be. I realized there’s only so much I can change for a short time being if I pass out flyers trying to inform people to be more informed. I could impose my opinions on individuals, but as soon as I’m out of their presence they may choose to return to their apathetic ways. I realize this is a huge issue nevertheless, but I’d rather do something that contains more of an outreach to seriously benefit the world. I could try talking to people as kennyaik suggested, but I feel advice isn’t as solid all the time either. Therefore, I have decided to continue a community awareness project three fellow classmates and I began during high school when competing in a H.O.S.A (Health Occupation Students of America) competition. Basically, we were selected out of 22 schools in the region to launch a community awareness project with two major health organizations. This project took us all the way to nationals in Florida, and we hoped to someday continue it throughout college. I feel that this is a perfect reason to proceed with it and keep changing the world. On our project, we worked in association with the National Marrow Donor Program and the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center to recruit people over the ages of 18 to join the bone marrow donor registry and donate marrow in the future, if necessary. The National marrow Donor Program is a national organization that helps in matching donors to patients in need of bone marrow transplants or any other resources needed to extend or improve lives. The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is a blood donation organization that recruits for both causes, blood and bone marrow donation. Our argument and motto was that matching tissue types in the world of medicine is just as intricate as putting the pieces of a puzzle together. Take a second to think about the millions of people that live in this country … think of how diverse we are as a nation. So why is it that only 7% of Hispanics, 4% of African-Americans, and 1% of Asians comprise our National Marrow Donor Program’s Registry? Reality flash – this obviously poses a problem. More of these underrepresented races are needed to give patents a possible second chance at life. Almost always, these patients are suffering from serious life-threatening blood diseases, such as leukemia, which is a condition in which the immune system is weakened because the white blood cells are destroyed, and aplastic anemia, a condition where bone marrow does not produce sufficient cells to replenish blood cells. Most individuals have numerous scares towards donating bone marrow, thinking the process could kill them or be extremely frightening. Yet, there are two methods to donate marrow that are usually both administered under anesthesia and leave one feeling little pain—after all, what’s a little pain worth to save a life. Bone marrow is quite a serious issue because matching tissue types of patients to enable the transplantation currently provides a small group of minorities, limiting the survival rate for minority groups with life-threatening diseases involving the need for bone marrow donations. The world needs more minorities to donate or at least become committed to donate in the future by joining the marrow registry. At our high school, my group and I hosted a blood and bone marrow drive for a set couple of days encouraging children and faculty to come to our auditorium to learn more and become a committed part of the registry. We made announcements and passed out flyers to inform everyone about these chances to save a life one day. Our turnout rate turned out to be a great success, and we were able to clear up the doubts and misinterpretations that most people had about the processes of bone marrow donation. My attempt is to get in contact with lady we worked with from the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, Mrs. Hope Guidry-Groves, and have something similar set up at Xavier. This will give students a chance to become part of an organization today that seeks to help others health wise. I’m suddenly really excited that this idea came to mind over fall break because I feel that it’s a great outreach to the community and world. Although, it might take some time to put together I’m going to work as hard I can to make it happen. I was wondering if any students would be interested in hosting this project as well because I feel it might need a team effort as it did a few years ago and my high school. I will probably look into this a take it up with Dr.Homan. If I am not able to work an event out with Mrs.Hope Guidry-Groves, the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center recruiter, then I’ll probably try to just inform the community about the importance of bone marrow donations and blood donations.

I believe the matriarchs and patriarchs are good role models because they exemplified a people of strength in the midst of the hard life of ancient biblical times. Among their problems, not including their rigorous home lives, were raising obstinate children, infertility, issues with other strong-headed men and women, and attempting to stay loyal to God in all circumstances. However, these women of value, alongside their patriarchs pulled through all the mishaps to create several generations, or a nation at that. The Decalogue fits into ancient Near Eastern Suzerain-Vassal treaties in a sense that they are both written in a form that addresses laws and basic covenants that the people are suppose to keep with their leaders (in case of the Decalogue, with God; with the Suzerain-Vassal treaties
My favorite commandment from the Decalogue happens to be the 2nd commandment which states that, “You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” I try to think about this commandment everyday because it helps to keep me grounded in an emotional aspect. I feel like it reminds me not to put anyone—not even a boyfriend or anyone held close to me, before God. When anyone and everyone gives up on you, God happens to be the only one who is always there, knowing how much you can handle and testing your faith.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 at 11:45 pm and is filed under Week 05: Respond & Logo. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.