Winnipeg Adult Education Centre

More people in these days are suffering from Bulimia nervosa; Bulimia nervosa is a mental health disease.  In my article I will discuss how it affects peoples well being, the long term effects of bulimia nervosa, the signs to look out for if you suspect a loved one might be suffering from this disease.  Also the options one may take to getting treatment.

Bulimia nervosa is one of the most common eating disorders, the characteristics of bulimia nervosa is binge eating, where a person eats a vast amount of foods that they would usually not eat on a daily basis due to the fear of gaining weight, followed by induced vomiting to expel the food from their stomach.  The cause of bulimia nervosa is unknown, but in my opinion I believe that it has to do with the way the media portrays the idea of what “beauty” is.  A lot of people look at themselves in the mirror for an extended period of time and think why can’t they look like the people who are commonly portrayed in the media.  Usually a person with bulimia nervosa often sees a distorted image of themselves in the mirror due to the fact that they see all of their flaws, it is a bad state of mind to be constantly stuck with feeling hopeless, they often think that once they reach that certain weight they will feel happy, but in most cases that isn’t true.  I would suggest seeking help from a professional psychiatrist, or a person who has suffered from this disease and received help, there are many other ways to change the way you feel about yourself, you shouldn’t have to feel like your body weight and appearance should be a constant battle.

The long term effects of bulimia nervosa will be very severe if one doesn’t seek professional help.  The early effect one may notice is that their teeth are starting to decay, and feel kind of jagged due to the stomach acids eroding the teeth.  Eventually over time suffering with this disease, you will have liver and heart problems, a more damaged state of mind, the feeling of being depressed constantly, feeling weak all the time, swollen glands, inflammation of the lungs, and many more symptoms that will eventually lead to death from the disease.

If you believe that a loved one is suffering from this disease the most common ways to notice that they are in fact suffering from an eating disorder would be:

• Noticeable weight lost in a short period of time
• The persons’ hair seems to be more stringy
• Constant visits to the bathroom after every meal
• When a person avoids eating in front of others
• Depression and frequent mood swings

If you do suspect that a loved on is suffering from bulimia nervosa, do not wait till they come to you about their problem.  Take initiative to talk to them and ask them about it, it is a lot better for them if you help them deal with it as they are most likely feeling like they’re in a constant battle by themselves.

If you are suffering from Bulimia nervosa, you don’t have to live with the fear that if you don’t puke you will drastically gain a unattractive amount of weight.  Think about what you are actually doing to your body, mental and physical wise.  There are treatments out there that will help you eventually clear your mind of all the negative effects that bulimia has left on you mentally wise.  I suggest seeking help right away, get information from your family doctor, or do research online of different treatment plans, and gradually work your way into seeking help.  Don’t think that just because you’re seeking help you are weak; it just shows that you care enough about yourself that you want to be happy and healthy.

By Michael McDougall

I wish to rant about how hard it is to trust some people.  The one person who I considered to be my best friend, other than my dad, betrayed me in almost every way.  I trusted her.  I have tried to save her, multiple times.  She could not do the same for me.

She lied to me about all sorts of things.  Things that, if she had told me, would not have mattered.  I wanted to believe that the things she did to me did not bother me.  I know now they do.

I loved her and wanted to believe that I could save her.  She, however, did not want to be saved.  I hate her for all the things she did to me and to others.  I was told by so many people that she is the one who did not deserve a friend like me, but I wanted to be her friend.  I now know to not give my trust away but to have others gain it.

Trusting another person will be hard, but if I believe I am a good person; good people are what I will find.

by Megan Alexander

My rant is about The Winnipeg Sun and their columnist Tom Broadbeck.  I have only ever read The Winnipeg Sun, but three months ago, I swore it off and promised to only read The Free Press.

On my occasions, Tom Broadbeck wrote negatively about The Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO) and other First Nations organizations.  He complained when these organizations stepped forward when a First Nation problem arose.  Tom would write that he was so sick of the SCO constantly crying racism when something happened to their people.  Little does he know that they, and other First Nations people, cry racism because they have been a victim of it themselves, or someone else near them, has.

Then, in the comment section of The Winnipeg Sun, people write into comments on other columns and they write awful things about First Nations’ people.  They complain that “Indians” should get over this “it’s our right thing”.  Stop blaming others for “their problems”.

I got so frustrated.  One time, when Tom Broadbeck put his two cents in about when the SCO stepped in complaining about the lack of police investigation in the case of a young woman gone missing, he referred to the young woman as nothing more than a “prostitute”.  True, she may have been a prostitute, but she had a name, she was a somebody, and for him to label her as simply a “prostitute” was wrong.  I was appalled and so angry with what he was saying that I wrote in to him telling how I felt about his column and why I felt the way he did.  He quickly reacted to my email and judging by his column many others have written in about the same column telling him he was wrong for writing what he did.  He squashed my voice, made me look dumb and twisted my words around.  He is constantly siding with police, squashing First Nations’ voices and ranting that First Nations peoples are wrong.

I just got the feeling by reading all his columns, comments in his “raise a little hell” blogs, that it’s all racist people who read his column and they praise what he says.  I’m so sick of his ignorant stuff, sick of the ignorant readers that comment on his blog.  I don’t regret swearing off that newspaper one bit.

It seems this man has a bias.  He’s only projecting one side of the issue, the police and his own.  He doesn’t put the First Nations’ views into account, and if he does, it’s only to say basically that our views are wrong.  The comments that people put in, don’t understand anything about what we go through.  I know it’s their right to freedom of speech, but maybe the publishers should think twice before publishing certain things.

This man, Tom Broadbeck, praises the police attempts of investigations even when you know the whole thing sounds flawed somehow. 

This is also what bothers me.  I have experienced firsthand police brutality at age 15.  Many of my family members and friends have had their taste of “police justice”.  Being called down, being beaten into making a confession, being harassed, having stupid questions asked of you are what I and many First Nations’ people have had to endue.  When it comes to living in the low income areas it’s even worse.  He doesn’t know firsthand what it’s like being in those areas and to experience things like that.  It’s easy for him to look from the inside in and judge things and make remarks and write columns, but he doesn’t know what we are dealing with.  Maybe he should stop writing about things he doesn’t know about.

When a person is murdered by police it’s a big thing and when a First Nations person is, the head Chiefs HAVE to make a big deal, because we know that the system has flaws.  That’s why the big honchos step up to the media and demands answers.  They know that the police force has problems, that there is labeling being done and all they want to do is make sure the investigation is being done fairly and thoroughly.

I just want to make this clear; I don’t think the whole police force is flawed, or that every police officer is racist and rude.  I also don’t think that every First Nations person has experienced police brutality or racist officers, but the majority of First Nations people have had some bad experience.

I am just going to end it like this: I will not read The Winnipeg Sun till that ignorant fool Tom Broadbeck is fired or quits.  His columns and blogs are rude and hurtful.  There is no doubt In my mind that he is racist and has a bias.  I’m DONE with looking at that newspaper.

by Niki Fontaine

Independent study :

· informs you, not conforms you.

· Encourages freedom, development and creativity:

· Life is not meant to be lived at a desk.

· Independent study can be done in anytime frame you please whether that is an hour a day or a decision made by yourself to finish early by committing to a regiment of your own standards.

· We should decide where our life takes us.

· Being an independent student allows you to carry your classroom with you and to not miss out on grand opportunities such as travelling or equally important things like time with family and friends just because those plans do not abide by the school system’s schedule.

· Development of necessary ‘habits’ and friendships come naturally.

· With independent study you have the availability for a full-time job, giving you the skills to provide for yourself and adapt to the habits of time management and communication with others.

· Sculpt your own brain.

In independent study you learn through creativity.

Nothing ever has to be in cookie cutter form, not your ideas or yourself. And you never have to deal with the politics of peer pressure like the desire to ‘skip’ or cheat.

Not to say there are not some valuable things to be learned in a class…if you choose to become a brain surgeon. But, I myself was homeschooled until the third grade and then learned all I know through the experience of life. And when I made the choice to take classes towards an advancement in my knowledge for myself I was placed in grade twelve so how did I learn eight grades myself? Because I taught myself what is important to me.

I still made great friends, had rumors spread, my heart broken and so many other things that came along with attending school. So, when movies state that independent students are “homeschooled jungle freaks” they are only proving that the education system has failed society by closing their minds to alternative ways.

by Eco Dzaman

In the beginning of September at the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre the kiln in the art room sat at rest. But not for long! The three year long wait is finally coming to an end. After some plumbing modifications and some minor classroom rearrangements the 40S Art program has now a new addition to its curriculum. Three-dimensional works in clay will now be possible for the art students at WAEC. I was about to write a letter of my disapproval when I then found out that the long wait would be over. It was suggested to me a short time later than an approval letter would now be more appropriate. So thanks for all the hard work and the amount of patience that went in to this project. Being a student at WAEC I sure do appreciate the extra effort. Some of the completed projects will be available for viewing at the end of January in the display case on the first floor.

By Anthony Parent

My main concern about today’s issues is youth crime and gangs in our city.
I watch the television and read newspapers every evening. It’s a really big
issue in our province and people are getting involved and not knowing what
they are getting themselves into.

The youths are just young adults that do stupid things such as break and
enter, stealing vehicles, and causing accidents on the city streets. My
friends, who are now in the Remand Centre, shared with me some experiences
they had to live with when their so-called friends made them do things in
the days. They say it was part of something that they thought was fun. I
often asked them “Why did you choose that kind of life, stealing from people
that work hard for their money?”

I see and hear about a lot of crime downtown. Where is the love and respect
that people should show others? Why can’t we just get along and show our
children and grandchildren that life is not worth wasting? I really wanted
to write something like this because being involved in gangs is just not the
answer for anyone. I have children of my own to raise in a good environment.

by Adrienne

Why doesn’t the school hire Teachers Assistance workers? When I went back to
school as an adult, at the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre, I was really out
of practice. I needed the extra help “big time!” but soon found that the
help I so desperately needed was only available during my lunch period.

Those lunch breaks were when I squeeze in my appointments or any other
important meetings. I need my lunch break to eat lunch. As a woman who
attends school full time and being on a tight budget, I could not afford not
to eat or afford to buy lunch items to take to school. I had to spend what I
received from social assistance on food and what I could prepare at home.

I realized, I needed the extra help and it wasn’t available during class. I
wanting the individual help and have tried to ask for the help during
classes, putting my hand up, asking for help again and again. I felt like I
was starting to annoy the teachers but that was the least of my problems.
School was a killer!
I really wanted the help but I also did not want to irritate the teachers,
because of what I felt back then and how I presently feel. I am in danger of
failing my classes and the added stress, has affected my falling behind.

It certainly would be “great!” if the school could find a solution to this
problem.
Why would the future students of Adult Education suffer the effects of
falling behind or re-evaluating their futures because the help that should
be provided for the students. Due to the stresses of falling behind,
teachers putting the crunch on me, I stay behind to complete assignments
that are due. What sucks most about my problem is that at the end of the day
and after completing my other assignments, the class I missed out on for the
past two days was the class, I’m doing badly in. Please, help me! I’m
failing………

by Ila

I do not suggest anybody should get a cell phone unless reading the fine
print. Did you know that phone companies still charge you after you get cut
off? Phone companies don’t care about how customers feel about the bill
after they get their phone cut off. They still charge you even though your
phone is not working and even if you had paid a little at a time. I think
whoever owns the company is just greedy for money. They are just a big rip
off and your credit rating goes down because of this.
Buyer beware please read fine print before getting a cell phone or signing
any contracts.

by Natalie

Was there a safety inspection done on the plane that crash landed in God’s
Lake Narrows? The plane provided medi-vac’s to Northern communities and
should have been safe enough for patients to fly with. To receive a phone
call saying that my friend and her baby were in a plane crash is one of the
scariest phone calls you get. To know that this airline was taking a patient
and escort to medical treatment due to the lack of medical resources, only
to become rescued and in further need of medical attention for 2 passengers
and 3 crew members is frightening. The passengers (baby and mom), the nurse
and 2 pilots were found by rescuers five hours later. The rescuers were
expecting to find fatalities because of the size of the explosion, and were
overjoyed to find everyone safe and alive. The survivors on the plane are
family and we were all grateful everyone survived.
There is an ongoing investigation into this airline. Was this a crash that
could have been prevented? I think so!
by Brenda

That’s a question to which I would like an answer. As a young woman I don’t feel safe walking around down town on my own. Reading a story about a young women at the age of 16 who was sexually assaulted at gun point made me more worried about walking alone. The man took her into a small forest in a small town in Manitoba. He then hit her with his gun and brutally raped the young teen. When I hear about things like this happening I don’t feel so safe.  Even though there are cops on duty I’ve still been jumped two times walking alone. To this day I still have to walk around alone which makes me worried about who I may run into. The only things I can do to prevent this is to always let someone know where I’m going and how long I may be. This just doesn’t seem like it’s enough because even after the fact I told someone where I was going I still ran into problems. I believe that the cops need to keep their eyes more open for things like this. That’s what they’re there for; to help and protect us. No one wants their loved ones or themselves to be hurt. 

Samantha D.