Top 4 Tips for Staying Healthy – by Marin

For those of you that didn’t know, May is National Health Month. This means all throughout this month, different organizations are bringing to light prominent health issues in our country. What I found to be even more interesting is that from May 12-18, it is National Women’s Health Week! Because this week is quickly approaching, I thought I would share with you the ‘Top 4 Tips for Staying Healthy!

    1. Visit a doctor or health care professional to receive regular check-ups. As we women get older, it’s important to frequent the doctor more often to make sure everything is “up to snuff!”

    2. Drink water! Water is so vital to living a healthy and balanced life.

    3. Sleep is vital for everyone’s health. Anywhere from 6-8 hours is ideal for proper body and mind function the following day.

    4. Try to avoid unhealthy habits. This includes smoking, or texting and driving.

As healthy women, we can all set an example for others to follow! It’s important to remember these tips not just through the month of May, but all the time!
To learn more information on staying healthy or about National Women’s Health Week, visit http://womenshealth.gov/nwhw

Marin Helppie-Schmieder is a college freshman at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania majoring in Modern Dance. Originally from Carrollton, Texas, Marin was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Texas for 2012. Learn more about Marin here!

Fun in the Sun - by Marin

Y’all, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Well, I guess it’s not that much of a secret since I know I am not the only one thinking it. Anyways, here it is: I am so completely and utterly excited for summer! It is definitely going to be bittersweet with the school year coming to a close, and having to depart from my friends for three months, but that’s a completely different story! So, getting back on track to summer.

For a lot of students, summer means working at a job, or maybe taking a couple of courses for school credit. However, it also means being with family and friends and having ‘fun in the sun’- which brings me to the main point of this blog post: The Sun (didn’t see that one coming, did you?)

While summer is such a happy and fun season, it is also very important for young women and men to be informed on the effects of overexposure from the Sun. I know there is and will always be a trend towards “getting the perfect tan,” but it’s important for the younger generations to be aware of what a “perfect tan” really means for the body in the long run. 

The Skin Cancer Foundation has stated that this year, “1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer,” as well as, “about 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.” Also, did you know skin cancer is “the most common form of cancer in the United States?” Now, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to enjoy time out in the sunshine.  For me personally, there’s nothing better than a hot summer day outside with a good book and some sweet tea! However, that means alongside my tea and book is my handy-dandy SPF 30.

Other precautions a person can take to stay proactive is not spending too much time outside when the Sun is at its highest point in the sky. Also, I’m a personal fan of cute hats! They protect the sensitive parts of the face (eyes and nose) while being fashionably trendy at the same time!

Like I said before, summer is such a great time to be outdoors and to have fun. However, if you’d like to continue the outdoor activities for years to come, take some precautionary measures for your health. The “perfect tan” might be great for a while, but it would be a shame if that tan cost you some health issues later down the road. 

So, before you go to take a dip in the pool, or play a game of soccer, or simply relax, lather up! I promise it will be well worth it in the long run and there will also be no possibility of getting a terrible, achy sunburn. I know when I board the airplane to go home to the Texas heat this summer, I’ll have my sunscreen and hat packed. But the question is, will you? 

Marin Helppie-Schmieder is a college freshman at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania majoring in Modern Dance. Originally from Carrollton, Texas, Marin was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Texas for 2012. Learn more about Marin here!

A Lesson Learned on Spring Break - by Marin

      Spring Break. I believe those are the two most beautiful words every college student longs to say! I could not wait to be with my family, sun in my hair, and away from the cold Pittsburgh weather! As I was packing and getting ready to leave school, I was so excited because for a whole week, I wouldn't be bombarded with homework or stress. I would be able to relax, and live a carefree lifestyle for seven days. However, when I finally arrived at my destination with my family, I felt I was missing something. Did I pack everything I needed? Did I have homework that was due after break? I couldn't put my mind into focus! That is, until I came across someone. His name is Mr. Zach, and after a chance meeting with him, he taught me something very important that I thought I should share with you all.

      Zach is pretty shaggy. In fact, when I first met him I could hardly see his eyes! He didn’t hesitate to introduce himself when he saw me, and had a big smile on his face as he came to greet me. If you can’t already figure it out, I’m going to let you in on a little secret—Zach is a dog! As I leaned over to pet him, his owner stepped outside and introduced Zach to me. He told me, “Zach loves to play, and just relax in the grass out in the sunshine.” He is also “very friendly” with new people (that I had already figured out!) I spent a couple of minutes just petting Zach and laughing as he ran around. As I said goodbye to Zach, he tried to walk with me back to my family, but he only made it as far as the leash tied around the tree would let him. I turned around one last time to wave goodbye to the owner, and when I did, I saw Zach peacefully lying in the grass. He looked completely content lying in the rays of the sun, his eyes closed with his tongue sticking out. And that’s when it hit me.

      I hadn't been worrying about whether I had packed the right things or homework; I was worrying because I felt like I had to do something. I hadn't taken the time to just stop, breathe and relax. To be like Zach in the grass, completely content with doing nothing and being ‘OK’ with it. After my chance meeting with Zach, I too went outside, and laid in the sunshine doing and thinking about absolutely nothing. It was so nice to not worry about anything and to simply be in the moment. 

      So I’d like to give a big ‘thank you’ to Zach. He’ll never know how much he has affected me. However, the least I can do for him is to remember how content he looked lying in the green grass and of course giving him lots of love every time I see him the rest of my Spring Break!

Marin Helppie-Schmieder is a college freshman at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania majoring in Modern Dance. Originally from Carrollton, Texas, Marin was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Texas for 2012. Learn more about Marin here!

Music: The Best Medicine - by Marin

Have you ever heard the saying “Music makes the World go round”?  I am sure you have. But have you ever really thought about what that saying really means? After talking with some friends and adults about music and what it means to them, I was astonished at how it is true that music does makes our World go round!
   
When you’re really sad, or down about something, what is something that makes you feel better? Or when something really awesome happens, how do you celebrate? Music. Whether it’s a Beethoven kind of day, or Jimi Hendrix, music has such a powerful and great impact on our lives. How cool is that? Well, let me just tell you.


A study done by Dr. Mike Miller from the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore has proven how music can literally help a person during times of stress. Patient’s hearts were monitored while they listened to pleasing music and the results were astonishing to Dr. Miller. He claimed, "The inner lining of the blood vessel relaxed, opened up and produced chemicals that are protective to the heart.” But when he played music that the patients did not enjoy or like, he found, “the vessels actually began to close up, which is the same effect as stress to the heart.” So, it is proven that music (that you enjoy) is actually, medically good for you! But all science aside, music has a way of turning any situation into something positive.
   
For instance, just this morning right at the beginning of ballet class, I could already tell it was going to be rough. Everyone looked tired and even our teacher knew we weren’t feeling it. So, in between combinations as our teacher was discussing the mechanics of the ligaments and muscles in our hip, he somehow changed the lecture into music and “how could you not know who George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic is?” Yes, this was happening during ballet class. My teacher gave our pianist a look and walked over to the sound system to plug in his iPod. I could not believe my ears as this music poured out of the speakers and everyone in our class went ballistic. Instantly, the mood changed, and for the rest of the class, everyone was more awake and chipper.


The more I think about how music impacts not just my life but also others, the more excited I get. How wonderful is it that music, which is all around us, has the power to change people? As I finish this post,  “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles is slowly coming to a close. However, I am not sad that this happy song has ended, but elated. Because I know that today is going to be a great day!

Marin Helppie-Schmieder is a college freshman at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania majoring in Modern Dance. Originally from Carrollton, Texas, Marin was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Texas for 2012. Learn more about Marin here!

Uniquely You - by Marin

          
It is officially a New Year. And everyone knows that along with a New Year, comes New Year Resolutions. I still find it hard to believe that it is already 2013, but alas, time does not stop for anyone. Like the millions of other people around the Globe, I too have taken a New Year’s vow. But it’s not the traditional vow of, “being more fit” or “getting a better job.” In fact, it is more of a challenge to others. Are you ready for it? Well, here it is: I challenge YOU to be YOURself and embrace YOUR differences from others. That’s it.

As I sat around a table with some of my close friends during New Year’s Eve, I realized how different we were from one another. We laughed, reminiscing about High School and how different our lives were in College. From Biology majors to Education majors and even Undeclared majors, we are anything but alike. However at the same time, it’s our differences that brought us together. We discussed our New Year’s resolutions and after some (healthy) debate, came to the conclusion that we didn’t want to change who we are, but embrace it.

Our culture and World is so vibrant, fast moving and ever changing. It is sometimes hard to keep up with the latest trend or fashion. Wouldn’t life be so much more enjoyable without the stress of constantly being up-to-date on the latest thing? I believe everyone brings something special and unique to this World, and that it should be embraced with open arms! I know as I head into 2013, I am going to continue finding the positivity in everyday life. Plus, it makes every day more enjoyable!

So, as you make your New Years Resolutions, find a way to squeeze in how to be uniquely you. What sets you a part from others? Find that one thing (or more than one!) and hold onto it tight. It’s 2013, a new year. Embrace it.

Marin Helppie-Schmieder is a college freshman at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania majoring in Modern Dance. Originally from Carrollton, Texas, Marin was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Texas for 2012. Learn more about Marin here!

Top 5 Favorite Things to do for Staying Energized - by Marin

Being a dance major in college is no piece of cake. My first class starts at 8 a.m. everyday, and my last class ends at 4:45 p.m. Not only do I have to stay physically fit for my dance technique classes, but mentally fit for my academic classes as well. Throw in some late night rehearsals, and crewing for shows, and you have yourself one tired college freshman. Having this hectic schedule, I had to learn the hard way that coffee is not always the best source for constant energy. So, here are my top five things that I do throughout the day/week to keep myself (healthily) energized, and ready to take on anything!

1. Drink water. It’s so simple, yet it is neglected all the time. Our bodies are made up of almost 80% water, and when we deprive ourselves from this liquid, we become fatigued! I’ve noticed the more H2O I guzzle, the more aware and awake I feel throughout the day (especially during hard Anatomy exams!)
2. Beware of the Cookie Monster and his sugar. Just kidding about the monster. Sugar is a great source when you feel tired because it will automatically give your body a boost of energy. But, it does not last long, and you will end up having a “sugar crash.” Try natural sugars in foods like apples and oranges! I know when I hit that 2 o’clock slump, I grab an orange for a fresh, sweet boost that definitely gets me through the next three hours of dance classes.
3. Four words: Thirty second dance party.  Whenever I feel like I just can’t make it through the day (and my bed looks so inviting) I stop what I’m doing, and I dance around. No, not “technical” dancing, but fun, “throw your arms all over the place” type of dancing. This burst of energy automatically wakes me up! P.S.- It’s even more fun when you do it with friends!
4. Read a little. It’s important that every night, you get solid sleep. Whether that’s six hours or ten hours, every hour counts! Instead of staring at your phone screen texting, or looking at Facebook on your laptop before bed, grab a book! I’ve found that reading before bed puts me into a more relaxed mood, and I’m able to fall asleep easier!
5. Don’t stress (if only it were that simple!) But seriously. When we stress about the small things, our mind can’t focus on the present and we end up exhausting ourselves without even noticing that it’s happening! When something doesn’t go as planned, just step back, take a deep breath, and continue. I know that when I stress, I begin to feel mentally and even physically drained! But, I have learned to overcome it by counting my blessings, and remembering that everything will work itself out in the end! Plus, it’s more fun to not be stressed out, right?

Marin Helppie-Schmieder is a college freshman at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania majoring in Modern Dance. Originally from Carrollton, Texas, Marin was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Texas for 2012. Learn more about Marin here!

A 140 Generation Constantly Changing - by Marin

 If something very important happened in our World today and you wanted to get every single detail so you could be properly informed, would these words be enough for you? I would say if you were born around or after the 90s then ‘Yes’ would be your answer. For my generation, 140 characters is all we need. But what does that mean for the generation after us? Twitter and Facebook are great ways to positively connect with friends and family, but there needs to be some recognition of how social media sites are slowly changing our generations vocabulary and thinking right before our eyes.

Take for instance the phrase, “Are they F.B.O. yet?” I cannot tell you how many times I have heard this phrase asked throughout high school and now college between classmates. Parents, if you are unsure of what this acronym means, I will let you know right now the ‘B’ and ‘F’ have nothing to do with “Beiber Fever.” However, it is an acronym that is feverishly catching on. It simply stands for “Facebook Official” and it is only asked when one wants to know if two people are dating. Thinking about how commonly this phrase is just thrown around, it makes me wonder about past generations who didn’t have computers or Facebook. How would anyone know if two people were dating? Simple. They’d ask. So how has this simple task been turned into a simple phrase asked among peers other than the F.B.O. couple themselves? It’s not necessarily a bad thing using acronyms for sayings, but when it hinders our ability to talk to each other directly, then it must be questioned.

“Waking up to your college roommate singing Whitney Houston into a fake microphone at the tops of her lungs…#Firstworldproblems.” Now, if you have never seen the hash-tag that is at the end of that sentence, what would you think, “first world problems” means? If you’ve figured it out, are you at all slightly offended that the common phrase “third world problems” (which arose during the Cold War Era) has morphed into somewhat of a joke for our generation today? I don’t mean to rain on anybody’s parade, and hash tagging is great when you want to really point out something or get that Twitter Feed buzzing. But next time your roommate is belting out the final key to “I Will Always Love You,” please think to yourself, is it really necessary to label that event as a  “first world problem”? Maybe there’s a better way to say it.

Media is a useful tool. It has the power to impact masses of people simultaneously. Whether this power is for the better or worse, it is accurate to say we truly are a “sound bite generation.” From 140 characters on Twitter to YouTube videos and Facebook, we are simply a generation of short, straight to the point posts. If it weren’t for the singer Drake, the phrase “YOLO” would not have been used by my high school principle to encourage creativity, or said by my friend when she decided to talk to the cute boy she’d been eyeing. I wouldn’t have been made aware of the situation in Uganda or Kony had it not been for the YouTube video that has over ninety-three million views. Media has a way of connecting the world and its people, making the planet we live on a little bit smaller. I’m not upset that instead of asking a couple if they’re together we whisper “F.B.O.?” to our friends. Or instead of “Carpe Diem” we shout “YOLO.” In fact, it makes our generation unique. But, if we become unaware of the negative effects of media in our everyday lives (our 140 character limit on expression, hash tagging about “first world problems”), our generation will be in for a wake-up call later down the road. So before I end this post, I have one last piece of advice: Be aware of the ever-changing world of technology and how it shapes our generation. Don’t blindly follow, but make your own way and discover the positive effects of media to spread your message, and to let your voice be heard in a positive light.

Marin Helppie-Schmieder is a college freshman at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania majoring in Modern Dance. Originally from Carrollton, Texas, Marin was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Texas for 2012. Learn more about Marin here!

Get to Know Marin Helppie-Schmieder - Distinguished Young Woman of Texas for 2012

Name: Marin Helppie-Schmieder

Age: 18

Hometown: Carrollton, Texas

College: The Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University

Major: Modern Dance

Favorite food: Green bean casserole 

Favorite TV show: Modern Family

Favorite movie: Singing in the Rain

Favorite quote: “You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled, then something has been lost.”- Martha Graham

Favorite time of year: Winter, because it is a time of giving and celebration.

Plan ahead OR procrastinate: Both. I’m usually very good with planning ahead, but we all have those days where procrastination gets the better of us.

Paper OR plastic: Paper

Glass half-full OR glass half-empty: Half-full

Introvert OR extrovert: Extrovert

Cats OR Dogs: Both! My dog, Cleopatra Pistachio, and Cat, J. Butters, are the best pets ever!

Morning person OR night person: Morning person

If you could be any color crayon, what would you be and why? Green because it is my favorite color and it is a reminder of nature and this beautiful earth that we live on.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you absolutely need for survival? A tent, sunscreen, and an endless supply of Goldfish (the snack food, not actual fish!)

What would I find in your refrigerator right now (if you have one)? Two small cartons of milk, dried mangos (a great snack for some quick energy), and leftover Thai food. With being physically active all the time, I am constantly eating, so the contents of my refrigerator are constantly changing!

What is the one thing you wish someone had told you about college life that you had to find out on your own? One thing I wish someone had told me about college life is how incredibly easy it would be to make friends. Going into a new environment is always a scary thing, but when you remind yourself that everyone is going through the same change, it’s easier to connect and make those friendships.

Sum yourself up in three words.  Determined, kind, witty.

Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience. 

Distinguished Young Women has left me with so many cherished memories. From both State and National level, I have truly made friendships that will last a lifetime. But if I had to choose one specific moment, it would be from Nationals at Camp Grace. One of the activities that we all had to participate in was a high ropes course. Now let me tell y’all a little fact about myself. I am always up for a good challenge and I love trying new things. But when that challenge involves standing on a two-inch wide rope suspended forty feet up in the air, I guess you can say my fear of heights kicks in a little. On the course, we had to use one another (grab hands and weight-share) to get from start to finish with each obstacle. While I was completely scared out of my mind (I sang songs out loud to distract myself from how high up we were…the other girls got a kick out of this) it was everyone’s positivity and willingness to help one another that got me through that course. As we all got back down to solid ground (which I kissed with excitement,) we hugged and cheered because we had made it through the ropes course not as individuals but together.