Special_Interest_MiBulletin.org

Tons and tons of monenies are wasted every year. There are billions of dollars that could go towards furthering anyone’s education, but you have to look for the resources. Don’t get discouraged about finding the resources for scholarship information, and don’t pay anyone to help you. Here are some easy tips towards getting the money for furthering your education:

1) Start looking for scholarships in the eleventh grade

2) Try visiting local stores or business areas and ask .

3) Ask your church or other religious organizations about their scholarship opportunities.

4) Contact colleges that you are interested in and ask for a list of the scholarships that they offer.

5) Consult fraternitys or sororitys about their scholarship opportunities.

6) Try entering into some essay/writing contests.

7) Search online for scholarship opportunities.

Even if you started looking late, don’t be discouraged about finding resources for scholarship opportunities. There are countless places to search and receive information. Use these tips as the first step to finding financial assistance for your educational endeavors.

Salihah Copedge is an Everett High School student and a participant in the Young Publishers Club sponsored by the Michigan Bulletin which meets at the Magic Johnson Foundation Creation Station located at the Black Child and Family Institute - 835 W. Genesee, Lansing MI.

Over the past decade, anabolic steroid abuse became a national concern. These drugs are used illicitly by weight lifters, body builders, long distance runners, cyclists, and others who claim that these drugs give them a competitive advantage and or improve their physical appearance.

Overall youth steroid use remains alarmingly high. According to the 1999 Monitoring the Future Study, the percentage of eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders who reported using steroids at least once in their lives has increased steadily over the past four years (an average of 1.8 percent in 1996, 2.1 percent in 1997, 2.3 percent in 1998, and 2.8 percent in 1999).

The truth is... the use of steroids is a growing problem among today’s teenagers, who among other things get a large portion of their misunderstood information from the fitness industry and “muscle magazines”. While it is evident that there exists a growing use of steroids, there most definitely is no indication that the issue is going to fade away without some kind of intervention. It should be noted, that there are many obvious risks and side effects from teen steroid abuse.

Several of these side effects include:

Even scarier, there is evidence that teens today are more afraid of NOT experimenting with and using steroids. It is crucial to understand the reasons if we are to attempt to find a solution. Today’s teens have seen many of their athletic role models admit to some form of steroid use at some time in their lives. This may be giving them mixed messages. It may suggest that steroid use is the necessary ingredient to develop a career in sports.

Many of these same teens also feel they are invincible -- able to withstand any fear or reservations that may exist about the use of these drugs. In addition, they are reluctant to believe any warnings offered by the medical community, who so often have delivered alarmist attitudes towards steroid use.

Creatine has become a very popular product with teen athletes. Annual sales total over 200 million dollars. It is advertised as a natural product that will provide larger, more powerful muscles. Creatine is actually an essential amino acid, meaning that it is a necessary nutrient for human beings. It can be produced by the body from other amino acids, such as arginine and glycine. It may also be provided in the diet -- creatine occurs naturally in fish, milk, meat, and other foods.

Studies performed on adult athletes indicate that creatine may increase muscle mass, probably due to the retention of fluid. More importantly, the athlete who is undergoing intense exercise training and taking creatine may increase his or her power for short-term sports action, such as sprinting and playing football. Thus, it is very popular with high school football players and track athletes. Some coaches, trainers, and even parents have pushed this product on their athletes in the hope of producing winners.

So what is wrong with taking creatine?

Creatine has received very little scientific study. We do not know anything about its long-term effects. We do not know what doses are best and what is excessive. The doses kids take are varied and often mixed with other drugs or chemicals that have their own unknown effects. The stores that sell creatine have no idea how pure the product is, how much to use, or when to stop.

We do know that creatine produces no improvement in long term endurance activities. A number of side effects are possible, including abdominal pain, nausea, loose stools, increase in weight due to the retention of water, muscle cramps, and muscle strains. Case reports indicate that dehydration and even death may occur when athletes take creatine and exercise in hot weather.

Reduction in kidney function and enlargement of the heart muscle have been observed in kids. Additionally, creatine supplementation suppresses the body’s own production of creatine. We do not know what effects this may have on a growing child. There are simply too many unknowns about creatine at this time. It would be wise to stop the current hype.

DeMarkus Hadley is a Sexton High School student and a participant in the Young Publishers Club sponsored by the Michigan Bulletin which meets at the Magic Johnson Foundation Creation Station located at the Black Child and Family Institute - 835 W. Genesee, Lansing MI.