January 8, 2010
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer .com
Page 9
Change the way you look at things and you’ll change the way you see them ROBBIE PARKER DVMS REPORTER When students are asked to reflect on what they are thankful for, they typically give the expected response that they are grateful for their house, food and families. While I’m sure that they’re thankful for all those things, the question got me thinking. Sometimes it is hard to appreciate what you’re thankful for because you’re so used to it. You never really appreciate or know how lucky you are until it
is gone. Or sometimes you see someone who is not as fortunate or blessed and it has an impact on you. I remember an experience I had with my dad when I was younger. We were near a convenience store when we spotted a homeless man. To my surprise, my dad took out a $20 bill and gave it to him. I couldn’t believe he just randomly gave away money to someone he didn’t know. I asked my dad why he had helped the man. He told me that the man was truly hungry and I was lucky that I didn’t have to experience hunger like that. I had always tried to avoid
being near the homeless or tried not to look at them. I wondered why they were so dirty and disheveled. This time, I took a long look at the man. I realized he was just another human being down on his luck and this could happen to anyone if the circumstances were right. I once heard that one of the hardest things that homeless people deal with is people not wanting to look at them. It’s almost as if they are invisible. It started me thinking about what it means to do more for others. I believe if we stop and reflect on how lucky we are and look at those around us who are less fortunate, it provides a perspective on how much we truly
have. So when we give thanks for all of the people and things around us, we should think about ways we can give back. A good thing to do would be to volunteer your time or give donations. There are many ways one can help, such as giving to local churches or food banks, donating to charities, working at an animal shelter or spending time with an elderly person. Then, the next time we are asked to reflect on why we are grateful, we can truly understand the answer. Robbie Parker is a seventhgrader at Diablo View. Send comments to Robbie@claytonpioneer.com
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“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.” – Marie Curie These days, aging invokes fear in us as a society. When was it that the word “old” became taboo? It seems our society is obsessed with youth. From the young, attractive people used in advertising to the beauty products that claim to “turn back the clock,” it feels as though we are constantly being bombarded with the idea of eternal youth. The sad thing is that many people have succumbed to this inane ideology. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had an adult tell me, “Oh, please – don’t call me Mr./Mrs. So-andso, it sounds so old. Call me by my first name.” The last time that I checked, being addressed in that manner was a way of showing respect.
I’m surprised that some adults would rather be treated as the peer of an adolescent than receive the respect due to them as an older and wiser being. Perhaps even more shocking are the lengths that people will go to conceal the natural aging process. It amazes me that some people inject Botox into their faces, intentionally paralyzing them in order to staunch the wrinkles that might give away their age. Even birthdays pose a predicament for some people. In many countries, being advanced in years is a thing to be revered and honored. Their wisdom and years are treasured and they hold a position of high esteem in their families. However, in our culture, people can often look forward to being treated as senile or ignorant. I believe that the fear of aging is, in actuality, the fear of death. Every little bit of youth
Autism, from page 8 days a week, preparing her to start classes geared toward autistic children at a local elementary school. They worked to teach Emily to communicate, using a “pex” chart with pictures of various items. Starting with “juice” and “snack,” the 3year-old learned to point to a picture of what she wanted. Verbal skills came next. “She went through a week or so of screaming in frustration because they forced her to use her words,” said Jones. However, the hard work has been paying off. “It’s been wonderful to go from a child who would scream mostly and not be able to verbally communicate to one who can tell stories and play pretend and negotiate,” said Jones, who noted that Emily has recently learned to spell her first word: toys. FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK Five-year-old Mateo goes to the same school as Emily. Vi Ibarra noticed early on that her interactions with her son seemed markedly different than those she had experienced with his older sister. “I just couldn’t get him to look at me. He wasn’t unhappy or anything, he was just not into me,” she described. He wouldn’t talk, other than to recite the alphabet. “He’d grab my hands and walk me to where it was what he wanted,” she said. Mateo was diagnosed with autism. Today, Ibarra is reaching out to other families like
hers as the director of the Autism Family Support Project, which offers support to families of children up to 7 years old with ASDs “It’s important to me to feel like I’m part of a community,” said Ibarra, who spoke of her fears of failure while advocating for Mateo. “It’s important for me to not be the odd man out … to not feel like we’re being looked at because my kid can’t participate in the same way that everyone else does.” Services include parent support groups and seminars on subjects such as positive discipline techniques and financial planning. The group had a families’ get-together recently at the Clayton Bowl. Ibarra described older siblings learning that “there are other families who look like mine.” Ibarra has an eye on Mateo’s future. “If he wants to be a firefighter, I want him to be able to do that,” she said. “I want him to be happy. I want him to be successful and whatever that means to him.” While services through the school district, the California Department of Developmental Services and groups like the Autism Family Support Project try to smooth their path, Ibarra, Jones and other parents worry about who will take care of their children as they age. The second part of this series will focus on what happens with ASD children as they become adults.
that you lose brings you that much closer to old age, which in turn makes death so much more of a tangible reality. In light of that, it’s facile to see why so many people have a fear of aging; everyone can identify with mortality. I want to be content with my age in all the stages of my life. When I was younger, I eagerly anticipated getting older. Now, I’m content at where I’m at, and I hope I will be in all stages of my life. I don’t intend to lie about my age or try Botox. If anything, I hope that my appearance in later years will show a life well-lived with sorrow and joy, experiences and emotions. I’d like to age gracefully and with dignity, without trying to keep up a charade. Of course, I suppose it’s easy to have these convictions as an impressionable youth. It could very well be
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Cady Lang is a senior at Berean Christian High School. She would like to major in English and eventually pursue a career in writing. Email her at cady_lang@claytonpioneer.com
School News CLAYTON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Clayton Valley High School Athletic Boosters Club will be hosting it 16th annual Crab Feed and Auction on Sat., Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Centre Concord. This is a major fundraiser which directly benefits all athletic programs at CVHS. Seating is limited. Tickets are on sale now for $50/each at the school or online at www.cvhsboosters.org
For more information, go to crabfeed@cvhsboosters.org .
Students to perform in Music-A-Thon fundraiser More than 10 schools from the Mt. Diablo Unified School District will be participating in a Music-A-Thon on Jan. 16 to support the district’s music programs. The Mt. Diablo Music Education Foundation is hosting the fundraiser, which features different styles of music and vocals. Participating schools include Clayton Valley High School and Pine Hollow Middle School. The music will be performed 10 a.m.-10 p.m. in the Multi-Use Room at Concord High School, 4200 Concord Blvd., Concord. Music students will be collecting pledges, and donations will also be taken at the event. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. The fourth-grade instrumental music program was eliminated this year, and the district is planning to cut fifth-
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grade music the next school year. The Mt. Diablo Music Education Foundation was formed to raise awareness of the cuts and to solicit donations to support music education. While high schools in the district support a wide range of music programs, including orchestras, choral, jazz ensembles and band, the elimination of elementary music will start to erode the quality of the secondary music program. It has been shown that students who become involved in music education become better students, attend school more regularly than other students, score higher on state standardized tests than other students and stay engaged in school. For more information, visit mdmusicfoundation.org or call Michael McNally at 827-5706.
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