12
Profiles
September 14, 2012
Someone to Help By: Ashley Skokan
Damon became a therapist for Someone to help, someone to pets), depression, anxiety, or obsessive several reasons, “My friends have always share, someone to listen, someone like compulsive disorder, etc. In therapy you come to me with their problems. They said Shannon Damon; the new West Des Moines can learn to process through your life in a district school-based therapist. different way and learn new coping skills.” I was a good listener and I could talk them down from their irrational thoughts. This Damon began working in the The counselors and Damon have was mostly about relationships back when West Des Moines School district at the be- a referral process if needed for any kinds of I was in high school. Early on in my work ginning of this school year. Damon works student issues. “It is a really good idea to at CFI (Children & Families of Iowa), I was through the Orchard Place Child Guidance talk to the guidance counselors first. If it is Center. She spreads her time between my clients to the therapists You don’t have to go through referring often or sometimes the therapists reValley, Valley Southwoods, and Walnut ferred their clients to me. Through this Creek. “My typical schedule right now is life alone and you would be process I learned more about therapy Valley on Mondays and Fridays, Walnut amazed to know that a lot of and how it can help people and I met Creek on Tuesdays, Valley Southwoods on Thursdays, and at Orchard Place for people have felt similarly to you. wonderful therapists.” Along with working at Orchard meetings on Wednesdays.” she said. In You are not alone.” Place, Damon has also worked at sevthe early mornings and late afternoons eral other agencies. “I have also worked on Wednesdays, Damon can be found at - Shannon Damon at Children & Families of Iowa Domestic any of the three schools, depending on Violence Services as an Outreach Advowhere she is needed most. cate and Shelter Advocate for three-and-a Damon’s office is currently locat- more of a therapy issue, they will refer you half years, and Drake University Head Start ed outside of the auditorium in the com- to me.” as a Family Advocate for over two years.” mons area, to the left of the student store. Damon was born in Texas but “If you need to talk to someone “As a therapist, I can help people with diffi- grew up in Clinton, Iowa. She attended or if you are having a difficult time, whethcult transitions through life,” she said. “This Drake University and later changed to the er it is me, your teacher, your parents, your may be divorce, moving, dealing with grief University of Iowa where she received her friends, or their parents, please do so. You and loss of a loved one (family, friend, even masters in social work degree.
don’t have to go through life alone and you would be amazed to know that a lot of people have felt similarly to you. You are not alone.”
Photo credit to Orchard Place Human Resources
“As a therapist, I can help people with difficult transitions through life.” said school-based therapist Shannon Damon. The district approached Orchard Place/ Child Guidance Center about the possibility of providing school-based services in the high schools.
Pulling his Weight By: Jacob Bernhard
At the beginning of his freshman year of high school, Weston Hirschauer, now a junior, weighed 250 pounds. “I used to be on a see-food diet, I would see food and I would eat it.” Flash forward to the present, and Weston weighs 183, almost 70 pounds less than he did in 9th grade. “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” Weston stopped waiting for the storm to pass and has transformed his body by losing 70 pounds in a little more than a year. Losing all of this weight inspired him to become a body builder or a personal trainer when he gets older. After Weston lost 70 pounds, it was apparent that he did not weigh enough to the offensive line for the football team, so he transferred his passion from the field to the gym. “After I lost all of the weight, I realized I wasn’t big enough to play football, so I decided to pursue my other interest of being a body builder.” said Weston. Many people are not very familiar with bodybuilding and how it works. When a body builder prepares for a competition,
they build up as much muscle and strength as possible by doing a plan that is called a surplus. But, when the competition date approaches, the body builder needs to cut weight by going on a plan called a deficiency. A deficiency is when someone tries to lose weight, by eating foods with fewer carbohydrates and fatty foods. It also is very hard to become a body builder at a young age because of
healthy forms of carbohydrates. He gets most of his fats from avocados, almonds, and fish oil. For protein, Weston eats lean meats such as: chicken, turkey, tuna, and salmon. His diet also consists of many vegetables. It’s safe to say that most high school students don’t eat like Weston. It’s also likely that most high schoolers don’t put in the same amount of work in the gym as Weston does. His workout routine is set up as a four-day split. Weston works out each muscle group in his body over the course of a week, with two days off when he incorporates cardio. Weston’s ultimate goal is “to achieve a physique that is aesthetically pleasing” In order to achieve this goal he puts a massive effort forth in each aspect of his life. He is even taking human anatomy to improve his knowledge of how the body functions. The most common answer Weston receives when he tells people he wants to become a body builder is “You are frickin crazy!” Weston likes to think of it as dancing in the rain.
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” -Weston Hirshauer
Photo credit to Jake Bernhard
Junior Weston Hirschauer lifts weights, trying to reach his ultimate goal, “To achieve a physique that is aesthetically pleasing”
the cost to compete. “You have to get sponsored to become a professional, because it costs a lot of money to compete. I would be considered an amateur, because I do it for fun, not for income.” said Weston. This new interest resulted in a major change in diet plan for Weston. His new diet consists of a specific list of carbohydrates and protein sources. He gets his carbohydrates from oats, sweet potatoes, brown rice, and other