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Hello everyone! My name is Ally Barr and I am a new student here at Mercy College, working on getting my BSN degree! I am currently a junior and hope to be done within the next year and a half, and surprise: I am only 18 years old! I am very lucky to be where I am in my education, career, and life in general, and am extremely thankful for the opportunities I've been given to do so!

My first life-altering experience began when I was 10 years old! My parents had divorced a few years prior and I lived with my dad and brother 90% of the time. My brother was going through a gigantic growth spurt and ate SO MUCH food! My dad is a very active guy and works on his feet all day so his daily necessary caloric consumption was at least double if not triple mine, but the amount of food he put on the table every day for us was fit for a family of 10, not 3. So as time went on, the pounds did too. I was never overweight but compared to my friends, I always felt like the bigger one. My godmother, and paternal aunt, had dealt with an eating disorder her entire life and I always saw her looking so fragile, but so kind. She was truly my favorite person, and we always had a special connection. I unknowingly began to restrict my diet, and got super into exercising. What I didn't know, was that I had started my journey through multiple eating disorders. For the next 8 years, I went to countless therapists, and rehab centers. My Eating Disorder had caused the loss of many good friendships over the years, and also allowed me to grow and fall countless times. My insight grew tremendously.

The second life-changing event that occurred in my life was recovering. Recovering from my most recent relapse of anorexia nervosa, was the biggest accomplishment of my life so far. I have been clean for over 6 months, and every aspect of my life has improved so immensely. I have never felt better mentally, emotionally, or physically than I do right now, and know that my self-care is the most important task I have to tend to, in order to tend to everything else. I am able to work three jobs, while I am attending school full-time, and still have free time to spend doing the things I love.

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Hello everyone, my name is Alexandra. Growing up both my parents worked full-time. I stayed with my grandmother every day until I went to school, and when I was in school she was the one to pick me up everyday. I grew up with the idea that it's important for both parents to work. My mom was especially proud of her job and her work ethic. This instilled in me from a very young age the importance to work and be independent (especially as a woman).

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My name is Jeannie. I believe that my youth had a very big impact on who I am today and how it shaped my biology. I didn't have an easy childhood. My mom was not in the picture so it was just my dad that raised me and my two older brothers. He had to work a lot to support us, so It was just me and my brothers a lot. So, you can say that we sort of raised each other. We moved around a lot and switched schools every year. I think that my childhood had a big influence on the adult that I became. I have kids myself now and I do not want them to grow up the way I did. I work hard every day for them so that we don't have to move around.

Another social issue that has affected me and helped shaped who I am is becoming a mother at a very young age. Teen pregnancy has always been a sociological issue. I was 16 when I got pregnant. I was young, and I didn't know what I was going to do. Having a baby young is not easy to do, especially when you have to do it on your own. It is a big life change. Looking back, I don't think that I would do anything differently. Having a baby so young made me grow up fast and I always put my child first. I wasn't a normal teenager and I have always had a job since I was 14 years old. Life is not always easy but having a child so young taught me alot.

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Hello everyone!
My name is Esmeralda and it is a pleasure to with you all this semester.
1.) The first phenomenon that comes to my head when I think of something influencing me would be moving from Des Moines to Johnston when I was in the fourth grade. That influenced who I have become today dramatically. Moving to Johnston and going to their school was a big changed and made me the studious person I am today. I was able to see a huge difference in the school districts as I went from a Des Moines Public School to a smaller Johnston elementary school.
2.) The next event in my life that has influenced me greatly was an event that happened not too long ago. I originally went to the University of Iowa to pursue my nursing career, but after realizing how introverted I decided to take a break from school. Going to a big school made me reevaluate many things about myself and how I wanted to go about school. Luckily, I found Mercy and was able to jump back into school the following fall.
Esmeralda Flores

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1. The first phenomena that has shaped my life is the rapid progression of technology and widespread availability of the internet leading to a constant bombardment of information and news. As a student and healthcare professional, having a smartphone with immediate access to all the information I could ever hope for is an amazing resource. However, this comes with consequences. Although it is primarily due to availability heuristics, the increase in information has lead to an increase in fear among the general public. This juxtaposition between the early 90s and early 2000s results in a sense of nostalgia for a more simple, and “safe”, time even though for the most part the general quality of life is improving.

2. The second phenomena is very broad, but has had a very major impact on the direction of my life. As a paramedic, my profession traces its roots to practices developed out of necessity during military conflicts in order to minimize battlefield casualties. Although the first signs of ambulances can be linked back to the Napoleonic Wars, major advances in civilian EMS have been made from research gathered during conflicts in the Middle East making civilian EMS what it is today. These advances have shaped my role and experience as a paramedic, and have fostered a love for the medical field. Ultimately these experiences have resulted in me pursuing medical school and a career as a physician.

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Class Introduction
Sheri VanWinkle
I think looking back on my childhood might be very difficult. The things I have chosen that have impacted my life are illegal drugs and tornadoes.
I am the mother of three children and I have chosen to be an “at home” mom. I believe my best and worst times were living on the family farm. I know those times when my mother was not at home, I felt very lonely and missed her.
I often put on my coveralls and rode in the pick-up truck with my dad. We checked livestock and fed cattle. Those peaceful, bonding times I spent with my dad were times when he was always there for me. These are the things I now do with my own children. We raise cattle, horses, rabbits, dogs, and kittens. They are learning to be responsible caretakers while they are learning about birth, life, and death in a natural way. They know the joy of greeting a new foal and the heartache and sadness of losing a pet or even an animal in their care. We are all learning to cope in this world and these times.
My own life changed dramatically when my parents separated and my dad later went to prison on a drug charge.  Whether these happenings occurred because of the society we live in, peer pressure, or just simply because of bad choices. I know now how the choices of others can affect their families and others. Many of their choices were made possible by the opportunities of living in a rural area and having access to rich farm ground and seclusion.
My second life changing event or memory was a tornado. My family has survived two such events. One as child and the other as a parent. The first experience I experienced in the basement of my grandparent’s home on the farm. I came out of the safety of that place to see the garage was gone as well as the machine shed and spurs and other equipment hanging in a tree. This was the first time to experience spending the night with an oil lamp for light and no T.V.
My second experience was as a parent and an adult. We were not home but lost our new deck, a trampoline, and buildings. I do not believe it has made me a fearful person but I admit to being a little more cautious. My children know what they are to do in any given situation whether it be a storm or other danger. We have all learned from these experiences.

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The first thing I think really impacted me was my parents divorce. I was only 2 years old at the time so I don't have any memories of those years when we were all together just some pictures. For a long time I really despised this, I hated that my parents weren't still married and I hated that almost ALL my friends had parents that are still together. But once I grew up a little I realized it was for the best. It has really shaped me because the one thing I want more than anything is a loving, healthy marriage. I don't have a good example of marriage but I know that I will do anything I can to achieve that, and seeing my parents made me realize (I'll put this in the nicest way) I didn't want to end up divorced like them.
The second thing that has really influenced me, and is still influencing me is social media. It is no lie that there is more social media and technology around now than there ever has been before. Although I love being able to pull out my phone and a snap a pic to my friend or call up my boyfriend without having to think, I hate what social media puts out there. There is so much hate and lies on social media that its truly hard to scroll through feed on any app and find something positive. I think for me social media is truly another example of what I don't want to be. I do not want to be that person posting slanderous comments about someone they don't even know while hiding behind a screen. I think its shown me that even with all the bad out there that you can still be good, and you can spread love and positivity.