Author: Becky Baughman

Part 2

Last week, we looked at depression. We discussed what some of the symptoms can be, and the importance of talking to others if you feel you might be depressed.  This week, we’ll look at things we can do to help us reduce the risk of becoming depressed. We’ll also look at what we can do to help us overcome being depressed. 

1. Interact with others as much as possible, even if you don’t feel like it. It is normal to feel like isolating yourself, but this only makes things worse. It may seem easier to be alone, but after surrounding yourself with others, you will be glad you did.

2. Choose positive people to spend time with. Spend time face-to-face with your host family, and friends who make you feel good. Friends who are active, positive, and understanding are great to be around. Avoid hanging out with friends who are a negative influence by getting you in trouble or making you feel judged and insecure.

3. Look for ways to be helpful to others. Studies have repeatedly shown that one of the best ways to feel less depressed is to do something good for others. Whether it’s being helpful to your friends and host family, or volunteering with an organization, it’s a great feeling.

4. Take better care of yourself. 

• Get moving! Exercise releases a natural chemical to help your body feel happier.
• Eat healthier! Junk food, sugar, and a lot of snack foods can make you feel slow and tired. This can make depression worse. Make sure you are feeding your mind with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Reduce the time spent on social media!  Online interaction is no replacement for in-person contact.  Also, there is much on social media that tears us down or makes us feel “less-than” rather than building us up and encouraging us.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs! You may be tempted to drink or use drugs to escape from your feelings and get a mood boost. However, as well as causing depression in the first place, substance use will only make depression worse in the long run. Alcohol and drug use can also increase suicidal feelings.  
• Get a proper amount of sleep!  A growing teenage body and mind needs at least 8 hours of sleep. Too much or too little sleep can disrupt your mood.
• Manage stress! Practice deep breathing, journaling, and positive thinking to keep stress under control.

5. Connect with God.  God says in the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy: “I will never leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.” Your host family can pray with you to have peace and lessen your feelings of worry and loneliness.

6. Seek help from an expert. If symptoms of depression are starting to interfere with your life, and are not going away, it may be time to talk to a professional. Sometimes talking to a therapist, counselor or physician can give you skills to cope with stress, or improve your health. If this is something you think would benefit you, talk with your AHLI Coordinator. There is no shame in seeking help for a physical or mental concern.

Even though it may feel like the black cloud of depression might never go away, there are many ways to help you regain your balance and feel more positive, energetic, and hopeful again. We at AHLI want you to be successful in all you do. We are here to help you achieve your goals now and into the future!

What is one goal you hope to achieve in the near future? I’d love to hear from you on WeChat!

Also, if you aren’t already aware of the new AHLI contest please keep reading down below to find out more information! 1st and 2nd place winners will receive a gift card.

SEND ME A TIK TOK VIDEO OF WHAT YOU’VE BEEN UP TO AT YOUR HOMESTAY! IF IT IS CHOSEN, YOU CAN WIN A $50 or $25 GIFT CARD!

AHLI wants a Tik Tok video of what you’ve been up to at home during this quarantine time. It can be a 30-60 second video of you doing different things with your Host Family or what you most enjoy about being in a homestay. These can be as funny and creative as you choose!

1st and 2nd Prize given: $50 and $25 gift cards, plus your Tik Tok shared on the AHLI website and social media! Send your video to me at Tiffaneew@amhomelife.org‘

You can find me on WeChat, search for Tiffanee Wright or scan my QR below. I look forward to hearing from you.

This month’s blog is focusing on mental health, specifically depression. It is a 2-part series that will continue next week.

Teenage years can be really difficult. It’s normal to feel sad or irritable every now and then, especially living in a new country and culture. In this time of uncertainty with COVID-19, you may be feeling worried or anxious. It also can be lonely being forced to stay home and not able to be around friends at school.

When those feelings don’t go away or they become overwhelming, you may be suffering from depression. Depression is much more than feeling sad for a short period of time. It’s a mood disorder that can change the way you think, feel, and function in your daily life. When you’re depressed, you may feel hopeless and isolated, and it can seem that no one understands. But you are not alone. About 1 in 5 teenagers suffer with depression. 

It can be hard to describe how depression feels, but here are some common symptoms:

• You often feel irritable, sad, or angry.
• Things you used to enjoy don’t seem fun anymore.
• You feel bad about yourself—worthless, guilty, or just “wrong” in some way.
• You have trouble sleeping or have trouble staying awake.
• You’ve turned to alcohol or drugs to try to change the way you feel.
• You have frequent headaches or other physical pains or problems.
• You’ve gained or lost weight without trying to.
• You’re having trouble concentrating, thinking clearly, or remembering things.
• You feel helpless or hopeless.
• You’re thinking about death or suicide. (If so, talk to someone like your AHLI Coordinator or host parent right away!)

Depression is not your fault. It is not sign of weakness or a character flaw. There are many stresses in life, and sometimes this stress may change how well our body manages our emotions.  Fortunately if you are experiencing depression, there are ways to help your body recover. We’ll discuss these more in our next blog.  

The most important thing is to talk to someone about how you feel, even though it may be hard at first. It’s important to remember that many people struggle with feelings like these at one time or another. Even though it may not feel like it at the moment, people do love and care about you. It is very helpful to share your worries with someone who will listen and care about what you say. Asking for help is a sign of strength, and is the first step towards feeling better.

Feel free to WeChat me to share how you have been staying busy during your time home from school.  Have you been finding ways to use your creative skills? Or be active? Or stay engaged with your host family while still sheltering in place due to the coronavirus?

Also, we’re excited to announce a new AHLI contest you can take part in! 1st and 2nd place winners will receive a gift card. Keep reading to find out more information!

SEND ME A TIK TOK VIDEO OF WHAT YOU’VE BEEN UP TO AT YOUR HOMESTAY! IF IT IS CHOSEN, YOU CAN WIN A $50 or $25 GIFT CARD!

AHLI wants a Tik Tok video of what you’ve been up to at home during this quarantine time. It can be a 30-60 second video of you doing different things with your Host Family or what you most enjoy about being in a homestay. These can be as funny and creative as you choose!

1st and 2nd Prize given: $50 and $25 gift cards, plus your Tik Tok shared on the AHLI website and social media! Send your video to me at Tiffaneew@amhomelife.org‘

You can find me on WeChat, search for Tiffanee Wright or scan my QR below. I look forward to hearing from you.

By now you all have heard of COVID-19 (coronavirus).  This is a new virus that scientists had not seen before, and therefore is called a ‘novel’ virus.  The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, meaning a disease that is present across the whole world.

How is the virus spread?
COVID-19 is spread through the air by droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs.  It may also be spread by touching an object that has the virus on it and then touching your eyes or mouth, but that is not the main way.

What are symptoms of COVID-19?
Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of

• fever               • cough          • shortness of breath

Is there a vaccine for COVID-19?
Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent someone from getting the virus.  Research is on-going in many countries, and potential vaccines are being tested, but it will take at least a year before there will be a vaccine ready for distribution to the public.

Is there treatment for COVID-19?
There is no specific treatment for the virus, but there is treatment for the symptoms, if needed.  People who are sick should be seen and treated by medical professionals.

How can I protect myself?
There are many ways you can help prevent getting sick:

1.  Prevent contact with people that have the sickness
2. Wash your hands well and often. Wash for 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
3. Try not to touch your eyes, nose, mouth, especially if you haven’t washed your hands
4. Clean and disinfect your desk, computer and phone more often
5. Avoid large crowds of people
6. Do not share food or drinks with friends or people outside your host family
7. Stay home if you are sick

Should I wear a mask to protect myself?
Right now, the risk of becoming sick with the Coronavirus in the U.S. for the average person is very low.  The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) is not recommending people who are NOT sick to wear a mask for two reasons:

a)     Most masks do not protect against virus particles
b)     Respirators, which are more protective must be carefully fitted to size, and carefully disposed of.  If everyone wore these masks every day, everywhere, there would be a shortage of these masks for healthcare workers who need them to care for people who are sick.

Will my school close?
To be cautious, some private and public schools may close for a short period of time for cleaning or to help mitigate (slow) the spread the virus.  Many schools will continue their studies using online classes.  Your AHLI Coordinator will keep you informed if this change will impact you.
If your school closes, Remember:

• School is still in session, you must sign-in online EVERY day or you will be marked absent. This is not a vacation.
• You cannot travel during this time. You must be on-line for classes.
• You must turn-in assignments on time. You will not be given extensions.

Can I go home this Summer?
The epidemic is changing daily.  It is difficult to predict how the global situation will be by the time your school closes.  We urge you to have patience before making decisions. However, there are some travel bans for certain countries already in effect that may affect your ability to return to the States if you go home for Summer vacation.  AHLI will be offering summer programming for students who want to stay in America over the Summer and continue with their English studies and be assured their enrollment in school (high school or post-high). 

This is not a time to fear. God tells us not to be afraid for He is with us at all times, and strengthens us with courage, love, and hope. If you are feeling anxious, talk with your Coordinator or host family.

Here is a popular comic about virus basics that I would like to share with you:

English version of the comic – Press this link

Chinese version of the comic – Press this link

If you like facts, statistics, or graphs about the pandemic, follow this link to learn more: informationisbeautiful.net

Thank you.

Tiffanee M. Wright, MA, MPH | Executive Director
AHLI – International Education and Homestay

SEND ME YOUR BEST PHOTO AND IF IT IS CHOSEN, YOU CAN WIN A $50 or $25 GIFT CARD!

AHLI wants your best photo from the school year that shows you…with your friend at school or your host family! They say a picture is worth 1,000 words…what picture says it all for you?

1st and 2nd Prize given: $50 and $25 gift cards, plus your photo shared on the AHLI website and social media!

Send your photo to me at Tiffaneew@amhomelife.org You can find me on WeChat, search for Tiffanee Wright or scan my QR below.

It’s that time to get serious about your future, specifically your college application and essay!

This month’s guest writer is Mike Shank, Guidance Counselor at Shalom Christian Academy in Pennsylvania. Mike has been at SCA for 28 years, hosted 13 students and young adults. His sons, Ian and Sawyer are both students at Shalom Christian Academy.

College application essays can be intimidating but if you think of them as an opportunity for the college to get to know the real you, then it can remove some of the fear.  Here are some helpful hints to make college essay writing less stressful.

• The most basic task you have is to answer the question you are given. 
• Be sure your answer is a response to the question or essay prompt rather than a list of your accomplishments.  There are other places on the application to list your accomplishments.
• There is nothing wrong with “recycling” or reusing parts of other essays you have written if they are relevant to the question.
• Please make sure if you are writing an essay for one college, such as Shippensburg University, do not write about what a great fit Bloomsburg University would be for you!  
• Sometimes colleges ask odd, hard-to-understand questions that are so open-ended it is difficult to know where to start in answering the question.
  • The purpose of these questions is to get to know you.  If a college asks a question that you think is “weird”, maybe that college is not a good fit for you.  Whether a question is strange or not, answering in an authentic, “true” manner is of primary importance.
  • Your task is not figuring out what the admissions counselor wants to hear.  Your task is to communicate who you are in words.
  • Admissions counselors read many essays and they are skilled at detecting a lack of authenticity in essays. They can tell when essays are the result of heavy coaching or are written by a parent or other adult.  
• As you have opportunity and as it fits with the essay prompt, demonstrate interest in the college by showing how it is a good fit for you.  Your response must come from a place of integrity and authenticity; it will, if your reasons for attending a particular college is more about its values, strengths and offerings than it is about prestige and name recognition.  
• Stay within the suggested word limit.  Going over the word limit will not impress admissions counselors.  It may hurt your cause if your essay is too long. It is more impressive to be concise while still completely answering the question. 
• My final piece of advice—be sure to have someone proofread your essay. Another set of eyes can see things that we may not see.  

So face those essays fearlessly and let YOU shine through!  

From Tiffanee:

Invitation to WeChat or email Tiffanee:

Where’s your dream college? Why?

Seniors, where are you headed for college?

Stay tuned: Next Month…Enter the AHLI Best Homestay Photo Contest! Win a Gift Card!!

Happy 2020! Happy Chinese New Year! This month we have a guest writer sharing about an American tradition. Brian Kelley is an AHLI Student Director for schools in Maryland and one in PA. 

We just turned the calendar on a new year.  Many people seek to gain a new focus when flipping the calendar from December to January. We call these focuses, “resolutions.”  Resolutions are made for a variety of reasons.  There are students who want good grades, there are athletes who desire to perform better, people join gyms with the hopes of losing weight and/or getting in shape and finally there are some; particularly Christians who want to pray and read their Bibles more.  

Unfortunately, many fail in their resolutions. We know that we have the best intentions, yet we only make a couple of weeks into the new year, this can be discouraging. But each day, we can strive to continue with our resolution and make small improvements to become better individuals.

The God of the Bible had a resolution, to be reconciled (regain a relationship) with man (II Corinthians 5:18-21).  His way to do this did not make sense; He gave up his only Son to be the sacrifice for our sin (all the wrong we do).  Even when his Son came to earth to live as a man and even when people rejected his Son, He never broke his resolution.  He did not save his Son!  

I know this sounds crazy, but it is true.  His Son willingly died on the cross so his Father’s resolution would take place.  Why? This was not a resolution for only a moment or a new year.  This was a resolution for eternity.  God realized a bigger picture when it came to mankind.  He made a way for each person, including you to have a personal relationship with the living God and to live eternally with Him! Knowing God brings peace, comfort, and strength through the difficult situations of life.

Did you make a resolution? Here are some suggestions to make small improvements each day:

• Improve your academic performance
• Build a new friendship
• Help someone in your class
• Prepare for challenging high school courses
• Start researching colleges
• Remember to enjoy high school
• Learn more about God

From Tiffanee:

In America, we often share our resolution with someone to help us keep accomplishing our goal when we feel like giving up. Who can you share your New Year’s resolution with this month?  I’d love to hear about your resolutions on Wechat!  You can connect with me on WeChat or WhatsApp (TiffaneeWright).

P.S.  This month, I am meeting agents in Japan, I brought my two daughters, Kia and Kaiya with me.