Vol. 8 Fall, 2016 Urbana Adult Education From the Director’s Chair Talking with Samuel Byndom __________________________________ The Class Act Addressing the Myths about Schizophrenia By Caitlyn Irvin-Sprague Schizophrenia is a mental disease, and it’s a very serious issue. Stressful emotional situations can become overwhelming at times, and for people who are schizophrenic, can lead to an Dr. Byndom Director of Urbana Adult Education episode of illness. Some people confuse auditory hallucinations with schizophrenia but they are very different illnesses in many Getting to Know Dr. Byndom ways. (and the new APL curriculum!) By Elizabeth Ferguson and Characteristics of auditory hallucinations are psychosis Kristen Sweeney features such as localizations of voices outside the brain. They have Q: Can you describe how the new APL greater linguistic complexity, and they have a greater emotional curriculum differs from previous response. Also, auditory hallucinations can be so-called “cured” years? with a form of therapy called DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy). A: It is more closely aligned to not only This therapy is based on people’s behavior and emotional Common Core standards, but the responses to things. People who are in this therapy learn to focus Urbana High School Curriculum. The on their emotions and behaviors to better be able to control the new APL curriculum will provide Auditory Hallucinations. Experiencing auditory hallucinations is students with more opportunities for enrichment, such as language classes very different from a schizophrenic experience. and workforce or career experience. Schizophrenia has some serious symptoms for someone who Now for some fun questions: has this disease. Some signs include social withdrawal, Q: What are some of your hobbies oversleeping, insomnia, depression, and also poor personal outside of work? A: I like to go to the gym, play tennis, hygiene. Whereas auditory hallucinations can be “cured” or strictly and listen to stand-up comedy. I like to managed, schizophrenia can only be mildly managed with laugh. medications and therapy. Schizophrenia is a rare disease but along Q: What is your favorite food? with the normal symptoms of it, like disorganized speech, it also A: Anything spicy! increases the person’s inability to do normal daily activities, it Q: What kind of music do you like to increases the suicide risk and can also increases the alcohol and listen to? drug abuse rates. A: These days, I mostly listen to old- school rap. Every once in a while I’ll - ContinuedIndex on page 2 listen to pop music. From the Director’s Chair pg 1 The Music Scene pg 5 4Addressing the Myths of Schizophrenia pg 1 Hot Pop pg 6 Q: What is your favorite holiday? Addressing the Myths cont. pg 2 Landscaping News pg 7 A: My birthday! I know it’s not really a Warning Signs , Symptoms, and Facts pg 2 Literacy Week pg 7 For More Information pg 2 Staff Spotlight pg 8-9 “holiday,” but it’s my favorite. UAEC Cares pg 3 Halloween Festivities pg 10 Parkland Seminar pg 3 Glimpses of UAEC pg 11 Thanksgiving News pg 4 The Cultural Exchange pg 12 A Note of Appreciation pg 13 1 Most people who have these diseases are more likely to have a higher suicide rate and drug Symptoms of Schizophrenia and alcohol abuse rate because all they are trying Delusions (e.g. of persecution) to do is mask the pain of having one of these Disorganized speech serious diseases. Coming from someone who has Disorganized behavior been through “hearing voices”, I not only used Absence of normal behavior drugs because of the voices but also because of the bullying that came with it. People in general paranoia are cruel; but, when you have one or many Facts about Auditory Hallucinations mental diseases, I believe it is worse because they call you crazy and treat you differently. I Localizations of voices outside the know personally all I want to do is to be treated head like a human being, just like everyone else. Yes, I Stronger linguistic complexity do have certain limits and I can’t do things as fast Greater emotional response or as adequately as some others, but I try my If any of your family or friends is experiencing hardest. these symptoms of auditory hallucinations or I hope that this article helped some of schizophrenia, please encourage them to get you who wanted to know more about mental professional help. And, please treat them health issues that people with schizophrenia and kindly. auditory hallucinations face. A lot of teens and Sources for more information: adults all around the world deal with mental http://www.psychiatricims.com/schizophrenia/auditor health disorders like these. Mental diseases y-hallucinations-psychiatric-illness http://www.helpguide.org/articles/schizophrenia- should be taken with as much seriousness and signs-types-and-causes.htm compassion as medical diseases of the body such as cancer. Check out the facts about For help, contact Community Elements or one of schizophrenia and auditory hallucinations that our local clinics specializing in mental health follow. services. Early Warning Signs of Schizophrenia Social withdrawal Hostility Poor personal hygiene Expressionless gaze Inability to express joy Depression Inability to show joy Oversleeping/insomnia Irrational statements Forgetfulness, inability to concentrate Extreme reactions to criticism Strange word usage while speaking 2 UAEC Cares Parkland Seminar By Trevon Ayers September was Suicide Prevention month. The Class Act staff and yearbook staff want to On Wednesday, September 28th, be advocates for awareness, support, and Parkland College sent us one of their advisors, acceptance for our fellow students, friends, Ms. Mary Kay Smith, to speak with us about and family that may experience depression or registering for college at Parkland. She told us be at risk for suicide. The 24-hour crisis line about all the benefits of college and what they number is 217.359.4141. Help is available for can do for us when we enroll at Parkland. the asking. She talked with us about how to afford _____________________________________ college and about the different kinds of financial __ help available. Ms. Smith informed us about grants and scholarships which do not have to be repaid. So, it’s always worthwhile to search for grants and scholarships. She talked to us about the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which is the program that decides how much aid a student qualifies for. She reminded us to fill out the FAFSA application in October of the year before we plan to attend. Aid is given on a first come, first serve basis. Mary Kay Smith, Parkland College We heard about specific programs advisor gets students college Parkland has such as the CNA program and how dreaming. to get stackable credentials in the medical field by going on to LPN and RN programs after CNA. She gave advice about college careers for photography, business, and computers. Did you know that Parkland College has many ways to support student success like writing, math, and computer labs? They also offer assistance for students with learning disabilities. We learned this and much more. So, if you want to go to college but don't want to be rushed into a four-year college, go to Parkland. They have a lot to offer. 3 Thanksgiving News Please note the dates of UAEC’s Thanksgiving Break which will be How to Receive a November 21st -25th. During that week off from school we hope you Thanksgiving Basket will take the time to reflect on the things in your life for which you are thankful. Do you have good health? Be thankful! Do you have a family? Be thankful! Are you working to complete your high school education? Be thankful! Do you have a job? Be thankful! Do you Would a basket of have clean water to drink and safe food to eat? Be thankful! Do you Thanksgiving food have a roof over your head at night? Be thankful! So much of life help you and your revolves around the attitudes we choose for ourselves each and every day. Choose well. family to celebrate this traditional Thanksgiving Basket Drive 2016 American holiday? With the “Giving Season” just around the corner, we want to remind everyone that there are UAEC students and their families who are in All you need to do is need of a good Thanksgiving dinner. The Yearbook and Journalism sign up with Mrs. students are sponsoring a Thanksgiving Basket Drive in order to collect Anderson, our items for 10 complete meals (although we would welcome more). counselor, and If you are able, please bring any of the following items to one of the “donation stations” (marked boxes) located around UAEC: arrange a ride to UAEC on the Canned sweet potatoes Canned corn, beans or other vegetables morning of Friday, Boxes of dressing/stuffing November 18th to Boxes of macaroni and cheese receive your basket. Packets of gravy Cans of cranberry sauce The first 10 to sign Pie crust mixes up will have a Cans of pie filling Cake or brownie mixes Thanksgiving feast $10 gift cards for last minute items like milk and butter ready to cook. Money donations for turkey purchases * Please check the “count-down” poster in the front office to see how much of each item we still need.* The last day to donate items will be Friday, November 18th. Donations of turkeys and greens will be last-minute requests due to storage issues. Thank you for your kindness and support! 4 The Music Scene So, next time your friends invite you to a show, go with them! You’ll be supporting the By Clint Freeman music for future generations and you never know who will come up with that next lyric or beat that will change your life.