Do You Really Need Drugs to Succeed ?

    

Studies have shown that there are drugs that can enhance some students’ academic performance. Recently, I have read an article called “Attention disorder or not, Pills to help in school” by Alan Schwarz that focuses on drugs that are used for different purposes, to treat disorders like ADD, ADHD, and using those same drugs for enhancement in academics.

           

In the article, Schwarz tells about the usage of a drug called Adderall and how it is used not only to treat ADD and ADHD, but also to help children in schools with poor academics. In the article it says, “We’ve decided as a society that it’s too expensive to change the kid’s environment, so we have to change the kid”. What the author is saying here is that when children are placed in the wrong environment, such as schools with poor academics, they tend to do wrong. But when children are placed in an environment with high standards they tend to work hard to meet those standards.

 

I think that it is wrong for doctors and physicians to prescribe Adderall to students who have a hard time focusing in schools with poor academics. That is not a fair way to have student advance to the next grade, or get out of the basic/below basic learning facilities. Nor is it a good way to see a student succeed. Adderall has some serious side effects that could harm one’s mind; therefore, it should only be taken when it is needed.

 

            This article makes me wonder how many parents put their children, who do not have ADD or ADHD on Adderall to increase their grades and enhance their academic records.

The second Presidential Debate ...

 

There has been much talk on the Presidential Election lately. I have recently read an article called "2nd Presidential Debate" about some of the questions that citizens of the United States have on who the next president will be and why. In this article there are many questions on the things that have been talked about during the second presidential debate which took place on October.17.2012 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. This debate was a town hall meeting, in which ordinary people asked the questions that the candidates answered.

Some of the questions were asked by undecided voters. There were a few questions that stood out to me, such as a question that was asked by a first time voter named Jeremy Epstein who had made an impressive point. He said, “Mr. President, Governor Romney, as a 20-year-old college student, all I hear from professors, neighbors and others is that when I graduate, I will have little chance to get employment. What can you say to reassure me, but more importantly my parents, that I will be able to sufficiently support myself after I graduate?” This question stood out to me because, he was really concerned about the employment options that await him once he graduates from college. He also made a point, he wanted to know which candidate would lead him to the better options.

                I watched the debate on October.17.2012. In my opinion, Romney was too aggressive and hostile during the debate. I feel as though he had too much to say in so little time, he kept cutting everyone off to get a point across. I think that President Obama did a good job in this debate because he had good articulation and clarity on his plans. I also think that Obama won because he got his facts right, and made it clear that he wouldn’t make a promise that he couldn’t at least try to keep.