Academics

Welcome back to my blog series documenting the progress of my Odyssey project as a Year Two student in the program! As the first few months of school have flown by, I have once again immersed myself within research detailing the effects of physical activity on academic performance as well as both the physical and mental wellbeing of students. One scholarly article I studied, titled “Incorporating Physical Activities in Teaching Practice,” spotlights a significant research gap found within my project: the lack of empirical data on the integration of physical activity in teaching practices and its benefits within school curriculum. In the Australian study, over 70% of the participants reported using physical activities within their teaching practice, such as stretches and balancing games, to engage students making the learning process more enjoyable. Guided by this source, I intend to create a survey that asks students and faculty members of Sandia Prep to explore their views on the benefits of physical activity both within and outside of a school setting. The survey will also ask for recommendations on how our school can strive to form a curriculum that promotes health and wellness within the community. 

In addition to gathering research, I aim to consult professionals in the fields of nutrition, neurology, psychology, and physiology. As the year progresses, I plan to interview exercise physiologists, nutritionists, dietitians, sleep specialists, and other experts. As a second-year student in the Odyssey Scholars program, I also look forward to supporting and guiding the first-year students in their own endeavors and personal development as their projects evolve and expand. Although the year has been carefully planned and personalized, I expect to face challenges and setbacks, which I hope to overcome with the skills and assets that have passed down over the years. As Vince Lombardi once said, “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will.”

Over the course of my first month in Odyssey, I have learned the importance of research and organization, and how these factors play a vital role in my project. In class, I have focused on analyzing various articles and taking notes, thus allowing me to form the draft(s) of my continuously developing research question. I have been enjoying the daily group discussions that we tend to indulge in, and the aspect of independent yet guided learning. Sharing information with the class helps me to gain a greater understanding of not only my project, but the unique projects of my classmates as well. It almost feels as if this class is my family, which makes for a safe and comfortable environment. As I have collected pieces of information regarding the different types of exercise and appropriate nutrition for active teens, I am having trouble finding just one topic to focus on without venturing into another topic to study. This can sometimes lead to an inefficient study session that results in poor organization. I feel that I need to recognize the major concepts of my project first, so that I can begin instilling successful study habits and start seeing progress quicker.

So far, I can say that I have been thoroughly enjoying Odyssey! Interactions with my peers have allowed me to connect with them both on an academic and personal level. I am able to share similar experiences with those who are researching things that I too find very interesting. Odyssey is so different from my other classes as it allows me to primarily focus on topics that I seek to dive into and gain an extensive understanding of. This class helps me to realize what I hope to later pursue in my future, such as a career. Passion is what drives both me and my classmates to work hard and create a product that will later benefit our current and future generations to come. I believe that we all aspire to change the world in our own distinctive ways.

Throughout the month of September in Odyssey, I have focused my efforts on interpreting articles, taking detailed, comprehensive notes, and collecting further resources that will later aid in future topics that I hope to study. I have also been drafting questions for interviews that I hope to conduct in the upcoming weeks with various professionals in their fields of medicine. I truly feel that my place in the Odyssey program is beginning to develop and strengthen with every class period that passes by, unfolding before my very eyes. I feel welcome and relevant in an environment where curiosity and experimentation are highly encouraged. Daily updates also serve as an important aspect of the class as connection is vital to our very being and growth. 

One exceptional event that occurred this month was that of the Odyssey Welcome Reception, in which my fellow juniors (including myself) presented their projects in the form of an engaging, digestible pitch. This project provided a lengthy, new experience full of challenges and benefits that were presented along the way. I greatly enjoyed writing the speech as it allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the topics that I seek to research over the course of the given two years while allowing me to introduce myself through not only achievements but also through the passions and excitements of my selected field of study. The end product of the project resulted in a beautiful night of presentations coming from strong, purposeful students, followed by a plethora of warm smiles and joyous applause. As I was delivering my pitch, I felt, in that moment, truly invincible.

I would have to say that, yet again, September proved to be a successful month full of new opportunities and accomplishments, accompanied by strong connections gained from the students. I have a feeling that the upcoming months will only get better from here.

The month of October has been slow yet steady, consistent in a way. In class, I have been keeping myself occupied with writing interview questions, visiting multiple websites, and composing an in-depth annotated bibliography. In the next few weeks, I aim to interview the athletic trainer here at school, Cathy Walters, about her extended knowledge of injuries, nutrition tips, exercise benefits, whether they be physical or mental, and advice for young, beginning athletes. In the meantime, I hope to continue collecting reliable sources and research on the aforementioned topics that I listed.

One key event that I was able to participate in this month was Passport to Prep, an annual event led by the students and teachers of Sandia Prep in which classes are showcased throughout the campus in a variety of fun and interactive activities. I was fortunate enough to join three other scholars along with Ms. Jaramillo in the organization and planning of the booth and activities, which ranged from topics such as exercise and the human anatomy to literature and haikus, and perspectives through artwork. I found the event to be a blast as we had the opportunity to interact and spark an interest among new or current students at Prep. Not only were we gleaming with passion and enthusiasm, but so too was the entire school!

As of now, with the end of October creeping in, I have set a goal to learn the basic functions of the body, whether that may be through books and scholarly articles or through documentaries on Netflix and Amazon Prime. I plan to conduct the interview with Cathy Walters soon, and possibly shadow over her field of work for a day or two. I also hope to ask one of the seniors, Avery Kestner, about her website in order to determine a step-by-step process on how to build and grow my very own site. Although there is still much to do, I have no doubt in my mind that I will enjoy the process!

Although the past three months have yielded positive results, I would have to say that the month of November has been the most productive, or eye-opening. I have accomplished things that I deemed nearly impossible at the beginning of the school year with ease and confidence, and I look forward to the continuation of research and experience that is to come in the upcoming year(s). I hope to resume this progress in December, and build a portfolio containing the hard work I have put into this semester.

On November 8, I had the pleasure of meeting with Cathy Walters and conducting an interview with her regarding the topics of nutrition, sport’s physiology, and injury. The information that Mrs. Walter’s shared will be included in my final product, and provides me with knowledge that I will be able to use outside of the classroom as well. During the interview, I also observed that Mrs. Walter’s answered some of my questions with the same information that I had previously viewed on several websites, articles, and documentaries.

While the discussion with Mrs. Walter’s has proved to be effective, I do have to admit that recently I have visited a documentary that will forever change my view of the human, or rather the American diet. The documentary, titled The Magic Pill, dives deep into the healing that food brings to the human body, especially to those suffering from poor health or disease. The film focuses on several individuals and families who are suffering from varying medical problems. One female has severe asthma, another has breast cancer, another woman has diabetes, and a young boy and girl have autism. By removing the processed and packaged food that we tend to indulge in, and replacing it with a high-fat/low-carb diet, also known as the ketogenic diet, several of those aforementioned medical problems showed improvement, and were almost entirely solved. Many of the individuals experienced weight loss, mental clarity, and less pain which later translated to less pills or medication. Members of the Yolngu tribe, who are aboriginals of Australia, were also placed in a two-week retreat that allowed them to reconnect with their traditional ways of eating. This too bore numerous positive results, and as the documentary stated, out of the 11 diabetics there, all went off of insulin and five had fasting glucose numbers return completely back to normal. I feel that this documentary truly portrays the power of whole, pure food and the good that we can bring to those who truly need it.

As the month of December is slowly approaching, I must continue to work on my annotated bibliography and collect information that will allow me to better understand the human body in its entirety. I look forward to completing my community observation with Mrs. Walter’s, who has agreed to allow me shadow over her work for an afternoon. I also am excited to connect with other resources outside of school for future interviews and internships. Let’s finish out this semester strong!

Over the course of the five months in my Odyssey Scholar 1 class, I have transformed from an indecisive and hesitant student into a determined and committed student who cares for her studies and puts large amounts of effort into projects and assignments. I started my project with a set goal on studying the effects that exercise has on the mind and body in addition to the physical and mental effects of injuries on young, high school athletes and have since focused my efforts on studying the positive benefits of exercise on the development of the adolescent body, along with the connection found between academic performance and physical activity.  Next semester I plan to continue studying the psycho-social effects of physical activity on adolescents, and the possible advantages that may uproot by implementing physical activity into classroom lessons at a high school level. If my research supports this claim with substantial evidence, I may look into planning my own classroom lesson, and conducting an experiment among my fellow high school students. Researching common injuries in adolescent student-athletes will also be a goal of mine to complete as the new year arises.

Up to this point in the year, I have learned how to write a successful annotated bibliography and literature review, a task I deemed nearly impossible in my first few months of class. I have taught myself how to effectively read scholarly articles, and take detailed yet general notes that allow me to gain an understanding of the big picture at hand. I have educated myself on how to conduct a professional interview with an expert in their field, and I aim to utilize this gained knowledge to interview other professionals outside of a school setting in the later months to come. Overall, my experiences both inside and outside of the classroom have allowed me to improve the quality of my writing, enhance my public speaking skills, and strengthen my critical thinking and problem solving as I read through articles containing information on real world problems that are happening now as I write this blog. This semester proved to be very beneficial and effective in demonstrating what a college-level class might expect of students as I continue to look forward into the future. 

Most of the challenges that I faced this semester were formed in the first and last months of the class, or rather the beginning and the end. The struggles that I faced in the beginning of the school year was trying to form my research question and develop the basis to my project and to the product of my research and experimentation. The challenges that I struggled with this month were completing and polishing my portfolio which consisted of all the research and work I produced throughout the semester, proving to be quite a difficult task to accomplish with the presence of finals at hand. Next year I plan to start the second semester out strong by diving deep into research and collecting as many resources as I possibly can. My goal is to not procrastinate on any of the assignments, and to participate in an internship with a professional in the medical field in hopes of gaining an understanding of what I want to pursue as a lifelong career.

Furthermore, the challenges I was presented with led to solutions that I was able to form especially in the first and last months of the semester. One thing that I learned from Odyssey is that consistency is key, and that in order to succeed one must take it day by day, or in some cases minute by minute. Motivation will not always be present to guide me in my studies, but rather discipline will aid in my research when the days ahead lay gloomy and dark. Another thing I learned from this class is that my fellow peers will always stay at my side, and experience the same struggles and challenges that I face with certain projects and assignments. I must remember that I am not alone in these struggles, but rather united with other Odyssey students that I am fortunate enough to call my friends. This class not only allows me to gain a greater understanding of the research that I am conducting, but also of the person I am, and the values that I uphold to my name. I have proven to myself that I am a lot stronger and smarter than I could ever imagine.

Returning from a restful and well-needed winter break, I feel energized and prepared to tackle another semester distinguished by research, experimentation, and connection among my communities both in and outside of the classroom. My goal for this semester is to create a lesson plan that incorporates the use of physical activity into an otherwise academically-focused environment. My subjects of study are currently young adolescents or teenagers who partake in high-school level curriculum and/or high level sports. I aspire to create a comfortable, fun environment that encourages the use of physical activity on a daily basis, helping many to achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended 60 minutes of exercise per day. 

This month I have focused my attention on highlighting and annotating a scholarly article sourced from the National Library of Medicine, a great resource that has provided me with a plethora of informative, well-written articles. In this work titled “Physical Activity in High School Classrooms: A Promising Avenue for Future Research,” I have learned about the importance of complimenting physical activity with academic subjects, in addition to the research that scientists have made by incorporating these two environments within the classrooms of preschoolers and children. However it has been noted that although exercise positively affects the neurocognitive processing and psycho-emotional development of adolescents (in addition to children and adults), no effort has been made to replicate the methods and techniques that several teachers have adopted into a high school setting. Reasoning for this may include the numerous environmental, experiential, and systematic barriers that may interfere with this application. Examples of these barriers may include lack of space in the classroom, limited time, and lack of knowledge pertaining to educators who have expressed interest in implementing an active lesson into the classroom. Another obstacle may be the scheduling or formatting that different high schools provide to its students, in which every individual class is subject-specific and taught by a different teacher over the course of the school day. This tight schedule can oftentimes translate to limited time and less flexible educators who prioritize academics over everything, an understandable demand. Other limitations include the mixed results that these experiments produce, the lingering misconception that developmental changes do not occur throughout adolescence, and thus the idea that exercise is less relevant as you enter adulthood and into higher forms of education, such as college. 

Another notable activity I have participated in this month was a field trip to the libraries located on the spacious and adored campus of UNM. After receiving a tour of the Zimmerman Library from one of the professors, my peers and I had the freedom to explore not only the campus of the University, but also the beautifully-constructed libraries made available to all registered students. During this trip, I had the opportunity to access the innumerable books and resources that the Zimmerman and Centennial Libraries provide. After consulting with Ms. Jaramillo, I have also been granted the ability to purchase a library card, and visit the University at my disposal.

This month has been characterized by research and interactive field trips outside of campus that have opened my eyes to more topics that I can explore over the course of the program, and have exposed me to the “college life” that I am about to embark in. I hope to make this month memorable and special, and I plan to make a difference by the time my senior year ends, and my new adventure begins into the real world.

In the calm, collective month of February, I have shifted my attention onto the tasks of collecting sources, gathering ideas, and shifting my areas of study to more specific, specialized topics. As the second semester has reached its near midpoint, I have begun to feel the weight of responsibility resulting from my soon-to-be senior year, an exciting new chapter in my life and academics. With this in mind, I strive to make the approaching months structured, methodical, and lively!

Over the course of these five weeks, I have had the opportunity to participate in events such as UNM library visits, and have located and sourced websites supplying information about the importance of implementing physical activity into American society. In accordance with my research, providing America’s students with the freedom and resources to practice physical activity in a school setting allows for individuals to attain the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise issued by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of children ages six through seventeen, thus in turn influencing children and adolescents to continue their fitness journeys well into adult life. The truth is simple. Whether we enjoy it or not, physical activity can truly have an impact on the human body and mind, allowing us to better appreciate the wonders and capabilities of our bodies, perform daily tasks with efficacy, and enhance our memory, sleep, and ability to reduce the risks of depression and anxiety.

Apart from highlighting and annotating articles drawn from Google Scholar and other popular sources, I have transitioned the main focus of my project, once being the impact of exercise and injuries on America’s youth, to rather the methods and practices that American adolescents can instill into their daily routines in order to reach a healthy balance of schoolwork, regular exercise, and healthy sleeping and eating patterns. The main objective of my updated project proposal is to aid students in their struggles of achieving this equilibrium by providing them with the necessary tools and information needed to succeed in their academic, social, and emotional endeavors. In the approaching month of March, I seek to form a strong foundation of information and resources with the help of Ms. Jaramillo and the input of my fellow Odyssey scholars as the program progresses. Although this small shift in perspective may appear to be subtle, I have no doubt that it will produce groundbreaking results among the education systems instilled among schools across the country.

In the months of March and April, I have begun to collect resources that pertain to my newly introduced area of study: implementing physical activity into the classroom. Although there is little information online about the ways through which teachers can incorporate activities into their academic curriculum at a high school level, I still yearn to create a program at school that gives students the opportunity to break their sedentary habits found primarily within a school setting. These past two months have allowed me to brainstorm my fieldwork product: a proposal encompassing my ideas, research, and goals I plan to achieve by the end of my term at Sandia Prep. Now that I have the research and sources needed to form my proposal, I aim to spend the next three weeks writing, editing, and delivering my product to Ms. Mock, the ultimate decision maker of our school.

In the month of March, I identified articles that further explore the benefits of exercise on the minds and bodies of adolescents, in addition to how exercise in the classroom improves the social and academic performances of students. One program that I stumbled upon in my research is CSPAP, which stands for the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program. Created by SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Educators) America and supported by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), this program serves as a “multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all opportunities for students to be physically active, meet the nationally-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime.” CSPAP fosters values of staff involvement, physical education, family and community engagement, physical activity before and after school, and physical activity during school as well. By studying this program more, I plan to include its framework within my proposal to Ms. Mock.

In April, I scheduled a tour of UNM’s Exercise Physiology Labs with Dr. Flavio de Castro Magalhaes in which I was given the opportunity to view the different classrooms and labs where research is conducted. By meeting with Dr. Flavio first, and discussing the studies of his colleagues, I was able to learn about the ways through which exercise alone can lower blood sugar to levels on par with diabetes medications, provide an anti-inflammatory effect on individuals suffering from cancer cachexia, and produce chemicals, such as myokines, into the bloodstream that act as antidepressants when muscles contract. Touring UNM’s lab also allowed me to view the equipment and instruments that scientists use to conduct their experiments, and the labs where these experiments are performed. I also learned about the services these labs provide to the community, such as blood tests, exercise testing, metabolic analysis, body composition and physiological assessments.

In the final month of my journey as a Year 1 Scholar, I can justifiably say that I have become an entirely different person over the course of this school year. I have risen to the challenges that junior year has brought to my doorstep, and have learned how to overcome the difficulties presented with my project. In addition to navigating setbacks, I have also reaped many rewards and achievements resulting from the countless hours I have spent crafting research, writing monthly blogs, and organizing community observations. When asked to reflect on the progress I have made throughout the program and my key takeaways, I can simply state the lack of regret I have experienced, and the abundance of gratitude I feel toward the support and guidance I have received from Ms. Jaramillo and my fellow Odyssey peers. Without their surplus of advice and effective mentorship, I would not be able to stand where I am today.

Throughout the second semester, I have focused my attention on narrowing and revising my area of study within the program, beginning with a topic addressing how exercise and injuries affect the mind and body, and ending the school year by researching the effects of physical activity and healthy eating habits on the academic and psychosocial performance of students in the classroom. Although this shift in research has proven to be quite dramatic, I feel that it has altered the way through which I view the Odyssey program as a whole. Rather than feeling a sense of anxiety when entering the classroom due to the boundless information presented about sports injuries, like in the beginning of my project, I now feel empowered and eager to conduct research on studies that express the benefits of physical activity within a classroom setting, and the ways through which students can enhance their memory and attention span by merely incorporating a balanced breakfast within their morning routine. Despite the list of sources I have accumulated in my bibliography, one of the biggest challenges I faced in the latter half of the year was finding studies that demonstrated the benefits of incorporating physical activities and movements into a high-school curriculum. Because the majority of scholarly articles expressed the positive effects of movement within kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms, I was exposed to lesson plans and resources that contained material specific to young age groups. With this setback, I was able to learn that there has been little research conducted in the United States that uses adolescent participation within its instruction. By identifying this research gap, I can attempt to fill the metaphorical void by researching the practices of physical activity that surrounding countries have instilled within their school curriculum, and by conducting my very own research and experiment with participants of varying ages. I have taken the first step in planning the execution of an experiment by formulating a proposal to Ms. Mock of Sandia Prep, detailing the methods by which I hope to instill physical activity both within and beyond academic curriculum, and emphasizing the importance of practicing healthy eating habits at a young age. In my proposal, I also include the importance of administering health literacy to all grade levels and organizing class periods and/or workshops on specific dates that allow for students to come together and learn about the importance of maintaining a balanced life among academic, extracurricular, and social activities.

By facing several hardships throughout this semester, including academic burnout and reaching out to professionals outside of school, I have, in turn, achieved many of my goals by effectively narrowing my field of interest, participating in community observations and service, finding resources that will allow me to help students succeed and improve in their academic endeavors, and collecting an impressive portfolio consisting of varying scholarly sources. Creating a portfolio at the end of every semester has not only demonstrated my dedication to the program, but has also provided me with the confidence to approach other looming assignments with assurance and excitement. Not only has Odyssey given me the opportunity to fully explore my passion for exercise science and nutrition, but it has also taught me valuable life skills such as formatting and public speaking that will later translate into my college career. In my personal opinion, I truly wish that all schools, public and private alike, offered this program to its students as it embodies self-expression and individuality, with an emphasis on research and creativity.  In all sincerity, the Odyssey Program offered here at Prep has changed my life for the better.

As I begin to prepare for my senior year and final year in the Odyssey Program, I will continue to work toward completing my product, and executing the tasks set in my proposal to Ms. Mock in order to enhance the physical health and well-being of students as they pursue an academic career. I look forward to working with the incoming juniors that will be entering the program in the fall of 2024, and guiding them through their personal journeys and hardships as the year progresses. Although the dynamics of the classroom may feel awkward in the beginning stages of the year, I have no doubt in my mind that we will grow and develop together as a community. Surprisingly, we have accepted seven new students into the program, a large group in comparison to the four seniors (including myself) that applied in the winter of 2023. Now, with a class size of eleven students, I hope to encourage more individuals to join Odyssey as we leave the program. This process embodies “student turnover”, where individuals such as myself leave the classroom, and new students take our places within the class. 

As summer is approaching, I plan to continue my research throughout the long, hot, and fun months. In addition to conducting interviews with nutritionists and other professionals, I will be participating in an internship with Explora through the Bank of America, where I will work with directors and learn how to ultimately run and direct a non-profit organization. As part of the program, I also will be traveling to Washington D.C. for a Student Summit that invites all participants that have been selected for the program. I will speak at the event and board with students that possess similar qualities and characteristics. I intend to make this summer the most memorable, attain connections along the way, and enter my senior year feeling ready to invoke change within and beyond the classroom setting.