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Jordan Stewart

Mrs. Van Schenck

Legal Research 1B

October 7, 2016

A. ABSTRACT

For my senior project I would like to differentiate stress and anxiety, discuss the

situations in which medication should be prescribed for anxiety, and publicize other ways to deal

with stress and anxiety for those who should not be on medication for it. My paper, Where the

line should be drawn, will focus on the portion dealing with over prescription while my project,

Its not about the little things will lean towards alternative solutions to dealing with stressors. I

decided to select this topic because I have general anxiety along with my father and sister;

however, unlike them I am not on medication for it. I feel that medication is sometimes

unnecessary because instead of learning to cope and deal with emotions you become dependent

on it, and I have often times seen those on anxiety medication blame their actions on their stress

versus learning to change them and not take out their emotions on others. When it comes to the

paper, one question I want to answer is, what are the differences between stress and anxiety. I

know stress is situational and pinpointed whereas anxiety has unknown causes, but I would like

to know mentally how each effect the body differently. Another question is, when does it become

necessary for medication to be prescribed for anxiety? Despite talking to many doctors about

anxiety, none have described to me the signs which demonstrate the need for a prescription
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versus those that are natural for everyone to have. Lastly I ask, what are other proven ways to

help relieve stress and anxiety that are practical to implement into a persons life? While I know

the basic solutions such as exercise and eating healthy, these are more drawn out and I feel

require big lifestyle changes to see effects. My goal is to find easier or quicker alternatives to

ease the mind. For the project I would like to host an event at Music in Motion Dance Studio. It

would be 3-4 hours long and have people come and go as they please. In each of the three studio

rooms I would like to have a different way to help cope with stress. As of now I plan to in one

room have a yoga session. In the back room I want to have various games taking place since

exercise is supposed to help with stress. In the small room I will have essential oils that are

supposed to help relieve stress, migraines, and assist with other issues as well. In this same room

I would also like to have information available differentiating stress and anxiety and the ways

they affect the body differently that I find when completing the paper portion. Also, I would like

to try and bring dogs into the studio if the owners allow it since petting them is supposed to help

alleviate stress. In addition to these, I would like to possibly include more stations and activities I

find when researching question three for my paper. To assist me with my project I would like to

ask for help from Ashley Whitlinger. She is one of my dance teachers, a yoga instructor, and

seller of the essential oils I hope to incorporate. Due to her being busy with these three things,

another job, and two small children, I have not asked her to be my consultant because I feel like

she will not be able to give the time needed for the task. Instead I have asked Mr. Winn to be my

consultant because I have seen the way he has helped other students in past with their senior

projects and feel assured he could provide any other help I may need considering he has taken

part in the process before. Fortunately, for my project I do not need many materials. I will need

yoga mats which I can borrow from the studio and fellow dancers, the essential oils for attendees
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of my project to test which I plan on buying, materials for the exercise activities which I own or

can borrow from friends who play sports, and lastly display materials which I plan to buy as

well.

B. LEARNING SKILLS

New skills that I will learn include the following:

Planning an event
How to use movie making software

Skills that will be enhanced through my project are as follows:

Time management
Analyzing
Communicator
Leadership
Persuasive techniques

C. MARKETING PLAN/FACILITIES/AUDIENCE

I want to target my event primarily to high school seniors. Since college applications

need to be completed, scholarship applications filled out, and the thought of being on our own

next year is lingering in the back of our minds, I feel that having a new proven way to help

manage stress is essential for getting through this next year emotionally. I would also like to

advertise to other grades as well because freshman are new to high school and probably have a

much higher workload than they did in middle school, and sophomores and juniors are stressed

trying to make higher grades to bring their GPA up since their time for college applications is

quickly approaching. I plan to advertise mainly through social media because those are the
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places I can reach the broadest range of my target audience. I will make flyers or a pamphlet

explaining the event briefly to draw in interest as well as create videos to post online. Since it is

so easy for information to be shared or retweeted through friends, I think this will be the most

effective way to grab the attention of those I would not normally encounter. This event will be

held at Music in Motion dance studio because I know they have been open to offering their

studio to projects and clubs in the past, I have danced there for seven years and know the staff

well which will help to ensure a spot there, and the studio has multiple rooms and an outdoor

area to the side I can use to accommodate all of the activities I will be providing.

D. PROJECT STEPS

Resources Prepare a layout of what the dance studio would look 6 hours

like during the day of my project including events and

details for each room. Take this plan to meet with

Lauren, head director of the studio, to discuss using

their facility and dates/ times that would work for both

of us for the event.

Find a yoga instructor who would be willing to

volunteer (or if paid discuss pricing) to teach a class at

the event.
Discuss with Shaye Arluk and Ashley Whitlinger about

having essential oils and information set up in the small

studio. Also, work out possible prices and materials

needed for this to take place.

Go to pet centers and work out having dogs being
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brought in for petting the day of the event.

Finding a friend or family member willing to take

pictures, videos, and interview attendees at the event.

Marketing Create a pamphlet/ flyer that can be scanned for posting 2 hours

on social media and to handout in school, at the dance

studio, and given to friends to pass on.

Preparing Creating the posters displaying the information of 7 hours

differences between stress and anxiety and their effects.

Making posters that explain the different essential oils,

and the health benefits they can offer in an artistic way.

Going through supplies at home and asking the studio/

friends for supplies for the yoga class and for the

physical activities.
Create a poster outlining the health benefits animals can

have when it comes to stress and anxiety.

Typing up quick surveys to give guests when they arrive

and leave to help measure the effectiveness of my

project.

Project Setting up the posters and activities at the studio the day 6 hours

of my event.
Holding the event.
Cleanup of the studio after the event.

Follow Up Emailing everyone who attended the event with a 3 hours

questionnaire to measure the application of what

attendants learned from the event.

Creating means to display the effect such as through

charts.
Create a video to give an accurate representation of the
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event activities to those not in attendance.

TOTAL 24 hours

E. PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

The main way in which I intend on documenting my project is through video. This video

will include segments from throughout the planning, creation, and implementation of my project.

It will also include photos from throughout the process and feedback received from those who

attend my event, depicting what they learned and what they found practical to implement into

their lifestyle. To further my documentation, I will include emails, a phone log, responses from

the surveys and emails I receive from attendees, the posters with information I gathered to

display at my event, receipts, and the flyer I create.

F. PROJECT JUSTIFICATION

This project is extremely meaningful to me because of the reactions I have had to anxiety.

Towards the end of sophomore year my arms and hands would randomly start to tingle, my

knuckles would turn blue, pain would shoot through my arms, and at times they would go limp. I

was put through an MRI, talked to various specialists, and finally a neurologist told me all of this

was caused by stress. It may not seem like such a big deal but when I could not hold my baby

sister for two months due to fear of dropping her, going to the nurse blotchy faced crying

because of the pain, and spilling drinks over my own lap was a wakeup call that a major change

needed to be made to manage this. The thought was thrown around for me to go on medications

yet I refused because I did not want to be dependent on a drug. Now, after a lot of pain and hard
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work, I can sense when I am getting stressed and about to have panic attacks. I do not

hyperventilate and pass out, and I have not had to leave class or work once since the end of my

sophomore year to clear my mind. The hardest part about this though is that i still feel a panic

bubbling up in me at times. I cannot pinpoint this feeling and doctors could not find the words to

explain it in terms I understand. Although many feel I should be on medication for my anxiety, I

handle stress much better than my sister or dad does, who have less extreme cases, and are on

medication. The point is that this project is a stretch for me because I want to understand how

everything works and what it means. I want to help those who become extremely stressed over

college this year to rely on themselves to get through it and not turn to a doctor for help. I will

push myself to not let this project stress me out despite the daunting aura surrounding it from

having to plan an event for the first time on my own. My goal is to grow as a communicator and

analyst to be objective and thorough starting from the research all the way to helping others

implement helpful strategies into their lives. I know that this project is suitable because I will use

what I learn way after my time in the academy is done and I know this topic has affected

everybody in some way.

G. PROJECT - PAPER CONNECTION

As stated previously in my proposal, one of my driving points is on the necessity of

anxiety medication. My paper will focus on the over prescription of stress and anxiety

medication and the effects it can have. This directly correlates to my project because less

medication would need to be prescribed if people had alternative ways to cope with their feelings

that feel effective and practical to them.

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H. ACADEMIC HONESTY

I understand that any academic dishonesty by me on any part of the project will result in failure

of the Senior Project and forfeiture of the Legal Studies Seal on my High School diploma.

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