Zariah On The Move

by Zariah Jones
​One of my favorite drinks is bubble tea with different flavors of chewy tapioca balls. For the past couple of years, I've loved this unique and fun beverage. I usually like to explore with choosing the flavors but my favorite is boba milk tea. The next time you're looking for something new to try with the family, I suggest getting bubble tea.

Have fun choosing your flavors!

Meet Aloria Prince by Amaya Marsh 

​September 2020
  1. ​Being a community leader, what advice would you give girls that have similar goals in the path of your accomplishments?Be kind, work hard, be humble, and know there’s always more to learn...
  2.  Do you remember the first thing you thought of when you were picked to be a member of Prairie View A&M “Black Fox” Marching Band”?I was very excited but knew it was time to get to work! 
  3. I plan to go to an HBCU (Historical Black College/University) like you. Being a graduate of an HBCU, what are the advantages? Going to Prairie View A&M was the best decision I’ve ever made! Regardless of what university/college/school you choose to attend, the experience is what you make it. I appreciate my HBCU not only for the excellent education, but for the community it provided and professors who have an understanding of the legacy that’s being carried. Also, companies and organizations often intentionally recruit from HBCUs.  
  4. How old were you when you participated in your first pageant? I was 15 when I first competed in a Miss Texas’ Outstanding Teen local pageant (Miss Teen Plano/Frisco). It wasn’t until the following year that I won Miss Fort Worth’s Outstanding Teen 2012 that allowed me to compete at the state competition.
  5. What was the most memorable pageant that you were a part of? My most memorable pageant was my first year competing at Miss Texas in 2017. This year was the most memorable for many reasons. 1) It had taken 5 attempts at local competitions to win a title to compete at the state level. 2) I worked to lose 80 pounds in preparation for the competition. 3) This year I won both fitness and interview awards as a first year competitor. 
  6. How do you balance having so many careers? (Teacher, Dallas Sidekicks Dancer, Author) Time management! It has definitely taken practice, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned that how I manage my time not only affects me, but others around me. How I spend my time preparing for work or practice can have a direct or indirect effect on my students or teammates. 
For this month's newsletter, I'm highlighting a professional career that helps people live a healthy lifestyle. 

Let's Meet
Occupational Therapist, 
Ms. Erica Greer

by Amaya Marsh 
August 2020
​1. What exactly is an Occupational Therapist? 
An Occupational Therapist focuses on helping people with physical disabilities regain independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) such as dressing, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and self-feeding.
​We like to say we help others reach a goal of “living life to the fullest”
2. What made you want to become an Occupational Therapist?
Growing up, I always had a thing for taking care of people. My mother is a Nurse Practitioner and made it a point to take my sister and I to places such as the Dallas Life Foundation to volunteer feeding the homeless and prepping toiletry bags. Something about being able to help people and make them feel better always made me feel better as a person. I was naturally drawn to the Occupational Therapy profession because it is an extremely versatile medical profession that focuses on regaining function with the basic necessities.
3. When you go accepted into your school what kept you motivated?
 I was ecstatic when I got accepted into the Occupational Therapy program at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, FL. Knowing the difference I would be able to make in the lives of others is what kept me motivated in school. Also found comfort in knowing that what God has planned for me, is for me! 
​4. Is it exhausting to your body helping others with their body all day long?
Not so much physically exhausting as mentally exhausting. Working in this profession, there are times when we encounter difficult stories that can be mentally exhausting. Seeing the progress made is what makes everything worthwhile!
​5. What are some of your favorite movements to keep yourself physically fit? I love combination movements that incorporate using the entire body. Planks, burpees, and squats into shoulder presses. Any movement that incorporates more than 1 muscle group at a time.

6. Do you use music and dance as part of your routine when working with kids? I love to use music when working with kids. It really helps set the mood for activities to come. Of course, fast music for strenuous tasks and slow music for cool downs.

7. What are your top 3 songs on your playlist? Alicia Keys- Girl on fire, Andra Day—Rise up and Bill Conti- Gonna Fly now (Rocky Theme song).

8. Can a person with a disability still become an Occupational Therapist? One of the best things about the Occupational Therapy profession is what is considered a “person first approach”. What this means is that we always see a person before their disability. Instead of saying “the autistic child” we say, “the child with autism”. We know people are not defined by their disability and that people are capable of doing anything they put their mind to. Therefore, if a person with a disability has a desire to be an Occupational Therapist, GO FOR IT!

9. What advice would you give to teens like myself that need encouragement to follow their dreams? If you can dream it, you can do it. I believe dreams are given to certain people for a reason. To go after! It all starts in your mind. Once you convince yourself that your goals are attainable, you have already mastered the hardest part.

10. If I wanted to become an Occupational Therapist, what would be the first thing I should learn? The art of caring for others across all walks of life. One of the most rewarding aspects of working in healthcare is encountering various races, religions, ages, and ethnicities and learning about other cultures and what makes them unique. In order to be successful in this profession, you must first be willing to treat everyone the same regardless of background.

5 Tips to Stay Active During This
Summer's Quarantine  July 2020

There are many ways to stay active during the quarantine this summer. Some of the best ways to stay active are:
  1. Bike riding around the neighborhood. It can work your leg muscles and keep you healthy at the same time. 
  2. Picking up a basketball, or any ball, to bounce it. You can practice your dribbling or shooting to keep you busy. 
  3. Water play or swimming. If you have a backyard with a pool or just a water sprinkler to run through is perfect! You can get your arms and legs pumping and have fun at the same time. 
  4. One thing I love to do is dance. Anyone can have fun doing this by putting on your favorite song, and get your body moving. There are some fun apps and videos that you can use on your phone that gets you dancing and having fun.
  5. Last but not least, after dinner, take a family walk. Taking a walk with your family can get you active and it can also be a great bonding experience for the whole family. 

Those were 5 tips to keep you active. I hope you enjoyed them. Stay safe and keep moving those bodies!
Zariah Jones - September 2020
​
Picolé Pops are creamy, gourmet popsicles that come in many fun flavors. Each popsicle can be customized with fun treats like nuts, sprinkles, chocolate, caramel, and so much more. I really enjoyed this venture with my mom. Try it for yourself and see if you like it. I'm sure you will!

 - Zariah
My Subscription Box Experience
by Zariah Jones August 2020
My Trip To The Asian Supermarket by Zariah Jones - July 2020

Hello, my name is Zariah and I love trying new things and going to new places! I love learning about new cultures. I love K-pop (Korean pop) and Korean dramas. I wanted to go to an Asian Supermarket to see what their food and snacks were all about. 

That is exactly what I did! It was fun to go and experience it. I just had to try some of the snacks and candy, like the Mochi ice cream. The mochi that I tried can have a sticky rice sugar coating on the outside and ice cream, paste, or other sweet treats on the inside. 

While there, I was really interested in all the seafood and meat products (see pictures below).

They had live fish, crawfish, and other seafood that you could buy. I saw octopus, fish bones, and other seafood that I had never seen or heard of before. This was a really cool adventure. I'm glad I got the chance to learn about another culture.

 I can’t wait for my next adventure!
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