Story Ideas 11/6/10

Idea #1

Topic: Depression

Story Idea: Experiences with depression. Why do students feel depressed? What do students do when they feel depressed and how this depression can lead to serious consequences (e.g. eating disorders)? Advice on depression.

Sources: Mr. Scott

Visual: Editorial cartoon on the "normal' student and the "depressed" student

Sidebar possibility: Statistics on the number of disorders caused by depression.

Idea #2

Topic: Smoking cigarettes

Story Idea: Smoking-negative. Why do students do it? Smoking cigarettes really damages a person's health. Do students feel pressured to smoke at times because because of peer influences. Why people should quit smoking, even if it's hard to quit.

Sources: School Nurse

Visual: Cartoon of the bad effects of smoking

Sidebar Possiblity: Statistics of lung cancer caused by smoking and other serious side effects of smoking.

Idea # 3

Topic: Illegal drugs

Story Idea: Why do people consume drugs? Although some drugs are less harmful than others, drugs, in my opinion, are useless. Some people "self-prescription" these drugs to escape their troubles, but are they really escaping anything? Or are they just postponing their duty to handle the situation?

Sources: Mr. Scott, and the school nurse.

Visual: ???

Sidebar possibility: Anonymous poll of students who have either consumed drugs, wanted to experiment, have not tried drugs, or have been pressured to consume drugs but has not. (not sure if this would work or would be valid but it's an idea)