Entry #6: Unhealthy Eating Habit

 Lately, I’ve been struggling with forgetting to eat, which, I know, sounds almost blasphemous—food is amazing, and I can’t blame anyone for thinking I’ve lost my mind! The main culprit, I believe, is that my partner is now across the world, and we used to indulge in some of the most delicious, meaty tacos together, paired with a tangy lemon and a large glass of icy, bubbly Coke. It wasn’t just a once-in-a-while treat—it was a frequent ritual that I enjoyed like a true food enthusiast. My appetite was like that of a small, famished Victorian child, but now, I’ve turned into someone who forgets to eat entirely.

The reason behind this forgetfulness is simple: I’ve been incredibly busy. The days fly by in a whirlwind, and I end up forgetting that food is the fuel my body needs to function properly. It’s like I’ve become so absorbed in everything else that I forget the basic truth—without food, I’ll literally wither away. It’s been tough to figure out how to remind myself to eat, as it feels easier to ignore my growling stomach than it does to acknowledge an alarm. But I finally came across an article titled “ 22 Mar Signs You Are Undereating + How To Fix,” which revealed some pretty eye-opening things about the consequences of not eating enough.

A few points really stood out to me: fatigue—since food equals fuel, without it, my body can’t run properly, and I’ve found myself feeling sluggish and exhausted, even when I haven’t done anything particularly draining; anxiety—because without glucose, my body is essentially running on empty, causing cortisol (the stress hormone) to rise, which then triggers anxiety and makes everything feel more overwhelming; and brain fog/sleep disturbances—since my blood sugar is erratic, my brain is constantly trying to adjust, leading to difficulty concentrating and even waking up at odd hours during the night, making it hard to get a restful night’s sleep.

So, what’s the solution to all of this? One simple fix is tracking my intake to ensure hitting all the essential food groups, like protein, healthy fats, and carbs. This will help with staying on top of my nutrition and make sure there is no chance on missing out on any important nutrients. Another approach to try is setting regular timers on a phone as reminders to stop whatever happening or doing and take a proper break to eat. By making food a priority again and treating it like a scheduled event. Food is essential and even though under eating isn’t well spoken on, that doesn’t mean to not try to look for articles on what to do.

Entry #5: Educational Divide

As a college student, I can’t help but be a little biased about the importance of education. So, when I read both Governor Doug Ducey’s article, “Ducey: Why Arizona needs more college grads”, and the “Earnings potential goes up a lot for Arizonans with college degrees. Here’s how much” article, I couldn’t help but have an opinion.

Ducey’s article features his Achieve60AZ initiative, which is a step in the right direction, aiming to increase the percentage of adults in Arizona with a college degree or career training to 60% by the year 2030. This long-term goal focuses on collaboration with educators, parents, and leaders to work toward improving education in the state. It makes logical sense that having a more educated population in Arizona could drive economic growth—more businesses, new ideas, and most importantly, progress. However, I can’t help but wonder how accessible this would truly be for all students, especially those from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds.

The second article shines a spotlight on the hard reality that higher education directly impacts earnings. It shows that Arizonans with bachelor’s degrees earn 67% more than high school graduates. The numbers are drastic and suggest that higher education equals financial success. As someone navigating how much I have to pay just for school—not including books or supplies—I constantly feel torn between the promise of future financial gain and the pressure of affording education now. It feels like a privilege, not a right. While the future may seem brighter with a degree, the cost of climbing that ladder can be steep. This growing economic divide between those who have financial support and those who don’t is something we don’t talk about enough.

In my opinion, while Ducey’s goal of improving education is admirable, we can’t have tunnel vision. We really need to examine how many students can’t even access higher education in the first place. Many students take out loans, and some continue paying them off for YEARS—it’s terrifying. We need to ask ourselves: Should education only be for those who can afford it, or should it be a universal opportunity? I believe if Arizona wants to see long-term benefits from a more educated population, we have to create opportunities for EVERYONE. We can’t ignore the real human impact of the educational divide. Families and individuals work hard just to give themselves or their children a shot at a successful future.

Logically, the data shows that higher education increases earning potential, which absolutely benefits the economy. However, if the goal is to push for more education, it must be attainable for all students—not just those who already have the financial means. Make education more affordable, and make it easily accessible.