Decision Making: Emotion vs Reason

1. During teenage years, the brain is not yet fully developed. Myelin, a substance composed of lipids and proteins that insulates the nerve fibers, affects how our nerves perceive or surroundings to us. Teenage brains have less myelin in the frontal lobe than full grown adults. This lack of myelin affects how teenagers perceive situations, therefore affecting decision making.
2. The cerebellum is the section of the brain that controls motor skills and control as well as thinking skills. This is the part of the brain that changes most during teenage development; meaning that a person tends to be more mentally "uncoordinated" as a teenager than they will be as an adult. The more developed the cerebellum is, the more developed decision making becomes.
3. Although it has been thought that children must be taught the difference between right and wrong, studies are now showing otherwise. The NY Times conducted an experiment where babies watched different characters be either mean or kind to each other in different scenarios. After watching the scene, the baby would chose between the mean and nice character, almost always choosing the nice one. This shows that in the social lives of young children they are naturally attracted to kinder children, and tht babies are generlly born with their moral compasses pointing north.
4. When making a decision there are multiple ways to decide whether the benefits outweigh the cost. We foresee possible outcomes by comparing our own past decisions as well as decisions we've seen play out with others. These comparisons are important, but it is important to remember that each knew scenario is not exactly the same as the last; this is when our "gut feeling" tends to take over. For example, when I was making the decision to take IB Math HL I was rather conflicted. Although I had seen other upperclassmen struggle with it and I was advised against taking the course, I considered that I was different person than those who regretted their decision. I took the risk and although it hasn't been easy, I'm satisfied with my decision.

provided sources:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124119468
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/view/
http://www.nytimes.com/video/2010/05/04/magazine/1247467772000/can-babies-tell-right-from-wrong.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/magazine/09babies-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

other sources: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/what-is-ms/myelin/index.aspx

The 16th Man

Can sporting events have a significant impact on social policies?

“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.”

- Nelson Mandela

As one of my CAS activities, I was a part of the production of the drama Hush: An Interview with America. Drama, like sport, is a barrier breaker. A persons race is not a factor in their performing talent. No matter who a person is offstage, everyone is given an equal chance at auditions; people are able to come together by simply sharing a love of theatre. Drama is also groundbreaking in the sense of the content it can contain and the message of the performance.