Go Grab The 22

Kendall McClintock 

When I was a little girl, I begged my parents to get goats. I made a PowerPoint and explained why it would be the best choice for us. I did not convince them, though many years later we would get them, and it would be the start to our ranch. The ranch would grow, and soon adapt into a farm as well, something my dad had always dreamed of. Working on a farm and ranch is not as simple as many people believe. There are a million different jobs, and different things that must be done. I have seen myself working as a veterinarian, a maid, an uber driver and a hunter. The work that comes from all these jobs sum up the wonderful, crazy, and hard job of working. 

When I was a kid begging to get goats, I never would have thought I would be giving shots, helping give birth, or castrating a boy. The day I realized having goats was not for the faint of heart was when I had to help a goat give birth, all by myself. I was home alone, and I knew the goats were getting close to kidding. I assumed that it would be okay and that I would not need to worry. When I went down to check on the goat, her name is Skittles, I noticed she was acting strange, getting up and down over and over, and she kept bleating quiet loudly. I went back up to the house and called my mom. I explained what was happening and was told she was kidding. I freaked out I had no idea how to help or what to do, but I knew I could not leave her alone. 

I stood there with a towel as the first baby came out, I wiped my nose so it could breathe and brought the baby up to its mother's face. She cleans it off and I wait to see if another kid was to be born. To my surprise another two pop out with me repeating the same process as before. The birth is mostly over now, so I moved the goat into a more shaded area. This is important as it was incredibly hot that day. I leave her alone as I do not want to stress her out and come back in around 15 minutes. When I returned a fourth baby is now on the ground that looks nothing like its siblings. At first, I assumed it was the afterbirth, but as I got closer it was a tiny baby. I rush to grab a towel to wipe its face and calm down a little.
After this moment of dealing with bloody and sticky goat births my viewpoint on animals shifts. I realize the “miracle of birth” is a little bit less of a miracle and a lot more of a hot mess. It is good that I am not a veterinarian, and I do not have to deal with this daily, but I am not a stranger to cleaning up messes. 

The messes that occur in our shop are quite different to the ones the goats leave. This is where the role of maid comes in. Every week there is a new vehicle in our Quonset. The vehicle may be a car, a tractor, or a combine. There are so many unusual parts to these vehicles all of which need to be cleaned when taken apart. This past summer for example my dad and I pulled apart the entire engine of a tractor. We had to clean the cylinders, the gaskets, and the bearings. As a farm hand it has always been my job. Hours and hours were spent every day of the summer getting everything cleaned up and put back together. I probably made a good 1000 dollars on this job alone. When something needs cleaning the easiest thing to do is grab engine starting fluid and the best towels in the world, blue ones. Then you spray and spray until all the grease, dirt, and debris is washed away. This may take a few minutes or a few hours. Then after all that the real clean up begins. Sweeping up the dirt and throwing away all the towels. Everything must be spotless. When everything gets put back together a new job begins.

The next job is an Uber driver. Which is the easiest job on the farm, but the one that takes the longest? When moving from field to field you must have somebody leading you. This means having a vehicle in front of the combine or tractor to make sure that other people on the road are safe. I have always been the best driver of the children in my family and lead better than anyone, says my father. This is why when we must move, I am the one who hops in the pickup and keeps everyone safe. This is a boring job, but also important as it keeps the other drivers from hitting the farm machinery. The closest call I had was when I was sitting on top of a hill, where no one was coming from the other direction. My dad was behind me in a combine, and I was looking back at him. All of a sudden, I heard a cars horn and saw a semi-truck right in front of me. I quickly pulled the car into reverse and got out of the way just in time. I also give my family rides quite frequently to and from the fields as well as parts stores, and different states to pick something up. One of the strangest jobs that I have ever done was being a hunter. You may be thinking of hunting deer, birds, or something else that is commonly hunted within our area. However, I have found myself hunting down two dogs that came onto our property. 

This all started when I came home from school one day and found two dogs walking around our property. One was a Great Pyrenees and the other a husky. They were friendly and allowed me to pet them, so I brushed them being there off. I then made my way down to our goat pens like I did every day after school, but something was off. The male goats all seemed frightened, and I noticed one laying on the ground. As I got closer, I noticed the goat was dead, but not from any injuries. Tears streamed down my face as I investigated further. I walked around the pen and noticed dog and goat prints circling it repeatedly. I knew immediately what had happened. 

I yelled for my dad, and he investigated what had happened with me. His expression was pure anger as this was a well-liked goat on our property. We ran inside and grabbed a 22-caliber rifle. We got into a vehicle and chased after the now running dogs. They went into a field, and we got out with the weapon. My dad lined up the gun and aimed it first at the husky. The dog went down and the other just kept running. At this point we drive a ways down the road in the hopes of intercepting him on the other side of the field. 

When we get there, we set up and wait. This is when we hear a vehicle come behind us and a woman get out. She pulls up a picture of two dogs and asks us if we can see them. My dad does,” Yeah we are hunting them right now.” If you could see the look on this woman's face as she realized that. We then see down the road the dog comes running over. The woman begs us not to shoot him and we agree sparingly. We inform her about the other dog, and it seems as if she does not care. She asks us to dispose of the body, not caring if it gets buried or not. This is when the reality of what we did hits me. Yes, the dog killed our goat, but it seems like this was the dogs escape from a home where he was not wanted. 

I am a farmer and a rancher I have worked for several years now and have experienced some crazy things. My jobs are peculiar, and the ones described do not even explain everything. I have seen myself working as a veterinarian, a maid, an Uber driver and a hunter. These things all describe the first job I ever had, getting to work with my family and accomplishing something great.

Meeting of Appeasement for Incredible Asset

 

Leandra Chapman

Why does it feel like the Sierra Desert inside the pharmacy? I know my chest is full of red splotches working their way up my neck. I can tell my ears are redder than a stop sign because they have that rush of warmth that you get when you are standing in front of a campfire, and your jackass brother throws lighter fluid on it to make it ginormous.

Denise was starring at me for who knows how long before I noticed. “Leandra” she said, “why are your ears so red?”

I let out a sigh and explain for the thousandth time, “Being so white, I get this red when I am nervous.”

In two minutes, I would have to be walking back to that Frigid cold lifeless office in the back of Walmart to get on a zoom meeting with the market and regional manager. I have already prepped for this meeting and gathered all the numbers I needed to give it one last fight. I tried to hide the red splotches that now resembled a rash with a face full of make up plastered on and I even wore my hair down in attempts to hide those fire engine red ears. For all the manager positions I have been in you would think that I would not get nervous with public speaking. It is not like I am afraid to speak my mind, even to upper management, I just get like that shy girl in the back of the class when called on to answer a question that she should know.

I look at Denise, “I’m leaving to go back to Dan’s office for the Zoom call.”

“Good luck!” she says sarcastically.

“I’m not trying to be pessimistic, but I doubt it’ll get me anywhere, Home-office doesn’t give two shits about us at the store level.”

I leave the pharmacy and start walking the maze through customers who are aimlessly browsing the latest crockpot and that new Cirkul cup in the middle of the aisle, having lengthy conversations with those neighbors that they never seem to see until they are in Walmart. I think to myself, ugh, I don’t understand why people must stop and socialize in the middle of the aisle blocking traffic. I still think they need stop lights for traffic control.

I finally make it to Store Manager Dan’s office, you will always find him in here with the door closed, rumor has it he is watches movies, unless higher ups are in the store. I let out a sigh and knock on his door.

“Hey, you ready for your call with Julia and John?”

“As ready as I am going to be.” I say with a fake ass smile. God I am outstanding at faking customer service unconsciously turning it on and off like a light switch that it has become sickening at the thought.

“Good, you can have my office while I go to lunch. Thanks for the excuse to take a long lunch.” Dan said as he left. All I could think was like you really needed an excuse, you always hide in your office anyway.

As I got my iPad ready for the Zoom meeting, I pull up my typed-up speech on Dan’s computer so I could reference it, and I wouldn’t miss my highlighted points I wanted to say. I think back to 6 weeks ago when Julia came in all peppy for a normal round robin visit that happens every 6 weeks give or take to all the stores in the market. Wearing light blue mom jeans, as always, a plain white shirt, with her Walmart lanyard with her “school” ID attached. She was packing her laptop and iPhone up in her black Mickey Mouse backpack to head on to the next store and she asked the same question she always does.

“Is there anything I can do for you before I head out?”

As always, I jokingly say, “Increase in pay with a pay cap increase would be great!”

For some reason this specific day Julia was not having it, she snapped back, “Leandra, you know I have no control over that, you need to stop bringing it up!”

At first, I was appalled that she even snapped at me. Then I was fucking pissed that what I considered important was brushed off like who gives a shit. Chrissy had looked at me giving me that don’t you dare say something that’ll get you fired look. Chrissy and I are both that alpha type personality, but we differ and compliment each other where she lacks confrontation and I do not, I’m sure this would be why we manage our pharmacy so well.

“If no one has anything I’ll be on my way, don’t hesitate to email if you need anything.” Julia said, as she turned the handle to walk out of the pharmacy.

I looked at Chrissy and as soon as Julia was out of ear shot, I said, “Are you fucking kidding me, why the hell do I want to stay working for this shitty company that doesn’t care about their long-term loyal associates? What kind of a dick company does a pay reevaluation and actually takes money away? Three years ago, they cut the pay cap by five freaking dollars. You can make more at McDonald’s flipping burgers! I’ll never see a pay increase again and this bullshit lump sum doesn’t make up for the pay I would have seen if I would get a yearly raise.”

Chrissy just stared at me not knowing what to say for the first time ever. “Please don’t leave Leandra?”

I snap back to reality as the familiar ping from Zoom announces the host Julia has joined. Then one more ping announces that last attendee.

John with his flamboyant southern draw said, “Hey ya’ll, Sorry I’m drivin to the next store. Julia is going to take notes so I can get with my boss Becky.” His short string bean appearance still does not match what I have pictured in my head from earlier phone calls.

I quickly sent the email that I drafted for Julia and John with my supporting data and the four letters of recommendation I procured from Chrissy our Pharmacy manager, Liz my staff pharmacist, Patrick my manger from when I open, ran, and became number one in the company for OGP, and last but not least Dan our store manger. I was praying that this meeting would get me some where and maybe open their eyes on why they should reconsider the pay not just for me but for my technicians.

The frigid room was suddenly feeling warmer than a Texas summer, sweat was dripping down my back when I said, “Thank you for having this meeting with me. Julia as you know the hot topic is always about pay, and I am coming to you both in this meeting to show you facts and data on why pay for Pharmacy techs needs to be reconsidered. You may not know this, but I haven’t received a raise since October of 2021, and each lump sum I’ve got since then is not equal to 2 percent.”

Julia stops writing her notes and look ups, “I’ve heard talks of technicians saying it wasn’t 2% but no one has showed me numbers and I haven’t taken the time to look into it.”

“I just sent you both an email and in there I have included not only my pay but in comparison my husband who has been getting Walmart's lump sum 2 percent payout for maxed associates.”

I continue to talk about the few points I wanted to highlight. Julia just kept making notes looking like a high school kid not seeming to pay attention while John would occasionally look at the screen and nod. I finished saying my peace and thanked them for their time.

Julia looked up from her notebook, “Leandra I know I speak for both John and I, you are an incredible asset to the company, and we do really appreciate you. If we can get a meeting set up with home office, I think it would be good for them to hear from you as a store associate viewpoint, would you be willing to do something like that?”

I instantly had a wave of nausea hit me at the thought of talking to them. “Yes, I would be willing to.” I can’t believe that came out of my mouth with out a thought.

The screen goes black, and I finally take a deep breath. Have I been holding my breathe this whole time? Despite Julia saying that I’m an asset I know that this meeting was just set up to appease me. I make my way back through the maze knowing that I have said my peace and can confidently continue with my choice and not look back.

Hurdlers Hurdle

 
 

Photo courtesy of Kendyl Flaming

Kendyl Flaming

I step up to the starting line. I glance down at the finish line trying to ignore the daunting 10 hurdles that stand in my way. My head spins with all the different scenarios that could happen during this race. I glance over at the girl next to me. She also runs a fast time. I am going to have to run a smooth race to beat her.  

I imagine myself hitting a hurdle, falling in front of everyone. I think how embarrassing this would be which just increases my nerves. I try to shake off these thoughts as my heart begins to pound in my chest and out through my ears. My hands start to get clammy so I try to dry them off on my spandex, but it doesn’t do much. I take an unsteady breath to calm my nerves. I stare down at the finish line and begin going through my routine in my head. “Out hard and fast. 8 steps to the first hurdler. Out 5 hard, steps 6, 7, 8 are fast. On the balls of my feet. Attack. Quick trail leg. Punch and chop.”

The judges blow the whistle. They are ready at the finish line. The gunman raises the gun. “On your marks.” I step in front of the blocks. I do my routine and get down into the blocks. I can feel the roughness of the track cutting into my knees. The slight breeze blows my hair in front of my face. I spread my arms out wide and place my fingers as close to the line as they will go.

I lean forward over my shoulders feeling the weight of my body in my fingers. My fingers begin to cramp but I know it will only last for a few seconds. “Get set.” I come up into my starting position. I hold my breath waiting for the gun to go off. Bang, and we are off.

Over the first hurdle all 8 of us were in line. I focused on my technique and getting my feet back down on the track as quickly as possible. Slowly I could feel myself itching ahead of the competition and by the 8th hurdle I had easily taken the lead. I only had two hurdles left. I had gained enough space to ensure my win, but then something happened. I miscalculated my steps to the last hurdle. I became careless due to my lead causing me to catch my toe on the front of the hurdle.

My whole body came to a halt and went crashing into the track. I lay there as I can feel the cool blood dripping off my arms and the sting in my palms. I could hear the whole crowd sigh in disbelief as my competitors fly past me to the finish line. I mean I couldn’t believe it either. Never in my life had I fallen during a race. Regardless, I force myself up off the ground and walk my way across the finish line where my opponents are waiting. They all began checking up on me, but I wasn’t listening.

My brain began swirling with so many possibilities of what I could’ve done differently. One misstep lost me the winning of the race and what could’ve been a huge personal record and the school record. I was angry with myself, but all I could do was pick myself up off the ground and go back to training so that it wouldn’t happen again.

Hurdling is not just like any other race in track and field and is something that not just anyone can be good at. True hurdlers are shaped around a culture of resiliency. They are constantly beat down both physically and mentally but regardless they have a want to keep competing. Hurdling is more than just a normal sprinting race. It causes extra adrenaline and excitement for competitors and fans because of the danger of the sport, it rewards athletes that are very technical, and involves more intellectual problem solving than regular race running. Hurdling is a skill that needs a different kind of mindset than other races in track & field.

    Hurdlers are shaped around a culture of resiliency. The truth is, all good hurdlers fall. I mean they are running at full speed towards barriers that sit at least a lofty 33 inches at the bare minimum. It is inevitable that every hurdler will fall at one point or another, but it is how they respond that sets great hurdlers apart from the rest. Great hurdlers are tough. They don’t let falls define them, they let it be a lesson so they are even better in the next race. Let's take the story of the three-time Olympian Lolo Jones. Leading up to the 2008 Olympics, Dodd (2021) describes Lolo Jones as being at the top of her game. She was favored to win gold that year and the fans were eager to see it happen. Lolo Jones stepped up to the line and when the gun went off everything was going smoothly. Lolo Jones said, “Everything was clicking perfectly. By the fifth hurdle I had taken the lead… But then I miscalculated. I snapped my lead leg down too quickly and hit the ninth hurdle” (Dodd, 2021, p. 53). For Lolo Jones this had to be the most devastating thing to happen to her. She was in the finals of the Olympic championship, picked to win, but one misstep cost her the gold medal. Situations like this happen constantly when you are a hurdler and it is all just part of the race. Regardless of all the hurt and why she was feeling after she fell, Lolo Jones picked herself up off the ground and went back to training. According to Miller (2012), Lolo believed that without the adversity she wouldn’t have made it as far as she had. She was grateful for the adversity in her life and she knew that it just made her stronger. She overcame her biggest failure and began to look to the next Olympics. Many hurdlers go through something that is similar to what Lolo did, and some are even more severe.

Let’s take the Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang who was also picked as one of the favorites to win the Olympics that year. According to Jiang (2012), Xiang sat on the track after pulling his Achilles tendon while taking off over the first hurdle before hobbling to the end of the race where he was wheeled off the track in a wheelchair. All Xiang had to say following the race was “This is the reality” (Jiang, 2012). Liu Xiang is exactly right. As a hurdler you have to face the reality that in order to be great you have to face the danger that this sport brings. You can’t be afraid of it or shy away for it. Fennessy (2012) says, “A hurdles race is all about rhythm. Three steps-attack, three steps-attack.” Although this is partially true, what truly makes a hurdler great is the heart and determination they are shaped around. Hurdlers are shaped around a culture of resiliency that faces challenges head on. They pick themselves up off the ground no matter the amount of struggles they go through. Hurdlers seek greatness in one of the most dangerous events in track & field, but they don’t shy away from it. Hurdlers love the excitement the event brings them and aren’t worried about the danger that comes with it. If they were, they would simply just run an open event like the 400m dash or the mile run, but what fun would that be.

In my time of being a hurdler, I have also competed in the open 100m dash. Due to this, I have to run my races back-to-back. Following the hurdles, I jog my way back to the starting line waiting for my heat to be called. As the seven other runners and I stand there waiting for our turn to run, the girl in the lane next to me turns and looks at me noticing that I am out of breath. She looked at me in awe and says, “OMG did you just run the hurdles? Girl you are crazy. That is so dangerous. You realize you could get hurt so easily. I would definitely fall. There is no way I could ever do it.” This type of comment is not unusual for me to hear and I hear something like this at almost every meet. In all honesty, I can’t deny the things that these people worry. Hurdling can be a very dangerous sport. Many hurdlers fall constantly, cutting up their limbs and leaving not only their bodies bruised but also their mental state. Not even to mention the great toll all of the training does on hurdlers' bodies. It is also sometimes considered reckless.

Some falls are even so serious that the athlete is unable to walk off the track under their own will. Let’s take the Spanish hurdler Enrique Llopis who suffered a serious fall in the European Indoor Championships. According to Bengel (2023), Llopis was removed from the track on a stretcher after he hit the last hurdler and fell awkwardly to the ground. Following this event Llopis posted a video on social media commenting on the fall. One of the first things he said is “Now it’s time to recover” (Bengel, 2023) He could have ended his career right then, but like many great hurdlers he had already accepted that falling is inevitable and that it is just part of the race he loves. I mean I get it. Who is crazy enough to run full speed towards a barrier that is waist high with what looks like no fear? Noden (2001) describes the hurdles as daunting and still imposing like they were the first day of track practice. I can account for this statement. I feel the same way when staring down the hurdles before the race. I always think to myself, “They really aren’t that tall,” but in reality, they are just an obstacle waiting to happen. Hurdling can cause broken ankles, scratched up limbs, torn hip flexors, strained backs, neck injures if you fall the wrong way, and lifelong effects on your body. Although these are all true, the risk, danger, adrenaline, and fierceness that comes from hurdling creates a drive that makes hurdling so enjoyable for its competitors.

The great hurdler Lolo Jones is one of the greatest examples of continuing to hurdle even through all the long-term tolls it brought to her body. According to Epstein (2012), following Lolo Jones' fall in the 2008 Olympics, she was diagnosed with a tethered spinal cord. She had this injury since her early childhood, but hurdling had made it so severe that she had to get surgery. Jones knew that surgery was a gamble, but like all great hurdlers she knew she couldn’t imagine not returning to the track. She should’ve stopped hurdling right then and there, but Lolo has a heart of a hurdler. She needed that surgery not to make her body feel better, but so that she could hurdle once again. As a hurdler, I understand that hurdling can be dangerous, but good hurdlers are willing to take that risk because of the love they have for their sport. For a lot of us, the risk factor is what makes hurdling so enjoyable. You can’t play it safe when hurdling. You must take a risk and sometimes that will cause you to fall, but the joy you feel after perfectly grazing over the hurdles, running neck and neck with your opponent, and finishing just a step-in front of them will forever outweigh all the falls and hardships you endured to get to that point.

Many people are afraid to begin hurdling because of the risk it can bring to them, but this is something I encourage young potential hurdlers to not shy away from. When first starting hurdles, the hurdles are set at only 30 inches which is short enough for most people to easily step over. Due to this you are also able to clear the hurdle substantially without the fear of hitting it. This reduces the risk for young hurdles because they are less likely to hit the hurdle and cause a serious fall. Young hurdlers also take more steps in between the hurdles which allows for them to not be moving towards the hurdlers at as high of a speed. This creates a safer way for young hurdlers to master the event before they have to worry about getting super close to the hurdle and running at it full speed. The race may seem scary as someone starting out, but you are able to take extra precautions to ensure your safety until you are more comfortable with what the race feels like. Once you do it a few times, you will see yourself becoming more comfortable and wanting to take more risks. All beginners start out slow and eventually learn to love the fear having obstacles in their way brings to their race.

Hurdling for me causes the most intense adrenaline rush imaginable. There is something about running towards a barrier that you know could very well cause you to fall that sends excitement rushing through your veins. Wang (2018) says it best when he says, “I am blood and breath and heart and feet” (p. 41) This is how he describes himself when he runs the hurdles. I feel this way when I too get ready for my hurdle race. When I get into the blocks for my hurdle race, it is much like my sprinting race but my senses are elevated times 10. You still feel the adrenaline in other races, but they are never as intense as I have felt getting ready for the hurdle race. Helfen (2008) describes her experience before the race as having an overwhelming desire to win and her excitement as making her twitch while waiting for the gun to be fired. I feel much like this when getting ready to run my hurdle race. My nerves set in and I must block out all the distraction of people chatting and bustling around me. I get so worked up before the race because of all the extra adrenaline the risk factor of the race brings to me. Along with this, my nerves bring me determination. I love the statement Jeshua Anderson makes when he says, “It’s a man’s race. I love the challenge in it” (Crumpacker, 2010) This is the truth for most hurdlers. The challenge the race brings is what sets it apart from just normal race running. I am able to stare down at the finish line and imagine my steps over all 10 hurdles. You learn to enter the zone fearlessly. According to McGill (2012), fears are what hold us back. In a sense I agree with him, but I think fears can also fuel us to become better, especially in hurdlers. Fear can cause you to perform poorly if you let it consume you. If you let yourself think too much about the hurdles in front of you and how you can fall, your body will begin to slow you down without you even realizing it (McGill, 2012). You have to take every chance you have to lessen your time which means you can’t hold yourself back. If you use it to your advantage, fear can fuel your fire. Fear, especially in the hurdlers, can give you that extra surge of adrenaline that helps you to complete a race. Hurdlers have the willingness to not let their fears hold them back and instead let the rush it gives them take over. Fear can be a bad thing, but in hurdlers I believe that fear is what motivates and brings excitement to the race. Other races bring adrenaline to the body, but nothing can top the adrenaline you feel when there are 10 daunting barriers standing in your way.

The fear factor also brings excitement for the fans watching the race. Watching hurdle races is exciting because in good races there is never a clear winner until the last hurdle or when the athletes are leaning over the line. It brings excitement for the crowd, watching all the hurdlers run in sync, wondering who is going to win and if their favorite competitor is going to make it to the finish line without nicking a hurdle. One of my friend’s moms once told me “The hurdle race is always my favorite event to watch even though my daughter doesn’t run it. There is something about the race that gets your heart pounding and puts you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see who is going to make it to the end of the race.” What can I say, there is something that makes people crave situations where the end result is unknown.

Although other races also take a lot of hard work and determination, what sets hurdling apart from other races is the extra intellectual problem solving it takes to be a hurdler. According to McGill (2013), “Hurdlers are a different breed. We’re weird in our own way.” Hurdlers are often considered to be sprinters because that is part of the hurdle race, but they are different in the way they think through their race. Hurdlers tend to constantly live in their head. According to McGill (2013), we think and analyze every situation when it comes to hurdling. We think about how we can improve our time by just a split second or what we are going to do to make sure we don’t nick the hurdle. We analyze how other hurdlers run, how fast their feet hit the ground when going over the hurdle, and all the little things that we can do to make ourselves better hurdlers. For me, my dad records every single hurdle race that I run. Following my race, I sit down with my coach and we go through and break down every single step of my race. We put it in slow motion, watching where my foot takes off and where it lands, how close I am to the hurdle, how fast my trail leg makes it back to sprinting mechanics, what my arms look like when going over the hurdle, and so many other little details. We spend time analyzing each part of my race, because in hurdling it is the small things that are going to increase my time by milliseconds which is what all good hurdlers strive to do. Analyzing your own races is a big part of becoming a better hurdler, but it isn’t the only part.

Another big part of become a better hurdler is watching other hurdlers. During practice my coach videos every drill that I do and we compare it to how others do it. We watch videos of other hurdlers to see what they do differently that could help improve my hurdle race. I point out what I do well and am able to visualize what is working for others and how it could also help me. When trying to improve a certain aspect of my race, my coach has me watch Olympic hurdlers who are known for doing exceptionally well at that skill during their races. For example, just a few weeks ago I was struggling with completely surging into the hurdle without slowing myself down. My coach had me watch videos of USA hurdler Kendra Harrison because this is something she does exceptionally well. I was then able to visualize how she looks when going into the hurdle and transfer it into my hurdle race. Hurdlers become good by watching themselves and others hurdle. As a hurdler, we can’t just go out and run like sprinters do. It takes more than just speed. We have to put in the time and effort to become technical in our race, which is what makes constant thinking, but not overthinking a must when wanting to become a successful hurdler.

Hurdling is a sport that I believe doesn’t receive enough credit. Many people lump it in with other running events like sprinting the 100-meter dash. Although some of the aspects of hurdling do come from sprinting, it takes far more hard work and dedication to be a hurdler than to merely just sprint. Hurdlers are constantly living in their head and analyzing hurdle races whether it be someone else’s or their own. Hurdlers are resilient. 400m hurdler Olympic and world champion Sydney Mclaughlin (2021) said in her Instagram post following her qualification for the USA team, “Weeks like these are some of the hardest in a track athletes’ life. The mental strain of preparing for the rounds in order to solidify your sport is heavy enough.” Hurdlers have built the culture that nothing is going to stand in their way and that they will overcome any challenge that comes their way. Just like me all great hurdlers fall. My body as well as my ego were bruised that day, but I didn’t let that race define my career. I picked myself up off the track and went to the next race where I was able to crush my schools 100m hurdle record. I still have scars on my arm from that day I fell, but now they stand as a constant reminder that as a hurdler falls don’t define you. After this experience I am certain I will always pick myself up and begin working again because the truth is hurdlers love to hurdle.

References

Bengel, C. (2023, March 6). Spanish hurdler Enrique Llopis suffers serious fall at European indoor championships. CBS Sports. https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/spanish-hurdler-enrique-llopis-suffers-serious-fall-at-european-indoor-championships/

Crumpacker, J. (2010). Anderson's goals include plenty of lofty hurdles. San Francisco Chronicle p. B7. Available from NewsBank: America's News: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.mpcc.idm.oclc.org/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/12EBC2811603C5D0.

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Homelessness Affects You

 

Anna Lehman 

What comes to mind when you hear the word “homeless”? Perhaps you imagine a man sitting on the street with a bag and a sign that reads, “Anything Helps”. Or maybe you think of someone begging on a corner with a tin can and a dog? While sometimes this does describe the face of homelessness, it is not always the case. Would it surprise you that you probably know someone who has been either homeless or on the verge of homelessness? Homelessness can happen to anyone, and it affects society in many ways. Homelessness is an equal opportunity problem that can be a result of violence, drug use, mental illness, racism, job loss, or any life crisis.  

Homelessness is defined as “lacking a regular nighttime residence or having a primary nighttime residence that is a temporary shelter or a place not designed for sleeping” (Gu et al., 2023). According to Ding et al. (2022), more than half a million individuals experience homelessness in the United States Homelessness can be caused by numerous factors. Generally, a personal crisis occurs that leads to instability in a person’s life. The loss of a job, the death of a family member, and the lack of insurance paired with a serious health condition can all be detrimental to the average person or family. On top of these factors, homelessness often follows a cycle that repeats itself and so people may find themselves homeless more than just once (Wong, 2022). People are even born into homelessness or environments that are unstable with a high risk of becoming homeless.  

In order to attempt to prevent homelessness, the causes must first be understood. Unless a person is born into it, becoming homeless usually involves a personal crisis. For this reason, some people may view homelessness as a personal problem and not a social problem. According to Kushel (2020), the main causes of homelessness are poverty, the lack of affordable housing, and the ongoing effects of structural racism. Wong (2022) notes that domestic violence is a leading contributor to homelessness. Domestic violence includes “physical assaults, threats, harassment, humiliation, and sexual, emotional, or economic abuse (Wong, 2022).   

Violence is not only a key factor in the cause of homelessness but also a symptom. Unsecured housing leaves individuals and families more susceptible to violence in places like shelters or on the streets. According to Swick (2008), violence changes the relationship between family members, and mothers who are treated violently tend to be more aggressive in turn with their children. Essentially, oftentimes the relationship becomes strained, and the children tend to learn to be more aggressive and even violent. Women report that they are so absorbed in the violence that they notice little in other aspects of life and children who witness the violent behavior and abuse see more tension and anxiety in their relationships with their parents (Swick, 2008). Not all domestic violence victims are women, but most reporting cases are women. Either men do not report domestic violence cases as much as women do, or the cases are recorded more often when women are the victims.   

There are other factors that are both a cause of homelessness and a symptom as well. For example, mental illness and drug and alcohol use can both cause homelessness and become an effect of homelessness. What’s more, homeless people with substance abuse problems are less likely than those without an abuse problem to gain stable housing. According to Meija-Lancheros et al. (2022), “people experiencing homelessness frequently have a high prevalence of mental and substance use disorders, which often cluster with other poor health, behavioral, and social characteristics” Examples of poor social and behavioral characteristics are adherence and reliance to rehabilitation programs and criminal activity. The stresses of homelessness in turn can create an environment where the likelihood of abusing drugs and alcohol increases as a person’s well-being and mental health decreases. This cycle makes it extremely difficult to overcome the threat of homelessness. 

Poverty and the lack of affordable housing are real threats to becoming homeless. “Low-income people who spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent are unable to save money, leaving them vulnerable to losing their housing when they face setbacks, such as a job loss, sickness, or death of a spouse or partner” (Kushel, 2020). After the Great Recession of 2007, the economy recovered but, in the process, rent and mortgage rates skyrocketed. It is not surprising that the 10 states with the highest housing cost also account for the highest rates of homelessness and for most of the nation’s homeless population (Pruitt et al., 2020). According to Kushel (2020), there are only 35 units of housing out of every 100 units that are available and affordable nationwide. There is a severe lack of affordable housing for those Americans with the lowest of incomes.  

Structural racism has also been found as a cause for the lack of adequate and affordable housing. Kushel (2020) points out that Black Americans are at a significantly higher risk for homelessness than White Americans because of discrimination in housing markets through practices of residential covenants and redlining, and because of poor enforcement of policies like the Fair Housing Act. Redlining restricts Black households from obtaining mortgages, ultimately leading them to pay more for the same type of housing as a White, or other, household. Kushel adds that banks targeted Black and Latinx households through predatory lending practices and that their properties were the first to foreclose in 2008.  

Homelessness is a drain on society financially. Many homeless people and families rely on publicly funded programs to function. Everything from eating to showering to acquiring needed toiletries can come from a public-funded resource. Those dealing with domestic violence may need community support that is not only physical support but also mental trauma-repairing support. As Wong (2022) notes, “It is imperative domestic violence victims are informed of and referred to health services within their community; however, there is some concern as to how these costs will be covered”. Not only are resources a drain on the public pocketbook, but the medical infrastructure also sees the impact of homelessness. According to Gu et al. (2023), “There is moderate evidence to suggest that housing instability is associated with higher prevalence of overweight/obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, worse hypertension, and diabetes control, and higher acute health care utilization among those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease”. Stress factors associated with homelessness can affect all aspects of health while the lack of insurance and affordable healthcare force many homeless people to resort to hospital emergency room visits instead of preventative maintenance healthcare by a physician.  

Overcrowding of homeless shelters has affected public transportation and even transportation employees. The geographic distribution of homelessness in the United States is uneven, with 47 percent of the unsheltered population found in California (Ding et al., 2022). Here, social service agencies and shelters are simply unable to meet the needs of the homeless. People are left to resort to seek shelter in public spaces including transit stations, bus stops, and transit vehicles (Ding et al., 2022). The coronavirus pandemic only exasperated the problem, leading to a rise in the number of homeless seeking shelter on transit (Ding et al., 2022). Fear of coronavirus infection in shelters also drives many homeless to unsheltered areas and public transport. Transportation employees are then left to enforce policy measures for their employers on a daily basis.  

Homelessness is a health hazard to society. Many homeless people have limited access to clean water and sanitation. This in turn can promote disease and infection among the homeless population and the rest of society. Water and sanitation are important to prevent infection by fecal-oral pathogens, are necessary for handwashing, and are critical for maintaining public health (Capone et al., 2020). People may not realize that to some, running water or even heated water is a luxury at best. Those living in open areas with limited access to public toilets are often left with no choice but to result to open defecation. Oftentimes, the homeless are sharing public facilities that are not properly sanitized between usage. Even people who must resort to living in transitional housing or shelters are forced to share bathroom facilities that may not be clean and sanitary. Limited access to proper sanitation among the homeless has been linked to a nationwide outbreak of hepatitis A from 2017 to 2018, and proper handwashing has been shown to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV2 (Capone et al., 2020). The importance of handwashing procedures became all too apparent during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 and the years following. Businesses adopted new sanitation policies to stay open if they were lucky enough to stay open at all. The pandemic helped the general public realize that it is crucial for all people in society, homeless or not, to be provided with clean and sanitary tools to prevent the spread of sickness and disease.  

To combat homelessness in America, there are housing opportunities and services such as Housing First. Housing First is a housing program for adults with mental illness that is “underpinned by a service user-driven, recovery-oriented and harm-reduction value system that prioritizes empowerment and self-determination” (Greenwood et al., 2022). It is a policy aimed to provide housing first, and then other services once a stable home environment is established. Once housing is established, the program also assists with access to health care, employment, and other supportive services that reduce recidivism (the tendency of a criminal to reconvict), promote long-term housing, and improve the quality of life (Donovan & Shinseki, 2013). Other programs use the Housing First model to promote housing stability. Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), the Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH), unprecedented partnerships between federal and local partners, and rapid rehousing have yielded substantial reductions in veteran and chronic homelessness (Donovan & Shinseki, 2013). Because many veterans have experienced wartime trauma and oftentimes suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), they are at greater risk of experiencing homelessness than other adults. Ding et al. (2022) note that it is imperative that there is a rise in collaboration between agencies and organizations that often encounter the homeless and that since the homeless use public transportation to not only rest but to travel to work, pantries, or places of public assistance, that it is a social responsibility for travel agencies to ensure their services are easily accessible to the homeless and to help them access assistance and support.  

No matter a person’s race or background, homelessness can happen to anyone. Sometimes the smallest setback in life can make the biggest impact on a person’s future. At other times it may seem that society is systematically against them because of factors that cannot be changed, such as race or the household and/or living conditions into which they were born. This problem not only affects the homeless but also society. What was once a stable household can melt down into chaos with the threat of domestic violence, substance abuse, economic loss, or even mental illness. This can happen to anyone after any crisis. Therefore, homelessness is not a personal problem; it is a social problem.  

 

References 

Capone, D., Cumming, O., Nichols, D., & Brown, J. (2020). Water and Sanitation in urban America, 2017–2019. American Journal of Public Health, 110(10), 1567–1572. https://doi-org.mpcc.idm.oclc.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305833. 

Ding, H., Loukaitou-Sideris, A., & Wasserman, J. L. (2022). Homelessness on public transit: A review of problems and responses. Transport Reviews, 42(2), 134–156. https://doi-org.mpcc.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/01441647.2021.1923583. 

Donovan, S., & Shinseki, E. K. (2013). Homelessness is a public health issue. American Journal of Public Health, 103(S2), S180. https://doi-org.mpcc.idm.oclc.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301727. 

Greenwood, R. M., Manning, R. M., O’Shaughnessy, B. R., Vargas, M. M. J., Auquier, P., Lenzi, M., Wolf, J., Bokszczanin, A., Bernad, R., Källmén, H., Spinnewijn, F., & Ornelas, J. (2022). Structure and agency in capabilities‐enhancing homeless services: Housing first, housing quality and consumer choice. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 32(2), 315–331. https://doi-org.mpcc.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/casp.2577. 

Gu, K. D., Faulkner, K. C., & Thorndike, A. N. (2023). Housing instability and cardiometabolic health in the United States: A narrative review of the literature. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1–27. https://doi-org.mpcc.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15875-6. 

Kushel, M. (2020). Homelessness among older adults: An emerging crisis. Generations, 44(2), 1–7. 

Mejia-Lancheros, C., Lachaud, J., Aubry, T., Wiens, K., O’Campo, P., Stergiopoulos, V., & Hwang, S. W. (2022). Multi-trajectory group profiles of well-being and associated predictors among adults experiencing homelessness and mental illness: Findings from the At Home/Chez Soi study, Toronto site. Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology, 57(1), 67–81. https://doi-org.mpcc.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02093-x. 

Pruitt, A. S., McKinsey, E., & Barile, J. P. (2020). A state of emergency: Dominant cultural narratives on homelessness in Hawai’i. Journal of Community Psychology, 48(5), 1603–1619. https://doi-org.mpcc.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/jcop.22352. 

Swick, K. (2008). The dynamics of violence and homelessness among young families. Early Childhood Education Journal, 36(1), 81–85. https://doi-org.mpcc.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s10643-007-0220-5. 

Wong, L. (2022). Exploring correlates of domestic violence and homelessness: A review of the literature. Journal of the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, 99, 237–246.