Anne Wu, ’26, created a website for anyone who has questions about personal health, wanting help, and local medical services.
The Redwood Gigantea strives to be a forum for student voices. If you would like to contribute, you can reach us here. The following contribution is from Anne Wu, a senior in the class of 2026 at Redwood High School.
By Anne Wu
It has come to my attention that VUSD’s health classes don’t give students the proper support that they need to thrive in the world as healthy adults. I first started noticing small details about those around me. Whenever they were unsure of something regarding sexual, physical, or mental health, instead of asking a trusted guardian, they turned to the internet.
This outlet provides an anonymous way to search for answers, but this is not an ideal option for multiple reasons. Online information can be inaccurate. Students may believe that they are receiving correct information only to discover later that what they learned was false.
Secondly, searching the internet for specific sexual related questions can lead students to dangerous websites, websites that would not have been explored if the student simply had access to a single resource that answers their question appropriately and precisely.
Because of this observation, I created a Google Form to survey Redwood students on their health knowledge, asking questions like; “Do you know how to access birth control pills?” and “Do you feel as though health class taught thorough information about sexual health?”.
My results further proved my hypothesis. One hundred thirty nine students were surveyed, 66.3% of which believed that health class somewhat or didn’t provide thorough information about sexual health. 76.3% of students surveyed reported that when they have questions about sexual health, they go to AI, Google, or friends for the answer. There is a stigma of shame attached to asking sexual questions so it makes sense that students would like to do so anonymously.
However, the school should be promoting resources and outlets to support their students and prevent them from encountering dangerous online situations.
After seeing these results, I determined that I must create change. I have created a website with direct links to reliable, accurate information regarding healthcare. This website is organized by the type of information the user is seeking, and hopefully streamlines the web-searching experience.
By gathering factual websites into one accessible online platform, students will hopefully feel comfortable and knowledgeable after accessing this tool.
I am on a mission to spread awareness on this subject, to help as many students as possible not fall into dangerous online traps. If you are interested in spreading the word, please share the link to the website linked below. A link shared is a person protected.
Personal Health Resources Link
Staff Reports
Tags: health, personal health resourses, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, visalia ca
