For adults, high school is as near or far as the next or last reunion. But for thousands of teens, high school is a present hell of isolation, confusion and negativity, says novelist Ryan D. Pearson.

"Think about the young men who live in infamy because they somehow couldn't channel their energy in a positive manner - Adam Lanza in Connecticut; James Holmes, the 'movie-theater shooter;' the two Columbine shooters; Jared Loughner, who shot U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords - some were extremely intelligent, and they were passionate, too," says Pearson.

Precocious in high school, Pearson earned his law degree at age 21 and went on to write "The Element Series," (www.theelementsseries.com), which follows a teenager blessed with wealth and fame who discovers he has the added responsibility of super powers.

"One aspect I love about comic books and fiction is that the character arcs show how some become the villains, and those who stand by their values - the heroes."

Teens, who have experienced life only as children, suddenly find themselves in very adult circumstances in high school - that last step toward adulthood, he says. For many gifted, talented, sensitive or otherwise misunderstood teens, he offers tips for surviving this last step toward independence:

• Embrace what makes you different: Perhaps the most important struggle a teenager faces is self-acceptance. Many may believe that that straight-A, all-star jock with a perfect complexion has it made. Meanwhile, he may be experiencing his own inner turmoil. If you care about things no one else seems to care about; if you're better at chess than football; if you think you don't fit the mold of "pretty" or "handsome" - you might just be on the path to happiness. A great example receiving plenty of attention is the It Gets Better project, which encourages gay teens to embrace their sexuality. However, the concept can be applied to anyone who feels like an outsider. "There is only one you; don't be afraid of who you are," Pearson says.

• Perhaps the greatest commencement address: While life is just beginning after high school and college, it's rarely easy - that's the thrust of George Foster Wallace's 2005 speech to the graduates of Kenyon College. Wallace, a giant of contemporary literature, touches on some of the most important adult challenges: the potential loneliness of adult life, the importance of being well-adjusted and the difficulty of empathy - "Think about it: There is no experience you've had that you were not at the absolute center of." Truthful, unflinching and humorous, the speech has since resonated online.

• You can change!: A depressing mindset for unhappy high school students involves the idea that nothing about one's experience will change. "Everything changes - this is the one rule of life you can count on," says Pearson, whose went on a worldwide adventure after college. "Teens who go the villainous route often have an attitude that nothing about them or the world is going to be different unless they intervene with extreme behavior." In reality, one or two key shifts in thinking can change the course in a young person's life trajectory. Friends, parents and educators have the best access for helping a troubled teen to "see the light."

About Ryan D. Pearson

After completing a Bachelor of Laws degree at age 21, Ryan D. Pearson took a leap of faith by leaving the beautiful beaches of Australia to travel the world. He eventually landed in Montreal, where he lived for several years before returning home to write about his adventures. He overcame many challenging personal experiences and now embraces an audacious new lifestyle. Pearson writes about his own character arc - involving a supernatural and overzealous way of life - via character Reagan Jameson.

The Buffalo Bill Museum's Building Addition Kickoff Fundraiser Dinner wil be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at the Crane & Pelican Cafe.

5:00pm - 6:00pm:  Social Hour (Appetizers and cash bar)

6:15pm:  Dinner Served (choose from Cody Road Bourbon Chicken, Sawyer Farms Roast Beef, or Sabina Dawley's Spring Quiche

Desserts by 12th Street Sweets, Davenport

$35 per person in advance; $40 per person at the door.

Limited Seating - Will Sell Out Early - Don't Wait

For tickets, send payment NLT March 30th with dinner choice to the Buffalo Bill Museum, Box 284, LeClaire IA 52753 or call the museum at 563-289-5580.

Captain and Sabina Dawley built the Dawley House (now known at the Crane & Pelican Cafe) in 1851.  They raised nine children in the house.  The Captain and Sabina will be joined by two of their daughters and other LeClaire residents when they welcome you to their home on April 3rd.

(DES MOINES) - Governor Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds today highlighted the work progress of the seven-foot statue of Dr. Norman Borlaug being created by artist, Benjamin Victor, and announced the funding for the statue which will eventually be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

"Today, March 25th, would have been Dr. Borlaug's 99th birthday and his development of miracle wheat saved an estimated billion people around the world from hunger and starvation," Gov. Branstad said. "With the generous support of DuPont Pioneer and an anonymous individual, his statue will stand in honor representing Iowa in the U.S. Capitol building."

"With the creation of the Dr. Borlaug statue, we are seeing history in the making," Lt. Gov. Reynolds said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I would like to thank the artist, Benjamin Victor, for sharing his tremendous talent with us to be enjoyed by the future visitors to the U.S. Capitol."

"Dr. Borlaug was not only one of Iowa's great innovators, but also one of the state's greatest humanitarians," said Paul E. Schickler, president of DuPont Pioneer. "It is my hope that the statue's placement in the U.S. Capitol will inspire future generations to be a part of solving this extraordinary challenge of feeding the world."

The Borlaug Statue Committee Chairman, Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, praised members of the Iowa legislature and Iowa's Congressional Delegation, of which Congressman Steve King and Congressman Tom Latham were in attendance, for their bi-partisan support of the Dr. Borlaug statue, noting they have been instrumental in facilitating communications with the Architect of the Capitol's office, which oversees the statues on display in the U.S. Capitol.

The Borlaug Statue Committee, who selected the artist and organized fundraising efforts for this project, has the goal of installing the statue of Dr. Borlaug in the U.S. Capitol building on March 25, 2014, the centennial observance of Dr. Borlaug's birth. It will be one of two statues depicting notable citizens from Iowa. The Dr. Borlaug statue will replace the statue of U.S. Senator James Harlan, which will be returned to Iowa. The second statue representing Iowa is of Governor Samuel Kirkwood.

Benjamin Victor is currently conducting an artist-in-residency at the State Historical Museum of Iowa, 600 E. Locust Street in Des Moines. The public is invited to visit with Victor as he works on the sculpture 10 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m. through Thursday.

Directs Public Health Director to Lead Health Care Jobs Review as Illinois and Nation Mark Third Anniversary of Affordable Care Act

CHICAGO - As Illinois moves forward implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to increase access to quality health care, Governor Pat Quinn today tapped the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health to lead a workgroup that will recommend steps the state needs to take to fill thousands of new health care jobs created by the ACA. Today's announcement, on the third anniversary of the President's signing of the ACA into law, is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to improve the health of the people of Illinois. The workgroup will help ensure Illinois reaps the full benefits of the landmark legislation.

"In President Obama's home state, we are taking full advantage of this historic opportunity to increase access to health care and create thousands of good-paying jobs," Governor Quinn said. "The ACA will help bring affordable health coverage to hundreds of thousands of people in Illinois. We want to make sure our veterans, students and everyone who is looking for new career opportunities will be able to take advantage of the new health care jobs available."

To help ensure that Illinois is prepared for the growth in the health care jobs sector, the governor has directed the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck to lead a Health Care Workforce Workgroup. The workgroup will assess and plan for the jobs needed to achieve the goals of health care reform and meet the health needs of Illinois' growing, increasingly diverse and aging population.

The workgroup will assess the existing health care workforce landscape and develop an analysis of gaps that need to be filled both for current needs and the impending demand once hundreds of thousands of people gain access to health coverage as of January 1, 2014. The workgroup will recommend a workforce action plan by September 2013 to immediately address any gaps that are identified and to strengthen training and education efforts for health care jobs. In addition to IDPH, the workgroup includes the departments of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, Health Care & Family Services, Aging, Financial & Professional Regulation, Employment Securities, Veteran's Affairs, Human Services and Children & Family Services with support from the UIC School of Medicine and participation from external stakeholders as needed.

"This is a tremendously exciting time to be working in the health care field," Dr Hasbrouck said. "By making health care affordable and accessible, we can shift our focus to keeping people healthy instead of just treating them when they become sick. This transformation is creating career opportunities for thousands of people. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Quinn, Illinois is doing everything in its power to identify our workforce needs and provide paths to training and education so these needs can be met."

The workgroup is an offshoot of the Health Care Reform Implementation Council that the governor created soon after President Obama signed the ACA into law on March 23, 2010. The Council, led by the governor's Senior Health Care Policy Adviser Michael Gelder, includes all of the state's health care and human services agencies.

Additionally, the Illinois Workforce Investment Board (IWIB) voted on March 14th, 2013 to re-constitute its Health Care Taskforce to develop a long-term strategic plan for a sustainable labor force in Illinois, which will meet the health care needs of its residents for years to come. The taskforce will allow for broader stakeholder engagement and build upon the current work of the Illinois Pathways, Health Sciences STEM Learning Exchange.

Governor Quinn demonstrated his commitment to creating health care jobs in February when he announced a $52.5 million investment in a new allied health addition at South Suburban College in South Holland. Supported by $41.6 million in funding from Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program, the addition will dramatically expand opportunities for students in the south suburbs to pursue professional training for good-paying jobs in the health care field.

Illinois has received more than $250 million in federal funds to prepare for the full implementation of the ACA in 2014. Among the major steps it has taken are the following:

·         Conditional approval by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of a state-federal partnership, the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace that will start enrolling clients on October 1. The Marketplace will be accessed through a robust, user-friendly website where individuals, families and small businesses will be able to compare health care policies and premiums and purchase comprehensive health coverage.

·         Establishment of an Essential Health Benefits benchmark plan that spells out the benefits that must be covered for health plans on the Marketplace.

·         Received a $25 million Community Transformation Grant that is being used to fund the We Choose Health program designed to promote a healthy, active and tobacco-free lifestyle along with quality preventive and clinical care.

·         Received a $2 million federal grant that will advance efforts to develop a State Health Care Innovation Plan. The funding is intended to aid states that are working to design and implement improvements to their health care systems that will bolster health care quality and decrease costs.

Governor Quinn has also urged the House of Representatives to pass Senate Bill 26, which has already passed the Senate and will increase access to health care through the Medicaid program.

For more information on Illinois' implementation of the ACA, visit: http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/healthcarereform/Pages/HealthReformImplementation.aspx.

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