https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HNTIbhU9q9SwJQ_JeoNMo3v2JWdxJaSa&usp=sharing

I drive through this same route every morning, which means I go through this route at least 5 times a week; but I have discovered many things I never thought of when I actually got out of my car and walked a mile. I live near Emory University, and I decided to go walk through Emory Village and end at the start of Lullwater Road. I am always in awe when I drive through this road. The beautiful houses, nature, and the great looking grass. I feel like I would actually want to exercise if I lived here. I also figured out that it is a predominantly white neighborhood based on the people I saw that were walking around. So when I first saw the Lullwater Apartments, it made me wonder why the apartment was built there because the buildings are crammed together in a small space. I also saw that there is a MARTA bus line right in front of the apartment complexes, where I see African American families or who I presume to be nurses ride the bus sometimes. Overall, the area where I currently live is very nice, but I feel like I see a difference between living quality based on race.

were walking around. So when I first saw the Lullwater Apartments, it made me wonder why the apartment was built there because the buildings are crammed together in a small space. I also saw that there is a MARTA bus line right in front of the apartment complexes, where I see African American families or who I presume to be nurses ride the bus sometimes. Overall, the area where I currently live is very nice, but I feel like I see a difference between living quality based on race.

I wasn’t afraid of walking alone, which is often an issue when walking in areas that are less wealthy. I feel like when I drive through dangerous areas, I can feel that it is unsafe. Often times the road is cracked and worn out, and houses are old or abandoned. I don’t feel safe stepping out of the car alone in those areas. This is definitely one of the social determinants of health. If people are scared to walk outside, it is understandable that they get less exercise, which affects health negatively. On the contrary, I saw people active outside as I walked the mile, proving the safety of the area.

Access to food was also a big determinant I saw. Restaurants are expensive, but they do provide healthy options instead of only having access to fast food, which is an issue in some neighborhoods. It made me think about how easy it is for people to blame the individual for their health issues, but how important it is to look at possible determinants that are affecting their health. In this assignment I focused on social determinants, but I know there are other determinants that affect people. I would like to remember that even after this class ends so I can always spot what factors are playing a role in shaping people’s health.