Hey DoSomething Members,

With Labor Day Weekend behind us, this week marks the official, unofficial beginning of Fall (don’t worry though you detail-oriented Virgos, it’s entirely your season until September 22nd). To make sure all of us can keep up our focus, power, and passion for the whollllle Fall Semester, let’s make sure we’re getting things kicked off right.

From getting vaccinated against meningococcal disease and catching your Zzzs, to curating your semester playlist and restyling your wardrobe, there’s something on the list for everyone. Scroll on down to read the nine quick and easy things you can do to prepare for your fall semester. Then encourage your friends to own their personal health through our Complete What’s Missing program, powered by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

Let’s Do This,

DoSomething

Check Out These DoSomething Members Activating their Friends to Protect against Meningococcal Disease

Young adults (ages 16-23) are at an increased risk for meningococcal disease, an uncommon but serious illness which causes lifelong complications (like brain damage and limb loss) in 1 out of 5 people who get it and even death in 1 out of 10. While an effective and safe vaccination can all but eliminate the risk of contracting meningococcal disease, too many young people don’t get it—often because of harmful medical misinformation

That’s why DoSomething members are working to prevent meningococcal disease by educating their friends (and family) about this easily preventable illness. Here are just a few of our favorites from the Complete What’s Missing program:

“I think that informing people of these health concerns that could be prevented is very important,” says DoSomething member Rozhina, 19. “Meningococcal disease is not known by many people, I only learned about it in my biology class, so I think spreading awareness of this is really beneficial. Spreading awareness helps to prevent the disease, and I am all for that.”

“When I was a junior, my boyfriend contracted meningitis and we didn't know the signs or symptoms and had no idea what was wrong with him,” says DoSomething member Arissa, 17. “We thought maybe he was just coming down with a sore neck and headache from sleeping wrong. We ended up going to prom that night and the next day he ended up in the hospital. We unknowingly exposed a lot of people to a terrible disease. Luckily no one we know of got sick, but I think it is important that everyone knows the symptoms and how to prevent the disease.”

“I realized after reading this article that I was not given a lot of resources about this disease and the resources I was given were not completely true,” says DoSomething member Shania, 17. “I believe it is harmful to spread misinformation and we should do what we can to stop it especially when it is about such a devastating and serious disease.”

Join Rozhina, Arissa, and Shania in the movement to meningococcal disease through our Complete What's Missing program.

It’s almost National School Picture Day! Tag us in your #schoolpictures new and old! Whether it’s back to school candids from Mom or class picture day, send them our way! (Check out the DoSomething.org staff members' old school cheesing!)

Our hero today is… Naomi Osaka who continues, in spite of the immensite pressures of professional tennis to prioritize her mental health.

In case you missed it… President Biden approved federal disaster aid for people in six counties in New Jersey and five in New York—including most of NYC—following deadly flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. While meeting with the states’ governors, the President acknowledged that we are now living through the effects of climate change that scientists have long warned about.