The opening line in the book Paradoxes of Gender, by Judith Lorber states, “Talking about gender for most people is the equivalent of fish talking about water” (13). Gender has become such a part of our everyday life that we do not take the time to notice. We do not notice that gender is structured through our everyday activities and routines. For example, the clothes we wear, jobs, toys, sports, and many others are all based around gender. Lorber writes “…gender, like culture, is a human production that depends on everyone constantly ‘doing gender’” (13). People “do gender” by dressing their babies in blue or pink, or by a women settling for an office job while the men settle for the higher paying construction jobs. Gender starts at being based on the genitals, from that point on individuals are taught how do “do gender” by certain actions and behaviors.
The first chapter in Lorber’s book explains how gender is “done” and gives supporting evidence that people do not take the time to think about. According to Lorber, “For the individual, gender starts with assignment to a sex category on the basis of what the genitalia looks like at birth” (14). When babies are born, their gender is based on their genitals. From that moment on, gender is done by how they are dressed, named, and even how they are treated. Gender is also shown by the way the parent treats the child. Girls are treated differently than boys, so therefore they respond in a different way when they are adults. Girls are treated softer, and receive more sympathy than boys, where as the boys are taught to be “tough” and to just shake things off. From birth to death, gender is part of everyday life. Gender is done in the sports world; there are girls’ sports, like volleyball, and boys’ sports like football. Gender is also done in the clothes, shoes, and perfume/cologne we wear. When you walk into a clothing store, gender is done by having the store split up into Boy/Girl, and Men/Women’s sections. Gender is even done at some schools or universities; Stephens College in Columbia Missouri is an all girl school.
Gender is a social status, meaning it is learned through different processes. Lorber puts it as, “Social statuses are carefully constructed through prescribed processes of teaching, learning, emulation, and enforcement” (17). Cultures are different, so there are different social statuses out there. For example, Western societies have only two genders (man and woman), but other societies have three genders (men, women, and hijras). Hijras are simply males who dress, behave, work, and are treated as social women (17). This leads to gender bending, which is very common in some cultures like Egypt. In Egypt women dress as men and are treated as men. Gender bending is also common in theatre; where men play women’s roles, like Shakespeare. Lorber explains how people are born sexed, but not gendered, and that individuals have to be taught to be masculine of feminine. She says, “Children learn to walk, talk, and gesture the way their social group says girls and boys should”(22).
One of the main things I liked that Lorber talked about was how gender means sameness. It is about how individuals are born sexed but not gendered. The sex is a physical characteristic, and there are many different physical characteristics that vary between humans like body shapes and clothing. The gender part of humans however, is taught, and humans are taught to be either masculine or feminine. Teaching certain traits like walking and talking begins at a young age. Children are taught to act as “boys and girls should”. When children are young, the gender starts developing personality and sexual orientations through their interactions with parents (22).
Friday, December 9, 2011
xanax
Xanax is a drug used that is commonly prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression. It is classified as a depressant and belongs with the medicines called benzodiazepines which act on the brain and central nervous system to produce a relaxing feeling. It affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety. It is consumed orally by the mouth, and the prescribed amount is based on your medical condition. Xanax is a controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is a schedule IV drug, meaning there is a low potential for abuse, but it can lead to limited physical or psychological dependence. Prescriptions may be filled up to five times.
Some side effects of Xanax occur more often than others. Less common side effects involve trouble in sleeping, nervousness, and trouble in thinking. More common side effects include abdominal cramps, blurred vision, constipation, increased thirst, and vomiting.
The molecular formula for Xanax is C17H13ClN4, and its molecular weight is 308.76g/mol.
Here is some information about the disorders treated by Xanax. A panic disorder can be characterized by unexpected panic attacks and a period of fear or discomfort. A few major symptoms of a panic disorder include an accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling or shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, and feeling dizzy. Treatment for many people with panic disorders has been achieved with doses of Xanax greater that 4 mg daily. The average dosage is about 5 to 6 mg a day.
An anxiety disorder is characterized by extreme anxiety and worry. The worry is usually about life circumstances and if it lasts for a period of six months or longer then it is time to get help. Some of the major symptoms for anxiety include muscle tension, aches, or soreness, dry mouth, dizziness, frequent urination, sweating, and flushes or chills. Treatment for patients with anxiety should be initiated with a dose of 0.25 to 0.5 mg three times a day. The dose may be increased to feel the maximum effect.
Xanax is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States that have great benefits if used right, but the abuse of it is on the rise. Valium is the only other prescription tranquilizer that has a higher abuse rate that Xanax. A patient’s body can develop a tolerance to the amount they are taking and may require larger doses to reach the desired effect if the drug is taken for long periods of time. Between 1995 and 2002, drug abuse-related trips to US emergency rooms involving benzodiazepines increased by 41 percent, which is from 71,000 to 100,000. Xanax is usually abused in oral pill form, but it can also be injected and is often abused when used with alcohol, another central nervous depressant.
According to The Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, up to 25 percent of patients who stop taking their medication of Xanax experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, irritability, insomnia, chills, fatigue, moodiness, crying, and tremors. A good way to avoid withdrawal symptoms is to slowly reduce the dose taken.
The people that risk Xanax addiction the most are those who drink alcohol and women in their mid forties who experience lots of stress and who are going through menopause. Treatment for Xanax addiction is very similar to the treatment of many other drugs. The first stage of Xanax Treatment will sometimes involve detoxification, if it is deemed necessary to help stave off the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms. For some benzodiazepine addicts, including those on Xanax and especially if the dosage or amount is high, detox is not only recommended but may be considered necessary, due to its seizure potential. Consultation with a qualified health professional is the best way to determine whether or not detox is right for each individual person. The next step may involve treatment centers, psychosocial treatments involving individual or group counseling and therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy or 12 step-based meetings. A variety of inpatient residential treatment centers, as well as outpatient programs, are ready to help Xanax addicts overcome their addiction. Detox addresses the body’s addiction and psychosocial treatment addresses the habits, behaviors and other psychological factors that led to addiction. Treatment should also include issues relating to diet and nutrition, since addicts often ignore nutrition during their addiction.
In conclusion, Xanax can be a big benefit to society by helping those who suffer from anxiety and depression. Xanax can also hurt society by individuals abusing the drug and taking more that recommended. Xanax abuse has risen over the years, with some cases resulting in death. It is important to be responsible and not abuse a substance because it can control a person’s life, their decisions and thinking.
Some side effects of Xanax occur more often than others. Less common side effects involve trouble in sleeping, nervousness, and trouble in thinking. More common side effects include abdominal cramps, blurred vision, constipation, increased thirst, and vomiting.
The molecular formula for Xanax is C17H13ClN4, and its molecular weight is 308.76g/mol.
Here is some information about the disorders treated by Xanax. A panic disorder can be characterized by unexpected panic attacks and a period of fear or discomfort. A few major symptoms of a panic disorder include an accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling or shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, and feeling dizzy. Treatment for many people with panic disorders has been achieved with doses of Xanax greater that 4 mg daily. The average dosage is about 5 to 6 mg a day.
An anxiety disorder is characterized by extreme anxiety and worry. The worry is usually about life circumstances and if it lasts for a period of six months or longer then it is time to get help. Some of the major symptoms for anxiety include muscle tension, aches, or soreness, dry mouth, dizziness, frequent urination, sweating, and flushes or chills. Treatment for patients with anxiety should be initiated with a dose of 0.25 to 0.5 mg three times a day. The dose may be increased to feel the maximum effect.
Xanax is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States that have great benefits if used right, but the abuse of it is on the rise. Valium is the only other prescription tranquilizer that has a higher abuse rate that Xanax. A patient’s body can develop a tolerance to the amount they are taking and may require larger doses to reach the desired effect if the drug is taken for long periods of time. Between 1995 and 2002, drug abuse-related trips to US emergency rooms involving benzodiazepines increased by 41 percent, which is from 71,000 to 100,000. Xanax is usually abused in oral pill form, but it can also be injected and is often abused when used with alcohol, another central nervous depressant.
According to The Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, up to 25 percent of patients who stop taking their medication of Xanax experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, irritability, insomnia, chills, fatigue, moodiness, crying, and tremors. A good way to avoid withdrawal symptoms is to slowly reduce the dose taken.
The people that risk Xanax addiction the most are those who drink alcohol and women in their mid forties who experience lots of stress and who are going through menopause. Treatment for Xanax addiction is very similar to the treatment of many other drugs. The first stage of Xanax Treatment will sometimes involve detoxification, if it is deemed necessary to help stave off the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms. For some benzodiazepine addicts, including those on Xanax and especially if the dosage or amount is high, detox is not only recommended but may be considered necessary, due to its seizure potential. Consultation with a qualified health professional is the best way to determine whether or not detox is right for each individual person. The next step may involve treatment centers, psychosocial treatments involving individual or group counseling and therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy or 12 step-based meetings. A variety of inpatient residential treatment centers, as well as outpatient programs, are ready to help Xanax addicts overcome their addiction. Detox addresses the body’s addiction and psychosocial treatment addresses the habits, behaviors and other psychological factors that led to addiction. Treatment should also include issues relating to diet and nutrition, since addicts often ignore nutrition during their addiction.
In conclusion, Xanax can be a big benefit to society by helping those who suffer from anxiety and depression. Xanax can also hurt society by individuals abusing the drug and taking more that recommended. Xanax abuse has risen over the years, with some cases resulting in death. It is important to be responsible and not abuse a substance because it can control a person’s life, their decisions and thinking.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving break is always one of my favorite times of the year. It is a time to show what you are thankful for as well as a time to eat a lot of delicious foods. My family usually meets every year on Thanksgiving day at my grandparents’ house. We always have numerous amounts of dishes to choose from some old and some new. The regulars are turkey, ham, egg noodles, and my sister always makes scrumptious pumpkin pies from our dad’s old recipe. Everyone in our family is a wonderful cook so, I always end up eating way too much. Food is something we all can be thankful for. One tradition my family likes to participate in every year is that good old day after Thanksgiving BLACK FRIDAY!!!! Not only do you get good sales but you also get to spend time finding gifts for those loved ones that you are thankful for. As a culture we give gifts to show we appreciate each other. Well, this year all the best sells were at Target. All my husband wanted for Christmas this year was a big screen TV, either a forty six inch or a fifty inch. Well, Target had a sale for a forty six inch for three hundred dollars. Great price. Great TV. And we could do it so, I decided to get that for my husband. I started my night by going to Wal-mart around seven thirty. I waited in line to get my father in law a wii that was on sale for an amazing one hundred dollars. My sister got in line for a bike for my husband’s niece…. Her first bike! Super exciting! Then, the night continued in line at Target. Of course since that TV was such a great buy, there were about sixty people in front of us in line and only thirty of those Tvs. I was so upset because I was for sure we weren’t going to get it for him. They let thirty people in at a time. When we got in the store the majority of the people who were let in before us were following the lady’s instructions and were calm and took their time and got a cart. Heck! I wasn’t gonna waste the time getting a cart if it meant I could get that TV. I would drag that TV around the store if I had to. I rushed to where the Tvs were and snatched one as my sister helped the people in front of us save ones for the kind people who stood in line with us. I got it! I got the TV for my husband. It was worth the hassle of black Friday to be able to get something to truly show my husband appreciation for putting up with me! J We got the rest of our family members nice gifts for their Christmas like clothes, a GPS, an electric blanket, some house decorations, foot spa stuff, and even a candy machine for my little sister! I can’t wait to see their faces on Christmas day! That’s the best part! J
Friday, November 18, 2011
“Swiss vote on radical heroin rules”
The article, “Swiss vote on radical heroin rules” is about Switzerland having one of the highest addiction rates of heroin in Europe, and finding a way to get it off the streets. Open drug scenes were pretty common on the streets in Switzerland with addicts injecting and dealers selling publicly. HIV and the spread of Hepatitis infection rates were on the rise due to addicts sharing needles. To keep the streets free of illegal drug use, the Swiss health department introduced clean injection rooms where the addicts can inject with the supervision of a nurse in a safe environment.
Switzerland introduced a 10-year heroin prescription program which basically prescribed heroin to addicts because many of them did not seem to be able to get off the drugs. Prescribing illegal drugs to addicts sounds like a foolish idea, I believe it is telling everyone that “it is ok” to do these illegal drugs. This is not a good influence to the younger generation. Their reason for prescribing heroin to these addicts was because “everything else has failed”, or “it would be more shocking if we just let them die”. Doctors believe that since heroin was a fashionable thing to do in the 1980’s and 1990’s, it has lost its trend and now heroin users have the image of losers. They are hoping other non addicts view heroin usage as an image of an “ugly illness”, and they are predicting numbers of new addicts falling.
The theory of addiction I believe that is going to help with this program is the social learning theory. In the social learning theory Bandura declared that people learn by observing and imitating others. He said people are likely to model the behavior of others that they see continuously. This theory works well with the article because its purpose is to decline the number of addicts. Heroin addiction became a trend back in the 1980’s and 90’s but is no longer a trend now. It was much publicized with addicts selling and injecting on the streets. People would see addicts doing this and they would think “well that must be the cool thing to do, I want to try it”. That is how the number of addicts rose in the 80’s and 90’s through the social learning theory. Now people see heroin addicts as trash, or losers. People learn to not get addicted by seeing that heroin is now a “sad, banal, old people’s habit.” Heroin now has the image of an “ugly illness”, and that is why the numbers of new addicts is falling. I believe keeping addicts off the streets is a good idea, but I do not believe in prescribing heroin to addicts just so they can live their normal lives.
Switzerland introduced a 10-year heroin prescription program which basically prescribed heroin to addicts because many of them did not seem to be able to get off the drugs. Prescribing illegal drugs to addicts sounds like a foolish idea, I believe it is telling everyone that “it is ok” to do these illegal drugs. This is not a good influence to the younger generation. Their reason for prescribing heroin to these addicts was because “everything else has failed”, or “it would be more shocking if we just let them die”. Doctors believe that since heroin was a fashionable thing to do in the 1980’s and 1990’s, it has lost its trend and now heroin users have the image of losers. They are hoping other non addicts view heroin usage as an image of an “ugly illness”, and they are predicting numbers of new addicts falling.
The theory of addiction I believe that is going to help with this program is the social learning theory. In the social learning theory Bandura declared that people learn by observing and imitating others. He said people are likely to model the behavior of others that they see continuously. This theory works well with the article because its purpose is to decline the number of addicts. Heroin addiction became a trend back in the 1980’s and 90’s but is no longer a trend now. It was much publicized with addicts selling and injecting on the streets. People would see addicts doing this and they would think “well that must be the cool thing to do, I want to try it”. That is how the number of addicts rose in the 80’s and 90’s through the social learning theory. Now people see heroin addicts as trash, or losers. People learn to not get addicted by seeing that heroin is now a “sad, banal, old people’s habit.” Heroin now has the image of an “ugly illness”, and that is why the numbers of new addicts is falling. I believe keeping addicts off the streets is a good idea, but I do not believe in prescribing heroin to addicts just so they can live their normal lives.
Abortion
On the first day of the process, Tiller kills the baby by injecting a drug called Digoxin into its heart. Tiller guides a long needle through the mother's abdomen into the baby's beating heart.
Tiller claims the baby feels no pain, but he doesn't explain how the heart drug Digoxin can accomplish this.
Also on the first day, Tiller inserts laminaria into the woman's cervix.
Laminaria are thin sticks of seaweed material that absorb moisture and expand. The process dilates (opens) the cervix for the abortion. Tiller will replace the laminaria each day using more sticks each time. This process can take several days.
Several women who have told their abortion stories say the laminaria is very painful. Some say they still experience pain years after their abortions. "Jeanne"said, "I have permanent cervical scarring from the laminaria that will cause me pain the rest of my life." "Jessica" said, "I have had nothing but problems with my female parts. I have had cervical dysplasia, which is bad cells in your cervix that require many painful treatments." "LaDonna" described the pain as Tiller and his staff inserted the laminaria, "I had this horrible pain in my cervix that to this day I can't explain (to this day I still experience that pain from time to time)."
After the baby is dead and the cervix is fully dilated, Tiller delivers the dead baby while the mother is under twilight anesthesia. He uses Versed and Nubain for anesthesia. Misoprostol and Oxytocin are used to induce labor. Misoprostol (Cytotec) is an ulcer medication that is not labeled for use in abortions. Tiller uses this medication "off label."
Up to ten women at a time will be in a communal "labor and delivery" area with only a curtain to separate them.
The whole process takes several days... usually starting on a Tuesday and ending on a Thursday or a Friday. During this time, the mother often stays at a motel. In a video he made, Tiller admits that sometimes a dead baby is born at the motel:
"Probably the last frequently asked question is, "Have we ever had a delivery at the hotel or away from the center?" and the answer to that is "Yes, we have." Since our process is not allowed in any hospital, we occasionally have a delivery away from the center or at the hotel. The good news about that is that in over 10,000 deliveries, we have never had an admission to the hospital or a major complication because we had a delivery away from the center. We sort of conceptualize this as nature taking charge of the process and rushing ahead of the schedule of the doctors, nurses, and their patients. We will agree that it's uncomfortable, it's awkward, it's scary, and it's inconvenient. But the good news is, we have never had a major complication because we had a delivery away from the center or at the hotel."
He also mentions this in the consent form that the woman must sign.
After the dead babies are born, the woman is given the option to cuddle her dead baby and have their picture taken together. This is just one of the many "stillborn activities" that Tiller offers to the mother.
The next day, the woman receives a check-up examination and then is sent home.
Tiller claims the baby feels no pain, but he doesn't explain how the heart drug Digoxin can accomplish this.
Also on the first day, Tiller inserts laminaria into the woman's cervix.
Laminaria are thin sticks of seaweed material that absorb moisture and expand. The process dilates (opens) the cervix for the abortion. Tiller will replace the laminaria each day using more sticks each time. This process can take several days.
Several women who have told their abortion stories say the laminaria is very painful. Some say they still experience pain years after their abortions. "Jeanne"said, "I have permanent cervical scarring from the laminaria that will cause me pain the rest of my life." "Jessica" said, "I have had nothing but problems with my female parts. I have had cervical dysplasia, which is bad cells in your cervix that require many painful treatments." "LaDonna" described the pain as Tiller and his staff inserted the laminaria, "I had this horrible pain in my cervix that to this day I can't explain (to this day I still experience that pain from time to time)."
After the baby is dead and the cervix is fully dilated, Tiller delivers the dead baby while the mother is under twilight anesthesia. He uses Versed and Nubain for anesthesia. Misoprostol and Oxytocin are used to induce labor. Misoprostol (Cytotec) is an ulcer medication that is not labeled for use in abortions. Tiller uses this medication "off label."
Up to ten women at a time will be in a communal "labor and delivery" area with only a curtain to separate them.
The whole process takes several days... usually starting on a Tuesday and ending on a Thursday or a Friday. During this time, the mother often stays at a motel. In a video he made, Tiller admits that sometimes a dead baby is born at the motel:
"Probably the last frequently asked question is, "Have we ever had a delivery at the hotel or away from the center?" and the answer to that is "Yes, we have." Since our process is not allowed in any hospital, we occasionally have a delivery away from the center or at the hotel. The good news about that is that in over 10,000 deliveries, we have never had an admission to the hospital or a major complication because we had a delivery away from the center. We sort of conceptualize this as nature taking charge of the process and rushing ahead of the schedule of the doctors, nurses, and their patients. We will agree that it's uncomfortable, it's awkward, it's scary, and it's inconvenient. But the good news is, we have never had a major complication because we had a delivery away from the center or at the hotel."
He also mentions this in the consent form that the woman must sign.
After the dead babies are born, the woman is given the option to cuddle her dead baby and have their picture taken together. This is just one of the many "stillborn activities" that Tiller offers to the mother.
The next day, the woman receives a check-up examination and then is sent home.
Friday, November 11, 2011
My trip to Harvesters
After arriving at Harvesters, I was placed in the food sorting group. We took a tour of the facility then we were taken to a huge room where we were told how to sort food. My group had to go through large cardboard boxes filled with food and separate to food into specific bins such as, dry meals, condiments, glass containers, cleaning products, and protein. While it was fun trying to see how many objects I could find that belonged in the same bin and carry them all at once, the work sometimes crossed over to the gross side. Occasionally, we would come across mold or maggots because something had broken open. Can you say DISGUISTING?! The second half of the day, after eating delicious pizza, was more tedious. Groups were split again, and I went with a group to wash ceilings, walls, and floors in the freezers. One thing I know for sure is the freezers were definitely working that day. Brrrrrr!
My expectations of Harvesters was somewhat met and yet, exceeded at the same time. I was expecting it to be a boring day that seemed to drag on because we were going to be doing loads of work. Pretty much, I thought it was going to be like doing chores back at home. To be honest, there was tons of work to be done. In fact, there was so much work that even after working extremely hard all day it almost felt like we didn’t get anything accomplished. When I left the sorting room, I looked back and still saw rows of boxes that needed to be sorted. Harvesters exceeded my expectations, however, because I never thought I would have as much fun as I did; nor did I think I would meet as many other people as I got to.
I learned so much at Harvesters, and no, I’m not talking about how to sort food and clean walls. I learned that the majority of people who come into Harvesters are actually NOT homeless. Most people who come in actually have a home to live in and a car to drive. I was also surprised by a small fact that was so obvious yet somehow, I seemed to overlook it. Did you know that the students on the reduced or free meal plans at school usually don’t have food for meals on the weekend? Or that in most cases, they are home alone while their parents are at work so they are left to cook for themselves? Well, I did, but for some reason, I had never actually thought about it or realized the problem that created. Fortunately, someone at Harvesters did so; they deliver backpacks with enough food for the weekend in them and the kids pick them up at school. Because the students are better fed and feel like they have something to look forward to, they actually want to go to school.
Harvesters taught me that with a little help from the community, large amounts of people can be helped. I also learned that, even though it didn’t feel like much got accomplished, every little bit really does count. That’s why it’s so important to help when you can. Community service doesn’t always have to seem like work. In fact, once you actually start to help out it doesn’t. I could see myself returning to Harvesters ready to help!
My expectations of Harvesters was somewhat met and yet, exceeded at the same time. I was expecting it to be a boring day that seemed to drag on because we were going to be doing loads of work. Pretty much, I thought it was going to be like doing chores back at home. To be honest, there was tons of work to be done. In fact, there was so much work that even after working extremely hard all day it almost felt like we didn’t get anything accomplished. When I left the sorting room, I looked back and still saw rows of boxes that needed to be sorted. Harvesters exceeded my expectations, however, because I never thought I would have as much fun as I did; nor did I think I would meet as many other people as I got to.
I learned so much at Harvesters, and no, I’m not talking about how to sort food and clean walls. I learned that the majority of people who come into Harvesters are actually NOT homeless. Most people who come in actually have a home to live in and a car to drive. I was also surprised by a small fact that was so obvious yet somehow, I seemed to overlook it. Did you know that the students on the reduced or free meal plans at school usually don’t have food for meals on the weekend? Or that in most cases, they are home alone while their parents are at work so they are left to cook for themselves? Well, I did, but for some reason, I had never actually thought about it or realized the problem that created. Fortunately, someone at Harvesters did so; they deliver backpacks with enough food for the weekend in them and the kids pick them up at school. Because the students are better fed and feel like they have something to look forward to, they actually want to go to school.
Harvesters taught me that with a little help from the community, large amounts of people can be helped. I also learned that, even though it didn’t feel like much got accomplished, every little bit really does count. That’s why it’s so important to help when you can. Community service doesn’t always have to seem like work. In fact, once you actually start to help out it doesn’t. I could see myself returning to Harvesters ready to help!
What I want to change... about ME
Hmmm… what do I want to change about myself? I have always been happy with the way I am. Grant it, I know there are things that I need improvement on, however, it was fine with me that I am not perfect. I mean, I am only human and there is not a single person who is perfect. This thought is not overly exciting to me. Who would be? Who wants to sit there and think about things they need to change about themselves? Not me, that is for sure. It does not bother me that there are things I need to change; I just am happy with how I am and my imperfections are what make me who I am.
I started by making a list of all the things I need improvement on. I am shy when it comes to conversing with new people. I do not always say what I want to say because I am afraid of hurting other’s feelings; so sometimes I end up letting people walk all over me. However, when people do ask my opinion, I am very honest but, without any sugar coating. I like to be frank and to the point. Hey, if they ask then I might as well tell it like it is. I like to be helpful so, when friends, family, teachers, and coaches ask me to do favors for them, I have a problem with saying no. I also have a problem with telling my coach when something is too much because I am hurt. I am a perfectionist when it comes to things I am doing. I also do not really do anything I am not good at. These two factors are partially why I get frustrated with myself so easily. It is also why I am pessimistic towards the things I do. However, I can thank my perfectionism and pessimism for my success.
I had come up with a huge list of things to change and not one that I really wanted to change. Time to think a little harder. When I get stuck on something or do not know what to do, I think about what my dad would do or what he would say. I do this because I admire my dad so much. He taught me how to be a good person, a good friend. He taught me right from wrong. He did everything a good dad does and he did it with all the love in his heart. I never met a single person who knew my dad that did not admire him or love him. Even when he did things that made people mad he always seemed to do it in a way that ended up making them laugh. So, I thought about it and it dawned on me. I knew what I wanted to change about myself. I want to be more like my dad. Specifically, his bravery. He battled cancer and the whole time he was never scared about what would happen to him. He was never afraid of dying, never afraid of the pain that was inevitable. He just accepted what would happen. He was always more worried about how it was affecting his family and friends. Now, I am not saying I want to get cancer, I just know that if he was brave enough to face the scariest thing in his life the way he did, I can be a little braver. I can find the courage to try new things. Whether it is food or a new stunt in cheerleading, I can do it. If it means doing something I’m terrible at out in public. I can do it. I know if I want to, I can let loose with my friends and do something completely embarrassing in front of a crowd of people just because we feel like it. I know it will not be easy but I want to become more daring and let loose, be brave enough to try things I’ve never tried before.
I started by making a list of all the things I need improvement on. I am shy when it comes to conversing with new people. I do not always say what I want to say because I am afraid of hurting other’s feelings; so sometimes I end up letting people walk all over me. However, when people do ask my opinion, I am very honest but, without any sugar coating. I like to be frank and to the point. Hey, if they ask then I might as well tell it like it is. I like to be helpful so, when friends, family, teachers, and coaches ask me to do favors for them, I have a problem with saying no. I also have a problem with telling my coach when something is too much because I am hurt. I am a perfectionist when it comes to things I am doing. I also do not really do anything I am not good at. These two factors are partially why I get frustrated with myself so easily. It is also why I am pessimistic towards the things I do. However, I can thank my perfectionism and pessimism for my success.
I had come up with a huge list of things to change and not one that I really wanted to change. Time to think a little harder. When I get stuck on something or do not know what to do, I think about what my dad would do or what he would say. I do this because I admire my dad so much. He taught me how to be a good person, a good friend. He taught me right from wrong. He did everything a good dad does and he did it with all the love in his heart. I never met a single person who knew my dad that did not admire him or love him. Even when he did things that made people mad he always seemed to do it in a way that ended up making them laugh. So, I thought about it and it dawned on me. I knew what I wanted to change about myself. I want to be more like my dad. Specifically, his bravery. He battled cancer and the whole time he was never scared about what would happen to him. He was never afraid of dying, never afraid of the pain that was inevitable. He just accepted what would happen. He was always more worried about how it was affecting his family and friends. Now, I am not saying I want to get cancer, I just know that if he was brave enough to face the scariest thing in his life the way he did, I can be a little braver. I can find the courage to try new things. Whether it is food or a new stunt in cheerleading, I can do it. If it means doing something I’m terrible at out in public. I can do it. I know if I want to, I can let loose with my friends and do something completely embarrassing in front of a crowd of people just because we feel like it. I know it will not be easy but I want to become more daring and let loose, be brave enough to try things I’ve never tried before.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Crucible
The Crucible started out in the woods with the girls dancing with the slave Tituba. When Reverend Parris catches them, the girls scatter. Betty, his daughter, becomes suddenly “sick.” Soon, other girls start to become sick. It is obvious that the girls are faking so as to keep themselves out of trouble. However, the town claims there is witchcraft occurring because they cannot explain the sudden illness that has struck their young daughters. Many townspeople come to visit the young, sick Betty who was the first to become ill. One of those includes John Proctor. While he is there, he and Abigail are left alone. During this period, Abigail admits that there is no witchcraft going on. Then, she proceeds to seduce John. John, who has already felt grief for making the mistake of adultery with Abigail once, denies her. This angers Abigail. Just as Abigail and John’s conversation ends the others enter with Tituba. Tituba is threatened and thrown around until she finally admits she has committed the crime of witchcraft. She also claims to have seen many women of the town with the devil when he came for her name. Later, women begin to be accused of witchcraft and they must face the court; the court of which Mary Warren is a part of. Mary Warren returns from court one day, with a poppet she made and gave it to Elizabeth Proctor. Not long after, Elizabeth is taken away for witchcraft. She was accused by Abigail who claimed Elizabeth stuck her in the side with a needle. After many hangings of women, John shows up to court with Mary Warren and documents stating that many people of Salem are against killing any more women and they don’t believe in what is going on anymore, that Giles Corey does not think his wife is a witch, that he just wants to know why she reads so much, and that he thinks Putnam is just trying to accuse someone so he can have their land, and the final document states that Mary Warren admits the girls were just pretending. It is obvious that people in the town are just accusing one another for revenge.
Arthur Miller does a wonderful job of showing just how ludicrous people can be. The Crucible showed more than just people being crazy, it also showed about how religion can affect people’s lives in a big way. For example, when Elizabeth was accused, the Proctors are questioned about their Christianity. They were looked down upon because they did not attend Sabbath like they were supposed to. When John said it was because his wife was sick, he was asked why he did not come alone. John’s response was that the days he did not come, he prayed at home. The fact that John’s youngest was not baptized was also questioned. John told them it was because Reverend Parris only spoke of what the devil could do and warned them harshly about evil instead of preaching god like they should and the he made the members pay until they could afford gold candle sticks instead of pewter and he did not want his son to be baptized by a preacher like that. When that did not do, John went on to recite the Ten Commandments as proof of their Christianity. Everything that happened in the play revolved around their religion, their creeds, codes, cultuses, and the community. For example, the bible said there was such thing as witchcraft so if one did not believe in witchcraft they did not believe in the bible. If one did not know the Ten Commandments, as shown in John’s circumstance, they were not Christian. John also provides the perfect example of cultuses; he did not attend Sabbath like he was supposed to so he was questioned. The Crucible shows how the puritan community was so closely linked and how it was so strongly based off of their religious beliefs.
Arthur Miller does a wonderful job of showing just how ludicrous people can be. The Crucible showed more than just people being crazy, it also showed about how religion can affect people’s lives in a big way. For example, when Elizabeth was accused, the Proctors are questioned about their Christianity. They were looked down upon because they did not attend Sabbath like they were supposed to. When John said it was because his wife was sick, he was asked why he did not come alone. John’s response was that the days he did not come, he prayed at home. The fact that John’s youngest was not baptized was also questioned. John told them it was because Reverend Parris only spoke of what the devil could do and warned them harshly about evil instead of preaching god like they should and the he made the members pay until they could afford gold candle sticks instead of pewter and he did not want his son to be baptized by a preacher like that. When that did not do, John went on to recite the Ten Commandments as proof of their Christianity. Everything that happened in the play revolved around their religion, their creeds, codes, cultuses, and the community. For example, the bible said there was such thing as witchcraft so if one did not believe in witchcraft they did not believe in the bible. If one did not know the Ten Commandments, as shown in John’s circumstance, they were not Christian. John also provides the perfect example of cultuses; he did not attend Sabbath like he was supposed to so he was questioned. The Crucible shows how the puritan community was so closely linked and how it was so strongly based off of their religious beliefs.
Harvesters
After arriving at Harvesters, I was placed in the food sorting group. We took a tour of the facility then we were taken to a huge room where we were told how to sort food. My group had to go through large cardboard boxes filled with food and separate to food into specific bins such as, dry meals, condiments, glass containers, cleaning products, and protein. While it was fun trying to see how many objects I could find that belonged in the same bin and carry them all at once, the work sometimes crossed over to the gross side. Occasionally, we would come across mold or maggots because something had broken open. Can you say DISGUISTING?! The second half of the day, after eating delicious pizza, was more tedious. Groups were split again, and I went with a group to wash ceilings, walls, and floors in the freezers. One thing I know for sure is the freezers were definitely working that day. Brrrrrr!
My expectations of Harvesters was somewhat met and yet, exceeded at the same time. I was expecting it to be a boring day that seemed to drag on because we were going to be doing loads of work. Pretty much, I thought it was going to be like doing chores back at home. To be honest, there was tons of work to be done. In fact, there was so much work that even after working extremely hard all day it almost felt like we didn’t get anything accomplished. When I left the sorting room, I looked back and still saw rows of boxes that needed to be sorted. Harvesters exceeded my expectations, however, because I never thought I would have as much fun as I did; nor did I think I would meet as many other students as I got to.
I learned so much at Harvesters, and no, I’m not talking about how to sort food and clean walls. I learned that the majority of people who come into Harvesters are actually NOT homeless. Most people who come in actually have a home to live in and a car to drive. I was also surprised by a small fact that was so obvious yet somehow, I seemed to overlook it. Did you know that the students on the reduced or free meal plans at school usually don’t have food for meals on the weekend? Or that in most cases, they are home alone while their parents are at work so they are left to cook for themselves? Well, I did, but for some reason, I had never actually thought about it or realized the problem that created. Fortunately, someone at Harvesters did so; they deliver backpacks with enough food for the weekend in them and the kids pick them up at school. Because the students are better fed and feel like they have something to look forward to, they actually want to go to school.
Harvesters taught me that with a little help from the community, large amounts of people can be helped. Just our freshmen class at Avila University, filled three large bins with food donations and that was just from almost everyone bringing ONE food item to donate. I also learned that, even though it didn’t feel like much got accomplished, every little bit really does count. That’s why it’s so important that Avila continues this tradition. Community service doesn’t always have to seem like work. In fact, once you actually start to help out it doesn’t. I could see myself returning to Harvesters ready to help!
My expectations of Harvesters was somewhat met and yet, exceeded at the same time. I was expecting it to be a boring day that seemed to drag on because we were going to be doing loads of work. Pretty much, I thought it was going to be like doing chores back at home. To be honest, there was tons of work to be done. In fact, there was so much work that even after working extremely hard all day it almost felt like we didn’t get anything accomplished. When I left the sorting room, I looked back and still saw rows of boxes that needed to be sorted. Harvesters exceeded my expectations, however, because I never thought I would have as much fun as I did; nor did I think I would meet as many other students as I got to.
I learned so much at Harvesters, and no, I’m not talking about how to sort food and clean walls. I learned that the majority of people who come into Harvesters are actually NOT homeless. Most people who come in actually have a home to live in and a car to drive. I was also surprised by a small fact that was so obvious yet somehow, I seemed to overlook it. Did you know that the students on the reduced or free meal plans at school usually don’t have food for meals on the weekend? Or that in most cases, they are home alone while their parents are at work so they are left to cook for themselves? Well, I did, but for some reason, I had never actually thought about it or realized the problem that created. Fortunately, someone at Harvesters did so; they deliver backpacks with enough food for the weekend in them and the kids pick them up at school. Because the students are better fed and feel like they have something to look forward to, they actually want to go to school.
Harvesters taught me that with a little help from the community, large amounts of people can be helped. Just our freshmen class at Avila University, filled three large bins with food donations and that was just from almost everyone bringing ONE food item to donate. I also learned that, even though it didn’t feel like much got accomplished, every little bit really does count. That’s why it’s so important that Avila continues this tradition. Community service doesn’t always have to seem like work. In fact, once you actually start to help out it doesn’t. I could see myself returning to Harvesters ready to help!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Who's the victim?
There are two ways someone can play the “victim mode.” Either they are only concerned with everyone else or they are only concerned with themselves. In some circumstances, people are like this because they do not understand otherwise, usually this pertains to young children. However, my experiences have dealt with young adults who know better. It is my belief that the only reason for their behavior is because they are selfish and immature.
Alex is a person who has many examples of playing the “victim mode.” She is usually concerned with everyone else. One example is, Alex took her phone to school. She put it in her locker but doesn’t remember where she put it and doesn’t remember ever getting it out. Instead of just admitting she lost it, she claimed someone stole it so she would not get into trouble. The principal checked the cameras that had a clear view of her locker and reported that the only people in her locker that day were her and her locker partner. The tapes are in a locked VCR compartment that only the principal has the key to and it is monitored by the secretary, therefore there was no way the video could be tampered with. Somehow though, someone stole her phone. Not long after that, Alex lost a very expensive pair of boots. She blamed everyone else in the family for it. She claimed someone moved them. Well, it just so happens that Alex likes to get on the computer and the computer happens to be in her sister’s room. When her sister came home from college one weekend, she cleaned her room and in the process found Alex’s boots. Alex ran downstairs to her mom declaring that her sister had stolen them. Considering Alex had worn the boots in between the periods of her sister’s visits, it was not possible for her sister to be the one to take them. Then, the next morning as her sister and her mom were leaving, Alex stands at the top of the stairs and shouts down to her mom asking to go to the movies and hang out at her boyfriend’s house. Her mom said not unless she found a ride because she had to take Alex’s car because her was in the shop and that she didn’t like the idea of her going over to her boyfriend’s house she would rather them wait and come to her house when she got home. Infuriated, Alex exclaimed, “You never let me do anything. The other two got to do stuff all the time.”
Nicole is an example of a person in “victim mode” who is only concerned with herself. Nicole’s mom wanted her to come with her and Autumn, her grand-daughter, for a girls day. Nicole said no, she needed alone time with her husband (even though neither of them work and they spend all day together while her sister watches her son and her niece) and then proceeded to tell her mom to take Joey, Nicole’s son, with her instead. When her mom said no she was just going to take Autumn, Nicole was angry and screamed at her mom saying , “You never does anything for me and I need my alone time and I’m always doing things and I never get a break.” Later, during a phone call, she proceeded to tell a friend that her mom is selfish.
I would not see the situations any differently now that we have talked about it in class. I would not be a good person to give either girl feedback because I would not be nice about it. I would tell them the truth and if that makes them see the light then it does, if not then there’s no hope for them. I would tell Alex she needs to be more responsible and keep track of her things and she needs to make plans earlier and let her mom know about them before she is walking out the door. She also needs to understand that her mom has good reasons for responding the way she does. She tells her no sometimes because she is trying to protect her because she loves her. I would tell Nicole that she needs to realize that everything is not about her. There are other people in this world and it is extremely rude to call her mom selfish when she was just trying to do something nice for Nicole. Just because the what someone is trying to do is not exactly what she wants it to be does not make the gesture any less nice and does not mean that the other person is wrong for not doing what she wanted.
Alex is a person who has many examples of playing the “victim mode.” She is usually concerned with everyone else. One example is, Alex took her phone to school. She put it in her locker but doesn’t remember where she put it and doesn’t remember ever getting it out. Instead of just admitting she lost it, she claimed someone stole it so she would not get into trouble. The principal checked the cameras that had a clear view of her locker and reported that the only people in her locker that day were her and her locker partner. The tapes are in a locked VCR compartment that only the principal has the key to and it is monitored by the secretary, therefore there was no way the video could be tampered with. Somehow though, someone stole her phone. Not long after that, Alex lost a very expensive pair of boots. She blamed everyone else in the family for it. She claimed someone moved them. Well, it just so happens that Alex likes to get on the computer and the computer happens to be in her sister’s room. When her sister came home from college one weekend, she cleaned her room and in the process found Alex’s boots. Alex ran downstairs to her mom declaring that her sister had stolen them. Considering Alex had worn the boots in between the periods of her sister’s visits, it was not possible for her sister to be the one to take them. Then, the next morning as her sister and her mom were leaving, Alex stands at the top of the stairs and shouts down to her mom asking to go to the movies and hang out at her boyfriend’s house. Her mom said not unless she found a ride because she had to take Alex’s car because her was in the shop and that she didn’t like the idea of her going over to her boyfriend’s house she would rather them wait and come to her house when she got home. Infuriated, Alex exclaimed, “You never let me do anything. The other two got to do stuff all the time.”
Nicole is an example of a person in “victim mode” who is only concerned with herself. Nicole’s mom wanted her to come with her and Autumn, her grand-daughter, for a girls day. Nicole said no, she needed alone time with her husband (even though neither of them work and they spend all day together while her sister watches her son and her niece) and then proceeded to tell her mom to take Joey, Nicole’s son, with her instead. When her mom said no she was just going to take Autumn, Nicole was angry and screamed at her mom saying , “You never does anything for me and I need my alone time and I’m always doing things and I never get a break.” Later, during a phone call, she proceeded to tell a friend that her mom is selfish.
I would not see the situations any differently now that we have talked about it in class. I would not be a good person to give either girl feedback because I would not be nice about it. I would tell them the truth and if that makes them see the light then it does, if not then there’s no hope for them. I would tell Alex she needs to be more responsible and keep track of her things and she needs to make plans earlier and let her mom know about them before she is walking out the door. She also needs to understand that her mom has good reasons for responding the way she does. She tells her no sometimes because she is trying to protect her because she loves her. I would tell Nicole that she needs to realize that everything is not about her. There are other people in this world and it is extremely rude to call her mom selfish when she was just trying to do something nice for Nicole. Just because the what someone is trying to do is not exactly what she wants it to be does not make the gesture any less nice and does not mean that the other person is wrong for not doing what she wanted.
Literature
Webster’s Universal Unabridged Dictionary states that literature is, “‘all writings in prose or verse, especially those of an imaginative or critical character’” (pg 2). Another definition is, “the entire body of writings of a specific language, period, people” (Dictionary.com). However, these definitions are incomplete. A better definition of literature is any form of text that presents an idea, thought, expression, or explanation and is used to pass along ideas or information and to make one think. Literature can get the wheels turning and can open one’s mind. Eveline is a great example of literature. Eveline made the reader question further details and since literature is a way to make people think, Eveline is literature.
Eveline is literature because it even reflects the functions of literature. An example of this would be that it improves thinking skills because it makes one question what they read. Or in other words, it engages critical thinking. It is not just enough to know that Eveline worked at, “the Store.” The reader itches to know what the store sold, did she like her job, and what kind of people shopped there. In the story, a picture of a preacher is mentioned. This inspires one to think critically because the reader takes one description and uses it to uncover details about the character’s life. For example, the picture of the preacher provides evidence of the family’s religious beliefs. Another example of how Eveline induces critical thinking is the fact that Eveline has a chance to escape her terrible life but instead she chooses to stay.
“All the seas of the world tumbled about her heart. He was drawing her into them: he would drown her. She gripped with both hands the Iron railing.
-Come!
No! No! No! It was impossible” (pg 815).
Why is it that she cannot leave? What is holding her back? These questions arise because Eveline causes critical thinking. Critical thinking can be implied by Eveline because the reader can use phrases from it to unearth details. “Then she would be married-she Eveline. People would treat her with respect then” (pg 813). This statement reveals cultural ideas that were present during the time period Eveline was written. Why would getting married earn her respect? By using critical thinking one can guess that in 1916, it was proper for a young woman to be married, afterwards, she would earn respect. Eveline, makes the reader think critically about the details of the text so that they can reach a conclusion, idea, or answer that satisfies them. Therefore, Eveline shows the function of literature, improving thinking skills. Eveline exemplifies the definition of literature.
Eveline is a perfect model of what literature is and of what the function of literature is. Literature is any form of text that presents an idea, thought, expression, or explanation and is used to pass along ideas or information and to make one think. Eveline is a form of text, written by James Joyce, which makes one question further. It made the reader think instead of just accept. Eveline also showed the function of literature. Because it made the reader question further, it improved thinking skills. Eveline made the reader question further details and since literature is a way to make people think, Eveline is literature.
Eveline is literature because it even reflects the functions of literature. An example of this would be that it improves thinking skills because it makes one question what they read. Or in other words, it engages critical thinking. It is not just enough to know that Eveline worked at, “the Store.” The reader itches to know what the store sold, did she like her job, and what kind of people shopped there. In the story, a picture of a preacher is mentioned. This inspires one to think critically because the reader takes one description and uses it to uncover details about the character’s life. For example, the picture of the preacher provides evidence of the family’s religious beliefs. Another example of how Eveline induces critical thinking is the fact that Eveline has a chance to escape her terrible life but instead she chooses to stay.
“All the seas of the world tumbled about her heart. He was drawing her into them: he would drown her. She gripped with both hands the Iron railing.
-Come!
No! No! No! It was impossible” (pg 815).
Why is it that she cannot leave? What is holding her back? These questions arise because Eveline causes critical thinking. Critical thinking can be implied by Eveline because the reader can use phrases from it to unearth details. “Then she would be married-she Eveline. People would treat her with respect then” (pg 813). This statement reveals cultural ideas that were present during the time period Eveline was written. Why would getting married earn her respect? By using critical thinking one can guess that in 1916, it was proper for a young woman to be married, afterwards, she would earn respect. Eveline, makes the reader think critically about the details of the text so that they can reach a conclusion, idea, or answer that satisfies them. Therefore, Eveline shows the function of literature, improving thinking skills. Eveline exemplifies the definition of literature.
Eveline is a perfect model of what literature is and of what the function of literature is. Literature is any form of text that presents an idea, thought, expression, or explanation and is used to pass along ideas or information and to make one think. Eveline is a form of text, written by James Joyce, which makes one question further. It made the reader think instead of just accept. Eveline also showed the function of literature. Because it made the reader question further, it improved thinking skills. Eveline made the reader question further details and since literature is a way to make people think, Eveline is literature.
Friday, October 21, 2011
This I believe
I believe in the power of choice. Although it may seem like we do not have control over the way something makes us feel, in a way, we do. We cannot control what others do or say to us or what happens to us. We can, however, control how it affects us.
When I was younger, I had a problem with letting other people get to me. My dad had the perfect solution. He would take me in his car, turn on the music, and just drive. He told me to just listen. I would concentrate so intently to the music that I forgot about being upset. Music became my healing power. Then, when I was ten, my life started to crumble. My dad got cancer. The doctors found a tumor in his head; they said his chances would be high if they caught it before the cancer spread. So, we went for it. He had the surgery and was fine, for about a year and a half. It came back. He survived for almost another year before he went into a coma. I went into his room everyday to talk to him because I knew he was there listening. I knew he would hold on for my family and me; he would endure his pain just so we would not suffer. Eventually, I knew I could not be selfish any longer. One morning, before anyone woke up, I crept into my dad’s room and told him that we knew he loved us and that it was ok to go. He died July 28, 2003. That day, I lost my best friend. I fell into a dark pit of grief and did not think I would ever recover. I watched as my friends enjoyed their last bit of summer with such enthusiasm and joy. How could they be so happy? All I could do was sit in my room and read the old books my dad and I used to read together or sleep so I could pretend like the whole thing was just another nightmare and when I woke up he would be there. One day, while reading, I heard the radio start to play one of those songs my dad and I listened to. Soon I found myself focusing in on the music; suddenly I was singing the words. As the song went on, I felt the grief leave. It was in that moment that I realized I had the power to be happy. I could choose to remember all the good memories about my dad and how much I love him instead of focusing on how much I miss him or the fact that he’s gone.
Choosing to be happy brought me out of a trance. Even though I could not choose what happened to me, I could still choose to be happy. Now, nothing can bring me down, I choose my happiness instead. I believe in the power of choice.
When I was younger, I had a problem with letting other people get to me. My dad had the perfect solution. He would take me in his car, turn on the music, and just drive. He told me to just listen. I would concentrate so intently to the music that I forgot about being upset. Music became my healing power. Then, when I was ten, my life started to crumble. My dad got cancer. The doctors found a tumor in his head; they said his chances would be high if they caught it before the cancer spread. So, we went for it. He had the surgery and was fine, for about a year and a half. It came back. He survived for almost another year before he went into a coma. I went into his room everyday to talk to him because I knew he was there listening. I knew he would hold on for my family and me; he would endure his pain just so we would not suffer. Eventually, I knew I could not be selfish any longer. One morning, before anyone woke up, I crept into my dad’s room and told him that we knew he loved us and that it was ok to go. He died July 28, 2003. That day, I lost my best friend. I fell into a dark pit of grief and did not think I would ever recover. I watched as my friends enjoyed their last bit of summer with such enthusiasm and joy. How could they be so happy? All I could do was sit in my room and read the old books my dad and I used to read together or sleep so I could pretend like the whole thing was just another nightmare and when I woke up he would be there. One day, while reading, I heard the radio start to play one of those songs my dad and I listened to. Soon I found myself focusing in on the music; suddenly I was singing the words. As the song went on, I felt the grief leave. It was in that moment that I realized I had the power to be happy. I could choose to remember all the good memories about my dad and how much I love him instead of focusing on how much I miss him or the fact that he’s gone.
Choosing to be happy brought me out of a trance. Even though I could not choose what happened to me, I could still choose to be happy. Now, nothing can bring me down, I choose my happiness instead. I believe in the power of choice.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Patient assessment
One of the most important things a hospital employee does is patient assessment. Part of the patient assessment is educating patients about what is going on. You start off by telling the patients about what is going on. You start off by telling the patient about the exam they are about to get. Then you let them know the possible risks and side effects as well as pre and post procedure instructions. Then you get the patient’s history relevant to the procedure about to take place. Finally, you ask if they have any questions and answer them as best as you can. Doing these things will not only make your patient aware of what is going on but will also protect you if something were to happen during the exam. While talking to patients it is important that you use proper verbals and non-verbals. You don’t want to yell at your patient but you do want to speak at a level they can hear and you don’t want to speak too fast to be understood. Another importance of speech is to not speak to the patient like they’re stupid but also not like they have been through medical school. Speak on a level they understand. As far as non-verbals go, make sure to make them feel comfortable by making eye contact and smiling. Tending to the patients needs this way will not only make the patient less nervous but will also make them more likely to work with you. Before taking a patient anywhere to do an exam, make sure they are able to move properly. Also, make sure they are of stable mental status. The final thing that must be assessed the level of consciousness. Don’t forget to look at what the patient is hooked up to or special precautions on their door. This again, is to protect your safety as well as the patient’s safety. One easy way to check these things is the patient’s chart. If the patient’s skin turns blue, usually in nail beds or mucous membranes, this indicates a lack of oxygen. If they are pale or clammy that is an indication of low blood pressure. If this happens, get the nurse or a physician and never leave the patient alone. If their temperature is hot and they are dry this indicates fever. If the patient is breathing rapidly they may require oxygen. These are some of the reasons it is important to know how to take vitals. A normal temperature taken orally is 98.6 for and adult and one degree lower five to thirteen years of age. Normal respiration is twelve to twenty breaths per minute for adults and twenty-one to thirty breaths for children. A normal resting pulse per minute is seventy to seventy-two for men, seventy-eight to eighty-two for women, ninety to one-hundred for children and one-hundred-twenty for infants. A normal blood pressure for patients is 100-140/60-90. Shock is when blood pressure is 30mm below baseline systolic. There are five types of shock, hypovolemic, septic, neurologic, cardiogenic, and anaphylaxis. If the patient is in shock lay them on their back, call for help check vitals, be ready for CPR, a record the occurrence.
How Time Flys
Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was back in middle school going through those awkward years. Back in that time not only did I have that awkward look but I was figuring out who my friends were and who I was as a person. But those years are far gone and I’m way past my first crush and my first kiss. It’s hard to believe I’m through those four glorious yet miserably stressful high school years. Then it was all about who was popular or not and popularity was never based on what it should have been based off of such as who was kind to everyone or who treated all of the people with the respect they deserved. Instead it was based off of who was the best looking, most accomplished and involved, who had the best clothes, and finally who was head cheerleader or captain of the football team, or where I’m from who was on the varsity wrestling team. It even seemed strange to me then that such petty things were important to most of the students in my graduating class. What is even stranger to me though, the ones who were seen as having all those things and therefore were seen as popular are now the ones is that still see those things as important “qualities.” Even with the frivolous views of high school, I still enjoyed most of it and found that high school sweetheart that I fell in love with ad then, like most high school relationships, ended with that big blow-up fight. Those years, even with all the stress, flew by quicker than I imagined they could. Now, I am n my third year in college. It’s still hard to believe I’m already this far. My first year of college was all about the adjusting to a new school. I also found exercising on my own to be very important. This year was also the year I met my husband. I had seen him on the sidelines before and my friends were convinced I needed a man, so I agreed to meet him. We text each other for awhile but I decided he was a jerk and he decided I wasn’t right for his life style at that time. He left for boot camp our second semester but we continued to talk. I, and most of the other students at Avila, still saw him as a bit of a jerk. However, when He came back he had a completely different attitude about hi despite the m. He showed a side of him no one had ever seen before. Soon after he got back, he came to visit me on his way to run another errand. Afterwards, I got a nervous phone call from him. He asked me on a date, the first dated he had ever asked a girl to. Everyone deserves a chance because you just may never know, so I said yes despite the warnings from friends. Now, he and I are married, moved Joplin together have an apartment and a puppy and are happy as can be! Man time FLYS!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Attire and Its Importance
Oh my goodness! What is that girl wearing? Have you ever looked down the street and wondered what is that person wearing? A lot can be said by what you are wearing. You must wear appropriate attire to work, school, for physical activity, special events, or even to fit in to certain groups. Clothing does more than just cover those “special parts.” Clothing can be used for social acceptance or to show social statues. An example of clothing being used as a way to tell status is at hospitals. For my clinical, I had to buy scrubs. All Hospital employees such as nurses, techs, and doctors must wear scrubs. Students, at least ones from Missouri Southern, in the Radiology program wear green scrubs. This is to show that we are first year Radiology students. Therefore, our scrubs show our status in the hospital. Another example of where this occurs is when it comes to designer clothing. Some people would rather buy the name brand or buy from a particular store because of the name. Many will do so even if the product is not practical or worth the amount you pay. But if you walk into a room of women and say this is Channel, people will almost always automatically ooh and ah. A perfect example of only buying from a certain store actually occurs mainly in the high school years. Kids at my high school would only buy clothes from a store called Hollister and if your clothes were not from that store that was not acceptable. However if you had Hollister you were automatically cool. That is the same concept for certain fabrics. For example many people would rather buy silk as opposed to buying cotton because silk is seen as the better, more precious fabric, and of higher status. However, cotton will hold up in more extreme conditions. The Red Carpet is a big spotlight on attire for those famous movie stars. In fact that is the main subject. There are news reports about what the stars wear on the Red Carpet. It is so important that it can have a large effect on their career. If a star is seen as having fashionable taste, they may be asked by a designer to wear their clothing. Or they may even have a better chance of sales if they start their own fashion line. If they are seen as having bad taste, it may cause people to see them as a joke and they may even have difficulty finding a job. But, attire is not just important for stars jobs, regular everyday people have to have appropriate attire for jobs, whether it is getting a job or working at a job. If one does not wear proper business attire to an interview, the interviewer may not even look twice at you. If you have problems wearing the correct attire to work every day then it may even end up that you get fired. What NOT to Wear is a fun-to-watch show that is a good way to learn what is appropriate to wear because it is important for social acceptance as well status.
My day
Yesterday Morning I woke up bright and early. At five o'clock to be exact. I did my regular morning routine, put in my contacts, showered, brushed my teeth, got dressed, did my hair, you know the normal stuff. Then I studied for my test a little more. I had studied all weekend but it never hurt to run through the material one more time. At about 6:30 I left for morning weights. When I got to the student center, none of the other cheerleaders were there. I couldn't figure out what was going on. So, I text the captain to figure out why one of the guys and I were the only ones there. Apparently, I didn't get the text sent out that weights had been changed to Monday at one instead of seven. So, I worked out and then headed over to the Health Sciences building and decided to study for about another half hour. then it was time for class which meant it was time for our first test. It was in physics and was test one of three for the day. It was a seventy point test. I felt like I did alright. The only thing was he asked a few questions about a topic I was unsure of so I knew that hurt me a little. But overall I thought I got somewhere between an A and a B. In Radiology ninety-two percent is the lowest grade for and A. Then we had physics class and Intro class before going into test two for the day which was in positing. I felt like I was doing good and was doing fine one time until I realized my numbers were off on my scan tron. I had to take the time to go back and fix my mistake. But there were ten minutes left by the time I got it all fixed. So I was good on time, or so I thought. He decided to pit up the pictures and I still had five more multiple choice and after picture the test is done. So, I tried to do the multiple choice and pictures at the same time. Done! I did it!I was a bit unsure of how I did particularly because of the mess up. But, I still didn't think I completely failed. To end out class period we learned some more positioning. Then we were released for lunch before coming back to take our third and final test of the day. This was in position the lab. We had to know how to position the fingers, hand, wrist, thumb, forearm, elbow and humerus and one extra wrist positioning. We were only being tested over one but there would be a bowl to draw from to see which was ours. I drew and elbow which was three views. we had five minutes to complete the views. After we finished with vies we had to answer questions about images. i felt pretty good after my test because he informed me I got one-hundred percent. after school, I decided I earned a break and went to play volleyball with my husband and friends. Afterwards, I went to get some groceries.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Exercise
Do you ever feel like you are just dragging along? Do you ever feel like you are unhappy with yourself? Or, like you wish you could do something constructive with your free time? Well, there may be an answer right in front of you and you do not even know it! Have you ever tried to exercise to solve these problems? Working out should be a very essential part of one’s day. I mean, it is healthy for you and it keeps you in shape and helps you live a longer and fuller life. Here are some reasons Mayo clinic gives. Let’s say you have worked really hard to lose weight and you do not want to gain it back again. If you exercise, then you may be able to prevent that unwanted weight from coming back. Exercising burns calories off and that helps to keep the weight off. If you do not have a lot of time in your life and do not have time for an actual work out, no worries. You can do simple every day things to improve your lifestyle. For example you could take the stairs or ride your bike. Now, you can just go eat McDonalds every meal every day and expect walking up the stairs to keep that weight off. If you are concerned about your health then again, exercise may be of use to you. “No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides.” Continuing a daily exercise could actually help to prevent a number of health risks such as stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, and arthritis. Whenever you feel down on yourself just go do a little bit of exercising. “Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.” You may also feel better about yourself because you will be in better shape and you will feel like you have accomplished something. When you are feeling like you are dragging instill a daily exercise into your life. Exercising helps with endurance and strength because your tissues receive need nutrients which helps them, and you, work more efficiently. As long as it is not done too close to bed time, exercise can help you fall asleep. Now here is where some of you may find the most interesting. Exercising may be helpful when it comes to improving your sex life. “Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise.” Best of all, physical activity can be fun for you and your family and friends. It can be used as time together. It can be time spent enjoying the great outdoors. It does not have to be in the gym. One more surprising thing about exercising is that it may even help prevent teens from smoking. Not only does it helps to improve their self esteem but it also curbs the cravings. But, if you are having trouble finding time or ways to exercise, this site may help. http://www.medicinenet.com/workout_routines_and_ideas/article.htm
GUSTER
well, this is only the fourth set of blog posts and I am pretty sure the well is dry when it comes to ideas for topics to write about. So, those poor people who do end up reading this get to read about my dog. Personally, I think its a great subject. however, my sister has informed me otherwise. My puppy's name is Guster. My husband and I named him after a character off of our favorite TV show that we like to watch together, Psych. We decided to get a dog when Ryan was sent to Germany for a training session for the Army. That way i would not be alone. We searched forever for a dog. Ryan wanted a non-shedding, medium size dog. We finally found Gus on Craigslist in Neosho. So, we drove to Neosho because Ryan decided that even though Gus was a shedder, he was worth it because he was free and he had his first set of shots. When we got there, it was a small trailer home and Gus and his sister were in a small kennel together. Gus was a scared little pup. We had the hardest time getting him to play with his toys. But, after a few accidents, he was potty trained and he was easily kennel trained. For how young he is he was quick and easy to train. Now, Gus is almost a year old. In fact, his birthday is October first. He is so smart that now he can do sit, stay, fetch, catch, speak, say please, come, and is working on play dead, roll over, and some hunting commands. Speak means loud and say please is when he does a silent bark. when we tell him to stay either we throw something or we sit a treat or toy on his nose and make him balance it. He has to sit there until we say ok. He is so good we can even say Oklahoma, Oak, Ozark, or any other word and he will stay. He definitely makes me a proud momma. I mean, I know Gus is a dog and not a baby but he is the closest thing I will have to a kid for a long, long time. Sometimes, I joke around with my sister about how Gus is a person and one day I will find his zipper and open it up and BAM! There will be a little person in there. It is funny because he does some things like people do. For example dogs sit on their hind legs but Guster sits on his bottom like a person. Gus also lays on his back with his hind legs stretched out and he relaxes his front two paws on his chest. He even snores! He likes to sleep right in between Ryan and I. He also likes to watch TV with us. When we eat dinner he will go over to his dish and eat dinner. He loves it when it is time for Ryan or I to fill up his water dish because he loves to drink from a cup or a water bottle, like a human. My mom loves Guster. She even calls him her grandson. She will go as far as to call me just to see how Guster is and tell me she misses him. She loves to babysit him. Obviously, she is a character as well. But, nobody can hut but love Guster!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Why would you want contact lenses? Well, you obviously shouldn’t get contact lenses unless you need to have your vision corrected. I personally have contact lenses and I love them. But why should someone get contacts instead of glasses? Well for starters, contacts have a more comfortable fit. Because glasses do not sit directly on your eye like contacts do, you always feel them and almost the whole time they are worn you can even see the glasses through peripheral vision. Also, contacts follow where ever you look. Glasses are stationary and make it so your vision is blurred whenever you look down or side to side without moving your whole head, which happens to be very inconvenient. Glasses fog up whenever there is a dramatic temperature change while contacts do not create this annoyance. Or whenever it rains vision is again impaired with glasses because the drops are on the lenses. This also presents a problem when taking a shower. Glasses, even when fitted properly, have a tendency to fall off. This is an exceptionally large problem when it comes to participating in any athletic activity. As a matter of fact, if you only have glasses, you may be completely prohibited from certain activities because of safety precautions. I am a cheerleader and I cannot imagine trying to tumble or stunt with my glasses on. Kid’s eyes are still growing. So, contacts may be a better idea for them because certain visions require certain frames and as their eyes change so might different frames may be needed. As a kid, I was so much happier when I got my contacts because I was not seen as the class nerd anymore and I felt that the other children were not so judgmental and they were more willing to accept me. Frames can cost a pretty penny so by getting them contact lenses not only are you preventing them from being called four-eyes but you are saving yourself money as well. When my dog chewed up my glasses, it cost almost two-hundred dollars just to replace them. Contacts only cost about thirty-five dollars for a box of six contacts. That is three pairs. Each pair of contacts lasts approximately a month if taken care of properly. If, as a parent, you are worried about your kids taking care of their contact lenses, No Worries! There are sites to help you and your child understand how to care for them and you can always ask your doctor about it. But for now, here is a site to help with that. http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/caring-contact-lens. Are you one of those people who likes to match or coordinate your entire attire from head to toe? Well, glasses do not always match every outfit in your closet, however, contacts do! I am one of those people, and I enjoy wearing pretty colored eye shadows. With glasses, my eye shadow would be covered and I would not be able to prominently display them. All around, contacts are better but you may want to keep those glasses handy just in case something happens!
Clinicals
As many of you know, St. Johns hospital was destroyed in the tornado. However, they were fortunate enough to reopen their doors, surprisingly, with in a week after the catastrophic event. The hospital started out in a tent with some equipment recovered from the old hospital. Not long after the tent hospital went up, a temporary building was built downhill as a clinic site. Now, there is a temporary building up where the tent hospital was. The rooms are very tiny, but, it is much nicer than the tent. Their x-ray machines, for both sites, are portables that were recovered from the remnants of the old St. Johns building. Luckily, the machines are still in well working condition. One is actually a semi- newer machine. It is a digital radiograph which uses a flat panel reader that sends the picture directly to the computer to read. Think of it sort of like a digital camera. Only, the SD card in the camera stores the picture while the flat panel is actually cleared after it is transferred to the computer. The other is as older version that is quite a bit more weathered. Although it still works and takes very acceptable pictures, it is much more difficult to maneuver. They do not have the nice wall bucky, a big square object that holds the reader and enables the tech to easily position the patient, and they do not have the floating table top with the bucky under it. It is much more difficult, as a beginner student who is t still trying to learn all of the techniques to properly position the patient and get the quality needed for a good x-ray picture. However, it is still possible to do, just more difficult than one would like it to be. Because it is more difficult better technique must be used. Because better technique must be used, the tech will become a better x-ray tech for it. It will be a better experience. It will be a neat to opportunity, and it will be an interesting thing to put on a resume. Knowing how tough and frustrating it may possibly be, it still cannot diminish any bit of the excitement of stepping out into the clinical world. The school, Missouri Southern State University, actually s the newer, better equipment to use. It is nice to be able to use that and it is very handy to be able to easily practice convenience of Alan, the director of Radiology and the only teacher for first year Radiology tech students, whenever help is needed. It is also nice to have the relaxed environment and the company of fellow students. However, as nice as all of that is, it is also somewhat inconvenient as well because at Missouri Southern, practice is done on other students, who understand what to do. At the hospital setting, it is done on real patients, who are in pain and do not just know what is going on and more often than not are unable to do what you need them to do.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Do you remember when you were younger? What was your family like? How much time did you spend with them? How did it make you feel? Do you wish you had spent more time doing things as a family? Did family time help you or hinder you? These are all important questions when considering the subject of family time. When most children are growing up, they like to spend quality time with their parents. What is considered to be quality time? ‘"Quality time" is time spent doing an activity that is meaningful to the parent and child.’ Quality time can be anything from getting ready for the day, sharing how one’s day went, or even discussing problems and understanding or resolving them together. Participating in activities such as this or in any quality time activities as a family is very important. Children learn through the actions of the ones they are surrounded by. “By living in a family, children learn to share, how to stand up for their own rights, and how to love another person.” Children mature based on how family time is spent. If a child’s parents are not patient and understanding or do not show a decent sense of morality, then, this may possibly be reflected in the child’s actions and behaviors. So, it is important to remember that if not practiced with care, quality time with the family may actually cause a child to practice a less-than-welcomed lifestyle. So, do remember to be careful because as they all say, “monkey see, monkey do.” What other problems are present when it comes to time with the family? One of the hardest parts is finding the time to have quality time together. An extremely easy way, however, is to simply eat dinner together, as a family, and discuss whatever is deemed necessary. As a matter of fact, this could be one of the most helpful things you could do for your child. “According to a new Columbia University survey, teenagers who eat with their families at least five times a week are more likely to get better grades in school and much less likely to have substance abuse problems.” In fact the study shows that teens are almost fifty percent less likely to drink alcohol, smoke, or use marijuana. AND, they are more likely to receive A’s and/or B’s in school. ‘"At a time when kids are under a lot of stress for a lot of different reasons, having that regular mealtime that they can count on, that their parents are there for support -- that can be very helpful," said David Elkind, a professor of child development at Tufts University in Massachusetts.’ He’s not the only one who has found an importance to this topic. “A Harvard University study found that family dinners were the most important family events in helping children develop language skills.” Wow! Who knew doing something as simple as eating dinner with your family could make such an impact! Unfortunately, only about half of American teenagers participate in a family dinner. WHY? Maybe its finding time or figuring out what to do. In any case there’s always help. In fact, here is a good place to find it. http://parenting.kaboose.com/familytips_familytime.html
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Michigan
This weekend my husband and I went on what he called a vacation. We went to Ypsilanti, Michigan to see his army buddy, Ian Pearsall. Our friend Aaron came along with us. Yes, I was the only girl in the car on a twelve and a half hour drive. No, they did not understand and got mad every time I had to use the little girls room and would not just let them pull over to the side of the road. We left late Friday and arrived early Saturday morning. We slept for a few hours before waking up early to go to Cedar Point, an awesome and spectacularly fun theme park in Ohio, that was yet another hour and a half away. However, we had loads of fun. When we got there, Ryan actually blacked out on one of the rides because it was so high. The boys decided to have a few beers and play beer pong. Ryan taught me how to play. I'm actually pretty good at it. After a few hours, I went back upstairs to study for the tests I had today. Eventually, I fell asleep. Later that night, I woke up to the sound of shouts so I went downstairs and heard someone talking in the bathroom. I opened the door and saw Ryan standing there with blood all over him. After a long explanation, I learned some of the kids from a house party down the street had made their way towards Pearsall's and started a fight. Ryan tried to stop it and calm everybody down. While doing so, one of those kids came up from behind and "cheap shot," as Ryan put it, him. Lucky for that kid, Pearsall and a few others were able to pull Ryan away before he got to the kid. After everything settled down, Aaron and I took Ryan to Miejer, which is very much like a Target or a Wal-mart. There we got a butterfly bandage and some liquid band aid because now, Ryan is supporting a black eye and a gash on his eyebrow. Yep, that tall blondie with the ugly eye is mine. Any how, the next day we went to Pearsall's parents house. there we met his parents, sister, younger brother, an old friend, his aunt, uncle, and cousin. We watched the Michigan State University game. Which is a very big deal there. Here its actually a social event as well while there you sit in almost complete silence and watch the whole game, maybe talk about a few plays but no more than that. Later, we went to his uncle's for dinner. They cooked a very delicious and large meal for us. Ryan and I talked to his aunt for a bit about how her son was VERY well behaved and how he was afraid of Ethan, Pearsall's younger brother who Ryan and I believe is dealing with some anger issues. The night ended with a game of darts, won by Pearsall and Jake, and a forty-five minute drive back to Pearsall's house. Once we were at the house, we talked for awhile before hitting the sack. Finally it was time for us to head back at a nice and early three a.m. Yes! Back home at last. Time to relax, or so I thought. Instead I had to unpack, study, and make dinner for the boy. Then I thought HEY! Naptime! NOT! I had o watch Guster, my wonderful puppy, and my sister's puppy, Bella. I felt exhausted from the long day and welcomed my bed at a USUALLY early nine thirty. GOOD NIGHT!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Cheer as a Sport
What started out clearly as a popularity contest has now become something much more. Cheerleading started out as a group of people who just helped bond a school together to further support the athletic teams. “ Today, cheerleading involves skills which require the strength of football, the grace of dance, and the agility of gymnastics. Complex maneuvers are performed which challenge the limits of the body.” (aacca) So, this poses the question, “is cheerleading a sport?” According to Dictionary.com a sport, as we are discussing, is defined as “an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature.” And, the Women's Sports Foundation said a commonly agreed upon definition of a sport includes all of the following, “A physical activity which involves propelling a mass through space or overcoming the resistance of a mass. "Contesting" or competing against/with an opponent. Governed by the rules which explicitly define the time, space and purpose of the contest and the conditions under which a winner is declared. Acknowledged primary purpose of the competition is a comparison of the relative skills of the participants.” According to these definitions, cheerleading, as long as the squad participates in some sort of competition, can be considered a sport. Here is why. Cheerleading requires participants to tumble. For those of you who don’t know, it’s alright if you don’t, tumbling is the flippy things gymnasts do. It also requires stunting in partner, pyramid or basket toss form. All of which include at least one person being lifted by one or more other people into the air. It also requires a cheer and a dance portion. However, there are certain programs, such as MSSU’s, that do not compete seasonally every year and therefore are not considered a sport. Recently, colleges have attempted to use the cheer squad to maintain their Title IX criteria. Unfortunately, this is not legal as ruled by a federal judge. According to the judge, it is not a sport because cheerleading is “too underdeveloped and disorganized” to be offered as “varsity athletic opportunity.” Also, it does not meet the proper criteria according to Title IX. “ An activity can be considered a sport under Title IX if it meets specific criteria. It must have coaches, practices, competitions during a defined season and a governing organization. The activity also must have competition as its primary goal -- not merely the support of other athletic teams.” However, there has been a newly developed program that will hopefully reverse this declaration. Now, cheerleaders have the opportunity to compete in a setting considerable to gymnastics. Cheerleaders compete in a series of events similar to the bars, beam, vault, and floor that gymnasts compete in. However, these events consist of jumps, standing and running tumbling, cheer, uniform partner stunt and basket, freestyle partner stunt and basket, dance, and pyramids. These competitions will take place seasonally and have a set scoring value. This competition keeps the elements of cheerleading now while also meeting the requirements of a sport as defined by the judge, Title IX, and other sport definitions. Once schools switch to this form of cheerleading and recognized competition as their primary goal, cheerleading is considered a sport.Therefore, cheerleading is a sport.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Getting back into the swing of things...
The hardest part of school is the beginning and the end of semesters. You know what I'm talking about... either that time where you're just ready to be done or that time where you get into class and freak because you already have homework on the first day. The second of these two is what I'm feeling right now and it has hit me harder this year than any other. I knew it was coming and I knew there would be homework on the first day. I even knew there was reading I had to do the day before classes started. So, I don't know why I felt like I had just had the wind knocked out of me when Alan, the head of the program and our teacher, told us we would have a test on Monday, one week from the first day of class. But it wasn't just one test, it was a test in each of our radiology classes. I had to kick my brain into gear and get my booty studying so I could do alright on my tests. I studied and studied and luckily did alright. Here is my advice to you. Have fun during summer and let your brain rest while it can, be ready for anything when its time for school to start again and DON'T do the Radiology program unless you are ready to study all the time because three tests a week on one day with minimal points and an elevated grading scale is not so easy. I also recommend getting a planner; you'll need it. It's probably not a bad idea to practice these tips for ANY major. As for the end part of the semester, we should keep in mind how hard we have worked throughout the rest of the semester and remember not to give up even though we are ready for it to be over. It’s like whenever I’m at cheer practice and its conditioning time. I know I’m tired and ready to go home but I can’t give up yet because I’m almost done and in the end I know it will make me stronger. If we don’t give up at the end of the semester, in the long run, it will be better for us and afterwards we’ll feel good about ourselves and glad we did it. It is better to look back and think, “Wow! I’m glad I did that! I’m so proud of myself!” than to feel regret or to even have to say “Oh well!” One of the things that I have found helps me stay focused but also allows me to have fun is participating in a school sponsored activity such as cheer. This helps me to make friends and have fun. It also assures I keep my grades up and helps with time management. Find something that can do the same for you! Just remember, no matter how difficult this seems to get, we can do it! Good luck to all in those school and lifetime "adventures" we chose to put ourselves through. Enjoy them!
Sarah :)
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