Blog Post #12

The importance of play is simple.  "Recess provides children with the freedom to explore to find out who they are, their strengths, their weaknesses, and keeps them physically fit" (Research Paper).  However, the importance of play has shifted greatly in school systems.  School systems all over America believe that recess is not a neccesity for children.  "How did it become recess vs. education? It should be recess plus education. Time to play and get some physical activity will improve the education our kids are getting” (Hammond 218).  School systems need to realize that play is just as important as education.  Children need play inorder to be successful adults in the world.  All those bumps, bruises, and scrapes are good for children. 

Blog Post #11

Professor Rawlslyn Francis!  I love you!  You are such and amazing teacher and I am so happy to have been able to be in your ENC 1101.  Thank you for all you have done.  I am telling all of my friends to take you in the spring.  I look forward to seeing you again next fall.  Oh and make sure you are here this Thursday.  You are going to have your mind blown.  Have a good Christmas, Happy New Year, and summer.  I will see you next fall for your ENC 1102.

Blog Post #10

“You dream big, and if you’re given the opportunity to achieve that audacious dream, you do whatever’s necessary to make it happen. And you never let anyone down.” - Darell Hammond (77)


Paper Prompt:
Think back to when you were a child and how people would tell you that you can do whatever you want, only if you set your mind to it. Most of us grew up with that thought always in our minds and now we are achieving our dreams. However, in today’s society, children are growing up with the thought that everything will be handed to them on a silver platter. In this paper, analyze and evaluate how the parents and even the schools are supporting this negative thought into the younger generation and the harmful effects it is causing. Create an argument that demonstrates the link between the parents and the schools about the new way children are thinking.

Blog Post #9

Back in elementary school, I was a tomboy who thought I was the best at everything, especially on the playground.  The play ground that was at my elementary school was big.  The playground had everything from monkey bars to swings to slides and even more than that.  The only down side to the playground was the fact that it was made out of wood and the wood was old.  I remember just simply touching it and getting splinters all in my hands and then having to get them pulled out of my hands everyday.  It was very painful but worth it.  When it came to the monkey bars, I was the best at doing tricks and climbing them even though I would end up with so many blisters I wouldn't be able to close my hand.  I remember racing my friends to see who could get to the swings faster without wiping out.  I was a huge runner back then and would always get challenged by the boys.  The boys would lose most of the time.  I would have to say though, the one thing I remember most when I was playing on that playground was the sense of freedom to do whatever I wanted.

This is a picture of me in 4th grade at Sunshine Park in Jacksonville Beach.
I miss these days.

Blog Post #8

In "When the Levees Broke, Act 1 of 4," it talked about when the people of New Orleans got the first warning that Hurricane Katrina was coming.  The forcaster models showed Katrina quickly intensifying and making a turn for New Orleans.  Even though the governer and mayor both called state of emergency, most residances decided to stay and ride it out.  They thought they could ride it because of Hurricane Betsy in 1965.  Sadly, they were wrong.  Many people lost there lives because they dround and the ones who lived were slowly dying because of the heat while waiting on the buses to arrive to take them somewhere safer.

During the documentary, you can here people screaming for help and saying how much they wish the government would come faster to save them.  The New Orleans people even had days without food and water because the government couldn't get there fast enough with supplies.  It was just sad to see everything that these people held dearly gone in a flash.  The sadest part was when I saw a man floating in the water, because he dround.  Houses with notes on them saying "Dead people inside."  I can't even begin to imagine what they went through, but one thing for sure, is that this story will never be forgotten.

Blog Post #7

While reading "What Makes a Very Good Bad Guy" by Olivia Collette, I started to remember Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises."  In the movie, Bane plays a good villian, however, he is very obvious.  He shows what his weakness is, like the article said, when he simply just had his hands in two fists on his chest, poised to protect the mask.  Bane is a smart villian but sadly takes second place to his partner, Marianda.  Overall through the whole movie, Bane really doesn't have a set purpose.  At least the Joker had purpose and set of morals.  Anyways, I thought that "The Dark Knight Rises" was a good movie, however, next time they need to come up with a villian that has some kind of purpose and a set or morals.

Blog Post #6

 

In Sherry Turkle's presentation "Connected, But Alone?," she emphasises how much we are relying on technology in our lives.  These little devices in our pockets are so psychological powerful that they do not only change what we do, but they change who we are.  We are relying too much on these devices to make us happy, keep us entertained, and change our moods when we should be turning to actual people.  When you think about it, most Americans use their phones for email, social media, and texting.  They rarely call each other.  I can not believe that we are relying on our phone so much that we are letting it control our lives.  For example, I know that it is very hard for me to picture my life without my phone.  I use it constantly and I am always checking it 24/7.  I even sleep with it.  I am so ashamed at myself for not being able to put my phone down or turn it off.  Turkle just wants us to understand how much we are hurting ourselves and she wants us to unplug and turn to actual people versus our devices.

You can find out more in her book:

Freaking out!!

I am so scared about tomorrow.  I have a mid term and I don't know if I will pass it.  I have been freaking out since Saturday.  I don't know what to do besides study and overload my brain with information and hope I remember it for tomorrow.

Blog Post #5

While I watched "Gaming Can Make a Better World" presented by Jane McGonigal, I thought it was interesting how she was talking about how many hours of online gaming to help solve problems in the real world.  Also, I was surprised to find out that we spend 3 billion hours a week playing online games.  To me, that's a lot of online game time.  Jane goes on to say that we need spend more time playing online games, like about 21 billion hours a week of online gaming by the end of the next decade, in order to survive on this planet.

I wouldn't say that this is a bad idea but I wouldn't say it is a good one too.  I am in the middle.  She has come out with very good games that use real life situations to teach us what we should do in a crisis, however, not everyone has the time to play games at least an hour a day.  It's a little much to ask.  I like her theory about how it can really help us in the long run but I am still unsure about it.

Blog Post #4

This is what I went by throughout the whole weekend.  Yes it's karate but I love it and can't/won't live without it!

This was a reminder to get back up and
keep moving no matter how sick or bad
I felt.  Thank you karate for making me
into a strong women.

So system update.  I am currently taking some antibotics and am starting to feel better.  I fought a fever from Friday to Sunday and went to the doctors yesterday to get my antibotics.  What is with doctors that tell you everything you already know when you are there?  Yes, I know I am sick.  Yes my throat is swollen.  Yes, I sound aweful.   I do not go to the doctors just to hear what I already knew.  I go to make sure I am not dying and what I need to do to help prevent this from happening.  Anyways, I scared my doctor when I told him my cray train ride of fevers.  On the first day, I had a 100.8 fever.  Second day, I had a 103.0 fever.  Not quite high enough to go to the ER.  Third day, I had a 101.9.  I had on interesting weekend and I don't want it to happen again.  I felt very weak and couldn't stand.  I felt aweful.  I am just glad to have finished most of my homework except for a couple of things before I got sick.

I hope everyone is well and not sick.  Also, I hope you had a great weekend.  See you in a few hours.

Take Care,
Victoria


Is running a fever.  I hope everyone else is ok and not sick.

I am feeling a little sick.  I have a huge headache and it doesn't seem to want to go away.  I also wish that people would stop causing so much drama.  I haven't done anything to you, so stop doing stuff to me!

Blog Post #3

In "Once More to the Lake" by E.B. White, was talking about his vaction spot that him and his son would go to.  The vacation was a week long camping trip and it would always give him the best memory.  Just the way he was describing the vacation; from the lake to the rest of the scenery made me feel like I was there.  It was so breath taking. I would have to say the overall tone of this story was very calm. It made me think about how much nature does for us and our lives. We don't think about it often as we should.

Blog Post #2

Amy Tan and her mother reading a letter

Amy Tan and her mother walking down the street

As I read "Mother Tongue," I realized that I have a connection with the story.  One of my old friends was Hungarian.  She was very sweet and nice but her English was "broken," just like Amy Tan's mother.  She had a very heavy accent but she could speak English pretty well.  Her mother and father, however, knew barely any English.  So she would have to try and explain to them about certain things through both languages.  She told me that it was hard but it never held her back from becoming what she wanted to be.  She is currently a hair stylist and interacting with tons of people who speak English everyday.  She is enjoying it a lot.  With that being said, when I read "I think my mother's English almost had an effect on limiting my possibilities in life as well," it confused me.  I didn't quite understand how her mother's English could have affected her.  She choose to change her major in the university from a Pre-Med to English.  So what are these limitations that Amy Tan talks about?  I ask this because I don't see any.


Today, I lost one of my good friends.  It was very sad and hard.  She has been apart of my life for about 5 years and it was sad to see her go.  She said that we should part ways.  I didn't understand why until I remembered that she works in the salon that I resigned from.  Her boss must have bullied her into letting this friendship go.  I guess she could stand up and fight for it like I though she could.  I will miss her but maybe it's better this way.  She wasn't a true friend, I guess.

Anyways I hope that everyone's weekend is going well and hopefully I will be seeing everyone back on Tuesday.

Take Care,
Victoria

Blog #1

I believe in "Champion of the World," it really isn't about a boxing fight.  There is more to this story then meets the eye.  If you are reading the story and not really paying attention, the story will seem only to be about a boxing fight.  You are right but you are also wrong.  If you analyze the story, you will see it is talking about the segregation that was taking place back in the 1930s.  The fight between the white and black people.  Dr. Maya Angelou was a young 7-year old girl and seemed  excited and nervous in this story.  She was a strong girl for being raised in this point in  time.  What I would pull from this story is never give up and fight for what you believe in even if the world doesn't.  What do you all think?  What is your take on this story?  Everyone has their own opinions, so please tell me what you think?

Here is a link to the article: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iWx_UDJyN7RHAd_sb7TeYf66zMmVZDKDo_sVXlzWVac/edit

Take care
Victoria

Today at class was so much fun!  My English Professor Ros is so much fun!  She really cares for her students and wanting them to excel.  I hope that I will be able to be in her class next semester.  I advise anyone looking to take ENC 1101 to take it with her.  She will blow your socks off!

Also, I am enjoying my math class.  Professor Tipton is a blast.  He loves the Gators with a passion.  I love the Gators as well, just not quite as much as he does.  I took my very first math test with him today and I got a 100%!  I am so happy and glad that I have him a a teacher!

Now I hope everyone is enjoying their college experience and studying hard.  Keep it up because only you can decide where you go from here.

Take care,
Victoria