Blog Entry #11: Farewell and Goodbye

As finals get closer and the semester comes to an end, so does this blog project! Although in the beginning of the semester this blog project sounded extremely intimidating and out of my comfort zone, I can actually say I enjoyed it. In the beginning I found it quite strange and uncomfortable writing in this style, but as the weeks went on, it made me a more confident writer. Never before would I have thought I would write for a large audience like this before. So shockingly, after it all, I can say I really enjoyed this assignment.

Not only did it force me to do something I normally would never feel comfortable doing, but it made me think creatively and critically. What I loved about this assignment was the freedom we had. We were able to every other week write about something of OUR CHOICE. So often in English courses the writing topics are already defined and assigned to us, so it was nice to be able to express myself through writing. Looking back I wish I put more effort into this overall assignment and took the blogging more seriously from the start. I feel this assignment should be used in the future because it switches things up and allows students to write in a way they are used to!

With that said... Farewell and Goodbye fellow bloggers, until next time!

Blog Entry #10: The impact literature can have

While in my EDU23o class I am taking we were shown a YouTube clip that I was extremely moved by which inspired me in my blog entry this week.

 

 

“How impressionable and how vulnerable we are in the face of a story, particularly as children, “said Chimamanda Adiche in her speech, The Danger of a Single Story. As children, we begin to form opinions, make judgments, and perceive the world in a new way. Working in a preschool, I've known about the rules and guidelines as to how many books we have to have in the classroom depicting diversity, but I've never really realized the extreme importance for that until a few weeks ago. Without multicultural literature, we are not allowing children to educate themselves on other cultures. More importantly, we are hindering these children from making their own perceptions on these other cultures within our world. Without diversity in literature, there can be extreme prejudice and misunderstanding between cultures. It’s vital to have a library available in the classroom, but essential for the books on the shelves to differ and portray an array of cultures, lifestyles, languages, etc. It’s amazing how big of an impact one single book can have on a child. Also, it is key that every child in the classroom can relate to characters and see differences as well. Children learn when their young things that will follow them forever.

            When selecting books for a library full of diversity, it is important to remember a few important things. The first question to ask yourself is: are the characters a correct representation of people from a variety of cultural groups?  If you are not certain, make sure to do research. This will only make you more educated and comfortable on the topic. The next thing is to make sure that both boys and girls share similar roles in the books. Refrain from always choosing books that depict the father going to work and the mother staying at home. Simple things like that are easy to be overlooked, but can have a powerful effect on children. Possibly causing young girls to think they are not as smart as men, or somehow less superior. Most of all, it is important for the children to see a lesson within each story. It is valuable to choose stories that allow children to think, be creative, and generate a discussion.

Blog Entry #9: 15% dog food?

The video clip we were asked to watch: Pink slime was absolutely shocking to me! The way he described the process and used the dryer to demonstrate what will happen to the unwanted parts of meat made me feel completely deceived. Who would have known that, that is the process they do to save a couple bucks. These companies do not care at all what effect it may have on people. All they can see is the dollar signs and they can't feel good throwing away that excess meat.

He goes on and explains that normally this meat would be used as dog food, but the FDA allows them to incorporate 15% of that "pink slime" with the rest of the beef you buy. We can no longer trust what we are eating. Like he says, the only way to know what you are eating is by watching the cow get slaughtered and by witnessing them packaging the meat in front of you. How sad is that? We can't even trust these large corporations to be honest with us and provide us with food that is healthy. To me that doesn't seem to much to ask for.

  I feel the only way to put an end to all these secrets is by causing people to become more educated and influencing people to want to know what they are eating also. If these companies see that we won't eat or buy their products anymore they will have no choice but to either go out of business or label their products and follow proper procedures.

 

This clip by ABCNews was also shocking and a must watch!

Blog Entry #8: What really is college?

As the end of the semester slowly creeps up on me, I feel the stress of everything I should've worried about finally sink in. So I ask myself, what really is college? From what I was told, It's supposed to be the best time of your life. Years of partying and making bad mistakes. For me, that hasn't quite been the case.
 

I would define college for me as a time of being extremely broke, having no life, and drinking energy drinks and espressos to stay up late because I procrastinated. College is eating Ramen noodles for 5 days straight (not because you want to). College has been a learning experience for me. No one really prepared me for the lessons I've learned. It's been fight or flight.

I imagined college as going out every night. Finally being able to move out. For some reason when I imagined all this I must have forgot to think about how I was going to finance this dream. So when I moved out and realized what it really meant to be in college I was in for a shock. Paying your own bills, working full-time, and going to school full-time isn't easy, but that's what college is about I believe. Outside of class, I am learning life-long lessons to take with me forever. I have learned how to live off barely anything. I most importantly have become more driven to accomplish my dreams. The overall experience of college has refocused me, that college isn't going to be the time of my life... What I do with my life after college will be.

Blog Entry #7: Food Inc.

After watching the movie Food, Inc. I was overwhelmed with emotions. While watching it in class, I sat there at first questioning why anyone would make me watch this? Are they trying to make me starve myself? Then I realized this isn't something I should just close my eyes to. If it is that bad that a movie can make me quit eating meat then there has to be a serious issue here. Although the film is extremely hard to stomach and you may have to watch some parts with only one eye open, it is a must see! Here's a few of the facts that helped me make this lifestyle change.  

The films purpose is to overall raise awareness and it does so well. With the heart-wrenching facts and disgusting secrets found in the film, it's hard to not see the message the creators of the movie were trying to get across. In the film its said that, "In the 1970s, the top five beef packers controlled about 25% of the market. Today, the top four control 80% of the market." Industries and large corporations have taken over the food industry, leaving barely any room for "the basics".

 

 

Another interesting fact from the film would be,  In 1998, the USDA implemented microbial testing for salmonella and E. coli so that if a plant repeatedly failed these tests, the USDA could shut down the plant. After being taken to court by the meat and poultry associations, the USDA no longer has that power.

To me, that seems unethical... how can the USDA not have the right to shut down and test plants for salmonella and E.coli?

 

Then In 1972, the FDA conducted 50,000 food safety inspections, but  In 2006, the FDA conducted only 9,164. That is crazy to me that there were more food inspections done in 1972 then now? 5x more! This is when you have to realize, you don't know what your eating, they don't know what your eating... so maybe you shouldn't be eating that?

 

If I hadn't made up my mind after hearing all that I was sold when I saw the images and videos of extreme animal abuse and torture.

 

 

 

After watching the video I was persuaded to make a lifestyle change, Until watching the clip, I never really questioned what I was eating or EVER thought about where it was from. It's important for everyone to become educated and realize what they are fueling their bodies with. We all have the choice to go organic or buy local, but often get lazy and caught up in the day to day routine that we don't stop to make it a priority. FROM NOW ON, I want to know what I'm eating!

Blog Entry #4: Year Round Body

 

This week seems to be the perfect opportunity to talk about getting the "perfect summer body". What I want to know is why is it that all other seasons of the year its fine to let yourself go a little, but as soon as summer sneaks up on us... which it does every year... we have this sudden pressure to lose weight. It's like as soon as it heats up our time clock ticks and says get up and get your butt in the gym. If only we could learn from the years prior and keep our body looking healthy all year round. This year it's not about the summer body for me, it's about the "year round body". It's time to make lifestyle changes. 

 Instead of pushing myself and making healthier lifestyle choices for the next few months, it's time to incorporate healthy habits year round. This will not only take away the last minute anxiety before beach season, but overall make you feel good about yourself. It's important to feel good in your skin and to set a goal for yourself. Confidence is key in life. I'm not saying to work out and starve yourself until your the size of a toothpick. That's not the answer and will only result in gaining the weight right back. The key is to cut out as many bad habits from your diet that you feel you can handle. Then work from there. It's not necessary to kill yourself on the treadmill or stair master either. Just adding moderate daily exercise of 45 minutes to an hour can help a ton. Finding ways tostay active and  incorporate healthy choices into your life year round is what's "hot" this summer.

Check out this website for awesome tips on making the lifestyle change: 10 lifestyle changes

Blog Entry #3: Technology Taking Over Communication

 

   The video Social Media is changing the way we communicate globally was extremely insightful for me.  It advocated for the increase in social media usage. In the video it states, "Social media isn't a fad its a fundamental shift in the way we communicate." Those words couldn't have been said better. People expect us to stick with the original way of communication, but back then the world was far less populated and there was no such thing as communicating instantly. At the rate our world is populating, we have to advance. We have to find new ways to learn, communicate, run a business, etc. As society changes we change too.

     As shown in the clip, It took Facebook 9 months to gain over a 100 million users. While the radio took 38 years just to get 50 million users. What does that show about todays technology? With advancements we have the ability to share information, advertise products, and promote businesses internationally. All with the click of a button.

 

To be honest I don't want to know what our world would look like now without the changes in communication. I can imagine we would be poor and overpopulated. So many of the key aspects of running our economy rely on technology. We can do trade with countries all over the world. Run a business from the opposite side of the world. We drive this economy.

 

Blog Entry #2- Nag less ,compliment more


I thought for hours to myself "what do I want to talk about in my next blog", then it hit me. I was at a CPR class for my work over the weekend when my idea came to my mind. I was blabbering on and on to my coworker Bella about my boyfriend and I. She's an older woman, so I figured shed have a good look on the situation. She gave me a piece of advice I'll never forget! COMPLIMENT MORE! That's what she told me. It made perfect since. Us women spend so much time nagging men and telling them what we don't like or what they're doing wrong. I almost believe its in our nature to criticize them. It's our job. Sometimes we need to acknowledge their good work, Tell them they look good, and make them feel good about themselves. Everyone loves to be complimented!

I decided to try this out on my boyfriend as soon as I got home. I told Akeem, "Thank you for picking up the dog poop". He turned around, his face lit up. He looked shocked almost as if he never heard those words come out of my mouth before. It's sad that just the average thank you meant that much too him. That was my evidence I don't say it enough, I realized how big of an effect just a simple thank you or compliment can have on someone. Just this can do wonders on a relationship. After a long period of time being with someone, you tend to expect things. You start to feel they owe it to you to do those simple daily tasks. Once you start expecting people stop wanting to do things for you and then tension arrises. So take Bellas advice and try to nag less and compliment more.

Blog entry #1

While I'm still new to this whole blog thing I found it helpful to get to look over some of the most popular blogs on the internet.
2014

blog 1. http://www.unbravegirl.com/page/2/

The first step is admitting you have a problem. The second step is admitting you’re a car. 

I loved this blog Unbrave girl. All of the posts were so relatable. The posts talk about things everyone goes through everyday. The author adds a sarcastic, blunt spin to her writing. One of her blog posts talks about car troubles. She talks about car problems in a funny way. Every one can relate. We all know what it feels like to walk to work sometimes. Or even beg your friends and family members for rides. This is a blog anyone can relate too. She also has people email her and ask her questions or for advice. This blogs a hit & who doesn't love to read about other peoples problems!    

blog 2. http://blog.inkyfool.com/

 

 

This blog was dreadful to read. It discusses rules of the English language. When I'm reading a blog I want it to talk about something I'm interested in and can relate too. Ya I speak the English language but the rules of it don't interest me. The author has a very dry sense of humor and I couldn't really see his point in most of the jokes he made. I wouldn't recommend reading the blog: Inky fool.

 

 

 

 

blog 3. http://www.pinkisthenewblog.com/

 

Pink is the New Blog caught my eye right away! It's a blog about something every woman loves to read... (drum roll) GOSSIP. It talks about tons of irrelevant, yet extremely entertaining occurrances. You can go to this website to read about celebrities and their latest fiascos or just to catch up on whats going on in Hollywood. It kept me enticed. The author talked about Justin Biebers newest instagram name change to Bizzle, while I didn't need to know that, the post was interesting.

 

 

 





Getting to know me

Hey Everyone, since its the first post I find it only fair to give you a short introduction about myself! My name is Jessica Fowler and I'm 18 years young. I have many goals and plans for my life, but right now my main focus is to become a special needs teacher. All my life I've known I wanted to work with kids. It wasn't until this past year that I found my passion for working with children with special needs. Before I moved to Arizona I was bouncing all around the U.S. I've lived in 6 different states and am so lucky to be able to experience both East coast and West coast living! I love to be active in the gym and play sports to keep my mind busy and my head straight. I'm looking forward to seeing what this spring semester and 2014 has to offer.
Until next time...