I left high school thinking i was going to pursue a career in psychology and english. I still find great interest in both of these subjects, but my choice as a career, however has somewhat faded. I just don't think i want to go to school for eight years to get a masters or doctorate. There is the thought of what i could even do with a degree in psychology or english. I don't know if i would find happiness in helping people with their problems when i cannot even help myself with my own. I also don't know how well of a paying job i will find if i pursue a writing career. I do not care much for journalism. Having to meet a deadline stresses me out and affects my work. As i have mentioned in an earlier post, i enjoy reading and writing fiction. This would be fun, but the pay is not all that great (unless i'm lucky like J.K. Rowling!) If you do not sell or publish a book, then you do not get paid. This is not a very reliable career, unless you know that you will be extremely successful.
My major, as of now, is undecided. I did not want to lock myself into anything just yet, because i seriously do not know what i want to do. I cannot teach, because i'm not a people person or a very good speaker. I enjoy learning about things i am interested in, such as history, psychology, writing, and such. Maybe, I can be a professional learner! -haha.
This composition class did not completely discourage me from pursuing writing as my possible career. It just taught me that this type of writing is not my strong point and that i do not enjoy doing it. Therefore, if my interest is lacked, my ability to produce satisfactory work decreases. I have taken a creative writing class before and very much enjoyed it. I recieved a very good grade, also. I took a journalism class last year. I did not like it very much. It wasnt the class or the teacher or the writing. It was the deadlines and how its more "mathematical" if you will. There is more of a technique.. and i just like to go with the flow when i write.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
My second Portfolio
I had just finished the second part of my portfolio. I am very nervous, because my grade last time was less than satisfactory. I fear that if my grade, again, suffers on this project, that i will fail to pass the class, which will result in me having to take it again. =[
I had a little more fun with the research paper. I tried my best to make it sound somewhat like Griffin's style. I enjoyed it because it was something that i could easily relate to through past and present experiences. I also liked it because i had a chance to throw some short, fictional stories in there. I very much enjoy reading and writing about imaginary things. I always get carried away and put immense detail and effort into what i am writing. I have always had somewhat of a natural talent for this while growing up.
Through these short stories, a point was made. They compared to my topic: educational social status. They gave the reader another point of view on how social status is displayed throughout the educational system. I felt it was a more fun and creative way for me and the reader to enjoy reading the message i was trying to get across.
I hope this ten page paper will do me justice. I tried hard on it and i hope that that shows.
I had a little more fun with the research paper. I tried my best to make it sound somewhat like Griffin's style. I enjoyed it because it was something that i could easily relate to through past and present experiences. I also liked it because i had a chance to throw some short, fictional stories in there. I very much enjoy reading and writing about imaginary things. I always get carried away and put immense detail and effort into what i am writing. I have always had somewhat of a natural talent for this while growing up.
Through these short stories, a point was made. They compared to my topic: educational social status. They gave the reader another point of view on how social status is displayed throughout the educational system. I felt it was a more fun and creative way for me and the reader to enjoy reading the message i was trying to get across.
I hope this ten page paper will do me justice. I tried hard on it and i hope that that shows.
My first Portfolio Grade
I recently received my first portfolio grade. I was pretty unhappy with the grade i received, but i'll admit that i wasn't expecting a very high grade. I struggled to understand what many of the essays were asking of me. I think what made it so trying was not comprehending the readings that were assigned to the class.
These readings required reading them more than once to maybe get a handle on the author's message. Unfortunately, i found myself short of time while balancing school and work. That is something i think i need to work very hard on for next semester: time management.
After entering college, you receive so much more freedom compared to high school. With this freedom, there comes A LOT of responsibility. You are an adult now. Your parents and teachers are not watching your back like they have in recent years. You must manage your time and strive to stay motivated in order to complete the task at hand.
I fell guilty to this newfound freedom. I procrastinated, therefore my grade suffered. That is something i really want to work on for next semester and coming years. Procrastination and the inability to comprehend was a huge struggle for me. I think this is what led to such an unsatisfying grade on my portfolio. I hope to receive a bit better of a grade on my next portfolio that i turn in.
These readings required reading them more than once to maybe get a handle on the author's message. Unfortunately, i found myself short of time while balancing school and work. That is something i think i need to work very hard on for next semester: time management.
After entering college, you receive so much more freedom compared to high school. With this freedom, there comes A LOT of responsibility. You are an adult now. Your parents and teachers are not watching your back like they have in recent years. You must manage your time and strive to stay motivated in order to complete the task at hand.
I fell guilty to this newfound freedom. I procrastinated, therefore my grade suffered. That is something i really want to work on for next semester and coming years. Procrastination and the inability to comprehend was a huge struggle for me. I think this is what led to such an unsatisfying grade on my portfolio. I hope to receive a bit better of a grade on my next portfolio that i turn in.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Arts of the Contact Zone
A contact zone is, according to Pratt, refers to "social spaces where cultures meet, clash, and grapple with eachother, often in contexts of highly asymmetrical relations of power, such as colonialism, slavery, or their aftermaths as they are lived out in my parts of the world today."
What i think Pratt meant in context to literacy, is how she compares literacy to different cultures. (???) I'm not sure if i fully understood the idea of her essay. I grasp that she was talking about literacy and she mentioned various cultures, predominantly spanish, but Chicanas and Andeans were mentioned, as well. I'm not sure if they were names of different types of people, also included in the Spanish language.
One thing i liked about her essay, and probably the one thing i mostly understood, is when she was talking about her son, i think, who collects baseball cards. She explained how baseball cards taught him everything he needed to know in life, such as arithmatic, geography, history, color schemes what it means to get cheated, personal values, market values, exchange, and many more. I thought it was interesting that you could learn so much from collecting baseball cards. And, her discovery of this passes as plausible. You can learn academically, socially, and economically.
What i did not like about the essay is the difficulty of reading. She uses many words i do not understand, therefore i lose interest and find myself just reading words, opposed to comprehending the material.
What i think Pratt meant in context to literacy, is how she compares literacy to different cultures. (???) I'm not sure if i fully understood the idea of her essay. I grasp that she was talking about literacy and she mentioned various cultures, predominantly spanish, but Chicanas and Andeans were mentioned, as well. I'm not sure if they were names of different types of people, also included in the Spanish language.
One thing i liked about her essay, and probably the one thing i mostly understood, is when she was talking about her son, i think, who collects baseball cards. She explained how baseball cards taught him everything he needed to know in life, such as arithmatic, geography, history, color schemes what it means to get cheated, personal values, market values, exchange, and many more. I thought it was interesting that you could learn so much from collecting baseball cards. And, her discovery of this passes as plausible. You can learn academically, socially, and economically.
What i did not like about the essay is the difficulty of reading. She uses many words i do not understand, therefore i lose interest and find myself just reading words, opposed to comprehending the material.
Monday, September 15, 2008
freewriting?
I am not really sure what to blog about. I have just read 'The "Banking" Concept of Education'. I don't really know what to think of it. I was very confusing. I didn't really understand what the concept of the essay was.. It discussed matters of teachers' superiority to students? I think that is somewhat of what it was about. Then it got into real deep thinking of the world and human existence.
Relating to the title, the word "banking" comes up often. I don't really understand what is meant by "banking". Freire says, "Those who use the banking approach, knowingly and unknowingly (for there are innumerable well-intentioned bank-clerk teachers who do not realize that they are serving only to dehumanize), fail to perceive that the deposits themselves contain contradictions..." (p.246)
The author also speaks in other languages a lot. He uses key words to get to his point that are written, in what seems, is Spanish and/or French.
Perhaps I would be able to understand the concept that Freire is trying to get across if he explained it in a easier context. I'm afraid the concept itself may be over my head, but if it were explained to be in a different way, then i may be able to grasp it.
Relating to the title, the word "banking" comes up often. I don't really understand what is meant by "banking". Freire says, "Those who use the banking approach, knowingly and unknowingly (for there are innumerable well-intentioned bank-clerk teachers who do not realize that they are serving only to dehumanize), fail to perceive that the deposits themselves contain contradictions..." (p.246)
The author also speaks in other languages a lot. He uses key words to get to his point that are written, in what seems, is Spanish and/or French.
Perhaps I would be able to understand the concept that Freire is trying to get across if he explained it in a easier context. I'm afraid the concept itself may be over my head, but if it were explained to be in a different way, then i may be able to grasp it.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Video Questions/Discussion
1. The idea Binta's father had at the end of the film was unexpected. I was a little confused of what solution a western child could bring to their society. This is my opinion: a child is still learning. By bringing a child into an African society, will not affect the African society seeing as the child did not know much about their previous society. Instead, it will teach the child the way of the AFrican society. I think i may be misunderstanding the point of adopting the child into the society, because to me, the whole thing does not make sense.
2. Again, Binta's father's idea was to bring a western child into their society. I do not understand what his reasoning behind it was, therefore i don't know how it will help them out.
3. Soda's father is old fashioned. He believes that African women should stay at home and tend to the house, work in the kitchen, and take care of the children. He believes that men are the ones to go out and receive an education because they are supposed to be the breadwinners of the family.
4. The problem with Binta's society taking on western ways of life is the risk of losing their own culture. I think it would be good for the African society to take on some of western society's ways of life, such as things that will enhance their way of life, like medicine, ways of retrieving food, education, etc. But, i think it is important for them to still practice their own culture and learn about their own culture, along with other cultures, in school.
5. Western people may learn the value of their own lives. Binta's society is not a very wealthy society, but they find ways of getting around their obtacles. They find happiness in the society they have grown into. Western people can learn from Binta's society and learn to value their own lives. western people tend to take their own lives for granted and take all the priveleges they have for granted. The African society can influence western society to be more thankful for their own lives and teach them the value of hard work.
6. Education not only teaches children their ABCs, but about culture and how there are other people in the world outside of their own society that they have grown and become accustom to. In the film, the teacher in the beginning was trying to lecture the children on the importance of personal identity, but also integration. Regardless of gender, heighth, body structure, hair color, skin color, etc, we should all treat eachother with respect. We can all live together harmoniously.
7. I don't recall throughout my educational experience learning about foreign ordeals, such as Africa. I remember always learning about europe, asia, somewhat of the middle east, and north america. The only thing i ever remember learning about africa had to do with the slave trade. I don't think we are really briefed on the importance of other cultures and their ways of life. We should be taught about other cultures to help us appreciate our own. we should be taught about respecting others and their differences in educational institutions and not just rely on the parents to teach morality.
2. Again, Binta's father's idea was to bring a western child into their society. I do not understand what his reasoning behind it was, therefore i don't know how it will help them out.
3. Soda's father is old fashioned. He believes that African women should stay at home and tend to the house, work in the kitchen, and take care of the children. He believes that men are the ones to go out and receive an education because they are supposed to be the breadwinners of the family.
4. The problem with Binta's society taking on western ways of life is the risk of losing their own culture. I think it would be good for the African society to take on some of western society's ways of life, such as things that will enhance their way of life, like medicine, ways of retrieving food, education, etc. But, i think it is important for them to still practice their own culture and learn about their own culture, along with other cultures, in school.
5. Western people may learn the value of their own lives. Binta's society is not a very wealthy society, but they find ways of getting around their obtacles. They find happiness in the society they have grown into. Western people can learn from Binta's society and learn to value their own lives. western people tend to take their own lives for granted and take all the priveleges they have for granted. The African society can influence western society to be more thankful for their own lives and teach them the value of hard work.
6. Education not only teaches children their ABCs, but about culture and how there are other people in the world outside of their own society that they have grown and become accustom to. In the film, the teacher in the beginning was trying to lecture the children on the importance of personal identity, but also integration. Regardless of gender, heighth, body structure, hair color, skin color, etc, we should all treat eachother with respect. We can all live together harmoniously.
7. I don't recall throughout my educational experience learning about foreign ordeals, such as Africa. I remember always learning about europe, asia, somewhat of the middle east, and north america. The only thing i ever remember learning about africa had to do with the slave trade. I don't think we are really briefed on the importance of other cultures and their ways of life. We should be taught about other cultures to help us appreciate our own. we should be taught about respecting others and their differences in educational institutions and not just rely on the parents to teach morality.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
What has brought me here?
After graduating from Carl Sandburg High School, it was time to embark on a new journey to a place that offered more freedom and choices. I enrolled at Moraine Valley Community College in hopes of continuing my education and revealing any future possibilities for a potential career. I chose the course, Com 101, not only because it is a required course, but because I have a passion for writing. But, I’m afraid my passion has somewhat diminished, therefore I am keeping my options open and hoping to find something that will spark my interest for a possible major. College is expected of me, as it is of most people during these times. College is no longer an option for those who are of higher social status. Now a days, college is like high school. Although, it is not mandatory legally, it is socially expected. It is nearly impossible to receive a well paying job without any further education past high school. Of course, I would rather find something else to do with my time than go to school any longer than I actually have to, but the need and the desire to live a satisfactory life is much greater than my stubborn yearning to discontinue my education.
I will admit that I was nervous on my first day to Moraine Valley. Starting at a new school with new rules and more freedom can be quite scary. Freedom is often thought of as a good thing, especially to college students. Most dream of getting away from their hometowns and leaving Mom and Dad, where they are their own “boss”. To me, freedom is a sign of growing up and having to decide and take care of things on your own. It is a reality check that it’s time to grow up. I certainly hope Moraine can prepare me for my future and help me mature as a person.
I will admit that I was nervous on my first day to Moraine Valley. Starting at a new school with new rules and more freedom can be quite scary. Freedom is often thought of as a good thing, especially to college students. Most dream of getting away from their hometowns and leaving Mom and Dad, where they are their own “boss”. To me, freedom is a sign of growing up and having to decide and take care of things on your own. It is a reality check that it’s time to grow up. I certainly hope Moraine can prepare me for my future and help me mature as a person.
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