final inquiry

Next Semester...

It’s hard to think about, but spring semester is just around the corner.  As I wrap up my first fall semester as a college student, I can’t help but look towards the future, and determine what I want to accomplish this second half of the year. 

As far as my social life, I hope to stay in touch with my friends from high school, as well as make more of an effort to make friends here, at Southern.  I also hope to make more friends who are commuters, as I will not be living on campus next semester. 

Personally, I would hope to become an even more confident person and student, and maybe start going to gym (random).  Also, I would like to become more independent from my parents, and hopefully find a part time job for the days that I do not have classes.    

Academically, I would like to say that I want straight “A’s”, but I know that I need to be more realistic with myself.  I want at least two “A’s”, although more would be gladly accepted.   Also, I would like to take a math class; I am hoping that a spot in one of the statistics classes will open up, because I think that it would be unwise to go a semester this early without a math class.  I would also like to talk to my professors more, because I am realizing now that they make or break your grade, so it is better to be on their good side then bad.  It would also be nice if I could go to every single class next semester, and not sleep in. Lastly, I would like to use my studying and homework time more efficiently, rather than being distracted by my TV or my iTunes.   

Thank You Southern

Considering that this is my first semester as a college student, it was pretty obvious that I was going to stumble a few times.  I was challenged with new obstacles, and was given various opportunities to shine as a student.   My greatest achievement in college so far is getting a 94 on my Biology midterm.  It helped me realize that if I put my mind to something, study till I can’t study anymore, and put all my effort into it, then the end result will be something that I can be proud of.  It also gave me the confidence in knowing that I will be able to take challenging courses in the future and do well in them.  On a less positive note, I also realized this semester that if I don’t like a certain class or subject, it is very hard for me to do my best, and put my best effort into it.  I also enjoy sleeping in, which resulted in me missing a few essential morning classes throughout these past few months.  I also learned how to make a blog, something that I had never even considered doing before.  This first semester has opened by eyes to opportunities, some that I have known about, like internships and on campus jobs, and some that I would have never considered, like school sponsored trips and free comedy shows. So thanks SCSU, I appreciate it. 

Inquiry Final Self Assessment

Inquiry Final Self-Assessment

            Inquiry class was introduced to college freshman as a way of giving new students an easier transition into the social and academic experiences that come with college.  The purpose of this class is to help strengthen students’ intellectual skills, while introducing them to the many new stresses that college will give them.  My personal experience with this Inquiry class has been one of success.  I feel that I have left this first semester more prepared then I ever would have been without this course. 

            There are 7 main requirements for my Inquiry class, Attendance both in class and at Co-curricular events, self-assessments, class participation, blog posts, campus safaris, and video projects.  I would say that I have completed all the requirements, and possibly have exceeded some of the requirements.  I have tried my best to stay on top of the various assignments, not only for this class, but also for all of my courses.  Inquiry class has taught me to know my limits, and work to improve my faults.

I am a person of many strengths and weaknesses.  Many of these positive and negative traits presented themselves several times this semester.  I am a very organized person, which proved crucial to the amount of assignments that were given to me, especially in Inquiry class.  I learned quickly that once I was given an assignment, I had to write the due date in my planner and also write myself reminders to work on it continuously, rather than doing it all the a day or two before.  Because of my organization skills, I have yet to miss an assignment.

            One weakness of mine is that I like to sleep, a lot.  I will admit that there were a few days this semester were I simply did not want to get up for class, so I didn’t.  I enjoyed the fact that I didn’t have my Mom yelling at me to get up in the morning, and making me go to school.  I learned quickly that not going to class can affect your overall grade for the class, and I decided that it would be a smart idea to go to all my classes, even the ones at eight in the morning. 

            Another weakness of mine is that I let the environment around me affect my overall experience.  I am not too fond of Southern Connecticut State University, and I am hoping to transfer out next year, and I feel that sometimes just being on this campus puts me in an inefficient mood.  On Thursday’s, instead of doing schoolwork, I find myself thinking about going home that night and subsequently not get anything accomplished.  I think that is a big issue that I need to improve on; I shouldn’t let my environment affect the quality of my work.

            On a positive note, I do think that I am a very motivated person.  I know what I want to do, how I am going to do it, and the work that it is going to take to be successful.  I feel that by knowing what I want to do, it puts me in a better position than most students who have no clue what they want to do with their lives.  I feel as though it will give me an advantage in the long run, and help me to stay motivated even when I feel distracted. 

This first semester, I have had to rely on myself more than any other time in my life.  In spite of that, I have also learned that sometimes, it is o.k. To take advice from others, especially those who have been in your shoes before.  I have learned that I enjoy working under pressure, and I do my best work in a quite space, when I have nowhere to go and nowhere to be.  I also learned that could be friends with people that I would have never expected, that I can accomplish something if I put my mind to it, and put in the effort needed.  Lastly, I have learned that I don’t always have to rely on myself, that I don’t always have to do everything alone. 

In the future, I will most definitely take the skills that I have learned from these first few months of college, refine them, and become a successful college graduate.  I hope to become less timid when it comes to approaching teachers, socialize more, and making college a time to remember. 

My Learning Community.

This semester, I was placed in a “learning community”, which was something that I had never experienced before.  A learning community is a group of students who share two common classes, in my case, English and Inquiry.  We have common discussions, assignments, and class work.  When we are assigned a project, it is each of our jobs to provide feedback to our peers, as well as be open to their opinions.  We also brainstorm to created our own assignments, such as our final self-assessment in Inquiry class.  We have also learned about Southern’s campus together, doing campus safari’s and scavenger hunts. We also discuss various articles, current issues, and work together on relating things like time management and studying to our lives as college students.  We talk about what we hope to accomplish while at school, and what we aspire to be in the future.  We also have a senior peer-mentor, Katelyn.  She answers any questions that we have as freshman, and encourages us to become involved in our community, just like she has. 

Next semester, I am definitely going to miss seeing the same group of people on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  I am going to miss our discussions with Professor Sinclair (our English professor) and completing the various group assignments.  I am also going to miss the fact that every one gets along so well, something that I don’t see in any of my other classes.  This learning community has been a positive experience, and I am leaving this semester with a new confidence that was absent at the beginning of the year.              

My Ideal Life.

My ideal life…

I have been asked to read a blog post written by Keri Smith and in turn write about what my ideal life would be like.  Well, in a perfect world, I would have an enriching and lucrative career, and live a more than comfortable life.  I would be married to the perfect guy, and live in a beautiful house.  I would drive my “dream car”, preferably a Cadillac SRX (in black).  This seems so typical, but it really is what I see as ideal. 

I wouldn’t be faced with an ounce of stress, nor would anything in my life be challenging or difficult. All the big decisions that I would have to make would come easy to me.  My family as well as myself would never get sick, and nothing bad would happen to them either.  I would vacation whenever I wanted to and I would spare no expense to travel the world. 
           

 Even though I know that the idea of experiencing your ideal life is near impossible, it’s nice to think of what could be.  All I can hope is that I live a long, healthy life and accomplish all of my goals…and maybe a vacation every once in while wouldn’t be out of the question...

Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

Do you love those seasonal drinks from your favorite coffee shops, but can't exactly afford to spend the money on them? Well, if you're in the same boat as me, try this recipe for a homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte...


Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree (in a can)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1 cup of milk
• 1/4 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice
• 1.5 ounces of brewed espresso

Directions:

• brew the espresso
• in a small saucepan, whisk pumpkin, vanilla, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and milk
• warm over medium heat, whisking consistently until frothy (do not let it boil)
• pour espresso into a mug and pour contents of your saucepan over it 
• enjoy!

My Leadership Position

Believe it or not, I played sports in high school.  Actually, I played A LOT of sports in high school.  Though I dabbled between track, basketball, and lacrosse, there was always one sport that I focused most of my effort on, field hockey.  I started playing on varsity half way through my freshman year, and realized that I wasn’t too bad at it.  My senior year, I was voted captain, and it was my first time being in a leadership position. 

            I am usually a pretty quite person, so having to lead people, both at practice and in games was something completely new to me.  Though I was foreign to the concepts of leadership, I embraced my new position and tried my best to step out of my comfort zone and become a good captain. 

            I would lead the warm-ups in practices as well as before games, I organized pasta dinners and team parties, and I directed plays on the field, and loved every minute of it.  Even though I don’t think I would ever take another leadership role again, I enjoyed being in charge, even if it was only for one season.  I feel like if I was put into a position were I had to lead a group of people on something that I wasn’t completely familiar with, the results would be dreadful. But hey, someone's gotta be the follower.

A Difficult Situation.

My assignment this week is to write about a difficult situation that I have faced so far at college.  Well, it feels like every day I am being faced with a new obstacle, usually something that I have never encountered before and am certainly not used to.  I think that’s what college is about, facing new challenges and reaching new successes.

The most difficult situation that I have been in so far was during the week of midterms.  I was faced with the over-whelming task of studying the mountain of Biology index cards piled upon desk, along with more exams and assignments from my other classes.  I somehow managed to get a solid 5 or 6 hours of Biology studying in before I realized that it would be impossible to flip another index card. 

I took the exam with confidence, I knew that I had studied all that I could, and felt like I had a fairly strong understanding of the material that I was going to be tested on.  The exam grades were posted online the following Monday, and I was anxious to see what I had gotten.  I hurried to my computer, only to find that I had received a “D” on the midterm. 

I was heartbroken, and felt more discouraged than I ever had before.  I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I knew the material, and that the grade, which had been placed before me, did not match up to the effort that I had put into that class.  I was curious what I had done wrong on the exam, so in the following weeks, I stopped by my professors office and asked to look at my exam.

To my surprise, there was a “94” at the top of my paper.  My professor had entered the wrong score online, leaving me in complete shock, and excitement.  I no longer felt discouraged or disappointed, and it gave me a sense of accomplishment knowing that my hard work had, indeed, paid off.

quote.

Art History...

Art History; I know for a fact that “fun” isn’t the word that first comes to mind when you read that.  Lets just say that I was pretty much shoved into taking this class, I don’t like it, and it sure does not like me.  I have never been an artist, or a historian, so this course has been a challenge for me, to say the least. 

So why am I writing about a class that I dread you ask?  Well, Art History has given me a challenge, one that I have yet to face in my 18 years.  It has not only thrown me into the obstacle of memorizing the countless portraits, buildings, and sculptures of our past, it has provided me an even greater task.  This course challenges my knowledge on a truly intellectual level. 

I am used to being given a list of things to memorize, then doing it, but I have never been given something, which I have never seen before, and have been asked not only what it is, but also why it is.  My art class makes you go beyond memorization to a deeper thinking, one in which you must go beyond what a work of art is, and examine why it is, what makes it a Greek Vase, or a Roman sculpture, or a Byzantine painting. 

It seems simple from an outside perspective, but it has taken me time to develop into that critical thinker in which my art professor strives for us to be.  I feel that though I am not entirely interested in the course that I am gaining knowledge that extends beyond a piece of artwork.  Thank you, Art History, for being both the greatest and worst thing that has happened to me this semester.  

**portait above: Laocoon and His Two Sons  (Greek Hellenistic Period 1st Century CE)

my quiet place.

I would love to say that I found some exotic place around Southern’s campus in which I find relief from the hectic and lively community, but the truth is, I like the library just fine.  When I need to get homework done, the last place that I want to do it is in my dorm room, where the distractions of a television, roommates and their friends, and noisy neighbors lurk around every corner.  I would much rather take a stroll down to the library, grab myself a desk, and get to work.  In fact, this very blog, and almost all my previous entries, have been written within these four walls of the Hilton C. Buley library. 

I will usually spend at least 4 hours in the library each day, in between classes, and after dinner.  It seems to be one of the only places were I could be most productive and efficient.  I enjoy the fact that most of the other students who study here are in the same boat as me, they cannot seem to find a place were there a no distractions, so the environment here is very quiet and focused, making it the perfect location, at least in my opinion, to do all of my assignments. 

As dorky as it sounds, I even have my own spots that I study in.   If I am trying to pass the time, I will lounge in one of the comfy chairs on the second floor.  If I need to complete a lot of math homework, I prefer a round table with a lamp on it, usually on the ground level.  For times when I have an array of assignments to do, like right now, I grab a desk, typically on the third floor, and get to work.  

(ignore the fact that i look like a mess...)

stress relief

Let’s face it people, everyone is stressed now a days.  With all that is going on in our lives, it seems impossible to just sit back, relax, and de stress.  Everyone has their own ways of relieving their tension, some turn to yoga, or a good book, or even going out with friends.  Personally, I think shopping is my way of relieving stress.  Whether it be taking a trip to the mall, or browsing dozens of websites, shopping, in a weird way, makes me feel calmer.  Granted, spending a bunch of money isn’t the smartest idea, especially if you’re a broke college student like myself, but hey, what ever keeps me sane.  For those who find browsing through racks of clothing more stressful than peaceful, WebMD researched some other effective ways to lift your mood, here are a few...

write.

let your feelings out.

do something you enjoy.

meditate.

exercise.

grade inflation

There is an epidemic hitting our nation.  It’s not a deadly illness, but something that might prove even more fatal to our nation than any bacteria ever could.  It’s the topic of grade inflation, from our nation’s secondary schools up to colleges and universities.  Giving students higher grades than what they worked for, or deserve, is a slippery slope that this nation cannot afford to go down. 

I was unaware of this topic until I read a recent article.  I was shocked at the idea of this happening in schools, and was wondering what institutions would make such a mockery of education.  That is, until I thought about even more.  I realized that not only did my previous high school inflate grades, they did it A LOT.  I thought of “curves” and a warped GPA’s were common place to me, until I realized that it shouldn’t me the norm to so many of us.  My school was just another culprit of this recent outbreak in the educational system. 

The article goes on to expose some of the universities who have been tapping on points to their students GPA.  Their excuse?  To make them more attractive to companies in this ever so aggressive job market. 

These extra points can be found in public schools, also.  Schools tap on points to their students grades in order to look more appealing.  They are teaching kids at a young age that it is o.k. to put in little effort, because they are going to succeed, even when they do not deserve. 

So what is the long-term result of these grade inflations?  What are these privileged students going to do when they start working and realize that they cannot prevail on a mediocre effort?  I feel that this is going to lead to a spoiled America, a country which half-asses everything, and still expect to succeed.  

I'm just a freshman.

The midterm week at Southern Connecticut State University has come and gone, and let’s just say the ending results, for me, left much to be desired.  I was hoping to come to college, work hard, and get A’s and B’s, just like high school.  I was completely wrong in my thinking.  Turns out, college is nothing like high school as far as grading goes (obvious, I know).  At my high school, as long as you showed up to class, attempted the homework, and didn’t completely bomb the tests, you had at least a B.  I was completely caught off guard when I saw that I had only one A, out of all my classes.  I was even more surprised when I realized I received a D on my biology midterm.  Not only did I study for over 4 hours for that exam, I knew all the material and completed the test with ease.  I still cannot believe that I am on the verge of failing one of my favorite subjects.  That’s college for you though.

I have concluded that for the rest of the semester, I need to buckle down even more, and try my hardest not to let these midterm grades affect how much work that I put into my classes for the rest of the semester, and the rest of my four years.  I think that the only positive thing that can come out of these grades is that it leaves me A LOT of room for improvement.  And then again, it’s only the first half of my first semester, and I am still adjusting.  I know that I shouldn’t make excuses for my grades, but I’m going to do it anyways.  I’m just a freshman.  

Mid-Term Digital Storytelling Project

really?

We are currently living in an evolving world.  Just one glimpse around you notice society changing rapidly as compared to the past decades.  As well as the technological and physical transformations, we, as a people, are also morphing.  One considerable change is the way education is viewed.  A college degree, once a treasured honor to be given, is now on the same level as a high school diploma 30 years ago.  Instead of looking for a job after graduation, college grads are now applying to graduate school, which seems to be the only way to get an upper leg in this unreasonably competitive job market.  


I recently read an a article on thenewamerican.com which not only baffled me, it made me second guess what I was going to school for, and what the true meaning of my education was. "Grade Inflation in American Education" exposes the ugly truth of a flawed American education system.  Students are studying less, and earning higher grades the article reports.  It exposes some of the nations top law schools as giving their students higher marks to make them more eligible for a job when they graduate.  
Is giving students higher grades for less work really going to give them an advantage in life? Granted, it may help them get hired, but what happens when they half-ass their work once there, having the mindset that they will succeed doing satisfactory work?  I feel that these grade inflations are just another scar on a battered and skewed education system.  


The article goes on to talk about grade inflation in secondary school.  As a result of the "no child left behind" act, schools feel the need to up students scores in order to appear in better shape then in most times they really are.  The government blames teachers for the lack of success in students.  Granted, some teachers simply are not good at what they do, but the majority of the time it is the students who are unmotivated to reach high marks.  


It is disheartening as a college student to hear that (some not all) students are succeeding without putting in the time and effort that is needed for true academic excellence.  It makes me reconsider whether the degree that I wish to one day EARN will really be a mark of my academic success, or just another piece of paper that may or may not get me a job. 

"Frightenigly Fattening Fall Foods"

Web MD is my go to guide for all that is health.  When I have spare time, I look at there slide shows on healthy and unhealthy foods.  They recently posted one called Frightenigly Fattening Fall Foods.  I thought it was festive, and eye opening, so I'm going to show some of the foods that were featured in the slide show. 

Oktoberfest; The Food & The Beer

Chili

Caramel and Candied Apples

Holloween Candy

Macaroni and Cheese

Mashed Potatoes

Pecan Pie

Pot Pie

Tailgating Foods

For tips on how to avoid, or find healthy alternatives to these fattening foods, visit the link mentioned above.

our peer mentor, Kaitlyn.

Our Southern Inquiry class was assigned a peer mentor for the semester.  The role of the peer mentor is to introduce us to events on campus, give us insight into our first year at Southern, and offer the class valuable advice for the rest of our college careers.  Having a peer mentor like Kaitlyn adds a breath of fresh air to the class.  It's nice to know that there is someone you can go to besides your teacher when you have any questions or concerns.  She had taught us that it is perfectly o.k. to change your major, and you should always do whatever you want, no matter how late in your college career you are.  I think that the peer mentor program is fabulous, and I think it is a crucial role in the freshman inquiry experience.  

what makes a good blog?

What exactly makes a blog "good"?  After some thinking, and a quick search on google, I realized that there are different aspects of a well-recieved blog.  One website in particular gave wonderful tips on making your blog stand out a little bit more.  Here are a few that I thought were the most useful:

good blogs have a voice.

good blogs are the product of "attention times interest".

good blogs are weird.  

good blogs make you want to start your own blog.

So with these ideas in mind, go out there and write! Talk about what ever is on your mind, no matter how odd.  You never know who might feel the same way as you!

undecided?

I have always had a passion for the sciences.  Whether it be Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Forensics, I have taken an aggressive interest in taking as many science classes as my schedule would allow me.  That being said, it only makes sense that I major in something science related right? OF COURSE.  My senior year of high school, I applied to my list of colleges as either a nursing or a pre-med (Biology and Chemistry) major.  I eventually chose to enroll at Southern Connecticut as a pre-nursing major, hoping to be admitted into one of the most competitive programs that the university offers.  


After almost half of a semester here, I am questioning my college choice.  I am exploring the possibility of changing my major to pre-med, or perhaps moving away from the medical field all together and majoring and Biology of Forensic Science.  I have absolutely no idea what major I am going to end up sticking with, or what career I am going to choose, all I know is that it is going to involve science in one way or another.  I guess that makes me undecided?

College Humor.

I had heard of the books, and the YouTube videos, but I never though much of College Humor.  Yes, they were witty, but I didn't feel that we shared the same sense of humor.  That is, until The College Humor Live tour visited my school. At first I wasn't interested in attending, until my boyfriend urged me tag along with him; I am sure glad I did.  From the beginning, I found myself laughing hysterically at jokes about college, and the things that happen while in attendance at university.  The comedians, Jake, Amir, and Streeter, told there stories of college, and turned a night of what would have been boring homework into that of laughter and light hearteness.
Below, I have posted one of the many college humor spoof videos..check it out!

Jake and Amir: iPad

Multitasking..good or bad?

A few weeks ago, my college inquiry class was assigned a article titled, "The Myth of Multitasking", and it really struck a chord with me.  The article is a questain and answer session with the author of a book named Dave Crenshaw.  In a nutshell, it says that what we thought was efficient, are actually making our productivity decrease.  He further explains that when you are going from one task to another, you are not spending the complete time and attention to each task that is needed for a completed, fully immersified, end result.  He also dabbles into the idea of techonology playing a part in ineffictient multitasking, a topic that has been in the hot seat for several years now, and also a topic that I have touched upon in previous postings.  

At the very end of the article, Dave gives his tips for making better use of time and to diminish the poison that is multitasking.

"Take control over technology—Your cell phone ringer (even on vibrate) doesn't need to be on all the time. You can turn off email notification on your computer as well. Become master over the nagging beeps and buzzes by creating some silence.

Schedule what you can schedule—Set regular times in the day and week to check your voicemail and email. Let others know that you will be using that schedule so they know when to expect a reply.

Focus on the person—When you switchtask when dealing with a computer, you simply lose efficiency. But if you switchtask on a human being, you additionally damage a relationship. Be present, listen carefully, and make sure everything has been taken care of before moving on."

From this article, I have conjured up several "Inquiry Questions"..

--Do you, personally, feel that multasking improves efficiency, or decreases it?

--How does the topic of multitasking relate to college students, posive or negatively?

--Do you have any experiences were multi-tasking worked well for you?

   or the opposite?

Introducing...

When I want to find a blog that is worth following, I don't look for catchy headlines or riveting thoughts on philosophy or politics..no..I look for blogs that have LOTS of pictures, and short, easy to understand entries.  Some might be thinking that's very lazy of me, but it's o.k, I know that there are others out there with the same "blog beliefs." So if you feel the same way I do, let me introduce you to some fabulous, intriguing, and most importantly, easy to understand, blogs:


http://perezhilton.com/


Celebrity gossip is my guilty pleasure, and the Perez Hilton blog does the trick.  Perez's blogs usually include a picture, and a small paragraph explaining it.  Very interesting, and extremely easy to follow.


http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/


I am always interested in the latest styles and trends, so I found this blog to be perfect for a quick reference of what is going on the fashion world.  Best part of this blog, THE PICTURES! Very clear and professional.

Time..Managed.

Let’s set the scene:

            You walk into your English class, sit down, and prepare to take notes, only to realize you had a three-page literacy narrative due that day, which you completely forgot about and never wrote.

Yeah, it’s happened to all of us.  We over-schedule and lose track of tasks that we have to do (some people more than others.)  This isn’t just college kids, it’s everybody.  Teachers, businessmen, and parents.  Flashback to the episode of Full House were Jessie promises to bake Stephanie cookies for her bake sale, promises DJ he would coach her soccer game, promises Becky he would go to her cousins wedding, promises Danny he would fix his car, and promises Joey he would help him write a jingle…all in one day.  I’m sure most people aren’t that extreme about it, but that doesn’t hide the fact that America, as a whole needs to learn how to manage their time. 

After doing some research, I found that the Mayo Clinic developed their own list of time management tips.  I suggest checking out the link to look better at the article but here are a few tips that I felt were the most important:

Plan Each Day.

Prioritize Your Tasks.

Take The Time You Need To Do A Quality Job.

Practice The Ten Minute Rule.

Get Plenty Of Sleep.

Take A Break When Needed.

vision board.

     MY VISION BOARD

outcasts united.

Over the summer, the freshman class was given a reading assignment.  The book that was chosen was one of diversity, and unity, titled "Outcasts United."  The novel is based within a small town outside of Atlanta, Georgia.  Within this town, a great change has been slowly occurring throughout the past decades, as swarms of immigrants immerse the towns once vacant apartment complexes, courtesy of the American government.  The towns people, most of whom have been living their for generations, do take the light to the situation, most of them move to the other side of town and stay as far away from the new towns people as much as they can.

The immigrants come from dozens of countries, mostly in Africa, in which civil warfare and poverty have turned them into refugees.  Most have seen first hand the terror that occurs during war, and most do not have the means to talk to someone about it. The children of theses refugees find an outlet to their hard times by playing soccer on the street, as they cannot afford to play for a real team.

An immigrant herself, Luma, was in town one day visiting a specialty grocery store when she noticed the kids playing soccer. A youth soccer coach herself, she thought it would be an excellent idea to form a no-fee soccer team, which was later named "The Fugees."
As the story continues, it goes in depth about the struggles of the team, the backgrounds of a few players, and the story of Luma, their coach.

Reading between the lines, I feel that this book is about more than a soccer team.  It touches upon the challenges of living in a new place, fitting in with different cultures, while still embracing who you are and practicing your beliefs.  You can compare this in a way to being a freshman in college.  The experience of being on your own, fitting in to a new environment, and getting along with people with different belief systems than yourself.  It is all an ever changing learning process, and it is one of the struggles in life that we must all overcome.

The "Fugees"

outside of the box.

They say the first week of school is always the most difficult, or at least I hope that’s what they say.  My beginning days of college left much to be desired.  Sharing a room with two strangers, community showers, early morning classes, college was nothing like I expected, to say the least. 

Throughout high school, I was given lackluster assignments and told to complete the work as minimally as possible, to not ask questains, and to memorize countless facts, most of which I would never use again.  Imaturlly, I thought college would be along the same lines, but I was very wrong.  The first day of classes, I was told to think outside of the box, something that I had never been told to do before.  The idea of a whole new type of thinking was not only hard to comprehend but I also found it challenging. 

That new ideal, that new way of thinking, has so far been the hardest transition for me.  Granted, living with other people away from home and community bathrooms are things that take adjusting too, I still feel that the challenge of thinking, not memorizing is the most difficult.  

            ....though dorm rooms are not the hardest thing about college, they still take a lot of adjusting too

boooo technology.

Lets face it; my iPhone never leaves my side.  Myself, along with millions (perhaps billions) of other people around the world are hooked on technology.  We live in an age of constant texting, emails, and web browsing.  Recently, the New York Times posted an article about, what else, technology.  Only this time, it wasn’t describing the newest smart phone to hit the market, or ranting about the “it” computer, but rather, it exposed the ugly, and downright unhealthy side of this new age digital mania.

“When people keep their brains busy with digital input, they are forfeiting downtime that could allow them to better learn and remember information, or come up with new ideas.”

In the midst of constant games of brick breaker, quick emails to friends, and fast checks of the face book mini-feed, we are slowly depleting our minds of what it needs most, relaxation.  The constant call of the blackberry is now your biggest downfall.  The reason, according to the article that constantly being connected is bad for you is because your brain needs time to relax, to process the information and events that it received throughout the day and to store them as memories within your mind.  If your are constantly stimulating your brain, through television, surfing the web, or texting, you are not giving it time to breath, process, and save. 

“The technology makes the tiniest windows of time entertaining, and potentially productive. But scientists point to an unanticipated side effect: when people keep their brains busy with digital input, they are forfeiting downtime that could allow them to better learn and remember information, or come up with new ideas.”

So on that note, drop the phone, even if it's only for a few minutes a day;  it’s good for your health!