I was graded

I was very happy to find out the class was assigned a writing assignment. Of course I love to write and express myself on paper. I put a lot of hard work into the essay for this class. I read and read the story over and over again. To myself, I believed to have the full understanding. I had other proof read my writing and share their thoughts on how to improve. I took in everyone's comments and convinced myself that I had done a great job. Now receiving my grade I was totally shocked. Seeing the comment that my essay wasn't well organized blew me away. Even though I understand that college is much different than high school I still had the mind set that the work I did in high school would be acceptable. I know that I have to try harder and put in a lot more effort if I want my grade to come up. Also, it was the first essay and I don't plan on having anymore C's. Overall I believe the grading was reasonable and now know what it is that I have to work on.

Picture This

10:35pm and your eyes barely open. You have to be at work at 11:00pm and God's know you don't want to get up. Closing your eyes just for a little while longer. You can't go back to sleep because you can only think about pulling yourself out of bed in just about 10 minutes. Late night shifts are always a drag. No one to talk to, nothing to eat, homework to be done, and definitely no fun. Yes, I work as a desk clerk for one of the dorms. Rolling over in bed putting the pillow over my face I scream in my pillow. Jumping down off the bed and putting on my shoes. Rubbing my face and walking to my desk. Placing my badge around my neck and putting homework in my bookbag. Grapping my keys and cutting off the television. Another late night but hey I'm in college. The crazy, drunk, foolish, restless, loud, annoying, ready to start anything are out late at night. Sleepy, I make a phone to call to make myself feel not alone. once arriving because it is walking distance I swipe in. Signing into the log book, doing accountablility, reading the log book, check to see if any thing needs to be done I sit myself down at the desk. Asking myself one question, what's next? Logging on to the computer and jump straight for facebook. It's an addiction to all who have gotten on. Checking messages, and looking at pictures. Nothing productive I swear. This is a typical start for my night at work. Can you picture yourself getting up out of your sleep, walking to work at night, then having nothing to do to stay awoke. Of course, everyones alternative, facebook.

What I consider reading and writing to be!

6 - The writing and reading you did in high school and the writing and reading you do now in college carry with them certain assumptions about why literacy is important. What values or purpose lie behind your literate activities?

In high school I loved to write. Even if there wasn't an assignment I would still write stories and things of that nature. I can also remember back in gammar school, those were the days i really could come up with some pretty interesting stories. If I read the same ones today I do not know what I would think of them. When I started having to write papers for my high school classes it was a big change. At first I thought it would not be so hard but I was overwhelmed at first. Once I got the hang off it I sort of found an importance. It is important to me to be able to express who you felt about thing you read and also actually be able to understand what the writer says. Reading and writing play an important part in my life because it helps me to express my feelings. To me it comes as a stress reliver and has helped me throughout my life so far. Now I'm in college and I assumed the writing would be taken to a much higher level. Indeed is has been and I've started getting adjusted to it. It takes much more preperation and I know I should have been expecting that. I now think literacy is more important to the teachers than the students because it is there job to teach us. I guess when I was in high school more of the reading related to me rather than now. Even though it does not relate to me I still feel it is important to read about many different subjects and take in the ideas of other people. Reading and writing gives me a sense of knowledge becasue it enables you to put yourself in there position I see and try to understand why they think the way they do. Reading and writing is the best priviledge a person can have in life because it is considered their voice. I believe that reading and writing is extremely valuable and serves a grave purpose for our society.

What Once was there; Now is Gone

Family to me is extremely important. Sometimes they agree with you and sometimes they don't. Trying to always meet their high expectations. I know sometimes it gets frustrating and you want to give. They'll make you make and things are said where each it left regretting their words. Family together is so so strong, but when separated things start to fall apart. Every Friday coming home from school knowing that granny was waiting their to take us away. Our weekends filled with fun and laughter. Memories I'll never forget. Those were they days and now looking bad asking God why did they have to end. Summer after summer, continuous fun. My brother, sisters and I would basically stay the entire summer. I can remember once when we went to grocery store and my granny let us buy so much junk that my mom would have had a heart attack. Everyone knows that grannies always get what they know your not suppose to have. That's one of the best reason for having a granny except for the unconditional love. But all to sudden those days started fading away. As we got the news that granny was sick. Now of course people get sick but surely the doctor could cure this. Doctor after doctor, medicine after medicine, it seemed that nothing worked. Well, that when my little sister and I decided we would stay with her and help her because it was hard for her to do what used to be easy things. Assisting at her side for her every need she began to show some improvements. We return home thinking and believing that everything would be fine. Well she died and the whole family took it hard. How could she be right here talking to me yesterday and today she is no where to answer my questions. She would not leave me now, for she knew the things that were yet to come. I begged for her to come back that whatever I did wrong that I was sorry. Still a preteen and I did not understand. I've had to grow up and realize that what you always have won't always be there. So now, and its a habit all in my head, if something belongs to me I take great care of it to ensure that nothing can happen to it and know one can take. I guess this was one of the hardest lessons I ever had to learn. What once was there; now is gone.

Teach Me

8- Although it might be tempting to assume that all teachers “dispense” knowledge that students then “store,” surely you have had one or two teachers who broke that stereotype. Why was your relationship different with that teacher, and how did teaching and learning take place?

Throughout high school, teachers always informed the students that college will be a different scene. They said that college professors do not spooonfeed students the information that they need. It is up to the student to learn the material and the professor is just there to provide guidance. The first time I experienced this was in my Geometry class during my sophomore year. My teacher's name was Mrs. Harvey-Stapleton. From the beginning of the class, I knew that this would be a different class than all of my others. I immediately determined that she was a very mean lady and I would hate this class. Because her teaching approach was so different from others, and because I was not acclimated to her, we did not have a great relationship. We continually bumped heads because I felt that she was a bad teacher. She would always give homework without teaching us or explaining how to do it. Then, the next day, she would become furious if we did not understand the homework. What I did not realize at the time was that she was trying to show us that no one can teach you like you can. At the end of the course, I noticed that I had learned a lot because I was forced to teach myself. This prepared me for college, and I do not struggle as much as other students because I am acclimated to the classroom settings thanks to my Geometry class. So, I guess Mrs. Harvey-Stapleton wasn't so bad after all.

Why?

Why? Some many questions roam through my mind and I have no answers. I write to express myself but sometimes it's hard to get out what I'm trying to say. Those you love let you down, those you trust never show up, those who say yes turn and say no. Though throughout my life I've been let down so many times I do have those who are always by my side. Why do some days I wake up sad and others happy? Why can't I do what I did yesterday if it satisfied me? Even though I can go on and on about stuff that bothers me I can always realize that Gods lets everything happen for a reason and all the answers are never there. I don't have to question what goes on because I know God holds my future in his hands. So why? Well, why not?

Man and Women! Are They Equal

13- Stereotypes abound when it comes to gender, and they often come into play most clearly when someone offers a verbal put-down. Discuss one of these specific words or phrases and reflect on the role of language in gender conflict.

Stereotypes form a big problem in our society today. Majority of people have a stereotype about a certain group of people whether they want to believe it or not. A phrase that I hear alot is men saying that a womans place is in the home and not in the work field. Though many woman now are beoming more independent every day, it doesn't change the way some men think. Alot of men think that they should be the ones making all the money and the woman takes care of the house. This for me refers back to men thinking they are better than woman and they have more power. I feel that this a huge problem now and that more people should set out to make it known that men and womem are capable of the same things and one shouldn't be looked down upon.

An Exception For Young Men to Cry

I know everyone has heard the saying, "Men aren't suppose to cry." Well, I witnessesd a situation and felt that it was quite alright for this young man to cry. Leaving your family in which you love dearly. Always knew you were going to go to college but never thought of having feeling so strongly about missing ones family that has brought them to tears. All of a sudden having to pack up and gather yourself to meet new people and start another life somewhere else. My friend, who I will not name, was brought to tears one day this weekend. Seeing old photos and memories rushing back tohis brain. Uncontrollably he began to cry. Young men can become extremely emotional from holding in thoughts and feelings for so long. This only thing for me to do was give him a hug and assure him that they were missing him as well. Now, I have nothing bad to say about my friend crying because I can understand his situation. If there was a different situation then maybe I would've thought differently. So for me this is definitely an exception for when a young man can cry.

Learning The Ends and Outs!!!

7- In a journal entry, recall a time when you were new to an activity but you were not entirely sure of its rules or processes. How did you feel, and how did you try to learn that activity and fit in with those who did it often?


Ping Pong.

Hitting this little ball that imitated a golf ball on this table that resembled a small tennis court over a net. It doesn't sound that interesting. Try being at Bible Camp watching these two people go back and fourth. Intensely, their eyes are focused and no one else matters. This game grabbed my attention and I couldn't take my eyes off. This day I will never forget because it sparked my interest into a game that never crossed my mind before which I knew nothing about.
Deciding I would like to try this game out I just picked up the paddle and started hitting this little ball on this ping pong table. Realizing I don't know a thing about this game I asked for help. One of the people I watched playing was a friend of mine and he was more than willing to teach me this game. I opened myself up to many new possibilities and took in all that was told to me. I guess I'm a fast learning because it didn't take me that long to learn the in's and out's of this game.
I felt real excited about taking on something new. I was up to the challenge and proud of myself for trying something new. I'm an outgoing person so it was easy for me to get along with those who played this game. They were really nice about me being a beginner and not just because they were already my friends.
Ping Pong is a game that many learn to love based on it's attention grabbing capabilities. Although, it may seem like a simple game to play, it's requires much attention and skills.