Journal 8

I have honestly enjoyed this class. Having had Professor Warren for my ENC1101 class made this class a little easier since I knew what to expect with her teaching style. I actually enjoyed the films we watched, as they really opened my eyes to things I wouldn’t have normally paid attention to. I would have to say the films Dive, Waiting for Superman, and Forgiving Dr. Mengele really touched my heart. I think being able to pick a topic from the films we watched also helped in my writings. For me, it is easier to write from my perspective rather than being given a topic and writing from that.

            The only thing a little challenging about the class was keeping up with the blogs. I didn’t mind posting and it was great to read other peoples perspectives, but keeping track of who and what essays I commented on was a little challenging. I’m still not sure I’m caught up on the comments! Overall I think the class went well. I believe if there were an easier way to track the comments, the class would have been perfect.

Teacher's Matter

I can recall every single one of my elementary school teachers. These particular teachers had such a huge impact on my learning experience. My favorite teacher was Mrs. K. Davis; she taught my second grade class. Mrs. Davis was very tall with long blonde hair and always dressed to impress! She was creative, a ton of fun, and most importantly, she truly cared about her students. She went out of her way to make every student feel accepted and to make sure everyone was on the same educational page. Mrs. Davis was an exceptional teacher. I can remember going back to visit her every year until my family moved across town. The teachers of today do not carry the same qualities as Mrs. Davis did, and sadly it reflects within the students. I am a firm believer that teachers make lasting impressions on their students. An exceptional teacher will make for an exceptional student.   

            Education is the most valuable tool a person can own. The higher the education, the further one will excel in life. America is not receiving the education it deserves. There are many factors that play into why the education system is failing Americans. First, I believe it starts at home with the parents. The parents have to do their job in helping to ensure their child is studying, doing their homework, understanding the work, and getting the help needed if their child doesn’t understand the work. The parents have to be involved in their children’s academics in order for their child to succeed. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be actively involved in your child’s academic life. It’s easy to get too busy in life and expect your child to take it upon themselves to get their homework or their studying done on their own. The reality of it is, without the push from their parents, chances are the child will only dedicate half the time needed, if at all to their schoolwork. If the parents aren’t involved, the kids assume their parents don’t care and that’s where the downward spiral begins.

            I also believe teachers play a huge part in how successful a student can become. There are plenty of exceptional teachers out there such as Mrs. Davis, but there are just as many mediocre teachers. I can recall a teacher in middle school telling the class that she will get paid whether we pass the class or not. I now know this is true compliments of teacher tenure. “Teacher tenure is the increasingly controversial form of job protection that public school teachers in all states receive after 1-7 years on the job. As of 2008, 2.3 million teachers have tenure. Proponents of tenure argue that it protects teachers from being fired for personal or political reasons, and prevents the firing of experienced teachers to hire less expensive new teachers. They contend that since school administrators grant tenure, neither teachers nor teacher unions should be unfairly blamed for problems with the tenure system.” (Procon.org) While I certainly understand why teacher tenure was started in the 1800’s, I also know this is a different day and age and if teachers aren’t preforming then neither are the students they teach. Teachers of today have to be creative in their teachings if they want to make a difference and see their students excel. With our schools filled with a variety of students, we need quality teachers. Teachers, that truly care and not just there for a paycheck.

            “It is estimated that 7,000 students drop out of school every year, teachers account for about 60% of a student’s ability to succeed and students with higher performing teachers progressed three times as fast as those with low performing teachers (Oprah.com).” Given those statistics, it seems as though something needs to be done to fix our system. What I find even more shocking is that in 1971 it cost $4,300 per student and in 2010 the average cost per student has risen to $9,000 and yet there has been no improvement in reading and math scores since 1971!

            Now, I may not be a genius when it comes to fixing our educational system, but as a parent with two children in public schools, I do know that having an exceptional teacher matters. I also believe that the elementary and middle school teachers are the most important and influential teachers in our students lives. It is during this time our students are growing up and if the teachers can get them interested in learning and keep their attention, they have a more successful chance in excelling in their education. Teachers make more of an impact in our children’s lives than we realize. I know I had several teachers throughout my life that really inspired me to learn and I also had many teachers who didn’t. The one thing I do know is that teachers truly matter.

Journal 7

Wake up America

            Education is the key to a successful future. America needs to wake up and realize the future of the United States lies in the hands of our youth. It really saddens me that little can be done in our educational system to ensure our children’s future. America seems to think we are invincible and still the greatest nation, but if we are behind in our education, how can that be so? Education is the heart of our success.

            When it comes to education I am somewhat passionate. I wasn’t always as passionate since I am a statistic. I dropped out of school when I was only sixteen years old. My nana was sick, my sister lived in Tallahassee, and my mom was trying to work full time and take care of my nana. So I thought it best I quit school and do my part to help out. Now, here I am at the ripe age of 34, trying to finish my education.

            The school system has certainly changed since I was in school. I have two children in public schools and I’m very fortunate that one is in a magnet school and the other had the option to attend a somewhat passing school across town. Before my kids were sent to other schools, both were in failing schools. I can honestly say that the teachers my kids had weren’t that fabulous. Most were first or second year teachers who just didn’t have the patience to deal with the students. It takes a special kind of teacher to get through to the students of today. A teacher needs to be inspiring, caring, compassionate, patient and most importantly, have the passion to really want to teach and make a difference in a child’s life. With that said, having just learned about tenure, well, that really upsets me. Something needs to be done to rid the schools of the teachers who don’t care, the teachers that are just there for a paycheck. Because at the end of the day, our children are our future and if they aren’t properly educated, America will fall.  

Portrayal of Women

         The media, in its many forms, is a great way to stay up to date on current events around the world. However, the media is also responsible for its influence in the way women are portrayed. Society is easily influenced and the media is the greatest influencer. Women are told through the media that in order to be accepted socially, one must maintain their appearance. Women are under constant scrutiny to always look beautiful and to be thin; and if you aren’t thin enough, you aren’t attractive.  The portrayal of women in media is quite discrediting. Women have fought long and hard to have a voice, to be respected and to be considered as equals; and yet in the eyes of the media, we are no more than our physical appearance. What’s even more disheartening is that when a woman is considered “beautiful” and “intelligent,” her intelligence is overlooked because of her beauty.

            As a woman myself, and a not so little woman I might add, I do feel a constant pressure to look younger and be thinner. Most commercials are aimed at women with the next new thing in beauty products, or the next new diet fad. These same commercials feature mostly younger, thinner women and sometimes even celebrities selling the product as a way to make you want to try their products. The media has shaped the way we are supposed to look and completely overlook our brains.

            I remember my mom saying “you can only get by on your looks for so long, but your brain my dear will take you further than you ever expected.” Women have fought fiercely since the early 19^th century to be accepted as equals. Women have fought to prove that we are not just the pretty little housewives of the kitchen, but that we have brains that can be used to contribute to make our country more successful. However, the media doesn’t see women for their brains, only their beauty. Let’s take Sarah Palin for instance. She is a beautiful, intelligent woman who started her political career in 1992 earning a seat on the Wasilla City Council. From there she went on to become Mayor and eventually Governor of Alaska. Sarah was picked to be the Vice President running mate on the John McCain ticket in 2008. I think it’s safe to say, the media picked her apart with every mistake that may have been made and concentrated on her appearance. One day Sarah would be made fun of  in the media because of the way she spoke, criticized for her clothing the next day, and objectified as a sex object another day. It didn’t matter what she did, she was constantly under the eye of the media. Most of the media was negative, never concentrating on the good, positive, intelligent decision making that she had done as Governor. There are many more examples of this happening, this is just the most recent I can think of.

            The media shows you what it wants you to see. I understand that is their job. It is their job to promote all kinds of products, but being that they are highly influential they should also promote positive images for the young people of today. There should be some kind of balance. If the media insist on portraying women based on their physical appearance, they should also portray women based on their intelligence. Women are not the only ones the media targets. They portray men as the strong, masculine type, the money-makers of the family. If men don’t display this type of image then they are considered not manly enough.

            The media isn’t all bad they’re just out of balance. There are so many beautiful, intelligent women in our world, but they are short changed over their appearance. Condoleezza Rice, Hilary Clinton, and Brownie Wise are just a few that are very successful but often don’t receive the credit that’s due. Women may have fought long and hard to become accepted in a man’s world and sadly it seems we still have a ways to go.

Journal 6

Portrayal of Women

            After watching the movie Miss Representation, I had a lot of mixed emotions.  First, women have fought long and hard to have a voice, gain respect and be considered as equals, and yet the media continues to portray women as they see fit. It’s really quite concerning. As a woman, it’s hard enough living in these times of hardships, but then you have the media constantly reminding us that we have to look a certain way or act a certain way. It’s almost degrading.

            One of our classmates pointed out that women who enter the media field, whether it be film, modeling, or journalism, knew what they were getting into and therefore can’t be upset for the way they are portrayed. I can see why this classmate would think that, but most women don’t sign up to become sexually objectified, they sign up because they want to become rich and famous and some even hope to change the world by using their celebrity status. So what about the women in politics? The media objectifies them just as they do the women in film and modeling. My thought is this; women, no matter what profession they enter will always be scrutinized. Women have come such a long way since the early 1900’s, but still have a much longer way to go before we can truly be accepted for our brains, not just our beauty.

A Wasteful America

A Wasteful America

            Growing up, my parents and grandparents would always remind us to be grateful for the food provided and to always eat everything on the plate. Luckily, food portions were smaller in those days. I didn’t  know it then, but they were trying to teach us not to be wasteful of food. They understood the value of food, the value of leftovers. And boy did they love leftovers! I can remember my grandparents telling us that if we dare go back for a second helping, we had sure better eat every last piece on that plate since there were starving people all over the world and it would be wrong to waste food just because our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. We also were not allowed to leave the table until they examined the plate, the floor, the napkin, the dog’s food bowl or any other hiding place we may have found because our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomachs! Times have certainly changed and it seems as though America doesn’t value food as we once did.

            Did you know that millions of pounds of perfectly good food are being thrown away right now and I can’t help but wonder, why? Statistics show that the U.S is one of the world’s most wasteful societies, wasting 10 times the amount of food than Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia in a year’s time (Unwire). I can’t seem to wrap my head around what a wasteful nation we have become. What’s even more astonishing is that as we waste this perfectly good food, millions of people are going hungry. With the amount of food that is being thrown out, we shouldn’t have one hungry person in the world. The numbers are astronomical; 34 million tons of food waste was generated in 2010, nationwide food waste totaled $43 billion a year, over half of all food produced goes to waste, and the average American household throws away about 470 pounds of food a year (Pierce). When did it become acceptable to become so wasteful? As an American, I say it’s time to make changes; changes that will not only help feed the hungry but changes that will also help save our environment. There are some people out there trying to make a change, but it will take all of us to really make it effective.

            Dumpster divers, also known as freegans, are people trying to make a political statement by saving perfectly good food from reaching the landfill, which in return will help save the environment. Now I’m sure dumpster diving doesn’t sound very appetizing and of course it isn’t for everyone, but if you can get past the mental part of diving, there is plenty of good food to be saved. Let me give you another mental picture that might make dumpster diving more appealing. With everyday life happening, we often don’t think twice about where our trash ends up. Sure we know it goes to the landfill but what we aren’t thinking about is how much food waste is actually going there and ultimately damaging our environment. The EPA reported in 2010 that 33 million tons of food waste was sent to the landfill (Unwire). Did you know that as we waste food and send it to the landfill we are helping to increase global warming. Rotting food is quite toxic. It releases Methane, a potent greenhouse gas that has 20 times the warming potential as carbon dioxide (Unwire).

Now having this information, I also feel it necessary to tell you that while garbage is garbage, hitting the right dumpster on the right night makes it a little less of the gross factor when dumpster diving. If you chose to become part of the political stance, there are a few rules that divers follow. Through social networking, divers notify each other of full dumpsters and the best times to go diving (McElroy). When one dives, they take only what they need and always clean up behind themselves, sometimes leaving the dumpster cleaner than what it was before they arrived (McElroy). You should also be careful of the no trespassing signs and always avoid locked dumpsters (McElroy). As you can see, there is certain etiquette to follow.

I understand that dumpster diving isn’t for everyone, but I firmly believe that everyone should do their part in trying to save perfectly good food. Americans has never been as wasteful as we are today. If we all followed the advice of our parents and grandparents by eating what we put on the plate and saving the rest for left overs, then in a small way we are helping. I think taking small steps start at home and will eventually spread. Just imagine the difference we could make if everyone in the world started this small step. We have the opportunity to make a difference and become the America that values food again. Let’s not take it for granted.

Journal 5

Dumpster diving has a whole new meaning to me after watching the film “Dive.” Mentally, when I hear the words dumpster diving, I automatically envision an old, dirty dumpster filled with smelly old garbage waiting to be rummaged through by homeless people and wild animals. I never would have envisioned an everyday person diving to save good food from going bad.

 I have never given any thought as to what happens to food in grocery stores when it hasn’t been sold by the “best by” or “sell by” date. I also never gave any thought as to what grocery stores do with damaged goods. Apparently, they just toss it in the trash. All of a sudden, dumpster diving has a new meaning. The film really opened my eyes as to how wasteful Americans are with food. What really caught my attention was when they stated in the film that America wastes 96 billion pounds of food a year and that waste could feed Haiti for 5 years. That to me is absolutely astonishing. It seems as though we all need to do our part in making sure good food isn’t getting wasted.    

The American Dream

The American Dream

            What is the American Dream? You would naturally think the answer would be simple; the American Dream is about freedom, equality, and success. However, I think the answer to this question will depend on who you ask. Simply put, the American Dream means many different things to many different people. For me personally, I have to agree with Maya Lin when she says “the American Dream is being able to follow your own personal calling. To be able to do what you want to do is an incredible freedom.” I also believe that happiness is essential in living the American Dream.

            If you ask an American what their view of the American Dream would look like, you might find the answer to be success, power, and wealth. Now if you ask the same question of an immigrant fleeing their country, the answer may be something more along the lines of safety, freedom, and equality. Does that mean that Americans are greedy for wanting what they want? Of course not, it just means that Americans already have a sense of safety, freedom and equality. Immigrants come to America on a ray of hope; hope that they will be able to provide a better life for their family, a life that would not be possible if they stay in their home country. Even with our country in the financial mess it’s in, they still see hope for a better future.

             As the economy hit its financial downfall, the attitudes of Americans took a very dim turn. It suddenly felt that the hope for the American Dream was no longer achievable. People that were working hard to achieve the American Dream were now losing their jobs, homes, hope and in some cases, their families. While in this recession, American’s are starting to believe that the American Dream is becoming harder to achieve (Hanson, Zogby).

“In the U.S., the mood is sour. Americans are glum, dispirited and angry. The middle class, in particular, feels under assault. In a Newsweek poll in September, 63% of Americans said they did not think they would be able to maintain their current standard of living. Perhaps most troubling, Americans are strikingly fatalistic about their prospects. The can-do country is convinced that it can't (Zakaira). It’s easy to see that the downfall of the economy has taken a toll on the attitude of pursuing the American Dream (Hanson, Zogby). However, it is in this time that I find the American Dream more alive than ever before. I say this because it is in this time of hardships that a person discovers just how strong they truly are and once they discover this, anything is possible.

With most Americans having not been born charmed, living the American Dream will involve time, effort and of course, hard work. Financial success will not come overnight, just as an immigrant will not automatically become a citizen the minute they touch American soil. In order to live the Dream, you have to work for it.

With every person lies a different version of what the American Dream means to them. Whether it financial success, owning a home, having a family, having freedom, or equality, it all involves hard work and dedication. Bill Rancic says it best: “The American Dream is still alive out there, and hard work will get you there. You don't necessarily need to have an Ivy League education or to have millions of dollars startup money. It can be done with an idea, hard work and determination.”

The American Dream for me personally is to achieve financial success doing what I love, which is helping others. I can honestly say I am living the American Dream as I type this. I may not have a lot, but everything I have is mine; I am by no means a millionaire, but my greatest riches are my family. I am truly thankful to live in a country where all is possible; a country that opens its arms to immigrants giving them a chance at a better life; a country where you can dream a dream and then make it reality. America is truly the land of opportunity!

Journal 4

The American Dream

            What is the American Dream? As a little girl I envisioned this as having the perfect family with the perfect career living in the perfect house and not having any worries. Looking back I now realize how unrealistic my visions were. As an American, and now an adult, I realize there is so much more to living the American Dream.

            Having lived in America my entire life, I can’t imagine living in a country that will kill you for wanting to become educated. Mr. Garcia’s story really touched me. I have never really thought of the American Dream from an immigrant’s point of view. Immigrant’s leave their countries to pursue a better life. Many, like Mr. Garcia’s parents, have no choice but to send their loved ones to a foreign country to ensure a better life. As a parent myself, sending your child away for a better life is painful sacrifice.

            There are many people that have strong views of immigration, but I absolutely support anyone who comes to America looking to better themselves, as long as this person has every intention of becoming a U.S citizen. What Mr. Garcia has done with his life is truly inspiring. Having come to a new world completely blind, he managed to learn the language, educate himself, become a citizen and achieve happiness. And that is what I would call an American Dream.

Digital Essay

The Computer Age

            When I think about the world in which we live, I can’t help but wonder when technology took over. We now live in a world in which we have access to just about anything with the tap of a keyboard and the click of a mouse. We live in a time where you no longer need to make a phone call to communicate; all you have to do is tap a few keys on the phone and viola, text message sent. We live in a time in which many of us put our whole life online within these social media sites thinking our online world is protected via privacy settings; which aren’t as private as you may think. The world in which we live is ultimately consumed, maybe even addicted to the technology age. While I am guilty of indulging, there is a delicate balance needed so that it doesn’t consume you. 

            Having come from a time when owning a beeper was the coolest thing in the world, and owning a computer was a luxury, I now take guilty pleasure in living within the online world. I’ve had the pleasure of watching the world evolve into this technology beast. I remember very clearly sitting in my seventh grade computer class, many, many years ago, listening to my teacher lecture us on “computers are the way of the world and we had better pay attention if were to advance in an ever changing world.” Looking back at that statement, I now see it was clearly a very true statement.    

            I have two teenagers and of course they are very much involved with the available technology. They have cell phones, computers, tablets, iPods; all the things you would expect a teenager to have. When these items are in use, it’s as if they are in their own little cyber world. When family dinner went from eating together to eating at different times because they were too busy to come eat, that was when I realized things had to change. It is one thing to skip family dinner if you are working on a project and need to research the web or chat with a partner, but it is a completely different story when you’re skipping to “Facebook” or “twitter tweet.” 

            I feel as though the technology age has taken us away from quality time with friends and family. I realize that it is so much easier to send a text message when you’re busy and can’t make that call, or send an email because it’s easier to type than to write out a long letter, but isn’t texting and emailing a little impersonal? Wouldn’t it mean so much more to hear someone’s voice or receive a letter knowing that person took the time to write? I guess I’m old school that way.

            In the beginning of the technology age, then President Bill Clinton wanted to make computers and the internet easily accessible (Wilhelm). He understood the importance of the time. However, I don’t believe his intentions would focus on accessibility to social media sites! I believe he felt it was important for everyone, young and old, to be able to operate a computer. Given where technology has taken us, if you don’t know how to work a computer, you my friend are in trouble since almost everything is done online.

            Once one ventures online, they are easily sucked in to social media sites such as Facebook. I have to admit that when I first became involved with social media, I was absolutely addicted to it. I would be on the site all day, with the window minimized so the boss wouldn’t know. Scandalous, I know. But I just couldn’t help myself; it was as if I needed to know what was going on in everyone’s world. I would wake up in the morning and immediately check my Facebook, and it would be the last thing I did before bed. Looking back at it now, I think I may have been temporarily insane. I absolutely let it consume me. And there lies the problem, people get so wrapped up in the cyber world, they end up losing in the real world.

            I think computers make great learning devices and it truly is important for everyone to know how to operate one. But I also believe that there is a balance to be had. When one starts to become consumed by cyber world, it’s time to make changes. This is especially true in today’s youth.

            As the world changes, technology will continue to advance. It is very important to become knowledgeable where computers are concerned, but most importantly, don’t let computers consume your life. Take time to enjoy quality time with friends and family. 

Works Cited

Wilhem, Anthony. Digital Nation: Toward an Inclusive Information Society. Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2004.

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Journal 3

After watching the film “Digital Nation” I have conflicting views of the digital world.

When I think of the world in which we live, most of it revolving around some form of social networking, I can’t help but wonder how it all became acceptable. When did texting and emailing become the normal way of communicating? Who determined that it would be OK to put your entire life online suggesting that it was safe to do so thanks to privacy settings; which aren’t so private by the way. While I am guilty of all of the above, I still can’t help but wonder.

            When I was growing up, we didn’t have cell phones or own a computer. The acceptable way of communication was talking on the house phone (cordless if you were lucky), writing letters or notes, or visiting someone in person. This was the only way to get caught up on the gossip! Nowadays, you can catch up with just the click of the mouse or tap of the keyboard.

 I was able to watch the transformation from the dark ages of having to communicate as mentioned above, to the modern day age of communication. I remember when AOL was the biggest thing socially, then came MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter. I remember when owing a beeper (yes a beeper), it was the hottest thing on the market. Now, everyone owns some kind of a smart phone.

I guess when technology changes, society changes, therefore making the “digital nation” acceptable.  

Journal 2

Reality Television

            Over the years reality TV has taken over most channels. Shows such as Honey Boo Boo, The Bachelor, Mob Wives, Dance Moms and American Idol are just a few that have dominated airways. While most reality shows are really quite pointless, society just can’t seem to change the channel; and sadly, I am guilty. After a long day at work it’s nice to come home and watch a show that I don’t have to put much effort into actually thinking about what may or may not happen next.

            Reality TV isn’t for everyone. You have many people that think reality shows are rude, crude and not a very good influence; thanks Jersey Shore! But the fact is not all reality TV is bad. I myself am a sucker for the show Pit Bulls and Parolees. This show is about a lady who rescues pit bulls and hires parolees to help take care of them until they can be adopted. It’s a very positive show that makes a difference. It’s all in which reality shows you choose to watch.    

            I think reality TV is such a hit because it takes us away from the reality of our lives. There is a reality show for just about everyone. For the romantic you have the Bachelor or the Bachelorette, for the competitive, American Idol, for the one looking to be inspired to lose weight, The Biggest Loser, the drama lover, Mob Wives and The Real Housewives. The list is endless.

            I have a feeling reality shows are going to be around for a very long time. As long as society is watching, producers will produce!  

Essay 1

A Moment in Time

            Photography is an art unlike any other. With the click of a button, memories of that exact moment will forever live on. I believe Dorothea Lange says it best: “Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding still.” I never understood the phrase “pictures are worth a thousand words” until I was older and realized that with every picture comes a story of a moment frozen in time waiting to be heard.

            Recently, I attended the 31^st Annual Photography Competition at FSCJ Kent Campus, where I was instantly drawn to several of John Shippe’s photos. The first one to catch my attention was titled “Immaculate Conception.”  This was a beautiful picture of the inside of a church. It reminded me of a church you might see in Europe. It looked as though it may have been a Catholic church from the beautiful architecture. The windows were beautifully colored stained glass; the aisle was long with what looked like a golden floor heading towards the alter; and the ceilings were tall and arched. The coloring of the picture is what initially attracted me, but as I stood there and stared at this picture I couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace. This picture captured not only the beauty of the church but also the warmth and welcoming feeling of being accepted.

            The second picture of Mr. Shippe’s that caught my eye was titled “The Coming Storm.” This is a picture of the beach right before a storm. This particular picture is my favorite since I love the beach. It is the most calming place I know. I seek serenity in sitting on the beach, feet in the sand, listening to the waves come crashing in and the seagulls flying overhead. Having spent many of my younger years at the beach waiting for a storm to pass, I’ve never seen a picture capture quite the essence as this one has. It captures the calmness of the water and the array of colors in the sky. The calm before the storm you could say. On one side of the once blue sky you can see this calming yellow-orange and red colored sky that will soon be giving way to the other half of the sky filled with dark gray and almost black clouds. This picture was really quite beautiful. To be able to capture mother-nature at work must have been very breathtaking.

            The third picture I really like was by Rockel Hammond titled “Innocence.” This was an absolutely adorable picture of a little boy, maybe around the age of three. He has the biggest most innocent brown eyes you have ever seen. This picture just touches my heart. When I look at this picture I see a little boy and know that at his age, he has no knowledge of the evil that exist in the world. He doesn’t know that twenty children, just a few years older than him experienced the world’s evil. He doesn’t know bullies exist, has no idea that child predators live among him, no clue of child abuse, nor does he know of the homeless or the hardships people face. He is truly innocent to a world filled with evil. All he knows, and should know is love. This precious little boy will one day know of the evil that exist, but for now he is oblivious.

            I have a great admiration of all art, but photography has my heart. Photography doesn’t just capture moments, it ignites emotions. Pictures don’t just have stories behind them, they also have emotion. Whether it a picture of a person, place or thing, each picture will relate to someone’s emotions differently. This is why I say photography is unlike any other art.

 The invention of the camera was one of the world’s greatest inventions. To be able to take that picture of someone you love and cherish it when they are gone, to take a picture of a place that you may have visited when you were younger, or to even take a picture of that flower you finally were able to grow, these are the stories behind the picture. These pictures freeze that moment in time. 

Journal 1

I have to say when I first enrolled in ENC 1101 I was absolutely terrified! I had no idea what to expect, as it had been well over 15 years since I had taken a writing class. Luckily for me, my SLS 1103 professor, Ms. Warren, would be teaching an ENC 1101 class the following term. Securing a seat in her class certainly eased my terror as I had an idea of what to expect of the professor, just not the work!

Once class started I realized it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It was kind of like riding a bike, a little wobbly at first but then it all came back! I actually enjoyed that class. It was a great refresher course and it helped that Ms. Warren did an amazing job walking the class through the process.

The biggest challenge for me was expanding my vocabulary while writing. I still have a hard time with this to this day. I just don’t use what I call “big word vocabulary.” I use your basic words to describe things. While the bigger vocabulary words sound great in stories, I prefer to keep it simple in everyday conversation. However, if I were to write more often, I’m sure I would find myself using a bigger vocabulary outside of writing!

I am looking forward to this class and to the challenges it will bring in my writing!