Entry #11- End of the Semester

Well, I did it!

I mean, we did it!

English 102 has actually been great help to me. Normally, I don't seem to grasp the concept of writing essay after essay, but this class helped me learn that in doing so, you improve each time and become more passionate, creative and intrigued in what we begin writing about! 

Not to mention the fact that Mr. Nielson is a great teacher! 

His concepts and plans for the semester were very interesting and made me actually want to learn more. 

So, to future students taking English 102, be hopeful that you get Mr. Nielson!

Haha! 

But in general, to anyone taking this class, pay attention and really try. English can be difficult if you don't apply yourself correctly. Make sure to be responsible and ask questions. Inform the teacher, get student help, anything that can improve your learning in a positive way!

When creating these blogs, actually be truthful and put your emotions into it!

I personally thought this assignment was fun and educational. I enjoyed having the freedom to express myself and also have an audience that enjoys reading it. Also, being able to step into other's shoes in their blogs and seeing their perspective was so interesting!

I learned from creating and writing blogs is that it keeps your mind creative and focused. When you have specific entries it is nice to be able to explore each topic and explain how it makes one feel personally. 

I also enjoyed being able to see how my peers and classmates react with each topic! Honestly, it was a fun assignment and I would do this again for another class! 

Overall, I say to take it seriously, but also have fun with it. It gives you a chance to express yourself in class and see how other people think as well. 

Then before you know it, you're done!! And you have all these entry memories to look back on and reminiscence of the fun times in English 102! 

It is like a fun way to see your past self thoughts!

Entry #10- Stem Cells, do they really work?!

Science is honestly incredible.

So many discoveries are here now because of science itself.

One thing I love about science is its power to help those in need of good health!

My brother recently underwent stem cell surgery back in June.

Why you may ask?

Well, four years ago, the day right after Christmas, my brother was out at a bar with some friends in downtown Phoenix. Just a normal typical night, like they always did back then.

Unfortunately and of all nights, some crazy guy came in and shot up the place. Four people were shot in this horrible act. Two were severely injured and two died. My brother was one of them that got severely injured. The guy had shot him twice leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. 

I can just picture this night like it happened yesterday...

Well, on a more happy note, my brother survived and is in good condition as we speak!
The doctors say he is temporally paralyzed, and will soon walk again in a couple years or so.

Four years have passed, and he has made so much improvement! He can stand on his own, and move his left leg completely! But, the long, hopeful journey isn't over yet. 

In hopes of speeding up the process, my brother did serious research, raised money, and traveled to Panama City to get treated with stem cell injections!

He actually created a blog to update everyone on his journey!! How cool right?!

If interested, you can view the blog here: http://www.joshsrecovery.blogspot.com/

He lived there for a month with my dad. Every day the doctors went through physical therapy, did some surgery and injected millions and millions of stem cells each day!

Since his trip, he has recovered greatly!! He can now move his right knee up, stand, exercise more, and do many more things he was never able to do before the surgery!!

The doctors say he is supposed to see complete results in early/mid 2016! 

I believe the stem cells are working and I have such high hope for my brother being able to walk soon since it is supposed to speed up the entire process!

If the stem cells work like the doctors intended them too, my brother will be walking, running, jogging and jumping in no time!! 

Entry #9- Media

Everyone pictures the phrase "media" differently than others.

Media, in my opinion, is considered a powerful tool to get a point across. SO much of what our generation revolves around deals with media.

mediamediamediamedia! That's all our generation hears about!

Honestly, if it isn't talk about media, its talking about social networking, technology, blah blah blah....

But clearly anyone simply knows that in the end it is all a sort of media!

Growing up. I never payed any attention to "media" and such. Like, what was media back then!?

How strange to think of how much things improve throughout the years.

On a more personal note though, I strongly believe media portrays everything in such a negative way. More of what media deals with is used with an intense emotion to scare, warn and inform of situations in the world. This can also include the acts of how media can create an inappropriate mindset for younger children!

Maybe if our generation spent less time worrying about media, and more time getting involved and having more human contact, our generation could develop more sane behavior. 

Again, it is just my opinion..

So what do you think of media??

Entry #8- Jobs

Over the last couple of years I had never really thought about getting a job just yet. I always thought focusing on school and only school was important. Over time though, I realized more and more each day that I strongly needed a job asap!

Being a full time student and spending every weekday at GCC, I did not think I could personally handle a job! 

"Too stressful? Too much word? How will I get my homework done? No more sleeping in?! No more free time to hangout with friends and family?"
These thoughts ran through my head for days but I knew I needed to get one. I was tired of feeling helpless and I knew it was time to step up!

As some of you may know, I am going to school strictly to major in becoming a vet; however, some of you do in fact know I want to pursue professional photography as well! 

In my daily search for a job I came across something so ideal to me! A photography job at an actual professional studio! This was perfect for me! 

What had happened was I applied online, made my first resume, and went into the studio two days later to let the manager know I applied! 

Before I went in I made sure my resume was in a nice folder and I attached some photographs to make up a little portfolio to impress them! Well, it worked!!

I got hired on the spot! No interview, no experience, nothing! Right away the manager was excited to have me! She even said she was not hiring anymore, but I made an exception! It was unreal! 

I now am a qualified professional photography and work at a REAL studio!! It is so awesome having a first real job that is something I LOVE doing!! Not very many people can say that!

I'm just so grateful to have had this opportunity and I cant wait to see what else the future has in store for me! 

Entry #7- Stereotypes

Everyone is normally familiar with different types of stereotypes and how they portray people and the article "Dumb Men" shows it perfectly!

To begin, the title of the website itself is already insulting, jeez!
But to be fair, it does grab attention, and makes the audience want to read to figure out what exactly the author is talking about. 

The website itself is pretty self-explanatory. There are links to videos and ads that you can watch and they show examples of how men are portrayed in media.

The most interesting and, entertaining video I watched would have to be the "Muscle Gatorade" commercial. This one was pretty funny to be honest, but I do understand the meaning behind it. Clearly, after watching it, it is obvious that the video is about the lottery, not Gatorade. But the way it was made during the video made it seem otherwise.

The way I interpreted it was that the men all clearly thought drinking the Gatorade would make they "hyped up" and "stronger" but it did the complete opposite. I think this video shows how men get involved in "stupid actions" and such.

All in all, the website seems to have never ending clips of men doing "dumb" things! I believe the whole idea behind this website is to show how men are less intelligent? I am not quite sure, but that is definitely what it seems like!

Overall, not all men are identified or stereotyped as being dumb and stupid, it just seems like a trend commercials use to sell their products and make it humorous. 

Entry #6- Prescott

Recently, I just visited Prescott, and it was gorgeous!

The weather was so wonderful: it wasn't too hot or too cold, just right!

When I went up there, I visited Lynx Lake.

Here's a photo I took of what the lake looked like:

Beautiful, right?!

It was amazing! I had never been up north to a lake before. The trees were gorgeous, the water smelt great, the atmosphere was quiet, peaceful and overall it was just very pleasant.

Since being a huge fan of nature and all, I was totally digging the whole aspect of being up there.

We did tons of venturing and even hiked some paths there too! There was also this cute little cafe shop with really delicious food!

Very grateful to have gone considering I don't do much traveling!

Saw many people fishing too, there was even tiny docks in the area.

Here are some more photos:

Definitely wouldn't mind going there again! 

Entry #5- Local Story

Not very many people enjoy reading articles, but I don't mind!

Reading this article from the Arizona Republic, I surprisingly don't quite know how I feel about it....

Shortening classes does mean less tuition, which in the long run is very beneficial!
Although, it would put more stress on students and grades would lower, which would not be a good thing at all.

Unfortunately, the idea behind shortening classes has its ups and downs, but expanding it to a variety of colleges may not agree.

Most universities, and even community colleges, want their students to succeed to the best of their ability. In order for that, they need time, patience, help and the right amount of encouragement to fulfill properly.

Having the process increased to a faster pace may throw everyone off, which would decrease in GPA and stress levels.

Plus, pushing the spring semester a week earlier could potentially mess up certain student schedules.

What a risk!

The article is very persuading and shows lots of descriptive examples and what not, but I don't think it is enough information to fully make the idea realistic.

Clearly, it is not for everyone, since most people attend different courses at their own comfortable pace.