No such thing as a dumb question....

One of the questions that I keep asking to myself and I wouldn't mind getting answers to is; what makes us humans as appose to just homosapiens. Is it our genius, our culture or maybe out innate ability to adapt to changes quickly? People have this great ability to gather together to help those in need no mater what. Whether it being running a marathon to help cure cancer or pulling a burning car off a motorcyclist. Our genius has brought us a long way from gathering around a fire; we have always found a way to make life easier and more comfortable for ourselves. Building skyscrapers, trains that can go almost 200 m/h, phones that we chat with each other via video. Before I get off track, what kind of techniques did people before us have to develop to get us to this point and what's next?

Time management

When I get home after classes I always grab a small bite to eat and head to my MacBook to start my homework. Depending on what night of the week it is I spend about 3-5 hours a night doing my homework. Doing everything from doing exercises to going over my notes. I even go to classes early to review my notes right before my class starts to have the knowledge fresh in my head.

When I'm not doing homework I'm doing chores, looking feverishly for a job and/ or chatting and gaming out with my friends. Sometimes even my friends and me help each other study when we get together.

My biggest distraction has to be Facebook or tv. It is a good thing that I am disciplined enough to keep my self on track.

I spend the most time indulging in social media and texting along with helping out my family. The best way to change any of my bad habits is too write reminders to my self

Club Fair

Wednesday I went to the club fair to see what clubs I would be interested in joining.

I found two, the first was the library science club. A club for book lovers like me. They meet at the top of Buely library for their meetings

The second was CIAO the Italian club. This one graves my interest because of my pride in my heritage and my love for Italian food. The club will be meeting on Monday for their first meeting and we'll be discussing about the fall bake sale along.

Blood drive

The blood drive that took place in the ballroom of the student center. The blood went by quickly for me considering it took a little but of time to find a vein on my arm. The students who ran this were professional and polite

Student Blogs

Glimpse of Valerie's Thoughts Has an excellent blog going. She has a very informative with good presentation. Not to mention a creative title. I find her post on the fitness center exceptional. It had information that I had questions about. I didn't even know that the fitness center had that good of prices for the semester (considering I'm paying too much for my current gym membership)

Nicole's deep thoughts's post on how to make it through college to be informative and entertaining to read. I love to reed something that has a good sense of humor. The title of the blog is creative the layout is pleasing to the eye.

They say leave the best for last The Triumphs and Troubles of Tina has some the greatest posts. Though they a bit large she does give good information and tons of entertaining pictures. 

BLOGS! Saving Lives, and Sending Hope

Surfing the internet I found a not so traditional blog. ASBP: Adventures of Jim and Linda In a way this is not a real blog because it is a DOD site. However this section on the site is a post by post tale about a couple supporting the military by going across the country donating blood to the Armed Services Blood Program. I had the privilege of meeting this selfless couple when I was in basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. The site grabbed my attention because donating blood is something I like to do because my blood type is O Pos and my sense of duty drives me to help those in need.

The other blog that grabbed my attention was Life of an Average Runner running is important part of my life for better for worse. It's the very reason why I had to have knee surgery and why I still have pain (not nearly as bad as before). Even though it hurt me running clears my mind and takes my stress away. It gives me hope because I know that one day I won't be that out of shape anymore and that I can do anything I set my mind too.

The two blogs do very different ways of sending out their information. One uses pictures on a map of the USA and you click on them to look at the story behind that blood drive and the other uses the traditional blogging method.

One thing that the ASBP blog does that I liked was the design and the non-traditional posts and the great stories that are on the pages. It is effective towards the audience because it lets the reader digest the information in small bits and the organization is also a plus.

Life of an Average Runner, gives the day to day view someone who loves to run and gives good advice on the proper form for running. The green coloring gives a friendly appeal along with an outdoors feel to it. The posts are medium length and have a good size font making it easy to read.

Don't Eat This Blog Post!

At first when I looked the title's of the two articles, "Resistance Training For Your 'Willpower' Muscles?" and the, "What if the Secret to Success Is Failure?" I didn't see what was the connection was. It wasn't until I read the articles more carefully and more attentively that I was able to realize what the connection and why we had to read them. The articles relate to college and life themselves. 
They talk about delayed gratification like the "marshmallow" video. If you put the work in now then the reward will eventually come to you in many ways. Also failure is another example of this; you learn more from your failures and mistakes than your successes. Sometimes failure creates determination to succeed. 
I know this from a personal experience. I kept on failing my Army physical fitness test and only the two-mile run. Sometimes the graders added a minute to the run time if they thought that the clock was off. I ran everyday on the treadmill in the downstairs gym inside the barracks and I did the exercise bicycle. I pushed trough the grueling physical pain so I could go home to my family. In the end I passed with a minute to pass. Even when I went through basic I was the "weak" link. Out of shape, short and an easy target. I was bound and determined to prove everyone wrong that I was in it to win it. 
Before I get completely off topic the point for us to read the articles is to see that even though doing about six hours of homework per class is pure torture it really isn't; everything is for our benefit in the long run. We get that instant gratification now when we complete something but then we get the delayed gratification when we get our grade or even our diploma. I am trying to rush to get mine even though I'm the first one to tell everyone that life's a journey not a race. In my future I'll be fighting for freedom with a degree with art education. I'll be able to connect with people who I don't even speak the same language as just by know that I will the skills to think in depth.        

My first day at Basic

My last day at basic

Surgery & Recovery

About a month a go I had to have surgery to repair the damage done to my left knee.

Right after I was sent home to get some rest. The blue cuff has ice water in it to keep the swelling down and the ace bandaging was to keep me from moving my knee. I had to stay on the couch for the next day or so to gain strength back and to be able to stand. It only took me three days to start walking again. A lesson I learned was not to eat so quickly after surgery.

My mom bought this for me to feel better. The song is "Puttin on the Ritz" and the two of us love to sing this together.

SAFARI!

The pedestrian bridge 

The VA Lounge where I study
sometimes between classes

Your Brain on Computers

Computers are a great thing, they store information, connect us with people and some use it to make money. I know that life is more dull with out my MacBook; especially when hurricane Irene took out my power and I was no longer able to go on my netflix account and watch movies to pass the time. Yes electronics can be distracting but you do have to be responsible enough to get your work done. I find that the article "Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction" is looking for excuses for kids who don't do their work. The article has many valid points and a lot I agree with; however, I know that I have never missed a summer reading assignment and that I do not make any excuses to why is anything late especially blaming it on Facebook. Some of the kids in the article would be making posts at 2:00 A.M. because they are so engaged by the internet. This is ridiculous that someone needs the internet that much for entertainment.

In another article called "Technology's Toll" one of the first questions is, "Are your Facebook friends more interesting than those you have in real life?" I know for a fact all my Facebook are people I've meet in real life. However, I do agree with the impatience that the internet and technology creates with our society. The get it done yesterday attitude towards work and play. I know that sometimes I get impatient when my pizza that I ordered doesn't arrive in forty five minutes.

Five Words That Define Me

Artistic, Patriotic, Honorable, Loyal,  Sincere


Artistic:

For as long as I can remember I always loved to draw and create things for my mom to put on the refrigerator. My favorite mediums are pencil, pastel, and oil paint. My senior year consisted of two AP art classes and a third class period dedicated to finish any art projects. When I draw or paint the world disappears and all my stress goes away. Instead of writing letters during fire guard at basic combat training I would draw pictures for my battle buddies or anyone back home.

I hope that one day to become an art teacher to inspire people to pursue their passions and have them express their ideas in a creative way.

Patriotic:

I grew up in an Italian-Amanerican house hold that was both proud of our Italian heritage but even more proud to live in such a great country. My great-grandparents came over with almost nothing but a dream to make a new life in another country. My grandfather was one of seven children that they had making their American dream. My grandfather (Poppy) served in the Army Air Force in World War II and I have cousins that served in the Navy and an uncle that served in the Air Force. I short a lot of my family served and I was ready to be the next one to, I wanted to carry on the tradition as the only one in my generation to join the military and to be the first female to join. I signed my papers at seventeen-years-old with both parents permission. I have never looked back and second guess my choice. I know that one I'll deploy to another country I don't look to as going to war or the fact that I might die. I know the sacrifice and nothing in this world will stop me from helping the greatest country in the world and helping those who are victims of terrorism. 

Honorable:

Another word that relates back to my service in the military. Honor to me is more than an Army Value, to me it means living up to morals, keeping my integrity, and making sure my reputation along with my families stays in good faith. Honor is way of life, how can we call ourselves human with out any sense of right and wrong. How could I look at myself in the morning if I couldn't and/or wouldn't the right thing?






Loyal:

Loyalty to me is more than having good faith, it's a trust knowing that someone has my back. I need to know the people I depend on can have my back when times get hard. I know that any one of my friends can come to me with a problem or for support and I will be there for them. I have lost sleep staying up at night talking to friends making sure that they were okay emotionally and/ or physically.  




Sincere:

Honesty is the best policy, I always try to be an host hard working person. I pride myself for being the "good example". I never cheated on a test, stolen anything from anyone. Sincerity is what makes a well-rounded adult and/or student when in a workplace environment or a classroom. 

Inquiry

When I first looked at my class and saw Inquiry my first thoughts were another English class. However, what I didn't expect was the class was to help me make a transition from high school to college. I spent a year off from school and that year made me into an adult (either the hard reality of bill paying or the US Army made me that way). I hope that this class will teach me new things and make new connections with people despite any differences and/ or walks of life.