a look back on the semester...

My top priority this past semester was figuring out my summer plans. What I do this semester determined a lot of my future, like when I graduate. It was a big decision and took a long time to make, but I finally made it. I will be working all summer at Camp Ozark. Next summer I will go abroad, and I will finally graduate in December 2009.

My number one goal next semester would be to really focus on my grades. I am taking a couple freshman classes that should be easy A’s, but I know as a senior it is easy to slack off. So I am hoping to maintain focus and do well. I have a chance to bring up my GPR and I wanted to take it.

I would like to strengthen all my friendships. Just as everyone told me, college has flown by. I have made some very good friends and am thankful for them all. Next year I hope those friendships continue to be strong so that when graduation comes, I will not regret having not spent more time with people. I am still close with all my friends from high school, and I hope to stay just as close with my college friends beyond graduation as well.

Bilingual Blessing

What a privilege it is to speak a second language. The ability to communicate with others in their own language is a given comfort often overlooked. Usually in the United States we expect everyone to speak English. Though expectation could be justified by the fact that majority of Americans speak English, the other fact still remains; English is not the official language of the United States. But still because English is the dominate language it is encouraged to learn. Although it is necessary that some native English speakers learn another language to help others learn English. Realizing this predicament of many haughty Americans not knowing a second language, I find it both a privilege and exciting talent in which to thrive. I have an innate desire to help others, and I feel my ever-growing Spanish skills and the increasing demands of bilingual educators is a great situation to be in. It is exciting to recognize my skills and be able to use them effectively.

Text Message Miscommunication

When asked to write about an instance in my life where “communication has gone wrong”, a million situations came to mind. Being raised with a generation thriving on communication through electronic devices often more than face to face, many instances of miscommunication are possible. Though technology has been a blessing in many ways, it has also has been a cause to many misunderstandings between people. Because of the lack of face-to-face interaction through many modern communication devices, many conversations become misinterpreted. (With the telephone at least tone and voice inflection provide guidance, but facial expressions are absent.) Text and e-mail are the two main vices on which my generation has thrived. The meanings of exclamation points and periods have greatly increased. With exclamation points, comments can be read as overly enthused or with a period (since minimal to no punctuation is used through this medium) can add a negative tone.

My miscommunication occurred once when a friend asked me if I wanted to go to a movie. I replied with a simple “no thank you.” If face to face, or on the phone, the gratitude I had for my friend asking me and the grace when declining would have been easily understood. But because there was no first hand contact, voice intonation, or even punctuation, my friend understood my response as apathetic and unappreciative. First of all, I believe my friend was over analyzing these three little words and the intentions behind them. But I also recognize that if I had added a simple exclamation point, my response would have been perceived much differently. This situation has taught me that lack of punctuation when trying to respond quickly is not always the best choice. It can have grave consequences. Since then, I am very conscious of my text messaging and how what I say may be perceived by others without my personality present to guide it.

POLS 331: Intro to World Politics

This class looks at the policies and relations of nations from a political point of view. Foreign problems and factors of these problems are discussed as well as analyses of the situations. Being an International Studies major, this is by far one of the most important classes to take. Understanding foreign relations is provides clarity to many other aspects of the nation. The way a country is run and relates to other countries, especially the United States, is very relevant to the understanding the social and economic conditions of countries also. From this course I hope to gain a better grasp on Latin American politics. I know there is much corruption and turmoil and several of the Latin American countries, but I do not fully understand why there is so much chaos in this area of the world. My peers have said this class is very fascinating. Some of the professors are more engaging than others, but the material for the class is excellent. I have also heard that the class is rather rigorous, but definitely doable if you attend class regularly. I took a sociology class on the global social and economic problems are Latin America my sophomore year. This class opened my eyes to issues in the social and economic realms. Now when I take the politics class, I have a more well rounded comprehension of the countries as a whole, and not just in one aspect.

An Unsuspecting Will to Serve

A professor reflected on this pre-professionals blog and those of my class. One comment she said was "what caught my eye is how many of you feel a service-driven need related to your career--you want to help people. That is quite notable (and very opposite to that reading on narcissism!)." To me this statement is loaded with criticism, challenge and compliment. First of all, and probably the least notable of those three is the criticism I noticed. Earlier in the semester we read an article about our generation being narcissistic. I find this to unfair and false assumption. But with regards to the rest of my professor’s comments, it pleases me to see that our generation seems to be disproving society's thought about us being narcissistic. Secondly, this comment is a huge compliment. To be called notable is not to be taken lightly. The college-aged is often stereotyped and viewed a radical stage in life. Though everyone experiences it, many do not take this age seriously and tend to overlook their opinions. But for a professor to recognize our efforts and potential is such a rewarding feeling. That being said, I take this compliment as a challenge. It is a challenge to continue to believe in myself and my generation, which will rise to success and serve this world and not ourselves. We are a generation of technology and opportunity to reach others like none before. I believe, as a generation, we recognize this valuable chance to do something extraordinary. For me, I want to take my skills and go to South America. I want to use my talent for knowing another language to educate those in Spanish and teach them so that they may in return help themselves and help others. Overall, I want to serve, using all my resources I have been blessed to grow up with. I want to continue to break this narcissistic idea of our generation and continue to look at others and ways to help them.

Virtually Teaching to Really Teach

What is the best way for me teach certain subjects? How will students react if I present something in this way? Will this strategy be effective?

All these questions could be answered in the classroom, the real classroom. I could use a real class through some trial and error methods of teaching. But why would I do that if I can use my virtual life and virtual students to test out teaching methods. Not only can I interact with students and get their opinions, but I can also get advice from other teachers. And the great thing is I can do all this NOW! I don’t have to wait until I have a teaching career underway. I can begin developing great teaching methods and coming up with creative ways for students to learn even while I am still a student myself. Websites, like Second Life, create so much opportunity for users for the betterment of their careers. It’s a choice one has to make, if they rather better their virtual life or their real life, but if the latter is chosen many fields will be improved. Education is always looking for the best and most effective ways to help children learn, and this provides and excellent opportunity for just that.

A Class Worth My Time...

PHIL 243: Philosophy of Latin America

After taking History of Latin American since 1810 last semester and currently being enrolled in History of Cultural and Intellectual Latin America, this class seemed fitting for me. So much of what we discuss is around the time of the Independence Wars in Latin America. This is a time period which I have studied extensively through other classes from a historical perspective. It is now enjoyable to study this era from a different view. This class questions ethical and moral motives of the Europeans and even Natives. We get to read philosophical arguments by authors of the time, and discuss their pieces while comparing them to current situations of Latin America. It is a great class that makes me think and dig deeper into the subjects that I have learned, but now coming to truly understand.

What does this class hold for my future? So much of Latin America history is directly reflected in the situations of these countries today. It has been said time and time again that all of Latin America’s problems can be traced back to the colonial times of this region. As a future teacher/missionary of people from this area, knowing and understanding their history will better enable me to relate to them. From issues like why a family illegally crossed the border to raise their children here to homeless children left on the streets without anyone caring, not even the government, this class helps me to not judge these situations. Knowing the past hardships and mayhem that many of these countries puts these conditions into perspective. Anyone with a future relating in anyway to Latin America should definitely look into this class.