midterm self assesment

I think I have completed what has been fundamentally asked for in my writer’s notebook. I have completed all the assigned reading responses and done the two weekly reflections. My personal reflections have often been about how I view particular aspects of college life. As I mature and move through college I think am really learning a lot about myself and it seems to help reinforce my ideals when I write them down and explain then to the reader.

Looking at the syllabus I grade I would have to give myself if strictly following the requirements for grades I would have to give myself a C. I haven’t done any of the things listed under “Recommended for a grade of B or A” except for responding to feedback but that was an assignment. A grade of a C is even debatable since all I have in there are my reading responses and my reflections. I don’t have prewriting and other class responses in my notebook, granted I do have an online notebook and that makes it more difficult to integrate my prewriting exercises not that I do many anyway.

I realize there is a lot more that I can do and put into by writer’s notebook. I have planned to visit the writing center on several occasions but have never really gotten around to it. I know the writing center would be a great place to get help on improving my papers and my writing, but my technical classes are a bigger priority to me so I often try to get that work out of the way before English or my elective course. I should try to incorporate more of these recommended ideas into my journal and I plan on trying to do some of that as the semester continues and make it to the writing center at least once while I am at Virginia Tech this semester.

Sandwich love

Since I can remember I have always been a huge fan of sandwiches. Whether I go out to get one or make my own at home nothing seems quick as appealing to me when I am hungry as a sandwich. I’m open to all sorts of sandwiches from as plain as ham on white bread to parmesan chicken with marinara sauce on fresh baked bread. I especially like to make my own sandwiches. All I need to entertain myself for a good hour while I prepare and make my sandwich is some deli meat, cheese, condiments, and bread or bagels. Though I usually get just ham and turkey sometimes I like to change it up a bit and get some roast beef or other meats. I prefer my sandwiches hot so I often used the oven at home to meet my needs in that case.

Whenever I wanted to make myself a sandwich I went to the refrigerator got out everything I was going to need which often involved a lot more than most would expect. I would preheat the oven and start to cut the cheese I was going to use and get out the amount of meat I desired. Placing the meat on the bread I let it sit in the oven for a while as the meat started to turn a little more crispy and the bread started to brown a touch. Then I would place the cheese over the bread and add some seasoning and wait till the cheese just started to warm and melt and goo over the sandwich. Once it was out of the oven and on my plate I added the last touches the condiments. Mayonnaise and mustard were a must and often I added some horse radish for that additional level of taste. Once I sat down and ate I remembered how much pleasure I receive from making such a simple meal for myself. I always believed to truly satisfy one’s hunger it is best to create your own meal no matter how easy or plain.

I just recently went out to Kroger and bought some ham and potato bread plus mustard and mayo and made myself a simple ham sandwich and it was incredible. Since I’ve been here in college I don’t think I have felt as satisfied with food till after I ate that sandwich in fact I think I’m going to make myself another one right now.

Wow that was delicious I could eat like another two or three but I can’t go through all my supplies right now I got a least another week I have to make it through before I can go out and resupply my reserves.

HEROES!

When the new TV series “HEROES” started last year it instantly became a world sensation and I was one who was drawn in from the beginning of the season. The TV series produced by NBC centered on the idea of “ordinary people with extraordinary powers.” Before the season was being broadcast I had witnessed the various trailers for the series and was already preparing for the season premier. I started the countdown the week before it started and constantly remained my sister because I planned to have her join me as my counterpart in my late night viewings of the show. The show started at 9:00pm on Monday nights, but starting at about 7:00pm I was already too excited to do much else so I generally sat in my living room just relaxing or jump on the computer for an hour or two. At about 8:40pm I would call my sister down and we would turn on the TV and turn to channel 10 and watch the end of “Deal or no Deal” and discuss how intense the show seemed while we waited for the show to end and for “HEROES” to start. Once the show began I was immediately addicted, the show was filled with excitement and suspense at the end of the season premier I knew I had to watch this show. Throughout high school I would look forward to Monday nights because my show came on and it was a time fun time for my sister and me to be together. As I got more into the show I also followed along with the weekly comics on for the show through the NBC website. These comics provided a bit of further insight into upcoming or past situations that occurred in the show though they weren’t necessary to understand the show, but during the off season the comics are still updated weekly so I could keep up with and maintain my suspense for the next season.

Now with the second season set to start this afternoon I am ecstatic for the end of the day to come. As everyone else is getting psyched up for the release of Halo 3 I can’t wait for the beginning of what I know will be another amazing season. One of my bible study leaders is also really into HEROES as well and I can’t wait to talk to him about the first episode.

family through college

For many kids as they leave for college they experience there first time begin away from their family for such an extended period. For some this idea is a blessing for others it’s something they really struggle with. For some parent the separation is almost more unbearable than it is for the students. Often during the beginning of college students get calls every night from their parents interrogating them about their classes that day and all the trivial things they did that day. As time goes on these calls usually becomes less frequent as the student doesn’t have that much new to say each day and both the student and the parent get over the calls.

It’s important for the college students to learn to be independence from their parents, but they also still need to be ready to talk to their parents because they are still a large part in their lives. Family and friends have the ability to remind us of who we are and make our day more enjoyable.

Whenever my mom calls me I am excited to talk to her about what is going on with me and what is going on back home. I love talking to my brother and sister too. Since my brother is in his third year of college I often ask him questions concerning college life and receive plenty of information in return. It is also fun to talk to my sister since she is the only child left at home now. Talking to my siblings always brings be back to a happier state of mind. We have plenty of inside jokes and it good to hear them again whenever we talk to each other. Through facebook we leave each other quirky messages that remind each other why we are so lucky and fortunate to have each other.

As life continues people will make new friends and acquaintances, but it’s important to keep your family close especially your siblings because they will always be there for you and they understand you best.

cell phone addiction

“Cell phones are becoming the cigarettes of our day”

The moment an individual is present with his first cell phone they are consumed by the product they now hold. Give any new cell phone a few weeks and then suggest to go somewhere with them and they don’t take their phone they will give you a look like you’re crazy. During any time spent away from a phone the most drastic things could occur, heaven forbid they should miss a text message or a call. Even when people aren’t expecting any calls they still have their cell phone out ready to pick up a call or receive that infamous text message. Once the cell phone is out they find something to do with it messing with the camera taking random pictures or going through the phone settings and doing nothing of importance but it’s better than doing nothing.

In public those addicted to their cell phone continuously stay connected to the rest of their world while they may be doing something with someone else at the time. It’s sad to see people stop mid sentence look at their phone type in a reply to a text and then return their attention to the actual person they are with at the time. The carelessness with which people approach the use of cell phones in public is disturbing. People can’t seem to help their behavior, when the phone rings they feel compelled to pick it up. Without excusing themselves from a conversation or removing themselves from a public setting they instant start into a conversation without a care to how those around them may feel.

As far as a cell phone addiction is comparable to cigarettes there isn’t too much in common in the way the addiction is practiced. Sure both can be obnoxious when done in the wrong setting, but the similarities stop there. Cell phone calls aren’t done as a group and don’t have a bad effect on an individual physical body. Though cell phone are becoming as destructive to a friendly environment as unwanted smoke it’s only a matter of time before restaurants start to ban cell phone use while in there facility.

The cell phone is great tool but people are becoming increasingly resentful towards the use of these devices in settings where it causes a disturbance.

STS 1504

When I first chose STS 1504 Intro to Hum, Science, and Tech to be my elective course for my freshman fall semester I figured I the class would provide me with a new and varied view on engineering. Within the first class period I realized this course would be nothing like what I had expected. The professor began speaking about the humanities, the topic on which this course would cover. As he continued to speak I became more worried that the class would not be to my liking and I would dread coming to the course. The topic of humanities was new for me and didn’t seem to spark much interest in my mind. The fact that I was in a lecture hall with another 150 students wasn’t a great source on excitement either.

After the recitation where I met with a smaller portion of the class with one of the TAs I realized this class might actually benefit me. The class was set to present us with views of how science and technology affect our society and how our society reflects upon our science and technology. When this was explained in the lecture it all flew over my head but during the recitation the TA brought it down into a more simple and compressible meaning. My TA is a great gut and seems extremely enthusiastic about the course and almost any other subject at all. He seems too often to have too many thoughts going through his head at once because he speaks in fragmented sentences and moves around in a jerky motion that makes him seem out of breath.

One thing I have like liked about the class is that it has made me read Frankenstein. It was really interesting to read the actual novel and see how its story compares to all the movies and myths that have been created over time. Now as class continues it has become of a little more interest to me, but still receives a lot of groans and complaints whenever I have to go or complete an assignment.

confessions facebook-aim

I think everyone specifically those in colleges can relate to this piece. I remember when I first set up my account for facebook I told myself it would just be something simple and I wouldn’t get addicted to the system. Within the first couple days I was already at the state I planned to avoid. Even when you have no wall posts or new notifications you find yourself going through your friends profiles and checking your various facebook groups for new information. Even though you have nothing to be doing on faceboook and you know you ought to be doing other things for your college courses you can’t help but believe there is something you missed that has happened on facebook. Generally whenever I am on my computer especially in my room I always have my web browser open and have checked my webmail and directly after have gone to check my facebook. I have never had a problem with aim. My friends convinced me to get it one day and so I did but so after I realized how much of a direct distraction it could be and therefore removed it from my computer.

I agree that some people spend way too much time on such websites or on aim but I also think it’s a powerful means of communication. Facebook and aim provide a great way for family and friends to remain in contact with one another. Some people might think this form of communication is less personal then email or a phone conversation, but I think it can be even more direct. Facebook allows people to get a glimpse into our friends’ lives; pictures and movies make this easy because we get to see where they were and the kind of stuff they have done. This form of communication can be a lot more effective in showing what you have done and who you are. People do need to interact physically with those around them but such applications as facebook and aim allow us to sustain a friendship with those that aren’t around us. These same tools also give us a need distraction from our work sometimes.

week 5 monday

The issue between the two papers is the idea of whether the state should set up a policy to monitor the set up of personal roadside memorials. For those who have lost a loved one the memorial serves to recognize the one they lost and can provide a warning to drivers of what fate may have in store for them. The monument stands as a symbol to a family or individual that functions to respect the life that was lost and so that they are not forgotten. For most people who haven’t been effected by the loss of an individual to a car crash or road accident a road side memorial is simple a remembrance put up by the family and isn’t seen as a distraction. Even some states see the issue in this light. The state transportation department of several states only takes action if the memorial is causing a traffic hazard but otherwise they just let people set them up. Those that complain that a memorial is causing a problem often have a legitimate claim. The biggest problem with personal memorials is that some people see them as infringing on their freedom of religion and think a cross conveys to much religious meaning in a public area. Some states have arranged to put up a memorial marker at the request of a family. These state markers have been chosen because they are unreligious and therefore shouldn’t pose a conflict with anyone, but these markers are impersonal and don’t pay as personal a reverence to the deceased.

Looking at the problem from the view of those whom wish to be able to set up their own memorial it is easy to see how it does them good. The family feels that they accomplish something of high value if they create and place their own memorial at the sight of the accident. Sometimes the body can be lost in the accident and the scene serves as the real burial place of the victim. Though regulations should be set to control the establishing of private memorials, the use of religious items shouldn’t be restricted. A small cross at the scene of an accident doesn’t force the idea of God on anyone. The memorial mostly serves for the family to help them through their grieving process and it seems improper to try and stop a group of people from getting through this process.

calculus

Calculus a standard course for most freshmen students that appear to be difficult for so many. For most students calculus was a course they took while still in high school. Even though they took the class in high school they all still have questions and complain when they must compute even the easiest of calculations. It has been a whole year since most of these students have gone over this information so when it is taught to them they don’t want to pay attention even though they are rusty on the course information. When it comes time to go over practice problems or homework they have a continuing list of how to perform the calculations. Since the teacher doesn’t have the time to go over all their questions she encourages them to go to her office hours but since they already had the course they believe that they can figure out the information on their own, but they never put up the effort to completely study the material. Once in class after learning that they don’t remember how to complete the problems they sit there and complain instead of paying attention to the new material. When the class finally gets to a point where they remember how to perform the steps and the procedures to do so they want to use all the short cuts to get to the answer, but when they are told they must do it using the definition and cannot use the shorten version yet they revert to their child behavior, they complain and become stubborn. The task they are asked to complete is nothing difficult but because it takes more time and writing they feel it is a waste of their time.

The fact that these students can’t control themselves in a college calculus course demonstrates the reason so many do so horrible in course that for them should have been a breeze. Its college and these students need to act like they are adults. Completing a math problem using the rules Virginia tech sets out is just something they have to deal with. They have covered this information before but they simply don’t put in the effort to deserve something better than they attempt they put in. You can’t afford to college and expect to be able to relax and not pay attention and still pass a class.

college runs

Throughout high school I participated on the cross-country and track teams. I was never one of the best runners, but I enjoyed being on team. I joined the winter and spring track teams during my ninth grade year and joined the cross-country team when I became a sophomore. When I first started going to the practices I felt ready to put up the effort that would make me one of our schools elite runners. I told myself that I would run on my own between seasons and during school breaks, but of course I never did and so I started each new season in the same shape as when I first joined the team. Though I was hardly recognized for my accomplishments I made new friends and we made the best of the grueling practices.

Now starting college I have just recently started running with a friend of mine that is preparing to join a summer drum core. The first night was terrible I was disgusted by how out of shape I had become. It had barely been a lap around the drill field and I was already getting cramps. By the time we had gone half round the field again I had to stop the pain in my side was incredible. For Justine this was the first time he had been doing such an exercise so he was in much the same condition as me after our run. Afterwards when we had decided to call it a night I realized how good it felt good to be out running again to be doing something physical. The next time we went out to run, I felt even more excited and felt the desire to continue running. Now Justine and I have set up a schedule to try and run at least three times a week and to also go with another friend weight training maybe two times a week. When I was still in high school I had planned to try and be active while in college but when I first started classes I didn’t think I had the time to do any of it. Now that I have friends that are getting me to do these activities I feel more energetic and accomplished for completing one of my goals.

SE response

I can see that looking at a single paragraph covering a spam of over a page or more can seem daunting but I don’t see really how I could break one paragraph on the same topic into smaller parts without it seeming disjointed in some way. I thought my main point was clear when I wrote my paper but having that point brought up let me see that it wasn’t directed specifically enough. I thought the main point was to be described throughout the essay using the whole event but I guess I should have addressed it more directly instead of telling stories of how it affected me. My grammar concerns me because I know it’s not a strong point of mine. I should think that after twelve years of English I would have learned how to use proper grammar in writing but it was something I never practice so I never became good with it. I just think it’s bad that I am in college and I am turning in papers and essays that have incorrect punctuation or other grammar mistakes. I think I will try to revise my paper again before the end of the semester but I think I need to take some time again from it before I look at it again.

Math Empo

The math emporium, hell for Virginia Tech students. The idea of having such a large computer lab where students can not only get help with their math studies but also use some math software to complete their mathematica notebooks is not a bad idea at all. The placement of the emporium though makes it a colossal waste of time unless you need to complete a quiz or test that is due. The worst part is knowing how terrible the ride is going to be. First you have to trek half way across the campus to get to the bust stop where you have to wait the heat for about fifteen minutes because you have no idea how the bus routes are scheduled and you are too lazy to look them up. Once the bus has arrived another thirty students have arrived that are trying to beat you on to the bus to get the seats. Once everyone has been crammed on the bus you start moving only to stop at another few locations to squeeze an extra two or three people on board. After you finally make it to the emporium if you are so unfortunate to be stuck in the back in nearly takes a couple minutes to get off the bus and then since everyone got off the bus before you have to wait through the check in line. Final when it’s your turn to sign in you have to fumble for your hokie passport and you have to reassure then you came there to use their computers, otherwise the whole point of the trip would be entirely useless. Then you have to find your computer in a room of nearly 500 computers using their three character assignment chart. Once you sit down you start doing whatever you are there to do, and if you ever run into a problem or question you get to place a red solo cup on your computer so that a staff member knows you need assistance. Once they come over they try their best to help you out but if you have a question about using the mathematica software they are usually as helpful as the online guide. They tell you they are learning how to work with it now too. After you leave the place realizing you just wasted an enormous amount of you day sitting in a room just becoming more frustrated with the idea of coming back here next week you have to again board a crowded bus to return to campus.

drinks in college

Everybody knows that a lot of underage drinking occurs in college. For many students it is something they look forward to. For some it may be their first chance to really go out drinking for some it is simply a continuation of their choices and habits. I like many students knew parties would take place often in college and that it would not be too difficult to find one if I felt like going. I am not the person to go out and deliberately look for parties and alcohol. I did expect to get drunk sometimes not because I wanted to but because I expected friends to invite me to such things as frat parties or other parties around in the town. Not wanting to seem unsocial I would of course have tagged along accepting it as a part of college. The idea that I would just go with such a group of friends seems disturbing if thought through. I would most likely not know these people very well and I would knowingly be breaking the law but also some of my own ethics. Now at Virginia Tech I fell proud to say I haven’t been to a party with alcohol yet or been drunk. My entire friends are straight edge students, they don’t believe in getting drunk or going out to parties. Not having to worry about having to go out with a group of people I barely know feels so relieving. It incredible to have a group of friends who are so confident about being themselves that they feel they don’t need to drink. Being around this group of people feels so empowering and is really allowing me to feel more like positive person. The environment I am in with my friends gives me a constructive and safe place have fun while imposing positive moral values on me. I couldn’t be happier with my choice of friends.

week 3 monday

Thought there are very few descriptive details in the story concerning the setting I can see a clear picture of the scene. We see the woman wearing an old worn apron standing behind an antique ironing board as she performs her duties monotonously. The room she is in is filled with flying speckles of dust that glint as sunlight enters in through one small dirty window. The wallpaper is something seen only in the movies, small pictures of horses or flowers set against a pale green color. The floor boards are a dark mismatching brown that clashes next to the wallpaper. The room is small but the only thing I see in it is the mother and the ironing board. The woman continues her job as she speaks to the reader only to stop at times when her emotions send out shock waves to powerful to ignore. She stops her ironing looking silently down at the item on the board, she has ironed this piece a thousand times before and will do it again another hundred times. The woman raises her head staring through the twinkling specks looking for a form of release for her emotions and herself. After a few moments she glances back down at the iron retakes it in her hands and begins to repeat the process she had just stopped. After a few moments of peace she begins to talk again.
The woman begins talking about her new baby as all mothers do. She describes her as beautiful and portrays a moment that to most would seem only ordinary but for a mother is brilliant and exciting. When the father left the mother had to get a job and leave the baby with a neighbor an act she didn’t like and was only too happy to end as she returned home. The woman did her best to be able to spend time with her daughter; she got a night time job and then worked at the same nursery school she put her daughter in. As Emily grew up there came a rift between her and her mother because her mother had taken on more responsibility. A new baby left Emily with less attention and left her feeling sick. When Emily returned to the family feeling better her relationship with her mother grew more disconnected. As Emily had grown older she had become more involved in helping out the family and she grew more connected with her mother again.
The relationship between the mother and Emily changed a lot over the time listening to the woman who stands behind the ironing board. When she is done speaking to the reader the woman assumes they can lead themselves out the door as she continues observing her past just as she continues to iron. She only hopes her daughter will see all that lies in front of her opposed to the iron that only sees a single job to be done.