Progress

I have made some progress with my fourth major essay. I have spent a lot of time just looking things up and gathering information. Afterwards, it was definitely easier to sit down, put things together, and write. Without having finished this huge project, I need to start thinking about the fifth one. I cannot believe all of this is due next week. Yikes!! I realize that this is a writing class so there should be a lot of writing; I just wish the due date would not be creeping up on us so fast! Apart from all the complaining, this project is by far the most interesting assignment I have ever received. Oh and the computer labs were a great help. So thanks Mr. McGuire!

School

Now that we are getting closer to the end of the first semester, it seems like everything is piling on. I am finding myself short on time for everything! When I am not in school, I work and when I do not work, I am in school. My weekends are not that exciting either because I am under a contract with a wedding band so every weekend I am out singing. I also play the congas so I have to set time aside for practicing songs and playing. I am not doing so hot in math now and we have more essays coming, and I am so behind in reading; plus biology exams, labs, and practicals... And I am freaking out about this portfolio because I did so well on the last one, I want this one to be just as good or even better! But with things all crazy now, I don't know... My goodness, I want this to be over!!

Portfolio

So, after slaving away long hours in front of the computer, I have finally completed my portfolio. It has been graded and I am very very satisfied with it. Looks like all that hard work has paid off. And now it has come time to continue all of this hard work. Major paper 4 is difficult especially when I remember that is must be like 10 pages long. It is one though that I really want to work on, especially the research. I can not wait for the interviews, to get inside the heads of my past teachers. My biggest challenge now is to find time to really get at this project. Hopefully that will be soon...

High School Movie

The documentary "High School" by Frederick Wiseman was an interesting one, as documentaries tend to be boring. Although it was made in 1968, it is evidence that over the years not that much has changed in our high schools today. Teachers still try to completely dominate over students and are punished unfairly. The scene where the student had to get off the phone even though it was his lunch break reminds me of when, as a senior, we were given detentions for being late to lunch! I mean, give me a break! It is my lunch, my "relax" time and I think I should have the right to choose whether I want to eat or not. I was absolutely astonished when the teacher in the "fashion" class was telling students that they have leg problems and should not wear short skirts. It was really none of her business. I do recognize that that is one of the few things that has changed in our times. Teachers still keep control over the dress code but no one will tell you you are a little on the heavy side. And finally, I was very disturbed with the scene where the girl was being told her dress was too short for prom; the principal told her that "there are certain places to be individualistic and school is not the place." It bothers me that the school system tries to create these uniform clones where everyone is the same and there is no diversity. That is also still visible in our school systems today but thank goodness for writers like John Taylor Gatto, who is making us aware that there must be changes made to the way students are educated.

"What Does It Mean To Be Well Educated?"

Every person has different interests and abilities. That is why I agree with Kohn when he questions if there actually exists one definition for being "well-educated." I also could not agree more with with him when he states that memorization and tests are not a good way of learning. The perfect example is my brother and I. Although six years younger, my brother knows more than me in many subjects. I have adapted Freire's "banking concept of education." Teachers tell me what I need to do to get the grade and I do it. I am trained to obey and when I try to disobey, like not turn in an assignment, I freak out and feel like I have already failed. Memorization is my survival technique in school. I memorize for tests but recollect very little by the next week. I am what one would call "book-smart." I have high scores but they mean absolutely nothing. I even have problems formulating my own opinion. I try to memorize someone else's and put it into my own words.On the other hand, my brother has lower scores than me but knows twice as much. Often times when I am doing some biology homework he comes and peeks over my shoulder and says,"God, we already did that. The mitochondria is the power-house in the cells, " or goes babbling on about some history figure and his life in great detail. I blame our schooling system for the way I turned out. But maybe it is not too late; I am really starting to open my eyes. I used to chastise my brother for not doig his homework and such but in all honesty I hope he keeps it up.

My Possible Major

So I finally sat down and went on Columbia's "Majors and Programs" website and found something I might enjoy doing. Although all this time I thought about becoming a Bachelor of Music: Composition, something in the back of my mind told me to keep looking. And I did. I considered journalism, but not just any journalism. I want to write for a magazine, more specifically in the beauty department, and last night I found "Magazine Writing and Editing" as a possible major for all interested. I am still battling with my thoughts because I feel like a traitor to music. The real problem lies in our economy. Nowadays, it is hard to be true to what we really want to do because everyone is looking out for a spot for themselves in the economy. Music, unfortunately, has a tiny one, and I realize it will be difficult to make a living with a music degree, and it really doesn't help when everyone around me keeps repeating that. My parents, for example. They are the ones who got me singing, entering me into different contests, paying for private lessons, etc. But they won't hear of music becoming my life long companion. They know it's small money. The kind of music career they would like me to have requires a lot of contacts with big people and money to begin with. So I figured our economy may always need writers. I'll begin by writing about what is interesting to me, and like every girl, I love make-up, fashion shows, etc. This would, of course, require me to take some fashion design classes and make-up artistry, which are the kind of classes I would be looking forward to. And if our economy goes completely down then I'll drop the "girly" writing and get on into the world affairs and problems. The world needs reporters, right? Oh boy, this dilemma is beginning to be bigger than me!!

Workshop #1

So time has finally come for our first workshop, and let me tell you - I was more nervous than the people whose essays we had to critique! I don't like to tell people what I think about their essay because sometimes they might take things the wrong way and that will just discourage them. Fortunately, the workshop went very well. I listened and took notes on what others were saying as if the paper in front of me was my own. I must also comment on the way the room was set up. I liked sitting in the circle because I was able to see everyone. Now, I wish I signed up for a workshop. But, oh well. I can not wait for the next one!

Argument

"The inventor of the system deserves to be ranked among the best contributors to learning and science, if not the greatest benefactors of mankind" (Bumstead). The irony of this quote absolutely shocks me. In 1841, it seemed that "the system", meaning computers and technology, would do great good in learning, but today, according to the video, it seems quite the opposite. And I could not agree more with the video. Students are paying ridiculous prices for laptops that are suppose to assist in school work but are using them for other things. This seems to be the school's fault because they are not challenging students enough, almost like they don't care. Most of the things they learn are not relevant to the things they'll need in life. Somewhere deep inside it bugged me that I paid these unbelievable prices for books and, honestly, most of my teachers don't care whether or not I have it with me, and the fact that people are out there, aware and making others aware of this, gave me a sense of comfort. This video is my favorite of all the ones I have seen in COM 101 this year.

Binta and the Great Idea

I found the movie's end a bit of a surprise. The way Souleyman was talking about the tubab, I was sure he had Binta's father convinced that the Western ways of living are great ones, and that he might want to embrace them. Instead, his great idea was to adopt a tubab child so that it may grow up in their society. Binta's father feels that the Western technological and military advances are not all that advantageous but quite the opposite. They ruin people because they have weapons that could destroy each other, etc. In Binta's society people look past the fact they are poor and learn to work together, to respect each other, and I could not agree more. Soda's situation is a great example. As a girl growing up in Binta's society, she wants, no, she desires to go to school, but her father won't allow her because he thinks it is her duty to stay and take care of the house because one day she will marry and become a mother. In the Western society, kids are forced to go to school. They throw away the opportunity to be so much more. I believe it is more rewarding to learn that wealth is not everything than to live in constant competition and become greedy and selfish. The reward, of course, is happiness.

"Who Am I"

Who am I? I have already tried, and I can not seem to have an answer to that question. Maybe this class was a bad idea. It is only the first day and already I can not answer my instructor’s questions! Ok, fine! I will try again. Here it goes. I am a daughter, a sister, and a student. I am a freak when it comes to being organized. I am crabby without coffee in the morning. Mmm, coffee…Oh, no no no! This is not the answer to the question. I described what I am like, not who I am! Ok, I give up. So anyway, I am here to learn how to write. Actually, I can already do that so I guess I am here to perfect my writing skills the best I can. I have trouble with structure and word choice when it comes to essays. I took an AP English class in high school, and, at first, I felt overwhelmed with writing. Another words, I could not stand it! As time went by, though, I actually felt like I was getting better and better. Now, I feel confident with writing, and I believe that this class can take me even further (or is it farther??) because it specifically focuses on writing only. I have even considered magazine journalism in the past but realized how great the competition is. So I started wondering how maybe I am not good enough, etc. But I am here and ready to see what I am capable of (or not) and if maybe journalism, indeed, is for me. If not, then there is always music, but music is a difficult career especially music performance. The economy is not all that great for musicians now, and the only other music field is teaching it, and I sure do not want to do that. Hmm, I wonder if the answer to the “who am I” question even exists.

I did it!

I set up my own blog!