Evaluate

Although at first i wasn't completely sure if i wanted to write about the FCAT and the effexcts about it, i found myself really enjoying this essay. I did feel as if there was too short of a time to write the essay, but i'm sure the pressure made it better...i guess. I liked researching for sources and articles on the FCAT, but it was difficult to find books on it in the FIU library. The internet was an easier place to find information but i spent too much time trying to find books. I felt that by writing this essay i might've made a difference (of course if i show to someone). I really put feeling into what i was writing and tried to explain the problems in hope of someone understanding how serious this issue is. I was strongest in describing the problems and i agree that i need help with citations. I get all confused when the publishing year isn't there or if there is no author. I felt that after a while there was tension in my group and it made me feel a bit uncomfortable, but in the end it all worked out. I believe we made a great work of paper...lol.

This English experience has been one of the best and it's the fact the fact that it's my first semester in college make it that much better. Tasha was a great professor, one that cared about taking the time to get to know each student individually. She connected with our class on a socail level as well as a professional one. She brought new and technology filled assignments into class, which allowed everyone get a bit more computer savy. Tasha intorduced artists, comercial, and videos that were new to me and i found myself liking some of them. For example, i was really impacted by the mysterious graffitti artinst, Banksy.
I like to believe that my class was one of Tasha's fav. this semester. I look foward to ENC 1102 next semester.

Education is at it's best.

Why is it that everyone complaines about the educational system? There should be no educational reform what so ever because school's are at their finest. The teachers all have a bachlorete in education, many love what there doing, and students have more desire to learn with all the technology there is. With all the computers, laptops, radios, i-pods, palm pilots, and electronic boards no wonder students wouldn't want to show up to school. As for the FCAT, the state of Florida needs some type of exam to set a standard for Florida residents. If the students continue to fail the exams then the public schools who administer the exams need to dedicate more time to improving their schools overall score. That means staying at least an hour later and studying the material. There is no harm in wanting students to do better and for wanting the schools in dade county to have good scores. Yes, not everyone is going to like it but there needs to be a barrior. In this time of age, students need to be top notch. The have so many advantages tht there is no excuse for students to be at their best. The educational system can go no where but up. All those students that used to get away with skipping, low test grades, talking back, etc, can't get away with it anymore.

Traditions

Life around the world is very diverse. Strange as it may seem, many people do thinkgs for their culture that you might think is out of the ordinary. I've heard about the suffering for traditions before and have seen the women with the brass rings around their neck. It's very fascinating to me how certain individuals risk their life for their culture. The cutting of the boys' bodies show such courage and love for their culture that it sends chills in my body. The initiations and traditions that i am accostumed to have never been something that extreme, it usually is something like running a lap or drinking something that's old or expired(band initiations). What is ironic is that the people from that culture don't find it to be extreme.
Opening up to diversity allows you to be more open minded and be more understanding to others and what they believe in. There are so many people in this world that are different and it would be absurd if everyone were the same. The world wouldn't go round. Although these two specific videos might've been graphic for me and i think i'd never do that in my life, i respect the women and men that do those traditions. There is meaning to what they do. The boys feel like new men and the women feel awkward without the neck piece. It's all about what you belive in and no one can take that away from you.

Who are you?

A while back you could have said that i was a numb individual who followed whatever influences came her way. I was so depressed about everything that was happening to me that i couldn't think to myself or hardly make any decisions. I begand to believe that i was an unfun and lazy person that no one would want to be around if i spoke about how i really felt. I kept all my emotions inside and forced a smile out of my soul. No one had any idea of what i was going through emotionally and at home. This is how i became numb. I was accostumed to feeling fake happiness and found myself crying more often than usual.
I began to ask myself all these questions of who i was. What i liked, what i was all about, what my role in life was. Not until i began to experience emotion and take note of the way i acted was when i started to see the real me. Although i still don't know everything about me, i think of it as a growing experience. I know more aboutmyself than ever before, and its ll because i started to care for my inner self. If you don't love ourself, who will?
Do you know who you are?

Gay & Lesbian Adoptions

There is such discrimination against gays and lesbians in this world that at times its forbidden to even talk about them. Homosexuals are daily criticized by the way they look, act, or simply because of who they are. Theres stigma against every person who is gay and some people don't even like to talk about them let alone be next to them. Homosexual individuals are denied certain rights and in certain places are not allowed. For instance, there are restaurants or hang out bars where gays and lesbians are not allowed just becuse the manager does not agree with them or their way of thinking. Besides the fact that the gay community is at times shunned, they are constantly labeled and harrased by the society we live in.
Gays and lesbians are people like anyone else. They have emotions and a mind to think with. They get hurt and get sick. Like any other human being they are the same. The only apparent difference would be their sexual preference which is up to them. Just as we're allowed to love and care for whomever we want, so can they.
Anyway, since these individuals love and care for loved ones, they also want to get married and with marriage comes children. The issue with adoption isn't as big as the issue with allowing homosexuals to get married but either way most states do allow for both to happen. The only state that does not permit homosexuals to adopt children is the Florida and the state that allows single gays and single lesbians to adopt is Mississippi. In the remaining states, gays and lesbians who want to adopt or take in foster care children are at the mercy of judges and adoption and foster agencies.
Its sad on how society treats homosexuals, if only we could be less ignorant and accept people for who they are.
Check out this family that has had some difficulties but made it through:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/25/gay.adoption/index.html?iref=newssearch

draw the line buddy!

At least Carlos Mencia wasn't making fun of truly diagnosed retarded individuals right? Not once in this whole video did i laugh. I didn't find anythign he said amusing. Besides the fact that he was speaking like every young kid speaks like a retard, all of his jokes we just ignorant.
Carlos Mencia basically stated that hispanics have the best way of teaching. We made it seem like in the latin countries the educatiion standards are high. There are no A minuses OR B pluses. If the teacher had any problems with a kid he'd call them stupid. Well i'm sorry, but there is respect in America.
Menica continued to state that stdents find any excuses to to not work in school or a reson to work less. Such as a.d.d or a.d.h.d. Although some kids do take their "sickness" to an extremety, some small students do really have a learning disability. And by the way its against the law to hit kids.
Mencia kept saying that if the people in the audience weren't laughing it was because we didn't have kids. I don't have kids and i wasn't laughing. His audience was parents and i'm guessing non hispanic individuals. But niether of them were probably impacted by his show. It was ignorant and ...

Not a big fan

Shocking

When you come to think about, i guess you can say we are the "idiot nation," or at least the majority of us. Seems to be that everyday more and more teenagers and uneducated adults fall into the category of caring more about superstars than issues around the world that affect us. Most teenage kids are into the music videos and concerned with "what's in" rather than what matters. The media does influence kids to dance, dress, and even act a certain way. At times, they idolize stars like Paris Hilton which is not a very good example for girls around the U.S. Adults on the other hand might be influenced to spend their money on things that a luxuries instead of investing in something that's beneficial for them or their families. They might be lured into buying the most biggest and newest hummer out there, just because its new. This goes for basically anything. There's phones, computers, i-pods, clothing, etc.

I'm not very in touch with the celebrity gossip because i don't care much about it. I'm sure i do get influenced by the media. Sometimes i follow what they want me to buy and even at times i pay attention to what they say about being safe, etc. As far as politics and the video that restated the word "shocking" a million times, I'd fall into the group that isn't very politically smart. I don't know much about the whole campaign for one thing and the voting period is almost around the corner. As much as i want to learn and i tell myself everyday, i continue to set it aside and do other things like homework or spend time with family and friends.

The video does make a valid point, the youth and some adults know very little about politics and the media in its entirety.

Miss South Carolina

Whoa!!! Well i honestly feel bad for South Carolina. I'm sure she was nervous at the time the question was asked. Maybe miss South Carolina is a joke and did this pageant for beauty purposes only. Either way, she did defend her crazy, incomprehensible answer. She came back and wasn't a sore loser about the whole situation. She even went back and re-answered the question on NBC's Today. This time she actually had a good enough answer. Anyway, I guess this mess up wasn't a real big deal, she did win 4th overall.

So do you think your a writer?

I usually write a lot when the school term is in session. Either it being school work, e-mails, birthday cards, or just regular notes. Most of the time, my writing is informal and I might use a bit a of slang, but most of the time I like to write professionally because I think if I always write in slang I'll end up forgetting the real words.

I love to write whats on my mind, even if it doesn't make complete sense. I discuss topics about life or books with friends and family.

I recently renewed my MySpace account, so I have commented on some of my friends page. It is very sloppy and at times doesn't even have punctuation marks. My friends and i crack jokes on each others pages and comment on random things.

I also keep tabs with my AP English teacher from high school. We usually talk philosophical and make fun of certain things we've experienced in class. I wrote to him about a couple of short stories I read and told him how much I've enjoyed them. His e-mail was written in a formal way because if not I think he'd kill me.

How faithful are you?

Believing in something like God is truly a beautiful thing. Peace, harmony, and worship are a part of "the package." Lets say you speak about the way you believe things are to someone and you end up changing their way of thinking. They actually give what you say a try when you thought they would never consider your belief.

They pray, and attempt in establishing a relationship with the almighty being.

The next day, they hear terrible news that someone they love is hurt. "What a sign."

Then what? What do you think?