Importance of Scholarships

Scholarships are important because they provide relief to future debts that could occur while in and after college. Many students and sometimes their parents find themselves in debt several years after they graduate. Everyone knows how little a college students has when they first start off, but with a scholarship some of that college money is taken care of.and with scholarships that debt is cut down and/or paid for. Also, scholarships give recognition to students by allowing students to show their potential to colleges. They give everyone a chance to win money for their future and show what they are capable of doing despite their background or ethnicity.

Reflection: College List

A. What do I have left to do?
1) Pay application fee
2) Turn in Application
3) Send in ACT/ACT scores
4) Get all letters of recommendation
5) Finish required college essays
6) Finish the rest of the credits
7) Do interviews for college that need it
8) Apply for FASFA

B. When will these tasks get accomplished?
1)  Apply for early decision on August/November/fall 2015
2) Pay application fee when I apply
3) Retake the SAT/ACT and send scores when applying
4) Apply for FASA in the Fall

C. Academically am I where I need to be?
Yes, I am where I need to be, my rank and GPA is right. All in need to focus on is the SAT/ACT scores to get them higher, but I can always retake the test (I will in the summer.)

D. Are these colleges really the ones for me or do I need to modify my search?
Yes and No, I believe my search for colleges has broadened compared to last year and I have realized my options. However, these colleges have the major I am looking for and one of them is my dream college, but that may change later on.

College Degree/School System

1) Is the college degree necessary/worth the cost (not just dollars but time) for economic and social success?
College degrees are great socially due to the overall appearance on resumes and they are a good source for backup plans if you lost your job, out of money, and/or need another job. When jobs see your educational background they immediately see if you graduated from college. If your degree is specified to a field and the job requires this field, you will most likely be on their list for potential candidates. However, the means to obtain a degree requires your time and money, but once people earn their degrees it slims their personal dream job options. It also opens up other means of employment. Overall, degrees are worth the time and money put in.
2) How would you rate the US School system in terms of opportunities it gives its students v.1 other country you saw in a presentation. Be specific.The United States School system is about the same rate as the Australian school system. The United States focuses mainly on attendance to school and on testing, which loses the joy of learning into the pressure of being tested. However, the Australian school system focuses more on the learning aspect of education and has their own version of teaching. Despite the small differences the rate goes up due to both countries care for the Special Education program, which flourishes.

Spring Break

For spring break I will be spending time with my family. We are still deciding where to go since my dad and sister are working most of the time, but I know it will be good just to be together. I also will try to get ahead in my outside projects for English and History so I won't have to worry about it later on. It's a long project, and this break will give me plenty of time to finish it. I am also going to start working on my license and getting tutored for English by my genius Aunt. Along with sleeping, catching up on my favorite shows, reading A LOT, and relaxing. It's gonna be a great Spring Break!

Dead Poets Society Pt. 2

1. The most influential person in my life would be my Dad. He doesn't say I love a lot, but he shows he it through his actions. He was known as "the prankster " as a kid and in college, yet he still maintained his grades, a few jobs, and every sport he was played. He has done every sport except basketball. I've always looked up to him for anything sport wise. He is very strict because he wants the best for me. He is always my #1 fan in track. I love him because he sees more in me than I see in myself. My dad pushes me to be better, to do better than what I thought I could do. 
2. I agree with Mr.Keating on the grounds of the natural human tendency to seek emotional purpose rather than intellectual reason. The human race falls in love with poetry, and while serious passions and pursuits in careers paths are necessary to be efficient in life's courses, love give everything a purpose to keep on living. Material things don't last, but beautiful words give meaning to our world, it gives us meaning to our age in time. We read poetry for an insight to a picture that real world conversations don't hold these days. We abuse the language of our ancestors; they are not included in our speech and if they are they are misinterpreted. Poetry is a language of love, history, passion, that we need more of. 
3. I agree, one answer is not the only "correct answer" to a question. Looking at things, taking risks and thinking for yourself besides what might be the right answer gives real perspective. The whole purpose of answering is to answer for yourself, meaning what you think. No one wants to be the same as the rest. Everyone wants a different love story, a different career, a different answer that can be admired by others. Similarly, I misjudged a person because of their attire. However, once I got to talk to the person I realized how wrong I was. She was sweet, beautiful, and her situation was tragic. She gave me a look into her life when I only judged by a glance. 
4. My last verse for the world will need some thought and more experience before I send it for anyone to see. I feel like I'm just starting out in the world, and the world keeps trying to push their views into me. I want to be myself, I want to answer for myself, I want to live for myself. 
When I die, I hope everyone I know will realize how humble I tried to be. I never want to be the girl who's consumed with herself. I want to be the girl who cared for everyone but herself. 

Dead Poets Society Pt.1

1.  No, I do not believe Neil would have committed suicide if Mr. Keating would not have come into his life. Mr. Keating stirred ideas into his head and effected Neil's ultimate decision of being in the play. A dream which Neil's father is entirely against. However, on the other hand, it was Neil's own decision to be in the play and it was his own decision to end his life.
2. In my opinion,  Charlie Dalton"Nwanda" was the bravest of all the boys because he voiced the teaching of Mr. Keating in real life through school and in front of the school leaders. He was the boy who announced how he felt, without confining to the school's idea of together.
The boy who was the coward would be Richard Cameron. He was the boy who felt the need to confine himself to the school and their conformity. He always wanted to do the right thing, the thing that would get a good grade. The whole point of Keating's lectures was to find who people are, not as a whole, but an individual. And Richard ultimately was the one who snitched on his teacher and gave into the blame on Keating.
3. I believe Mr. Keating put the poetry book in Neil's room because Neil was the one who asked him about Dead Poets Society. Keating thought he and all the boys who witnessed his explanation of the club would be interested in their original traditions. One of the traditions was the reading of the front of the book.
Keating cared about the administration's rules, but he cared more about the school's secret club because it was during his time at the school. The head people at the school did not understand how much the club meant to the boys and he knew they wouldn't understand the purpose. It was a fun thing, one that did not have grades and wasn't controlled by adults.

Individualism

Throughout the movie, Dead Poet’s Society, the strict all boys’ school is determined to keep each boy in line. The boys are given difficult classes, dorms, and free time that consist of more schooling. Everything is done together and no foolish activities are tolerated. It is hard for those boys’ who want to have fun and to be boys. Their parents set heavy burdens on the boys for their future and have power to alter it whenever they please. The boys are born into conformity, a way of living that has no individual choice or option. But when Mr. Keating waltzed into the picture as the boys’ new teacher, a sense of freedom filled the air. As he taught, he encouraged the boys’ to think for themselves and to not box themselves in by what outside forces told them to. Many boys, such as Neil Perry, were influenced by his teaching. Neil took the lessons and interpreted them as a sign to take his dream of acting into his own hands. He wanted to do something for himself, despite his father’s strict orders to not participate in acting. In conclusion, the boys were striving to find themselves instead of listening to other outside forces.  That’s what the author/director was trying to portray in the movie: Individualism.

Character Questions: Dead Poet's Society

1. In my opinion, Todd Anderson developed most in his experience with the people at the school. He started off being too shy to talk or go to student's activities. However, with the help of Neil Perry he made more friends and started being himself. Then Mr. Keating stepped in to fix his speaking problem by putting him in front of the class and making him close his eyes while reciting his original poem.
2. Richard Cameron is the static character, meaning he does not change. He is solid in his opinion and set in the rules. Though persuaded, he did not sway in stepping outside of his comfort zone.
3.Mr.Keating is a unique character that care about his students, unlike most of the teachers. He cares about their thoughts and feelings, and most importantly their future. He sees potential in every person and believes they should not be limited to one form or way of thinking.
4.Todd Anderson- He has the ability to form poems and beautifully words, but his fear of speaking confronts him. By going to the school and being taught by Mr. Keating, he overcomes his fear by standing up and his desk and bidding his teacher a farewell.
Neil Perry- He has the trait of acting and persuading other to follow him, a leader. His fear is being discovered and/or rejected by his father with his dream of acting. He was scared in the beginning of the movie when he father decided his classes for him and at the end where he decides his future in military school. So, no, Neil does not overcome his fear, taking the easier way out of his problems by death.
Knox Overstreet- Knox has the trait of affection and a fearless spirit that many boys lack with the opposite sex. However, despite his obsession of love for one girl, he can't shake the fear of being rejected. He overcomes this fear by taking risks like visiting her school with a poem and flower, reading the poem aloud, exposing his feelings. He put himself out there and made the girl consider loving him, which she did.
Charlie (Nwanda) Dalton- Nwanda has the ability to be fearless like Knox, but with his peers. He also has the main talent of making people laugh, which he uses to stand out from the other boys. His worst fear is being normal and fitting in with the same, controlled actions of the boys and their teachers. He feels trapped by conformity and let's himself out constantly. He has always faced and overcome his fear, the main event being in the confrontational meeting in the chapel with all the boys when he answered a telephone. He made everyone laugh and got in trouble for it, that was what he wanted: to be different. 

Mona Lisa Smile Discussion

1. The 1950's role of women was strictly to get a basic education, marry a well off young man, take care of the household, and have kids. That was how every girl was brought up at the school and no one questioned the unwavering tradition. However, when Katherine Watson started teaching at the college, she began stirring up different ideas, different lifestyles much like her own.
She was an independent women who did not depend on men to please or provide for her. Ms. Watson pursued her own career in teaching, graduate from college, and taught in many schools. So, when she came to the all girls' school where they were basically expected to learn, but more importantly to be married, she disagreed. She wanted the girls to be themselves, to think for themselves, and not let the men be the main goal for their future. She wanted them to be independent.

5.When Betty was engaged to Spencer, Betty was so excited to marry a guy and have her own home. It was what every girl dreamed to do. Spencer had a good job and bought a good house. Although as time went on, the "honey-moon" phase faded away and Spencer started to consume himself in his work to avoid her and being at home. Betty felt useless by not being at school and tending to the house. She wasn't happy. She did all her mother asked of her: marry Spencer.
And after she found out Spencer cheated on her, she wanted to do what she wanted: divorce him. However, at those times divorce was looked down upon, and her mother definitely didn't want her to make the family name look bad. Even after Betty came to her mother for help, she told her to go home and forget Spencer cheated on her. Her mother wanted a good home and income not a love story. Deciding for herself, she divorced him and pursued her own career. The pressure of being a "trophy wife" lifted; she was now independent with what her future held.

Katherine Watson vs. Hard Times by Charles Dickens

Katherine Watson encouraged her students personally and in the classroom, to come up with their own ideas, their own words instead of what the textbook told them. She wanted the girls to be an original and not a copy and paste portrait or a paint by numbers painting. Whereas, in the Charles Dickens' novel, "You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service upon these children." The novel directly battles with Watson's teaching of "thinking independently." It suggests that thinking outside the box is wrong and it is not beneficial to the student in life. That concrete evidence of an idea or theory is relevant and a guess or consideration of an organic idea is irrelevant. Challenging the overpowering school board and even the girls themselves, Katherine Watson told them they are "not required to like it; just consider it," and she used this to eventually gain the girls' real thoughts and independence within themselves. She freed their minds. 

Mona Lisa Smile Favorite Theme

During this movie, I discovered a certain theme of individualism in the girls through the influence of their teacher, Ms. Watson. The girls realized something more than being a wife and mother, they saw something within themselves, a goal they wanted to achieve besides getting married. The developed an individualism air within the uptight all girls' school, the girls were learning more than what's on the canvas. They saw who they truly were, beneath the paint.

Mona Lisa Smile

For the movie Mona Lisa smile, I think the girls will be influenced by their teacher to be educated and not just to be married. Some will not want to be married at the time, but instead furthering their education. I also predict the teacher to fall in love as she is teaching the young girls. Overall, the movie will end with a different view on woman's education. It will start up a changing in woman everywhere and maybe even in society and the man's view on woman.

High School and College Exams

High school exams cover small amounts and are spread throughout the school year, whereas college exams cover large amounts and are given only a few times a semester. And the grade difference is a large one. The college grades for exams are always a major grade, whereas high school grades are low and high depending quizzes, worksheets, and tests. Overall, high school exams are way easier and less pressuring than the huge college exams. Some of the ways I prepare to study is using note cards, whiteboards, audio repetition of words, and review of materials or concepts of large information each day so they are spread out and not crammed.

Christmas Break

For Christmas break I will be going out of town to my grandparent's house. We will see most of my dad's side of the family and do our family Christmas stuff. Then after Christmas day we will return home and have both my mom's side's family Christmas and our own family Christmas. Hopefully before all the house lights go down my family and I will go lighting. I am going to have no homework!!! So I will have plenty of time to spend with my friends as well. I want a laptop for Christmas because it will be easier to type papers due to our family's sharing of computers. I also want to catch up on my shows and enjoy my family as much as possible. But most of all I want to celebrate Jesus, the reason for the season. He's the birthday boy, so it should be all about him.

College

 Going to college would accomplish many things: gaining more education in the specific career I would like to pursue, allow interaction with many people, allow living with another person and coping with it, and finally opening more opportunities job wise. I am going to college for myself, it is a path for a better future and better career options. Characteristics like integrity, honor, honesty, family, respect, and loyalty would be some I would look for in a college. For advice for seeking a college I would definitely look for my parents and grandparents. They know what it's like in college and have more knowledge in the how it works. College would create more options for me in choosing my career and ultimately increasing my education as an student. I have goals and dreams to achieve, college would make living in the working class easier as I would be more open and aware of the world around me.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving, it is a tradition in my family to come together for the day for lunch where we eat turkey, potatoes, green beans, etc. Once we stuffed ourselves full, dad and I watch football, since we are the only people on my mom's side to watch sports. Other than Thanksgiving day, Saturday I will be watching my grandfather get married to a sweet lady. Then Sunday my family and I will probably going together to six flags. My dad is super excited since this is the first time since his surgery that he has gone to six flags. I am so happy he's going to be with us. Throughout the break I will also be studying and trying to get ahead on homework, while reading my favorite books, running, hanging out with friends, and going shopping for black Friday. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving Break! Remember what your thankful for and don't forget.

Job Searching

Recently, on I found a job online that hired sixteen-year-old and up. It was so easy to find a job that is near me and works well with my school and sport activities. The job is a great starting job as it is a good deal of mulch-tasking, social skills, and organization which I have and can be improved on. "Smiling, energetic, friendly and fun people are ideal. The ability to work evenings and weekends is generally required." (www.snagajob.com) The store, Kroger, is close has many positions open that I can apply for. However, the one I may have time and would be most applicable for would be the Part-Time store clerk job. This job would give me more work experience outside of chores and home and teach me how to handle my first official job. The smart thing for an application, would be to fill out the application online, which would be easy, but to actually print it out and turn it in in person would be better. It shows actual maturity for the job and dedication to the position applied for. "Individuals who visit hiring managers and submit materials in person may fare better than applicants using the online route to declare candidacy." Also, preparing for an interview (for me) would be to dress appropriately for the job applied, bring some of my past work and accomplishments, and to answer with well thought out, confident answers. With these simple steps, I would be able to apply and get a job in no time.

From Homeless to Harvard Film Reflection

For the film, Homeless to Harvard, a very determined spirited young women grew up on the streets of New York while her parents were on drugs, and still maintained her education. This film inspired me to the point where it made me realize that there literally is no excuse. No excuse for unfinished homework, no excuse for constant complaining, and no excuse for a bad attitude. My favorite part in the movie was when Liz Murray started high school and had her first essay, getting an A+. She immediately went to the teacher and asked, 'What can I do to get an A?' Her goals were set so high, despite her situation, despite the absent people in her life. Liz Murray wanted to be the best. I know if I was put in her shoes I would be very emotionally scarred that I would need help. I defiantly could not imagine not having my family or a roof over my head. The experience would be life changing for sure. And for Liz Murray, being homeless in a bad are was an everyday thing. Not just a week or a month, this was her whole life. Liz's life story shows me that ANYTHING is possible if you set your mind to it.  

Budget Surprises

When I created my future budget as a college student living on campus, there was so much to take in. First, I realized how much monthly I have to earn from a part-time job. A job that doesn't pay much or leave me quite enough to have for extra activities. It is a really tight budget! However, I did expect the small room and usual sharing of space with a roommate. When the time comes for me to go off to college and experience the real 'college life', I think eventually I would adapt to the constant flow of giving and getting money as well as keeping up with my studies. It would be a different lifestyle and I realize that I would have many bills that would fail to be paid. However, by the time I graduate from high school and have job experience, the debt would not be as bad. Training in keeping up with the house would also help with my college apartment and job. Also, in social skills with keeping a good relationship with my roommate and making friends at college. Then lastly, studying in school and keeping up with grades would increase my determination to graduate. I will be ready when the time comes for college.

Top Career Choice

     My top career choice would be a Psychologist, I enjoy people and their different behaviors. Pursuing this career would interest me because I am perplexed by the different emotions and state of being in a person and how quickly they change in an instant or over time. Being a psychologist would let me listen to people's problems and try to help them get better or record and just listen to what they have to say. Sometimes all a person needs is someone to hear them out, and that's what I would do.