No Direction, No Idea

Time To Change The Way Schools Work

2012-12-16T13:31:00.000-05:00

Education is the key to success in today’s society. The leaders of the United States of America have been acknowledging this fact for many years, but reform is needed now more than ever. The Prussian model of schooling has been the most popular and is widely used in public schools around the USA, which lumps students together by age and separating subjects. Teachers are bound to a educational model which is “one-size-fits-all” which leaves little room for helping students who may fall behind. Despite spending an enormous amount of money on education, the United States of America is not even in the top 10 countries in regards to mathematics, science, and reading. In order to better the educational system in the United States, radical reforms need to be made to the ways in which students are educated.

One of the reasons that the Prussian model was adapted in the US was its cheap cost, ability to teach a wide range of subjects, and give a decent education to most of the middle class who were not able to get educated before. This model has been successful for many years, enabling large amounts of people to find higher paying jobs and more successful careers. But according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), on the 2009 PISA assessment of 15-year-olds, the united States performs around the average in reading (14th) and science (17th) and below the average in mathematics (25th) among the 34 OECD countries. How can a country which spends more money on education than any other nation be at or below average? These statistics illustrate the need for a change within the education system.

Sallman Kahn has grown to become one of the world’s most popular teachers, reaching over 6 million different students each month. (Noer) How can one man accomplish such a feat? Technology is the key. Kahn is the founder of the Khan Academy, a website which has over 3,600 videos which teach different subjects from mathematics to humanities. And best of all, pupils do not have to pay for any lessons, everything is free. The website provides lessons and practice for those who use this terrific resource. Many schools and teachers, whether it is formally or informally, have begun to integrate Khan Academy lessons into daily work. This is beneficial to students who have grown up using technology their entire lives and allows each student to work at his or her own pace. This also enables the teacher to give more attention to the students who need more help without preventing those who are finding the lesson easy from moving forward.

This model, which combines technology and a new teaching method, has the possibility to greatly help students. There have been studies which show the teacher has a large impact on the success of students, and if a teacher can provide personal attention for each student, new levels of education can be reached. By implementing a system in which a student progresses at his or her own rate, the material is taught at a personalized pace which can produce optimal results.

Strong public education is one of the most important features of modern society. But since the traditional model of education has become outdated, the potential of many students have become stunted. In order to maximize the intellectual prowess of the students, it is important to find a new utilitarian model which best suits the needs of the greater good. Education reform has been talked about for many years, yet few things have been done. It is time for a new system to try and get results and bring the US back to the top in the educational world.

Here's a video I found soon after writing this that sums up many ideas that I share:

Technology...Not Quite All That

2012-11-28T20:24:00.000-05:00

The twenty-first century has come with an abundance of new technologies. From personal devices, to military, to medical, people sometimes cannot fathom what life would be like without the new amenities that we have only had for a couple of years. As great as the advances in technology are, many of the negative aspects are being overlooked. Everyone is rushing to become as connected as possible by constantly checking social media sites, texting friends, and seeing the latest updates in the world. Becoming hyper connected is what people are striving for, but how often do people look at the downsides of such actions? When people are constantly paying attention to the screens at their disposal, quickly switching from task to task, we lose the depth and focus that are so crucial in our lives.

When I first started writing, I had seven different tabs open on my laptop, music playing on my iPod, and my phone was buzzing with text messages. After I realized how long it took me to write the first paragraph, I decided to disconnect myself from the internet and turn my phone off (I kept the music on because I feel like I work better with a background ambiance). Even though it may seem like it would be stressful to be out of touch, it feels liberating. I do not have to worry about what my friends are eating at restaurant X or what the score is in football game Y. And with my focus solely devoted to writing, I am writing faster and thinking more about what I am writing down. But how often do we take advantage of our ability in such a manner? It seems as though there is a never-ending screen in front of our faces that is bombarding our minds with updates. How can we expect to produce our best work if our attention is not solely devoted to our goal? When a different distraction is just a click away and can be gone in a second what does it matter? It actually takes about five to ten minutes to regain focus on a task after a person gives into a distraction according to William Powers, author of Hamlet’s BlackBerry: Building a Good Life in the Digital Age. Even though it seems like that one second check of the e-mail is not harming your work, it may actually be having a larger effect that you think. In today’s society, it would be near impossible to stay away from screens entirely, unless you go out into the deep wilderness of Montana. Many people and businesses have taken advantage of the great benefits that technology has created. Thus it is important to be able to use the various applications that our screens can do for us. And there are some jobs which are impossible to do without the assistance of computers or cell phones. But there needs to a balance between staying connected and disconnecting. Not all of the time a person spends on their screen needs to be with multiple tasks running. Right now people want to be constantly available for updates, but it causes them to miss experiences that the screens cannot replicate.

While watching a show with my family on TV, everyone was in the room, but at the same time we weren’t. Our physical bodies were occupying spaces on the couch and chair, but our minds were elsewhere. My dad was working on his laptop; my brother and I were on our cell phones texting our girlfriends; leaving my mom to be the only person really watching the show. We lose depth of experience when we are buried in the lights of our screens. Watching a video of a baby taking its first steps is extremely different than actually being there to watch and encourage the baby as it grows. When we are flitting from task to task, we are not able to take much time out to think about what we are doing. How often does a lyric in a song cause you to meditate on that thought long after the song has finished playing? Usually we just move on to the next song without giving much thought. With the busyness of today’s society, it seems as though we are losing the best experiences of our lives as we are absorbed in our screens. Although the screens are often a source of our greatest inspirations, people often do not take the time to think about the things we see or hear. Without taking this time to think about different philosophies or ideas, it is as though we are automatons simply absorbing information without knowing what it really means.

Without a doubt, technology has changed the modern world for the better, allowing progress in nearly all aspects of life. Medical procedures are safer, police and protection agencies are able to get more information quickly, and science is moving at an unprecedented rate. But for all the advantages that technology has provided, the negatives are often overlooked. People are increasingly becoming aware of the potential dangers that surround the screens we love so much. Focus and depth are two of the biggest aspects of our lives that are being affected by the surrounding screens. It is imperative that people find a way to strike a balance between connection and disconnection to lead a life of fulfillment.

Entertainment Industry And The Culture Of Violence

2012-11-14T07:31:00.000-05:00

Is there a “culture of violence” that is plaguing the American public? It seems as though many adults, especially politicians believe this to be true and are using this reason to suggest change in this election year. But where does this stem from? Is life more violent than it used to be, or are all the stories just out in the open rather than kept quiet? The entertainment industry holds one of the largest influences and puts these ideas in the open to the public so this is where I see this idea sprouting.
The video game industry thrives on games that revolve around violence. Whether it is Call of Duty or Assassin’s Creed, these games seem to encourage people to go around and seek revenge or take the law into their own hands by using violence. But is this really happening? I have played games in both of these series, but I do not feel the urge to go out and kill or hurt the people who may be in my way. I see the games as just an interactive movie that I get to help arrive at the conclusion. There are a bunch of advocacy groups which are trying to limit the availability of these games to minors in order to keep them from playing, but I cannot see this working. For one thing, there is a rating system that is already set up, and similarly to the movie rating system, children aren’t allowed to purchase games that are rated “Mature”. And if a parent doesn’t want his or her children playing these games, then they should not be buying them for the minors. Even though it makes sense to try and make sure young children are not playing games where the objective is to kill other human beings, should parents be instilling basic moral values in the first place? A parent should not buy a game for their child if the child is unable to distinguish between fiction and actuality. What kind of a society would we live in if it was acceptable to kill over petty feuds? We can’t blame the games that kids are playing if they think it is real. There is a big difference between reality and fantasy, and I think kids should be taught to make a distinction of the differences.

Hollywood and the film industry also have a monumental influence on culture and many movies are geared toward people wanting explosions, guns, and violence. But does this make us more violent? I love watching action movies and two of my favorite movies revolve around violent plots. But that is one reason I love them so much. I don’t have to go out and be violent. I can live through the characters so I can be peaceful and moral in my own life. And even movies that are violent sometimes need to be in order to convey a certain message or theme. One of these is the message of whether or not violence should be used to combat violence. This seemingly simple idea has been a topic I have written a lot about and I still don’t know the answer. But without the entertainment industry producing films and movies about it, I wouldn’t know where I stand on the topic. I am sure it is possible that there are some people to want to re-create movie scenes and emulate characters which would be a strong argument to ban violent movies but I don’t think it is that big of a problem.

There are people who argue that movies are becoming more violent and vulgar than they have been in the past and I would agree. The things that are put into movies nowadays seem outrageous, but that is exactly the point. Our culture has grown to expect extremes for entertainment because we can get the mundane in our own lives. I don’t know anyone who goes to strip clubs weekly like Barney Stinson from “How I Met Your Mother.” None of my friends like to fight crime in their free time like Batman. I know I will not ever go rent a house on a beach somewhere with people and live for a summer just partying like on Jersey Shore. That is why people like the shows they watch. It is a way to escape from our lives and they don’t want an escape to a parallel reality. People want excitement, surprises, and anything that will grab their attention. Unfortunately, it is getting harder and harder to seize a person’s attention, so violence and vulgarity are increasing.

The entertainment industry, which I believe includes film, television, music, and video games, has the power and influence over society to make change. This to me is unquestionable. But will they? I don’t think so. Sure they could strive to make more family friendly movies, promote healthy, moral values. But at the end of the day it comes down to business and these ideas do not sell nearly as well as violence and sex. Why else hasn’t a change occurred? I doubt the directors, writers, and producers want to encourage violence and sex (some might, I am not inside their heads) but they promote these concepts for money. That’s what matters in the end for the companies.

The news, which is a large part of television, is being driven by the want of high ratings. That is why I believe most news stations typically report the most outrageous and astonishing stories. It is less about the truth behind the matter and more about which angle behind the event will get the most attention. I think that when a story is being covered, it should be unbiased and show all sides. Unfortunately, the various stations would rather just appeal to a specific audience, even if it means skewing the story to fit their “image”.

The violence that I hear about often strives from war and greed. Occasionally there will be someone who does something heinous for a peculiar reason that stands out, but for the most part this is rare. The media bombards people with stories from war-torn nations, and the social media fuels this from another side. It is now possible to hear about a woman’s experience in the Arab Spring from her twitter feed or blog, giving a first person account of what is going on. People often are drawn to news that shocks their system, and that is why I believe people observe an increase in violence which may not be there. When every John and Jane Doe can report on a crime, it appears as though there is an uptick in what is happening.

Today’s society is driven by the entertainment industry, which in turn, is driven by profit. Once they find an idea that sells, it is going to be exploited in every possible manner. Rarely do companies think about what message they might be sending out to the public. If they did, I believe there are a gaggle of movies which would not have been made. They sell and that is what is most important to a business of any kind. Is it possible to instigate change through the entertainment industry? I would think so, but it is extremely unlikely. People seem to want violence and sex in movies, music, and games so that is what will to be sold in large quantities to the masses.

Everyone Is Included

2012-10-22T22:02:00.000-04:00

It seems to me that there is a constant buzz in the air of parents that are complaining in order to protect their children. And it isn’t just from dangers like traffic and crime. It is an attempt to shelter them from any possible negative influences on their lives. From music, to school, to television, parents are becoming more controlling in their views. Even though no parent wants harm to come to their children (and if they do, something should be done), I think that parents are going too far in protecting them. Parents in today's society are trying to prevent anything bad from happening to their children and I believe that it is having a negative effect on the younger generations.

I believe there is a certain point where parents become overbearing and hurt their children's perception of life. After school, not everyone gets a job, not everybody is equal, and people rarely get more than one chance to do anything. But we have created a mentality in children that they can get away with being lazy and that everyone is important. In reality, not everyone is destined to become a doctor or a lawyer like many parents wish. Yet these ideas are implanted in the minds of children from young ages. “Yes Billy, you can become the president someday…” I think that is a little bogus. It is feasible that the fictional child could actually become the president, but it is extremely unlikely. How does it help a child learn his or her mistakes in school when a parent can call up and resolve the situation for the child? Newsflash: parents will not be able to call your boss and explain why you are constantly texting instead of doing your job. Children should be taught the importance of holding oneself responsible for one's own actions. The most successful people in the world got to where they are through hard work. Not with the help of parents and friends.

The hard working characteristic should be taught at a young age to all children because it is one of the most important skills a person can have. Talent is not enough for anyone except for the Brazilian soccer player Ronaldo. He is the only exception that I know of because he was born with so much talent he could still be one of the best soccer players in the world even though he was overweight most of his career. 50 Cent is one of the most successful individuals in the music industry and he works much harder than most. He once said "Sleep? Sleep is for those people who are broke. I don't sleep because I have an opportunity to make my dream a reality." 50 Cent shows that he earns everything he gets. He does not sit on his laurels waiting for good things to happen. He makes them occur. It is important for people to learn the need for hard work at a young age.

I’ve noticed a lot of students just going through the motions without working hard. If there is someone out there working harder than you are to become successful then you are going to get beat. Instead this generation of parents feels the need to make sure children never feel inferior to those with a higher work rate or more talent. They applaud everyone so nobody feels left out. Unfortunately their children lose an opportunity to learn a valuable life lesson. If they do not make a team or a band or group, they have the option to work harder and comeback and make it the next year. If adults maintain the “everyone is included” attitude, mediocrity will appear to be good enough. While in high school I was part of the select choir which everyone had to audition for every year. I was lucky enough to be in it all four years of high school (it probably had a lot to do with the fact that I am a male and males almost always were selected), but my sister wasn't as fortunate. In my opinion, she has the most incredible voice in the world and could succeed as a professional singer. She didn't make the choir her freshman year and was told that if she worked hard enough in the ensuing school year she would have a great chance to make it the next year. That is what she did and she ended up becoming one of the officers of the choir in both her junior and senior years. I feel that if she was accepted right away, she never would have become as incredible as she is now. She made the most of her initial disappointment and created a tremendous comeback through hard work and perseverance.

Adults may have the best intentions while “protecting” their children, but I fear this may be a double-edged sword. It is critical that a child develops a positive self-esteem while they are young, but in preserving this, parents are not allowing their children to experience failure. People have been saying for centuries that it is necessary to fail in order to become better, and parents are too scared to let their babies fail. Even though they have their child’s best interest in mind, there may be a price to pay for their actions.

I've Been Published!

2012-10-04T20:46:00.003-04:00

Taking a break from the music writing, I wrote a poem last week that was published on a website and I would love for everyone to check it out.

Become Great

What Is Music Telling Us? Pt. 1-Rap

2012-09-29T14:43:00.001-04:00

I have always been interested in music and I enjoy listening to various genres from show tunes to rap. From country to electronic. From classical to hip-hop. One thing that I find incredibly interesting is how each genre varies in messages. These next few posts have been inspired by having to read part of an essay entitled "Eminem Is Right" by Mary Eberstadt.I want to explore the various meanings that surround the different genres that are most popular today. Building off this essay, I am going to start by writing about rap music in today's society, focusing especially on Eminem because he is who I listen to most.

A lot of music involves both violence and foul language, which are two of the biggest reasons parents (such as mine) are not fans of this style of music. But in reality that is part of the rap culture and needs to be looked at in context. Many of the themes and ideas that are presented by the artists are based on experience from their childhoods. Both Eminem and Lil Wayne grew up in families abandoned by fathers. Eminem especially puts his views on family life into his tracks such as "Mockingbird" and "When I'm Gone". He raps about dysfunctional families and often uses his own as an example. In my favorite song by Eminem, "Beautiful", he explains how life can be hard and he says "I'll be you, let's trade shoes/Just to see what it'd be like to/Feel your pain, you feel mine/Go inside each other's minds/Just to see what we find". It can be hard to overlook the fact that rappers swear so much, it was one of the reasons I used to stay away from listening to it. But then my brother showed me how inspiring and intelligent the lyrics can be and I was hooked. Eminem's most recent album is very different than all its predecessors. It is titled Recovery, and in this album he focuses more on fighting his demons while rehabbing from drug use. It is true that there are a plethora of rap songs about violence against police, drug use, and sex, but that is because that is what many grew up around. It is rare that a rapper comes out of a well-to-do area of the United States and wasn't struggling at some point in his/her life. And since most rappers are African-American, these topics just confirm many stereotypes which do surround the African-American community. Without a doubt, Eminem is one of the most successful rap artists in history and in an interview on 60 Minutes, you can see how passionate he is about his music and his dedication. The messages that rap produces are driven by experience and people need to realize that the music is what it is and that is what has/will sell.

I highly suggest watching Eminem's interview on 60 Minutes. It shows a different side of an artist who many feel is a menace to society.

I Can Say Whatever I Want

2012-09-19T22:26:00.000-04:00

Today in my Expository Writing class, we talked about the idea of free speech and whether or not the government has the right to censor what is allowed to be published (in response to reading an excerpt of "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg). It is hard to determine if there is a line which writers can/shouldn't cross while writing for an audience. Admittedly Ginsberg didn't intend for "Howl" to be published, yet obscenities have grown more popular in today's culture. A large amount of shows on television deal with sexual and vulgar jokes which many wouldn't like to tell their parents. I think this has desensitized our feelings toward these subjects and have created a society where these topics almost seem expected for a show to be a hit. I haven't decided for myself whether or not this is positive or negative, but it definitely makes me think. But as of right now, I can say what I want, whenever I want.

It Is The Simple Things

2012-09-16T19:53:00.000-04:00

I have been trying to be aware of my thoughts as much as I can and it has led me to something that I think is overlooked. Its the simple, small things in life that often bring us the most joy. Who wouldn't like to get a message from a random person saying "You are beautiful/handsome" out of nowhere? I think that people who do small things for others like putting notes in library books help make life more bearable. I have been thinking about all the small things I take for granted everyday and it amazes me how great life can be. We should all try to think of one thing each day that made our lives a bit easier or more enjoyable.

Its All In Your Head

2012-09-12T22:50:00.000-04:00

You have the power to make your life how you want it. You can choose what you want to do, how to live, and how to be happy. We as humans have unlimited potential. We are only restrained by our own mental limitations. I have heard this all throughout my life and now I truly believe it. Each day gets better when you think it will. You can do whatever you want. I know I am. How bad do you want it?

"My Alma Mater Was Books"

2012-09-08T10:03:00.002-04:00

This quote is from the famous Malcolm X on how he educated himself. In his autobiography, he devotes a good part of a chapter to his education while in prison. One of the most interesting points that he brought up was that a college education tells a person what they have to learn, while books can teach whatever the reader wants. This idea struck a chord in my head and the more I thought about it, the more it made sense, to an extent.

It is true that when a student is taking courses toward a college degree, he/she has to read and learn whatever the teachers instruct them, and usually there isn't much freedom in choosing where to learn from. While on the other hand, a person who can read and has a library card can learn about whatever they may choose for as long or short as they prefer. I see that there are advantages to both sides of this fight. Hopefully, the books and courses a student uses in college are presenting them with the best education in that particular field and the student wants to study this, since it is their choice to take these classes. But there can be times when a professor doesn't teach much useful and practical information, and the texts don't help the student learn which is a fault on the professor.

Reading books on one's own time opens more doors than the mind can imagine. There are texts regarding every subject known to man and a person can learn about whatever they may want. Also in the digital age that we as the human population now live in, online videos and tutorials provide a wealth of information and can be a quick way to learn something new. I have used videos to teach myself card tricks, some slight of hand, how to juggle, and some dance moves. I've had professors use YouTube clips to supplement their lesson points effectively. This information age gives us nearly everything we need to know at our fingertips.

The most important thing left up to us is the desire and will to learn. All the resources we have are useless if they go unused and left alone. A book is only as useful as the person who reads it, and if it goes unread, then it is useless to all those left ignorant of its information. Something can be learned from everything. We should take advantage of what we have and learn all we can.

Oh What We Can Learn

2012-09-04T18:26:00.000-04:00

The internet can be an incredible wealth of information and can teach us new things through reading articles, listening to podcasts, or watching a YouTube clip. But the most important thing about all these ways to learn is that without immersing oneself or practicing these philosophies/tricks/subjects, there is no way to fully understand them. I have found myself spending a lot of time reading articles about various philosophies and say to myself "That is a great idea. I should live like this". But then I would simply go on to read another article without putting the new idea into practice. But now I have started to act and I am beginning to see results. I was skeptical at first thinking some things wouldn't actually work, yet the mind can be quite powerful. Thoughts become actions and things, both positive or negative all depending on how we think.

I'm Here, I'm There, I'm Everywhere...Or Am I?

2012-08-27T17:51:00.001-04:00

Right now as you read this, count how many tabs are open on your browser, how many applications you are running, how many people you may be texting, and any other things you might be doing your multitasking adventure. I am at seven. Seven different distractions fighting for my attention as I write this post. I have music playing, e-mail open, and many websites available in different tabs. And who would have thought that as I wrote that last sentence I received a text, upping my total to eight. All in my attempt to stay connected. My attention is divided over eight different sources which makes it harder to focus on writing this post. It is interesting to think about all the distractions we face today in the hyper-connected world we live in.
I personally have two Twitter accounts, a Facebook account, three different e-mails, and a smart phone for texting, calling, etc. And somehow I manage to keep myself updated with each one because I am afraid I might miss something huge. Checking my phone for any messages or updates has become second-nature so I don't even think about it, just like breathing. Is this the way we are meant to reach our potential? There have been many studies showing the importance of focusing on only one task to improve productivity, yet its very rare for this to happen. For me, the only time it happens is when I am playing soccer and I don't have the opportunity to check anything and all my attention is devoted to winning. And during that time I feel at peace (unless my team isn't doing well, but thats a different story) and am most happy. I've started to turn my phone off completely during classes so the temptation to check it is gone. This has given me the ability to do well in my courses and get work done quickly and completely. I have learned the necessity and bliss of disconnecting oneself from everything else and devoting all my attention to one thing. My productivity skyrockets, as well as the quality. Maybe it is time to say "no" to some technologies and disconnect for a while. Unless the world is going to blow up if you turn your phone off, because everyone knows that if you accidentally run out of battery the world will end.

Give Us A Break

2012-08-20T11:46:00.002-04:00

In many other countries, young adults are encouraged to work a full-time job before they continue towards a college level education or some equivalent. Not so in the United States of America. Parents seem to think that if their children don't go to college right after they graduate high school, they will never go onto higher education. But this year off can be huge in a person's life of self discovery. In my own personal opinion, the more experience they have in the working field, the better chance they know what direction they want to take their education.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), people born between 1957 and 1964 held an average of 11 jobs from ages 18 to 44. It must be acknowledged that this statistic doesn't illustrate career changes, but the number of job changes is still fairly high (I tried to find some statistic about career changes but I couldn't find a strong, reliable source). As I wrote in my post, Yes, No, Maybe So?, most students change their majors while in college and many still aren't ready for college. Going to college immediately after high school limits potential "real life" experience that can only be gained while working a full time job. When I withdrew from college after one month I went to work full time which provided me certain life-lessons which couldn't have been taught in a class room.Its true that I could write about these experiences, but without going through the experience yourself the lessons wouldn't hold as much water.
I was talking with a couple people about the concept of introducing a mandatory year of service to the country in some way, whether it be military, nationally, or locally right after a person graduates from high school. This idea is something I think the country should look into. There are many things that could get done which would help the community/nation that don't at the moment and it would be a good year for self discovery. The tasks could range from joining the military, helping to clean up the community, to helping do government backed research which would help the country.
Its hard to figure out who you are as a person and what you want to do for the rest of your life, especially if you haven't even lived for a quarter of your life expectancy. The "usual" path of young adults should be re-evaluated because not everyone should go straight to college and just because someone doesn't go right away, it doesn't mean they are throwing their life away.

Edward Abbey said, "Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell"
We shouldn't be expected to do things society expects just for that reason. We need to want something more from ourselves to make life worthwhile.

Sources:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/employmentinformation/f/change-jobs.htm

Yes, No, Maybe So?

2012-08-10T18:09:00.000-04:00

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Everything a person does requires some decision to be made. All these choices essentially boil down to a yes or no answer, unless you are in my generation. We (as a generation) have made the "maybe" answer the most popular. It seems as though nobody is willing to make a solid commitment regarding the big life choices. Even on simple choices such as which classes to take next semester, students often dwell on minuscule factors, such as whether any friends will be in a certain class, or what time it should be taken. This fear to make big decisions is one of many reasons this generation is stuck in limbo.
Over the past few years I have been completely scared to make my own choices. I always wanted somebody else to make them for me, or point me in a certain direction. In the end, I got screwed by my own lack of willingness to take responsibility for my own life. All the ability and intelligence in the world is useless unless you can use it to make a decision for yourself. According to Dr. Fritz Grupe, founder of MyMajors.com, eighty percent of college-bound students aren't sure of what they want to major in. I fell into this category and initially decided to apply only to expensive liberal arts colleges. And even when I finally chose and went, I ended up withdrawing within the first semester, which saved my family over 40,000 dollars per year. Since then I worked full time as a deli clerk for a few months, and have gone back to school, this time to a community college. I have been learning how important it is to make your own decisions based on what you want as an individual rather than societal expectations. Now I am working to make sure I am the one who makes the decisions for myself.
In today's society, everyone is bombarded by an overload of choices to choose from. There never seems to be one obvious choice. And this generation of young adults is paying for it. More and more keep living at home after they graduate from college, jobs openings are at a premium, and people are sitting on mountains of debt and cannot do anything about it. People seem to be unwilling to take low level jobs because they think that their degree entitles them to a higher position and they shouldn't have to work from the bottom up like most people. In reality, there are very few Bill Gates' and Mark Zuckerbergs that are able to become wealthy and skip rungs on the corporate ladder. Another problem with this abundance of choices is that many people opt for the easiest path which may not pay off in the end.
On Long Island in particular, there are very few teaching jobs available and education is one of the most popular majors among students today according to the National Center for Education Statistics. I am not an expert, but I do not think that going into a field with few opportunities is a smart move unless you are very well connected. Everyone has an abundance of decisions to make everyday, yet most people put off choosing either yes or no until the last possible moment. When people of past generations finished high school they often had few options; go to college, join the service, or go straight to work. Now everyone is expected to attend some sort of college even though many either aren't ready or shouldn't be going. This leads them to wasting money on classes which won't give them credit towards a degree. The lack of blue collar jobs which many people's parents worked is one factor in the phenomena, as well as societal expectations. Not everyone can become a high payed doctor or lawyer or businessman. People need to think and not simply choose the easiest path, and elect a path which will be useful in the future.
Making decisions are often hard and have life-long implications. From deciding where to attend college, to picking a major, to picking a mate, these all have direct effects on how our lives will end up. People are afraid and rightly so. Nobody wants to be accountable for their actions. We need to make our own choices and take control of our lives so when we are successful we can say that it is what we wanted.

Sources:
College freshmen face major dilemma-NBC
National Center for Education Statistics
Scores Show Students Aren't Ready for College

When in Doubt, Choose "C"

2012-08-04T12:35:00.002-04:00

For the past couple of years I have disliked the concept of multiple choice tests. They give a person who doesn't understand a topic the chance to get points just for guessing. And a lot of times the questions can be so confusing that the writer doesn't always realize what he/she has written. But this summer I have taken a summer class which has changed my attitude toward this type of test. The key is to make sure each question only focuses on one specific idea and there are multiple questions testing the same topic with slight alterations to the questions. This results in many questions that will have similar answers, yet those who really understand the concepts will most likely see the various nuances in each question, therefore have a better chance at receiving a higher grade than the guesser. I still believe that free response questions are the best method in order to test the knowledge of a student; yet if multiple choice questions are formed in this manner, they can be almost as effective and is best used as a quick test for students.

How To Get Away With Murder In America

2012-07-27T10:47:00.001-04:00

This past week I read the book, How to Get Away With Murder in America by Evan Wright. It tells the story about how a Cuban-American who was a criminal that assisted in the cocaine trafficking trade and then was hired by the CIA and became a high-level officer. His name is Enrique Prado. Reading about how the CIA hired a criminal was the reason I purchased this book to read because I didn't think that it was feasible. Wright explains how the USA is willing to do whatever it takes to gain an edge, which both makes me feel safe as well as scares me. It fascinated me that the CIA was willing to keep information from the police which may have convicted Prado in multiple murders in order to protect its "asset". I think it is a very well written book with deep insights into how drug dealers, murderers, and other types of criminals get away with various crimes. From corruption to murder, this book explains how people have been able to stay out of prison for heinous crimes. It is a quick read and very entertaining so I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in American politics, drug trade, or murder.

Erich Maria Remarque’s use of point of view to develop the theme of the immorality of war in All Quiet on the Western Front

2012-07-20T14:10:00.000-04:00

The heroism of fighting in war has often been romanticized by movie directors and authors. After World War I, there wasn’t an immediate surge of war novels being written until the late 1920’s. The writing about war experiences has often been used by veterans as a therapeutic strategy to cope with the stresses from the war. Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front is a war novel that was written with the intention of providing the layperson with a sense of what soldiers experience while in combat and on leave. The use of point of view in All Quiet on the Western Front by Remarque allows the reader to experience the wartime emotions and actions of a German infantry soldier in World War I.

In All Quiet on the Western Front, the majority of the novel is narrated by a young German soldier named Paul Bäumer. He was drafted into the war and originally persuaded by his teachers that joining the war effort was an honorable and patriotic thing to do. But Paul soon realizes the horrors and dangers of being in the trenches. He describes the front as a place where one loses oneself: "To me the front is a mysterious whirlpool. Though I am in still water far away from its centre, I feel the whirl of the vortex sucking me slowly, irresistibly, inescapably into itself" (Remarque 55). By having the narrator tell the reader how he feels, Remarque is able to present the reader with a firsthand account of a soldier’s emotions. The first person narration of this quote gives the reader a sense that this is a sincere feeling, making it appear more realistic. Remarque also illustrates to the reader through the eyes of Paul Bäumer, increased knowledge of necessity. After visiting his dying friend, Paul states: "We have lost all sense of other considerations, because they are artificial. Only the facts are real and important to us. And good boots are hard to come by" (Remarque 21). Paul’s statement shows how the soldiers are able to see that the dying soldier won’t need his boots because he lost a leg and take the opportunity to get a new pair of boots. There is a good chance that the soldiers wouldn’t try and get the boots if not for being in the war. The slight loss of humanity by looking at the death as a pair of new boots demonstrates to the reader that the soldiers in World War I often were forced to think and act with less humanity.

In All Quiet on the Western Front, the narrator Paul and his comrades talk about how the war has affected their lives. After a bombardment, the band of soldiers talk about what they are planning on doing once the war is over. “Albert Kropp expresses it: ‘The war has ruined us for everything.’ He is right. We are not youth any longer…We were eighteen and had begun to love life and the world…We believe in such things no longer, we believe in the war” (Remarque 87-88). Albert Kropp’s statement provokes Paul to explain that there isn’t anything for the soldiers to look forward to after the war is over. The war destroyed their youth and innocence, causing the assimilation into society extremely difficult. This group of soldiers who fought in World War I would soon be known as the “lost generation” because it was very hard to become fully functioning members of society once the war ended. While injured, Paul has more time to think about life and comes to the conclusion, "I am young, I am twenty years old; yet I know nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and fatuous superficiality cast over an abyss of sorrow. I see how peoples are set against one another…Our knowledge of life is limited to death” (Remarque 263-264). This sums up the thoughts of many soldiers that fought in World War I, that there isn’t anything outside of the life at war. They aren’t able to see what their lives would be like if there wasn’t a war. From Paul’s perspective, the reader is able to gain insight to the feelings of soldiers that fought on both sides of the war through the eyes of a soldier. The reader is able to realize that when the war ended, the youth and potential of the soldiers ended with it.

The novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, is told entirely from the point of view of Paul Bäumer, except for a small excerpt at the very end.

He fell in October 1918, on a day that was so quiet and still on the whole front, that the army report confined itself to the single sentence: All quiet on the Western Front. He had fallen forward and lay on the earth as though sleeping. Turning him over one saw that he could not have suffered long; his face had an expression of calm, as though almost glad the end had come (Remarque 296).

This single statement shows how little one life can really matter in the grand scheme of things, but also emphasizes how the war destroyed the life of a generation. This change in point of view to an unknown person illustrates the death of Paul, the previous narrator. When reading about the facial expression, the reader can assume that this is what Paul wanted for various reasons. Paul had lost nearly everything to the war: his friends, family, youth, hope, and drive. It almost seems fitting that he should lose his own life to show that Paul had lost everything to the war. The army report demonstrates how little the one life that was lost mattered to the army, failing to get any mention. Because it was told from an unknown person, the report and the news of Paul’s death are highlighted by Remarque, who intended this to be a novel of how the war really was.

The two points of views that Remarque used in his novel, All Quiet on the Western Front illustrate the brutal truth about a lost generation because of a war. The experiences of Remarque that influenced the writing of this novel warn of the consequences of using the youth to fight a war. After reading this novel, the reader can view the realities of fighting a war without the full experience, and world leaders should recognize the commonality of this lost feeling the soldiers have and think twice about sending troops off to fight.

Works Cited

Remarque, Erich M. All Quiet on the Western Front. Trans. A. W. Wheen. New York:

Fawcett Books, 1989. Print.

To Read Or Not To Read

2012-07-15T10:06:00.003-04:00

I have recently read an article about how reading is one of the best things to do for entertainment. This statement, which comes in an age of advanced technology, movies, and video games never seems to gain any traction. Nonetheless, I agree with the article in that reading can give a person a leg up over competition. It requires a person to concentrate more than a movie because the reader has to create the scenery, the looks of the characters, and you can be as close to the action as possible without actually being there. As an added bonus, it can also make you smarter (here is proof). There was a time when reading was only accessible by the nobility and upper classes due to the rarity of books and low literacy levels of the general public. Now that most people have access, we need to take advantage of all that we can.
Read On Everyone!

The Article:
Why You Should Read

How Soccer Helped End Apartheid

2012-07-09T14:37:00.002-04:00

The political system known as apartheid was set up during the middle of the twentieth century by the white minority in South Africa to create an arrangement of racial segregation. Nearly all blacks in South Africa were opposed to this and few were actually willing to try and do something about it. The solution of the white man’s government was to send all the people who they perceived as threats to their system to Robben Island, known as the Alcatraz of South Africa. Robben Island is a small island about four miles from the shore of Cape Town, South Africa. It was there that a sport helped form the basis of the government of South Africa after apartheid ended. Soccer is considered the world’s most popular sport, and this simple game provided a template for a potential government and taught the prisoners how to effectively run and organize a group. In 2010, South Africa held the first World Cup ever in an African country and ESPN produced a short documentary about how soccer helped those imprisoned develop a system of organization and ways to maintain an association. This documentary titled Robben Island: A Greater Goal illustrates the influence of the sport on the creation of a new government in South Africa.

This documentary was first shown in the month before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and it immediately grabbed my eye because I love both history and soccer. Once I learned how much of an impact my favorite sport had in the development of the current South African government I wanted to share this with my friends and family because it shows how people can make the most out of what they have. When someone watches this short film, it is important to pay attention to the background and the interviews. For this documentary, an unknown narrator begins by explaining what Robben Island is and why people were sent there. He then explains what apartheid is and how numerous people were sent to Robben Island because the government feared that they would try and end apartheid. The interviews that ESPN set up for this episode were extremely important in illustrating the relationship between soccer and government. Each clip from the interviews gives the watcher a deeper insight to how hard life was in the prison and just how much the game of soccer meant to them. The campaign of the prisoners to be allowed to play soccer began in the fall of 1964 and it took three years until the first game was allowed to be played. Before then, many commented during their interviews how miserable life was and how hard it was to be a prisoner there. But as soon as the simple gift of soccer was given to them, hope was all around the island. The sport gave them something to look forward to every week. Everyone wanted to play the beautiful game on the weekends. Anthony Suze, a prisoner at Robben Island for 15 years, was one of the best players there. Soon, he and other prisoners decided that they needed to set up a league to make sure everything is done correctly and fairly. This would become the basis for experimentation of the development of a government.

The Makana Football Association was formed from the overwhelming desire to play soccer. By 1969, there were 27 teams in the league and more than 300 prisoners participated in the weekly games. Lizo Sitoto in a part of his interview says “Because we were political prisoners, every chance that we have we must practice what we feel must happen when we get our freedom.” This quote shows how the development of the Makana Football Association was more than just the creation of a soccer league for prisoners. It was used as a practice government because it showed that those imprisoned had the ability to set up an organization and run it efficiently. They created everything they needed to run the MFA efficiently: rules, team rosters, injury reports, schedules, standings, statistics, roster changes, and even a constitution. Dikgang Moseneke, while imprisoned at Robben Island, earned a law degree through correspondence, was the chairman of the MFA and he was the one who wrote the constitution for the Makana Football Association. Just as a constitution is the basis for a government, so too was a constitution the basis for the soccer league. On November 21^st, 1970 a match was played between the Blue Rocks and the Atlantic Raiders, a newly formed all star team. During the game, the Blue Rocks scored a fluke goal which allowed them to win and the Atlantic Raiders then went on protest for five months which almost destroyed the entire league. Dikgang Moseneke represented the Makana FA and his arguments won the case which helped preserve all the prisoners had worked for. In an interview he says, “When there is conflict, that is hardly the time to jettison rules, it is the time when you need rules.” This shows how many prisoners at Robben Island learned how to act in ways to promote their values of equality and fairness.

Numerous players and officials from the Makana Football Association would go on and be involved in the government once apartheid ended in 1994 with the election of Nelson Mandela as president of South Africa. Dikgang Moseneke would write his second constitution, this time for the country of South Africa and is now the Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa’s Constitutional Court. He says that “It isn’t strange at all that [some values of the Makana Football Association] are built into the kind of constitution that we adopted. One of the former players Jacob Zuma went on to become the president of South Africa. Who could have thought that soccer, a simple sport, would help political prisoners put into practice their beliefs that would one day form the basis of a nation.

Independence Day

2012-07-04T15:22:00.001-04:00

To all the citizens of the United States of America reading this, Happy Fourth of July! Today is a day where we should celebrate all that our country has to offer. We need to thank all those who have fought to protect our freedoms and keep us safe. Without our veterans, our current men and women who are serving in the armed forces, and those who have died, the USA as we know it would cease to exist. Thanks to our forefathers, the USA is an independent, sovereign nation which has grown to be a global force. I believe that country music best describes feeling of patriotism that exist in this nation and whenever I listen to a song with lyrics regarding pride in the USA I feel touched. I am damn proud to be a citizen of the United States of America and I will stand by her side no matter what. In modern times, there have been many occasions when being proud of the USA has been unpopular, but I will never say I hate this country. For all the terrible things that may have happened, there are hundreds more positive things that have occured as well. Just because depressing stories make the headlines, it doesn't mean thats what this country is about. In one of Toby Keith's songs, he says, "shes that wife that decorates on the fouth of July, but says everyday is independence day". It is attitudes like this which enourage national pride that I think is most important, especially during hard times, such as this economic downturn. Today we celebrate the fact that we live in a free, independent nation where we can strive to become whatever we want. God bless the USA

The 21st Century Gentleman

2012-06-29T11:19:00.002-04:00

In medieval times, the concept was known as chivalry. In Japan, the idea is called Bushido. In more recent times they were known as gentlemen. These are all considered "societal ideals" that the male adult should strive to embody. Nowadays the young man is floundering without a strong guideline on how he should act. Many of the elder population would say that the younger populous should try to be like the gentlemen of the 20th century. Yet many of the practices are now outdated due to the technology boom as well as the feminist movement. Actions such as who pays for dinner, sending thank you notes, and many others are confusing to the young men of this generation. Now there are a whole new set of expectations that we (young men) are expected to follow and aim for. It is very difficult to stick to many of the mannerisms which go along with being a traditional gentleman. The media plays a large role in creating the male identity for a generation and I feel that many shows and movies create models that aren't what young men should be trying to become. It may seem like fun to emulate characters such as the men from Jersey Shore, or Neil Patrick Harris' character on How I Met Your Mother. Yet many of their actions do not encourage the most acceptable behavior. So where can a young man turn to find guidance in current times? Gentlemen icons of the past lived in a radically different time period, yet many current popular stars don't act as good examples for the young, 21st century male. There are many articles written about the topic and there are a few which I have found which seem to hit the nail on the head. I like how the articles tackle the subject matter and they provide a strong base to develop one's identity. I think that it is time for our generation to create our own image of an ideal gentleman for all to strive to become.

Guidelines for Modern Gentlemen:
Gentlemanly Etiquette
Being a Gentleman and a Player

For All the Fathers: Past, Present, and Future

2012-06-17T14:45:00.001-04:00

Today is one of the two days of the year we celebrate our fathers. The other being their birthdays, but that is more for the celebration of the person as a whole and today is for the appreciation for everything they have done for us over all our lives. I especially want to thank my father who has done everything a son could want. Except for the fact he hasn't gotten an old-school muscle car to fix up with my brothers and I...fingers still crossed...but back to the point. Today is the day we should thank our fathers for everything they have done for us, helping us become who we are today. First off, in honor of those whose fathers have passed on, I would like to say requiescat in pace. You will be forever missed by those who love you and will always be in our hearts. Secondly for all the fathers who are imparting their wisdom to their children today, please do not ever stop acting in this role. There is always something new to teach us kids and we thank you for it, no matter how much we may not show it. And to the future fathers, strive to be the parent that would make your own father proud.
My father has become my role model and over the years, all I have wanted to do is make him proud. He is the best parent I ever could have ever asked for. My dad works harder than anybody I know of, is able to do anything he sets his mind to, is kind to everyone around him, and most importantly he loves my family and I more than we may think we deserve. Especially with all the pains and annoyances we have given him over the many years. The most valuable lesson that I have learned from watching him over my life is that hard work will pay off in more ways than one and it can lead to an incredible life. He has taught me how I should act as I become a man, and eventually as a husband and hopefully father. I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart for all he has done for me and my family, especially over this past year with so much happening. You are one of the most amazing people I have ever known and I deeply admire all that you do.
Today is considered a "Hallmark Holiday" but few people deserve a day a recognition more than fathers. They are half the reason all of us who are living were born. So thank you to all the fathers ever, you are the reason we are who we are today.

Everyone Is Doing It...So...

2012-06-13T17:09:00.001-04:00

What is it that everyone is doing you may ask? Well according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), almost every single student enrolled in college is affected by alcohol in some way, whether the student drinks or not. I have not reached the age of 20, yet I know people my age who probably have consumed more alcohol in the past couple of years than I will in the next 20 years.
I can only see this problem getting worse. In my opinion, the legal drinking age should be lowered to at least 18 years old or until the person graduates from high school. This should only happen if this is accompanied by strict laws regarding drunk driving and public drunkenness. Personally, I do not see the point of drinking myself into oblivion. Each year an estimated 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol and nearly 2,000 students in the same age range die from alcohol (according to the NIAAA). This number doesn't begin to address other terrible things that occur. I don't come from a big drinking family. The most I ever see my parents and relatives ever drink are a couple glasses of wine or a few beers. I have heard stories though, of the parents of my friends getting very drunk at parties which I find funny, especially when I have had them (the parents) as teachers. These stories and others that I have heard about college experiences can be hilarious, yet terrifying. I cannot believe how lucky some people are that things haven't been worse and gotten hurt or killed. I have been blessed that I haven't been close to anyone who was ever involved in a drunken car accident, and of my friends that do drink, they make sure they have a sober driver or they are sleeping over at the house.I have asked people why they drink and they often say "Its fun". I have never understood what is "fun" about it. I like knowing what I did the night before and I love waking up without headaches. I have never drank enough to become drunk so have only heard what the experience is like. Alcohol affects every facets of a person's lives beyond the night of drinking. I think one of the most upsetting things that I have heard is when someone my age said "I wouldn't ever do that sober" when in a group discussing possible things to do for a birthday when a couple of years ago I never would have heard those words come out of that person's mouth. I understand when people drink with their friends in a close, intimate setting, yet when people talk about going into a large city belligerently drunk or just out in public, I only see disaster, whether it be poor personal decisions being made, or the horrifying possibility of a sexual assault.
I think that people need to really think about what they are doing and how it may affect people around them. Also they should think about themselves and know their limits so they don't harm their own bodies and possibly end up in the hospital. Underage drinking won't ever disappear, so awareness and responsibility are the keys to keeping everyone safe in my mind. I deeply admire those who haven't had any alcohol and strive to be sober for life. Telling teenagers and young college students to stop drinking often times encourages the habit behind the backs of people they love. I want to advise people to be careful and make smart decisions because nobody needs something tragic to happen, especially to people so young.

For More Information:
https://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/

If anyone wants to send me a well-written rebuttal I'll gladly post it up

Human Potential

2012-06-11T13:54:00.000-04:00

The idea of human potential has puzzled me for a very long time. It seems like everyone I see isn't living up to their full capabilities, including myself. But there are certain cases which are in my life where I want to tell the person what they should be doing but I do not know how to go about doing it. The famed Winston Churchill once said, “Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential” and I think that this needs to be expanded upon. A person first needs to know what it is that they should strive for. I know of two specific people who are very close to me in my life who I believe have incredible potential but need just a slight nudge in the right direction and hopefully this will help them.
*Actual names will not be used to protect identities

In these two people, I witness different potential for genius in each. I have known each for a very long time and have watched them grow into who they are today. The first is arguably the most athletically gifted person I have had the pleasure to know. There isn't a single sport that would be a challenge for him in ability. The biggest problem that I see which is preventing him from reaching his potential is all in his head. He has found his niche in baseball, and I see him everyday trying to improve. He is one of the few who can be asked to do anything on the field and can meet high expectations that coaches put on him. It doesn't stop for him at that point, rather, his own expectations surpass those of the coaches and he is incredibly hard on himself. So much so that it may be a fault. When a trainer tells him to change something in his swing, he will go home and work on it for hours trying to perfect his abilities. He feels like he has to prove himself to everyone by being the best and I think he is inches away from it. I believe he just needs to know that he needs to trust his ability and that he has the unwavering support of those around him, despite what he may think. I especially, think he can go farther with baseball than I ever did with anything that I have done in my own life.
The second person is caught between identities and is struggling to discover himself and what he should be doing. The point in his life where he is has not been kind to him and it is getting in his way. He is a musical genius. He is only in high school and he is in band, choir, can play the clarinet, saxophone, guitar, and a bit of piano. He spends time everyday composing and what he has created is amazing. Things I have heard him do blow my mind and I can't believe how far he has come. One of the first things that may be limiting his potential is his split attention between music and athletics. It seems to me that he thinks being liked in school is more important than I think it actually is. He takes all comments about him personally and dwells upon them when I think he just needs to learn to escape from it all.Another thing that may be holding him back is that he feels though he needs to play soccer to be liked. He enjoys playing and now I think it shouldn't be as big of a focus as it was for myself as it is for him now. He has looked up to me and I want to make sure he knows that we aren't the same, and he has a gift that I don't have. His music is what keeps him happy and is his escape. I can only hope that he realizes how good he is and can become and he doesn't let anything, or, more importantly, anybody get in his head and prevent him from doing his best work.
The biggest reason I wrote this is to let these two people know how I feel, especially since I know I haven't lived up to my potential. I'm still searching for my own niche and now that these two have found their's, they need to follow it wherever it may lead them.

Everyone's a Little Bit Racist

2012-05-23T10:34:00.000-04:00

When I read this excerpt from bell hook's Teaching to Transgress, a song from the popular musical, Avenue Q, came to mind. The title of the song is Everyone's a Little Bit Racist and in my opinion, that couldn't be more true. In reality, it is more than being racist. Instead I find that everyone is stereotypical and judges people right on the spot, which is where racist attitudes derive from. Whenever a person laughs at a joke which degrades a person of a different race, religion, hair color, etcetera, they are contributing to continuation of various stereotypes. When I first heard the song I immediately thought it wasn't true, I thought I was above racism. But when I listened to it a few more times, I had to agree because I am guilty of judging people based on what they look like. For me, the truest dialogue from the song is "Well, sure, Gary, but lots of people tell black jokes. I don't. Well, of course you don't - you're black...But I bet you tell Polack jokes, right? Well, sure I do. Those stupid Polacks!" Everyone has these feelings, but as the ending line in the song goes, "If we all could just admit that we are racist a little bit, and everyone stopped being so PC, maybe we could live in harmony!" I have openly admitted to people that I judge them no matter what they do, and if they don't like it I believe they need to realize that they judge everything as well, just not openly. As long as people have different faiths, different appearances, and are different in anyway stereotypes will continue to exist in the world. I would like to see this change, but I do not think it will happen in my lifetime.