First Semester Almost Over

I cannot believe my first semester of college is almost over. I am so grateful for having the opportunity of being part of the Honors College. Everyone from the staff, professors, and students have been amazing and are always so eager to help no matter what. i have learned so much in one semester then I have learned in one year of high school. College has really made me a more independent and open-minded individual that takes any opportunities and challenges that come my way. Throughout my time here at MDC I have made new friends that have made this experience fun and less stressful. I can't wait for what the next semester brings and all the new professors and students I'll meet.

Obama

To be honest I was getting nervous about whether Obama was going to win this election. I have to say that Romney put up a fight and did very well for himself and his party. Although I am an independent and rather not pick sides, Obama has many political views that I agree on and I greatly respect the direction and vision he has for students. Obama really cares about college students and their educations, he supports the Dream Act and has placed numerous grants that have help many students go to the college they never thought they could get into because of economic issues. He has brought back hope to all those students who doubted and questioned themselves whether they will ever be able to go to college. This is one of the main reasons I voted for Obama and I know he will improve and bring back the United States to economic stability.

Hurrican Sandy

Hurricane Sandy left a trail of destruction in New York and New Jersey, leaving millions of people without their homes and power. Many lost their homes and were left with nothing but the scraps left behind from the waves and winds that destroyed everything into their path. I can only imagine the sadness and hardships they are all going through, especially with the cold weather and snow approaching. It seems that the calm that one expects after a storm isn't going to happen for new York or new jersey. Some of us don't worry much about hurricanes, yet when you pass through one your perception truly changes because living through one is very different from what we see on TV.

Hills like White Elephants

After reading Hemingway's, Hills like White Elephants, one would at first not realize that the story is about abortion. The story can relate to a modern setting where a young couple decides whether to have an abortion. Abortion is a controversial issue that many have different views on, yet we must remember that it is a decision that must be made by the woman and not by the government or others. Abortion is an issue that is brought up again in every election and seems to never come to a settlement. The story really shows how women face hardships when it comes to deciding whether they should have an abortion and how others and society can greatly affect their decisions.

West Campus

After hearing about what happen in the Miami Dade College West Campus, it was heart breaking to hear about all those men still buried under all the debri. My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident. I can only imagine what they're going through, any of those man can be someone father, brother, son or grandfather, which is the most tragic thing of all. I hope we can determine what caused the collapse.

Multiple Intelligences Inventory

For my leadership class we had to complete a Multiple Intelligences Inventory which shows the different forms of intelligences that one can have to retain information. My inventory suggested being a counselor, teacher, psychologist, social worker, human resource manager, salesperson, as possible career choices. Although all reflect some aspect of my intelligence, my love of helping others, the one career that aspire to become is a doctor. Being a doctor, I believe, will allow me to interact with people and help them in any possible way that I can. I will be saving lives while being the support thronged to live w healthy life. Every patient is unique and they each bring teardown challenges that I must overcome, whether it is an illness, disease or injury, and that is the type of environment I will likened work in. I Willie using will my knowledge to help someone and also learning something new every day since medicine is always evolving.

What I have Learned About Myself

After completing inventories I wrote about the day before was asked by my IDH professor to reflect on what we learned about ourselves. With the college study skills inventory, I learned that I must improve on my note taking skills to help increase my grades. Once again the notion of my lack of time management skills is affecting my academic performance which can reflect poorly on the effectiveness of my study skills.  I also found interesting that the learning skill I use more often is social when I thought that I used visual, which is the most effective way I learn. Yet I could identify with this technique because I also like teaching and helping others and sometimes the best way to learn something yourself is to teach. The personality type inventory I found was very accurate in describing my personality, I do tend to put others before myself because I like being there for others and be the support and friend they need. For that same reason it seems that I sometimes forget that I must also take care of myself and deal with my issues first so then I could place my full attention to helping others.  This knowledge of myself was reinforced by the multiple intelligence inventory which placed me as having interpersonal intelligence, people smart. One result that I found surprising in the multiple intelligence inventory was that I have kinaesthetic intelligence, which after further reading means using your hands and body to process information. When I become a trauma surgeon in the future, I will not only learn through lectures and reading book but from actually working on the human body to acquire the skill of a surgeon.

Personal Inventories

In IDH our professor asked us to complete the following inventories, my college study skills, personality  type, learning styles and multiple intelligences test, which give an inside look at the different ways we learn and further insight about ourselves. The college study skills inventory, give suggestions on certain habits that should be changed about someone’s study skills in college, in order to see improvements in their academic life. The personality types, gives insight on one’s personality and the reasons why a person is the way they are. While the learning styles inventory, shows different ways that a person can process and learn information. Multiple intelligences reveals the different forms of intelligences that one can have to retain information. After completing each of the inventories one will learn which learning style is more effective and how a person’s personality reflect the ways in which they learn.   

Passion

Passion, I believe, should be the driving force behind every leader. A leader is someone who can influence others and lead others to their greatest potential. With passion a leader can motivate others to a common goal or to accomplish great things. A leader's passion should be infectious and drive others to be as successful and enthusiastic as a leader. The passion for improvement of others is a quality every leader should have because it is the best form of really obtaining self-worth and purpose. When you help someone you have made a difference in that person’s life and the knowledge that you have helped someone achieve their greatest potential is the most amazing feeling anyone can have.

Icarus

Icarus is a famous myth that has influenced many. Whether it is to convey the message of a father and son relationship or technological innovations, Icarus is a story that teaches and inspires. Icarus and Daudalus show us another side of human nature where we see the dynamic relationship between a father and his son. We see that by human nature the father, or like any parents, will always be protective of their children. Icarus ignores his father's warnings like most children and does the exact opposite of what his father says. Icarus also represents the tragic flaw of pride because of his need to go higher into the sky even though he was aware of the consequences of his actions. The reason behind his actions will never be known, yet it could be assumed that he felt liberated flying or simple he just wanted to see how high he could go.

Juleen Gordon

When I first heard about our guest speaker for Thursday’s colloquium I was interested to hear what he would have to say on college life. The topic, 101 Things to Do Before You Graduate,  was interesting enough but his speech was more about what can we do with our lives after college. Throughout his speech Juleen continued telling us to make our own roads in life, take our own journey, not what others or society expects us to take. He motivated us to make our choices and fulfill our dreams no matter what obstacles  we face, for those challenges will build our character.

Is Happiness Important?

Happiness is the key to success in life. Happiness can drive our performance, decisions, and way of thinking. When one is happy and content with their lives they tend to have positive attitudes, make decisions that will greatly benefit them, and view life itself in a positive way. Those who view the world negatively will most likely live a life of solitude, gloominess and have no meaning in their life. Nothing will drive them to achieve success because they will assume that everything they do will only bring terrible outcomes.

Happiness can affect the performance in your work and school, because if you wake up every morning with a positive attitude the rest of the day will continue, as you want it to be. Having a job and career that you enjoy can dictate how your life will be. Marrying someone you love can also bring happiness and will make your life better given that you will be sharing it with someone who you love.  The friends, family members, and acquaintances that compose your life, should bring happiness and positive emotions. Everything that we do should be aimed at making each of our lives happy and fulfilling.

"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Gabriel Garcia Marquez brings us a story that combines the supernatural with the real world. In his writing, he creates a world where both reality and fantasy are one and are part of everyday life.  In “The Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”, Garcia Marquez’s creates a setting where seeing an “angel” is part of a towns everyday life and isn’t uncommon, yet when the people see that the angel  isn’t the typical representation of what an angel looks like they doubt its authenticity. The myth associated with religion comes to life, yet they are not the source of perfection as the town’s people viewed religion to be.  For that reason when they see the old man with wings, they scolded him for his appearance and lack of perfection.

Abortions

Abortion is an issue that has cause great controversy in the government and amongst people. If someone were to ask me if I was pro-choice or pro-life, I would say it isn’t my decision to decide what another women does with her body it is up to her. The government should have no say over what the outcome of the fetus should be; it is up to the women and no one else. No religion, government, or individuals should make the decision for a woman on what she should do with her body.

If there were ever a law that prohibited women from getting an abortion, that law would be denying the rights of women and their protection under the government. How can someone make a woman keep a baby after she was raped? A baby should be brought to this world with love, not violence. It isn’t about what I believe or what the government believes to be right, the only person who should have a say in what should be done to the fetus is the woman who is carrying it.  She was live with the decisions she makes and no one should reprimand her for her choice or her right. 

Emergency Room

Since saturday night my mother has been having knee pains that make her unable to walk. The pain was getting worse, so she decided to go to the emergency room. When we got there around 2:00 pm, we had to wait an hour before one of the doctors was able to see her. After they did various scans on her knee to figure out the cause of the pain, my mom did not get her results until 7:00 pm in the night. My mom, well in pain had to wait 4 hours before anyone would give her any answers, when the doctor did see her they couldn't give her an explanation for the cause of the pain. I was very angry that my mother had to wait so long while in pain. My mom didn't leave the hospital until 9 at night, only leaving with a few pills for the pain and no answers. This hospital really needs to change the system of seeing their patients because some of the patients actually left after waiting hours to be seen. The wait to be seen by a doctor are way to long and people go to an emergency room because its an emrgency not to wait hours to be seen by a doctor.

Voters Action Project

Today in Colloquium, we meet the Voters Action Project club who informed the Honors College students on the upcoming presidential election. They encouraged us to register to vote if we hadn’t already done so and that we each should go to vote on Election Day. One aspect that truly caught my attention during their presentations was their suggestion to us on how we should vote. They never told us who we should vote for, just that we needed to vote for someone who shares our similar passions and views. When we vote, we should not choose a candidate because of popular vote or because of what others say, but rather to choose someone who we believe will actually make a difference when they make the president.

First Presidential Debate

After watching the first Presidential Debate, I was very disappointed with Obama’s performance. He lacked commitment and charisma throughout his whole speech. Romney was more prepared when answering every question and was very confident with his answers. Obama’s body gestures and way of speaking seemed to be express annoyance and anger, almost as if he did not want to be there. Obama’s answers were poorly executed with little care to addressing the issue at hand. Obama’s performance was a great shock because he is normally very charismatic and well spoken. He had many chances to challenge Romney with a question, yet he never take the opportunity to do so which was a major mistake. For the next debate I expect Obama to do better and to have more plans to help our nation.

Knowledge and Virtue

"To gain knowledge and virtue, you use your ears more than your tongue"
-Benjamin Franklin

Since I was small, my parents have taught me to always listen before I speak. Listening is the key to gaining knowledge, speaking only causes one to not listen to the knowledge that others are trying to teach you. Teenagers in high school are a prime example of individuals who use their tongue instead of their ears. They believe they know what life is all about and they see themselves as adults who are ready for the world. What they don’t understand is that one goes to school to learn and we learn by teachers talking and explaining different subjects to us. In college we have professors who do the same and when we have a job our co-workers and our bosses teach us what we need to learn. Everything that you have learned throughout your life has been taught to you by listening and then after we listen to this information, can we speak and show everything we have been taught. As the years pass and we truly start to mature, do we begin to understand that virtue and knowledge comes when we open our ears and listen to what others have to say.

Acceptance

When I hear that someone committed suicide because of hate crimes and bullying due to their sexual orientation, it saddens and frustrates me that we as a society are still so close-minded and intolerant of others. Over the years one would have thought that by now most of the society could be tolerant of the “differences” we see in others, yet we still have laws that limit their rights as Americans and they are constantly slandered by others every day. We are doing a great disservice to these individuals who are just like any other person. An individual shouldn’t be defined by their sexual preferences of who they love and want to spend the rest of their lives with. We tend to judge people because of this and over look other qualities that are more important. Having family members who are gay, I have never thought of them as being lower than me or that they should be treated differently. I am no one to judge them and no one should every judge a person because of their sexual orientation.

Criticism

Throughout my life I have learned that criticism can be helpful to a person under the right circumstances. We must learn that some criticisms are meant to help a person, not make them feel bad. It may not me a positive form of feedback, but it allows a person to understand what he or she did wrong and what they need to change. For instance, after I give a presentation in front of a class, my teacher will grade me on my performance and give me constructive criticism on what I did wrong.  After she explains my mistakes he or she will give me advice or pointers on how I can improve my public speaking skills. From this criticism I can learn how to prevent these mistakes from occurring again and how I can enhance myself as a speaker. Furthermore, criticism should be taken as a form of feedback from your peers, friends, family and teacher. Now in college we will be getting a large amount of criticism from our professors because they want us to be better students and to prepare us when we become professionals.

My Idyllic Place

My idyllic place would be having a house right by the beach on an island. No one would know of this secret paradise and I would be its only inhabitant. My house would have glass windows all around the house with curtains blowing beautifully as the sunsets. My bedroom will look towards the ocean and every morning I will wake up as the sun is rising. In the mornings I will sit by the porch and see as the waves crash into the shore. Only the sounds of nature will be receiving my undivided attention. In the afternoons after a long swim in the ocean, I would eat dinner right by the beach and watch as the day comes to an end.

"Tis easier to prevent bad habits than to break them"

 

 

 

 

 

"Tis easier to prevent bad habits than to break them"
                                                     -Benjamin Frankin

Bad habits can cause many difficulties in our lives and can lead to problems that can affect the outcome of certain situations. Bad habits are easy to prevent as long as you see that they will cause you harm instead of making your life simpler. An example of this is having an unhealthy diet with no exercise. Children this age are taught to eat fast food and snacks instead of vegetables and fruits while at home. These foods deteriorate your body which brings illness and diseases later on in life. Now schools and homes are reintroducing fruits and vegetables, yet the children will not eat them because they have become used to eating fatting and sweet food. This also leads to obesity which has increased significantly over the years and it can be very difficult to fix. We must remember that bad habits are difficult to break once they become habit, but if we are aware of the negative side effects of these habits then we will each live a more happy and comfortable life.

Revolution

A few weeks ago, I began watching “Revolution”, a TV show on NBC, which takes place 15 years after the world loses all source of power. After watching the first episode, I can only imagine how the world would be like if anything like that was to happen. How would we survive? How would we live? What would we do without internet, phones, computers, hospitals, and anything you could think of that requires power to sustain it?

Technology is transforming the way we live, act, and see the world. Our generation is so dependent on technology, that I believe we cannot truly live without it. We are used to the comfort and accessibility that technology allows us that we do not see any other way of life.  

Stress

In our last IDH class meeting, we discussed stress and anxiety when testing. During our discussion I realized how much I stress before and during a test. Before a test I become nervous because I am afraid that I might forget everything that I studied the night before. During a test I start thinking negative thoughts, biting my nails and my hands start to sweat. There are some instances where I am so nervous and anxious that my mind blanks out completely during the test and I forget everything that I’ve learned. I don’t really know why I have these reactions, but I believe it is because I don’t want to disappoint myself and others, especially my professors. When I pass a test it shows my professors that I understood what they have taught and I am ready for the next section. Yet I have learn that I must calm myself down before every test and study not the night before because days before so that I am more comfortable with what will be tested on.

Time Management

Since starting college, I have come to realize that I must manage my time more wisely. I cannot leave homework or studying for the last minute like I used to do in high school. In our IDH class we were given tips to help create strategies that will help us use our time more efficiently.  One strategy that has really helped me manage my time is using daily to-do lists. By writing these daily lists, I set up tasks for myself that I must complete in a day, which prevents me from leaving work for the last minute. When I complete a task it allows me to treat myself with some free time and not being overwhelmed with homework. When I create these lists I start them as soon as I got home from school, so that I don’t stay up late at night finishing my work. Each day that passes I become more effective in using these techniques which allows me to have time for my personal and academic activities.

Miami ranked as one of the dirtiest city in America

Miami is ranked as one of the dirtiest city in America, according to an article on Yahoo Travel, ranking at number eight. I haven’t been to many places in America, but Miami does not seem to be so unclean that it should be placed as one of the dirtiest in the United States. Most of the highways and streets I have driven by are mostly clean yet may have some littering. It could be that I have not been to these dirty areas that have placed Miami as an unclean city. But something that I do agree with is that Miami has one the worst drivers in America. Half of the drivers in Miami need their licenses to be revoked and should be outlawed from ever driving again.  They are rude and have no driving coordination whatsoever.

Samuel by Grace Paley

Grace Paley tells us a short story about a group of four young boys who are riding between the cars at a subway in New York City. We meet several characters in the story, but most importantly we meet Samuel who unfourtantly is killed when he falls and is crushed between the cars.  After Samuel’s horrific death, his mother becomes preganent and has a baby boy. Yet the baby was nothing like Samuel because “never again will a boy exactly like Samuel be known.” We know very little of this young Samuel, yet Paley makes us sympathize with Samuel’s mother. We also realize that every human, like Samuel, is unique in this world and that losing a child is very heartbreaking.

The Prodigal Son

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus tells us a story about a father and his two sons. The story begins with the youngest son demanding his inheritance. Upon receiving his fortune, the youngest son extravagantly wasted all his money and became poor. He later goes back to his father’s house, where he is welcome with a feast and celebration. When the oldest son hears about his brother’s return, he becomes enraged that his father would welcome his brother back with a feast after wasting all his money away. After reading the parable, we can interpret that the father is God, the youngest son represents the sinners and the oldest son represents the faithful followers of God. Where God forgives the sinner, the youngest son, after he repents for his actions, yet we see that the faithful follower, the eldest son, isn’t fond of God’s decision. Furthermore, we learn that God forgives all that repent their sins and that all his faithful followers must do the same.  

George P. Bush Vists MDC

This afternoon, George P. Bush visited our Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus to meet with the Honors College students and talk to us about the upcoming presidential elections.  George P. Bush was very passionate that each one of us registers to vote and that we each participate in the November elections. While listening to his speech what shocked me the most was to find out that each year there is a significant decrease in the number of votes from the 18-30 age group. What most people don’t realize is how much each of our votes count and that each of our voices need to be heard.  I strongly believe that every 18 year old should register to vote before October and vote in the upcoming presidential election.

Pet Peeve: Movie Talkers

One of my pet peeves is when people talk during a movie. I don’t understand why people have to ask questions or utter comments while a movie is playing, can’t they just wait until the movie ends! And what about those parents who bring their babies to the movies and halfway through the film the baby starts crying and screaming. Normal people go to the movie to see a film, not to hear what you did last week with your boyfriend or if you think Brad Pitt is hot. Remember parents, if you want to relax and finish seeing a movie, don’t bring your kids! Also to those movie talkers out there, please be courteous towards others and silence your mouths.

Manners

Do people still know the meaning of “thank you” and “please?” Do people still use these words? It seems some of us find it hard to say. A simple thank you for opening the door for a stranger or picking up an item someone drop doesn’t seem too hard to say, yet some people find it difficult to utter. You would probably think that I am speaking of children, but in honesty I am speaking of grownups! I see more grownups lack manners everyday and have little respect for those around them.  I have always been taught to treat others as I would want to be treated, yet adults seem to care less about being polite and well-mannered towards others. Remember to appreciation and be thankful for things that others do for you, even those that same the most minimal ones.

Everyday is a New Story

I live in a story, my life is a story, I am the main character and the people around me are the supporting characters. I can say that each day of my life is a story or my whole life is just one big one. When we tell someone an event about ourselves, our background, or a memory, we are telling them a story. Our individual stories are what set us apart from others and make us unique. Everyone has a story, their life, which consists of characters, plot, theme, and setting. Every day is a new day and a fresh start to a new story.    

September 11

I was in second grade when the September 11 attack occurred, all I remember was my mom picking me up early from school and having no idea why. When my mom explained to me what was happening, I couldn’t fully comprehend what she was telling me so she turned on the television. Seeing those bodies fall to the ground, is something no 9 year old should see, yet all I can remember feeling was shock at what I was seeing. Too many innocent lives were lost that day and no one should have to go through what these people went through or what their families went through. No one should have to see their family member or friend jumping off the 25^th floor to their death. The United States has never been the same since that day and I believe we will never be the same country again. To all of those who lost their lives that day, you will never be forgotten.

“We are locked in history and they are not.”

Cave of Forgotten Dreams directed by Werner Herzog is a documentary about the Chauvet Cave in Southern France where 32,000 years old of cave drawings were discovered. The documentary shows us different drawings of animals and the remains of extinct mammals that were of that time period. The drawings can be interpreted as not only a form of art but as a form of storytelling through art, where these humans portrayed how they saw the world and their surroundings. When we see these drawings we can perceive or at least try to perceive what these humans went through in their lives, how they lived, what were they like, and how different they were from us. However, we will never truly know the true answers to these questions, which is why Herzog statement, “we are locked in history”, is so accurate. We cannot go back to the past, only presume what we believe the past would have been like with the artifacts, drawings, and evidences found from this past time period. These humans saw the world in a different form, both the physical and spiritual worlds were as one and that is something we today cannot comprehend, because our ways of thinking are far to different. We will never fully comprehend these ancient humans and that is our curse, only they will know what these drawings meant.

School Funding

With more teachers being laid off every day, school funding is still an issue we are facing today. There are fewer teachers, more crowded classrooms, and less funding. While those who are still teaching are underpaid, overworked, and face cuts in their pension and health insurance coverage.  With fewer teachers in the classroom, students are placed with substitute teachers for weeks without being taught until they can find a replacement or be put in a crowded classroom. Budget cuts are also affecting students after school programs, bus transportations, and numerous other school programs such as art and music. With the upcoming election, hopefully the candidate that wins the presidency has a plan that will help both our teachers and students.

Upcoming Election

With the United States presidential Election Day approaching soon, I am confused on whether I will be voting for Obama or simply not voting at all. After Obama’s 4 year presidency, he has done things that have helped the U.S, yet our economy hasn’t improved, there are fewer jobs, and unemployment is still skyrocketing. I don’t know if to believe that he has an economic plan that will help us, because the one he is using now isn’t doing us any good. Obama needs to step up his game or he will lose to his opponent, which I hope doesn’t win. Romney won’t be receiving a vote from me, not because I’m anti-republic, but because I just don’t trust him and I believe he has a hidden agenda. If Obama does win, hopefully he commits to his word on creating more jobs and fixing the economy because if we continue on like we are now, our future isn’t looking very good.

A Little Boy's Act of Kindness

A few days ago I read an article about a 8 year old boy who donated $1,000 to a 2 year old girl, who is fighting Leukemia. The boy, Wyatt, found out what was happening to his neighbor and decided to compete in a scavenger hunt which offered a $1,000 reward if completed. He generously give the money to his friend's family as a denoation to help pay for her treatment. After reading the article I was very touched and astonished that a young boy would have such a generous heart. These act of kindness are rarely seen nowadays and should be done more often especially towards those who are less fortunate. I am not saying we should all donate $1000 to anyone we know is sick, I am just saying that a little act of kindness no matter how small will go a long way. If there is anyway you can help someone, do it, because there is no better feeling then knowing that you made a difference in someone's life.

New Year, New School, Fresh Start

About two weeks have passed since I've started college, I have to say that it is a big change from high school. No longer can we leave homework, studying, and work for the last minute, it just doesn't work like that anymore. I have come to realize that starting college is the beginning of my future and the moment I have become an adult. It will not be easy, but I'm positive that I will not regret going to The Honors College. After meeting some of the second year students I understand that the Honors College will be challenging, but rewarding as a student, leader, and individual.

La Maison en Petits Cubes

As the first few minutes of this short film played I began to expect a typical sad story of an old man living alone, yet as the film developed I found it to be touching and beautifully crafted. With no dialect, only music and sound effects played in the background, the film was composed with both sadness and love. Mostly the film reminded me of the old man in the movie Up. Instead of an old man going on an adventure to visit another country, we have an old man whose adventure is swimming down the different old rooms of his house and remembering the most important memories of his life. I will admit the film made me a little teary-eyed.