End of the Beginning

Well, it has finally come. This is the end of the semester. Though it is the end, it is also the beginning to more classes since this is only my first year. I have more years ahead of me to get to the point where I finally achieve that degree. Even though it is just the first semester, it seems like I have been doing it for a long time. It is going to be a big relief when everything is done and finished and it is time to graduate from college. I know it is a little far, but believe it or not, I have been thinking about it alot! This english class has taught me alot of things. Despite the things I have learned, there are things I feel like I should still brush up on some. Essays were always my biggest struggle, even before college. I always had trouble just starting them. Funny thing is I am such a big procrastinator, that I write better and get everything finished when I am under pressure. I am not real sure that I am going to be able to break the procrastination habit. It's not a good thing, but I can just about guess it is not going to go away. Though I have had some struggles here and there, I think that overall it has been a good semester.

College

For me, school was too much. I was never real good at it. I was always saying that I would be glad to graduate. Now I actually miss high school. College was not something I saw myself going to. But I figured that if I wanted to have a lifetime career, college would have to be the best choice. My parents encouraged me into going to college because they thought that by doing so I could obtain a degree and get a good job. I considered applying for an ECG technician at St. Mary's Hopital or Mayo Clinic instead of going to college. Than while doing that I would eventually start attending college classes. But I just went straight for the college option, and now here I am! I am actually still undecided on what I want to go for, but I have alot of choices floating around in my head. For example I don't know whether I want to go for Surgical Technician, Ultrasound, or Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist. By choosing any of them I am guessing I will most likely enjoy my career. Until then, I am still thinking about it.

Research

Essays have always been a struggle for me. I always have a thought in my head of what I want to say but it is hard for me to get it out on paper. My senior year we had to do a research paper. It had to be about 8-10 pages long. As soon as I heard that I considered myself doomed. At that point I thought even a couple pages was going to be hard. But as I got the hang of it everything fell into place.

I still struggle at times with writing essays but it is getting somewhat better. Some people just aren't cut out to be able to write papers. I think I would be able to consider myself as one of those people. But once I get into writing that first sentence, thoughts start flowing and my pen keeps going!

Fallacies

One fallacy that comes to my mind is when people where hoodies. Trayvon Martin was a victim all because he had a hoodie on and looked "gang-like." He was only seventeen and was carrying a bag of skittles on him. As he was walking home a neighborhood watch man by the name of George Zimmerman followed him. He contacted the police and reported that Trayvon had suspicious behavior. After the phone call Zimmerman continued to follow him and ended by fatally shooting Martin in the chest. When police arrived to the scene Zimmerman told them he shot Martin in self-defense because Martin had attacked him. This was not the case. Did he do this just because Trayvon looked to be someone of a gang? This poor kid had nothing but skittles on him. Did the hoodie make him a bad person? Was he attacked mainly because he was a black person and wearing a hoodie? Would Zimmerman have attacked if it was a young white boy wearing a hoodie? I almost feel he was being racist in the fact that he even thought that this poor young man was being suspicious. He had no right to do what he did. There was no evidence to show that this kid was bad. This is something that really came to my attention.

Fitness

I care about fitness and how you keep yourself healthy. I have gotten to be more into this lately. I have always been into exercise and keeping myself fit ever since I started sports in 7th grade. I spend alot of time during the week working out, whether it be alone or with a friend or sibling. It generally makes me feel better health wise and the way I look. Obesity is getting to be such an issue now days. People need to realize they can only make themselves that way and they can fix the problem. It might be difficult at first but you just have to have the motivation to keep going. People find it easier to have someone be their motivator and help them work out. It is just someone there to push you to make to reach your goals. If everyone were to give a little effort in exercising once in a while and watching the things that they eat, it could be the difference in being happy with yourself or being not okay with your appearance. So keep going!

The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle, which was written by Jeanette Walls, is a very good book. Its inspiring, shocking, funny, and memorable all at the same time. Jeanette explains everything with great detail to know the life she lived and what she went through everyday. There were times in the book I didn't know whether I wanted to feel happy, sad, or even angry.

The Walls family is quite dyfunctional. They had their own way of doing things that might've seemed a bit strange to others. Despite this, they all got along pretty good and always stuck together like a family should. There were times when Jeanette could've gotten taken out of her family if it be her choice. She never did this I think because she loved her family too much and didn't know what would happen. In the end everything turned out good for the kids. They started a new and better life in New York City. The parents, not so much. But that was their own choice to live the way that they did.

Overall the book was very good and I would suggest others to read it.  

"Barbie Doll"

Barbie is every little girls' favorite toy when they are young. She has so many friends and a wonderful boyfriend, who is so very handsome, named Ken. Wouldn't this be the person you want to be like when your older. Barbie set standards for some young girls. She represented beauty, perfection, and the ideal look for young girls around the world. Her beautiful flowing blonde hair, big bust, tiny waist, and just all around perfect figure. All of this is definately not what makes a person ideal. I mean, sure, who doesn't want "the looks?" But by being an all around great person who is fun and has a wonderful personality, shouldn't that be the kind of person we want to be like? If Barbie was real, it is said she would be about 6 feet tall with a 39" bust, 18" waist, and 33" hips. This is thought to be a "full figure" and also to weigh about 110 lbs. Due to her proportions, barbie would have to walk on all fours. This is honestly a scary thought. I think the Barbie image might cause some girls to have eating disorders and have body image issues. All I know is that from seeing this, Barbie is something I hope no girl would want to be like.