So, for my English class I've been reading Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer." I found myself laughing after reading the first few pages and it just keeps getting better. However, on some level, Twain's book makes a reader sigh over the loss of such simple days. Days when one's town was the entire world. Days when neighbors really knew each other, and communities were close geographically and socially. These were days when kids could go out and play from morning until evening and their parents barely spared a thought or a worry, knowing that their children would be home safe for supper that night. Tom Sawyer's world represents a time of innocence. Innocence of a type that would benefit the entirety of humanity if we could only possess a small piece of it.
Of course this is a very rosy, idealized view of the world illustrated in "Tom Sawyer." We are talking about Missouri in the 1800's. These are days that many people can look at with a realistic eye and feel grateful that we have moved beyond it. Mark Twain's world was one in which slavery was still commonplace in the South. I think that just about all of us can feel satisfied knowing that that is no longer the case.
In the world of "Tom Sawyer," knowledge was limited to the close community in which one lived, and while this is a charming idea on one level, it's a great disadvantage overall. The innocence represented by the universe that Twain has created is shattered by the fact that his title character is such a mischievous little scamp. Twain was a very brilliant writer. The way that he was able to point out the flaws and inconsistencies of the world around him was truly remarkable.
He's not the only one. In England, Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy used their brilliance to address some of the most sensitive issues of the time, trying to make a difference. Whether or not the readers of those words agreed with what the authors had to say, they couldn't really look at the world in the same way again. This is the true power of words.
Words have the power to delight, terrify, and influence an entire population. It is not a power that should be taken lightly by anyone. We, as the human race have a grave responsibility to use our words in ways that are honest, helpful, and informative--even if it means upsetting a few people in the process.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
My Son, aka Mr. Smarty Pants...
The other night, I had to go to my math class. I hate math. I hate it with the fire of a thousand suns. Math and I have a long standing hate-hate relationship that goes back to the 1st Grade. These feelings have endured over the last 22 years and neither party has any intention of letting go of that animosity. School policy requires that I take this math class as well as one more that I will be completing in the Fall. When that class is over, I will be celebrating my victory over the enemy with great amounts of joy and chocolate cake. What victory, you may ask? The simple fact that from that beautiful moment on I will NEVER have to take another math class again! Ha! Take that Algebra, and all your demonic cousins!
Anyway, I didn't log on to rant about that...
On the same night as this dreaded class, my cute little family came to pick me up when it was over. Since it was already 7:30 pm and we'd all been out and about that evening, we were already pretty hungry. Who wants to wait for me to figure out what to cook at home in a situation like that? Not me!
Needless to say, we decided to give Panda Express the pleasure of our patronage. It was ridiculously packed for a Thursday night. However, we found a table and I waited with the kids while Tyler stood in the long line to order our food.
While we sat and waited, Caden began to play some serious air-guitar. He was doing incredible riffs and it was getting pretty loud. I decided to intervene, for the sake of everyone's dining experience.
"Caden, no air-banding please."
Without missing a beat, Caden said: "Okay, how about air-bending?" Then he proceeded to do the hand motions and sound effects that are appropriate and necessary for bending the air.
Of course, the term "air-bending" is in reference to the Nickelodeon cartoon: "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Even more prevalent on the minds of the American public these days is "The Last Airbender", the film version of that show. Trailers and previews for this movie are inescapable anymore. Caden has been doing a lot of air/water bending lately.
Does my son watch too much TV? Don't answer that...I already know.
Anyhow, what was my reaction to this dinnertime conversation? I laughed my freaking head off. I love it when Caden's quick wit catches me off guard like that. He never ceases to amaze me. Besides, air-bending is apparently much quieter than air-guitar, so why not let my son practice his Avatar skills? He'll be saving the world in no time.
Anyway, I didn't log on to rant about that...
On the same night as this dreaded class, my cute little family came to pick me up when it was over. Since it was already 7:30 pm and we'd all been out and about that evening, we were already pretty hungry. Who wants to wait for me to figure out what to cook at home in a situation like that? Not me!
Needless to say, we decided to give Panda Express the pleasure of our patronage. It was ridiculously packed for a Thursday night. However, we found a table and I waited with the kids while Tyler stood in the long line to order our food.
While we sat and waited, Caden began to play some serious air-guitar. He was doing incredible riffs and it was getting pretty loud. I decided to intervene, for the sake of everyone's dining experience.
"Caden, no air-banding please."
Without missing a beat, Caden said: "Okay, how about air-bending?" Then he proceeded to do the hand motions and sound effects that are appropriate and necessary for bending the air.
Of course, the term "air-bending" is in reference to the Nickelodeon cartoon: "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Even more prevalent on the minds of the American public these days is "The Last Airbender", the film version of that show. Trailers and previews for this movie are inescapable anymore. Caden has been doing a lot of air/water bending lately.
Does my son watch too much TV? Don't answer that...I already know.
Anyhow, what was my reaction to this dinnertime conversation? I laughed my freaking head off. I love it when Caden's quick wit catches me off guard like that. He never ceases to amaze me. Besides, air-bending is apparently much quieter than air-guitar, so why not let my son practice his Avatar skills? He'll be saving the world in no time.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Writing: It's Not As Difficult As Some People Make it Out to Be.
Tonight, I witnessed a brutal slaughter...of the English language.
Now, I know that English can be pretty confusing. For example: "I before e, except after c--BUT..." or: "A, E, I, O, U,...and sometimes Y". Despite being incredibly messed up in so many ways, the English language does not deserve to be murdered. English has served the world quite well in her own way, and I believe that she should be respected.
The murderer in question, (we'll call him "J."), has NO idea whatsoever about how to put words together into an intelligible sentence. I pity anyone that has to read the complete crap that "J." haphazardly throws together in a pathetic attempt at writing. (I'm using the term "writing" very loosely here.)
Don't get me wrong, my husband and I got a good laugh about this fully grown college student's bungled, blundering babble. However, he has committed multiple crimes against the English language, and I feel that he should be held accountable in some way. So here it is:
"J", in the name of the human race, you are officially banned from ever publishing any form of written work from now until the end of time. The End.
Of course, "J." is not the only offender out there. Too many people anymore are concentrating on just about anything except their writing skills. Why is this? The two most important things a person can learn in school is reading and writing. Or at least it used to be that way.
I doubt that the general American public reads all that much these days unless they have to, and what in the world has happened to our writing? I guess most people don't consider the ability to write skillfully as being all that important. Well, it is important, IT IS!!!
For those of you that want to fix this disturbing trend of crappy writing, here are a few things that you should know:
1) It's okay to proofread and revise your work. I promise I won't mind, neither will anyone else that has to read the finished product.
2) Commas are important. They're not just there for decoration, they actually serve a purpose.
3) LEARN THE FREAKING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "THEN" AND "THAN"!!!!! Please, you're embarrassing yourself and the rest of the human race when you confuse the two. If you can't write better THAN a monkey, THEN you should quit altogether.
4) The first word of a new sentence should be capitalized. Every time.
5) You are allowed to make your sentences shorter. You know that single, rambling sentence that goes on long enough to be its own paragraph? Feel free to break it up with a period or two--within reason, of course.
6) Two words: SPELL CHECK!!! Use a dictionary or Google if you must, you'll be doing us all a HUGE favor.
7) Look at your sentences and paragraphs. Is there anything in there that's unnecessary? If so, take it out. The "fluff" doesn't have to be there, get to the point.
8) Be careful about repeats. Make sure that certain words aren't used more than once in a single paragraph unless it is absolutely necessary. (Words like "the" and "and" don't count on this one.)
These rules represent a mere fraction of the common sense guidelines that should be followed when people are writing for any purpose. No need to thank me, I'm pretty generous when it comes to correcting the faults of others...
...But you're welcome anyway.
Now, I know that English can be pretty confusing. For example: "I before e, except after c--BUT..." or: "A, E, I, O, U,...and sometimes Y". Despite being incredibly messed up in so many ways, the English language does not deserve to be murdered. English has served the world quite well in her own way, and I believe that she should be respected.
The murderer in question, (we'll call him "J."), has NO idea whatsoever about how to put words together into an intelligible sentence. I pity anyone that has to read the complete crap that "J." haphazardly throws together in a pathetic attempt at writing. (I'm using the term "writing" very loosely here.)
Don't get me wrong, my husband and I got a good laugh about this fully grown college student's bungled, blundering babble. However, he has committed multiple crimes against the English language, and I feel that he should be held accountable in some way. So here it is:
"J", in the name of the human race, you are officially banned from ever publishing any form of written work from now until the end of time. The End.
Of course, "J." is not the only offender out there. Too many people anymore are concentrating on just about anything except their writing skills. Why is this? The two most important things a person can learn in school is reading and writing. Or at least it used to be that way.
I doubt that the general American public reads all that much these days unless they have to, and what in the world has happened to our writing? I guess most people don't consider the ability to write skillfully as being all that important. Well, it is important, IT IS!!!
For those of you that want to fix this disturbing trend of crappy writing, here are a few things that you should know:
1) It's okay to proofread and revise your work. I promise I won't mind, neither will anyone else that has to read the finished product.
2) Commas are important. They're not just there for decoration, they actually serve a purpose.
3) LEARN THE FREAKING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "THEN" AND "THAN"!!!!! Please, you're embarrassing yourself and the rest of the human race when you confuse the two. If you can't write better THAN a monkey, THEN you should quit altogether.
4) The first word of a new sentence should be capitalized. Every time.
5) You are allowed to make your sentences shorter. You know that single, rambling sentence that goes on long enough to be its own paragraph? Feel free to break it up with a period or two--within reason, of course.
6) Two words: SPELL CHECK!!! Use a dictionary or Google if you must, you'll be doing us all a HUGE favor.
7) Look at your sentences and paragraphs. Is there anything in there that's unnecessary? If so, take it out. The "fluff" doesn't have to be there, get to the point.
8) Be careful about repeats. Make sure that certain words aren't used more than once in a single paragraph unless it is absolutely necessary. (Words like "the" and "and" don't count on this one.)
These rules represent a mere fraction of the common sense guidelines that should be followed when people are writing for any purpose. No need to thank me, I'm pretty generous when it comes to correcting the faults of others...
...But you're welcome anyway.
Monday, June 21, 2010
My Epiphany
It's official. I am stepping down from my candidacy for Mom/Student of the year. It's taken me a long time to get here, but I feel that I am ready to be honest with the world.
Let it be known that I have discovered my limits. I have found and acknowledged the fact that I can't do it all nor do I have to.
I have also realized that I don't have to do things on my own. There is no shame in asking others for help. I am surrounded by wonderful, caring people that are always there for me whenever I need them.
I have limits. This does not mean that I am weak. It's okay if I decide to choose sanity over being "Super Mom/Student Woman".
If I don't get everything done at the exact moment that I planned it for, the world will not come to an end.
I don't have to feel guilty for being imperfect.
I am no good to my family as a nervous wreck. If giving myself a break is what it will take to be a happier better person, then I am prepared to do so--for their sakes as well as my own.
Bottling up my emotions/frustrations/anxieties only makes things worse for me and the people that I care about.
Overall, I have realized that I am a good person and I'm doing the best I can. No one, including myself, can ask or expect more from me than I am able to give.
This is my epiphany, and I have chosen to share it with you all. May your days be filled with smiles and self-forgiveness. Most people deserve it more than they think.
Let it be known that I have discovered my limits. I have found and acknowledged the fact that I can't do it all nor do I have to.
I have also realized that I don't have to do things on my own. There is no shame in asking others for help. I am surrounded by wonderful, caring people that are always there for me whenever I need them.
I have limits. This does not mean that I am weak. It's okay if I decide to choose sanity over being "Super Mom/Student Woman".
If I don't get everything done at the exact moment that I planned it for, the world will not come to an end.
I don't have to feel guilty for being imperfect.
I am no good to my family as a nervous wreck. If giving myself a break is what it will take to be a happier better person, then I am prepared to do so--for their sakes as well as my own.
Bottling up my emotions/frustrations/anxieties only makes things worse for me and the people that I care about.
Overall, I have realized that I am a good person and I'm doing the best I can. No one, including myself, can ask or expect more from me than I am able to give.
This is my epiphany, and I have chosen to share it with you all. May your days be filled with smiles and self-forgiveness. Most people deserve it more than they think.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
To Satisfy Any Curiosity...
While taking my Media Writing class this summer semester, I was required to write several news-style stories.
In the process of writing these stories, I was required to use two different sources of information: human sources and written sources.
The written sources were pretty easy. Google is officially on my "Best Friends List" now.
What about the human sources? Well, like any reporter I had to use interviews. But who could I, a college student, use for interviews? I mean, it's not like I can call the mayor's office and start asking questions.
Personally, I ended up using my own friends, family members and acquaintances.
All of these wonderful people did me a HUGE favor in giving these interviews, and I figured their morbid curiosity (if nothing else) might give them some desire to see what happened to the quotes I used.
Well, here you are. This is what I did with your interviews. I hope you all approve, and THANK YOU for helping me out with these assignments!!!
Enjoy! (Scroll down to see stories...)
In the process of writing these stories, I was required to use two different sources of information: human sources and written sources.
The written sources were pretty easy. Google is officially on my "Best Friends List" now.
What about the human sources? Well, like any reporter I had to use interviews. But who could I, a college student, use for interviews? I mean, it's not like I can call the mayor's office and start asking questions.
Personally, I ended up using my own friends, family members and acquaintances.
All of these wonderful people did me a HUGE favor in giving these interviews, and I figured their morbid curiosity (if nothing else) might give them some desire to see what happened to the quotes I used.
Well, here you are. This is what I did with your interviews. I hope you all approve, and THANK YOU for helping me out with these assignments!!!
Enjoy! (Scroll down to see stories...)
Bullying in Schools: What You Should Know
Springfield, Massachusetts-April of 2009: 11-year-old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover hanged himself in his home. Northampton, Massachusetts-January of 2010: 15-year-old Phoebe Prince hanged herself in the stairwell of her apartment building. On May 12, 2010…just a few weeks ago, Alex Moore of Jemison, Alabama jumped from an overpass…another teen suicide.
Aside from their early deaths, these kids have one thing in common: they were all bullied at school. According to SacBee.com, bullying has become a more centralized issue since Prince’s suicide in January. Since then, Massachusetts has passed a law making bullying illegal, as reported by MyFoxBoston.com.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) website defined bullying as “…One or more persons repeatedly [saying] or [doing] hurtful things to another person who has problems defending himself or herself.”
"Bullying is a very serious problem in schools, but teachers rarely see it," said Alicia Gleed, an Art teacher at Fairfield Junior High School. According to SAMHSA: “40 to 75 percent of bullying takes place during breaks…in the corridors, at recess, or in…bathrooms.”
Gleed agreed, “Most bullying happens in the hallways, away from the scrutiny of teachers.”
The newest forum for bullying is online. According to MyFoxBoston.com, Phoebe Prince was harassed online as well as at school. This form of harassment has been dubbed “cyber-bullying.”
While teachers would like be there to help their students, Gleed said there are limits to what they can do. “At this point, cyber-bullying needs to be controlled by the parents. It has to be the parents.”
Many people wonder why teachers don’t do more to help kids when they’re having trouble with other students.
“We [teachers] are in education to help kids, it’s hard to look at my students and think about them being bullied. I want to be there for them, but unless they report it, there’s nothing I can do,” Gleed stated.
When asked why she thinks kids don’t report bullying more often: “If the kid is more introverted, they won’t report the problem in order to keep attention off themselves,” Gleed said, “But then there’s the opposite problem, those kids that will “cry wolf” on a regular basis in order to get more attention. But we still try to investigate every case. I sometimes worry that those quieter kids that are having the most trouble are being overpowered by those that make a big deal out of every little thing.”
SAMHSA concurred with this view, dividing victims into two categories: passive and proactive. Passive victims are the most common, quiet, sensitive, and have poor self confidence. Proactive victims tend to act out more. They’re clumsier, immature, and may themselves try to bully students that are weaker than they are.
Student witnesses also face a difficult internal dilemma in deciding whether or not to report bullying. “Kids see more than teachers do, but sometimes they don’t recognize it as bullying, or even if they do they’ll think: ‘If I get involved in this, then I’m going to get bullied,’” said Gleed.
Bullies are often thought to be shy kids trying to cover up their insecurities. However, according to SAMHSA’s website, studies show that bullies have unusually high or about average self confidence. They will also show aggression towards adults, have a marked need to dominate other students, and tend to have a talent for talking themselves out of difficult situations.
“The kids are getting more and more vicious,” said Gleed, “I don’t want to stereotype everyone, but there are a lot of cases where it starts at home. It’s a fine line in parenting, supporting your kids without enabling.”
According to SAMHSA, it can be very difficult for parents to discover or acknowledge that their child is a bully. But there are signs that parents can watch for in their kids to see if they need to look into a situation more closely.
For more information about how to recognize if a child is being bullied or doing the bullying, SAMHSA’s website offers a wealth of information:
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SVP-0052/#four
Aside from their early deaths, these kids have one thing in common: they were all bullied at school. According to SacBee.com, bullying has become a more centralized issue since Prince’s suicide in January. Since then, Massachusetts has passed a law making bullying illegal, as reported by MyFoxBoston.com.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) website defined bullying as “…One or more persons repeatedly [saying] or [doing] hurtful things to another person who has problems defending himself or herself.”
"Bullying is a very serious problem in schools, but teachers rarely see it," said Alicia Gleed, an Art teacher at Fairfield Junior High School. According to SAMHSA: “40 to 75 percent of bullying takes place during breaks…in the corridors, at recess, or in…bathrooms.”
Gleed agreed, “Most bullying happens in the hallways, away from the scrutiny of teachers.”
The newest forum for bullying is online. According to MyFoxBoston.com, Phoebe Prince was harassed online as well as at school. This form of harassment has been dubbed “cyber-bullying.”
While teachers would like be there to help their students, Gleed said there are limits to what they can do. “At this point, cyber-bullying needs to be controlled by the parents. It has to be the parents.”
Many people wonder why teachers don’t do more to help kids when they’re having trouble with other students.
“We [teachers] are in education to help kids, it’s hard to look at my students and think about them being bullied. I want to be there for them, but unless they report it, there’s nothing I can do,” Gleed stated.
When asked why she thinks kids don’t report bullying more often: “If the kid is more introverted, they won’t report the problem in order to keep attention off themselves,” Gleed said, “But then there’s the opposite problem, those kids that will “cry wolf” on a regular basis in order to get more attention. But we still try to investigate every case. I sometimes worry that those quieter kids that are having the most trouble are being overpowered by those that make a big deal out of every little thing.”
SAMHSA concurred with this view, dividing victims into two categories: passive and proactive. Passive victims are the most common, quiet, sensitive, and have poor self confidence. Proactive victims tend to act out more. They’re clumsier, immature, and may themselves try to bully students that are weaker than they are.
Student witnesses also face a difficult internal dilemma in deciding whether or not to report bullying. “Kids see more than teachers do, but sometimes they don’t recognize it as bullying, or even if they do they’ll think: ‘If I get involved in this, then I’m going to get bullied,’” said Gleed.
Bullies are often thought to be shy kids trying to cover up their insecurities. However, according to SAMHSA’s website, studies show that bullies have unusually high or about average self confidence. They will also show aggression towards adults, have a marked need to dominate other students, and tend to have a talent for talking themselves out of difficult situations.
“The kids are getting more and more vicious,” said Gleed, “I don’t want to stereotype everyone, but there are a lot of cases where it starts at home. It’s a fine line in parenting, supporting your kids without enabling.”
According to SAMHSA, it can be very difficult for parents to discover or acknowledge that their child is a bully. But there are signs that parents can watch for in their kids to see if they need to look into a situation more closely.
For more information about how to recognize if a child is being bullied or doing the bullying, SAMHSA’s website offers a wealth of information:
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SVP-0052/#four
The Real Estate Market May Take a While to Recover
The one thing that most people will agree with about life is the fact that everything is always changing. The economy is no different.
According to Housing Predictor.com, Utah’s housing market was one of the last in the country to see a turn for the worse. It has affected home values, sending them into a downward spiral.
In an interview with Jamie Lythgoe, realtor and broker for Re/Max Community-Valley, when asked to rank the current market in Utah on a scale of 0-10 (worst to best, respectively), she said “I would rank it at a 6 or 7.”
Lythgoe said the most reliable sign that the market is looking up would be the absorption rate. According to the Wasatch Front Regional Multiple Listing Service, (WFRMLS), an absorption rate is: “the ratio of sold properties over a given length of time.” So if there are 24 properties sold over the past 3 months, the absorption rate is 8 properties per month. (#Sold/#Months)
Looking at the absorption report generated by the WFRMLS website, Utah’s market is looking better than it was 12 months ago, but still 4 times worse than when it was at its peak in 2006. All in all, things are slowly but surely looking upwards.
So, although conditions aren’t completely dismal, they’re not quite there yet. According to an article featured on DeseretNews.com, there are some local analysts who predict that it may be a while before there can be stability in the market.
In the featured article, Zions Bank executive vice president Michael Morris was quoted as saying that there would be: “More of a gradual recovery building into 2011 and 2012, but still with the backdrop of other (economic issues facing the industry).”
In a report generated by the WFRMLS website, sales have been on a rollercoaster ride since 2007, with a huge plummet in 2008. And while things seem to be looking up in the first quarter of 2010, it may not be stable yet.
According to Lythgoe, people need to consider financing before looking into buying real estate in the current market. “Financing is harder than it used to be, so finding out what they qualify for and what payment amount they are comfortable with is the best thing to start with.”
Also, Lythgoe gives a good idea for what she thinks are the best price ranges for buying and selling right now: “The luxury home market has a large percent of price flexibility because there are so few people in that market. Maybe the best deals are the very expensive properties.”
The opposite seems to be true for the seller’s market: “In the Ogden Valley the best price range to be in for sellers are the lower end properties—those under $500k,” said Lythgoe.
Then, when asked what she would consider to be the biggest change in the real estate market in recent years Lythgoe responded: “It would have to be the amount of people that are well versed [in the real estate market]…the amount of information that is easily available.”
According to Housing Predictor.com, Utah’s housing market was one of the last in the country to see a turn for the worse. It has affected home values, sending them into a downward spiral.
In an interview with Jamie Lythgoe, realtor and broker for Re/Max Community-Valley, when asked to rank the current market in Utah on a scale of 0-10 (worst to best, respectively), she said “I would rank it at a 6 or 7.”
Lythgoe said the most reliable sign that the market is looking up would be the absorption rate. According to the Wasatch Front Regional Multiple Listing Service, (WFRMLS), an absorption rate is: “the ratio of sold properties over a given length of time.” So if there are 24 properties sold over the past 3 months, the absorption rate is 8 properties per month. (#Sold/#Months)
Looking at the absorption report generated by the WFRMLS website, Utah’s market is looking better than it was 12 months ago, but still 4 times worse than when it was at its peak in 2006. All in all, things are slowly but surely looking upwards.
So, although conditions aren’t completely dismal, they’re not quite there yet. According to an article featured on DeseretNews.com, there are some local analysts who predict that it may be a while before there can be stability in the market.
In the featured article, Zions Bank executive vice president Michael Morris was quoted as saying that there would be: “More of a gradual recovery building into 2011 and 2012, but still with the backdrop of other (economic issues facing the industry).”
In a report generated by the WFRMLS website, sales have been on a rollercoaster ride since 2007, with a huge plummet in 2008. And while things seem to be looking up in the first quarter of 2010, it may not be stable yet.
According to Lythgoe, people need to consider financing before looking into buying real estate in the current market. “Financing is harder than it used to be, so finding out what they qualify for and what payment amount they are comfortable with is the best thing to start with.”
Also, Lythgoe gives a good idea for what she thinks are the best price ranges for buying and selling right now: “The luxury home market has a large percent of price flexibility because there are so few people in that market. Maybe the best deals are the very expensive properties.”
The opposite seems to be true for the seller’s market: “In the Ogden Valley the best price range to be in for sellers are the lower end properties—those under $500k,” said Lythgoe.
Then, when asked what she would consider to be the biggest change in the real estate market in recent years Lythgoe responded: “It would have to be the amount of people that are well versed [in the real estate market]…the amount of information that is easily available.”
Traditional Students Versus Non-Traditional: Is One Better Than the Other?
According to the Weber State Non-Traditional Student Center, to be non-traditional a student must be: disabled, 25 years of age or older, married or divorced, have legal dependents, and/or be a veteran.
Now that it is understood what makes a student non-traditional, the question becomes: Can it be said that being a traditional student is any better than being a non-traditional student? According to several interviews that were conducted, the advantages of one situation over the other may not be so clearly defined.
Marcus Law, a 23 year old Electronic Media student, currently registered for the fall semester at Weber State University, talked about his college experience. When asked why he felt it was important to go to school, Law said: “I feel it is important to invest in myself; and in order to compete in the current job market.”
When asked about how sure he feels about the current direction of his education, Law said: “I would not be surprised if I completely changed my direction a few times before my college education is over.” Electronic Media is Law’s second declaration for a major in the 2 ½ years that he has been attending college.
“I really enjoy listening to a skilled teacher do their job and learning more about whatever subject they are teaching” said Law, when asked what he liked best about attending school, “When else can I learn in such an atmosphere where I can ask someone who spent so much time learning and doing research in their field of study?”
Heidi Cammack is a 30 year old Dental Hygienist who graduated from college as a traditional student. When asked why she decided to go to school, Cammack said: “Initially I went because that is just what you do after High School.”
When asked why she chose her field of study, Cammack said it seemed practical. She liked knowing that when she graduated she would know exactly what she would be doing. “It wasn’t a degree that was so open like Business or English where you might get a good job, or you might end up with a degree and unable to land a job that would improve your situation financially,” she said.
Cammack admitted that she couldn’t remember how many majors she considered before settling on Dental Hygiene. “I know that I was going to major in Communications and then decided on Dental Hygiene.”
“It’s nice to be a traditional student in that you don’t have the responsibilities of a husband, family, mortgage, etc.” said Cammack, “You can focus on school and investing time in your future without feeling guilt that other areas of your life are being neglected.”
Now married with a 2 year old son, and another child on the way, Cammack commented: “Having my degree and training gives me a lot of peace of mind knowing I could provide for my family if our situation changed and I needed to do that. I think an education is one of the best insurances for the unseen storms of life that could unexpectedly come.”
On the other side of the issue, there’s Tracy Tidwell. A forty-two year old mother of two, she recently returned to school after a 21 year absence.
When asked why she decided to go back to school, Tidwell answered: “I always knew I wanted to go back someday and get a degree.” Why now? “My children were getting older and not needing as much from me and as I could see my role changing, I thought it was a good time to go back and get my degree.”
In response to a question about what, if anything, could be considered an advantage that she has as a non-traditional student over those that are more traditional, Tidwell responded: “The biggest advantage I think is that in a lot of ways I take my education much more seriously,” Tidwell said. “As a traditional student your social life is so important that it can really overshadow your academic life…I don’t take it as much for granted as I did as a younger college student.”
Of course, there are difficulties associated with the life of a non-traditional student as well. In an interview with Emily Petersen, who recently graduated with a Master’s degree in English, she discussed what was most difficult for her.
“Childcare was the most challenging,” said Petersen. “However, my program offered a lot of night classes, so my husband could help. I also used the hourly childcare services on campus for the last two years when I had to spend more time on campus during the day.”
Petersen also feels that non-traditional students have an advantage over the more traditional students. “As a graduate student, my department let me teach classes and I felt a huge difference between me and the freshmen I taught,” Petersen went on to say. “They had little life experience, so when we read and talked about essays for class, they did not have much to offer to the conversation because they did not know much about the real world.”
“Traditional students have freedom; however, I don’t think that means they use their time more wisely. It depends on the person,” said Petersen.
So, to bring up the question posed at the beginning of this story: Between traditional and non-traditional, is there a more preferable route to gaining one’s education? The short answer here seems to be no.
Everyone’s experiences are different because individuals have different needs. There are two sides to every story, and who is to say which is right?
Now that it is understood what makes a student non-traditional, the question becomes: Can it be said that being a traditional student is any better than being a non-traditional student? According to several interviews that were conducted, the advantages of one situation over the other may not be so clearly defined.
Marcus Law, a 23 year old Electronic Media student, currently registered for the fall semester at Weber State University, talked about his college experience. When asked why he felt it was important to go to school, Law said: “I feel it is important to invest in myself; and in order to compete in the current job market.”
When asked about how sure he feels about the current direction of his education, Law said: “I would not be surprised if I completely changed my direction a few times before my college education is over.” Electronic Media is Law’s second declaration for a major in the 2 ½ years that he has been attending college.
“I really enjoy listening to a skilled teacher do their job and learning more about whatever subject they are teaching” said Law, when asked what he liked best about attending school, “When else can I learn in such an atmosphere where I can ask someone who spent so much time learning and doing research in their field of study?”
Heidi Cammack is a 30 year old Dental Hygienist who graduated from college as a traditional student. When asked why she decided to go to school, Cammack said: “Initially I went because that is just what you do after High School.”
When asked why she chose her field of study, Cammack said it seemed practical. She liked knowing that when she graduated she would know exactly what she would be doing. “It wasn’t a degree that was so open like Business or English where you might get a good job, or you might end up with a degree and unable to land a job that would improve your situation financially,” she said.
Cammack admitted that she couldn’t remember how many majors she considered before settling on Dental Hygiene. “I know that I was going to major in Communications and then decided on Dental Hygiene.”
“It’s nice to be a traditional student in that you don’t have the responsibilities of a husband, family, mortgage, etc.” said Cammack, “You can focus on school and investing time in your future without feeling guilt that other areas of your life are being neglected.”
Now married with a 2 year old son, and another child on the way, Cammack commented: “Having my degree and training gives me a lot of peace of mind knowing I could provide for my family if our situation changed and I needed to do that. I think an education is one of the best insurances for the unseen storms of life that could unexpectedly come.”
On the other side of the issue, there’s Tracy Tidwell. A forty-two year old mother of two, she recently returned to school after a 21 year absence.
When asked why she decided to go back to school, Tidwell answered: “I always knew I wanted to go back someday and get a degree.” Why now? “My children were getting older and not needing as much from me and as I could see my role changing, I thought it was a good time to go back and get my degree.”
In response to a question about what, if anything, could be considered an advantage that she has as a non-traditional student over those that are more traditional, Tidwell responded: “The biggest advantage I think is that in a lot of ways I take my education much more seriously,” Tidwell said. “As a traditional student your social life is so important that it can really overshadow your academic life…I don’t take it as much for granted as I did as a younger college student.”
Of course, there are difficulties associated with the life of a non-traditional student as well. In an interview with Emily Petersen, who recently graduated with a Master’s degree in English, she discussed what was most difficult for her.
“Childcare was the most challenging,” said Petersen. “However, my program offered a lot of night classes, so my husband could help. I also used the hourly childcare services on campus for the last two years when I had to spend more time on campus during the day.”
Petersen also feels that non-traditional students have an advantage over the more traditional students. “As a graduate student, my department let me teach classes and I felt a huge difference between me and the freshmen I taught,” Petersen went on to say. “They had little life experience, so when we read and talked about essays for class, they did not have much to offer to the conversation because they did not know much about the real world.”
“Traditional students have freedom; however, I don’t think that means they use their time more wisely. It depends on the person,” said Petersen.
So, to bring up the question posed at the beginning of this story: Between traditional and non-traditional, is there a more preferable route to gaining one’s education? The short answer here seems to be no.
Everyone’s experiences are different because individuals have different needs. There are two sides to every story, and who is to say which is right?
Peanut Allergies in Schools: What Can Parents Do?
It seems that everywhere you turn, you’re hearing about another kid with an allergy to peanuts. It’s not just your imagination.
According to a recent study, the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI) reports that the number of children with peanut allergies doubled between 1997 and 2002.
This trend becomes even more troublesome when you consider the fact that a peanut allergy will cause more severe allergic reactions than most other food allergens, according to FAI’s website. This report specifically cites anaphylaxis as being among the most threatening allergic reactions to peanuts and other foods.
Anaphylaxis is defined by FAI as a potentially fatal allergic reaction. “During anaphylaxis, allergic symptoms can affect several areas of the body and may threaten breathing and blood circulation.”
Is it any wonder that the parents of peanut allergic children are so vocal about their child’s condition? To the parents of a peanut allergic child, sending them off to school can be a nerve-wracking experience. What can you do to protect your child and give yourself some peace of mind?
In an interview, Debbie Jordan — mother of three — talked about her second son, Andrew.
When asked if she feels worried about Andrew while he is at school, Jordan said: “Yes and no. I worry that he can be exposed and have a problem. However we have tried to educate many others at the school…We have educated Andrew.”
This is an idea that is suggested by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). Their official website (www.foodallergy.org) makes further suggestions for managing a child’s food allergy while they are at school.
Suggestions for minimizing an allergic child’s risk include: Notifying the school about the child’s allergies, working with the school to develop a plan that accommodates the child’s needs, providing medications and medical information, and educating the allergic child so they can learn to manage the allergy on their own.
Jordan seems to have followed this advice to the letter and beyond, “I authored a healthcare plan which provides a ton of information about food allergies, Andrew and the issues we have noted as well as expectations and things we need from the school/teacher.”
Jordan has taken further precautions, having signs posted outside Andrew’s classroom declaring it to be a “peanut free” room. She has also provided epi-pens (auto-injectors containing epinephrine) for the school office and Andrew’s classroom.
In addition, Jordan has provided lists of foods on the school lunch menu that her son cannot eat, including a color photo of Andrew. He also eats his lunch at a “peanut free” table, where only kids who have not brought peanut foods can eat with him.
With many food allergies, it is very possible to outgrow them. Andrew Jordan himself outgrew allergies to milk, wheat, and eggs by the age of 6. Peanut allergies however, tend for the most part to be a lifelong condition.
According to the FAI website, there can be some hope for parents. In a recent study it was shown that approximately 1 in 5 peanut allergic children actually do outgrow their allergy.
Heidi Johnson, mother of four, talked about her nine year old son Ryker’s peanut allergy. When first contacted, Johnson expressed hope that her son had already started to outgrow his allergy: “He seems to be growing out of it, and can even eat foods that have been processed with nuts in the factory.”
When asked what action she would take should Ryker’s doctor one day say that he had outgrown his allergy, Johnson said: “We would just be cautious…I think we will always inform him (Ryker) of treats or any other foods that may contain nuts, just to be safe."
Johnson has followed similar guidelines to those of Debbie Jordan in keeping her son, who attends the same school as Andrew, safe while at school: “[We] inform the teacher and classmates of his allergy. He is old enough to know what he can and cannot eat.”
Andrew Jordan consented to answer a few questions about his allergy. When asked how much he knew about it, he answered: “If I eat peanuts I could die. I need to stay away from people eating things with nuts.”
When asked how he feels about his allergy, Andrew said: “Afraid. Because I don’t want to die and having a reaction can be scary.”
Andrew isn’t alone however. In addition to his family, Andrew talked about how his teacher helps him while he’s at school: “[My teacher] makes sure there aren’t any peanuts around me. She has [the medicine] I need in the room. She lets me call my mom when I’m not sure about a food. She keeps me safe.”
Having a child with an allergy, or being the allergic person can be a scary experience. But with the proper education and taking the necessary precautions, you can stay in control of a food allergy instead of allowing it to control you.
According to a recent study, the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI) reports that the number of children with peanut allergies doubled between 1997 and 2002.
This trend becomes even more troublesome when you consider the fact that a peanut allergy will cause more severe allergic reactions than most other food allergens, according to FAI’s website. This report specifically cites anaphylaxis as being among the most threatening allergic reactions to peanuts and other foods.
Anaphylaxis is defined by FAI as a potentially fatal allergic reaction. “During anaphylaxis, allergic symptoms can affect several areas of the body and may threaten breathing and blood circulation.”
Is it any wonder that the parents of peanut allergic children are so vocal about their child’s condition? To the parents of a peanut allergic child, sending them off to school can be a nerve-wracking experience. What can you do to protect your child and give yourself some peace of mind?
In an interview, Debbie Jordan — mother of three — talked about her second son, Andrew.
When asked if she feels worried about Andrew while he is at school, Jordan said: “Yes and no. I worry that he can be exposed and have a problem. However we have tried to educate many others at the school…We have educated Andrew.”
This is an idea that is suggested by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). Their official website (www.foodallergy.org) makes further suggestions for managing a child’s food allergy while they are at school.
Suggestions for minimizing an allergic child’s risk include: Notifying the school about the child’s allergies, working with the school to develop a plan that accommodates the child’s needs, providing medications and medical information, and educating the allergic child so they can learn to manage the allergy on their own.
Jordan seems to have followed this advice to the letter and beyond, “I authored a healthcare plan which provides a ton of information about food allergies, Andrew and the issues we have noted as well as expectations and things we need from the school/teacher.”
Jordan has taken further precautions, having signs posted outside Andrew’s classroom declaring it to be a “peanut free” room. She has also provided epi-pens (auto-injectors containing epinephrine) for the school office and Andrew’s classroom.
In addition, Jordan has provided lists of foods on the school lunch menu that her son cannot eat, including a color photo of Andrew. He also eats his lunch at a “peanut free” table, where only kids who have not brought peanut foods can eat with him.
With many food allergies, it is very possible to outgrow them. Andrew Jordan himself outgrew allergies to milk, wheat, and eggs by the age of 6. Peanut allergies however, tend for the most part to be a lifelong condition.
According to the FAI website, there can be some hope for parents. In a recent study it was shown that approximately 1 in 5 peanut allergic children actually do outgrow their allergy.
Heidi Johnson, mother of four, talked about her nine year old son Ryker’s peanut allergy. When first contacted, Johnson expressed hope that her son had already started to outgrow his allergy: “He seems to be growing out of it, and can even eat foods that have been processed with nuts in the factory.”
When asked what action she would take should Ryker’s doctor one day say that he had outgrown his allergy, Johnson said: “We would just be cautious…I think we will always inform him (Ryker) of treats or any other foods that may contain nuts, just to be safe."
Johnson has followed similar guidelines to those of Debbie Jordan in keeping her son, who attends the same school as Andrew, safe while at school: “[We] inform the teacher and classmates of his allergy. He is old enough to know what he can and cannot eat.”
Andrew Jordan consented to answer a few questions about his allergy. When asked how much he knew about it, he answered: “If I eat peanuts I could die. I need to stay away from people eating things with nuts.”
When asked how he feels about his allergy, Andrew said: “Afraid. Because I don’t want to die and having a reaction can be scary.”
Andrew isn’t alone however. In addition to his family, Andrew talked about how his teacher helps him while he’s at school: “[My teacher] makes sure there aren’t any peanuts around me. She has [the medicine] I need in the room. She lets me call my mom when I’m not sure about a food. She keeps me safe.”
Having a child with an allergy, or being the allergic person can be a scary experience. But with the proper education and taking the necessary precautions, you can stay in control of a food allergy instead of allowing it to control you.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Oh Bother!
It took me quite a while to finally settle on a major in Literary Journalism. I like the idea behind it: take fact and write it in such a way that it reads like fiction. It's right up my alley, and I am very much looking forward to taking all of the classes that are required for this major.
Unfortunately for an indecisive person like me, I am also interested in several other subjects, namely English and Psychology.
My interest in English is mainly due to the fact that I'm pretty darn good at it. It's something familiar. I know without a doubt in my mind that if I choose to major in English, I will do quite well at it and enjoy the whole ride.
Psychology is fascinating to me, though. I mean, to be able to study about the way that all the millions of neurons and neurotransmitters in the human brain can work together so perfectly as to form a unique individual mind...WOW! I get chills just thinking about it. It's incredible!
I chose to major in Literary Journalism for a number of reasons. One, because it involves a lot of writing, and honing those skills is something that appeals to me a lot. Secondly, because a major in Journalism will take my love of writing and turn it into a marketable skill, something I can use should I ever need to get a job in the real world. Third, I looked at all the requirements for this major and found myself REALLY wanting to take every single one of the required courses. I considered that to be a pretty good sign that I was making the right choice.
So who knows what's in my future? Maybe I'll completely flip out and end up majoring in something totally random, like Japanese or potato farming.
Anyway, until next time, I hope your day is "Totally Holy Fish!" :)
Unfortunately for an indecisive person like me, I am also interested in several other subjects, namely English and Psychology.
My interest in English is mainly due to the fact that I'm pretty darn good at it. It's something familiar. I know without a doubt in my mind that if I choose to major in English, I will do quite well at it and enjoy the whole ride.
Psychology is fascinating to me, though. I mean, to be able to study about the way that all the millions of neurons and neurotransmitters in the human brain can work together so perfectly as to form a unique individual mind...WOW! I get chills just thinking about it. It's incredible!
I chose to major in Literary Journalism for a number of reasons. One, because it involves a lot of writing, and honing those skills is something that appeals to me a lot. Secondly, because a major in Journalism will take my love of writing and turn it into a marketable skill, something I can use should I ever need to get a job in the real world. Third, I looked at all the requirements for this major and found myself REALLY wanting to take every single one of the required courses. I considered that to be a pretty good sign that I was making the right choice.
So who knows what's in my future? Maybe I'll completely flip out and end up majoring in something totally random, like Japanese or potato farming.
Anyway, until next time, I hope your day is "Totally Holy Fish!" :)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Wisdom From a 5 Year Old...
So tonight we were driving south on the freeway. Inevitably, we drove past a familiar landmark in our area. It's an amusement park that's been there -- (I think) -- since the dawn of time. Our 5 year old son, Caden, looked over and asked about it.
We gave a brief explanation and then, as we fully expected he would, Caden said: "We should really go there."
Tyler and I both said we'd maybe go someday, but that most of the rides wouldn't be available to him until Caden was a bit bigger.
Caden said, "Oh." And then after a pause, he pointed at the amusement park and said: "But that's totally Holy Fish!"
"Holy Fish" -- Yeah that's right. Our son actually invented a new adjective! I hope it catches on...
We gave a brief explanation and then, as we fully expected he would, Caden said: "We should really go there."
Tyler and I both said we'd maybe go someday, but that most of the rides wouldn't be available to him until Caden was a bit bigger.
Caden said, "Oh." And then after a pause, he pointed at the amusement park and said: "But that's totally Holy Fish!"
"Holy Fish" -- Yeah that's right. Our son actually invented a new adjective! I hope it catches on...
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Why Am I Not Asleep Yet?
It's about 20 minutes till 1 am. The kids are both in bed, the husband is asleep on the next couch, and there's a telethon running on the TV in the background. I just finished the first section of my math homework, and now I'm sitting here with the computer on my lap, and thinking I should be in bed.
We went out to dinner tonight, a pizza place. We ordered our drinks, and I ordered a Root Beer, (which in my opinion is the ONLY beverage that should accompany a pizza.)
Anyway, we went through the meal without any mishaps. I sipped away at my drink, not even noticing that it didn't taste quite right. Just as we were finishing up our meal, waiting for the check and getting the leftovers packed away in boxes, I took a long drink and realized that I hadn't been drinking root beer at all.
"This is Coke!" I exclaimed, and started laughing as I pushed the glass across the table for Tyler to verify. He takes a drink, laughs, and confirms my conclusion.
Now, normally this wouldn't be all that extraordinary. So it was Coke instead of Root Beer. So what?
I'll tell you: I'm still nursing my daughter. I've been so good for the last year, avoiding caffeinated drinks for the sake of my baby, no matter how much I wanted them. And then, due to a complete accident, I guzzled about 20 ounces of the stuff without a second thought!
Well, I suppose one glass of Coke can't do too much harm, but I'll need to be more careful in the future. Mark my words though, as soon as the baby's done nursing, I am SOOO going for the Coca Cola and Dr Pepper! Look out!
Alright, enough rambling...I've got church early in the morning. Good Night.
We went out to dinner tonight, a pizza place. We ordered our drinks, and I ordered a Root Beer, (which in my opinion is the ONLY beverage that should accompany a pizza.)
Anyway, we went through the meal without any mishaps. I sipped away at my drink, not even noticing that it didn't taste quite right. Just as we were finishing up our meal, waiting for the check and getting the leftovers packed away in boxes, I took a long drink and realized that I hadn't been drinking root beer at all.
"This is Coke!" I exclaimed, and started laughing as I pushed the glass across the table for Tyler to verify. He takes a drink, laughs, and confirms my conclusion.
Now, normally this wouldn't be all that extraordinary. So it was Coke instead of Root Beer. So what?
I'll tell you: I'm still nursing my daughter. I've been so good for the last year, avoiding caffeinated drinks for the sake of my baby, no matter how much I wanted them. And then, due to a complete accident, I guzzled about 20 ounces of the stuff without a second thought!
Well, I suppose one glass of Coke can't do too much harm, but I'll need to be more careful in the future. Mark my words though, as soon as the baby's done nursing, I am SOOO going for the Coca Cola and Dr Pepper! Look out!
Alright, enough rambling...I've got church early in the morning. Good Night.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Intro...
Okay, so here I am, trying to figure out this whole idea of blogging. (What kind of a word is that anyway? "Blogging"-- Sounds like something you'd need to call a plumber for.)
Anyway...in recent years I have discovered that I am most definitely a visual communicator. I'll explain:
Listening to me speak can be very confusing every now and then because something happens to my thoughts somewhere between my brain and my mouth. Things can get a little jumbled up.
Other times, I will start talking and no one knows what I'm talking about because I have brought them in at what I like to call "the caboose on my train of thought".
Writing doesn't do that to me. It gives me a chance to work through my thoughts and put them in a format that people can understand.
So, hopefully this blog will give me the chance to share all of my thoughts with others, from the engine at the front of my train of thought all the way through to the caboose. We'll see how it goes...
Anyway...in recent years I have discovered that I am most definitely a visual communicator. I'll explain:
Listening to me speak can be very confusing every now and then because something happens to my thoughts somewhere between my brain and my mouth. Things can get a little jumbled up.
Other times, I will start talking and no one knows what I'm talking about because I have brought them in at what I like to call "the caboose on my train of thought".
Writing doesn't do that to me. It gives me a chance to work through my thoughts and put them in a format that people can understand.
So, hopefully this blog will give me the chance to share all of my thoughts with others, from the engine at the front of my train of thought all the way through to the caboose. We'll see how it goes...
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