B.E.S.T. Friends :)

Through thick and thin, we will always have each others backs! :)

     When I think of a friend I think of someone you have had a casual conversation with and that you are somewhat aquainted with. But when I think of a best friend I think of someone who you knows exactly who you are, someone who can tell when you upset or having a bad day. Someone who you can share anything and everything with. Someone you can trust and that will always be there for you. Someone who is willing to let you cry on their shoulder and always up for giving helpful advise.
     In this picture you can see both of my best friends, Lacey and Greta. This picture was taken right after homecoming our senior year. All three of us were nominated from homecoming queen along with two other girls. Unfortunatly I did not win but that it was ok because Lacey did. I told her I was jealous but in all seriousness she knew I was really excited for her. She told me that I could try the crown on so that I would not be too jealous. I did and we took this picture.
     Not only does this picture remind me of homecoming along with other high school memories we were involved in together but it also reminds me that no matter what we are always going to be there for each other. Us three have been through alot together, family issues, drama, boy trouble and all the other usual teenage drama. I hope we continue to stay this way. Now that we are all off at college and all going to different schools we do not really get the oppurtunity to hangout as much together but hopefully if will interfer with our friendship. We talk all the time still and keep each other up to date. I love these girls to death and would do anything for them!!! :)
    

Education/Writing.

Education has always been a passion of mine. I was the kid who actually enjoyed going to school and did not mind getting homework. I loved learning and still do. I like the challenge of tough homework assignments. I also love the challenge of working with others in group activities even though sometimes in groups I would feel like I was the only one who cared and tired for the good grades. I have never been good with tests, those are my weak points but I always try to study my hardest. One of my favorite things about school has always been writing.

I personally love writing. I have a journal I write in whenever I feel the need to. It is not usually an everyday thing but sometimes it is nice to express myself without actually talking to someone. I know that whatever I say to my journal no one will know and it is a way for me to distress myself, which I have found very useful in college.

 I enjoy writing all different kinds of papers. But I would have to say my favorite type of paper to write is a personal essay. I enjoy putting my thoughts and feelings into words to share a story. It is a way for me to express myself. Over the years I have saw great progression in my writings from the first paper I ever wrote to now. It is amazing to see the change and how I have become a better writer. Even though I have progressed majorly there are still those mistakes I make in my writings.

            It never fails I always make simple errors in my writings. When it comes to writing I have my struggles. Punctuation and grammar are my biggest struggles. Since the third grade we have been given worksheets to help us on punctuation and grammar but for me it just has never clicked. Just once I would love to turn in a paper that is completely punctuation and grammar free, but for now I will keep wishing.

               After spending weeks on a paper revising it and adding important details I am always ready to turn it in. It gives me a sense of accomplishment when I finish a paper and turn it in knowing I did my best on it.

                My education has taught me to become a better writer. Not just in English class but also in my other classes, no matter what class teachers always expected different things with our writing. With different teachers expecting different things they have all taught me new and better ways to write. I would always take their criticisms and ideas into mind. I always want to improve my writings and learn new and better ways to write.

Who Am I??

Who am I? That is an extremely tough question for me to answer about myself. To be honest I have not exactly figured that out whom I am. 

              I would like to think of myself as a bright and intelligent young woman. I think I am outgoing and someone who is always up for a challenge. I am reliable and someone who others can trust. A person who others can talk to about personal issues or just about anything that is going on in their lives. I like to think younger kids look up to me when I help at church and at the elementary school back home as a role model. I like to think of myself as a strong Christian and one who tells others about my beliefs and one that is not afraid to stick up for them. I try to standout and be my own person. I like to think that I do not care what others think or say about me.
            
            But deep down I care way too much about what others think about me, I take it to heart. Even when my friends are joking around and messing with me, they may not think it bothers me but really it does. I get embarrassed easily if I do something wrong or say something dumb, I turn bright red. I am shy and jealous. I tend to be jealous of others, especially those who have talents like people who can sing, good at sports, photography, etc. I have yet to find anything I am talented with. I also find myself jealous of those who have expensive and fancy things. I have been known to question my faith. I always wonder why certain things happen and for what reason.
           
           I do not like the term two faced and that is not what I think of myself. I view myself as a young woman who is somewhat scared to be who she actually is, afraid of what others will think. As I am getting older I am beginning to not care as much of what others think about and truly finding who I am as a person. Even though I have yet to fully figure out who I am, I can say that someday I will know. My goal is to be known for something great and one that people will always remember.

Do too many kids go to college???

My first thought when I heard "Do too many kids go to college," was the obvious no. Education is the most important thing when somes todays society. We all want good jobs like we enojoy, ones that have  a nice paycheck, and ones that can give us the lives that we want. After the debate I still feel the same way about my opinion. Education has always been taught to us as the best thing you can do in life, to get the best and most education you can. College has always been expensive and will continue to be. Is it really worth it? I think it is, it is worth the nightmare of not knowing whether you can afford it or not. I think we need to forcus more on the outcome than the now. When deciding a career we must look into it and see will there be jobs when I get out of school or should I look for something different. If you go to school for a major and recieve your degree then you get out into the "real world" and you cannot find a job that is your own fault. Research what jobs are on the rise and what you know will always be around and have a need for workers in that field. One of the men in the debate said that college students are not going to school for the education the are going for the "paper," the degree. I some what disagree with that responce. There are students that are passionate about education and want the best for their future, but on the other hand there are other students who just go to school to get the "paper" and to make money. This topic could be looked at many different ways and everyone has their opinions.

Online Classes.

If you like doing everything on your own and are a very responsible person then online courses could be for you but if you prefer to be taught by an actual teacher in a classroom and interact with fellow classmates then I would not suggest you take on an online course. Online courses have both advantages and disadvantages, just like everything in life does. Through my experience with an online course I have found more disadvantages than advantages.

My personal experience with an online course has not been the best. I thought it was an easy course but now that the course is over I do not feel like I have taken anything away from it. I took Medical Terminology online since it was not offered as an actual class here at the University of Southern Indiana. It was only for half a semester and it included sixteen chapter exams.  Every exam had to be taken online through blackboard and I was able to take the exams whenever I had time as long as they were completed before a specific date. Each exam was allotted a certain amount of time to be completed in. One the first few exams I took I studied the book looking over all the words but eventually I began not studying ahead of time and just used the book and looked up most of the questions, there was enough time given to do that. I was in the middle of one of my exams and my computer froze up and it did not save it. Since I did not have the teacher there to help me, I had to email her and wait for a response on what I was too do. Luckily she reset the exam for me and I was able to retake it. I feel as if I paid for a course and I have not taken much from it.

With online courses there is no face to face interaction with either the professor or other students that are taking the course. If question arise you have to email the teacher and ask them. If you have difficulty with getting the program you are using to work you cannot just ask right then you will have to wait for a response. There are no group activities or interaction with other classmates. Also, since there is no interaction with the professor all assignments and exams must be done and turned in online.

Responsibility is a huge part when it comes to online courses. Since there is no set time or meeting place you are responsible to find time to get your assignments and exams done. The professors are not there reminding you when the assignments are due and how they need to be. You have to remember when everything is to be completed. With online courses you are responsible for you learning. You have to teach yourself self-discipline. Procrastinating is an easy thing to do because it easy to just keep putting off the assignment thinking that you will do it later. Time must be set aside each day to focus on the course and to complete the assignments, if not it is easy to get behind and to forget what is going on.

Technology, either you love it or you hate it. Since the course is online you will always be using a computer to complete everything. You must be able to operate the computer and the specific program that you will be using throughout the class. All the communication done with your professor is done through email, you must be able to have good writing skills and be able to use email to communicate effectively with them.

All college courses cost different amounts and that is the same for online courses also. They all need certain materials and require different materials. With online classes you still have to pay for the class, purchase the required book and etcetera. Also, with online courses you may be required to purchase certain computer program or software for the course that you would not need if it were not an online course.

    Basically it just depends on the person and their learning styles. I find online class more of a hassle and a lot more difficult. How you learn is your choice and whatever works for you is the best option.

Prom 2011 ♥

This picture was taken my Senior year right before we walked up the steps into Prom. I had waited months and month for this day. For years I had always wanted my Senior to be the best that I could possibly make it. Prom was one of my best memories of high school. I always enjoyed the anticipation of dress shopping with my mom, deciding who I would go with and just dreaming about how my special night would go. The dress I ended up wearing was actually the first and only dress I tried on, I loved it and knew it was the one for me. I went my boyfriend at the time, Zack. He made the night great. After taking millions of pictures at both of our houses we finally got to leave and go. When we arrived we met up with all our friends and was ready for the night to start. Us girls had been talking about it constantly within those last few weeks. We all we looking at magazines and talking about how we wanted to get our hair done. One of my friends came across a page that was advertising the New Prom Garters. She told us about them and how we should all get one and a "funny" between us three. We decided too but we did not tell each other what ours look like until prom night. That will always be a memory I will never forget. We had not told our moms that we got them. The looks on there face when we pulled our dresses up was priceless. At first we could tell they did not know what to think, but they were not mad. They us girls were silly, and liked to do things like that. This picture represents me and one of the best nights of my high school career. Just those simple little garders brought so much laugher to us girls. Just the fact that we had actually bought them and did it together was priceless. Still today everyone in a while one of us will bring it up. I actually have this exact picture hanging up in my room at home with my garter hanging on the side of it. Everytime I look at it, it brings back the memories of the night that I spent with my girls at Prom making memories that I will always remember. 

Observation

I observed a nature trail that was on the side of the walking/ running path by the baseball and soccer field. I had never been on it until today but I knew it was there. Throughout the trail I encountered several different things. I could hear grass being mowed, the sound of birds chirping, off in the distance we could the sound of a water fountain, and the sound of the trees blowing in the wind. As I walked I mainly saw trees, dirt, plants, clouds, and even saw a squirrel and lizard. The sky was clear blue with a few clouds. As I walked father I saw a little lake with four water fountains in it. I felt the sun beating down on me and the warmth of the water. Throughout the walk I did not taste anything. I smelt the fresh air and the smell of nature. It was a nice little adventure and I ended up observing alot.