Entry #11- Final Reflection Blog

Looking back, on my blogging experience, I can not help, but wonder where the last four months have gone. In the beginning of this adventure, I was excited to blog and was skeptical at the same time. How was I supposed to be successful at blogging? What about topics? OH NO, OH NO, OH NO..is what went through my mind.

But, I took a deep breath and dove in and learned how to open up to my classmates and the world about issues that had me mesmerized and events that were going on in my life. It gave me an outlet that allowed me to use as a relaxer and blogging soon changed from "what I had to do" to "what I want to do". 

I could not wait to share with my husband and my Mechistas about my latest blog and get their opinions about my writing or videos/pictures I had chosen. I definitely took this experience seriously and even given great thought to continuing my blog throughout the next few years. I also have thought about using this method when I finally have my own class. There are so many teacher-based sites that teachers and elementary students can interact and create blogs without violating FERPA.

While blogging, I learned more about me as a writer, how easy it was to attract an audience, and how experiences or ideas can come alive with choice words and graphics. I also learned more about myself personally. It allowed me to reflect not only what I was blogging about, but other events that were impacting my life.

I believe blogging was a very useful assignment for this class because it allowed us to be more creative and get away from the basic essay. It was a great way to express ourselves and get to know each other better.

Thank you so much for opening me up to the world of blogs! 

Entry #10- Passing on The Torch...

As we head down the last weeks of school, I find myself in a bittersweet slump of emotions. I have come to the realization that this Thursday is my last M.E.Ch.A. meeting as President and I will be handing over my role to a fellow Mechista that will lead our group in the upcoming 2014-2015 school year. I feel as if  my passion is being taken away from me, my heart weakens and I am lost. For the past two years, I have devoted great time into M.E.Ch.A. and now I wonder, What am I going to do with my time now?

Looking back on this past year, my group and I have taken our chapter to the next level. We have reached district recognition and are the DAC Award of Excellence recipients of 2014. I am extremely proud of our accomplishments and hope you all continue to grow throughout this next year.

Being a part of M.E.Ch.A. has made me a better person, a better leader, and a better student. It has taken me many places such as Denver, Colorado, Albuquerque, New Mexico and countless leadership retreats. It has allowed me to meet many people and be a part of something better than the average college experience. 

As I reflect on all the experiences being involved in M.E.Ch.A. has brought me, I realize I am very fortunate to have met all of you and although we will still see each other around, this still feels like goodbye. I am so proud to have been your leader and I truly believe you all are going to do great things next year!

Entry #9-Media Synthesize

In today's society it is extremely easy to be overpowered and influenced by the latest trends and fads. Media plays a huge role in this influence from advertisements to the goods they advertise.

"Killing Us Softly 3" is part of a film series that focuses on the negative side of advertisement based on the exposed sexuality and vulnerability of young girls and women. This film has changed my view on the way I view advertisements and I  no longer focus on the product, but more of the subject and how they are exposed.

I believe these types of advertisements are the cause of poor body image among our society. Women and men are being forced-fed images of the impossible and are brainwashed to think that a lady that is skeletal thin, with high cheek-bones, and long legs is beautiful and if you are anything less you are hideous.







                                                                                                                                                           









These extreme measures that portray "beauty" not only affect the way men think of women, but can have lasting effects on young girls that can cause eating-disorders, self-mutilation and heaven forbid the newest trend of adolescent plastic surgery.

We need to change our world with positive reinforcement and change the view of both women and men. Women with curves in ancient times were seen as the most beautiful and desirable. There are figurines, statues and other monuments that paid tribute to these women.

Beauty should not be based on the size of your waist, breasts, and skin color. Everyone is beautiful and we need to stop doctoring up false idols.

Entry #8- "Trapper ready!?"

As I give a nod, the competitor raises the barrel and yells, "PULL!" just then I push the button on the controller and tense up just as the explosion ignites from the shotgun. I watch two skeet birds fly through the air and burst one right after the other. I yell, "Dead Pair!" as the group congratulates competitor number 70.



It was my first time being a trapper for the Arizona Game and Fish State Competition and I was extremely nervous and excited. Although, I was not new to the Ben Avery range or competitions, I was new at being a trapper and I knew these men and women competing payed top dollar to be in this competition. 



Friday the first morning of the competition, as I was pulling for a competitor, one of his teammates tapped me lightly on the shoulder to gain my attention just as the shooter yelled, "Pull!" I was so distracted by the four-foot Western Diamondback slithering into my station that I lost concentration and did not push the button in time resulting in "a look that could kill" from the shooter. He began to get angry at me until he saw what caught my attention and freaked out. For what seemed like hours we all stood still not able to move and quietly discussing the laws of killing a rattler meanwhile trying to get the attention of the facility director. We finally got his attention and without hesitation grabbed the beautiful Beretta and shot the snake twice severing it's head.  
With a sigh of relief and a nervous laugh, we were all back on track and ready for the next competitor. 

Throughout the entire weekend, I was known as the snake girl and the news of my rattle snake reached all 150 competitors. By the end of the weekend, I learned that my station was the only one visited by a slithering creature. 

Entry #7- Capitalism: A Love Story

The corrupt actions of main-stream America have never been a secret, but the extreme measures corporate goes to to make a quick buck will make your skin crawl. During 2008, when most of us were shaken up and worried about loosing our jobs, homes, and the little savings we had, CEO's, millionaires and billionaires were reaping in the benefits of the countless bailout deals awarded to their companies.

According to Michael Moore, a well known film maker, corporate America and the top 1% benefit so much from the labor of the common folk and think so little of us that we are referred to as peasants. "Peasants!" Wow, what a smack in the face. Us, Americans who are living the "dream" that all other countries hope to live are considered "peasants". I thought we ditched this slur when we crossed the Atlantic and fought for our Independence. 

However, name calling is the least of our worries. Who knew that your friendly employer such as Wal-mart and many other big names could and will take life insurance policies out in your name? But..wait..does the company benefit from those policies or the family left behind? According to USA Today, a recent article posted that 11 million households do not have life insurance because these families have other financial responsibilities. Does it seem fair that a family who can not afford life insurance has to suffer when their loved one passes away while the company  rakes in thousands of dollars?

It's disgusting to see that GREED has overtaken our basic human compassion and has slaughtered the "American Dream". The promises of our Independence and democratic philosophies are merely a dream that we no longer grasp. We allow just 1% of America to tell us, we will forever be poor and beneath their shoes because we are just "peasants".

Entry# 6- What do teacher's make?

As a future educator, I often find myself being asked, "why would I choose to be a teacher if they do not make that much money?" And of course, I always respond, "life is not about money!"

But, really what do teachers make? Well I have a friend who would like to share with you exactly what a teachers make.

 Being an educator is not a simple job and can easily become a 12+ hour work day and it is true that we are all under paid for what we do. And for the congressmen and women who do not believe that schools need more money (and we are talking about money going to the school and not the superintendent's pocket), they will never understand the amount of work we put into making sure we have law abiding citizens for the future.

It is not about money in my pocket! It is about the spark of joy when a child finally "gets it" and the smiles on their face when they achieve. It is the support I will provide for the children with troubled homes, the hungry tummies I will feed and make sure they have food to take home. It is the fact that I know that I will have 30+ young minds to mold and create a classroom that is culturally empathetic and runs on collaboration. It will be my job to inspire the future presidents, entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, and TEACHERS!

Entry #5- Wall-E

The animated film Wall-E was never a big interest of mine and I never understood why people loved it so much. After watching this short clip, it is extremely sad to see that all human interaction is lost due to the immense use of technology. I believe there is a huge connection between this film and today's society. As we rely more and more on technology we have definitely lost the art of communication.

It was easy to see that the people in this clip had lost all personal interaction with each other and talked through a "web cam" even though they were sitting right next to each other.This is similar to the way people in our own society text each other who are in the same room instead of just speaking. The film also showed that the people relied so much on technology that they use robots to teach their children about Buy N Large, told them when to eat, what to wear and even picked them up if they fell out of their chairs. It took Wall-E to break Mary's chair to get her to realize he was speaking to her and at that very moment she realized how immense technology was in her world through advertisement. It was very interesting to see how useless people became the more they relied on technology. Einstein once said, "I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction." This film definitely shines a light on the destruction technology could have in our society.