Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Step Into A World

The reaccuring message in this book is that if you set your mind to something, you cant do it. Everything that I'm reading is pointing to this. The shifting of mindset is a perfect example of this. She talks about expanding your intelligence, your ability to grow your mind and gain talents you didn't know you had. Its all about shifting your one perspective mindset. The mindset that only see's what the world is through your eyes. How your not good at something because the first time you tried you realized that your worse than you think. It makes you secluded in your own small talents. It will drive you to the point of unhappiness. A fixed mindset will only make you feel like your the only one on the planet. The book talks about changing this. It helps you realize that what you really want will take some time to achieve.
This is shown in the book by the story of a painter. His name was Jackson Pollock. He wasn't "born" a painter. Even though he wan't very good to begin with, he still perspired and worked at it. Pollock is known as one of the greatest American painters in the twentieth century.
The arguement that they are trying to get across is that you need to take control of your own life. Its up to you to get ahold of your thought process. Its hard to live happy if your too scarred to try new things. Its easy once you work at it. You start to not care what other people tell you about what you really want to do. You just need to get out of a short mindset. Humans have alot more ability than most people think. Everyone has the ability to learn anything they want and be good at it.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

My video project

I am happy with my finished project. This was my very first time constructing a video from scratch. It was also my first time using Windows Movie Maker.
In doing this video, I wanted to get other people's perspective about Southern life. Some were for living on campus, others regret thier decision. This is understandable, it's hard going from high school to college. The upper classmen had said the same thing, they understand what were going through. With this video, I tried to form my own opinion and found a message to send to incoming freshman.
Although this isn't the most entertaining thing to watch (I don't really know how to do so) it does have a purpose. I interviewed people with different perspectives on college. I wanted to get a group of people that were different so it wasn't redundant.
Since i decided to go to Southern, I didn't know much about this school. I figure its just a college to go to. The more i ask around, the more I realize that alot of people had this mentality. Its easy to just keep letting it happen, but I don't think its right to have students come here blind. They shouldn't have to come here and not know what really goes on here. I know at orientation they didnt tell us how the food has laxitives (this is a fact) and the geography of New Haven. Having lived in Wet Haven, i always knew the area. At orientation, you'd be suprised the amount of people who had no idea of New Haven and its rank as one of the top ten most dangerous cities in America.
This video is to dismiss this. Its for they questions that they don't cover during orientation.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Video project

When conducting interviews, i asked questions that I would have like to know when i came to this school. Its hard enough to leave everything you knew behind, and it's even harder when you have no idea where your going. To move into a whole new enviorment is hard for anyone.
I wanted to know how the people were here. That was the biggest thing. I wanted to know how people interacted with others, and how faculty and teachers interacted in class. Now that I'm here, i understand what college is about. Its next to impossible to figure this out before coming to college.
I asked those who i interviewed:
 1.Why they came to this school. I want to know what brought everyone here.
2. If they enjoy being here. I'm trying to find out whether everyone enjoys being here.
3. How much different college is than high school for them.
4. If they struggle at all, and if not what precautions they take to not.
5. If they like commuting/living on campus.

Although these questions will vary because of the age group, I still want to figure out what Southern is like. I still feel brand new here, only living here for a handful of weeks. I still need answers to certain questions, and the more i stay here the more i understand.
Some people have other problems they come into when they come here, but I knew it would be a lot of work. I just hoped that the people wouldn't be awful. Its easy to find a group of friends no matter who you are. Its just putting yourself out there.
I feel like the new students who came in really didn't know that much about Southern. I want to make the video about what you don't see at orientation. I want to talk about the things they leave out (whether it be on purpose or not) and let whoever know thats willing to listen. This video will hopefully clear up what is unknown.

Monday, September 24, 2012

TIME

Time is something we can never get back. Its very important to keep track of it.

With that said, I think i'm spending my time pretty well in college. Ive come to realize that i dedicate alot of time towards school now. Close to 3/4 of my time is school and the work that entails. I figure thats a good ratio to have in college. I'd rather work hard now than later. I want my free time to be spent when i can afford to do what i want.
Doing work isn't that bad to me either. I almost enjoy it when i like when it comes out. Its something to take as a challenge. I want to have the best paper, make the best blog. It takes time and I understand that. Thats why you MUST dedicate the majority of your time to school.
When I don't have work to do, I like to pretty much hangout with myself. I've come to realize that I like doing things on my own. It makes you have to deal with the problems that you make by yourself. Its also much easier to relax when I'm on my own. I have my own ways of winding down. Just as much as you need to dedicate your time to school, you need to set time aside for yourself. You can't just work all the time. You need to have time to relax or else your days just start blending into eachother. There has to be something to distinguish your days.
All in all, I think i'm doing the right thing in college. I'm putting time aside to do work and to settle down everyday. I just need to find the right balance.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

http://capnmismis.blogspot.com/

This blog, in my opinion, is A material. All the thoughts and idea's are clear to see and it holds your attention. Nothings worse than reading something that makes you think of everything other than what their saying. This blog gives their own idea's, but also leaves room to understand why. Its not just facts, it explains why they thought that.
When "she" (i think its a she) talks about the ten thousand hour rule, she doesnt just say what practice is and what she practices. In her case, writing was her form of art. To be able to express your feelings through words was always tough for me and i even envy those who are good at it. Nothings worse than not having anything to say. I understandwhy you would put 10,000 hours into that. Reading her blog gave me a better insight on why some choose that path. Thats why i would want to read blogs. I dont care what people do on a day to day basis, i want to know what people think.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Tips

The tips I've picked up from coming here is this: stay up on your graduation process because noone else will. Everyone thats older has said that the school counselors do not help you at all.
Keeping this in mind has to be number one because my ultimate goal is to graduated in four years. Alot of things factor into this goal. Keeping up on your schoolwork is easy to do if you set aside time. Time manegment is something that has to be worked on when you come to college. Since college is a hundred times different than high school, you need to completely turn around how you did school work. You cant coast through college and think you don't need to do the same work as everyone else. The way I did work in high school is nothing compared to what i have to do now.
Changing this is the toughest thing for me. I'm used to doing the bare minimum to get by. In college, the bare minimum will get you nowhere. You need to stay on your work, noone else is there to help you. Its not a bad thing, theres a reason why everyone doesn't graduate. Its all up to you.
Its a nice feeling knowing your future is in your hands now. Its just up to you to make all your decisions and to follow up on your promises. This is where life begins for the majority of us.

Friday, September 14, 2012

"Practice makes perfect, but nobody’s perfect, so why practice?”

While reading through the ten thousand hour rule article, one thing that seems to pop out.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.
This is the truth. When you practice at something you want to do, you get better. The good part about this is that you don't feel like your practicing if you enjoy it. If you have something you love doing, every time you do it your "practicing." Sometimes you don't even notice the progress you've been making until you step back and really compare.
Perfecting what you love is an easy task. In the article, he talks about the Beatles. At one point, they were nobodys. They just loved playing music and did it every night. They didnt do it just to put in time and to get famous. They thoroughly enjoyed playing on a stage every night. They could call it practice, but it would never feel like it. You gradually get better as the days go on, but you dont notice because your always looking for more. You always want to get better. If you love something, you will want to master it. Attack it from all sides to know every little detail about it. Know everything you can do to make it different from someone else. Thats why you love it.