Outfly

I may be gullible...

But I'm not THAT gullible. Upperclassman think they can make dates and rumors up, but I know something the other freshman don't know. Outfly is not tomorrow. "It's tomorrow, it's tomorrow!" Pfft, what a joke. If it was tomorrow, it would be every day the past month. Zach Sommers said that too, and he's the one who made the date. Here are a list of facts that I know Outfly consists of:

FACT #1: Outfly is real

FACT #2: Outfly is before the weather gets too cold

FACT #3: Outfly will be when everyone least expects it

Looking at the facts, it is clear that Outfly is certainly uncertain. No one will know when Outfly is, because it is possible that the Outfly decision makers, including the president of Outfly, can change the date if need be. Outfly was supposed to be last Tuesday, but the weather was too unpleasant to continue with the plans. Therefore, Outfly was changed to a later date. Why not change the date once more, when everyone believes Outfly to be tomorrow? I'll tell you one thing- if I were student body president of Wartburg, I would make sure that people were surprised. When the whole campus, including teachers, assume classes being dismissed the next day, I would make sure to have some fun with the power I have in choosing the Outfly date.

Let's be honest, I would love Outfly to be tomorrow. I wish it would have been today, but we need to use our cognitive thinking as freshman. Look around you: do you hear everyone talking about Outfly? It's true, and you may have joined them, but remember: Outfly will never be when everyone thinks it is. What fun would that be? I understand that we all know when Christmas is, but it is the idea of wondering exactly when the presents arrive. We'll never know when the presents get here, or when Outfly gets here. Get homework done and plenty of rest, and who knows? Tomorrow could be a great day without any work to do whatsoever, and it just so happens to be Outfly. Me, however, I am betting someone five bones that Outfly is not tomorrow, so let us agree to disagree it is not tomorrow, but instead, Friday.

Yay for Outfly!!!

The Vote

The right to vote is a blessing to us as Americans. In various other countries, the right to vote is no right whatsoever, or if it is, the system of government may be biased and corrupted. No matter what the cost, the right to vote should be given to all available and allegeable citizens of America. The question of who in America can vote, regarding illegal aliens, is a hard one to answer. Opinions will come and go, but the real answer is hidden somewhere in the constitution. Everyone has a right to liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In my opinion, may it come or go, is that non-citizens should have the right to vote. Not only this, but should be able to become citizens more cheaply and essentially less complicated than it is today. In the scope of America, the votes given by immigrants of illegal traverse will only boost voter turnout with good intentions of the people. Perhaps some of the population of illegal immigrants may not know all there is to know about the current election, but in the vote, usually there are good intentions. As America, I think it is our duty to appropriately and intelligently accept who we can through the country and allow them the vote with trust and responsibility.

The voting age, to my thought, is in a perfect place. The age of eighteen is the beginning of adulthood where youth begin the finding of their passions and the establishment of their beliefs. Though, to be admitted in the army, one must be eighteen. To consume alcohol, youth must be twenty-one. These age differences are a bit misunderstandable, however, the voting age is at an accurate position.

One must think of when women received the right to vote in 1920 through the 19th amendment. As America, this was a necessary and probable cause to support. Equality of the sexes is imperative, especially according the vote.

The vote has many positives surrounding it today in America. I believe that there are minimal difficulties and problems in voting today. However, the electoral college has a say that the citizens of America may not. Though, Americans vote for the electoral college to make decisions. They have the ability to say, "neigh," to a states overall vote, which is quite an enormous power. Besides this recurring thought, many good things encompass the vote.

Dream Big

Dream big- how else are we going to get anywhere? Start with what you have, and go for whatever you want to see come true in life. Its like putting a mound of clay in your hand, putting it on a pottery rack, and forming it with your hands until it is to your liking. Although, sometimes our pottery glass cracks in the furnace, we may not be physically able to make another, or our clay runs out. Just as the clay smooths and forms in our hands, so is the way of our dreams.

DREAM BIG

G
Dream big
D
Why freeze our thoughts?
G
Connect the hopes you find
D                           C
And create them a timeline

G
Dream big
D
Discover the ladder
G
Climb for the air you seek
D                    C
Breathe in the light so deep

G
Find your call
D
When your falling through
G
The ground where you
D
Know there's one thing to do


D (Power Chord)
We shine,
                            D
Brighter than the whole earth moves
D (Power Chord)
With the sun,
                 D
Creating a world so new
G
Than before,
A
The darkness was over the sky
D (Power Chord)
We shine,
                           A          D
Brighter than the soaring tide

Thoughts on "The Independent Project"

As we discussed in class, I would have to agree that "The Independent Project" would be ideal in the senior year of high school. This would help students figure out what they want to do with the rest of there life in a faster manner. Instead of going through the motions in the last year of high school, why not use the year to explore? Perhaps find the dream you were dreaming of?

However, another point I have come a crossed in my mind is the idea of college in itself. College is "The Independent Project" in its truest form. Where else can one learn what they want to do, and get a recognition for it? In this light, it could be quite intelligent to think of college as the dream outlet. The idea of being graded for an individualized goal is the intention of college.

Looking at both of these points, which one should we prefer and implement? That is for you to decide. For me, college is "The Independent Project." Someone may have come along and said, "what if we had students study what they were interested in? Wouldn't that be a great idea?" Yes, it would, but it was already created.

In argument, "The Independent Project" in its beginnings prompted students to continue their education to highly respected colleges. These students not only found a passion, but continued it on throughout their future career. This outcome is very impressive, and therefore could be a proof of the positives in "The Independent Project."

Tracking

Tracking is currently used in parts of Europe, for example. Tracking creates an alteration to standard education by separating and growing to students in what they are best at. At an early age, teachers put students into classes that focus on one subject. This subject is what the student can complete most accurately and successfully. In my opinion, Tracking is similar to the communist system. They both have good intentions for a perfect world, but do not show complete positives.

Here is how tracking is great:

• The workforce is stronger with people that are truly talented in their fields.
• The school system will find what a student is proficient in at an early age.
• Students learn with students that are on their same level and same subject continuously through schooling.
• Teachers work with like-minded students and therefore do not need to work with "falling-behind" students.
• School testing is increasingly higher because students are studying a subject they understand well.

Here is how tracking is bad:

• Students have a harder time strengthening there passions rather than their starting strengths.

As you can see, there are more negatives than positives. With this in mind, it may be hard to believe that I think tracking is...

bad.

I love making music, and I love getting better at what I love. Although I may not be as good at music than I am at history, I want these to be reversed. Music should be my strength, not history. 

I hope that tracking does not limit people to what they do not want to do, but gives them the choice to succeed in something they love to do.

FIRPA: Should your parents know if you are failing out of college?

The many parents who care about how their son/daughter does in high school is a natural phenomenon.  Good parents will work with their child and their child's school to make sure that grades are where they should be. In college, the reigns go to the student. The student works with various college groups and help facilities in order to raise their grades at an appropriate level. If a student is failing and may be at risk of leaving the college, parents need to be notified if they fall under the following two categories.

Normally, parents work with their incoming college student on payments for college. They may set up a plan together so that both the son/daughter and the parents pay for college together. Because the parents could be investing a lot of money in their child's education, if the child is failing, the parents have a right to know. Just like a donor wants to know where the money is going, a parent wants to make sure that their student is using their money to the fullest possible potential.

Another possibility is that the college student has had some sort of schooling help that he/she required in order to pass school successfully. Parents could be told that their college student is failing and very well could be taken from college, in this case. This is positive because the parents may know a solution to the problem and can make choices based on previous help that the student needed in K-12.

Now, if a student is completely independent by: paying for college, paying for lodging, paying for books, and by taking all necessary help when possible, no parent needs to be told about failing grades.

As an educational system, the system makes discretion of grades between all students. It is common for teachers to hand tests back upside down so that peers do not see what the grade is. If a parent does not have any control of their child, they do not need to know if they are failing out of college.

Homework and Hospitalization: A New Beginning

I think it is about time for a new beginning. After my last blog on "Homework and Hospitalization," things have not gotten much better for me. I have slept even less, have worked minimally on homework, and find myself wishing I was better prepared during class. So, in the beginning of this week, when things started to look ugly, what did a typical day look like?

Step 1: The alarm buzzes
Step 2: No, seriously, alarm. Stop.
Step 3: OK, jeez, I'm waking up
Step 4: Today is going to be awful, when did I get to bed?
Step 5: I need to get this reading assignment done for class in an hour
Step 6: I didn't get it done, but I'll do it tomorrow, or the next day
Step 7: No, why did I not practice piano?
Step 8: Aghh... what happened to make me so lazy?
Step 9: That girl is pretty cute
Step 10: It's 11:00, at least I got half of my homework done

Would it not be a gift from heaven to have unlimited time on homework? I mean, the time would freeze when I would need to get homework done. Then, I would have time for friends, for a nice nap, and all would be right with the world. If this does not happen I will need to come up with a routine that finishes homework and gives me nap time.

I love to make music! I make songs left and right whenever I can, but that doesn't correspond with any of my homework. It might be where I spend 25% of my free time. 50% with friends, 15% with ensembles and groups, and 10% on homework.

Look, I know I need to change. I wish I could, and I sincerely want to be a student that sees school as a job. I am spending money to be here.

Thoughts on "White Man's Burden"

This movie is set in past America, most likely in the 1960s. The main idea is that blacks take the role of whites in this past time. It is very interesting to see the mirrored examples of racial stereotypes. The main character, white, loses his family, loses his house, and his job. He tries to find a job with job searchers, but he has no luck whatsoever. He then takes hostage the person that caused his troubles, as one might say, and tries to make him pay cash for all that the main character lost.

Although an interesting idea, "White Man's Burden" is only replaying the past that we all know. The reason I believe that this movie is confusing is that I do not know the objectives the creators are trying to achieve. Is the movie supporting the idea that all races are equally critizised? Do the authors want to show that racism would occur no matter which race was placed where? Or was this movie just made to inspire thinking and conversation?

The screenplay could have been of better quality, and the acting could have been considerably better also. Perhaps the movie was not given enough credit, but it could have been produced much more intelligently. More intelligently through storyline, acting, and cinematography. The story sketch seems relatively short and slow. There aren't very many surprises either.

The movie could have been something more, but the objective is transparent nonetheless.