Senior reflection #4

well, im not really sure what to write.its so wierd that i used to think that high school would never end, and now it finally is.everything has become so hectic with some of my friends from other schools graduating before me, finishing finals, grad parties, planning summer before-college trips with my friends, and having relatives visit. It doesnt seem like there's enough time for anything.everything seems to be happening so fast!I'm actually almost sad it's ending, that this part of my life is coming to a close and now i have to start all over again almost.its scary thinking that ill come back from summer vacation to unfamiliar faces.

current event #4-end of china's cheap labor?-http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/13/china-s-workers-strike-back.html

A)this article was written by Duncan Hewitt from Newsweek. This article is about how foxconn and Honda, two of china's biggest foreign manufacturers have raised the pay for their factory workers. There had been so many strikes, protests, and even suicides that they had no choice but to finally comply.foxconn was only paying their workers $130 a month!workers finally became fed up and because of the continuously enforced one child policy in china, which gives them the advantage of not having as many able workers, the employess had the upper hand. the company has even offered to double what their workers are currently earning in wages. worker shortages, and a new law on labor dispute resolution, has caused the factories to become more desperate for their workers.Though things are looking up for these workers, companies are debating on whether or not to relocate their factories to different countries, in order to get more labor at a cheaper cost.
B)I chose this article because i found it interesting how they finally raised the wages.still, it doesnt seem like enough even if you double the salary. I cant imagine how even one person could survive on $130 a month let alone whole families.Hopefully these new changes stick because these workers are sometimes doing strenuous labor, and for peanuts!its crazy and hopefully it will change someday.

senior reflection #3

Im actually starting to get scared of leaving.even though i moved around a bit as a kid because my dad was in the military, ive spent a good 12 years here. As much as i used to want to leave when i was little and hated virginia, im actually going to miss it.it has been my home for a good chunk of my life and theres alot of memories here.im also scared because once summer hits, i wont have anything really preductive to get college off my mind for that whole month of july.its all i think about.i keep wondering if ill like it, if itll be like the colleges everyone else is going to, if ill like my roommate,if ill get homesick, etc. it sucks waiting like this i just want to get up there now, im so impatient. and also leaving highschool when ive spent four years of my life here. its weird i wont see any familiar faces anymore, im so used to coming back to school after the summer and seeing the same old people.it was kind of comforting. i mean, i like change alot, but im not sure how much i can handle.north dakota is very familiar to me but at the same time its not because ive never lived there for more then a month before.its scary.i feel like im not grown up enough for college and leaving home and being away from my parents.i guess we'll have to see...

current event #3-http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/health/01attention.html?pagewanted=2&ref=health

A) this article was written by Katherine Ellison in the New York Times website. This article is about how doctors are on the look-out for new objective evidence of ADHD(attention deficit hyperactive disorder). This disorder is being overly-diagnosed by doctors.simply, if one cannot concentrate well, they automatically assume its attention deficit and then go to their doctor and get a prescription for a medication they may not even need. it's simply based on paranoia and the thought of being comforted by the fact that all your problems could be fixed by a little pill.not true.most doctors today dont do actual tests on patients in order to diagnose them. they simply give them a sheet of paper with a number of questions on it relating to basic syptoms that pretty much everyone has had at one time or another.pretty much everyone is going around saying they have adhd nowadays, but do they really have it or are they just being peranoid?The article goes on to describe the new test that has been recently developed to accurately diagnose patients for adhd. in the medical world, theyre trying to step up and make it more effecient and easy for people to get the right medical help they need.

B)I chose this article because I was diagnosed with ADD(attention deficit disorder) a more mild case of ADHD.Ive been taking medication for it since grade school and i have recently discovered that i may have not even needed it, because i pay attention fine when im not on it.so I really do think that there are alot of flaws in the medical world. diagnosis for, not only attention disorders but others are so subjective.doctors have really slacked in accurately treating patients that they just go and prescribe medication right off the bat.It's crazy. we pay money so we can have good medical attention when needed and we arent getting the most out of what we pay for.so many kids today are going around with adhd pills even when they dont really need them and have been improperly diagnosed. the pills have side effects that can be potentially dangerous to those that dont really need the medication.It's extremely sad to think that you can't even trust your doctors to treat you properly.

senior reflection#2

so, as i stated in my last senior reflection, im super excited for college. im still confused though on what i should make my major because people keep telling me that i dont need to major in pre law to go to law school, that i could major in history, but i have yet to know what the difference would make, if it would make one at all.im still confused on that one.i cant believe i go in august.im scared because idk how itll be with just me 1700 miles away from my home.soooooo scary.i really just want to graduate and get it over with so i can go on trips this summer and just relax.but i might need to find a job too which is annoying.urgh.ohwell i actually dont mind working at all.anyways i cant think of anything else to say so im ending it here.

current event #2-finding a healthy medium-http://www.newsweek.com/id/237461

A)
This article was written by Kate Dailey of Newsweek.This article talks about eating disorders.It goes on to say that people of all sizes, not just already thin people, can have eating disorders.college students especially have become preoccupied with weight, as they tend to gain "the freshman fifteen" at college.over 40% women and 20% men at college have eating disorders. There are also alot of people that have eating disorders and you cant even tell. alot of doctors have had trouble recognizing eating disorders, as the victims tend to hide it well. with the media projecting images of thin people as the popular, well off ones, and with the increasing amount of fast food chains in america, its impossible to win either way.
B)
I chose this article because obesity and eating disorders is a big issue in society today. kids my age go through it quite often and the media doesnt make it any easier for us teenagers.also, as we are soon-to-be college students, it brings to attention just how many end up having eating disorders because the students dont watch and regulate their food intake.body image is one of the main problems that teenagers face today, and its only going to get worse as we get older.what i just learned from this article though is that eating disorders may be genetic.i had no idea.

senior reflection #1

I'm so excited to be graduating soon. I'm more than ready for college. Although i think I might actually miss virginia im both nervous and excited to be moving to north dakota. my family is from there and I just love the midwest so much, which is why i decided on college there. I love everything about the midwest and im really cant wait for my first day of college classes. the only thing im nervous about is meeting my new roommate in august.i hope i like her/share atleast a few common interests with her.I'm also kinda nervous about leaving my parents out here on the east coast all by themselves, but hopefully theyll be ok.i can hardly believe that i'm practically done with highschool it feels too weird. I actually already bought a few things for my dorm room like towels and a coathanger and such lol.just one more month and we'll be done!yay!woooooooooooo!

current event #1-can an enemy be a child's friend?http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/health/18mind.html?pagewanted=2&ref=health

A)
this article was written by Benedict Carey of Newsweek.This article talks about how when we are children, we tend to have a few not so friendly friends. Up until recently, those types of friendships were thought to be unhealthy for children. studies have shown however, that having antagonistic friends as a young child actually helps to ensure the growth of a child's emotional and social developement. It helps children to learn basic social skills and basically what not to do in a friendship. it teaches them acceptable social behaviors as well. being able to handle antagonists will help in real life as you get older and also makes you stronger, both mentally and socially.

B)I chose this article because i really identified with it.I've been in friendships with intimidating children who bossed me around, but as this article showed, it only made me stonger and more able to handle people.I think this article was very well written. It was to the point and cited correctly. It was also very readable and understandable. I did enjoy this article because it made me realize that all those antagonistic friendships that i had as a child have actually benefitted me, atleast in some way, however small that way may be.

editorial #5-http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/opinion/18thu1.html

This article is called "Mr. Obama and No Child left Behind" by The New York Times. Its about how Obama wants to change the no child left behind education act. This includes monitering the failing schools and letting the better run ones room and flexibility to fix themselves. Obama wants his new reform to give credit to schools for improving student performance even if they fail to reach the progress targets. this new reform would also require a heavier evaluation on teachers and principles. However, this new provision is said to take up to a decade.

I think this new provision would be a good idea.there are so many teachers at schools with teaching capabilities that are questionable.there really shouldnt be any leeway for allowing people to teach because it effects the students, often in a permanent way.there should be higher standards set for who should be allowed to teach.even if they have a teaching degree, that shouldnt matter if they fail to perform and teach students effectively.with that being said, teachers have a huge effect on the No Child left Behind act because its their job to make sure theyre teaching effectively enough so no child gets left behind and if theyre not doing this, then its effecting alot more than their jobs.

editorial #4-http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/opinion/14sun1.html?ref=opinion

this editorial is called "national school standards, at last". its about how the national governors association wants the states to agree on a new set standard of learning for students in the US. their proposal indicates certain things the students will learn from year to year wwhich may lead to changes in curriculum, testing and teaching. it talks about how nationally, student performance is very low and the learning standards are different in each district. students in some countys arent learning the same things as students in other countys, even at the same grade level. students are performing badly in reading and math compared to other countries.

I think that this new proposal would be a good thing.its true that not all students are learning exactly the same things and because of this, it gives the ones that happen to be learning more then others in school in advantage in important tests such as the SAT.higher standards need to be set so that all students will be able to get the full education they deserve and wont have to struggle or be denied to a school because of poor tests scores becausse they werent taught a cartain thing that others may have been taught.let's face it, we dont always have the best of teachers on staff at highschools. they may not teach effectively or they fail to fully help students succeed, which effects the students more than they realize. students should not have to suffer and be denied the ability to achieve certain goals or be denied the opportunity to go to a university because they werent able to learn as much as they could from the teachers who are being paid to do it. this snag in the educational system just gives kids in other countys an advantage.why should that be allowed? all students who are willing to learn should have the right to learn everything they are supposed to. this also goes with some schools having certain classes and programs that other schools dont have.this is unfair because it makes it so kids who would have liked to take those classes unable to just because they happen to go to a school that doesnt offer it.what are they supposed to do then, transfer schools just so they can take that class?the system is highly flawed and unbalanced and it should be fixed because this makes such a huge impact on millions of lives. why should something as important as education be overlooked?

editorial #3-http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/14/pocket-money-for-politicians/

this article is called "pocket money for politicians" by the washington Times. its about how congressional member's don't fully understand what the average american has to go through daily to earn a living, especially considering the recession the US has been going through. the government is being irresponsible and spending taxpayer money frugally. lawmakers misuse public funds for private reasons. they rack up thousands of dollars on government credit cards but still they talk as if they can relate to the public.

I think that this editorial is right. not only about lawmakers though but many political figures, especially presidents. you hear in their speeches that they talk about relating to the public but alot of them came from wealth so they really cant relate to the average american. lawmakers dont have to struggle with paying off bills and saving money for things because they get alot of their expenses paid for. It amazes me what hard working citizen's tax dollars really go to sometimes.

editorial #2-http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/opini4.html

"Haiti's futile race against the rain"
By Lawrence Downes

This article is about how Haiti's government is struggling to find a solution to not being able to house over 1 million people effected by the harsh storm. Because they are unable to find a place to put them, Haiti's president decided to move all the haitians back to the shattered streets of Port-au-Prince. They are trying to house everyonee properly before the rain season officially starts.officials think that all they need to do is clear just enough of the mess so that people can continue to live there, yet its so much of disaster area.
I feel like they are not doing enough to try to fix the problem.they could send the haitians to other places besides port au prince. It doesnt make sense to take people out of disaster and send them to a still dumpy and shattered area.if they clear the rubble they wont find much left so it doesnt make sense to do that and then put people back there so they can live in the middle of a disaster area.

editorial #1-http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2010/02/opposing-view-tackle-costs-first.html

"Opposing view:tackle costs first"
by Steve Poizner
This editorial is about how the reform plans will raise premiums, and increase health spending.Poizner says that higher premiums would leave high-risk populations in the insurance pool.he thinks we should increase competition and consumer choice by allowing americans to have private coverage and that congress should end the bias against individually purchased health insurance.he says states can play a role in lowering costs

I agree, I think that obama didnt really put much consideration into how much this reform would cost us. we should reduce costs to increase availability of health care.right now, all this reform is doing is icreasing the cost of basic coverage for everyone else. they want to expand midicaid, but there are still problems that need to be worked out before that happens

bog 6

So, this week has been hectic with last minute college apps and that 8 page research paper. But thank god its over! now i can relax a little more (somewhat).
im getting kind of excited for college now, even though i have yet to recieve my acceptance letter from MSU(though ive known for a month that i got in because i called and asked ahaha)
kind of excited about being out on my own, though it's also kind of scary because ill be 1700 miles away. But i mean im 18 and all so i guess it has to happen eventually.
im most likely going to live in a house when i go to college, so maybe ill get a pet or something ahaha.like a giant bird or something tropical lol.
um.not really sure what else to say in this and I'm really tired so I guess ill just end it now.

political cartoon #6-http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/jan/17/sarahs-new-gig/?opinioncartoons

1. Clay Bennett drew this cartoon

2. it was published online in The Chatanooga Times Free Press (www.TimesFreePress.com) on January 17, 2010

3. This cartoon is about Sarah Palin's new gig on FOX news. it's titled "sarah Palin at her best"

4. The message here is that people are reluctant to hear her views on anything, hence the "mute" function on the bottom right hand side.This cartoon portrays her as chatty, and makes her look kind of like a grandma, with her long face.

5. I agree with this message, i feel like she is il informed and whatever she has to say probably will sound ignorant. however, i do agree that this is the perfect job for her. She can talk as much as she wants, though how many will actually listen to her, i dont know. I like the mute part because it shows that no one is really willing to listen to her, because of some of the things she says, it just makes it more obvious of how lacking she is in experience.

free response question #5

It's 2010! So far Obama hasn't seemed to have done too much, but maybe this new year will be different. I think the new health care reform will pass, but it won't work very well. There's too many problems with costs and everything that it's really doubtful that it will actually help anything. Im hoping these economic problems we've had will subside, but if Obama keeps going on the track he is, its very unlikely. Also, with these recent terrorist problems, I'm hoping that the government and national security becomes a lot stricter. Its rediculous how lazy the security in airports has been considering how important it is to keep airports safe and terrorists out of the planes.

political cartoon #5-http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/dec/29/increased-security/?opinioncartoons

1.clay bennett drew this cartoon.
2. It was published online in the Chatanooga Times Free Press(www.timesfreepress.com) on Tuesday, December 29, 2009.
3. This cartoon is about the recent security increase in airports because of the terrorist bombing.
4. The message here is that fear of terrorists has become so great that security is tightening to the point where everyone is being checked, and not just their bags. almost as if theyre going through the conveyor belt and being scanned. its saying that everyone should be checked now, from head to toe, so as to ensure that another incident like the one that happened over the holidays wont happen again.
5. I agree with this message. because security wasnt as thoughrough as it should have been, a terrorist slipped through the cracks.only searching people randomly isnt good enough because you never know what people may be hiding. Though this means security will be more of a hastle, and take longer, its worth it if it means keeping innocent people as safe as possible.