The Funk (6A)

Many people will come across a point in there life where they are facing challenges and don't know how to overcome them.  Whether if something small or big, it's still a challenge and some may want to overcome them.  I've had a challenge in my life that I overcame.  This challenge was me getting back into tumbling.  I have been doing dance and cheerleading my whole life and tumbling is part of both sports.   I started tumbling when I was seven years old.  I remember when I first threw my back handspring and I just wouldn't stop.  I would tumble everywhere and I loved it.  As I was growing up I started with the harder tricks such as tucks, standing back hand spring tucks and running tricks as well.  I had all of those tricks and I loved doing them and trying to perfect them every time I threw one.  When I started Varsity cheer as a freshman I was always in the front for the tumbling sequence.  My friend and I were the only freshman who had the harder tricks.

I tumbled all throughout my freshman year and competed through competitions and everything.  One day when I was tumbling at dance class, I found myself unable to do it.  My body was stopping me.  In my head I knew I could do it.  I was thinking to myself, "what is going on, this isn't right."  I started to get nervous and I just couldn't do my tricks.  My body wouldn't let me do them.  When I tried to do it I was just scared and I didn't want to throw any of my tricks.  My friends kept saying to me, "come on bri, you go it, you could do this in your sleep."  I would always say I know to them.  I remember this day like it was yesterday.

I decided that day that I was going to wait until the following week to just try again and to do my tricks.    That I was just having an off day and that the next time will be fine.  Soon enough next week came and I was right back where I was the previous week.  I just couldn't do it, I was scared.  I didn't know how to overcome this, I started to cry and got so frustrated because I knew I could do my tricks.  I thought to myself, what if I take baby steps.  What if I start from the beginning and start off with a back walk over ( a trick you usually get before a back hand spring.)  I figured that this method would work.  So that's what I did.  I started off slow.

This took quite a bit, maybe more than 2 years.  I was in a FUNK.  I couldn't get out of it and I knew that I had to.  I wanted to get out of it and tumble like I used to.  As time went on I finally started to get back into the swing of things.  I finally was tumbling again.  I never felt so relieved in my life.  I was such a great feeling.  I realized that this challenge that I was overcoming taught me how to be confident and to never give up on something that you strive so hard for and something that you enjoy doing.  It taught me how to be brave and to never doubt yourself in anything that you do.  It was a great lesson for me, and when I overcame it, it was the best feeling in the world.  It felt like a million weights off my shoulders and I wasn't in that funk anymore.  I have to say it wasn't easy overcoming it, I had to work really hard for it.  I did though because I knew that I wanted my tricks back and when I love something I'm going to give 100% effort to do it.  And thats exactly what I did!

Always believe, even when you think you can't do something... YOU CAN :)

Me time (5I)

Some people have different places that they find it's easier to study or how quiet it is.  They can either go to the library , their dorm or any other place.  I like doing my work in my dorm room.  Me and my roommate have completely different schedules, so when she is at class I am in my dorm doing work.  Even if she is in here it's never a distraction.  I love doing my work in my dorm and I find it easy to concentrate and I can do my work on my bed with my computer so I can relax at the same time !  I love it and it's the place where I like to study.  I live in Farnham which is the first dorm closest on campus!

Vocabulary (5V)

Agency 

When I looked up the word agency on good, it came up as .. 

Something that relates to a business or organization.  I also looked up agency on online dictionary and it gave me 

The condition of being in action, operation
The means or mode of acting, instrumentality
A business or service authorized to act for others

Agency meaning of being in action, or operation can relate to our time study that we did this week.  We applies ourselves and we were in action of what we were doing.  This can relate to the other definition of agency (business and organizations.)  Southern offers many agencies and if I ever want to be acting instrumentality I have to be in action with all of my school work to get to the point of being in an agency.  Agency applies to this class inquiry because we are always supposed to be in action and engaging with class and talking about certain things.  It's the mode of acting !

Other Vocab :

Juxtaposition:

• The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect

This word I discovered in my writing class and at first I didn't know what it actually meant.  I had to compare girls that were in the book we were reading with a relationship they had with neighborhood boys.  It was called Virgin Suicides and the girls actually ended up killing themselves, leaving the boys in mystery.  We had to compare the existence and life or death situations without the obvious juxtaposition.

Engage:

• Occupy, attract, or involve (someone's interest or attention)

This is a vocab word that everyone should use in the classroom and actually do it. It always good to engage in conversations while in the classroom. It not only gives you great participation points but it helps you become more comfortable as a student and comfortable with everyone in the class.

Time Flies! (5A)

It's crazy to even think 4 weeks have already passed by in my first year of being in college.  I have to say that I was nervous at first coming and living at college.  It's a whole new experience and it took my a few days to get used to it.  But it wasn't all that bad!  These last 4 weeks have been going actually very well.  When the first day of classes started I was kind of nervous.  I didn't want to be late to class, or be overwhelmed with work on the first day, but it actually went great!  It really isn't as bad as I thought it would be.  Since I've been here I have had a lot of homework and few tests and quizzes.  I also had some essays.  I have done really well on my quizzes but I received a 75 on Math test.  This is something I am disappointed in, math is my worst subject and it's something I need to work harder on and spend more time studying than any other subject.  That grade taught me that I just have to study more the next time I have a test and to be more confident and relax while I'm taking the test.

Rather than that math grade, everything else so far has been easy.  I have been on top of every homework and make sure that I have everything I need done by the due dates.  It's definitely not as difficult as I thought it would be!  You just have to learn how to manage your time.  I read some articles  this week on how to become a more successful student.  Some methods that I think I will use is "Paper Writing"  In this article it said that when you get the assignment, start a draft right away.  Start writing it and keep editing it every day until the deadline.  This is a good way for me to improve on writing my essays and maybe I can receive higher grades on them.  Another method called "Note taking" said that when you are writing notes write a summary after class, and say things to yourself over and over so your brain can remember them.  It said "cover the big picture."

These methods, are definitely going to put to use when I am doing my work.  I feel that it's going to help me improve a lot.  I tend to make a plan everyday, and that plan is to do my work before I have to do anything else like the gym, eating dinner, or nap.  I know that I need to get all of my work done with out the procrastinating.  I always tend to procrastinate and when it comes time to do the assignments I always get mad at myself for waiting last minute.  I want to stick to my plan so I can achieve my larger goals of receiving a 3.0 or higher GPA.  I know that I am capable of this if I work hard and give 100% effort.

It's all about how you apply yourself (5B)

This past week, we had to create a time study from Thursday to Wednesday.  In my time study from Thursday to Friday I have class in the mornings and usually an hour and half break.  During my breaks I would either go eat breakfast or go back to sleep until I had to go to my next class which are either at 12:25 or 12:10.  On the weekends I found that I really didn't get much work done and I was spending more time either watching movies, cleaning, or going out at night and coming home really late.  This caused me to wake up almost in the afternoons on the weekends because I always love sleeping in because I'm used to getting up for classes so early in the morning.  I have to say that on the weekend I spent more hours eating, showering, cleaning, watching television, and going out rather than doing homework.  (Which could be a bad thing.)  I wasn't expecting on not doing any school work, but I have to say I only did about 4 hours this weekend.  I went home this weekend and drove up to Uconn to stay with my boyfriend.  It only takes me 50 minutes to get there so the driving isn't too bad at all.  I spent more time with him rather than doing my school work.

I procrastinated on doing my Math labs for my Math class.  These labs usually take me a good amount of time and I hate falling behind.  I tell myself that I am going to do them and when it comes time to do it, I never do and I say i'll do them later.  I am almost caught up with the labs now but I never want to fall behind like that because I start to get stressed and I get mad at myself for letting it happen.  I think to improve this I can just complete my labs right after I get out of class.  Instead of my napping between my breaks, I could get my labs done and not have to worry about it later or the next day.  That way, I will never fall behind.  If I want to nap, I can nap after I am done with the labs or even other work that I need to get done.  I have a set plan that I would like to stick to for the semester.  I am going to wake up in the morning, and go to class.   After my class, during my break I will go eat breakfast, come back to my dorm and do my labs if I don't have them completed yet.  Then I will go to class and if I am tired after, then I can take a half hour nap.  This isn't going to just apply to my Math labs, but with all of my school work.  Before I have to do anything not involved with my work, I will make sure that all of my assignments are completed.  If I have an upcoming test or need to take notes, then I can either go to the gym in the meantime, or go eat dinner.  When I come back, I will study and make sure that I have studied enough to get a good grade on my exam.

Over all, I don't think my time study was too bad.  By doing it, it made me actually see what I could improve and what I can't do to get all of my work done.  It showed me the things that I spent more time doing than doing my homework.  It was a good way to show me how I apply myself to schoolwork.  I enjoyed it and it helped me see how to make it better.  I intend on improving and It was a good lesson for me.

Friday Night Lights (4I)

GO TEAM !

Although I didn't attend the football game here at Southern a couple weeks ago I did attend my home town Derby game last Friday night.  When I was a varsity cheerleader I always used to cheer in the games on those Friday nights and when I was there on Friday it brought back so many memories and I missed it so much.  I love watching my sister cheer now that she is a freshman.  It's so weird watching all the new upcoming freshman that I even coached when they were little.  The game was awesome.  I missed the excitement that goes on throughout the whole games.  Whenever they make a touchdown there's always a song that they play  "Derby High School, Derby High School, Charge on down that line..from the center to the end zone..touchdown Derby Highhhh..Derby High School..Derby High school, show your loyalty (234) Fight Derby FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT for VICTORY... HEY"  I used to love doing that !  Last friday game was so exciting, the boys were losing all first half of the game but then they ended up catching up and winning 49-45!  I was so happy and I felt like I was still cheering on the sidelines! I still love going to the games and coming back since I've graduated.  It's a really good feeling and I'll always be part of the Raider Nation!

This is a picture of me and my sister at the game, unfortunately I did not take a picture of the football team.

Vocabulary (4V)

Delayed Gratification

Delay of gratification refers to the ability to put off the receipt of a reward in order to gain a better reward later.

http://tweenparenting.about.com/od/behaviordiscipline/a/Delay-of-Gratification.htm

While reading the marshmallow article it states that some people respond to delayed gratification better than others.  That's really just the way it is depending on how certain people are.  All people are different.  Delayed Gratification improves from the beginning of your childhood, through adolescence.  In the marshmallow article the 4 year olds were told that if they wait 15 minutes and not eat the marshmallow then they would be rewarded with a second one.  Some of the kids waited while the other ones didn't even wait 30 seconds.  It's their brain that didn't respond well with delayed gratification because they couldn't wait.  Delayed gratification can be tested as well with college students but maybe in a different way.  They don't have to be rewarded with candy but maybe with dinner or better grades. Some people are different with the way they respond to delayed gratification.  Statistics show that people who respond better with it are the ones who end up more successful.

My Ideas, how do you feel? (4B)

Questions

1.  Seeing how 4 year olds were put into a room with marshmallows, how can you test an experiment like this with college kids?

2. Do people with delayed gratification respond better with extrinsic motivation?

Answer to #1.

 The article with the 4 year olds who were put into a room were told that if they could wait 15 minutes without eating the marshmallow that they will be rewarded with a second one.  This was a test to see how they processed and used delayed gratification.  In this article it says "Children who are able to pass the marshmallow test enjoy greater success as adults." Now, this is said about 4 year olds who will either grow up to have decent SAT scores, good relationships with their teachers, and have a nice job, or they could have the complete opposite and not be successful.  If we were test this on college students without using marshmallows, then what it would be?  Well, say if you are in a classroom, and the teacher says you will receive an A+ for the day on participation and a quiz grade if you don't use or even have your cell-phone out the whole class time.  Now, in my opinion that is so worth it.  I do not have a problem with not having my cell-phone out the whole time especially if you will receive a grade like that for the day.  It will be worth it in the long run because is having your cell phone and using it during class going to help you learn the material that is being taught? No.  Therefore, either way you are being distracted by it.  A cell phone is a distraction.

In school, or in any situation you are using the process of Metacognition- thinking about thinking.  Some students will think about using there cellphone but then distract themselves by thinking of something else.  You would be thinking about using it but really thinking about you thinking about.  (This sounds and gets confusing)  That is the way I understand the process of Metacognition though.  Some students will go through with not using their cellphone, while others need to be on it.  Sometimes it's just the way it is and all kids are different.  So does this mean the people who don't use their cellphone during class will be more successful in the future?  I honestly do not know the answer to that because some kids may not have any cellphones and if they did would they use it?  Leaves us curious and thinking...

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/05/18/090518fa_fact_lehrer

Answer to #2

I believe that people who respond better to delayed gratification will most likely respond better with extrinsic motivation.  People who have extrinsic motivation know how to achieve the award and have good behavior, and good efforts.  It is thinking about the reward outside of you.  However Intrinsic motivation is internal motivation which is self satisfaction, self esteem, having confidence.  Either motivation is a very well motivation to have, but I believe that people with delayed gratification will be an extrinsic motivator rather than an intrinsic one.  But then again there could be many people who respond with intrinsic also, or maybe even both.

Is it worth the wait? (4A)

Being Patient

Being patient is sometimes always a problem for me.  Some things I am impatient with is going to the dentist sitting in the chair waiting to get my teeth cleaned.  Also, waiting for a class to be over, and most  definitely waiting in traffic.  I hate it, I get really antsy waiting for those things.  However there are some things that I have no problem waiting for, such as dinner, cheerleading competitions or watching my favorite T.V show.  Cheer Competitions are really one of the things that I have no problem waiting for.

I will never forget my Freshman year cheering on the Derby Varsity Cheer Team.  It being my first year was a new experience and I was adjusting to high school and the different things that were required on a High School team.  I have to say I loved every minute of it.  When you are on a team you compete in cheerleading competitions.  You can compete in whatever ones you want until a big one comes along which is called STATES.  States is where many teams are competing and it is very competitive.  This competition is held in March so you have plenty of time to prepare for it.  My freshman year we competed in four competitions before that and won all of them.  It was awesome!  As  states was getting closer we began to have harder practices, some even longer, and we worked twice as hard in everything that we did.  States was the competition where we were going against our rival.  This team was OXFORD.  We never liked them, they were just a mean team, and always won in an unfair way.  It was never fair for the previous cheerleaders because they would always win unfairly.

The day of states, when we arrived, we sat down on the bleachers and walked over to the practice mat where each team goes and does their routine before they perform for real on the real mat in front of the judges and all of the fans.  We hit a solid performance on the practice mat and were confident on going out to perform.  As we were on deck to go on, our coaches said to us you can do it! Smile, hit those stunts and sell it !  And that's just what we did.  We hit a perfect routine and I couldn't have been more happier of our performance.  Now it was all up to the judges on who was going to take the 1st place trophy.  When they were announcing all the places, our hearts beating so fast that it felt like I was going to have a heart attack.  They called 2nd... and it was us.  Oxford again taken 1st.  Yes, we were sad, but even tho we placed 2nd, 1st and 2nd move forward to REGIONALS.  This competition took place just one week after states.  This meant we worked so hard and had practice every single day that upcoming week.

The day of Regionals was scary for me.  I was nervous but I knew my team could hit a perfect routine again just like we did the week before.  We knew that we had the potential and that we worked for it and waited so long for it.  And once again we did amazing on the mat.  The judges even smiled at us when we were done performing.  I knew that they loved us and that we had a change at taking that 1st place trophy.  So as we sat through the rest of competition anxious to know what we placed it was award time already.  We all sat down, hearts beating fast again holding each others hands so tight.  They call 2nd.. and it was a team from Massachusetts.  Here we are waiting for this moment... 1st place... and it was us!  I never jumped up so quickly and happy ever in my entire life.  It was the best feeling in the world.

I guess you can say that It was worth the wait.  It was worth waiting for this moment because you had to work for it, everyday.  You had to give 100% effort at all practices and fight for everything in that routine.  And that's exactly what my team did and even tho we waited... it was so worth it!

Now, today I no longer can wait for competitions like that anymore, but I can wait for my future.  I still am undeclared of my major and what I want to do in my life but when I get to that point I know it's going to be worth the wait because I am going to succeed and accomplish anything that I put my mind to and it's going to be a great feeling, just like the feeling of winning that day, and the wait was so worth it!

Society today, AMERICA

In society today, America is filled with competitions everyday.  People are competing with each other everyday.  America lacks delayed gratification.  (well in my opinion)  I believe that people feel the need to get things done right then and there and have no time for waiting and wanting to wait.  Americans compete against each other with jobs, having lots of money to live off of, and even being head of their job.  This is a major problem in America and it's just the way it is.  I mean the economy is not at it's best right now so you really can't blame people for being in competition with one another.

Can this be fixed?

Personally I do think that this can be fixed, but once the economy gets better.  Which who knows when that will be looking at society today.  I read an article on a study of 4 year olds.  If they waited for the marshmallow then those kids are more successful in life and had better grades and better relationships with their teachers, where as the kids who ate it right away weren't as successful.  Im sure the kids who waited to eat it thought about something else and distracted themselves from eating the candy.  This can somehow relate to people in our everyday lives, i'm not sure how many but at least some.

"You see this marshmallow? You don’t have to eat it. You can wait. Here’s how"  


This is a quote from one of the articles I read this week.  It is saying that you don't have to the eat the marshmallow and saying why you don't have to.  I look at this saying is, do you see the world, It can be fixed and you can wait for it to be fixed and need to patient and maybe our country can be improved.  They say that people who wait are more successful than the ones who can't.  So it's all up to you, Is it worth the wait ?


http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/05/18/090518fa_fact_lehrer?currentPage=all

Being INVOLVED!

I attended the New student Convocation assembly at Lyman just last week.  It was a really nice and interesting.  One of the girls sang America to the Beautiful and it was amazing. Her voice was really pretty.  The president spoke and said that they are very excited into welcoming the class of 2017!  The Salutations spoke as well.  They then called the six new members to the group from our freshman class and each read a few words as they went around and lit their candles.  Dr. Kennedy and Dr. Ricardi then spoke for the closing of the ceremony and everyone on stage walked out and it reminded me of graduations because of the music and the gowns!

Are you Motivated?

MOTIVATION:

• a reason or reasons someone has for acting a certain way.

Motivation is something that I personally think everyone should have.  Whether it involves school work, a sport they are doing or even waking up for work in the morning.  I always motivated myself when I participated in cheerleading.  It was mostly because I had to and wanted to.  It was very challenging so I had to push myself which gave me the motivation.  I also have motivation with doing my school work.  Now that i've started college I've found myself more motivated into doing all of my assignments.  I have to admit, in High School I never was really motivated in doing my work EVER! especially being a senior.  (SENIORITIES!)  College is a huge wake up call to me, and you have to be motivated if you want to get the work done on time, and  receive the grade that you want to get.  You have to have that SELF-MOTIVATION, and anybody can have it if they chose to!  It depends on how bad you want the grades, or how much you love the sport you are doing, or getting the money from your daily job.

Other Vocabulary:

CONFIDENCE 

• the state of mind where someone is certain, believing, having trust

Confidence has become a huge and meaningful word in my life.  It's a word that taught me actually how to be confident.  I'd always here "be confident" whenever I was out on that mat cheering and sometimes I really didn't believe I was confident in myself.  It took me a while to realize that without confidence then whatever you want to accomplish is just going to be more difficult.  When you have the confidence it makes it even better when you achieve what you wanted.  In my case one of my cheer stunts.  I always learned how to be confident in my school work.  I was in Math class one day, and math is my worst subject.  I couldn't get the equations we were working on and I would always get frustrated.  I always used to give up until I realized I needed to be confident in my work and actually try and stop putting myself down.  I knew If I tried and had confidence in doing it, then I would get it.  Maybe not the first or second time, but after a couple tries.  It's really important to be confident with anything you do, because anything is possible when you believe!   

"I dont care, I LOVE IT" (2B)

There's always going to be that one thing in your life that you love to do, that it comes easy and natural to you and how much you enjoy it.  No matter what it is, it just makes you feel good and you know that you are confident with it.  In my case, the thing I love to do is Cheerleading.  I started cheerleading when I was 8 years old.  I cheered throughout middle school and all 4 years of high school and was Captain my senior year.  I have to say that it really is my LIFE.  I have loved it every since I stepped foot out on that field and mat when I was 8 years old.  I am in the flow of it while i'm doing it.

Flow

• being completely involved in the activity for its own sake.  You are living in the moment of the activity, you get tired but barely notice.  People can experience flow in different ways such as in any type of sport, or when they are writing, drawing or painting a picture.

http://psychology.about.com/od/PositivePsychology/a/flow.htm

Cheerleading is MOTIVATION.  You have to actually want to be there and want to be at practices pushing yourself harder and harder to be the best that you can be.  As I grew up and matured and went through all the different levels of cheering, I found that it just came easy to me.  It was something so natural that I had no problem making it to practice or even falling behind on my school work.  I still managed to get all the things that I needed and wanted to get done before or even after cheerleading practice.  When at cheerleading practice you seem to forget everything.  You focus on cheering and thats it.  You focus on your stunts, which my favorite thing to do was stunt.  I was a flyer, the girl that they throw up in the air!  I actually was a flyer throughout all the years of cheering.  My mom would always get scared of watching my fly because it can be very dangerous and nerve-wracking!  But I still loved it.  

There were always times where we would be learning new stunts and I wouldn't get it right away but I pushed myself until I got it.  I loved challenging myself with it because I knew I had the potential of doing it.  Same things as learning motions to the cheer, or the choreography to the dance, or the tumbling sequence.  That's all part of cheering and I loved every single minute of it.  Cheerleading just comes natural to me and it can sometimes have its ups and downs.  Yeah you had those boys in your classes where they would say "cheerleading isn't a sport, you just jump around and throw girls in the air."  Yeah, we know football, basketball, soccer, etc. are hard sports and you have to practice a lot, but cheerleading is just the same way.  It looks easy, but it isn't.  When competition season comes around, all you do is run the routine over and over again until you throw up.  That's just the way it is and how hard you have to work for it to win. You have to really motivate yourself in doing this sport and if you aren't motivated to work hard and try hard at every practice, then it just wont be the sport for you.

Cheerleading is still part of my life but not fully.  I still consider it a part of my life and activity that I do because it's something I enjoy doing.  I help the little girls when I go back home because they look at me as a role model.  I even still stunt sometimes with my friends and go to practices with the cheer team this year and participate in practice.  My sister is a Freshman this year and I love seeing her cheer because it's a minnie me.  All I can say is that Cheerleading really is the one thing in my life that will never leave.  I love it too much and it comes natural to me.  It keeps me smiling and happy.

Being a cheerleader, taught me some things.  It taught me how to motivate yourself if you really want it, it taught me how to shake something off if something went wrong with a stunt or anything else in a routine, it taught me how to believe in myself, and how strong I really am.  It taught me how to deal with certain situations and that if you have confidence in doing something then theres no reason you can't accomplish anything.  You can accomplish anything when you believe and if you REALLY want it.  Being taught all those things makes me think the same way about my school work.  If I really want to get all A's my first semester, then I'm gonna do it.  I have to be confident with it and if I struggle then keep trying harder and harder, keep pushing myself just like I pushed myself with my stunting.  You can push yourself by working harder and reading, writing more to understand the material in the class or the upcoming material on a test or quiz.  You have to motivate yourself into doing the work, even if you don't love doing the work, find a way to make it more interesting.  Any one can achieve good grades, it's always a good thing to challenge yourself, just like I faced challenges with cheerleading.  As long as your confident in yourself and put the time and effort in, just like I did with cheerleading.

Learning all of those traits in cheerleading and relating it to doing it with my school work is great.  It teaches me how to do all those things and makes me feel better about myself everyday.  This can even pertain to having a job in my future.  No matter what job it will be you are still going to have to be confident with yourself and motivate yourself.  (even if you don't like your job)  Cheerleading has taught me many things and even though I'm not a full on cheerleader like I used to be, It still is a HUGE part of my everyday life, and I would like to keep it that way for a while because it really is the one thing that taught me so many things in life.   Not even only with the sport but how I can use the traits to my school work and and with my future jobs!

Figuring it out (3A)

The quote, "There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so" -Shakespeare.  This quote can mean so many things and you can really go into depth if you really think about it.  In my opinion, I think this quote means, nothing can be too hard or too easy unless you think it is.  Sometimes people judge things way too quickly and don't even think one second about it.  It all depends on what YOU think of the situations you are in.  If your mind is set on something is bad, then it might stay that way, just like if you think it is good, then your mind will think that it's good.

Some people use "Extrinsic Motivation"

• The motivation that occurs when engaging or performing any activity.  Something that people use to be rewarded, or not be accused/punished.

Examples:

•  Doing well on a test/quiz in order to receive a good grade in the class.
• Doing your chores, (if you have any) to avoid getting yelled at by your parents.
• Participating on a cheerleading team, (or any sport) to earn trophies or medals.

These are examples of Extrinsic Motivation, where you want to avoid the bad things, and motivated to be rewarded, therefore feeling good about yourself.

Also, People might us "Intrinsic Motivation"

• The motivation that occurs when YOU yourself want to be personally rewarded for something.

Examples:

• You are participating in a sport that you love to do.
• Going to the store because you love the clothes 
• Playing checkers because you find it exciting

Fixed Mindset

• People with a fixed mindset focus on their basic qualities and basic abilities.  They think of their intelligence and that their talent creates their success.  

Growth Mindset

• People with a growth mindset focus are the ones who challenge themselves and have the ability to do better.  They still focus on their basic qualities but push themselves with more dedication and hard work.

I feel that people with a a fixed mindset and extrinsic motivation will have the same feel of how to interpret Shakespeare's quote.  A person with a fixed mindset and extrinsic motivation will think the same way, for example.. getting a good grade on a test.  They will think that praising on good grades doesn't mean they need to put any effort into the work and that the grade marks where they stand and thats it.  They think that the grade will define their intelligence and their ability to do work.  However, people with a growth mindset and intrinsic motivation like to challenge themselves and the grade they receive isn't based on how bright they are, but how much effort and time they put into it.  They like to face challenges and their abilities, not focusing on how good the grade itself is.  I think people with a fixed mindset and extrinsic motivation will believe in the quote, where as people with a growth mindset and intrinsic motivation won't really believe in it at all because they are only worried about how much effort they put into the work, and how they challenged themselves because that's what their brain tells them and that's the way they think.

In my opinion I think people with a growth mindset and intrinsic motivation is the best way to go.  But hey! everyone is different and have different motivations and mindsets.  As long as it gets them to where they want to stand with their school work, then I think either ones are fine.

This honestly was difficult for me to do because it was confusing to me at first.  But I did put a lot of effort and I feel that you could do anything that you believe in and if you really try then there isn't ever going to be a time where you say "I can't do it."  You have to learn how to push yourself and be confident with your work.  Just like I felt after writing this blog entry!

(I learned the definitions and got them off of these websites)

http://psychology.about.com/od/motivation/f/difference-between-extrinsic-and-intrinsic-motivation.htm

http://michaelgr.com/2007/04/15/fixed-mindset-vs-growth-mindset-which-one-are-you/

http://mindsetonline.com

STAYING FIT (2I)

THE FITNESS CENTER

The Fitness Center is located in the Student Center here on campus.  I joined the gym a couple days after I arrived on campus.  It is $60 a semester.  I payed for the fall semester instead of paying $120 for both Fall and Spring.  I love it there.  At home my gym was right down the street from where I live, so I went to the gym everyday!  I love going to the gym it's a great part of my day.  Here at the Fitness center there are so many types of classes you can take such as cycling, which I participated in the first week I was here.  I signed up for a free week trial and it was great!

They also have yoga classes, which I would love to do sometime during this semester.  The fitness centers hours are 

• Monday - Thursday  7:00 a.m - 10:00p.m
• Friday-  7:00a.m - 8:00p.m
• Saturday-  9:30 a.m - 4:30p.m
• Sunday- 2:00p.m - 7:00 p.m                                

Vocabulary of the Week (2V)

My own words of the meaning of Initiative-

• The act of doing something independently, having self motivation, a purpose of doing something

Actual Definition-

• The power or ability to begin or to follow through energetically with a plan or task; enterprise and determination.

Initiative- Can be very big and powerful.  For example, in my math class the other day, i took the initiative in solving a math problem on my own, without having any help. (being independent, self-motivation.)  Our teacher went over it with us when we were done with the problem to see who had the right answers.  As to say, I had the correct answer!  I also am taking the initiative in my school work.  Now that I am in college, I need to be doing my work to my full potential.  In high school, I didn't have my full initiative in doing my work.  I feel that college is a wake up call to some students and they take initiative right away.  I think there is always a time in your life that you take initiative, whether if it's involved with school work, sports you participate in or any other situation.  It is a very good thing to push yourself, and have self - motivation because there's always going to be a point in your life where you have to take initiative!

Other Vocabulary 


Optimism

My definition : Being confident, over an outcome or situation


Being optimistic means that you have confidence in a situation that is ahead.  We should be optimistic of our college careers and as well as our school.  Also, of being in the class.  We should be confident in our work and hope for the best outcome.  

Actual Definition: A tendency to expect the best possible outcome or dwell on the most hopeful aspects of a situation

Overcoming (2B)

Many people have some things that they would like to change or have set goals that they would like to achieve.  As my set goal is to get higher than a 3..0 GPA.  I want to have all A's in every 5 of my classes that I'm taking this semester.  I know that I can achieve my goal if i do all of my work, and pay attention in my classes.  What I decided to do was to make a set plan.  My plan is to never skip class, to have all my homework assignments done the day it is due, and never fall behind on any of my work.  If you skip class, you could end up missing an assignment, a quiz, and you would receive a 0 for participation that day.  

I believe that you can do anything you set your mind to.  If you want something then you have to strive for it, no matter how hard it takes for you to get where you want to be.  My mom always used to tell me that you need to believe in yourself!  In my case, I believe that I can achieve my goal of getting A's.  That would also make my parents really proud!  Im sure it would make a lot of parents proud.

Setting goals is one thing, but achieving them is another.  Just like in the article "work hard work smart," it says to set a strategy and set a plan.  It is your responsibility whether or not you are going to keep up with the plan or if you are going to slack off.  You have to figure out how to use time management.  How to manage your time.  If you do you homework, then you go eat, or go to the gym.. how long you go before you you squeeze in some work again.  It's all about time management.  Yes, I will have to admit, time management is a thing that you really need to adjust to, especially coming from High school.  College and High school are way different when it comes to the work.  You have to know how to manage your time with everything you do so that you won't fall behind with the work that is given.  I believe that I can achieve my set goal of getting all A's.  I believe in myself and I have confidence that I can do it.  All you have to do is believe in yourself and your outcome can be just the way you want it!  Be yourself, have confidence, and 
NEVER GIVE UP!

What helped me (2A)

The five reading entries that I took the time to read and take notes on were very helpful to me.  The article "Work hard or work smart" said to take a good look at what you are working with and making a plan with the strategies that you have.  It said be free and be smart!  Kind of saying be yourself because you can do anything you set your mind to.  Another thing that I learned from one of the articles "don't alienate your professor" is you can't ask teachers stupid question, such as "will this be on the test" or make jokes during class, or even sigh and look at the clock every 10 minutes.  It will make the teacher think that you are not paying attention therefore your participation grade will be a 0 for that day.  I will definitely take these tips and put them to use when I am in the classroom and when i'm doing my work and setting goals for myself.

Also in one of the articles Kafka,  he says to keep challenging yourself.  One quote said in this article by a man says "The idea is that when you're exposed to a meaning threat –– something that fundamentally does not make sense, your brain is going to respond by looking for some other kind of structure within your environment" 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915174455.htm  
 This quote in my words, is saying that when a new material is introduced to you, and you do not have a full understanding of it, your brain can be confused.

I like to challenge myself when it comes to doing my work because I like pushing myself and having motivation.  I think it's a good thing to challenge yourself, not just with school work but with anything in your life you would like to achieve.  At least that's the way I feel, but everyone has their opinions!  Also in the article "How to become a deeper thinker"  it said to choose courses that interest you and calculate the hours of work you have per week and manage your time wisely.  Becoming a deeper thinker improves your learning, you get to use new patterns, it definitely gives you more practice, and helps you figure things out.  I learned a lot of things from the articles I read and will take the advice in and out of the classroom.