I have learned a lot from this class.  I never thought I would be able to sit and write a 2 page essay, yet alone five pages.  I have learned some new tips for writing.  I hope to continue practicing my writing.  It is very rewarding when you sit down and see a finished piece.  I have never been the writer type... if there is a type.  I can really say I grew and learned a lot with the topics chosen in this course.  I saw things through different eyes, from other angles. 

"The House I Live In" was put together showing many different views.  It does not stereotype anyone.  It allows you to examine things, and take away your own opinion.  There is no wrong opinion.  One of the strongest statement in the director's explanation for the film was when he said, "I sought out individuals whose lives were directly and deeply shaped by the War on Drugs, hoping their stories would reveal some of the everyday tragedies left in its wake."  It shows that he wanted to show people the other side of things.  The other forgotten individuals affected by this crisis.

I don't know if this could have been done any different, maybe the jumping from one subject to another could have been less, but I don't know if that would then take away from what was made.  It's  a subject that needs to be discussed and not just pushed aside, and I think that he did a great job to show it.  The amount of incarcerations for drug use cannot be ignored.  And the fact that race is playing a big role in decision making for punishment is unacceptable.

I think the sources used were great, from police officers to the people selling drug on the streets.  The director used a wide range to show how big of an issue the war on drugs have become. It is something that has to be brought to light and not just ignored. 

Most television shows depict life a certain way.  Dad goes to work to provide for his family, mom tends to the children and home.  Usually the children learn lessons after they have made a mistake or done something wrong.  The parent then takes time and sits with them to teach them a lesson, and help them become stronger individuals.

Does real life always happen like this? Not usually.  Moms and dads both have to work, and sometimes don't have enough hours in a day to spend with their children and are not able to teach them these life lessons. 

I know growing up, my life never fit into one of these television shows.  Maybe that is why we watch them, to kind of give us that image of what we wish it should be.  In some way it may have been somewhat similar to some of the ways the Walls children were raised.  I spent a lot of time without my parents, and  although the Walls children had their mother there physically, emotionally she was not there for their children.  If my mom was home, I often felt like we had to fight for her attention, she would be tired from a busy day.

Although not perfect and not what a perfect family should be.  Life lessons can be learned in real life, not just from the way life is portrayed on television.

REFLECTION AFTER SECOND PAPER ON GLASS HOUSE
  
  I find it so hard to put my words onto paper.  It is so much easier to talk aloud but when I sit and try to write, I find myself getting so frustrated.  I type, I highlight, I delete. And this goes on for quite a bit until I can manage to get the words out to at least half way of what I am trying to communicate. 
    

 

I find myself not knowing which way I want to go with something, sometimes going in ten different directions.  I usually know where I want to end, just not sure which path I want to use to get there.  This paper was especially hard for me, I don't know why I struggle so much, maybe I overthink it.

 

After finishing each paper, I literally feel exhausted, and drained.  I can only compare it to "white coat syndrome", where just the thought raises your blood pressure, even though it is not really anything painful.

 

I look forward to more papers, as weird as it may seem, anytime you can improve on a weakness, it makes a person so proud and accomplished.  I truly feel like Rocky, except I didn't run up stairs and there isn't any music playing in the background, and to be honest I don't even know what song was actually in the movie... But we will just go with it, because it seems like a good comparison,  :)

My First College Paper.

     Frustration, doubt, and accomplishment are all feelings that went into this paper.  I thought prior to taking this course, it would be a breeze.  I write letters every day for patients and their daily needs.   I write letters fighting with insurance companies when we don't agree something is medically necessary.  This was nothing like I expected.
     I had to revert back to things I was taught over thirteen years ago.  I made an outline and just filled in the blanks, paragraph by paragraph.  When I think back I cannot believe the time I put into making a three page paper.  I made many attempts at getting my thoughts onto paper, but found myself highlighting and deleting quite often.  You would think someone like me who likes to talk a lot would find it easier than I did. 
     When thinking forward, this probably has helped me to realize that I need to prioritize my time better, having a good chunk of time, rather than fitting it in between being a taxi for my kids and small breaks at work. 
     My motivation through this was the want to finish.  I think it was a neat feeling of accomplishment when I could sit back and say, I just finished my first college paper! 

My Relationship with Food

       I think it is safe to say that me and food have a love and hate relationship.  Growing up my family struggled financially.  There were six kids all fighting and grasping at our slice of 30,000 dollars a year salary my dad made.  Much our meals consisted of potatos or pasta noodles because it was cheap.  My mom always did the best she could, most of our vegetable intake was in the summers because my mom could grow all sorts of things in a garden, and the seeds did not cost much. 

 

       My mother always dished us more than what we could eat, at least it always seemed that way.  Unfortunately, this led to terrible habits.  You never got up before you would finish, and you always made sure there was not a crumb left on your plate.  As I got older, I realized this was probably one of the worst things, learning to tell myself that you don't have to cover your entire plate and that you didn't have to finish everything was a lot to train my mind. 

 

 

     Now I am more careful with my children, they have been taught they only have to eat what their bellies are hungry for.  Sometimes certain chains are meant to be broken.