Blog 11 -directions to self

Passing tests haven’t always been successful for me. In fact, taking tests, I would have to say, is probably one of my fears. When it comes to taking the actual test, my mind tends to freeze and I panic because I’m not sure if what I’m writing is correct. My weaknesses were usually keeping up with time, over writing, and not sticking with the topic too well. Now since I’ve gotten a general view on the things that I’ve been doing wrong, I think I am able to tell myself what I can do to succeed on this test. I would have to balance my timing right, pay attention to what I am reading so that I am able to stay on the topic, and narrow down my summary. Also, I would have to organize my body paragraphs better with elaborated details, and have a sense of what I’m writing oppose to the thesis and topic of the essay.

Blog 11

In the passage, “How Your Birth Order Influences Your Life Adjustment,” the author, Lucille Forer, is stating the many ways how your birth order can effect your life and view on other things in life. The oldest child, who is looked at as the responsible one by others and himself as well, thinks to be able to handle situations more capable than the siblings underneath him. As for the middle child, who thinks of himself to be just as capable as the oldest because he has younger siblings also. The youngest child, who is always looked at as the “baby,” thinks life comes easier to him because he feels he has others to do everything for him. Although, he may be the only child, he looks at life a bit different. He needs to be able to care for himself but also looks to his parents for any kind of help. I agree with Forer’s statement, “Parents usually expect their oldest child to be more capable and more responsible than the younger siblings.”

Being that I am the second youngest amongst 5 other siblings, I still look to my older siblings for any kind of help. I still get looked at as the “baby” due to me being the youngest girl in the family. I feel that I have to be responsible of things to set a good example for my little brother, but at the same time I look at life as if I still need someone to take care of me because of my birth order.

My cousin Diamond is the oldest amongst her two younger siblings. Her parents look at to her to be responsible and set good examples for both her little sister and brother. Her little sister Jada, who is the middle child, looks at herself as if she is in the same place as Diamond because of her little brother. She thinks she is able to do for herself and her little brother as well, but still looks to her sister when she needs help. The youngest, Dominique, looks to both of his sisters and his parents when he is in need of help. He sees himself as the baby so his attitude towards concepts in life is completely different from both Diamond and Jada.

Being the only child seems to be tough because you have no other siblings to turn to but your parents. I’ve seen in plenty movies where the only child is usually very strong willed and independent. I’ve once seen in a movie where a woman’s only child felt there was no need to have any friends but her mom. Her mom was her best friend. She looked up to her and ran to her whenever she needed any advice on life. After her mom was incarcerated, the daughter soon realized that she had to be able to take care of herself because she had no one else to turn to.

Your birth order has an immense influence on your attitude, behavior, and characteristics growing up in life. Due to others expectations of you because of your birth order, you are looked at different by almost everyone and yourself as well. Growing up, your birth order changes your view on many things.

Blog 10: CATW Practice 3

     In the passage, “How Your Birth Order Influences Your Life Adjustment,” the author, Lucille Forer, is stating the many ways how your birth order can effect your life and view on other things in life. The oldest child, who is looked at as the responsible one by others and himself as well, thinks to be able to handle situations more capable than the siblings underneath him. As for the middle child, who thinks of himself to be just as capable as the oldest because he has younger siblings also. The youngest child, who is always looked at as the “baby,” thinks life comes easier to him because he feels he has others to do everything for him. Although, he may be the only child, he looks at life a bit different. He needs to be able to care for himself but also looks to his parents for any kind of help. I agree with Forer’s statement, “Parents usually expect their oldest child to be more capable and more responsible than the younger siblings.”

     Being that I am the second youngest amongst 5 other siblings, I still look to my older siblings for any kind of help. I still get looked at as the “baby” due to me being the youngest girl in the family. I feel that I have to be responsible of things to set a good example for my little brother, but at the same time I look at life as if I still need someone to take care of me because of my birth order.

     My cousin Diamond is the oldest amongst her two younger siblings. Her parents look forward to her to be responsible and set good examples for both her little sister and brother. Her little sister Jada, who is the middle child, looks at herself as if she is in the same place as Diamond because of her little brother.

     Being the only child seems to be tough because you have no other siblings to turn to but your parents. I’ve seen in plenty movies where the only child is usually very strong willed and independent.

Blog 9: Heroic Acts and Heroic Personalities

     Is a hero someone who commits heroic acts or someone whose behavior and personality fit our idea of what a hero is like? People rarely realize that we are all heroes without a cape. Animals too are heroes. A hero isn’t someone who commits heroic acts, but someone or something who can help benefit in some way.

     We like to portray firefighters as heroes, simply because they risk their lives to save others. Though, have you thought about it like this? A regular person who lives in a society where very few people know him as a bother, can risk his life to save a life just like a firefighter can. In the film “Hero,” Bernie LaPlante, a criminal who’s afraid of incarceration, randomly rescued survivors of a plane crash. Although, he was betrayed by a passenger who he had given his shoe to just to help out, his heroic choice wasn’t even recognized until later on. He didn’t wake up that morning thinking he ware going to save lives, nor did he think he was leaving the house to meet his near death.

     Your dog, with the help of your next door neighbor can also be a hero. I have once seen a clip on ABC News where a dog, Danny, saved his owner’s life. Bethe Bennett had fell in her home, Friday, on the floor and broke her femur. She was aware that she was not expecting any company until Tuesday so she had lie on the floor in pain, with the thought that she was going to die, suddenly going into shock. Danny, who is a trained service dog and used to care for Bethe’s mom who is now deceased, went along to help her. After she asked him to get the phone, he ran back and forth, jumping until he finally knocked the phone down and pushed it towards her with his nose. She realized soon after that the paramedics would not be able to get into a locked house so she yelled out “Paper!” Alarming Danny to bring her over sheets of papers in which her neighbors’ number was on one of them, she got in contact with one who used a hidden spare key to unlock the door right when the paramedics arrived. Shortly realizing after that her life had been saved by he own dog.

     Cops who are considered heroes are the main people who take lives away every day. Who’s to say that a baby can’t save a life? I’ve read in an article, “Magic cells: babies who save lives,” by Joanna Moorhead that a new born baby, Princess Gracie, is now a life saver. With stem cells containing a cure for other children or adults diagnosed with leukemia or any other blood disease. Mother and father, Charlotte Cribben and Andre Kum, had no idea that they were bringing a little hero into the world.

Someone whose behavior and personality that fit our idea of what a hero is like is considered a hero. Everyday our lives are saved by regular people, animals, even babies, and we don’t even realize it. A life isn’t always necessarily by someone who commits heroic acts.

Blog 8: Revision CATW Practice 1

In this passage, “Is Music a Good Tool for Healing?” the writer, Elizabeth Scott, is discussing how a health care tool called music therapy is used to heal people and ease their pains. Research shows that hospitals now use music to help patients with pain management, depression, to promote movement, calm patients, ease muscle tension and other benefits, which in other words, is known as music therapy. For instance, studies show that music with a strong beat can help make brainwaves more active to synchronize with the beat. The faster the beat is, the sharper your concentration is which allows you to think more alert. A slower beat can result in a much calmer, meditative state of mind. Like Scott, I also believe that “This is not surprising, as music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways.”

The writer explains how breathing and heart rate may be influenced by the changes music can bring, possibly meaning slower breathing, heart rate, and an activation of the relaxation response amongst other things. The writer also states that this is why music and music therapy can help prevent the harsh effects of chronic stress, thereby aiding not only relaxation, but also health. To calm down my attitude and take stress away I listen to mellow music. This type of music helps me keep a positive mindset with a smile upon my face, making my day much easier and joyful.

Healing patients with music is an immense significance. I feel it is because I find this idea to be slightly true. While my mom was in a coma, the doctors played soothing music just above her head to help the pressure in her brain calm down and promote movement. It showed that since they started playing soft music she was more relaxed and fought to show little movement.

Another example of mine is when I was in physical therapy for my knees. My therapist played music to help motivate me to move more during the exercises we did. When we would do slow exercises with little movement to relax my muscles, she would play soft music. When it was time to enhance the exercise, she’d play a more up-beat song. Also, the music would not only relax my body, it would relax my mind as well.

This shows that music can be used to bring a more positive state of mind, to help keep depression and anxiety under control. It is very affective towards the body and mind in various ways. It is also a good used tool to help people.

Blog 7: CATW Practice 2

     Whether if they’re alone or in a group, individuals think and act their differently than they do on their own. In the article, “Individualism in Groups,” written by Carol Tavris, the writer explains how an individual acts in a group or alone. People react slower to danger when they are in groups than they do individually due to the nature they’re in. The scientific form, “diffusion of responsibility,” where people think the lazier they can become only because they’re in a group, explains how each individual in that group feel there is no need to take action towards something. I agree with the statement, “They think and act differently than they would on their own,” simply because it’s true.

     I’ve once seen in a Lifetime movie that a girl only tortured another girl because she had her group of friends with her. She thought and acted differently whenever she was on her own. When “the bully” is alone, she is nice and quiet, but the moment her clique comes around her she is a complete different person. Even at home she is sort of nice. She only felt superior whenever she had her group of friends to back up her every word.

     I too think and act differently in or out of groups. Another example of mine is when I am at a party. Depending on the group of people I am with, and my feelings s well, I sometimes hold back and choose not to dance. Even if I’m alone I’ll decide whether or not if I really want to dance. It’s always good to show that you’re having a good time, but it’s hard to have a good time partying without your group of friends.

     Relating to the experiment, “diffusion of responsibility,” most guys around my way who travel in groups handle situations very differently in or out of groups. For instance, if there was a car accident the boys in groups would stand around and watch the scene, but it would take an individual to take action and try to help. Also, if one of the boys in the group was alone then he would’ve most likely helped. This relates to the article because it shows how different individuals think and react to most things and how lazy they become when they’re in groups.  

CATW Practice 1

     In this passage, “Is Music a God Tool for Healing?” the writer is discussing how music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways. Research shows that hospitals now use music to help patients with pain management, depression, to promote movement, calm patients, ease muscle tension and other benefits, which in other words, is known as music therapy. For instance, studies show that music with a strong beat can help make brainwaves more active to synchronize with the beat. The faster the beat is, the sharper your concentration is which allows you to think more alert. A slower beat can result in a much more calm, meditative state of mind.

     The writer explains how breathing and heart rate may be influenced by the changes music can bring. Possibly meaning slower breathing, heart rate, and an activation of the relaxation response amongst other things. The writer also states that this is why music and music therapy can help prevent the harsh effects of chronic stress, thereby aiding not only relaxation, but also health.

     Healing patients with music is an immense significance. I feel it is because I find this idea to be slightly true. While my mom was in a coma, the doctors played soothing music just above her head to help the pressure in her brain calm down and promote movement. It showed that since they started playing soft music she was more relaxed and fought to show little movement.

     Another example of mine, is when I was in physical therapy for my knees. My therapist played music to help motivate me to move more during the exercises we did. When we would do slow exercises with little movement to relax my muscles, she would play soft music. When it was time to enhance the exercise, she’d play a more up-beat song. Also, the music would not only relax my body, it would relax my mind as well. This shows that music can be used to bring a more positive state of mind, to help keep depression and anxiety under control.