Sea Monsters 3D

Walking into the IMAX with my 3D goggles, I felt extremely exicited and greatly anticipated the first IMAX show I have seen in about ten years. I sat in awe watching Sea Monsters in 3D. I had completely forgotten the amazing effects of an IMAX show. Even though I went to go see the show alone, I felt not an ounce of loneliness once the show began. The visual effects made me feel as if I was swimming in the vast sea with the sea creatures and driving along the dirt road with the Paleontologists in search of fossils of such sea monsters. While the story presented the timeline of the sea creatures about eighty-two million years ago, there was a personal story of a Dollycorintops, (excuse the spellings of the sea monsters, but I think they were made up because I tried to find the correct spellings and had no success) whose journey was followed throughout the entire show. The story started out with a mother Dollycorintops giving birth to a boy and girl Dollycorintops; the journey on the female child was being payed close attention to throughout the show. The Dollycorintops lived in shallow waters at the beginning of their existence; when the season change, they moved to deeper waters of a few hundred feet deep to follow their food source, the Encotus. "Dollys," as they were referred to in the show, were believed to be marine reptiles bigger than a dolphine; they were fast swimmers and air breathers, meaning they went to the surface to breath. Along with the "Dollys," the other marine reptiles lived in a warmer climate than our present day climate and the sea level was higher during their existence. Marine reptiles were suspected to gather in protected confines to give birth to their offspring.

Other marine reptiles included the Platycarpus, which was a fierce sea monster that preyed on small fish. The Titlesaurus was one of the largest creatures of any age and it had huge eyes that resembled grapefruits. Also, there was the Ziphactamus sea creature that was seventeen feet long, which is more than twice the size of a "Dolly." Of course the sea is not complete without sharks; the Catoxirima was like our present day Great White Shark and it fed on the largest of reptiles in the sea. Finally, the biggest sea monster was the Tilosaurus; they were able to eat creatures as big as a shark. Along with the enormous size of the Tilosaurus came their fierceness; older Tilosauruses were known to kill the younger ones as a mark of their superiority. The attack would leave the dead Tilosaurus floating in the sea until a group of sharks would appear and feast off the dead creature.

Watching the natural interaction between the sea creatures was fascinating. I felt as if I was apart of their habitat; I could feel the stare of a creature when it would look into the camera, and it seemed as if I could feel the motions of the sea as the creatures swam past. When the show focused on the actions of the Palentologists, I could feel the trees as the hit the camera. It was such a surreal feeling, but I enjoyed it.

While the other marine reptiles was explained, the show still focused on the journey of the daughter "Dolly" born at the beginning of the show. It illustrated how her mother was killed at the hands of another sea creature and how her brother was killed by a surprise attack of a shark. Her journey concludes with her returning back to shallow water after a season in the deep sea. The female "Dolly's" journey illustrated the typical life of a Dollycorintops; they start off in shallow water when they are young, journey to the deep sea after their food source, and then return to the same shallow sea when they were older, most likely around the time when they can give birth to their own offspring. This cycle continues for the Dollycorintops until they are killed or they reach old age, which means their journey ends in the shallow water when the Encotus leave.

Sea Monsters 3D was an awesome experience with an interesting storyline. I enjoyed looking through the oversize 3D goggles into the world of sea monsters that existed millions of years before the world as we know evolved into what it is now.

Christine in Her Second Life

[1]

Christine in Her Second Life

The idea of virtual world frightened me when I first gained knowledge of Second Life. I was not scared of it but could not imagine what one could gain from pretending to live in a world that does not really exist. As time passed by and I actually went through the process of creating an avatar, I learned that Second Life is like a refuge from the world we live in and is a place where one can control every aspect of their life. By transforming my role model, Christine Collins, into an avatar in Second Life, I was able to portray her leadership qualities in a controlled environment and improve my writing skills by discussing different aspects of leadership.

I choose my mother to be my role model, which was extremely helpful in imitating her in Second Life because I could easily create someone I saw everyday. She is a Supervisor at MHMRA, which is a company that deals with the care of the mentally handicapped; her attire in the workplace is very casual, which made it relatively easy to find clothes for “Daisy Bosatsu” in Second Life. My mother has always been my role model mostly because she raised me as a single parent. Her influence was impossible to not be implanted into me whether she wanted it to or not. When I was brainstorming for the first writing, I wanted to portray my mother as a hard working and determined individual who centered her life on helping others like the group of individuals in the picture above; they are working and helping each other accomplish their goal. In the first project, I displayed her qualities with words and in a subjective point-of-view. I attempted to get the reader to see my role model through my eyes and personal observations; to see her “as a real example of where determination can get you in life.” [2] Project two will allow the reader to actually form their own opinion of my role model; the actual text in the conversations I had with my peers, which was in the context of how my mother would talk, and the visual interactions will allow the reader to have their own personal experiences with my role model as I had in the first project. In writing both projects the most important goal was to portray the leadership traits of “responsibility, determination, and helpfulness” [3] my mother possesses that inspired me to want to become someone who makes a difference in the world.

Second Life at first was extremely frustrating; when there is a combination of things that includes technology, complications tend to surface. Trying to maneuver on the island and creating my avatar was a little difficult because I was not use to it. As I began to have more experience, I enjoyed transforming my mother into “Daisy.” It was fun and made me tap into my creative side when I went through the process of making the avatar resemble my mother.

Experimenting with different clothing and hairstyles left endless possibilities to find the right appearance for my role model; I felt a sense of accomplishment when “Daisy” was finished because I was responsible for the way she appeared. I made every single decision of how she would look. Being able to practice creativity helps with the process of writing because they both require you to think and use your imagination. Before writing a paper one has to brainstorm or think about the content and direction of their essay. Second Life provided me with practice to develop my creative skills. Since Second Life was a new experience for me, I had to read and follow directions constantly. Sometimes I was forced to reread instructions in order to perform certain functions such as sitting on the couch and flying around the island. Reading has always been an important component when trying to complete an assignment; not all prompts and instructions are the same so one has to read each one to make sure they will be doing the right thing. In comparison, my mother practiced the same skill of reading and rereading directions; she is responsible for making sure her clients receive the proper medical attention they need and to be knowledgeable about the different medications that was administered during her care, which required her to read medical journals that would ensure the clients are taken care of.

As mentioned before, when I first started Second Life I left felt curious as to how a virtual world could have any influence on my writing skills. It excelled in teaching me discovery learning; there are directions to maneuvering around and how to create your avatar but there are no directions that tells you what to do once you are on the island. It is open to your imagination to figure out what you want to do. Being able to make up your own rules is harder than following specific instructions given to you. Furthermore when the time came to chat with the different groups, which provided some guidance as to what to do, I became a little more frustrated. Trying to jump into a conversation that was going faster than you could type took some time to get adjusted to. Once I got into the flow of conversation it became an interesting technique of communication. We are accustomed to talking to one person at a time and being able to take turns talking, but that is not always the case in chatting in Second Life. There is no way to really know if the other members in the [4] group are done with their thoughts. As seen in the picture above, everyone in the group are typing at the same time. In the chat groups, I was talking to more than one individual at the same time. On several occasions, one member of my group was having one conversation with me and a different one with the other member; it was a little difficult to talk to more than one person at the same time because we all have different points we wanted to address in the chat session. As time passed, my stress level decreased or began to reach the point of optimum performance illustrated in the picture below because the conversations became more unified. Eventually we were able to feed off of each others comments and the conversation was able to flow easily. By being thrown in a situation without a lot of direction, I was able to learn how to figure things out on my own and make the situation more comfortable for myself. Conversation in Second Life was more formal than text messaging and facebook [5] communication. For me since it was in a classroom setting, I was aware of the observance our chats would encounter, which made me stray from the slang used in text messaging and on facebook. Even though I did not always use complete sentences in the conversations, I did not use “idk” for I don’t know or “lol” when I thought something was humorous like I do in text messaging and facebook. I was inclined to use vocabulary and clear thoughts when communicating with the other members. This caused me to inadvertently learn how to judge a situation and determine what skills are best suited for that environment. Second Life was a learning experience that resembled someone being thrown in a pool and told to swim to shore with no prior experience in swimming; it pressured you to think fast and come up with the best solution that would allow you to get the full experience of this virtual world.

Once our conversations got under way, we began to discuss the topic of leadership. My perception of leadership was not altered but I received a clearer understanding of a leader. The aspect of leadership that was discussed that stuck with me was a leader having enough determination to learn from their mistakes and to do whatever it takes to fix their mistake to accomplish the overall goal. It was touched on several times in the conversation. Being able to discover different options to situations will create a more versatile leader that can adapt to the different opinions of others. “Leaders who are adaptable can juggle multiple demands without losing their focus or energy, and are comfortable with the inevitable ambiguities of organizational life.” [6] Also, having certain passions can develop a leader to reach their potential of being a great leader. One’s passion helps to drive them to a different level of achievement; leaders with a passion will put forth extra determination and drive. The conversations were a good way for everyone to show their leadership qualities. Usually, the first one to talk has already expressed the leadership trait of taking charge of the situation, but those who introduce a new outlook on the subject are exhibiting the leadership quality of guiding others to different areas of the topic. Next in the discussion about leadership and diversity, I learned that diversity can help one to become a more open-minded individual, which will result in a better leader. Having an open mind will lead to decisions that are more willing to adapt to the present situation and not so much on traditional decisions. I also learned that leaders can come from diverse backgrounds and ages. My role model is an African-American woman that is forty-four years old and another classmate’s role model is their younger
Caucasian brother. This is illustrated to the left; leaders of all different races [7] and ethnicities can join together and make a difference in the lives of others. Another aspect of leadership and diversity that was touched on is the fact that a leader does not have to be publicly recognized as a leader; there should not be the desire to have praise for the influence they have made on others’ life. They should in a sense not have the awareness of the impact they have made; being praised for good deeds usually makes leaders constantly strive for that attention and make them move away from their main goal.

The chats in Second Life allowed one to discuss different aspects of leadership while being in a leadership position, which gave the full effect of the role.

The experience with Second Life in a classroom setting was better organized then trying to get on there at a random time and no one being on there. Since there was only one session of Second Life conversations, I don’t feel that I got a chance to really transform Christine Collins into “Daisy Bosatsu.” There was not enough time to sufficiently exemplify her leadership qualities in that short period of time. There were some points in the chat where I was able to portray my role model as a leader, which was in the discussion of her job and clients. This experience taught me that “Daisy” could blend in with extraordinary individuals as Denton Coolie and Mahatma Ghandi, and even though she is not known all over the world, she is just as much of a role model and leader as they are.

Second Life taught me that it is not always necessary to be spoon fed instructions in order to accomplish things and that I can enter a virtual world and still feel human. I’ve always had a preconceived notion that virtual worlds were the sort of hobby I would not engage in because I thought it consisted of individuals that were infatuated with an unrealistic life that would never exist. I was wrong, and I appreciate how Second Life introduced me into a different world that is as realistic or unrealistic as one makes it and ultimately shaped my reading and writing skills in a closed environment with my peers.

1. prblog.typepad.com/.../secondlife_1.jpg

2. Jessica Collins, "P1: My Role Model," (6).

3. Jessica Collins, "P1: My Role Model," (7)

4. http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~bump/E603A07/pics/SL%20groups%20in%20action/4B.jpg

5. flog.typepad.com/.../yerkesdodsonlawgraph.png

6. Daniel Goleman, "Primal Leadership: Realizing The Power of Emotional Intelligence," Harvard: 2002 (69).

7. www.nefrla.com/vision_mission.jpg

Word Count: 1,825

Appendix

Conversation 1: GROUP 3

[8:56] Pose Ball: Daisy Bosatsu, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[8:56] Pose Ball: Daisy Bosatsu, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[8:58] No room to sit here, try another spot.
[9:02] Pose Ball: Cameron Reinard, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[9:02] Pose Ball: Cameron Reinard, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[9:02] Pose Ball: Cameron Reinard, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[9:02] Pose Ball: Cameron Reinard, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[9:02] Pose Ball: Cameron Reinard, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[9:02] Pose Ball: Cameron Reinard, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[9:05] LincolnLog Rokocoko: hey nice of you to join me
[9:07] You: Good Morning Friend
[9:07] LincolnLog Rokocoko: gutten tag
[9:07] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i dont know if that's th correct spelling
[9:07] You: How have you been doing?
[9:07] LincolnLog Rokocoko: but you get the idea
[9:08] LincolnLog Rokocoko: pretty good and yourself?
[9:08] You: Ya more or less
[9:08] You: I'm doing great, I went on a 14 mile hike before this.
[9:08] You: So, we're supposed to be here to talk about what a leader is.
[9:08] LincolnLog Rokocoko: for real or are you in character?
[9:08] You: You decide
[9:08] You: haha
[9:08] LincolnLog Rokocoko: lol
[9:09] LincolnLog Rokocoko: ok make things interesting
[9:09] LincolnLog Rokocoko: lets see
[9:09] LincolnLog Rokocoko: I was just analyzing my dreams
[9:09] You: What are the top three qualities you believe a leader should possess?
[9:10] Denton Dawg: Good morning
[9:10] You: Then well talk aobut your dreams
[9:10] You: Good morning Denton
[9:10] LincolnLog Rokocoko: a good listener, conviction, and commitment
[9:10] You: Nice
[9:10] Denton Dawg: Morning Freud...and...?
[9:10] Denton Dawg: May I ask for your name?
[9:11] You: Mine I believe are someone willing to speak out, possesing the abbility to see the whole picture, and to listen to both sides of a story then make judgment on all information, whether popular or not.
[9:11] You: My name is Vida, But my friends call me Grayson.
[9:11] You: Denton what do you think a leader is?
[9:11] LincolnLog Rokocoko: alright Grayson
[9:11] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i think those are great qualities
[9:11] Denton Dawg: A leader knows how to teach by example
[9:11] You: Thanks, I really like yours too
[9:12] Denton Dawg: One who is persevering
[9:12] Denton Dawg: and confident
[9:12] Denton Dawg: and simply gets the job done as a collective
[9:12] You: I feel like all of these qualities sort of intertwine
[9:12] LincolnLog Rokocoko: definitely
[9:12] You: Like if you have the ability for speak for what you want, you must be confident
[9:12] You: And so forth
[9:12] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i think that there are some more vague underlying qualities that all of thes thigns share
[9:12] LincolnLog Rokocoko: we should try to figure out what they are
[9:12] You: And if your committed to an idea, you will speak out for it
[9:12] Denton Dawg: I definitely agree
[9:13] You: I would like that
[9:13] LincolnLog Rokocoko: so confidence
[9:13] Denton Dawg: Passion drives leaders, I believe
[9:13] You: We all have passions that propel us forward
[9:13] LincolnLog Rokocoko: passion
[9:13] Pose Ball: Daisy Bosatsu, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[9:13] Pose Ball: Daisy Bosatsu, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[9:13] You: Exactly Lincoln log
[9:13] Pose Ball: Daisy Bosatsu, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[9:13] LincolnLog Rokocoko: lol you can call me Siggy
[9:13] You: What are some of your guys passions?
[9:13] LincolnLog Rokocoko: haha
[9:13] Daisy Bosatsu: hey sorry i was in the wrong group
[9:13] Denton Dawg: Medicine.
[9:14] Denton Dawg: and music
[9:14] You: Alright Siggy, any nicknames for you denton?
[9:14] Denton Dawg: Just Denton.
[9:14] You: Hey daisy!
[9:14] Daisy Bosatsu: hey
[9:14] You: Alright that works
[9:14] Daisy Bosatsu: hi denton
[9:14] You: We have been talking about what qualities leaders should possess
[9:14] LincolnLog Rokocoko: my passions?
[9:14] You: Any things in particular?
[9:14] You: Let's wait for Daisy to answer first, then well all talk about passions
[9:14] LincolnLog Rokocoko: art, architecture, music, mocies
[9:15] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i think i just really like creating things or things that were created
[9:15] LincolnLog Rokocoko: but particularly things that a lot of thought were put into
[9:15] Daisy Bosatsu: i think a leader should first of all be a very strong person in several aspects
[9:15] You: Such as?
[9:15] LincolnLog Rokocoko: oh sorry
[9:15] You: Hold on Sig
[9:15] You: haha
[9:15] LincolnLog Rokocoko: lol
[9:15] Daisy Bosatsu: motivation, determination, etc
[9:15] You: Nice
[9:16] You: Ya we all decided passion
[9:16] Denton Dawg: Common threads
[9:16] Daisy Bosatsu: i really think straight right now!!!
[9:16] Denton Dawg: Daist, may I ask for your name?
[9:16] You: So Siggy, anything created- does that include nature?
[9:16] Daisy Bosatsu: jessica
[9:16] Denton Dawg: Embodied by?
[9:16] LincolnLog Rokocoko: absolutely
[9:16] You: I mean ultimately it was created by some thing
[9:16] Daisy Bosatsu: hey what are guys talking about
[9:16] You: Fantastic, nature, or exploring an discovery are my passions
[9:17] Denton Dawg: We are talking about passions
[9:17] You: What passions motivate us
[9:17] Daisy Bosatsu: ok, cool
[9:17] You: What about you denton?
[9:17] Denton Dawg: Medicine and music.
[9:17] Denton Dawg: And of course, my wife, Louise
[9:17] Daisy Bosatsu: my biggest passion is working hard and helping others
[9:17] You: Those are all fantastic.
[9:17] Daisy Bosatsu: that was sweet denton
[9:18] You: So in what ways of you guys pursued your passions while exhibiting leadership?
[9:18] You: have*
[9:18] You: Or exhibited leadership while pursuing passions rather
[9:18] Daisy Bosatsu: being promoted to supervisor at my job
[9:18] LincolnLog Rokocoko: what about you Grayson? what are your passions?
[9:18] You: Very nice, working hard definetely got you there
[9:19] You: Exploring, discovering, growing
[9:19] LincolnLog Rokocoko: growing in what way?
[9:19] LincolnLog Rokocoko: learning from mistakes?
[9:19] Daisy Bosatsu: vida what have you explored
[9:19] You: I feel happiest when I am in nature, so hiking fishing and camping are some of my favorite activities
[9:19] You: Yes precisely,
[9:19] LincolnLog Rokocoko: actual growing as in nature
[9:19] You: I have lived a long life, and learned most through experience gained from mistakes
[9:20] Daisy Bosatsu: mistakes is one of the best ways to learn from
[9:20] You: Nepal, Mongolia, Turkey, India, Russia, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Italy, France, England, many more
[9:20] You: But my house, in Colorado, offers the most tranquility
[9:20] Daisy Bosatsu: wow, those are amazing places
[9:20] LincolnLog Rokocoko: why is that do you think?
[9:20] You: What learning from mistakes?
[9:21] LincolnLog Rokocoko: no, that CO is the most tranquil?
[9:21] Daisy Bosatsu: i have never got to travel much, but i would love to
[9:21] You: It is hard to make a mistake, and recognize how you erred and how it affected you enough to make an effort to not repeat it
[9:21] Daisy Bosatsu: thats true vida
[9:21] Denton Dawg: Shall we unify this convesation?
[9:21] Daisy Bosatsu: yes please
[9:21] You: It offers mountains and streams, memories of childhood, and a sense of place and identity
[9:22] You: I have gone through many rebirths there, much self discovery
[9:22] You: and Much change and growth
[9:22] LincolnLog Rokocoko: thats great
[9:22] You: Because it is so important, I am on the President of the Board in Boulder
[9:22] Denton Dawg: would you say that CO embodied the birth of your leadership traits?
[9:22] Daisy Bosatsu: denton what do you feel is the best trait a leader shoul posess
[9:22] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i bet it offers a lot of opportunity for reflection and introspection
[9:22] You: It certainly motivated them
[9:22] LincolnLog Rokocoko: Colorado that is
[9:22] Denton Dawg: Me?
[9:23] Daisy Bosatsu: yes
[9:23] Denton Dawg: Aside from passion, confidence
[9:23] You: Very much so, as an extrovert naturally I always need a place to gain some inner perspective
[9:23] Denton Dawg: Confidence allows you to do the unexpected
[9:23] Daisy Bosatsu: yes thats very important
[9:23] Denton Dawg: and follow through
[9:23] You: Tell me more about that denten
[9:23] You: denton*
[9:23] Denton Dawg: and eventually succeed
[9:23] You: What unexpected things have you accomplished thanks to confidence?
[9:23] Daisy Bosatsu: i can imagine that being a successful doctor, you have to have alot of confidence
[9:23] Denton Dawg: Being a doctor, confidence is one thing I was instilled from the beginning
[9:23] You: Lets each take turns answering this
[9:24] You: Very true.
[9:24] You: ANd you Daisy?
[9:24] LincolnLog Rokocoko: does anyone else have a particular place that they go to for introspection?
[9:24] Daisy Bosatsu: whats the ? again i got lost in all of the typing
[9:24] You: Hey, let's stay on this confidence track for a bit and then roam to introspection?
[9:24] Denton Dawg: I concur
[9:24] You: Just because we have plenty of time
[9:24] LincolnLog Rokocoko: yeah sorry, im jsut having trouble keeping up
[9:24] You: But write that down Siggy
[9:24] You: haha
[9:25] You: Sig what accomplishments have you attained due to confidence?
[9:25] LincolnLog Rokocoko: I have put forth many new and challanging idea in the feild of psychology
[9:25] Daisy Bosatsu: like what
[9:25] You: I am sure that takes confidence, as many people probably doubted you
[9:26] Pose Ball: Denton Dawg, say 'Hide' to hide me, or 'Show' to make me show. Or just right-click and sit on me to use me.
[9:26] LincolnLog Rokocoko: like the idea that everything you do is driven in some way by the unconstious
[9:26] Daisy Bosatsu: thats interesting
[9:26] You: So that is where your analyzing dreams comes into play
[9:26] LincolnLog Rokocoko: haha
[9:26] LincolnLog Rokocoko: yes
[9:26] LincolnLog Rokocoko: and introspection
[9:26] You: Very nice
[9:27] You: it is hard to be introspective, I very often get so caught up in the now, i don't have time to truly evaluate my self
[9:27] Daisy Bosatsu: denton where did u go
[9:27] LincolnLog Rokocoko: it takes a great deal of honesty to the self to be able to admitt the uncontious drives for certian actions
[9:27] You: Hence why colorado is my sanctuary
[9:27] You: It certainly does, that ties into the whole idea of learning from mistakes as well
[9:28] LincolnLog Rokocoko: yes it does
[9:28] You: Being able to recognize a characteristic in yourself that caused you to act in a certain way, good or bad
[9:28] LincolnLog Rokocoko: to be able to admitt where the mistake actually occured
[9:28] You: Precisely
[9:28] LincolnLog Rokocoko: even the small ones
[9:28] LincolnLog Rokocoko: and seeming accidents
[9:28] Denton Dawg: That, too, is part of leadership!
[9:28] Denton Dawg: Would you think so?
[9:28] You: Confidence, one of my best characteristics, has pushed me to do new things as well
[9:29] LincolnLog Rokocoko: what things?
[9:29] You: Most definetely, a good leader is a sympathetic leader
[9:29] LincolnLog Rokocoko: you run marathons
[9:29] LincolnLog Rokocoko: you seem to be very driven
[9:29] You: Well, for instance, I fought for the feminist movement, as well as civil rights movements
[9:29] Daisy Bosatsu: people really respond to sympathetic leaders
[9:29] LincolnLog Rokocoko: is there something particular that drives you?
[9:29] Daisy Bosatsu: good for you vida
[9:29] You: Growing up in a small town, I knew I was meant for more
[9:30] You: It was hard though, we had servants who called me "Miss Grayson" and it was practically custom
[9:30] Daisy Bosatsu: i know what you mean about the small town vida
[9:30] You: But After fighting for what I believed in, losing friends and family, then gaining them back by leading them with me, I became a very successful attorney
[9:30] LincolnLog Rokocoko: did you also feel a need to escape daisy?
[9:30] Denton Dawg: What sparked you to lead, Vida?
[9:30] LincolnLog Rokocoko: that you were meant for something greater?
[9:30] Daisy Bosatsu: yes i did
[9:31] You: yeah
[9:31] You: Tell me about your small town, maybe ours are similar
[9:31] You: Although I was born almost 75 years ago
[9:31] Daisy Bosatsu: small towns shelter you, and they dont allow you to fully develop into the person you become
[9:31] You: yes, they can be a huge deterrence, most of the time just because communities can be that more judgmental
[9:31] Daisy Bosatsu: well. its very country. alot of land
[9:32] You: The "social norm" is much harder to break when everyone talks
[9:32] Denton Dawg: I grew up in Houston
[9:32] Daisy Bosatsu: but its beginning to grow, more people are moving there
[9:32] You: I grew up in Beaumont
[9:32] You: What city is it?
[9:32] Denton Dawg: and I have lived a majority of my life there
[9:32] LincolnLog Rokocoko: it is hard to really listen in a small town becuase you get caught up in what you want to ehar and think you should be hearing
[9:33] You: Right.
[9:33] You: It's hard to break free
[9:33] Daisy Bosatsu: thats very true
[9:33] You: College really opened that up for me
[9:33] LincolnLog Rokocoko: there are so many social morres
[9:33] You: I went to Randolph Macon, a decision I later regretted , because they considered a college education practically unnecessary since we were all supposed to end up as Housewives
[9:34] Daisy Bosatsu: well i didnt really get a chance to go to college until recently, but working in the city helped my mind to expand
[9:34] You: Did any books in particular help you guys learn what or how to be a leader?
[9:34] Daisy Bosatsu: i dont get a chance to read much
[9:34] Denton Dawg: Why is that?
[9:34] You: Oh, big worker?
[9:34] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i love poetry and philosophy
[9:34] Daisy Bosatsu: well, im a single mother. so im working most of the time
[9:34] LincolnLog Rokocoko: passions that are somewhat strange for a dotor to have
[9:35] You: I feel like reading is extremely important, because learning not only from your mistakes but also others can be useful.
[9:35] Daisy Bosatsu: i agree
[9:35] Denton Dawg: I do too
[9:35] You: I know the feeling, My husband died when my eldest of three boys was only 8.
[9:35] Daisy Bosatsu: wow, that had to be challenging
[9:35] Denton Dawg: however, in a highy stressful environment of a doctor, we usually learn from each other rather than from books
[9:35] LincolnLog Rokocoko: reading and listening
[9:36] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i suppose reading could be a form of listening
[9:36] Denton Dawg: Journals are the key to our unification, however
[9:36] You: It was... i tried so hard to create a happy home, a good living, and be a supportive mother
[9:36] Cameron Reinard shouts: until otherwise shown, we can
[9:36] You: In the end, they all turned out like fine individuals
[9:36] Daisy Bosatsu: i think books and one on one interactions with people helps you learn
[9:36] You: Yes.
[9:36] You: Listening is key.
[9:36] Denton Dawg: How do each of you instill positive traits in others?
[9:36] Daisy Bosatsu: yes, so did i but i wasnt able to spend alot of quality time with my children
[9:37] You: Listening most of the time
[9:37] LincolnLog Rokocoko: listening is definitely key!
[9:37] LincolnLog Rokocoko: and passion
[9:37] You: I also don't like to project my ideas on others, i just lead through example
[9:37] You: I firmly believe actions speak louder than words
[9:37] Daisy Bosatsu: well, i install positive traits in my children by telling them how much i love them everyday
[9:37] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i think listening is one of the best way to help people
[9:38] Daisy Bosatsu: ...and to go after their aspirations
[9:38] LincolnLog Rokocoko: only then can you truely understand their problems
[9:38] You: If people recognize your passions, they feel compelled to understand them, and if they are good passions, the learners ultimately gain positive traits
[9:38] Daisy Bosatsu: i agree vida
[9:38] Denton Dawg: I try to make an environmen conducive to growth
[9:38] You: Being a good leader is knowing how to listen, to lead, and to love all at the same time
[9:38] Denton Dawg: envorinment*
[9:38] LincolnLog Rokocoko: leading through example is great, but action is necessary too i think
[9:38] You: Me too Denton
[9:39] You: Well by example i mean action- liking making a stand or example
[9:39] Daisy Bosatsu: i agree lincolnlog: by practicing what you preach shows that it can be done
[9:39] You: That is one of teh main reasons I started going to Colorado, it is an environment conducive to growth
[9:39] LincolnLog Rokocoko: actively seeking opporunities to help other poeple, by showing them the light for instance
[9:40] You: Right
[9:40] LincolnLog Rokocoko: illuminating the lives of others through what you have learned in yours
[9:40] Denton Dawg: Works well in psychotherapy
[9:40] Daisy Bosatsu: i do that with my clients
[9:40] LincolnLog Rokocoko: do you really?
[9:40] LincolnLog Rokocoko: i do too....
[9:40] LincolnLog Rokocoko: lol
[9:40] Daisy Bosatsu: i try to help them make the best out of their situations
[9:40] You: So nice talking to you all.
[9:40] LincolnLog Rokocoko: likewise

Conversation 2: Group 4 (leadership and diversity):
[9:46] Daisy Bosatsu: hey is everyone here
[9:46] Lennon Balbozar: It would appear so
[9:46] Lennon Balbozar: hello everyone!
[9:46] Daisy Bosatsu: hi
[9:46] You: hello!
[9:46] Lennon Balbozar: don't you fellows look wonderful
[9:46] Lennon Balbozar: well onto our task
[9:47] Daisy Bosatsu: show what do we think about the topic
[9:47] Lennon Balbozar: it is quite a question
[9:47] Daisy Bosatsu: i agree
[9:47] You: So the question is what is the relationship between leadership and diversity
[9:47] Daisy Bosatsu: diversity and leadership go hand in hand
[9:48] Lennon Balbozar: true
[9:48] You: I believe that in order to lead one must be willing to lead a diverse group of people.
[9:48] Lennon Balbozar: and I suppose provlems in diversity can be overcome by a positive leader
[9:48] Daisy Bosatsu: diversity allows you to be open minded
[9:48] You: One must also be diverse in order to understand everything that occurs in the world.
[9:48] You: Exactl Daisy!
[9:48] You: Exactly*
[9:48] Daisy Bosatsu: very true...
[9:49] Lennon Balbozar: which is important for leadership because you can better guide people to make positive choices when you have better understanding
[9:49] Daisy Bosatsu: in order to sucessfully lead a group you cant have any prejudices towards them
[9:49] Lennon Balbozar: of course
[9:49] Lennon Balbozar: well it is still possible to lead an undiverse and equally prejudiced group
[9:49] You: Right. Because a leader. hopefulyl one is fighting against those negative aspects such as prejudices
[9:49] Lennon Balbozar: the nazis for instance
[9:50] Lennon Balbozar: but to be a GOOD leader than yes that is essential
[9:50] You: Well if the leader is a "negative" leader
[9:50] Daisy Bosatsu: they are two major components of being a postive person
[9:50] Lennon Balbozar: love?
[9:50] Lennon Balbozar: i think that has to be one
[9:50] Daisy Bosatsu: i like love
[9:50] Lennon Balbozar: it is hard to have true passion for those following your guidance if there isn't love in your body
[9:51] Daisy Bosatsu: love leads to being passionate and vice versa
[9:51] Lennon Balbozar: exactly
[9:51] Lennon Balbozar: they go hand in hand, they connect
[9:51] Daisy Bosatsu: ecxactly....they unify
[9:51] You: what about selflessness? or do you think people always do things for a certain motive?
[9:51] Lennon Balbozar: Daisy, what were you going to say are the two major components of being positive?
[9:52] Lennon Balbozar: I believe some people are genuinely interested in helping others
[9:52] Lennon Balbozar: however it is a rarer and rarer thing to find
[9:52] Daisy Bosatsu: helping others and being open minded
[9:52] Lennon Balbozar: ah yes
[9:52] You: I think both those go hand in hand too.
[9:53] You: in order to help others one must have an open mind to encounter any types of people and situations
[9:53] Lennon Balbozar: indeed
[9:53] Daisy Bosatsu: so in what ways have you both used diversity and leadership at the same time
[9:53] Lennon Balbozar: and the ones that most need our help are the ones that are different
[9:53] Daisy Bosatsu: thats true lennon
[9:54] Lennon Balbozar: I have written songs over the years that inspire people to join hands and unite
[9:54] Daisy Bosatsu: i work with the mental retardation and it is essential to have an open mind and adapt to them because they are differnet
[9:54] Lennon Balbozar: of course
[9:54] Daisy Bosatsu: songs are good...they can capture your attention easily
[9:54] Lennon Balbozar: society seems to ignore them and to show them love and compassion is to show them that they are important souls in the world
[9:55] Lennon Balbozar: yes, and truly bare the intentions of the soul
[9:55] Daisy Bosatsu: society does ignore them...they just act like they arent apart of our world
[9:55] Lennon Balbozar: We all must "come together" to quote myself!
[9:55] Lennon Balbozar: i know
[9:55] You: Well, back in the day in India, people were divided into various classes. There were the Brahmans or so called upper class, the kshatrias or warriors, the vaishyas or businessmen, and then at the very bottom were the Sudras or untouchables, which were people that no one would acknowledge. I worked with all these diverse groups of people to free India from Britains's rule.
[9:55] Lennon Balbozar: which is wrong
[9:55] Lennon Balbozar: wonderful
[9:56] Daisy Bosatsu: thats great mahatma
[9:56] Lennon Balbozar: the ability to help people rise up from the ashes is the ultimate sense of leadership
[9:56] Daisy Bosatsu: its a certain feeling you get when you help others that are not use to being helped
[9:57] Daisy Bosatsu: a true leader is someone who is willing to be different
[9:57] Lennon Balbozar: I helped the American people understand that they could end the travesty in Vietnam if they rose their voice and I have spread a lifelong message of world peace, but I must say I am in your shadow Mahtma
[9:57] Lennon Balbozar: being different and displaying diversity is important
[9:57] Daisy Bosatsu: me too...
[9:57] You: Oh no! you have also been a great leader yourself Lenon
[9:57] Lennon Balbozar: the ability to stand out for positive reasons
[9:58] Lennon Balbozar: I appreciate that
[9:58] You: and Daisy!
[9:58] Daisy Bosatsu: even though my help hasnt reached the national level, i still fell im a leader
[9:58] Lennon Balbozar: leaders can be found in all levels of society
[9:58] Lennon Balbozar: in a sense there are a very diverse group of leaders
[9:58] You: You are a leader. A leader IS a leader no matter what level they reach!
[9:58] Daisy Bosatsu: an important aspect of a leader is knowing that you will not always be praised for what you did
[9:59] Daisy Bosatsu: ..but it will take away the influence you have made on others life
[9:59] Lennon Balbozar: ranging from 6 year olds teaching their brothers the ways of life all the way up to important political figures who influence on a worldwide scale
[10:00] Lennon Balbozar: being praised must be the last thing on your mind
[10:00] Daisy Bosatsu: i believe that we can all be leaders and that we probably have been a leader and didnt realixe it
[10:00] Lennon Balbozar: that is where selflessness can come in and corrupt causes
[10:00] You: It i s im[portant that leader does not expect anything in return
[10:00] You: but if he does get praised, he sould humble accpe tit
[10:00] Daisy Bosatsu: exactly
[10:00] Lennon Balbozar: of course
[10:00] Lennon Balbozar: it can be encouraging too
[10:00] Daisy Bosatsu: yes...they should accept it
[10:01] You: Because if they do not accept it, they seem as if they are obnoxious or have a big ego.
[10:01] Lennon Balbozar: I have been guilty of letting fame get to my head when I was younger and that destroyed one of the best things I ever had, the beatles
[10:01] Daisy Bosatsu: i feel great when one of my clients come up to me and tell how i have made a difference in their life
[10:01] Lennon Balbozar: of course
[10:02] Lennon Balbozar: screaming fans can get annoying but they remind me that I'm doing something that makes people happy
[10:02] You: Explain to us how you felt when you left the beatles at that time?
[10:02] Daisy Bosatsu: but lennon, learning from your past mistake will help you to become a better leader
[10:02] Lennon Balbozar: I was angry and excited that I could now create by myself
[10:02] Lennon Balbozar: I thought my own work could be far superior without them holding me back
[10:02] Lennon Balbozar: but yes I have become a better man from it, I think
[10:02] You: But now you regret it?
[10:03] Lennon Balbozar: I understand that people banded together with love and a cause can accomplish far more than one being
[10:03] You: Just as Daisy said, you can learn from your past mistakes. It is not about what happened in the past but what you want to do and change in the future.
[10:03] Lennon Balbozar: I mostly regret it yes
[10:03] Lennon Balbozar: I now direct my songwriting efforts to spreading awareness of inequality and lovelessness around the world
[10:03] Daisy Bosatsu: i can imagine you came across a diverse group of people while being in the beatles??
[10:04] Lennon Balbozar: oh of course
[10:04] Lennon Balbozar: In fact, I love your homeland Mahatma
[10:04] Daisy Bosatsu: its amazing what a little music can do to some people
[10:04] Lennon Balbozar: some of the most enlightening times of my life were spent there
[10:04] Lennon Balbozar: indeed
[10:04] You: As mentioned earlier, songs are a great way to spread awareness of certain causes and to make people feel emotiional about certain things.
[10:04] Lennon Balbozar: people will listen more carefully when there is a message hidden in music
[10:05] Lennon Balbozar: especially when it is a figure that they love and trust
[10:05] Daisy Bosatsu: i believe "message songs" are the best
[10:05] Lennon Balbozar: "with great power comes great responsibility", right?
[10:05] Daisy Bosatsu: those are the ones you never forget
[10:05] Lennon Balbozar: yes
[10:05] Daisy Bosatsu: right
[10:05] Lennon Balbozar: little poppy clap your hands songs are nice
[10:05] Lennon Balbozar: but they miss the meaning of music
[10:05] You: every song has a purpose and a meaning behind it.
[10:05] Lennon Balbozar: to reveal the soul
[10:06] Lennon Balbozar: fair point
[10:06] Lennon Balbozar: except those rolling stones bastards!
[10:06] Lennon Balbozar: just kdding though
[10:06] Daisy Bosatsu: since you mention soul, a leader has to be in touch with their soul in order to help others
[10:06] Lennon Balbozar: indeed
[10:07] You: Back to the diversity aspect, I think that if there is an impact of negative diversity it must be fixed. Thus, I do not think diversity is always a good thing.
[10:07] Daisy Bosatsu: really why
[10:07] Lennon Balbozar: i dont completely understand
[10:08] Daisy Bosatsu: i think not accepting diversity is the bad thing
[10:08] You: Well when there is too much diversity where people are placed in different classes of society and are treated differently, I do not believe this to be true.
[10:08] You: good*
[10:08] Lennon Balbozar: i think we should see all people as one
[10:08] Lennon Balbozar: completely equal
[10:09] Daisy Bosatsu: thats the problem, people should learn how to accept those that are different from them
[10:09] Daisy Bosatsu: we are all gods children
[10:09] Lennon Balbozar: all it communism if you will, but I imagine a world where we all live together in complete peace
[10:09] Daisy Bosatsu: i hope that happens
[10:09] Lennon Balbozar: however I can see your point Mahatma
[10:09] Lennon Balbozar: you can't force this diversity in a place where it is so ingrained in the people's minds
[10:10] Lennon Balbozar: however perhaps you can slowly make a difference
[10:10] Daisy Bosatsu: so can i, people who are close-minded cannot accept diversity
[10:10] Lennon Balbozar: anyways it seems we are near the closing hour
[10:10] You: exactly. diversty should be there but people shoudl accept it without any prejudices
[10:10] Daisy Bosatsu: lets be good leaders and accept the diverse world we live in!!!
[10:11] You: ye! if we were all the same, then what fun would there be in this world?
[10:11] You: Diversity it is1
[10:11] You: !*
[10:11] Lennon Balbozar: An understanding that diversity exists and that we can overcome our problems with it is a major component of being a leader
[10:11] Lennon Balbozar: well i bid you farewell, my new friends
[10:11] Lennon Balbozar: Peace
[10:11] Daisy Bosatsu: bye
[10:11] You: Farewell!

Can also be found at: http://jollyjessica.blogspot.com/

My New Life

Thinking about my life before I moved to Austin makes me remember all of the long conversations I had with friends about our expectations of college and the nights when I dreamed of moving to a different environments. I come from a small town; just about everyone knew of my existence, and if they didn't, they knew of someone who did. That was one of the good things about living in a small town, but it was also bad for some people. Pictured to the right is Crosby Church, which is a nondenominational church and is one that I visited sometimes with my friends. Throughout high school I saw myself changing in good and bad ways. I began to learn the importance of education and that it would get me further than worrying about the drama that constantly circulated around my school.

One thing I remember is the feeling of not being at home in my home. I loved Crosby and all of its people but I just always knew it was not the right place for me. I wanted "scholarship, new experiences, and freedom from [my] past self " (177). I was always the one to sort of run away from things. Every summer I escaped to my second home in Washington, D.C. to get away from the burdens I felt at "home." Going to a different environment allowed me to clear my head and get a sense of what I was experiencing. I don't like to run away from my problems, but I do like to find the best solution, which usually resulted in a change of environment.

When I decided to pursue my undergraduate studies in the state of Texas, UT was basically my only option. I considered other colleges but none of them got my attention like UT. Before I arrived in Austin, my expectations were to meet a diverse group of new friends, learn about the variety of subjects offered to Liberal Arts majors, and ultimately to become a better individual. I also believed that my "my weakness of character, as it may be called, suggested that [I] was the sort of [woman] who was born to ache a good deal before the fall of the curtain upon [my] unnecessary life should signify that all was well with [me] again" (649). Meaning that I expect to fail at some areas I may chose to explore, which is something I am not use to doing. Everything came easy to me in high school, but I expect for UT to put challenges along my path.

My high school was a fairly good academic school, but I always had the feeling of not being on the same level as other students. I had friends from other schools that had excellent SAT scores and above average AP scores. My high school would only have a couple of students every year that would make 4's and 5's on their AP tests, which made me realize that even though I took the hardest classes offered at my school, I still wasn't on the same level as other students around the nation. I remember having a discussion about the academics in my school district with the Superintendent of the Crosby ISD; he made efforts to raise the academic standards in the district, but it would take time to see the full effects of his policies. So when he explained to me about Plan II at UT, he said that " [I] would no longer feel like [I'm] at the top of my class, but [I] would feel like [I] was at the bottom and struggles would be almost unavoidable" (Dr. Hendrix). His words were frightening and exciting at the same time. I felt that I would actually be challenged academically and would have to seek out the help from others. While Plan II's curriculum is different from my high school, I no longer fell frightened. I love the fact of not knowing everything all of the time; the pressure to be perfect is lifted a little of my shoulders. So my expectation to be challenged at UT has been fulfilled, but I appreciate it and know that it will be of assistance in the future.

Austin and UT is everything I dreamed it would be. It is filled with interesting people that are not like me but respect me for who I am. I have met wonderful new friends especially in World Literature; friends that I will hopefully complete my academic journey with and will stay in touch with for a long time. " I love this place...it is the centre of the universe to me, because of my early dream: and nothing can alter it" (644). UT is the place I have been trying to find for a long time; I feel at home here, which will make my learning experience more meaningful and enjoyable. There are endless possibilities here. I want to go to Law School, which UT offers. I want to be able to have a city life whenever I chose and then be able to escape to the country whenever I want; Austin is the ideal for that transition.

The one thing that excited my most about college is the ability to reinvent yourself. I didn't plan on moving here and becoming a completely new person, but I did expect to develop into a better person academically and socially. I can feel the changes occurring; I have never been so happy in my life. I still get stressed out about school work, but I am able to find happiness in my environment.

My expectations of college now is the same as before I moved here; I see my expectations constantly being fulfilled so I feel there is no need to change them. I still expect to meet more people and learn about them, I want to be challenged academically for my remaining time here, and I want to "only connect" my academic experiences into my personal life in order to become a better person that can make a difference in other people's life.

Sitting in room 110 in Kinsolving Dormitory, "[I want] to make this moment last; it would belong solely to [me], and live in [my] memories as a flash of independence" (179).

P1: Role Model Essay Revised

P1: My Role Model
Christine Collins, my mother, was born on August 27, 1963 in Lafayette, Louisiana. She was the first born child to Edward and Lucy Williams. The Williams family moved to the Houston area around 1975 to create a stable home for their family. My mother married at the age of eighteen and had me when she was twenty-one. The role model qualities I found in my mother were based on observing her during my childhood years until the present.
Leaders can be established and distinguished in almost every aspect of life; they can emerge in school, the work place, or at home. But wherever they come into existence, it is pertinent that they are there. I got a chance to personally see how my mother was a leader in the work place and at home.

Leadership comes with the very important task of assuming responsibility for one’s own personal actions and the actions of those around them. My mother works for MHMRA, which is a state owned association geared towards the well-being and health of the mental retardation. The logo of her company, MHMRA is shown above. As a Supervisor, my mother is responsible for a specific group of clients. She is responsible for making sure that the home of this specific group is up to the standards given by the state, buying groceries and other necessities the clients need, making and attending doctors appointments, and planning events that allow the clients to interact in the world outside of their normal boundary of the group home and workshop, which is where they work. Along with the list of duties a Supervisor is suppose to fulfill, she has to make sure that the employees working below her are doing their job. For example, she has to make sure they are taking proper care of the group home and the clients, which includes not mistreating the clients and giving them their medication. Her job not only comes with the responsibility of completing her job description, but being responsible for anything that goes wrong. Sometimes during the summer I would tag along for the day with my mom and go to the group home. It was like she was in charge of another household with three times as many individuals; she has her own office filled with file cabinets of important documents and strict guidelines that are to be followed for any possible situation that might arise. This is where she would carefully examine the files of each of the clients and make sure that the group home accommodated all of their needs and read about the certain medications they were required to take. There are huge binders of information about the medications, which she referred to when it came time to refill medications or when it was time to set up doctors appointments. Some of the clients have specific issues like slow mobility and phobias, which required her to carefully plan out the activities for the group as a whole. Also this is where she did her various paperwork; written reports were required for all incidents that occurred at the group home. For instance, if two of the clients got into an altercation and had to be refrained from each other, she had to write down everything in specific details just in case their was an injury or something else severe. Sometimes what she did not complete in her office, she would bring home and finish. My mother’s responsibility for her clients is twenty-four hours a day seven days a week; it does not stop at 4 o’clock when she would leave the group home. Our family could not go anywhere without her cell phone ringing with the voice of one of her employees on the other end calling in sick, which sometimes resulted in my mother having to go back to work later on that night if she could not find someone else to fill in, or the voice of one of her clients complaining how something was not going their way. My mother would get a little frustrated when one of her employees would call, but she loved to talk to her clients. After all, the main purpose of her job was to take care of her clients. Accepting responsibility for someone else’s life is a great task; since it isn’t the easiest job to do, leaders truly emerge in this area. Having responsibility allows you to step back from only thinking about yourself; it makes you unselfish and places others’ feelings before your own. Day after day my mother demonstrated this quality to me; along with being a Supervisor for MHMRA, she had a night job that also included working with mental retardation. Two jobs added some stress to my mother’s life and did not allow her to get much sleep. When it came time for the responsibility of a leader to come into play, she ignored her personal obstacles and assumed her role as a Supervisor.

Shown above is a picture of my mother and her sister-in-law’s baby shower; along with the other women in my family, she takes responsibility by contributing her hard work in preparing for family events.
At home, my mother’s responsibilities just about parallel those in the workplace. Being a parent and head of the household already comes with certain responsibilities like paying all bills, providing food for everyone, cleaning, and ensuring the well being of your children. Most parents, like my mother, teach certain responsibilities to their children, which in turn releases some burdens off of themselves. I learned how to clean and do other various tasks at a young age. Fortunately for my mother, having the responsibility of finding a babysitter was not a huge factor. Since there is a six year difference between my older and I and a nine year difference between my younger brother and I, the eldest in the house would assume the responsibility of being babysitter. The responsibility of taking care of others was instilled into my mother when she was young because she is the eldest of five children. Responsibility can be picked up at home or in the work place, but without it leadership can not be fully attained.
Whenever a leader is chosen, it is with the assumption that they will complete all tasks to the best of their ability. In order for that to happen, determination has to put into play; there has to be a certain drive in this particular individual to do whatever it takes to complete the goal. For some strange reason, a task or goal cannot be accomplished without some sort of obstacle; it is like part of the criteria of reaching a goal. You have to go through a dark tunnel before you see the light, which truly tests the determination in an individual. If they are willing to keep going, feeling their way through the dark, then they are determined and ready to do whatever it takes to reach their area of accomplishment. My mother, as stated previously, worked two jobs while running a household; she was determined to do everything in her power to ensure that her family would be taken care of, which made her spend more hours at work than at home. Growing up, I resented my mother for working so much; I was completely oblivious to the amount of money it takes to support a household for a single parent. When I got older, I understood exactly the sacrifices she made and determination that guided her everyday, which allowed my brothers and me to do some of the same activities as our friends. For me, it was cheerleading; I can remember dreading the days when we would receive the final calculations of how much we owed that year for camp and various other things. I know it put a strain on my mother but her determination for us to live a fairly decent childhood over rid her temporary feeling of agony. A very strong passion of mine at the present moment is to become more determined. Determination involves the concept of actually believing that you can accomplish your goal; this is the area I need the most work on. I am a very determined individual but sometimes I lose faith in myself. My mother is a real example of where determination can get you in life, and I look at her in order to build my determination.
The best quality a leader can have is the ability to help others or give back to others, the will to develop other leaders and not desire all of the attention. There has to be communication between a leader and everyone else; positive communication that makes everyone feels they are equal and not one person sitting on top of a throne in order to achieve a common goal. Even though my mother is the Supervisor, technically in charge of everyone, she has a certain bond with her employees. Importantly, they communicate outside of the work place; they will eat lunch occasionally, celebrate birthdays together, and sometimes visit each other’s homes interacting with their families. They have developed a friendly relationship; whenever her employees don’t understand something or have a personal problem, they will call and consult with my mother trying to find the best solution and vice versa. Even though this won’t happen in all working environments, there should be some sort of communication that involves everyone contributing in some way. Outside of the work place, she is a bid giver and helper. Being a single mother of three hardly ever left my mother with excessive finances but when she had extra money, it would usually go to others that she felt needed it more than herself; her favorites were the homeless. It did something to her spirit when she gave to others; I too experience this feeling whenever I give to others. Whether an individual helps others in environments where they are already established leaders or giving to others in society where they become an example of a leader, it is important to pass your wisdom and good fortune to others that are not fortunate to reach that level of leadership yet.
Christine Collins, my mother, is an average individual that we all walk next to on the street everyday not thinking how they have impacted some else’s life with their knowledge. The leadership qualities of responsibility, determination, and helpfulness are characteristics that can be possessed by a single mother from the south all the way up the President of United States.


Word Count: 1,760

Liberal education

When I made the decision to attend the University of Texas at Austin, I was somewhat aware of the liberal education its students received; I understood that the teachings at UT went beyond the textbooks and into higher learning. I didn't know about the existence of Plan II; it was introduced to me in a meeting with a friend. As a result of this meeting, the possibility of such a prestigious program immediately became one of my short term goals. I learned that Plan II would put me in a classroom with some of the most intelligent students at the university and expose me to an environment that would challenge me academically and personally. By being accepted into Plan II, I am getting the best learning experiences offered at the UT.

A liberal education goes along with the definition of liberal, but instead of "freedom from narrowness of mind" there is an emphasis on expanding your knowledge of the arts and sciences among other areas (319). You are just not focused on your area of study alone, which sometimes sparks objection to liberal education. I have always wondered, "why do I have to learn this particular subject if it has nothing to do with my field of interest?" The answer came a couple of days into classes my first year at UT; I began to realize that education and life are not just focused on one particular subject. There are many subjects like mathematics and science that are interrelated and is fully comprehended with the teachings of both; there are aspects of life that are dependent of each other like the well being of your family is dependent on the your success at work, which is normally determined by the amount of education received. When I connected education with everyday life, I began to understand the benefits a well rounded education, which is what liberal education offers, can have on my life. I believe it isn't enough to just know the skills of your particular field of study, but to know the basic skills and information of other subjects.

Liberal education goes beyond what is outlined in the syllabuses; it strives to let each student learn who they are as individuals and take what they learn in the classroom to improve themselves and the world around them. On the concept of Liberal education Newman states, "Let our students go forth and with the products of our laboratories and institutes, meet the economic needs of our time. But let us as an institution focus on the greatest of all resources-the human intellect" (319). Newman touches on an important issue; it isn't just enough to teach students how the reaction of certain gases yield a specific compound or how plugging in "A" and "B" into this formula will result in "C" but to teach them about the themselves and how can they make a difference using the products taught.

Plan II does an excellent job of unifying the the intellectual left side of the brain with the more emotional right side of the brain. Professor Bump will occasionally turn on stress relieving music, turn off the lights, and allow us to close our eyes and focus on our personal feelings in a classroom setting. It is very helpful because after we have had time to deal with our stress or tiredness, we can fully commit to the educational topic of the day. By allowing us at the beginning of class to give attention to our more emotional right side of the brain, we can turn on the intellectual left side of the brain without the neglect of the right side, which allow our discussions to include both.

Another aspect of Plan II that allows its students to get the full effect of a liberal education, is its smaller class size, which allows more interaction between students and teachers and students with their fellow classmates.

Since liberal education focus not only teachings learned in the classroom but also on human intellect, it is important to realize how the community, which includes individuals and nature itself, around you effect how you may perceive certain things. Adam Smith states, " 'As we have no immediate experience of what other men feel, we can form no idea of the manner in which they are affected, but by conceiving what we ourselves should feel in the like situation.' " Having the ability to think about your personal views and beliefs, you can in turn be able to help others even if you don't know exactly how they feel; the ability to imagine how you would feel in their situation was developed through the process of learning about yourself, your "human intellect."

P1:Role Model Essay

P1: My Role Model

Christine Collins, my mother, was born on August 27, 1963 in Lafayette, Louisiana. She was the first born child to Edward and Lucy Williams. The Williams family moved to the Houston area around 1975 to create a stable home for their family. My mother married at the age of eighteen and had me when she was twenty-one. The role model qualities I found in my mother were based on observing her during my childhood years until the present.
Leaders can be established and distinguished in almost every aspect of life; they can emerge in school, the work place, or at home. But wherever they come into existence, it is pertinent that they are there. I got a chance to personally see how my mother was a leader in the work place and at home.

Leadership comes with the very important task of assuming responsibility for one’s own personal actions and the actions of those around them. My mother works for MHMRA, which is a state owned association geared towards the well-being and health of the mental retardation. As a Supervisor, my mother is responsible for a specific group of clients. She is responsible for making sure that the home of this specific group is up to the standards given by the state, buying groceries and other necessities the clients need, making and attending doctors appointments, and planning events that allow the clients to interact in the world outside of their normal boundary of the group home and workshop, which is where they work. Along with the list of duties a Supervisor is suppose to fulfill, she has to make sure that the employees working below her are doing their job. For example, she has to make sure they are taking proper care of the group home and the clients, which includes not mistreating the clients and giving them their medication. Her job not only comes with the responsibility of completing her job description, but being responsible for anything that goes wrong. Sometimes during the summer I would tag along for the day with my mom and go to the group home. It was like she was in charge of another household with three times as many individuals; she has her own office filled with file cabinets of important documents and strict guidelines that are to be followed for any possible situation that might arise. This is where she would carefully examine the files of each of the clients and make sure that the group home accommodated all of their needs and read about the certain medications they were required to take. There are huge binders of information about the medications, which she referred to when it came time to refill medications or when it was time to set up doctors appointments. Some of the clients have specific issues like slow mobility and phobias, which required her to carefully plan out the activities for the group as a whole. Also this is where she did her various paperwork; written reports were required for all incidents that occurred at the group home. For instance, if two of the clients got into an altercation and had to be refrained from each other, she had to write down everything in specific details just in case their was an injury or something else severe. Sometimes what she did not complete in her office, she would bring home and finish. My mother’s responsibility for her clients is twenty-four hours a day seven days a week; it does not stop at 4 o’clock when she would leave the group home. Our family could not go anywhere without her cell phone ringing with the voice of one of her employees on the other end calling in sick, which sometimes resulted in my mother having to go back to work later on that night if she could not find someone else to fill in, or the voice of one of her clients complaining how something was not going their way. My mother would get a little frustrated when one of her employees would call, but she loved to talk to her clients. After all, the main purpose of her job was to take care of her clients. Accepting responsibility for someone else’s life is a great task; since it isn’t the easiest job to do, leaders truly emerge in this area. Having responsibility allows you to step back from only thinking about yourself; it makes you unselfish and places others’ feelings before your own. Day after day my mother demonstrated this quality to me; along with being a Supervisor for MHMRA, she had a night job that also included working with mental retardation. Two jobs added some stress to my mother’s life and did not allow her to get much sleep. When it came time for the responsibility of a leader to come into play, she ignored her personal obstacles and assumed her role as a Supervisor.

At home, my mother’s responsibilities just about parallel those in the workplace. Being a parent and head of the household already comes with certain responsibilities like paying all bills, providing food for everyone, cleaning, and ensuring the well being of your children. Most parents, like my mother, teach certain responsibilities to their children, which in turn releases some burdens off of themselves. I learned how to clean and do other various tasks at a young age. Fortunately for my mother, having the responsibility of finding a babysitter was not a huge factor. Since there is a six year difference between my older and I and a nine year difference between my younger brother and I, the eldest in the house would assume the responsibility of being babysitter. The responsibility of taking care of others was instilled into my mother when she was young because she is the eldest of five children. Responsibility can be picked up at home or in the work place, but without it leadership can not be fully attained.
Whenever a leader is chosen, it is with the assumption that they will complete all tasks to the best of their ability. In order for that to happen, determination has to put into play; there has to be a certain drive in this particular individual to do whatever it takes to complete the goal. For some strange reason, a task or goal cannot be accomplished without some sort of obstacle; it is like part of the criteria of reaching a goal. You have to go through a dark tunnel before you see the light, which truly tests the determination in an individual. If they are willing to keep going, feeling their way through the dark, then they are determined and ready to do whatever it takes to reach their area of accomplishment. My mother, as stated previously, worked two jobs while running a household; she was determined to do everything in her power to ensure that her family would be taken care of, which made her spend more hours at work than at home. Growing up, I resented my mother for working so much; I was completely oblivious to the amount of money it takes to support a household for a single parent. When I got older, I understood exactly the sacrifices she made and determination that guided her everyday, which allowed my brothers and me to do some of the same activities as our friends. For me, it was cheerleading; I can remember dreading the days when we would receive the final calculations of how much we owed that year for camp and various other things. I know it put a strain on my mother but her determination for us to live a fairly decent childhood over rid her temporary feeling of agony. A very strong passion of mine at the present moment is to become more determined. Determination involves the concept of actually believing that you can accomplish your goal; this is the area I need the most work on. I am a very determined individual but sometimes I lose faith in myself. My mother is a real example of where determination can get you in life, and I look at her in order to build my determination.

The best quality a leader can have is the ability to help others or give back to others, the will to develop other leaders and not desire all of the attention. There has to be communication between a leader and everyone else; positive communication that makes everyone feels they are equal and not one person sitting on top of a throne in order to achieve a common goal. Even though my mother is the Supervisor, technically in charge of everyone, she has a certain bond with her employees. Importantly, they communicate outside of the work place; they will eat lunch occasionally, celebrate birthdays together, and sometimes visit each other’s homes interacting with their families. They have developed a friendly relationship; whenever her employees don’t understand something or have a personal problem, they will call and consult with my mother trying to find the best solution and vice versa. Even though this won’t happen in all working environments, there should be some sort of communication that involves everyone contributing in some way. Outside of the work place, she is a bid giver and helper. Being a single mother of three hardly ever left my mother with excessive finances but when she had extra money, it would usually go to others that she felt needed it more than herself; her favorites were the homeless. It did something to her spirit when she gave to others; I too experience this feeling whenever I give to others. Whether an individual helps others in environments where they are already established leaders or giving to others in society where they become an example of a leader, it is important to pass your wisdom and good fortune to others that are not fortunate to reach that level of leadership yet.

Christine Collins, my mother, is an average individual that we all walk next to on the street everyday not thinking how they have impacted some else’s life with their knowledge. The leadership qualities of responsibility, determination, and helpfulness are characteristics that can be possessed by a single mother from the south all the way up the President of United States.

Why am I here???

Why am I at the University of Texas? The answer is really simple; I want to secure a better future for myself. It is almost impossible to have a stable career without a college education nowadays. When I began to search for a college that would best suit me, I did not imagine it would be in the state of Texas. I have lived in Texas all of my life, and I wanted to get out and expand my horizons. I particularly looked at schools on the east coast; they seemed to fit my idea of the perfect area to pursue law. I really considered Washington, D.C. because it is the heart of the government and politics. Then I realized that I would rather be a little closer to home and move to a different part of the country when it came time to attend law school. The best university in Texas that would give me a great background in law, I believed, was the University of Texas at Austin. Not only would it provide me with a good education, but it would take me out of my normal environment and expose me to individuals with different backgrounds and inspirations. Even though UT isn't in a different part of the country, I knew the university would give me "the knowledge, too, which is thus acquired, expands and enlarges the mind, excites its faculties, and calls those limbs and muscles into freer exercise which, by too constant use in one direction, not only acquire an illiberal air, but are apt also to lose somewhat of their native play and energy" (312-313). I suspected that I would not only learn curriculum and about the circumstances of those that shaped the curriculum, but I would learn more about myself and see the parallels or "unity" of it all.

The main quality of the University of Texas that attracted me was its diversity; in my little small town of Crosby there were mostly whites and a mixture of Hispanics and blacks. While UT have these three categories of people, it also has so many more. I really wanted to be exposed to a large variety of people and UT provides me with that diversity. When choosing a college, I also looked at the academic side of the spectrum because my main goal is to get a good education. UT shined in this category as well; it is an honor and great achievement to say you attend the University of Texas at Austin. Even though I was in the top 5% of my class, I was still anxious to see the arrival of my acceptance letter. Since it is such a large university, thousands of applications pour in and not everyone will be chosen. I was reassured of the spectacular academics this university possess because I have personal relationships with several Alumni of the university. The recently retired Superintendent of my old school district is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin; he is one of the most intelligent individuals I have met so far. His vocabulary and demeanor alone shows that he is no average educated individual. Two other Alumni of this great university is my high school counselor and my AP Calculus instructor; they are two extraordinary women that exemplify the amazing outcome of going to a university like UT.

When I was asked "what university are you going to," a common reply was "now don't go up there and get all liberal on us." I can remember thinking, "what is so awful about becoming a liberal?" When I think of a liberal, I think about individuals that are more adapted to change, willing to see both sides of a issue, and just go with the flow of things. According to Newman, a "Liberal" education is "a habit of mind [that's] formed which lasts through life, of which attributes are, freedom, equitableness, calmness, moderation, and wisdom..." (309). I strongly feel that the education and individuals I come in contact with at UT will stick me for the rest of my life and shape me into a better person.

I know that I am here not only because I was automatically granted a spot as a result of the top ten percent rule, but because the University of Texas at Austin allows me to feel at home. My ability to try to understand both sides of an issue is accepted here; I will not be taunted for not picking a side. I am able to stray away from the conservative "men, whose minds are possessed with some one object, take exaggerated views of its importance, are feverish in the pursuit of it...and are startled and despond if it happens to fail them" (311). I want to be able to move on with my life if I make mistakes. Austin is truly wierd, and I won't become a social outcast because you can always find a wierder person on the drag.

An important factor of why I am here is financial aid. Even though UT was my first choice, I had to be realistic and weigh my options based on financial aid. Luckily enough I was able to pursue my dream of attendind UT. Then the determining factor was receiving a scholarship from the Terry Foundation. In order to become a Terry Scholar, a series of events occured, which ended up with an interview that would ultimately determine if you would receive the scholarship. The interview process is an experience that will stick with me forever. I sat in a chair facing six individuals, one was a board member of the association and five were previous Terry Scholars. The last question asked was, "Will you be willing to give back to the Terry Foundation and the Universtiy of Texas?" Of course I said "yes," but that question made me realize the main purpose of attending college. Giving is the key; a university gives to its students an education that they can take with them in the work field, and the best way to return the favor is giving back to the university, who can then help out other individuals. It isn't too much to ask or too much to give. My favorite quote that is displayed in the tower is "What I spent I had; what I saved I lost; what I gave I have." (Ancient Epitaph, 302).

The University of Texas at Austin as a whole reminds me of a huge machine with different parts interacting with each other. Everyone giving and receiving. I am extremely happy to be apart of such a great instituion that is "...changing the world."