Refection On a Mission

1. The values of the Sisters of NDNU are values that I too uphold. As there are many hallmarks emplaced, I try and live my life consciously aware of these values. I believe that the Sister of NDNU are kind,warm-hearted people as they love and respect all races of all religions, breaking the conservative catholic connotations I had previously. They somehow find ways to attend school functions, like plays, productions, and performances, and still show humility and dignity. The school certainly wouldn't be the same without them around.

2. One of the biggest opportunities given to me by the school that honor the dignity and sacredness of each person is the teachers. The teachers here at NDNU truly care about the thriving and success of each of their students. They always correctly distinguish the threshold between teaching and boasting. Most of all they also acknowledge that we as students teach them new things as well, showing us that the collaborative learning we emplaced doesn't just stop from student to student.

3. During the midpoint of my freshman year here at NDNU, the presidential election was occurring. This was my first time being involved as it showed me very early, all races had different opinions. I got very involved with the election, and even though I don't have any real opinion on it, I learned from facts and others thought. This made me questions my own ethics as I looked at supporters of one person, and opposers in the opposite. It hasn't caused me to change my career choice, it just changed the way I look at things from now on.

4. In my freshman seminar class I wasn't able to attend the community engagement activity. So instead I decided to work at the voting for the election of our new president. Without the encouragement of my professor, I would never have been able to push myself into exploring this new idea of helping my community by just using my time effectively. The polls could always use the help and the experience was truly once in a lifetime.

5. I define diversity as different people coming together from different places. Not necessarily different races, but just different areas that form different ideas. Diversity is definitely a value to the human community because it creates the critical connection that even though we may be diverse, we all still have common interests and ideas alike.

6. Teachers and staff have created a sense with community with myself and my others at this campus. they make it fun to attend class, lunch, and even meetings, as students understanding that college life can be fun. Most of my friends I've met through class or other campus life due to the fact that this school is very small.

7. I personally haven't has the spiritual skills in working towards a better society, but i feel that i have gained a lot of ethical leadership skills. The goal is always to work towards a better society and thats why we go to school in the first place, to create better workers. Through all the diversity and staff at this school, we are constantly exposed to different perspectives and ideas that both teach us to be mindful and teach us to be moral. I can see myself using these skills during protests, tutoring underclassmen, or helping a friend as it expands what I consider to me ethical justice.

Third Example of Student Work

Third Example of Student work 

My final example of my proudest school-work achievement is my work with the tutoring center. The tutoring center as given me the biggest opportunity of all to learn, stud, and most of all understand subjects. I got there a good amount of time in the week whenever i have questions or need further explaining on concepts ranging from, General chemistry, math, or writing. This pushes me to become a better student and learner. The best work that the tutoring center as helped me produce is the perfect test scores on my math Exams. I go there whenever I need help with math, as the schedule of the tutor are listed on the front door, and the teach me in a way thats fundamentally easy to understand. I don't have the exams as i had to turn them in for a portfolio, but nevertheless, they were perfect. I truly feel that getting help from someone who knows more than you, makes you wise, and creates humility and relationships between staff and student. Without the tutoring center I don't know where I would be in my math class. Current sitting at an high A, I know understand the learning process. I don't know whether I can choose which I am more proud of, the act of going to get help or the results that help created. I guess you can say that i am proud of both as they work together in beautiful harmony. 

second example of student work

Second Example of Student Work

My second example in student work was in my College Algebra class. The class is challenging and required students to invest lot of hours studying and finishing online homework. I am most proud of my diligence to continuously finish the math homework on time. In sections, the homework takes about 3 hours to do and its assigned every week. Knowing this, I can't afford to miss an assignment and be left behind in the class, so I force myself to enjoy learning the new concepts. My grade has been at a steady A since the beginning of the semester, and it shows no signs of dropping. This is very important to me because it shows me that as long as you dedicate yourself to a plan and stick to the plan, the results will follow. Ive never struggled with math, but like all teenagers, I constantly struggle with procrastination and laziness. I always find myself at the crossroads between whether or not i should do it, and whether i want to. But after dedicating myself to the plan of constantly completing homework, I now see the impact of doing a small amount daily has on my student life. The homework was posted online and submitted online so Im not too sure how to post it here on this blog. But regardless its something I am truly proud of. 

One example of student work

First example of student work

One of the highest achievements I have gained from school work involved me failing a test. It was a General Chemistry test and it was my first time failing anything. Besides high school spanish. After I failed I had to reflect hard on what I did, what i should've done, and what I was going to change. I found out that my mindset for learning wasn't in the right place. My mindset was too stuck on doing as little as possible to get a good grade, rather than learning as much as I can in a short period. Once I changed this one aspect of my mindset, I got myself a B in an even harder subject than the previous test. This is very important to me because it shows that through correct preparation and mindset, anything can be achieved. Chemistry is something that is entirely new to me. Its a subject that many people struggle with as you must treat it as its own language.

In our General Chemisty class, we took a test before we took "Exam 1"

Student Performance Night

Student Performance Night

My student performance night involved myself attending the theater's production of "Amateurs".  Being that this was my first theater held event, I was optimistic on how this could help me become more cultured. Also, I knew a few people and the theater at the school could always use the extra crowd. Anyway, it had a decent crowd, as it was opening night of the play, and among it held teachers, deans, and students alike. It started off funny and entertaining, while still being educational in its plot. I didn't expect myself to become so emotionally invested with these characters. But nevertheless, I was laughing, yelling, and even catching myself from shedding a tear throughout the play. One of the best performances I have ever been too. I would go again, but there has not been one since. This is very important as it shows students another way of approaching activities throughout the school. Instead of going to the gym or the library, students can get the same amount of positive stimulus from the arts. Overall great experience and very happy I chose to go. 

Student Life Activity

Student Life Activity

For the student/campus held event, I chose to go to the open mic night. It promised to be a night of fun, joy, and relaxation, as it was a way for students to loosen up before midterms. It started at 7:30pm and anyone could go up and perform. After a few dark poems and acoustic singing, it proved to hold up as a fun night. Everyone was enjoying the warm evening as we listen to live songs performed by our peers. However being that the presidential race had just ended the night before, once enough people came, it turned into a ranting session. Having no real side on the matter, it seemed odd that it was a night that promised fun and excitement, and it turned into anger, jealousy, and sadness. After about 30 minutes of this had passed, I considered leaving. But after all the time I invested I knew i had to stay until the end. After the politics, the night once again proved to hold up to its promises and we continued singing and dancing. This sparked a loving relationship between myself and the programs the students have put on, convincing me that these were the events worth going to. Since then Ive gone to multiple student held activities like Pie Eating contests, the building of gingerbread houses, and also movie night. These type of activities are essential for the growth and stability of a student, as it shows the brighter side of college life. 

Social Justice Speaker

Social Justice Speaker

My experience with the social justice speaker Rose Jacobs-Gibson, was a particularly short one. I was told to be there by 7 or 7:30 as the video/movie would begin, but like most presentations, there were bumps. They were expecting more people I suppose, and so we waited. I didn't even get to catch her name as I was on my phone waiting for the guests to show. She gave a little background about herself, and her contributions to the community and presentations but couldn't seem to get the presentation itself running. If it wasn't for my classmates attending the first conference, I most likely wouldn't have know what the topic was on. Having the prior engagement of driving my sister to San Fransisco, I couldn't stay long. About 45 mins later the film began. I watched 15 mins of it and I think it had something to do with gun control and the difficulties we as a community, society, and country face with guns. Never owning a gun myself, or even knowing someone who has one, Im not familiar of the feeling you get when you shoot, hold, or even possess a firearm, but I do have opinions on this. 

In terms of stricter gun control, its true that not everyone should be able to own a gun, but those who can should be able to receive one at a reasonable cost in a reasonable time. The problem isn't that we need stricter gun control policies, the problem is we are allowing those with mental health issues obtain firearms when the fact is, not everyone is mentally stable or responsible enough to own one. This country has a MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM disguised as a gun control problem, and a TYRANNY problem disguised as a security problem. 

Freshman Research Conference Reflection

For the Freshman Research Conference there was a lot of different, interesting ideas. The perspective that also came with the presentations was another valuable asset in fully understanding what the topics had to offer. I learn many things, manly that even though our classes were separate and on specifically different details, the overall impact the presentations emitted was one of unity among the teams. Our learning throughout the classes were collaborative, connective, and intuitive as it allowed us to make the connection from learning to understanding its practicality. Also, something i think is the most important thing, is that it allowed us to see from class to class how intertwined and interdependent these subject matters have to each of our topics. As a listener i could tell how much the presenters knew about there subjects as they not only spoke well, but also answered the questions with clarity and decisiveness. Overall this was a very eye-opening experience that taught me a lot about not only the subject matter, but on how to understand that all things regardless of similarity, is related. 

Call to Action Reflection

Considering that I was not presently a part of this Call to Action field trip, I will be talking about the pre-reflection and/or first thoughts as I signed up for my own volunteering. Because of golf, and the insanely demanding schedule, I was not able to attend the activity and be apart of the learning experience. So instead I signed up for a different, yet equally important issue to service my community, presidential voting. Voting is one of the most fundamental rights we have as a democracy and through the sweet talking of Professor and the nice women advertising it on the table, I committed to the 14 hour duty of helping the polls. Had I known this prior, I still would've signed up but I would've been able to safe myself the embarrassment I suffered when I shrieked after hearing the requirements. Signing up for this particular event gives me many different feelings of patriotism, nationalism, and of course egoism. The women at the voting table outside of the cafe couldn't have been more pleasant or informative, making it very approachable and simple to sign up. The site where I was directed to was very straight-forward and efficient, which seems unusually unfair when dealing with a government based site. Im told that I will be receiving an email within the upcoming weeks and it will contain directions and information so I can better prepare myself with what is expected at this job. I am excited and motivated to be apart of such a ground-breaking event and although I will be most likely signing people in, I will somehow feel that I contributed to the results that follow. 

Eventually, I will be posting the post-reflection on how my Call to Action day went. 

Call to Action Reflection

Considering that I was not presently a part of this Call to Action field trip, I will be talking about the pre-reflection and/or first thoughts as I signed up for my own volunteering. Because of golf, and the insanely demanding schedule, I was not able to attend the activity and be apart of the learning experience. So instead I signed up for a different, yet equally important issue to service my community, presidential voting. Voting is one of the most fundamental rights we have as a democracy and through the sweet talking of Professor and the nice women advertising it on the table, I committed to the 14 hour duty of helping the polls. Had I known this prior, I still would've signed up but I would've been able to safe myself the embarrassment I suffered when I shrieked after hearing the requirements. Signing up for this particular event gives me many different feelings of patriotism, nationalism, and of course egoism. The women at the voting table outside of the cafe couldn't have been more pleasant or informative, making it very approachable and simple to sign up. The site where I was directed to was very straight-forward and efficient, which seems unusually unfair when dealing with a government based site. Im told that I will be receiving an email within the upcoming weeks and it will contain directions and information so I can better prepare myself with what is expected at this job. I am excited and motivated to be apart of such a ground-breaking event and although I will be most likely signing people in, I will somehow feel that I contributed to the results that follow. 

Eventually, I will be posting the post-reflection on how my Call to Action day went. 

Taking notes

Joseph Condry

11 am.

September 27th Blog

1. When you type notes, you aren't really getting engaged with the lecture or the notes. You aren't physically writing the words down because when you do, something goes off in your brain that soaks up more information and retains it for much longer. When you write down notes, you can almost feel the speech and when reviewing it, you start to have the same ideas you had when you were first writing it down. When you read electronic notes, it feels almost foreign. 
2. Another danger of using it in a classroom, is that it is a major distraction. You are way more likely to use your laptop for other programs rather then an intended note taking device. Also another concern is not only getting distracted when taking notes, but also the fear of getting distracted while reviewing those notes, and ultimately not doing much. 

1. One of the biggest advantages of reading paper versus electronic is that when you read electronically, your eyes skip over words, searching only for keys. You retain much less, and because of this, people gain comfort when they seem to be reading faster. Also, reading paper allows you to annotate in your own handwriting, which found in the last question, helps you remember better anyways. 
2. These explanations are simple. On computers, there are just way too many words, sentences, numbers on the screen for us to not only fully read, but fully understand. So because of this, we scan and skim, finding key words that catch our eyes and then search once more. Also when you are actively taking note in the book while you're reading, you will retain and understand more always. 

how poverty affects the brain

Joseph Condry

8am

How Poverty Affects the Brain

1. For the first study, it showed a recurring theme in the children’s MRI showing that those growing up exposed to higher levels of violence, have weaker skills to do things such as having good judgment, awareness, and ethical and emotional processing. Also this was a direct correlation to the second study, finding that things like chaos at home, parent without jobs, malnutrition, and abuse, can affect interactions and eventually, blocking the connections in the brain. In another study Venessa, a teenage girl, was view to see what type of an effect being in such a violent environment everyday had on her brain and its development. It was found that it impeded the development stem cells, the connective process, and the usage of neurons. Overall the studies concluded that those exposed to constant violence etc. had a less organized brain activity. 
2. Based on this new finding, you can then generalize certain areas and help these kids become not only become aware but also get a different, more selective education. For example, if you know a certain school is in a more violent area, you then could plan accordingly their lesson plans, instruction, and teaching approach to best help them. 
3. The major dangers of having this research without context is that how could you know what brain is what? You can't do this research without having the prior knowledge of what these kids have been exposed to. Basically without that prior knowledge you cannot make accurate decisions/conclusion on the study. 
4. This relates to our call of action activity because we then ourselves will know how to teach, speak, and overall interact with these kids based on where they are from. This will insure that they not only feel comfortable, but also learn as effectively as they can. 
5. Mainly, my concerns lie only in the findings. Its troubling to think that growing up in poverty had a direct relationship not only on the physical being, but also the brain and its development. But knowing this, i can plan not only my present accordingly, but also my future. 

OEE Hallmark

Marine Science Institute (Hallmark 4)

            Serving a community can amount to many things. Acts like picking up garbage, or volunteering on a Saturday afternoon at the local soup kitchen. Of course there is the initial speculation categorizing what the basis of what community service is, but I'm here to say that community service touches all forms of modern American life. The Marine Science Institute is a non-profit institution that encourages volunteering, while consistently empowering young adults to aspire to a level in which helping others learn becomes as familiar as learning itself. The main focus audience of MSI is elementary students, with the mission being to educate these students by introducing them to the marine wildlife which surrounds their area. And of course, with the end hope being that they, in any form, become environmental advocates. Being that MSI is a non-profit institution, they really encourage young adults to become not only volunteers, but physically engaged with the community and its learning.  This not only is good for the students learning as this is an unusually exciting time to learn from non-adults, but also benefits the college students by understanding what type of impact teaching for a couple of hours has on people, and the community as a whole. This is EXACTLY how community service and MSI is directly correlated with each other because when you do either, it produces symbiotic relation with yourself and the other volunteers, while keeping and still emitting mutualism with the community and yourself. Protests, volunteering, and community involvement are all forms of community service and all are directly and deeply impacted my life. Back home, my two best friends are these two brothers, Juwan and Shawn. Being that they are African Americans, they are constantly and consistently racially profiled whether it'd be in stores, movies, or golf courses, they can always feel tenuous eyes starring. One day I get a call from their dad, explaining that there was a protest that was in the streets of Waikiki about civil rights, specifically black civil rights. This truly was the most influential thing I have ever had the pleasure to participate in because, like all areas of community service, even though i wasn't directly involved, i was directly affected by these injustices. So this is the same concept as introducing and educating the young about Marine life, because even though they are not involved per say, they are definitely affected. And to help enlighten any and all forms of the community is certainly worth my time.