Monday, August 22, 2011

Learn With Me Anyone?

Anyone that knows me or has seen some of my Facebook posts know I want to learn both, Spanish and Sign Language.  I've struggled to stick with lesson plans that I created for myself.  Pretty much every year I'll start all over again.  I know, I know...that's not a good habit.  But I always get consumed with school and I let my personal lessons fall to the side.  It's something that I am working on.  Regardless of the bad habits I have I still want to learn these two languages.  In my attempt to do so (this time LOL) I'm watching a few YouTube videos and I'll share them with you.  We can learn together.

 

 
Small disclaimer:  As you have probably assumed these videos do not belong to me and I did not take any part in their creation.  Feel free to share any information with me.

Adios

Long Time No See

It's been a little minute since I've blogged.  But that's because not much has changed with me.  My classes are over (THANK GOD) and I've just been enjoying my vacation before the new semester starts.  I'll be moving on campus, which I am a little sad about.  I'm trying to stay positive and look at it as a new experience.  This is a totally new school so I'll need to make new friends and see if some old friends are still around LOL. 

Oh...I got my hair cut yesterday.  I am a fan of layered hair, so I got my hair layered again.  It's so cute.  I'll have to post some pictures.  Also, I was tried out my new wig.  It needs to be cut but it still looked great.

My family and I played Kickball yesterday as well.  Talk about a blast.  My team won (that should have been expected LOL).  I'm just talking trash. My brother was on the other team.  I'm more than sure he thought his team had it in the bag.  But I caught one of the balls after he kicked it and so did my sister.  I saw that thing coming my way and KNEW I had to catch it.  I wouldn't have been able to live it down if I hadn't because my brother is a USDA Certified Grade A trash talker (LMBO).  Well...we all are actually but he is one for sure.  Anyways, we won 11-6.  Shout out to my team of All-stars because my team was WORKING (I WILL WORK YOU DOG).  

I can't think of anything else to talk about right now so I'm out.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Is this about passion or money???

I was just talking with my husband about people pursuing careers that they are passionate about versus careers that are based solely about making money.  Honestly, to think that people are only about making money makes me SICK.  I understand that people work to provide for themselves and their families; however, my problem lies in the fact that people seem to be less passionate about their craft.  Before people would have a goal…a dream...something to which they would work to master everything about it.  My dream has, for most of my life, to become a doctor.   Prior to that I wanted to be an artist and doctor/lawyer (I was so cute back then). These decisions stemmed from either my desire to help people or my love for art.  What are you passionate about?  Are you working towards your goals? Or have you jumped on the money-making bandwagon?

To clue you in on how this topic originated, I frequently watch YouTube videos (which has served as a great information source), and I noticed that everyone was making tutorials and such.  Now let me say while I am all for people making money I am not for people watching a few videos and then calling themselves a PRO.  Next thing you know see them posting videos that are about the same topics as the person that inspired them.  Have most of you even pursued an education in the field attempting to actually become a professional?  Or did you watch a few videos, practice on yourself and a few others, and continue on from there?  That's so mediocre.  I think people need to understand more than the surface facts.  Unfortunately this is something that people are complacent with.  Being FAKE professionals because their core audience doesn't require more of them.    

Another thing that bugs me about method of becoming a pro is that authenticity is compromised.  Can you honestly say that YouTube videos, specifically concerning hair care, are original anymore?  As of right now I don’t think so.  The trend I am seeing is: start with hair, lead to makeup, then jewelry and clothes videos will follow.  What’s up with this? It is one thing to see someone do something and then take an interest.  But I don't see this as the case.  What is see are people saying "oh, this is a quick way to make a few dollars", and in my opinion it really dilutes the quality.

There are a select few YouTubers that I watch and even they are getting a bit tired with the same topics and their inevitable following of the trend listed above.  It saddens me because…ultimately, it feels like you are using or deceiving the people that subscribe to you.  Originally, videos about hair care and such just seemed like people found what worked for them and wanted to share the wealth, almost like a community bonding type of deal.   However, this feeling was short-lived as everyone became about the money.  Once again in my opinion the people that do this are no longer simply sharing things about themselves.  What they are doing is selling recordings about themselves as if it were a reality show.  And some people are buying.  These people are literally making videos about their day-to-day life and nothing more.

I guess I just don’t like the business-side of things.  I think that you can make money without doing so in a “sneaky” manner.  Be real and upfront with your plans.  If you want to be a businessman/woman then state that.  Don’t lure people in under the basis of camaraderie and then turn into a business.  That's BS.  Also, some of the “popular” (I refuse to use the term celebrity) YouTubers really need to get over themselves.  That’s just my two cents. 

As I have already said be real, original, and passionate.  

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Adding Apple Cider Vinegar

I think I will add ACV rinses to my hair routine...see how it will affect my hair.  Those that I see use it seem to like they way it helps with moisture and such.  I need to do a major protein treatment and wash so I'll try to do that this week.  I'm gearing up for some quizzes so IDK.

I'm off to bed now. Good Night

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Advice for New and Existing College Students

We've all been stumped on some quiz and exam questions.  Where some of us differ is in whether we answer the question or not.  Regardless of if you are sure of an answer make sure you put something down.  I am not going to lie.  I get confused by some of the questions instructors ask.  I'm the type that is always questioning rather or not the instructor is trying to catch students up on small stuff.  For instance, does the question include words like AND, MOST, ALL, etc.  Because so many instructors have done this in the past I wonder if this is a current method they use to "trick" students.  When I see those words I go into a panic because without them I know the answer (Oh I knows my stuff LOL). However, I immediately begin to think...did the teacher make a mistake (natural human error) or did they mean to include that part.  So...in the past I would erase my original answer (which more often than not turned out to be the correct answer) and put an answer I came up with after using logic that was created while in a panic.  Later I would get my score, look at the answers, and be P!ss (yes, I used a capital P).  To an instructor it looks like I didn't know my ....stuff, but I did.  Anyways, now I don't second guess myself.

I know I'm all off base.  My point is this if it is an essay question include all the points relevant (if there isn't a number of sentences or characters restriction).  I don't make up information but I will tell an instructor all the key points they relayed to the students when teaching the lessons.  I praise God for the memory he has given me.  If it is multiple choice write calm yourself and think about the steps (if it is a timed exam skip that question and keep it to moving.  If you don't you'll be on question number 3 out of 20 and hear the proctor say "5 MINUTES").

A few additional key pointers
  • First decide you want to be an A student and work to achieve that goal (KEEP ON PUSHING because it will get hard). 
  • Write down information as soon as you get your exam/ quiz.  I always go over key equations right before I enter a testing site and when the proctor says, "You may flip your exams/quiz over", I start to writing down everything I think is key.  This included equations, pathways, constants for equation (ie. Avogadro's number), whatever.  
  • Study with other people.  I am probably one of the most timid students known to man.  However, I came out of that box when I decided I wanted to be an A student and gained a little confidence in myself.  There is nothing wrong with being wrong.  You'll find that some of the smartest people you know don't state or get everything correctly.  One of my professor said to us that we should talk things out with other people and you may say things wrong because you are learning it; but, because you tried to explain the concept you will figure out, if someone doesn't point it out to you first, your errors and be able to correct them for a test.  That is unless you just didn't study anything and have ABSOLUTELY no idea what you are talking about. Which leads me to my next point.
  • WATCH OUT FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. lol.  Unfortunately, there are people that want to come off as extremely intelligent and know-it-alls.  But you come to find out that they don't know too much.  While you may want to put this person in their place by NOT telling them they are incorrect, be the bigger person and share your knowledge.  If they reject the info then adopt the OH WELL attitude.  They will probably come around when they see their scores are terrible.
  • Make time for really study.  If your lab ends at 4:30 but you finished your assignment[s] at 3, stick around and master the info.  I followed this bit of advice from one of my friends (Thanks Didi) and rocked out in A&P. 
  • Another important note, don't be a cocky jerk.   I'm sorry but I saw a student, that had probably repeated the class, just completely ruin the confidence of an underclassmen.  The course we were taking was intense.  It was during the summer and the professor didn't play.  The student was concerned about her grades and thought she couldn't do any better.  I was a post-bacc student so I knew how to adjust to the prof's style of teaching; this may be a problem for freshmen and sophomores.  Anyway, the person she was talking to went into brag mode about how exceptionally well he was doing.  The demeanor of the girl just exuded decreasing confidence and worry.  Instead of giving this girl some pointers this guy went into yeah I'm not having that problem because "I'm so smart".  I wanted to crush his ego so bad because I was doing way better than him.  My point is this help people that need assistance because unless you are a natural born genius you may have needed some help as some point or another. 
Good luck to you all!  Keep pushing towards the goal of being one of the best and brightest :)  A special shout out to my little cousins that will be experiencing their first semester of college life this fall (A & L).  They resist it now but I will be pushing for them to become doctors ;)  LOL