Monthly Archives: March 2015

“Writing The Brain” Project 1

Our first project, “Writing My Brain”, seems very beneficial for me in so many ways. I actually know more of how what I am going to reach my goal, how I’m going to do it and why do I really want to achieve this goal. The purpose of this project is basically to help us plan out our what steps we need to take in order to reach our goal. This project is very useful for me because it makes me really think more about my future and what I need to do or continue on to do now in order to get there.

 

Thinking In Writing:

While recording my thoughts on February 9th, my thoughts to me seemed all over the place. When I woke up at 5:13 early in the morning I decided to record from there, although I couldn’t barely open my eyes. There we’re so many thoughts running through my head. As I took a look at my television I saw Elmo was on for some reason and I was thinking “damn I haven’t saw him on t.v. in years”. Then I just turned off the t.v. and just lay there and starting thinking about my future and whether or not my plans is going to work to get me where I want to be. Then I thought lastly “oh yeah I am going to see my mom today” I got to rest more and I went back to sleep. As I’m on the train I constantly keep thinking about my future and how life will be when I become an entertainer. But at the same time I just keep having doubts on the side on whether what I’m going after is really worth it or not. I don’t know but I just got to think positive and have no doubts at all. I think thats whats holding me back a little.

 

Thinking Visually:

 

  1. https://instagram.com/p/zNpjeePrxs/?modal=true

In my thoughts there were a lot of doubts, but now I’m starting to see clearly little by little. The only way to truly get to the road of Success is to keep fighting the obstacles that come in your way.

2) https://instagram.com/p/zNqJi7vryj/?modal=true

Thinking of my Future. Thinking about my Family. Thinking Will I Make It? Only the efforts I put in will show the results of the outcome. But I know I will make it?

3) https://instagram.com/p/zOX9YYPr08/?modal=true

My dream of becoming an entertainer will soon come true. I hope to some day be as successful as Michael Jackson. I can’t wait to reach my goal.

4) https://instagram.com/p/zOYmvbPr2F/?modal=true

I never understood why I woke up 5 in the morning and saw this on tv. I was thinking of how many years I haven’t saw Elmo on tv. But yeah I was confused to see elmo dressed as a cowboy though.

5) https://instagram.com/p/zOZ5DRvr3q/?modal=true

I forgot to add this in my summary of thoughts, but I also always think about Paris. I would love to visit Paris, live in Paris, and get married in Paris. I Love the beauty of Paris and I know that one day my dreams will come true.

6) https://instagram.com/p/zOaznnvr5R/?modal=true

In my thoughts overall I decided to think nothing but positive. Happiness is the key, if you really want to get to where you want to be you need to have a positive mind. I will continue to keep moving forward and I refuse to let little obstacles get in my way.

 

Thinking Reflectively:

 

I cannot believe I am in the year 2020 already. I am in my dressing room right now preparing for my performance and man life is going great now. I got the dream house and cars I have always wanted, I have graduated from City Tech with my Associates in Marketing Management and Sales and my Bachelors in Video Production. My mother and younger siblings are all happy and have a stable home. Everything is just great. The argument that I have towards the way I use to think in the past is that I should have thought more about what’s planned out for me, to always keep nothing but positive thoughts in mind. The only way for my past self to actually reach where I am now is to continue with what she is doing now. Continue to go to school, study hard, and not let anyone or anything get in her way and by the year of 2020, all what I have mentioned earlier will become her reality. In the first paragraph, I’m going to discuss how hard life was for me and how there were a lot of doubts constantly filling my mind. I didn’t really have a clear view towards my goal because I have let certain obstacles get in my way. In my second paragraph, I am going to talk about how I had got rid of all the negative thoughts and started to think nothing but positive. In my third paragraph, I will talk about basically me having my full main focus on my goal and work hard to become as successful as any other great entertainer such as Michael Jackson, Beyonce, and many more. The only way to reach to where I want to be is to never give up.

Lack of confidence was my main issue a few years ago. I have always had a bad habit of questioning myself and as I look back on my day of thoughts when I was on the train I constantly kept thinking about my future and how life would be when I become an entertainer. At the same time while thinking this thought, I just keep having doubts on the side on whether what I am trying to achieve really worth it or not. There were so many obstacles that my past self has faced that kept me thinking this way which started to hold me back from actually going for it. There were a lot of issues but the main issue was my family’s financial stability.  This really made me want to push myself even harder to achieve my goal to have the best for my family. I could not just keep sitting around debating on whether I should keep trying or not, I should just stick with the goal I’m aiming for and keep fighting. The photo of the Lamborghini Aventador in Paris, France driving towards the Eiffel Tower, is where I would love to have my dream vacation. I would also love to have that car as well. After seeing this photo on instagram that was posted by another person, I started to notice that I had less and less doubts then I usually did and I started to gain more confidence that maybe some day I will own that car and take a trip to Paris. It’s best to not doubt or question yourself and to just go for what you really want in life because you never know the outcome until you actually try and succeed.

In order to reach my goal I had to do one important thing and that was to eliminate most of my negative thoughts. It was a hard task to do but it’s best when you dont doubt yourself and see what’s actually planned out for you. Especially if you’re on the right track on achieving your goal. The reason I think that I have mostly thought so negative is because many people believed that the goal that I have in mind to achieve is a waste of time. I never understood why most people thought it was a waste of time I mean my mom did not think it was. She has simply told me to go for it and said if this is something you really enjoy doing this for the rest of my life why not. I then started to careless of what they have said and kept going for it because at the end of the day only I will find out the outcome, no them. In the photograph of me with my little panda bear it shows that I have started to become more happy and think more positive of what I’m doing now. The reason I have taken a photo with this particular bear is because panda bears are black and white like the yin and yang symbol, in which I love. The yin and yang symbol in my own definition means that there is always a little bit of positive energy in the bad and there is always a little bit of negative energy in the good. Not everything in life comes easy at hand, there is always a twist up here and there. I then started to open my eyes more and look at all of the accomplishments I have made so far, I started to believe in myself more. Even if its going to be a long journey, I am not going to give up on it because hard work does pay off.

There are a lot of successful entertainers in the industry so far. As I started to think visually, there are many great entertainers that came to mind but mainly one person appeared the most and that was Michael Jackson. My goal is to be as successful as he was or at least close to it. The way he sang, his dance moves, his hard work in general was just amazing. But its going to take a lot of effort and dedication in order for me to be successful. My full main focus is nothing else but to finish school and to have my goal achieved. I would want nothing less because I have always dreamed of having a career as an entertainer and have better for my family. I just need to stop questioning myself on whether I should go for it or not and just keep moving forward.

In life there are a lot of challenges that each individual face almost everyday. It is not going to be an easy ride for anyone to reach their goals and of course its going to be a long way to get there. Many people just think all it takes is little effort, then boom I am successful. No, it does not work like that. You have to go after what you really want and be dedicated to give your all to be successful and be tough enough to face the things that come in your way. Especially in the entertainment where there is a lot of gossip and competition. The only way to maintain your stance to reach your goal is to keep fighting no matter what and that is what I did. My past self just need to remember to kept fighting through the pain and the struggle and stop doubting her self. All she need is to follow her heart and have true dedication for what she loves to achieve and that basically becoming an entertainer. Overall, I would not be where I am today, in the year of 2020. I feel free and happy and it is all from not giving up on my goal.

“I see the future”, by Mohammad A.Diakite

  1. Introduction :

In this project, I took a full day to record my thoughts. In all those thoughts, I chose six different thoughts to write about and I use personal pictures to support each one of them.  Step by step, I wrote a 1250 words essay talking about how those thoughts will help me achieve my goal five years from now.

 

  1. Thinking in writing:

I am really confused about my current job. I hate it most of time, but there was something special about Saturday, February 07, 2015. I was at the pool around 9-10:30 am and I was telling myself that teaching people how to swim is great. I was excited because I was about to teach one of my classes like I always do. I usually tell people that I hate my job, I hate teaching, I hate kids and I hate being in the water, but I actually love those things. I guess on this day, I revealed my true personality on paper. That day I was honest with myself and my opinion came straight from the heart.

On that same day I realized that I like those kids. When I saw a kid almost drown, it dawned on me the importance of teaching them how to survive in the water. Without those kids, I wouldn’t have a job; I wouldn’t do what I really love to do and wouldn’t be who I am today. This job does not only help me to get money, but it also prepares me for the future. Although I am not currently a parent, it prepares to be one. Not just a regular parent, but a parent who can handle kids with disabilities. It also puts me on the right path for who I want to be in the future. It would seem that this job prepares me for my future more than college does.

Is going to college really necessary? I have known and heard of numerous successful people who didn’t go to college. Being successful isn’t just being rich, it is being who you wanted to be. For me personally the thought runs through my mind to not attend college and hope that I am lucky enough to still be successful. However, in today’s society, I know that with a college education, I have better chances to succeed in life.

 

  1. Thinking visually:

http://instagram.com/p/zL9l_aSN1h/?modal=true

My dream job. Working as a United States Coast Guard.

http://instagram.com/p/zL5eZtyN_G/?modal=true

Do I need to go to college to be successful? Am I wasting my time? Is it worth it?

 

http://instagram.com/p/zL30FPyN8Q/?modal=true

With one of my most amazing swimmer. Today was her last day of class with me. Her parents wanted a picture with me.

 

http://instagram.com/p/zL2bf9SN5t/?modal=true

I love my job. They made me feel special on the day of my birthday.

 

 

http://instagram.com/p/zL2DUNSN5M/?modal=true

My favorite role, teaching kids how to swim. I love changing lives.

 

http://instagram.com/p/zMA2wpSN6m/?modal=true

Swimming is my favorite hobby. It is the root of my success and the source of my joy.

4.      Thinking reflectively:                       

Growing up I always wanted to protect and help people. When offered the option to volunteer to help people, I never refused and I was always willing to teach someone else the skills that I am good at. I spent most of my life in the Ivory Coast, which is located in West Africa. Most people over there speak French, so I didn’t have any other choice then to get adapted to the language and culture. When I came back to the United States in 2011, I have to adjust to the language and the culture all over again. I thought that I will never be able to achieve my goals because of the language barrier. My first major goal was to become a lifeguard and swimming instructor. My life changed once that goal was achieved. I am dedicated and always happy that people are learning from me because I have been learning from others all my life. Now that I’ve reached my first major goal, I am in the process of reaching my second major goal. Five years from now, I see myself as a United States Coast Guard Officer. It was important that I achieve this goal during that time since to become a United States Coast Guard, you must be a U.S citizen or resident alien who is between 18 and 27 years old. To become who I want to be, I will have to work hard in school, exercise regularly and stay out of trouble. I cannot be involved in anything illegal or any criminal activity which is why I will continue attending college, to work towards getting my bachelors degree. I will also exercise, work as a lifeguard, swimming instructor and stay out of trouble. In this essay, I will highlight the pros and cons of becoming a United States Coast Guard Officer.

Attending college will not only be beneficial to me but will open up the doors to many opportunities. College is my main challenge at the moment and it will be my main challenge for the next three years. However, attending college plays an important role in my preparation to be a Coast Guard and it gives me a better chance of success in the future. To become a United States Coast Guard Officer, I need to have a high school diploma or a general education development (GED), and attend college for at least four years with a good Grade Point Average (GPA). Attending college and maintaining a good GPA is better than the high school diploma and GED since it proves that I am well educated, dedicated and I am willing and capable to serve my country. The reason why the recruiters are interested in people who attended college for at least four years is because college is a tough life-changing process. If someone was able to complete college with a good GPA, the Coast Guard thinks that they will be the right candidate. Since it proves that the person is ambitious, strong, a fighter and someone who does not quit during hard time. While attending college reduces my time for personal activities and I am overwhelmed with homework. I ensure that I study frequently in order to get good grades. Before college began, I was able to exercise (especially swim) daily, hang out with friends and sleep. Unfortunately, it is the other way around now. I do not exercise and spend time with friends as much. While I miss all those exiting activities with my friends, I always remember to keep my eyes on the prize. I spend most of my time studying, doing homework and preparing for classes.

Exercise, as many people out there refuse to do, is a very important factor of health and long life. Exercising is a key to my success. However, it is not an easy thing to do, but I am facing this challenge like any other challenge. Exercising plays an important role in my preparation to be a Coast Guard Officer. To become a United States Coast Guard Officer, I need to be physically fit, have endurance, a high energy level, and flexibility which can be obtained by doing regular exercise. During the initial Coast Guard training, they do daily fitness activities, swimming drills and other activities to make recruits physically and mentally prepared for life in the Coast Guard.This is why my main area of focus in exercising is swimming. The Coast Guard focuses on border patrol and waterway activities, like rescues, searches, law enforcement and environmental cleanup operations in the United States coasts,etc. The recruiters ensure that the candidates are able to save and not be saved by someone else. Since I started exercising, I have felt strong, energetic and healthy. I rarely get sick or have the need to visit the hospital. Exercising is what I do to relieve myself of the daily stresses such as school work, work and family issues. Although I am not exercising as much as I did before college began, I am still exercising regularly whenever I can, in order to stay fit. At this stage in my life I cannot blame a challenge over another one. When I have a busy school and work schedule, I still have to be able to exercise regularly.

Luckily my job requires me to both work to get paid and it is a form of exercise for me. My job is the best job a swimmer can ever ask for. Working as a lifeguard and swimming instructor makes me a fit and responsible young man. Since I began working, my interactions and communication skills with people from all over the world has improved. I am able to interact with people from different countries, with different languages and personalities and I am able to solve problems and handle difficult situations independently. I think of lifeguarding as a smaller version of the Coast Guard. Both jobs have the same objectives. They are both focused on water safety except that the Coast guard is more into Homeland Security. This job encourages me to become a Coast Guard Officer. It gives me the authority to tell people around the pool area what not to do or do, which brings out my leadership skills and makes me a more mature individual who is willing to help others even if it requires sacrifices.

In conclusion, I will do whatever it takes to accomplish my goal. While my goal requires great sacrifices and dedication from me, I know at the end that it will pay off. I will always give a hundred and ten percent on anything I do. For example, when I visit the gym, I have to set goals to meet by a certain date and create an effective workout plan for my gym. At this point in my life, time is a limited factor for me, thus I cannot waste any of it. To meet my goals, I will continue being on the right path. I will ensure I attend college, try my best to maintain above the grade point average, and I will take my current job seriously because it promotes positive behaviors and work ethics that will describe the kind of person I am around others. As a future coast guard officer, I need to be a person who knows how to interact with others in a professional way. As a coast guard officer I need to be a good leader, and now is the best time to learn how to be a great leader. As long that I keep up with the good job, I will accomplish my second goal and continue striving to do the best on anything I do.

Reading: Jonathan Gottschall’s The Storytelling Animal, “Hell is Story-Friendly”

During the first ten minutes of class, write a summary of your reading of Jonathan Gottschall’s The Storytelling Animal, “Hell is Story-Friendly” in your notebook. Has your understanding of Gottschall’s writing style changed as you have read more of his book? How does he relate now to Medina?

Before our next class, type up your summary, run spell/grammar check, save it, and copy-and-paste your work into a comment to this blog post.

Project 1, Part 3, Road Map Paragraph 1 (REVISED)

After receiving peer review feedback in class on Wednesday, revise your first road map paragraph as a separate file (remember to “Save As” and append “revised” to its file name), and copy-and-paste your revised paragraph into a comment to this blog post before our next class.

Over the weekend, your task is to continue writing your Project 1, Part 3 essay. A draft of your completed essay is due for peer review next Wednesday (giving you one additional class meeting than what is on the assignment sheet). Refer to the assignment sheet for further guidance and email me with your questions.

Reading: Jonathan Gottschall’s The Storytelling Animal, The Riddle of Fiction

During the first ten minutes of class, write a summary of your reading of Jonathan Gottschall’s The Storytelling Animal, “The Riddle of Fiction.” Some questions that you might consider answering in your response: What does Gottschall mean by the “riddle of fiction?” Play is the work of who? What does children’s play differentiation tell us about the speed of evolutionary change and the speed of cultural change? Remember to type up your handwritten summary and post it here as a comment to this blog post.

Project 1, Part 3, Road Map Paragraph 1 (DRAFT)

Before our meeting on Wednesday, post a copy of your Road Map Paragraph 1 (the second paragraph of your essay) as a comment to this blog post and print THREE copies to bring to class.

As you are writing this paragraph and the other paragraphs corresponding to your essay’s road map, you should include at least one quote from Project 1, Part 1 or a quote/description of a photo from Project 1, Part 2. Each of these road map paragraphs should quote something from Part 1, Part 2, or both.

Reading: John Medina’s Brain Rules, Sleep

During the first ten minutes of class, write a summary of your reading of the Sleep chapter in John Medina’s Brain Rules in your notebook. Then, transcribe your summary and post it as a comment to this blog post before our next class. Even though your in-class writing can be less formal, you should aim for for correctness and formal tone as you revise your handwritten summary into its final, typewritten form: complete sentences, subject-verb agreement, no contractions, etc.