My video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yitpmxqnk1Q

Self Assesment

This semester was a lot different than what I had expected college to be like. Things were much easier in some aspects, but things were also much more difficult in others. I think it is good that college isn't exactly what I expected. The surprise of it kept me on my feet and although it made me stress out, it was a good wake up call. I think that the biggest lesson that I have learned from this first semester of college is to how to properly multitask. I never realized how bad I was at balancing my time until I got to college. In the beginning of the semester I had a lot of trouble with balancing school, homework and work all at the same time. The first couple of weeks were some of the most stressful days I can remember. I think the pressure hit me all at once. And although I didn't have a lot of schoolwork, I still found it hard to balance everything out. I was also very scared that I wasn't working hard enough. When I took my midterms I was terrified that I was going to do horribly. But alas, the grade came back and I got A's and B's on everything. I had stressed out over nothing. I think that is also something that I have learned to deal with. I've learned that it's not worth it to get stressed out over everything, because it only hurts you in the end.

As far as schoolwork and homework time I did have quite a lot, but at the same time I feel like I could have studied harder. Although I've gotten good grades, I am scared that none of the knowledge has really sunken in. I'm a big procrastinator, so when it came to exams I found myself studying last minute and cramming tons of information in at the very last chance. This may have worked for my exams, but I found that as soon as it was over, I would forget everything. I would say that that was a failure in my part. I feel like I'm at college at my own will, and the things I am taught here I should really learn and absorb, or else I'm not really getting my money's worth. This realization has made me realize that next semester I really need to be on top of everything. I need to stop putting things off until last minute and getting stress out when I'm swamped with a lot of work. Instead I need to take it one day at a time and study regularly. Last minute doesn't work in college.

                Inquiry class has made me look at college a different way than I used to. It's showed me the importance of creativity, time management, individuality and a lot more. I think the goals for INQ were good goals, and I think I have achieved them overall. I think the most important goals that were learned were how to learn from failure, take ownership of your work, deal with difficult situations and know how to ask good questions. Specific lessons like the blog posts and capus safari's have made me learn to manage my time and school work and taught me that I need to get more organized and know when all of my schoolwork is due. There were a lot of small things that were needed to be done in this class, so there was a lot to remember, and I think that that was a good learning experience because it taught me to stay focused on all of my school work and what needed to be done. Another part of this class that taught me some good lessons were the class discussions. They were open and we looked at all sides of every topic. I liked hearing everyone else's opinion and they made me form opinions about topics that I never really thought about before. For example the class discussion we had about whether it's better to just get work done, but not to the best of your ability, or to do the best you can but risk not being done on time. I realized that I think it's not good to do either. And it's helped me gain perspective on my own work habits. Creativity is a major topic discussed in our Inquiry class. i have always felt that creativity is a really important part of succeeding in all parts of life,  but the articles that we read and the videos we watched showed that colleges and future employers also believe that creativity is crucial in being a well rounded, and educated person. People who were creative were shown to have better job opportunities and that is something that I never realized before this class.

                Overall I take a lot from this class. I've learned how to balance my time, how to keep organized, how to stay focused and how to put a creative spin and a new perspective on everything. These are things that I am happy to have learned and they will be with me for the rest of my college career.

TURKEY DAY!!

Thanksgiving this year was really great. I always look forward to waking up in the morning and smelling the cooking turkey and helping prepare all the side dishes and snacks for the day. I especially love to watch the Macy's parade. This year was the same as every other year, and that's just the way I like it. I don't live around any extended family, so like every Thanksgiving it was just me, my dad, my mom and my brother. Sometimes I wish it were different and that we could be with all of our family, but at the same time I know I am lucky to even have a family to spend Thanksgiving with. So I'd say that is what I am truly most grateful for. Anyway, I spend the day snacking, watching the parade, then usually a movie all the while searching through the Black Friday ads for deals. Then finally it's dinnertime and I am so excited. My dad's cooking is absolutely amazing and I always look forward to his turkey and my absolute favorite: STUFFING! We always have the classics: stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and rolls. No special twists to things, and that is just how I like it. My family's Thanksgiving meal has been the same since I was little, and it is something that I love to look forward to. It is the best comfort food ever. Thanksgiving is something that I will always love, and it is something that I'll always be thankful for.

INQ Final draft

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS6MRYHPoSk

It still needs a lot of work. I'm not really too sure as far as how to tie in wanting to inspire creativity in kids and their lives, and how that relates to what separates me from everyone else. I think I may just do a general video biography sort of thing about myself, focusing on art and creativity and the goals I have for the future. I think all of the pieces of my life are what makes me different, not just one specific thing.

A time in my life that I had a leadership role was a couple of years ago when I was a teacher at Vacation Bible school for three year olds. i was visiting my cousins in North Carolina and I had the chance to join them in helping out with their church's bible school. It was one of the first times I had a real leadership position and I remember feeling very proud of myself for being able to lead and take charge. It felt really good to be able to help out, and to have a say in the program. i didn't know anybody from the church except for my cousins, and in a way i think that that played a big role in how comfortable I felt being in a leadership position. Usually I am less likely to want to lead a group because I have a fear of doing something wrong, or being judged. But being around all the people that I didn't know, I wasn't afraid like I would usually be. I wasn't afraid of messing up, or not doing what i was supposed to. I had a lot of confidence in myself and I learned to have faith in my ability to lead. Even though i was teaching little kids, it helped me make the first step in being comfortable  with leading and taking charge. Overall it was a good experience and I always remember how much fun and happy I was being able to com out of my shell and take charge.

Where's the time?!

There have been a lot of difficult situations this semester. I think in general this has been some of the most stressful months I have had to go through. I think a big cause to my stress and anxiety is having to balance school and work with each other. This is my first job that I have had, and I got it in the summertime, so this semester is my first experience of balancing school and work. I think it is especially hard learning to do that on top of adjusting to college life and just getting used to having so much freedom when it comes to my education. My biggest struggles have been with my work schedule conflicting with my studying time. I only work 20 hours a week, which may not seem like a lot to some people, but it has made me realize how terrible I am at balancing everything, even when I may not have a lot on my plate. It seems that every time I have a big test, I work every day following up to it. My last two Art History exams it seems I had to cram for because the 2 days before it i've had to work. It is really hard to put school first and to make sure all of my school work is complete when i have a unpredictable work schedule. So I think in general my most difficult times this semester is finding the right time to study and being able to be prepared for tests without cramming, or feeling unprepared.

"Believe in dreams
You love so much
Let the passion of your heart
Make them real
And tell
All the ones you love
Anything and everything you feel"

-Believe In Dreams by Flyleaf

This week I went to see the band Atreyu in concert at The Webster in Hartford. Concerts have always been a HUGE stress relief for me. I think seeing one of your favorite bands live and hearing their music live is one of the best feelings ever. A lot of people only relate stress relief with quietness, or rest and relaxation, but to me being in an environment that makes you truly comfortable is stress relief. I find comforting to be surrounded by so many strangers with loud music blasting and being able to listen to the lyrics and let out all your frustrations by singing your heart out. This band in particular makes me really happy to see because every time that they come to Connecticut, me and my boyfriend make sure we don't miss them. In a way it's become sort of a tradition. I know a lot of other people may not think that this is really stress relief, but I guess the point i'm trying to make is that really good stress relief is surrounding yourself with things that you love. Whether it is music, movies, books, family, friends, or a nice soft bed, i think that it is important to find what really makes you feel happy and at ease. As a college student it may be hard to not feel stressed out, especially around this time of the semester when the second half is kicking in. But i think that it is crucial to seize the moments where you know you can truly be happy and stress free. That is why I try to never miss a concert of one of my favorite bands. For me, it is one of those things that make me feel truly alive and happy with my life, and that is the best feeling ever.

F for Grade Inflation

The idea of grade inflation makes me mad and confused. I don't get how anybody truly benefits from grade inflation. It just doesn't make sense that average students are getting above average grades, and below average students are getting average grades. It seems completely unfair and goes against the ideals that I thought education as a whole was all about. When a student deserves a certain grade, but they receive a higher one than what they truly earned, alls that they are learning is to do average work. It seems backwards to me that schools are participating in this sort of thing, especially when what we are all being told over and over again is how the working world is looking for people who are creative and STAND OUT. A student who is getting higher grades than they deserve will go out into the working world expecting high praise for average work. With that mentality it seems that finding a good job will never become possible. As a student i know what it's like to have grading curves. And even though im happy when i do bad on an exam and my grade is curved, i know that its not truly the grade that I deserve. I don't understand how people can be happy knowing that people are giving them this sort of false hope when it comes to their intelligence. While I don't think schools should be making students feel less intelligent than they really are, I definitely do not agree with boosting their confidence by giving them false grades. Because when they get to the real world they will in no way be prepared for the sort of criticism that is thrown at them.

Midterm Video Project

I'd like to think I did a good job on my project, considering I used Power Point. Unfortunately I only could find this way to upload my presentation to my blog, and it got rid of my audio. In my actual presentation I had narrations and background music. But despite that being absent I'm pretty proud of my project. :}

Delayed gratification

View more presentations from Michelle Olsen.

Generation Facebook

From reading the article Generation Me it got me really thinking about this generation and the level of narcissism we truly have. Thinking about it more I've realized what i think to be one of the biggest sources of our narcissism : Social Networking Sites. While they can be a great way for people to get connected, it is also a mecca for young adults to ramble on about themselves. We post statuses CONSTANTLY about where we are, what we're doing, what we're thinking.We keep this up as if it's our job. As if we were to stop updating our profile we would lose some part of our identity. Sometimes it amazes me at how personal people get on Facebook. It seems like people just can't get enough of sharing everything with everyone. As if "going to school. going home. then work" is that important. We spend hours and hours analyzing our friends profiles, our friends of friends profiles and our own profiles. We've begun to think that Facebook is an extension of our personality. No longer is it a tool. It's a part of us. Social networking sites are part of us. And it makes us share everything with everyone all the time. and this plants seeds in our heads that we are more important than we really are. in the end does it REALLY matter what youre eating for lunch? Do people HAVE to know where you're going when class is out? No. But we live in a world where we set up profiles ALL ABOUT US and it makes us think that every detail of our lives is important. That attitude translates to every facet of our lives. And its the reason why this truly is Generation me.

blogs, blogs, and more BLOGS

There are many things that make up a good blog post. A good blog post is successful in 

getting it's point across clearly and interestingly. A good blog post is one that you enjoy reading. It isn't just a simple summary, or generic story. It has personality, detail and emotion. When you are reading a blog it is almost like you are reading someones private thoughts. So you expect those thoughts to be interesting and personal. In my opinion, a good blog post is one that makes you think, relate back to yourself, or want to know more about. An example of a good blog in my opinion is Oscar's  blog. His posts are generally interesting, descriptive, personal, and very creative. I really like his titles because they are always creative and catch readers attention. I also liked Lynday's blog because she uses a lot of unique pictures to capture a readers attention. Essentially that is the whole point of a blog; to catch the eyes of the readers and make them want to come back for more. I think that I have the potential to be a really great blogger, but a lot of the time I am missing one of the most essential ingredients for a great blog post: a passion for the topic. Some things are easier for me to write about than others. And most of the time when i am told what to talk about I end up sounding generic. So I need to learn how to master a good blog post even when initial interest in the topic may not be there.

histoire de l'art

When applying for college I had the intentions of becoming a Chemistry major. I wanted to be a chemist, or a pharmacist, or something having to do with medication. But as the year went by I realized that I wasn't cut out for it. While I loved chemistry, I couldn't see myself being happy having a career focused around it. And I also was not looking forward to the extensive math courses I would have to take. Last minute I decided that I wanted to go to school for art. So I applied to Southern as a Studio Arts major. But once again I had a change of heart and I now want to major in Art History. I have no yet officially switched my major to Art History yet. It is still under Studio Art. But I consider myself to be an Art History major. Art History is my chosen major because I completely love it. All my life I have lived art, and I have also had an interest in history. Art History is a perfect mix of the two, and I something that I can foresee myself being very happy with in my future. I love learning about different cultures and how art has been influenced and changed by each one. Some people may think that it is boring, but I however feel it is one of the most interesting things. People don't realize how much you can discover about an ancient culture just by their art alone. My major in art history is just the first step in being where I want to be in my future. My dream is to be an art curator or restorer at an amazing art museum such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, or at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Mass. It is something that I dream about all the time. I dream of going to France to see all the impressionists works of art, and going to England to see the medieval style architecture. Art History is something that I love, and is something I enjoy learning about an pursuing during my college career.

Ichiban!

I haven't really been to any specific events at Southern besides orientation. I would like to attend more, and I plan to, but it is just so hard to get the time to come back to campus when I am a working commuter. My topic for this blog isn't technically and event, but it is an art exhibition. It is called Ichiban! and it is a display of all sorts of historic and contemporary Japanese artwork. The exhibition is a celebration of 150 years of the first Japanese Diplomatic Mission in the United States.  As a lover of art, I was really interested in seeing this exhibition, and I wasn't disappointed. The pieces of art were unique and beautiful and helped me open my eyes to parts of Japanese culture that I wasn't aware of prior to that. From uniquely ornate robes and scrolls to cute childrens lunch boxes and games, the Ichiban exhibit is something that is worth taking a look at. It is nice to know that Southern appreciates art and different cultures and I hope that in the future they have more exhibits featuring even more different and interesting cultures.

Patience. It is the main component in the concept of delayed gratification. It is also one of the hardest qualities to master, especially as a college student. For our video assignments I have decided to explore the idea of delayed gratification. There comes a time in all our our lives where we must wait. And sometimes waiting can be nearly impossible. But what makes it all worth it? Is there anything that is worth waiting for more so than another thing? And what decides whether it is worth it to have patience, or to achieve the goal as soon as possible? That is what I am going to ask the various people that I interview. I want to know what different people think about the idea of delayed gratification. Is it something that needs to be learned in order to succeed? Will you get by without being able to deal with delayed gratification? Is patience REALLY a virtue? And where is the line drawn when delayed gratification is just not needed? When is okay to be impatient?

My specific questions I would like to ask are these:

What is your definition of delayed gratification?

Do you find it to be difficult to deal with the concept of delayed gratification? Is it hard to be patient?

What are some things that you think is worth waiting for and working towards?

What are some things that you don't always need to be patient with?

Motivation Means Nothing Without Will Power

Working while attending college has become more difficult than I planned. Although I cut my hours back working at me oh so entertaining job at Best Buy *sarcasm*, I am still faced with the challenge of balancing my time between my job and school. For example, next week I work every week day except for Tuesday. When do I get my homework done?!  I need to make money, because there is no way I'm going to be asking my mom for money all the time. But at the same time, I need time for my school work. I need to manage my time much more wisely. Those idle hours that I have in between classes where I sit in the Student Center NEED to be taken advantage of. I've come to realize that there really is no more time to just do nothing. I can't afford it anymore. I can't put studying off until I get home from work-and am too tired to even stay awake- anymore. I definitely need to focus and see where all my time is going to besides my job and time at school. It's time that I take control of my schedule. In the end, I will have way less stress on my shoulders. Plus, the days when I have lots of free time I can actually spend them doing what I want to do, instead of catching up on all the homework I neglected to do the week prior. I have the motivation, now the only question is will I have the will power to make it happen?

Kawaii Kupcakes

Cupcakes Take The Cake

This blog is full of creative, cute, and colorful cupcake ideas that is sure to please any sugarholic. From cute sushi inspired designs to elegant flowery icing, this blog has hundreds of ideas for every cupcake imaginable. Browsing through the entries is enough to make me want to stop what I'm doing and run to the kitchen to bake my own delicious, mini cakes. One thing I love to do is bake, which is why this blog appeals to me so much. The ideas are a perfect balance between cute and tasty. With every post is a picture of the cupcake, and a link for the shop that you can buy them at, or a link for the recipe so you can bake it yourself! This blog is very pleasing to look at, and I find that the lack of text is a good thing and leaves more focus for the centerpiece: the cupcakes! If you're looking for a blog to tempt your taste buds, this is it.

Kawaii Not

Kawaii is the Japanese word for cute, and this blog site definitely lives up to it's name. Putting a spin on typical cute images, these sarcastic little pictures are sure to entertain anyone with their wit and adorable puns. Compared to the last blog, this one is less informational. This is a blog that you visit quickly when you're bored and in the need of amusement. It is simple, but popular. The cupcake blog has a lot more information, but they both succeed in making a statement and providing interesting and view-worthy topics, which is the goal of any blogger! They also are blogs that are both pleasing to the senses and full of CUTE.

An epiphany

Quinnipiac was my first choice for colleges my senior year. The campus is beautiful, it was small, and it had what I wanted to major in: Chemistry. I was excited to apply and anxious to see if I was excepted or not. But I suddenly had a change of heart. I realized that I didn't want to be doing chemistry my whole life. I wouldn't be happy with that. So I decided I wanted to major in what I loved most: Art. Unfortunately, Quinnipiac doesn't offer Art History as a major. I was dissapointed, to say the least. So as a second choice I chose Southern. It offers art history, is closer to my home, and is dramatically cheaper than QU. But i've still had that feeling deep in my gut that I made the wrong choice. That is, until today when I visited my best friend Anna at her dorm at Quinnipiac. It was somewhat of a closure, it made me realize that I made the right decision. I don't really have much to complain about with Quinnipiac and I still think it is a good school. But it's just not me. I didn't realize how much I like Southern until I  experienced a different school. I think what I like most about Southern is the fact that there are so many different people. I like being around so many people on a pretty big campus. It made me realize that a private college isn't my cup of tea. I've finally come to terms with my decision with attending Southern, and I couldn't be happier.

Disciplined Outcasts

In Outcasts United, Luma is a very strict soccer coach. She believes in discipline, hard work, respect and determination. She strives to make her soccer teams as good as they can be, in all aspects. Not only is she an exceptional soccer coach, she is also in a way, a life coach. She is instilling in these boys values that they would not have learned about if they were not under the influence of Luma. She wants her teams to do their best on the field, but before that, she wants them to be disciplined, educated, hard working and respectful off of the field. These ideas that she is teaching the boys is very much the same ideas that we read about in the various articles this past week. The marshmallow video taught us about delayed gratification. It was learning about having to stick something out and have discipline in order to gain something from it. That is just like what Luma is teaching the boys. At first they boys are losing the games, and Luma expects this. but over time the boys become determined and strive to keep on going, despite their loses, in order to win and impress their coach. The boys are also working and practicing all the time in order to get better, and because of this they show vast improvement. This is just like the article that talked about how lots and lots of practice at something will eventually make you a master at it.

vision board

Time Flies

One of the most challenging things I have faced during the first 2 weeks of college is learning how to manage my time. I never needed to know how to balance time between classes, homework, family, friends and work while I was in high school. But coming into college has made me realize how difficult it can be. I don't think I was prepared for how busy some of my days would be. It's difficult learning to completely manage your own time when you're so used to having things done for you. It is up to me to get myself up in the morning, get to classes on time, do my homework, get my own meals and make time for work and the people I love at the same time. College has really opened my eyes to just how organized I need to be. I realize now that I pretty much lacked any type of organizational skills during my high school years. In high school I did all my homework in study hall or during free time in other classes, so I pretty much never had much work to do when I got home. I also didn’t have a job, so I had a lot of free time after school. But it is so different now in college. It is all up to me now to manage everything that goes on. I've gotten the hang of it so far, but I definitely need more work. I think that organization is one of the most important skills a college student can have. Time management is the key to getting anything done on time and to your best effort.

Patience is a virtue

In a world where everything is instant, the idea of delayed gratification seems foreign.
The life of a college student in the year 2010 is anything BUT slow paced. We have the whole world at our fingertips, delivered to us via smart phones and iPads.
Have a question? Google it on your iPhone and within seconds you'll have the answer.
We are growing up in an age where we aren't expected to wait for things. Socializing, researching, communicating; it is all made easy with 4G services and highspeed internet.
So if this is the case, how are college students supposed to get used to the idea of delayed gratification?
The marshmallow experiment is easy for us to understand. Wait 15 minutes and avoid the temptation of instant gratification, and receive a better award. Easy enough.
But as a college student, we are faced with these situations everyday without truly realizing it.
Do I study for an extra hour and get a better grade on my exam? Or do I compromise my grade in order to hang out and have some fun with my friends?
This type of situation occurs all the time, which is why it is so important for college students to grasp the idea of delayed gratification.
In a sense we must undo what society and technology has been teaching us. Instant and easy is not always better. We do not need everything right now. We can be patient. We can work towards something important. We have complete control over ourselves.
For college students surrounded by the ideas of instant and "NOW!", delayed gratification is probably the most important concept that can be learned.

College

College is a place where you take notes, do homework, study and take exams in order to earn a degree that will help you obtain a good career. But it is also so much more than that. College is a place that opens your eyes to new experiences and helps you mold yourself into the type of person you want to be for the rest of your life. The things you learn through college, whether it is academically or socially, you will hold with you for the rest of your life. College also has a way of showing you that there are so many types of people in the world. No longer are we stuck with the same sort of kids that we've been with throughout our school career. We are with a whole new group of people with totally different views and opinions on everything. Being around so many different people makes you realize that your view on life is NOT the only one. This helps you form new and probably more mature views on life.
The goals I have for myself are to maintain good grades, and meet and make friends with  a lot of different people. I'm kind of nervous about all the work I will have. I don't quite know how i'll be able to handle all of it, but time will tell, and I can only try my best!
In general I am excited for the years to come and I'm very glad that I made the choice to go to college.

5 Things

5 things to describe myself:

1. ARTISTIC

One of my favorite qualities about myself is that I am artistic. Art has always been something that I've been very passionate about. In ways, art has been a sort of escape for me. Whether I am creating something myself, or simply looking at a painting or picture I feel as though everything makes sense. I often will translate confused emotions or thoughts into a painting, and everything suddenly makes sense to me. Passion for art is something that has always been with me.  I feel as though I am naturally a person drawn to the aesthetic nature of things. Visualizing or creating something that I feel is beautiful is one of the most satisfying feelings ever.

2. KID AT HEART

I'd say that I am a kid at heart because I like to explore, discover, imagine and wonder about things. Sometimes I just like to pretend and play. I love to imagine and just enjoy the simple things in life. This mentality helps me keep a positive outlook on my life. I am in no rush to grow up, although I definitely do not consider myself to have some sort of "Peter Pan" complex. I just like to enjoy the little things, and it is something I admire in myself.

3. LOYAL

I am always loyal to the people I love. My family and friends are the most important things in my life and I am someone who can always be trusted. I try to be honest all the time and to not take the people I love for granted. I am a good listener, and will try my best to help someone with their problems, so I think I am someone who can be trusted.

4. ANIMAL LOVER

 I love animals. Especially my Boston Terrier Baron and my two Rat Terriers; Pixie and Link. Animals can be so loving and loyal. I would love to volunteer at some sort of animal shelter if I could. I would really like to help other people realize what sort of joy an animal can bring into their life.

5. NOSTALGIC

I'm a really nostalgic person. I like to keep pictures and keepsakes with important memories attached to them. I hold a lot of sentimental value in things that seem ordinary to others. This is important to me because I like being able to think back and remember really good times I've had with the people I love. It helps me to always appreciate the things I have and it also puts me in a happy mood.