Global Current Event

Indigenous Genocide. What is that? Genocide is the destruction of a ethnic, racial, religious, or national group of peoples. Indigenous people are the native people of a land that has been lived in for generations by the same people. I believe that governments all over the world are trying to completely assimilate all the natives peoples in their country. The governments also create boarding schools, reservations, and refugee camps to educate and protect the natives of the country.

The governments in most cases believe that they are helping the native community by protecting them by civilizing them and acculturating them into the societal norms. An example would be boarding schools. Boarding schools have been around since the late 1800’s; they have left many harmful marks on the lives of the survivors and their younger generations. There are many testimonials about the sexual, physical, and verbal abuse that was suffered by the Native Americans in the United States and Canada.

I think the goverments ideals have been skewed over time. The most current genocide is happening in Darfur, Sudan. I believe that the Native American genocide has been happening since 1492, the discovery that Christopher Columbus made.

Right now there is an association called Boarding School Healing Project here in the United States. In Canada, there is a project called HOPE Project. In Darfur, there are many associations that try to provide healthcare and translation for the residents of the refugee camps. I really would like to do volunteer work through places like the American Red Cross to help in the refugee camps.

Organizations, Involvement, Leadership

HOSA, LEO Club, NHS? You’re probably thinking: what do these acronyms mean? These are organizations that have shaped my leadership experience in my high school career. These organizations have shown me different leadership aspects. HOSA, LEO Club, NHS have developed certain aspects of leadership, such as public speaking, organization, and planning meetings and other events.

Public speaking is a key requirement when involved in leadership roles within an organization. HOSA is a career oriented club called Health Occupations Students of America. LEO Club is a volunteerism club that stands for Leadership Experience and Opportunity. NHS is an honorary organization called the National Honor Society. In HOSA, I am now a state officer, serving as treasurer on the state executive council. As state advisor, I give speeches in front of members of HOSA at statewide events, like the Fall Leadership Conference, Mid-Winter HOSA, and the State Leadership Conference. In LEO club, I serve as an officer on the leadership team. I inform the members of LEO club of upcoming events and also the results of previous events at bi-weekly meetings. Organization is a recommended skill that is used in leadership roles.

In order to maintain knowledge of deadlines and events, I use my organizational skills. I carry a planner with me or at least a calendar in order to not lose track of my commitments. I keep binders with information about events, resources the organization can use, and information that I need to know. I keep a flash drive in order to have any computerized documents with me at all times. This is part of an organization process as well as a preparation process. Preparation shows that I am mature and that I care about the organization and the subject at hand. Another aspect of leadership is the planning process.

Leadership opportunities arise when planning meetings and events. In NHS, we have to plan important events, like Mr. Millard South (pageant show) and the silent auction that runs before and during the show. The funds raised are for the NHS scholarship winners. While planning these events, the NHS members that volunteer for the event planning get to sign up for the committee that they choose to be a part of. In HOSA, we have a similar process. Each state officer is in charge of a certain committee, like the Finances Committee. When planning an event in HOSA, each event has positions that each state officer fills; the positions include: president, vice-president, and two other members to help in a certain aspect depending on the event.

Participation in extracurricular organizations shows the importance of involvement within the school, the community, and the world issues. Each little bit of help becomes a big change in the long run, that is why I like to be involved in extracurricular organizations. They show us how to obtain leadership through involvement and actual experience.

(: My First Week as a College Student :)

It was awesome, yet exhausting. What am I talking about? Well, of course, our first week as college students. The first three days we lived on campus; so first of all, I had to learn how to manage my sleeping habits and how to not get lost on campus. It was hard, knowing that you wanted to stay up at all hours of the night, but having to get up early in the morning to go to class. I managed to do whatever I had to do on time.

First Day of Class

As we all shuffled to get on the shuttle, I couldn’t wait to get to know more about the campus and to go see my classrooms and teachers, although I already knew two of them, Maria and Liz. First stop was College 101 in the CPACS building. It took a few minutes for us to get started with class. We had to organize binders, pass out papers, and get settled in our new surroundings. About forty-five minutes into class, we got started with first round of business that we needed to attend to. During this time, we did an activity that put us into our future, 10 years from now. This future we saw is going to be our present someday and that was the purpose of the activity. It brought out our dreams and turned them into goals that will now be our future. After this activity we went through our syllabus and got dismissed promptly at 10:30 am, so that we could find our classrooms.

Waiting…waiting…waiting … all the summer scholars that are in Native American Studies found themselves sitting in the hallway of the Arts and Sciences Building twenty minutes before class started. As I sat there thinking about many what ifs, such as what if the teacher is treacherous and assigns us forty pages to read on the first night with a quiz over it the next day. Relief struck me as I saw Sheila Rocha walk into the room introducing herself nonchalantly and giving the class a kind smile. We did get quiz, but it was more of a ‘let see what you know’ quiz than a 'you’re going to be graded on this!’ quiz. We went over the course syllabus and she only assigned two articles (not forty pages long each). I am honestly happy that I got a teacher like Mrs. Rocha. She is helpful, caring, and includes her students in the teaching process of this class through discussion.

Time Management

From the beginning, I have tried my hardest to leave a specific time frame, in which I dedicate myself solely to my homework. Whether on campus or at home, I feel that one of my challenges is dealing with time management. My goal is develop a healthy time schedule, in which I can do homework, chores, and whatever else life throws out at me.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

My classes have challenged me to think in new ways and to step up my game regarding time management. I love my college experience thus far and I hope to be well prepared for when the real thing comes around.

Residential Life with the Summer Scholars

Residential Life with the Summer Scholars

Scott Hall was the first place where I began my summer journey. Residential life began with registration and a day at Carol Joy Holling Camp. Before orientation, I had known nobody from this group. So, I decided that I would try getting to know my counterparts. My first reaction would have been to be shy and just stand by, but I planned on taking this opportunity to get to know more people. Especially since I was so excited about belonging to this program, I wasn’t going to let the chance slip by.

At Carol Joy Holling Camp, my group just happened to be the last mini-group of the first big group to go up on the commitment course. In the commitment course there is a group of 5-7 people on an element/challenge at a height of either forty or fifty feet above ground. The idea of being that high in the air, hanging of a rope wasn’t terrifying until after I was already up there; I had actually been excited before I started. The point of the activity was to use our teammates as support instead of the ropes that kept us safe. We had to walk on thin metal wire like those you see on the electric poles on the side of the road (no electricity was involved during this activity). There were five elements at the height of forty feet above ground and there were another five elements for the fifty feet above elements. At the end of the course everyone went down the zip line. It took my group of five people four hours to complete the course. I cried a total of three times while on the course, but I did complete the entire course with the help of my teammates and their encouragement.

The next day, Saturday, we went once again to the Carol Joy Holling Camp and did the other activities available for us. I paddle-boated and went to the swimming pool after doing the individual high ropes course. I participated only in the beginning and I helped the facilitators the rest of the time. In the evening we hosted a dance party in which we were allowed to invite our friends from outside the program to have some fun with us. Sunday was pretty laid back mainly because many people went to church or spent time with their family. The free time that was available gave me time to catch up on my sleep, to clean my room and to do some leisurely reading. We also had an ice cream social and a movie night.

Monday: The big day had finally come. Everybody learned how to use a shuttle and where to go. I enjoyed my first day of class in both College 101 and Native American Studies. After class on the first day I accidentally went to the wrong place to wait for a shuttle to take me back to Scott Hall. I waited about half an hour before I figured out that I had to another place, but in the end all turned out well and I have learned to stay with the group instead of wondering off alone to explore and then getting lost.

Wednesday came around too soon; I wished that I could stay at Scott Hall with my new friends. Many felt the same way too, but we all have to go back home to our families. Fortunately, we will still continue to see each other every dayJ.