SLP PRESENTATION

https://docs.google.com/a/hesser.edu/presentation/d/1RvSlDOpQvrvSvlb-SguVsy28Z2q2FE1GKRRyb5dqM2s/edit#slide=id.ge1d3644_0_7

What's Your Stress Relief?

For this assignment I decided to go fishing.  I love to fish for striped bass in the summer, especially right on the beach.  I went to a secluded area on Salisbury Beach Reservation where there were very few people around.  I baited my hooks (I used 2 fishing rods) casted them out to sea and sat back in my beach chair.  The weather was beautiful.  It was about 75 degrees with a light breeze and the sun was drifting toward the horizon behind me.  As I was relaxing in my chair I began to scan the vast ocean.  I remember a friend telling me to look out at the ocean and asked if I could see the ocean.  When I answered yes, he responded with, "No you don't, all your seeing is the surface of the water."  I began to let my mind wander and thought about what was under the surface.  While pondering my thoughts with my eyes closed I began to meditate, use all my senses and focus on my breathing.  I could feel the hot afternoon sun on my neck, the cool breeze across my sweaty skin, and the sand between my toes.  I could here the cry of seagulls flying by searching for food.  I could hear the waves crashing on the sand in front of me.  I could feel my heartbeat and my chest rise and fall with every breath.  Meditation is one of my favorite stress relieving tools.  It puts me in my own little world where I don't have a care in the world.  Peace and serenity.  I didn't end up catching any fish, but I still felt like a million bucks when I decided to head home.

Midterm Reflection

Reflect on your personal identity as a college student.  How has it changed your day-to-day activities, how has it changed your outlook on life, goals, family and work?

In 2002 I enrolled as a full-time student at Plymouth State University as a Physical Education major.  I was looking to become a gym teacher.  While at Plymouth it didn't take me long to fall into the party life.  I spent a year at Plymouth, barely attended classes and needless to say, failed out.  A year later I tried again at Northern Essex Community College and had the same outcome.  I felt that school was just cutting into my party time.  Now, 8 years later, the party is over.  I've been sober for 6 months now and I really want to finish what I started.  After the first 4 weeks of classes at Hesser I feel I am doing great.  I'm getting grades that I never thought I could get and it's just giving me more confidence in myself.  The sky is the limit to what I can achieve.  My days are so filled up now I barely have any free time.  I work 50 hrs a week and do school work an average of 2 hrs a night.  My family is very excited to see me back in school and actually serious about it this time.  I am a Business Administration student and as my boss, my dad is really enjoying some of the topics I've been bringing up at work.  We even implemented some SMART goals into the business!

Reflect on 3 new strategies you use or are learning how to use to succeed in college.

One of the main strategies I am using and continuing to learn how to use is time management.  Working full time and taking classes takes up a lot of time and can be frustrating at times.  I need to set schedules and use calendars to be sure I am taking advantage of the time that I have.  I read a quote the other day that said, "Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today"-Ben Franklin.  This quote stuck with me and I've found myself repeating it a lot lately.

Another strategy I've been working on is note taking.  I've never really taken notes or even read for that matter so all the tips I've learned are becoming very helpful.  I've always been pretty good at making outlines and I see material really well in an outline so that is the structure I use for my notes.  In the "How to Take Notes" tutorial I learned that I should keep the main topic in mind while writing.  This is something I don't usually do and end up writing useless notes.  I've also learned to keep each set of notes on a different page so that the information is easier to relay back to.

Test taking is also a strategy that I am learning a lot about and will continue to work on.  I've never been a good test taker so the information I learned in this course about test taking is very helpful to me.  I'm learning to overcome my anxiety and learning to be well prepared for tests.  My note taking will definitely help me in this area as well.

Since you became a college student how has your life changed?  Include thoughts about your life style, your time management, your priorities and goals.


Life has definitely gotten more stressful.  I am working over 50 hours a week and add in a couple hours of school work a night and there isn't much time left.  Some of the work I enjoy which helps me to get it done.  Other times I find myself procrastinating and not wanting anything to do with it.  Being a college student has taught me a lot about how important managing my time needs to be.  If I fall behind on assignments, which I have, it makes it very difficult to catch up.

I don't really have much of a social life right now.  I get home from work around 6 and have to eat and get my homework done.  By the time that stuff is taken care of it is already getting pretty late.  My lifestyle this time around in college is greatly improved from the student I used to be.  The old me would choose that social life over my schoolwork.  If I want to be successful in school, which I do, I need to get my priorities straight.  That means finishing up that assignment instead of going fishing with the boys.

I have never been good with setting goals.  It is something I am still struggling with, but giving more effort than I have in the past.  I am all about change these days.  You can't grow if you don't engage in unfamiliar and uncomfortable practices.  It's all about creating new habits and getting rid of the old ones.

What do you see changing in your life because of college?  What would you like to see changed the most, how and why?


I am definitely becoming more responsible and it feels good to learn new things.  My parents are starting to take me seriously about going back to school.  They had their doubts from my past experience with college and I have to show them that I can do this.

I would most like to see myself use my time more efficiently and effectively.  Procrastination is my biggest enemy and I need to push through that and get my stuff done.  Anxiety is definitely a problem as well and most often procrastination follows that anxiety.

What skill is gained by taking the midterm reflection and with no time constraints?


I was able to take my time and put some thought into my answers.  Reflecting back on what I've learned over the past few weeks and seeing the changes that have taken place is really cool to think about.  I was in drug and alcohol treatment 3 months ago.  Now I am almost finished with my first semester of college.  That to me is a miracle.  I never would have thought that I could accomplish so much in such a short period of time.

I wrote this reflection on my comfy couch with my headphones on.  I was listening to beautiful ambient music that really puts me in a comfortable state of mind.

Re-evaluating POWER goals

Long Term Goal #1  Get a college degree
Related Short-Term Goals:
1.  Finish all assignments on time.
2.  Attend classes
3.  Seek help if needed
4.  Make sure classes are paid and on time
5.  Stay connected

New Goal #1  Get B’s or better in all classes
1.  Finish all assignments on time!
2.  Make dedicated time for school work
3.  Stay connected with class and advisor
4.  Take better notes
5.  Utilize test taking strategies learned in GNED111

With this goal I cut it down to make it obtainable and less distant.  Getting a college degree is still a goal, but this goal is obtainable in the here and now.  

Long Term Goal #2  Gain 15 lbs of muscle
1.  Find a workout that works for me
2.  Eat healthy
3.  Find time for workouts
4.  Supplements (if needed)
5.  Get membership to gym

New Goal #2  Exercise 3 times a week
1.  Set a schedule every week
2.  Don’t make excuses
3.  Do something different each workout
4.  Get plenty of sleep
5.  Eat right

I wasn’t getting very far with this goal.  I wouldn’t say I failed, but the goal does not seem within reach for me at this time.  I need to achieve this smaller goal of exercising 3 times a week before I can gain 15 lbs of muscle.

Long Term Goal #3  Inherit my father’s business
1.  Set a schedule every week
2.  Be to work on time every day
3.  Learn the in’s and out’s of the business
4.  Create a vision of how I want the business to run
5.  Become more responsible

New Goal #3  Boost internet sales at work
1.  Work on website appearance
2.  Advertising
3.  Set up Ebay account
4.  Make sure inventory is up to date
5.  Ecommerce

I also changed this goal to the here and now.  I may not inherit my fathers business for many years.  Boosting internet sales will help the company now and will be something I can say I helped the company establish.  

Long Term Goal #4  Buy a new house
1.  Create very good credit
2.  Pay off debt
3.  Save money
4.  Find financing
5.  Find new tenants to fill current home

New Goal #4  Invest in a vacation home
1.  Save money
2.  Pay off credit cards and establish good credit
3.  Find a safe community in an up-and-coming area (preferably near the ocean)
4.  Find a real estate agent
5.  Find financing I can afford
I made this goal more specific.  This goal involves buying a home that I could vacation to and rent while I am not there.  

Long Term Goal #5  Buy a new car
1.  Save money
2.  Create good credit
3.  Sell current car
4.  Budget money accordingly
5.  Find one that’s right for me

New Goal #5  Remain abstinent from drugs and alcohol
1.  Attend meetings regularly
2.  Change people, places, things
3.  Work with sponsor
4.  Counseling/Therapy
5.  Stay connected with recovery network

I don’t really need a new car.  Staying away from drugs and alcohol will help me to achieve any goal that I set!

What's the Real Explanation?

1.  Ice cream sales and the timing of shark attacks are highly related.  Why?
My answer:  Ice cream sales and the timing of shark attacks are related because of the summertime.  Ice cream sales increase and sharks are more abundant in the warm waters.
Explanation:  The actual cause is probably the temperature, which causes both sales of ice cream and ocean swimming to increase.

I was very close on this one.  I didn't think of the swimming factor but I was right on with the summertime/warm weather explanation.

2.  The number of cavities children have and the size of their vocabulary are closely related.  Why?
My answer:  These are related because the older a child gets the more he learns (vocab) and the better the chance of developing cavities.
Explanation:  Both the number of cavities children have and the size of their vocabularies are related to their age.

I got this one right away.

3.  Skirt hemlines tend to rise as stock prices rise.  Why?
My answer:  I don't know.
Explanation:  Skirt hemlines go up, as does the stock market, when people are feeling less conservative and more optimistic.

I had no idea why these could be related.  After seeing the explanation I still don't know if I agree with it.  It could be possible, just doesn't seem likely to me.

4.  Women with breast implants have a higher rate of suicide than those without breast implants.  Why?
My answer:  Women with breast implants are more insecure about themselves.
Explanation:Having breast implants and committing suicide both may be a result of unhappiness or a poor self-image.

This one was pretty easy.  If a woman gets breast implants, she is obviously unhappy with her appearance.

5.  People who own washing machines are more likely to die in car accidents than those who don't.  Why?
My answer:  They get in accidents while bringing the washers home from the store.
Explanation:  People who own washing machines are more likely to own cars, and therefore they stand a higher risk of dying in a car crash.

I'm not sure about this one either.  Many people live in apartment complexes where they don't own a washer.  Also many people drive to the laundromat to do laundry.

6.  Men who carry their cell phones in their front pants pockets have a lower sperm count than those who don't carry them in their front pants pockets.  Why?
My answer:  Cell phones give off radiation which causes the lower sperm count.
Explanation:  Men with high stress jobs may be more likely to have cell phones, and it is the stress that produces the low sperm count-not the placement of a phone in their pocket.

This makes sense, but it would probably be more fitting 10 years ago.  Now that almost everyone has a cell phone I don't think I agree as much

Communication Skills

In the first video, the customers accent made it hard on the employee. The employee should have clarified what the customer was looking for first. This would have saved him time and frustration. In the end he gave up and asked another employee to take over.

"The outcome is that the goal is avoided or ignored as it cause such confusion or the outcome is the same as with an aggressive or passive style."-Rose, Joni. "Communication Styles." Suite101.com. Suite101.com, 27 Jan. 2007. Web. 02 June 2012. <http://suite101.com/article/communication-styles-a12116>.

In the second video there were many factors that contributed to poor communication.  First of all the clinician did not allow the patient to finish anything she had to say.  There were also many interruptions such as her cell phone ringing.  She was obviously not listening to the patient because she had to ask the same questions more than once.  There was also very little eye contact between the two.

"Eye contact— gaze direction of doctor affects patient disclosure; withdrawal conveys lack of interest;
patient may not give key pieces of information critical to the clinical encounter."Adapted by Monica Broome, M.D., F.A.C.P.UMSM EDO From a workshop handout by Dr. Rehman, University of South Carolina, Web. 02 June 2012 <http://edo.med.miami.edu/documents/NONVERBAL%20COMMUNICATION.PDF>

Priorities and Procrastination

Nothing really surprised me about my procrastination quotient, which was a 27, because I know I am a huge procrastinator.  At least I have been in the past.  That is one thing that I am destined to change!  When there is a task that needs to be done and it isn't something I enjoy I always seem to find something more important to do.  Two of the biggest activities I procrastinate about are school work and yard work.  In the past I have always been known to wait to finish school work the day before its due.  This results in rushing to complete things and not putting in my best effort.  If you add my anxiety on top of that it doesn't make a good mix.  As far as the yard work, I'm the type that waits until the grass is 2 ft tall before I decide to mow the lawn.
I have definitely got a grasp on my priorities the last few months.  All my bills are being paid on time, school work is getting done, I'm on time to work and I'm not blowing money like I used to.  I know what's important today and what can wait.

Keys for Writers

This blog will show how the Keys for Writers book will help me in different areas including writing courses, other college courses, job search, my workplace, and online.

Writing courses:

This book will be huge in helping me with my writing courses.  I have always had trouble with different formats and documentation as well as works cited formats.  Part 3 on MLA format is going to be a life saver.  It is very easy to read and apply with great examples and easy to follow directions.

Other courses:

Even when not taking a writing course, many professors still like to see proper writing in whatever assignments are given.  Points may be taken off for grammatical errors or use of wrong documentation.  This book will also help me in creating presentations, such as using powerpoint which can be found on page 345 in Part 5.

Job search:

Another area this book will help with is job search.  It has a whole section on resumes on page 329.  I have never had to create a resume for a job so I have no experience in this area.

Workplace:

There is also a section on business letters and memos.  In my current position I never have to use these tools but I might in the future as a business owner, so it is good information to know.

Online:

As I am taking online courses, this section will be very helpful.  Section 23 in Part 5 on page 308 is a whole section on online communication forums.  This section covers email, discussion boards, online communities, blogs, etc.  I use all of these on a daily basis so if I have any trouble I know where to look.

Service Learning Research

For my service learning research assignment I have chosen substance abuse prevention.  I chose this topic because it hits home for me.  I recently spent three months in a substance abuse treatment center in San Diego, CA.  I have been battling drug and alcohol abuse for a long time and I finally got the help I needed.  Now it is my turn to be of service and help another who needs it.  I regularly attend NA meetings and see first hand every day the harsh reality of drug abuse in the community.  Young people stumble in completely broken, no job, no family, friends dying on the street, its no way to live and they need help.  I now have 5 months clean and sober and I'm doing things I never thought I could do.  School being one of them.  With my first hand experience in this topic I believe this is where i could be of most service.

Pod 2: How to Take Notes

I think when I have actually taken any notes at all, they have been pretty good.  I always use an outline format for my notes.  I think it makes it easier and more organized.  I believe anyone could read and understand my notes.  In my opinion this was an easy article to take notes on.  Especially when outlining. Everything was already numbered so it was simple.  I didn't highlight any key points but I capitalized a few things.  I could definitely go back to these notes at any time and clearly understand the topic and the key points.

How to Take Notes

5/20/12

Page 1

Important Skills for Successful Study

1.  Notes may come from a variety of different sources, tutorials, TV, experiments etc.
2.  Notes will normally provide evidence to back up arguements, used as illustrative material, may include quotes, goal is to produce 1 to 2 page outline on material
3.  May take more notes than needed
information gathering stage-digesting and refining ideas
4.  Just because some material is not used, don’t imagine that your efforts have been wasted.
5.  Make a compressed and accurate record of info, other peopl’s opinions, and own observations
6.  Record main issues, not the details, keep as short as possible unless discussing in more detail
7.  Don’t write down every word, translate into own words
8.  Some people take so many notes that they don’t know which to use when it’s time to do the writing.  They feel that they are drowning in a sea of info.
9.  2 common weaknesses in note taking
a.  transcribing too much of the original
b.  being unselective in the choice of topics
10.  2 possible solutions
a.  select only words which will be of use, avoid being descriptive, THINK MORE/WRITE LESS, be selective
b.  keep topic clear in mind, keep notes based on relevance to topic
11.  record notes clearly and neatly
12.  good layout

General Guidelines

-make note of sources
-use loose-leaf a4 paper, no small notepads
-write clearly and leave spaces in between
-use tabs
-abbreviated and compressed, initials
-dont string points together
-logical and memorable layout, letters, numbers, indents, headings and sub headings, colored ink, highlighters
-new page for each set of notes, topics separate, clearly titled and labelled
-write on one side of page only, leave space for details

Pod 2: Test Taking Strategies

I have never been a great test taker, unless math was the subject.  Theres something about numbers that make it easy for me to remember and solve.  As far as other subjects go, I guess you could say that I am not the best when it comes to being prepared or studying.  I usually cram overnight the night before the test and when it is put in front of me, I forget everything.  This is an area of my learning that I am taking very seriously now and will be working very hard to change for the better.  I never have a problem with the test itself.  I am very good at following directions and usually have no problem understanding whats being asked of me.

Anxiety is another issue I have, not just with test taking but with life in general.  Having anxiety during a test can be very distracting and can pull your focus away from the test.  Most of the anxiety I have has been with being in the classroom, so online classes might be just what I need!  Another issue I have is with frustration.  When I come to a problem that I get stuck on I get very frustrated and most of the time the answer is right in front of me.  What I need to do is skip over the question and come back to it instead of wasting valuable test time on that specific problem.

Overall I have a lot of work to do in this department if I want to be a successful test taker.  The areas that I am focused on the most are studying every night instead of cramming, and reviewing my test to make sure I did not make silly mistakes or grammatical errors.

Hey

Heres my first blog!