How did I learn to enter the working world after being a stay at home mom for 30 years. Checking out my options in different areas. Seeing what my strengths were and going for something that would enable me to use my strengths. I checked out different job postings online, I put together my resume, I took some classes through Work Source, and finally found a course that appealed to me that I could use to further my education and use for employment.
The process was very long, took lots of thinking skills...sweeping the cobwebs out of my head of what my past job experiences were and putting that on paper for others to see and view. The thing that finally stood out to me was the idea that I needed some education to get a better paying job,to have some retirement, to be a functioning part of my community, pushing myself past my insecurities and feelings of inadequacy.
Finally, I found out that I could do things I never thought: such as, dealing with difficult tests and learning situations. Having hard conversations with employers and fellow workers and students.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
How I learned to Love Traveling Solo - Cate Huston
The title Cate Huston chose to use seems a bit confusing for having a education narrative. It didn't seem that she was actually sharing how she learned to love traveling solo, it was more on tips of what she does when she travels. This was different compared to the other narratives as they actually taught us how they got to where they were going. In Malcolm X's, Learning to Read, it was a heartfelt direction and how he did learn to read. Maybe that is the difference with Cate's and the others, it is not from her heart, just what she does in a factual way. She has her data, goes for a long walk, gets comfortable etc.
As a blog, she did a great job of putting together ideas in separate paragraphs on each activity. If I was going to travel it would be great tips to put into practice. In fact, my husband and I are planning on going to Italy for our 35th wedding anniversary, 3 years away. Many of Cate Huston's tips we may be able to use on our trip and make it a fun, relaxing, enjoyable time.
I hope to follow a more heartfelt, personal direction in my education narrative. Lessons learned and what has happened since then. We shall see.
As a blog, she did a great job of putting together ideas in separate paragraphs on each activity. If I was going to travel it would be great tips to put into practice. In fact, my husband and I are planning on going to Italy for our 35th wedding anniversary, 3 years away. Many of Cate Huston's tips we may be able to use on our trip and make it a fun, relaxing, enjoyable time.
I hope to follow a more heartfelt, personal direction in my education narrative. Lessons learned and what has happened since then. We shall see.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Group class project - October 3, 2013
1. All the ed nars have in common are: Share personal experiences or choices.
2. What features are present in some but not all: 2 put photos in, but story line didn't effect. The other ones were interesting to read. 3 distinct types, 2 most recent ones singular experience, even if a large one, the other ones this is what I have done as a programmer,
3. Why are these distinctions important? Pictures helped us be engaged the others with emotions to engage the readers.
4. What do the variations do? Create a different style to each of them, appeal to different audiences. some with pictures. Google Free was boring.
5. Which appeal to you the most? Mike Rose was more a twist, with the unexpected happening. Mike Rose was more of a life long learning experience. Malcolm changed his life, where Mike experiences changed his life.
What does each one want to get across to the readers?
Google Free: Purpose was to tell readers how google is addictive and google controls a lot of the internet.
Feross: His point was to not only to just do it but to keep doing it even if you're not as successful as you had hoped for.
Malcolm X: Show that you can help yourself even when you hit rock bottom.
Rose: Have a moral story of learning from what others say to you and using it in your life.
2. What features are present in some but not all: 2 put photos in, but story line didn't effect. The other ones were interesting to read. 3 distinct types, 2 most recent ones singular experience, even if a large one, the other ones this is what I have done as a programmer,
3. Why are these distinctions important? Pictures helped us be engaged the others with emotions to engage the readers.
4. What do the variations do? Create a different style to each of them, appeal to different audiences. some with pictures. Google Free was boring.
5. Which appeal to you the most? Mike Rose was more a twist, with the unexpected happening. Mike Rose was more of a life long learning experience. Malcolm changed his life, where Mike experiences changed his life.
What does each one want to get across to the readers?
Google Free: Purpose was to tell readers how google is addictive and google controls a lot of the internet.
Feross: His point was to not only to just do it but to keep doing it even if you're not as successful as you had hoped for.
Malcolm X: Show that you can help yourself even when you hit rock bottom.
Rose: Have a moral story of learning from what others say to you and using it in your life.
The most important lesson I've ever learned
The most important lesson I've ever learned has been to say "I'm sorry". Saying sorry and meaning it has been a most difficult thing for me and for most people. The thing is: when you acknowledge that you have had a part or are responsible for hurting others, whether it be words, actions, or attitudes, to go back and acknowledge how you've hurt someone and be truly sorry that you did opens up a relationship that could have or was damaged. Saying sorry takes a humbling attitude and believe me it is humbling. At first, my pride always gets in the way, because "I'm right", but then on reflection even if I am right, if I was 10% wrong, saying sorry will bridge the gap. It takes a lot of inside fortitude to take the next step or be the "bigger person" if you may. In my past I have had to go to those who I have hurt and apologize for hurting them.
Why it is most important is because ruined relationships are harder to build than forgiven relationships. If you say sorry right away, accept it and move on sincerely, the other person is more likely to be your friend and respect you more than if you had stubbornly gone on your way and not said anything. As I stated earlier, I have had to go and apologize for either words or actions, but the relationship that was rebuilt was far more worth it than my pride or my stubbornness. All in all, saying sorry is far better than not.
Why it is most important is because ruined relationships are harder to build than forgiven relationships. If you say sorry right away, accept it and move on sincerely, the other person is more likely to be your friend and respect you more than if you had stubbornly gone on your way and not said anything. As I stated earlier, I have had to go and apologize for either words or actions, but the relationship that was rebuilt was far more worth it than my pride or my stubbornness. All in all, saying sorry is far better than not.
Prewriting Used Successfully In The Past
I have never done any prewriting. The writing I have done has been sending emails to friends and family. I have kept a journal off and on over the years but, truthfully, its been more off than on. I have written letters and cards to people but that was usually from living such a distance from friends and relatives. Growing up in Montana, with family from Canada and Texas (my mothers and fathers side, we were stuck in the middle) we mostly wrote letters.
In the textbook there are several exercises, on prewriting, which showed me how to get an idea. One of the exercises was on brainstorming. When ever I have been put in a brainstorming situation, my mind goes blank. When working on the brainstorming exercise in the book, I was all alone and sat for 10 minutes and thought of random ideas to put down on paper. That actually worked!!
I also enjoyed the looping exercise. Writing a paragraph about a subject, going back and highlighting something in that subject, writing another paragraph, highlighting again and writing again. It's amazing how different ideas flow from one thing to another.
I can see where prewriting helps to give you ideas to put down on paper. So far everything I have been learning in English 101 has been interesting and very useful.
In the textbook there are several exercises, on prewriting, which showed me how to get an idea. One of the exercises was on brainstorming. When ever I have been put in a brainstorming situation, my mind goes blank. When working on the brainstorming exercise in the book, I was all alone and sat for 10 minutes and thought of random ideas to put down on paper. That actually worked!!
I also enjoyed the looping exercise. Writing a paragraph about a subject, going back and highlighting something in that subject, writing another paragraph, highlighting again and writing again. It's amazing how different ideas flow from one thing to another.
I can see where prewriting helps to give you ideas to put down on paper. So far everything I have been learning in English 101 has been interesting and very useful.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Comparison
One of the things in my life has always been "comparing myself with others". I hope that during this adventure of writing, while I may be comparing myself, I will draw from the other posts, using them to advance and expand my learning. Comparison is one of the things in my 1st paper "The Challenge" I want to address, as it has been a drawback from advancing myself, many times, overcome with everything I think I can not accomplish, coming to a point of realizing I can and will accomplish this task of getting educated.
Comparison can be a crippling effect in ones life. For one thing, it shows an attitude of ungratefulness. When that attitude sets in, you are never happy with anything. You're not pretty enough, smart enough, skinny enough, rich enough and the list goes on. To think that there are countries in our world where people actually live in huts, grass ones, and all they have to eat is rice.
I used to use that example with my children as they were growing up. Maybe that wasn't the best example, but didn't want them to fall into the trap of comparison and ungratefulness.
We, as Americans, have so much to be grateful for and to compare what our strengths and weaknesses are is unappreciative for what we do have.
Comparison can be a crippling effect in ones life. For one thing, it shows an attitude of ungratefulness. When that attitude sets in, you are never happy with anything. You're not pretty enough, smart enough, skinny enough, rich enough and the list goes on. To think that there are countries in our world where people actually live in huts, grass ones, and all they have to eat is rice.
I used to use that example with my children as they were growing up. Maybe that wasn't the best example, but didn't want them to fall into the trap of comparison and ungratefulness.
We, as Americans, have so much to be grateful for and to compare what our strengths and weaknesses are is unappreciative for what we do have.
Malcolm X, Feross Aboukladiejeh, Joshua Romero
Malcolm X was very interesting. Even though I don't like the direction his life went he did bring himself up from illiteracy to being quite educated. The thing that is interesting is his determination. Looking at ones self, realizing what you can't do and then doing something about it. What an accomplishment and a way to learn.
One of the ways that Malcolm is similar to Feross and Joshua, is their step by step process. "This is what I want to do" and "this is how I will do it". Feross and Malcolm were wanting to "learn how", while Joshua was wanting to "give up google".
Feross and Malcolm use story like examples, drawing from their past, what they didn't know, while Joshua is using the here and now - realizing how he was caught up in all the google products and wanting to see how to "get out".
Malcolm and Joshua are similar in that they both set out to get done what they wanted to get done. Where Feross, when he was 11 probably didn't realize the direction making his first web site would take him and his interest in it.
Each of them did accomplish their tasks and this tells me that English 101 can be accomplished as well.
One of the ways that Malcolm is similar to Feross and Joshua, is their step by step process. "This is what I want to do" and "this is how I will do it". Feross and Malcolm were wanting to "learn how", while Joshua was wanting to "give up google".
Feross and Malcolm use story like examples, drawing from their past, what they didn't know, while Joshua is using the here and now - realizing how he was caught up in all the google products and wanting to see how to "get out".
Malcolm and Joshua are similar in that they both set out to get done what they wanted to get done. Where Feross, when he was 11 probably didn't realize the direction making his first web site would take him and his interest in it.
Each of them did accomplish their tasks and this tells me that English 101 can be accomplished as well.
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