Vocabulary

1. Futile (adj.) - incapable of producing results; ineffective

"Using SQ3R on a novel is futile."

2. Exploited (v.) - to promote; to use for profit or selfishly

"The media have exploited several celebrities since the birth of Hollywood."

3. Tenuously (adj) - lacking a sound basis, as reasoning; unsubstantiated; weak

"I believe the evidence for September 11th is inaccurate and tenuously strung together."

march 23, 2011

To Do List

Must do:
1. go to school at 9am
2. go to work until 9pm
3. wash car

Need to do:
1. Get hair cut
2. buy hair pruduct
3. work out

Want to do:
1. get nails done
2. buy purse
3. buy head phones

Reflection

We are in the middle of the semester, and although this is often the time when students lose their momentum, I have not. Don’t get me wrong, it takes a little more to get up in the morning these days, but it’s manageable because my eyes are locked on my short term goal of achieving my AA as efficiently as possible. Time is of the essence because I graduated high school in 2006, and here I am now, 5 years later in my first semester of college. I feel I’ve wasted more than enough time already. I simply refuse to stand for any further delays. Working full time proves to be an obstacle because it disables me from going to school full time as well as hinders my study time. As much as I want that full boat of classes, there is just not enough time in one day to tackle both monsters. Not Properly. Though some might be discouraged by the slow progress, I remind myself that this is the precise reason I have to complete my classes the first time around witch an acceptable grade. And skipping a semester is certainly out of the question. Another huge motivation for me is that I am paying my own way through school, and it’s far from cheap. Being that I have plenty of other things to pay for as well, there’s no sense in blowing my money to fail or drop out. I personally chose to go to school to better myself, and establish my interests, if not my career. I am grateful for the money I make now, and the job I am fortunate to have, but I hope to reach the day where I find what I love to do, so I will never work another day in my life. That is my long term goal.

Reflection

Long term goal: get my AA and transfer to a 4 year college.

Mid term goal: stay enrolled for each semester and maintain control of sleep and time management.

Short term goal: Excel in each class.

March 9, 2012

Dear Charlie,

               Today has been the most beautiful day I’ve seen all month! When I woke up this morning there was snow on the ground for the first time in 15 years! It made my ride to school quite a delightful and sight full one! I am still enrolled part time at Fullerton College, and working full time at the Bank. I’m finishing up the rest of my general ed. but next semester I plan on taking some of the business classes I need to fulfill my major. Right now  I’m taking Math, English and I decided to try a photography class this semester; I needed the credits and I figure I loved it in high school, maybe I can love it again.  

Between my classes and work I hardly have a love life, or any life for that matter, but that really doesn’t bother me. I’ve had plenty of time to frolic about with those things; it’s time to prioritize. Sleep is a rarity and I do the majority of my eating in my car while driving to and fro. I’ve really learned to take advantage of what ever time I have. It’s good for me though, it means I’m never waiting because I’m always occupied. And I hate waiting. I know it sounds like a lot but it’s manageable, and as long as I keep up this pace, I just might be out of here before I’m 50 with that AA.  I’ll give dating another try then. In the mean time I continue to keep my head in the game and intend to ace these classes. After all, you always told me, “I can do anything I put my mind to” right?
Any way, I hope I see you soon!

Yours truley,

Shauna

           

To Do List

Must do:

1.Go to class at 10am
2.Go to work 12 noon - 9pm
3.Check my car's oil

Need to do:

1.Complete blog entry
2.Read all of "The Things They Carry"
3.Work out 30 minutes

Want to do:

1.Buy new head phones
2.Get my nails done
3.Get massage

Vocab

ebullience (n.) - high spirits; exhilaration; exuberance

"Events at Columbia University and the Chicago convention changed the mood of students from a hope-filled ebullience to a dark, protective aggression."

"The instructor’s ebullience encouraged the students to join her in her high spirits."

The antonym "aggression" suggests that the word ebullience means happy.

indifference (n.)  - Lack of concern or interest; unimportance

"The letter covered seventeen handwritten pages, its tone jumping from self-pity to anger to irony to guilt to a kind of feigned indifference."

"I wish I could say I was indifferent to these blogs that force us to spill our guts to the world."

Using my logic and background knowledge of the word indifferent from my father, I know it means lack of interest.

Catharsis (n.) - the purging of emotions or releasing of emotional tension; especially through some kinds of art.

"Partly catharsis, partly communication, it was a way of grabbing people by the shirt and explaining exactly what had happened to me, how I’d allowed myself to get dragged into a wrong war, all the mistakes I’d made, all the terrible things I had seen and done."

"I use my writing as a form of catharsis to release my thought and opinions without consequence because no one reads my journals."

Using logic I can infer that catharsis mean expression of emotion because O'Brian places further emphasis on explaining his feelings about revealing these occurrences.