City Girl

2012

2012-01-22T18:42:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!....a little late. I am so excited to start this year with a clean plate; I feel as though I have been given an eraser capable of ridding all last year’s bad memories. Not that it was a bad year, just a hard one. This year brings many uncertainties for me which is actually pretty exciting. Tomorrow is the first day of my last semester at MCC! Yay! Haha, I’m happy now but just wait a few weeks when I am buried in homework work and I will probably not be so enthusiastic. As for the rest of the year, I will probably be looking for a new job this summer and a new school this fall so I have a lot to look forward to.

As for new year’s resolutions, I generally hate them. This is probably because I never make them. I had a few this year however so I guess I am opening up to them a little. Over the past two years I have thought a lot about where I stand when it comes to churches, religion, and God himself. I grew up all my life surrounded by conservative Christians and most of my friends held the same beliefs that my family does. Often times you cannot decipher your position on these things unless you are separated from them. Through a lot situations and thoughts I realized that down deep inside of me I have always known what I believed but never had the opportunity to experience it. Maybe I just never looked deep enough; perhaps I just never cared to find out the truth. I think that the days this past year that were filled with so much wrong, ended up being the ones that fulfilled my unanswered questions.

I don’t believe in ritualistic religion, I don’t believe in the far left or the far right extremes of conservative Christians. I don’t believe the words of men that twist the words of God. I don’t believe in anything goes. I don’t believe in judgment of those who have not the right to judge. I don’t believe in many religions, or in many gods. I don’t believe in churches that look on the outside before the inside.

I believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. I believe in all in contains. I believe in a God that that loves me so much more than I can fathom. A comforter, a peacemaker, and the holiest, most righteous man to walk the face of this earth. He is my rock, the firm foundation that never wavers. In the pages of the bible are written the sweetest, wisest words from a father to his children. While many have said it before, today I stand so humbled and blest to be his child. No matter where my life takes me, no what uncertainties I face, I am confident that I have a heavenly father who will guide my way.

I am looking forward to see what 2012 will bring into my life and where it will take me. I hope you all have the best your of your lives!

The Effect of Music on Society

2011-12-18T14:21:00.000-08:00

We are surrounded by music every day. No matter where we go, whether in the grocery store, the mall, our workplace, or school, there is music constantly playing. We sit down to watch a movie or flip on the TV and automatically, before our mind can even recognize the picture on the screen, we hear the music. Children often are exposed to a variety of music before they even attend middle school through nursery school songs such as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Speculations have been made in the past whether music has any impact on people or affects them in any way. Research suggests that music, whether we are playing an instrument or listening to the radio, has the capability to have a profound impact on our lives.

Young babies seem to love it when they are sang a song by their parents. They clap their hands and bounce along with the rhythms. Soothing music such as “Hush Little Baby” and even classical pieces will often put a baby to sleep or calm them down. Upbeat songs or chants such as “This Little Piggy Went to the Market” or “Pat a Cake, Pat a Cake, Bakers Man” can result in babies giggling and laughing for hours. Even at this early stage in life babies can begin to recognize rhythms and songs. Music can also affect premature babies. Researchers at Brigham Young University (as cited in Robledo, 2011) conducted a study in which they played music for thirty-three newborns that were in the neonatal intensive care unit at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. After playing lullabies for forty minutes each day for four days, they found that the babies that were exposed to music had gained more weight, had a lower blood pressure, and a stronger heartbeat.

It seems that music has the largest effect on young and school age children. Children that are exposed to music from a young age have been documented to score higher on tests. James Catterall (as cited in Raise Smart Kid, 1997) of ULCA conducted a ten year study with 25,000 students and found that those involved with music-making improved their scores in reading proficiency and standardized tests. Music has been said to help with language learning skills in both a baby learning his or her first language and a child learning a second language. Lisa Karimer (as cited in Legg,2009), author of “Can Southeast Asian Students Learn to Discriminate Between English Phonemes More Quickly With the Aid of Music and Rhythm?”, conducted a study in a large comprehensive school in England. The aim of the experiment was to see if music made any difference when it came to learning a foreign language. They took the twelve and thirteen year old second year French students and divided them into two groups. In one of the groups they used music to aid with learning by putting French vocabulary into little songs. In the other group they did not change the learning environment at all. The results of the experiment were found when the children of both groups were tested on their increased level of understanding of the French language at the end of the school year. The non-music group increased their knowledge by 39.9% that year while the music group increased their knowledge by 52.8%. The non-music group held the lowest individual score while both groups held the highest individual score.

In September of 2006 a research study was conducted to see if taking music lessons effected a young child’s brain development. This was the first time this type of study was done. Previous studies had been conducted on older children to see if their grades differed such as in the previous example, but this was the first study conducted on children ages four to six. The study used two groups of children, one with no musical background and the other a group of kids just starting Suzuki music lessons. After a year of monitoring these children, they concluded that not only did the musically trained children’s brains respond to music differently but the lessons had improved their memory, literacy, visiospatial processing, mathematics, and IQ as well (Oxford University Press, 2006). So does music automatically make you smarter? No, but as researcher Kristian David Olson (1996) said, “Music won't turn anyone into a genius, but it can have some substantial effects on bringing people above average at least.”

The educational subjects that are said to be affected through music include: math, reading, English, biology, chemistry, and math. College students have been reported to score higher on tests in all subjects when they have had musical training for several years in their past. Even when they did not have musical training but listened to classical music, their scores improved. So why is this? When we listen to classical music, our brain essentially uses the same path that it uses for spatial reasoning. Learning a musical instrument can actually create new pathways in our brain (Bales, 2011). However, just as soon as we turn on or create these new pathways they can disappear. Bales (2011) says that “the effect lasts only a short time. Our improved spatial skills fade about an hour after we stop listening to the music. Learning to play an instrument can have longer-lasting effects on spatial reasoning, however.” Also, the discipline required when learning an instrument can help in the future with academic achievement. So while the music itself doesn’t make you any smarter, the effect of it can help you think and learn at a higher level.

Perhaps the most surprising type of music that can have an effect on us is background music. We often do not notice the music being played in the store when we are shopping, and for the most part that is on purpose. The music is there to cover up the noise from other shoppers, so you can concentrate on your own purchases. Some stores use the music to improve their image, and they believe using upbeat tunes will make the customers happier (Milliman 1982). Background music at work is said to improve job satisfaction, concentration, and productivity. The Journal of Neuroscience of Behavior and Physiology (as cited in eMed Expert,2011) claims that “a person's ability to recognize visual images, including letters and numbers, is faster when either rock or classical music is playing in the background.” Human Resources Magazine (as cited in Gorden, 2008) reports a study by researchers at the University of Illinois which concluded that "listening to music may increase the output of employees in all types of work.” This study showed that the output of employees of all types increased by 6.3%. Stress in the workplace is often a cause of distraction and less productivity. According to the Journal of Neuroscience of Behavior and Physiology( as cited in William Gorden, 2008) “If you are aiming to be more productive through being more relaxed, then you may be interested to learn that research has shown that music with an upbeat rhythm can reduce stress hormone levels by as much as 41%.”

Another type of background music is found in movies and on TV. The music that you may or may not notice when you are watching a movie is used as a tool by the producers to get the viewer to the emotional place of the scene. Music is often more affective and powerful than the words are. A unknown author (2008) of the blog “Hopkins Cinem Adddicts” says in a discussion about the importance of music in film, “I believe that a movie’s music is one of its most important aspects; a characteristic that is often taken for granted. A film can reveal so much within its music. Beyond the creepy background music of thrillers that tells you the killer is around the corner, music has the ability to expose characters’ feelings, actions, and a film’s tensions.” The author (2008) also goes on to say that “everywhere we go music follows us, making us desensitized to it. Our habituation to music means we easily overlook music’s role in our lives, and even more so in film. Music’s function is deeper than simply background music. Focus on the songs the director chooses, and you will have a much greater understanding of a film; you’ll learn and experience a good deal more.”

Music also has the ability to affect stress. It has been known to alleviate stress by taking your mind off it. Both classical and especially upbeat music can help you feel more positive and optimistic. Soft music can help you relax tense muscles from the stress and tension of your day. It can also help with insomnia. The eMed Expert web site (2011) explains that “music can decrease the amount of the cortisol, a stress-related hormone produced by the body in response to stress.” Music is one of the easiest, most enjoyable, ways to alleviate a stressful day; after all, it doesn’t take up any extra time doing any certain stress reliving activity. All you have to do is turn it on.

Different ailments have also been known to be relieved by music. The intensity, frequency, and duration of headaches can be alleviated through music. It can also help with pain management. The sensation and distress of postoperative and chronic pain can be eased through listening to music. The chronic pain from Osteoarthritis, disc problems, and rheumatoid arthritis has been researched to be reduced by 21% from music. The eMed Expert (2011) website lists four theories about how the music effects perceived pain. The first theory claims that music is a distracter; therefore, it removes people’s minds from the pain when they are involved in listening. The second theory asserts that music gives the patient a sense of control. The third theory states that when we are listening to music, our body releases endorphins which counteract the pain. Lastly, the fourth theory claims that slow music relaxes a person which slows their breathing and heartbeat. According to the American Society of Hypertension (as cited in eMedExpert, 2011), blood pressure can also be regulated through music. They said that “listening to just thirty minutes of classical, Celtic, or raga music every day may significantly reduce high blood pressure” and that you can heighten low blood pressure by “playing recordings of relaxing music every morning and evening.” Stroke patients can also benefit from listening to music. The eMed Expert (2011) website records a study that was done with stroke patients in which half did not listen to any extra amount of music then they normally would and the other half listened to music for several hours a day. The group that listened to music several hours a day improved their verbal memory and attention span significantly more than the other group. These are just a few of the ailments that have been researched to have been positively affected through music.

Elderly musicians have been researched to have less hearing impairments than non-musicians. Benjamin Rich Zendel (as cited in Connelly, 2011), a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, conducted a study with Dr. Claude Alain, senior cognitive scientist and assistant director of the Rotman Research Institute, and found that “being a musician may contribute to better hearing in old age by delaying some of the age-related changes in central auditory processing.” Other hearing studies have also shown that trained musicians have more auditory abilities than to non-musicians do.

The type of music we listen to makes a difference as to the effect it will have on us. Classical music, especially pieces written by Mozart and Vivaldi, seem to have the most effect when children are taking tests, trying to fall asleep, or staing focused on a task. Chasing away depression, doing monotonous tasks, or going for a run are most affected through upbeat music such as bluegrass, rock, Klezmer, Salsa, or reggae. When it comes to music having the ability to make you smarter, often it comes through the actual learning of an instrument. This has the potential to have the greatest effect on a person. It is said that learning an instrument can not only teach patience and diligence but also instill a love for learning that will last a lifetime.

No matter how old or young you are or what stage of life you are in, music has the ability to positively affect you in numerous ways. For a child, music, which comes so easy, is the way they often express themselves. Before children can even speak, they are cooing about this or that, and often, they can get their point across without even using words. The ability to make music aids their ability to learn language. Researchers have proved that the more children are exposed to music and taught how to play instruments, the higher the likelihood of them having a high IQ is. Sitting at your desk at work or shopping in the clothing store, music is once again affecting you. Music has the ability to manipulate your mind through films and ease your stress after a long day at work. A prescription for music can be taken to alleviate numerous ailments and chronic pain. As you can see, recent research demonstrates how music has the ability to have a large impact on society and how we conduct our daily lives.

References

Bales, D (2011) Building Baby's Brain: The Role of Music. Education Oasis. Retrieved from http://www.educationoasis.com

Connelly, K. (2011). Older musicians experience less age-related decline in hearing abilities than non-musicians. University of Toronto News. Retrieved from http://www.utoronto.ca

eMed Expert (2011) How Music Affects Us and Promotes Health. eMed Expert. Retrieved from http://www.emedexpert.com

Gorden, I (2008) Ask the Workplaces Doctors. Retrieved from http://www.workplacedoctors.com

Hopkins Cinem Adddicts (2008, November 13). A Brief Discourse on the Importance of Music in Film. [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://hopkinscinemaddicts.typepad.com/hopkinscinemaddicts

Legg, R. (2009). Using music to accelerate language learning: an experimental study. Research In Education, (82), 1-12.

Milliman, R. (1982) Using Background Music to Affect the Behavior of Supermarket Shoppers. The Journal of Marketing, 46, 86-91

Olson, K (1996) The Effects of Music on the Mind. Retrieved from http://www.reversespins.com

Oxford University Press (2006, September 20). First Evidence That Musical Training Affects Brain Development In Young Children. ScienceDaily. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2006/09/060920093024.htm

Raise Smart Kid (1997) The Effect of Music on Children’s Intelligence. Raise Smart Kid. Retrieved from http://www.raisesmartkid.com

Robledo, J. (2011) Music and your baby (newborn to 1 year). Baby Center. Retrieved from http://www.babycenter.com

Immanuel - Songs Of Praise

2011-12-07T17:51:00.000-08:00

Then and Now

2011-11-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

When I was young I lived in a world I no longer live in, a place that can no longer be found. Outside my window was an endless world of adventure where now only lays a plain, grassy lawn. My backyard was full of woods great for campouts and forts, now all I see is a few trees and a lot of weeds. I ran through my yard barefoot, the soft grass beneath my feet. I swam in vivid blue lakes lined with white sandy beaches. My yard now contains bumps and ridges, the beach is no longer white but brown and dirty, and the lake not blue but dark and murky. Was my world unreal or am I now only capable of seeing imperfection and ugliness?

When I was a child I was entertained for hours and hours dressing my dolls. Now I can’t even spend ten minutes doing something without getting bored and looking for entertainment elsewhere. I spent at least two hours every night reading books from cover to cover, not missing one word. Now I find myself skimming, my interest waning all too quickly, and no longer capable of reading every word in a book. I used to be glued to Mr. Rogers Neighborhood every time my mom would allow me to watch it; now I skim through the channels losing interest if there isn’t an exciting storyline appearing in the first fifteen seconds. Looking through the American Girl magazine over and over again until the pages were torn and falling out and dreaming of what I might be able to purchase someday used to provide enough entertainment to satisfy. Now I have to actually purchase the item, no longer am I satisfied with window shopping. It seems I had more patience and contentment back then, perhaps just more time on my hands.

When I still couldn’t see over the counter at the library, I had a lot of trust. I saw perfection in the people that surrounded me. I thought my dad could do anything. I didn’t know what limitations were. I thought my mom was an encyclopedia, a history book, a grammar manual; I didn’t think there was a school subject that she wasn’t an expert in. I thought my friends were forever. I didn’t know they were capable of disowning me. Life was simple; life was perfect. Was it really though? I had never experienced the beauty of a friend who stuck by through thick and thin when others didn’t. I wasn’t able to fully appreciate faith and trust because I didn’t know life without them.

As a child pain was experienced when I fell down the stairs. Hurt was the effect of a scraped knee. Death? That only happened to people who were really old and who I wasn’t close with. Now I experience pain through the betrayal of a friend, hurt through the action of gossip. Death, it’s all around me, raining down, and it won’t stop. It’s no longer the old person I barely knew; it’s my friends, my family, my loved ones. It would seem as life without these things would be a better one, but could it be that hurt and pain is what gives me the opportunity to realize that I can overcome, that I can be a better person despite it? Could it be that death would cause me to realize what I have, though temporal, is precious? Could it be that I am a more thankful and grateful person for today because I know that it is not forever?

In my younger years I lived in a world of utopia, a world so perfect, a world so simple. That simplicity gave me the power to see only the good in others, only the beauty in the world, and only the happiness and contentment that could be had. I now have the ability to experience the bad of the world, the pain, the suffering, the death, the discontentment, the abandonment. However, could it be that these are the very things that give me the ability to fully appreciate life so much more?

2011-09-19T17:16:00.001-07:00

The Delivery of Communication

In every word we say, every email we write, every speech we prepare, every text we send, every grocery list we write, and every idea we present, we are utilizing the art of rhetoric which is persuasive language. Whether it be in an email trying to encourage your friend to meet you for coffee tomorrow, an academic article on whether or not musically trained children are smarter than non-musical children, a speech about the effects of leading a stressful life, or simply a grocery list enlisting the shopper to buy this or that at the grocery store, we can see that in every word we say or write we are using a form of rhetoric. We are constantly trying to persuade somebody about something.

While we all use rhetoric, we each have a different style of persuasion. In fact, depending on our audience, or who we are speaking to, our rhetoric will change. For example, you would probably try to convince your bedridden grandmother to move into a nursing home in a much different way than you would try to talk your customer at the used car lot into buying a like new, one year old, warranty bearing Volkswagen Jetta. When talking to your grandmother, you would probably speak with deep emotion, or pathos, trying to convince her that this is the best choice at this particular time no matter how hard it is. When talking to your possible buyer, you would probably establish how reliable your used car lot is, and how that if anything went wrong with the Jetta in the next six months he or she would be able to have it fixed for no fee, thus establishing your character and reliability to the future buyer and convincing him or her that buying this car would be the most logical choice. As you can see, we are constantly manipulating the way we form our words in a way that coincides with our side of the argument or maybe just our side of life, the way we view this or that.

Through the years rhetoric has changed shape within its boundaries of persuasion and communication. There was a time, mainly before the 1960’s, where rhetoric and language did not hold as much beauty or depth, but rather was simply as the work Grounds for Writers puts it, “a means of expressing some objective reality or individual perception.” While rhetoric has always been a means of persuasion before the mid 1960’s, it was made up of mostly premade arguments, universalism, and absolution, creating authors that, as Grounds for Writers says, were more “meaning-arrangers” than “meaning-makers.”

Even in recent years you can see how people’s perception and use of rhetoric has changed and evolved by looking through old newspaper articles. Between 1994 and 1997 several newspaper articles defined rhetoric as words and the way a person put them together rather than where those words were leading. Examples of this were titles that included the following: “Sharp rhetoric marks opening day of House debate on welfare bill,” and “Mr. Aristide's Deadly Rhetoric.” Between 1999 and 2001 rhetoric seems to have been used to enhance and mask topics almost to the point of trying to make something better than it actually was. Articles contain phrases such as “Bush rhetoric raises some concerns,” and “Reassuring Rhetoric, Reality in Conflict.” An interesting saying was written in an article of the Toronto Star that could shed some light as to this change in rhetoric. It simply said, “Wars generate rhetoric.” Perhaps with the birth of the war on terrorism it was a time in our nation when sympathetic and reassuring rhetoric was needed the most; maybe even in the times where it led you to believe that things were better than they really were. Moving on to present day it seems that rhetoric has taken yet another turn and in many cases is used to relay an underlying meaning. For example, one article accused President Obama of sending jabs at the Republicans through a speech where he mentioned that law makers could learn a thing or two from your average Joe living outside of Washington. Another article claimed that Teamsters President Jim Hoffa issued a threat to the tea party and that while “Hoffa wasn't literally advocating violence… his rhetoric was nonetheless violent.” It seems that people are using rhetoric as a way of relaying a message to a person or group of people without actually coming out and saying it.

Rhetoric has always been and always will be a means of persuasion and communication, but as we can see even in the last several years, its existence is constantly evolving. It went from logical words between 1994 and 1997, to a means of enhancement and masking the truth between 1999 and 2001, and to yet another definition today that seems to define a “read between the lines,” underlying meaning.

Man from the very beginning has employed and been an expert in art of rhetoric in his everyday language. While some people have more flourishing and convincing rhetoric than others, and some periods in time have had a different emphasis on rhetoric than others, nonetheless, it has always been around and utilized in daily life. Rhetoric is much more than persuading words however, it is the beauty and sophistication of language. It is the very core that draws from the reader- attention, emotion, persuasion, and thought. In essence it is the very reason that we listen to a hypothesis or read a book. Every human is biased in one way or another; we are all different; it is what makes us interesting. It is also what draws us to seek out other biased opinions or perspectives. Ultimately, rhetoric is the bursting colors through which the author paints his picture to the world.

Running in the rain

2011-04-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

Today.....well I was so not into going back to school after spring break and literally wanted to kill the alarm clock at 6am but I eventually rolled out of bed. Needles to say I made it to school which started out ok, got better, then pretty good, then pretty bad....so that was school.....nothing new there. Then I went out to walk to my car and realized it was pouring rain. Of course I then had to go to Pennys to make an exchange, drive into the city to drop off a job application, drive into greece to drop off my car to get fixed, go to another store, and lastly get a coffee on the way home. It wasn't the driving that was on my mind however: it was all that running in the rain. In and out, down the street, across a crowed parking lot I ran. The huge drops of water spilling down my arms, soaking my shirt, I was freezing.... and at the same time I was having the time of my life. It was fun you know, once I let it be.......It reminded me of when I was a kid and took every chance possible to run in the rain.
You know, sometimes we let the rain in our life become a trial, a hardship, a depressor. I wonder if sometimes we need to just look at it like a blessing in disguise, just focus on the all the happiness and run through the rain:-)
That's my thoughts for the day........
Oh yeah and I got a hug from a complete stranger........apparently he had received some of my biscotti.....I guess if I ever want a hug I should just start baking for random people....lol

2011-04-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 13

¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

⁴Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

⁵Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

⁶Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

⁷Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

⁸Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

⁹For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

¹⁰But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

¹¹When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

¹²For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

¹³And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

A boring paper I wrote on leadership:-)

2011-02-06T18:56:00.000-08:00

Leadership

A leader can be defined as someone who guides a group or movement in a particular way. This person is responsible for the performance of those beneath him or her. One way to visualize this would to consider a conductor of an orchestra. That conductor is responsible to make sure all of his players are at the concert or performance to play. If the tubas didn’t show up there would be a major lack of sound in the outcome of the piece. The same concept is true in the fact that a leader is responsible for his employees to show up. It is a lot harder to complete a task if you have a part of your team missing just like the piece of music would be hard to play without every part. The piccolo may not think they are an important part of the orchestra and while they might not be the most important part they are needed to make the end result as beautiful as possible. An employee may not think that they are an important part of getting a job done and as a result may tend to not show up for work a lot. It is up to the leader to make sure that every part, or employee feels needed and that they have an important part in the end result. If a bunch of musicians got together to play an orchestral arrangement and just all started playing at once the result as you can imagine would probably not sound that great. What they need is a conductor to bring each part together, to play in tune with each other, and to come in on their parts in the right areas. The same applies to the group of employees who all come to work without having a leader. They might all be working but without organizational leadership everything would probably not get done, each little important detail that make an operation run smoothly would not have been thought of. That is the responsibility of a leader, to pay attention to the details, to promote teamwork, and to make the end result as good as possible. There are good conductors and there are great conductors, ones that lead community orchestras, and ones that lead prize winning orchestras. The difference lies within the leader and how they choose to most efficiently lead their team in order to have happy, hardworking, employees who love what they do and seek to make their company look as good as it can.

In order to be the affective leader that is able to produce hardworking, happy employees that seek to better their company, one needs a certain skill set. Some of these skills include: a desire to influence other people, self-confidence, intelligence, loyalty, integrity, enthusiasm, to name a few. Having these skills will help you to become a better leader. One of the biggest factors that I believe will make or break you or I as a leader would be the respect that others have for you. If your employees have a large amount of respect for you they will probably do anything you ask with the best of their abilities. The key to gaining respect is not only in having those skills previously mentioned, but by leading by example. If you’re a hard worker, who has enthusiasm for every job no matter how big or small, chances are your employees will to.

Leaders are not judged or graded so to speak on who they are or what they have done, but by who their team is and what their team has accomplished, and how they have affected the organization of which they are a part of. We all can tell a good leader when we see one but do we all have the tools, the skills, and the integrity it takes to be one?

Not only Leaders, but Mentors as Well

2011-01-25T18:30:00.000-08:00

Mentoring skills in a leader will take them far leaving behind them a string of protégés that are deeply interested, connected, and familiar with the skills, operations, and professions of their mentors. A leader who is willing to take the time to be not only a teacher, not only a supervisor, or a manager, but a mentor, will have an audience of students or employees that are far more dedicated than the leader that only has the goal of instruction and education. While both instruction and education are part of mentoring, the addition of a leader who truly cares about the outcome of his or her protégé and truly goes out of his or her own way to ensure the success of the student is not only a leader with a team of followers, but a mentor with a team of devoted people who have vested interest in the success of the business or profession of their mentor.

Through my own personal experience with teachers at MCC I have come to realize the difference between a teacher/leader and a mentor. I have had both kinds of teachers and to tell you the truth the difference is stark and hard to miss. Out of ten of my past professors there is really only one or two that I would consider a mentor. The one that really sticks out to me is my recent English teacher. I have never had a teacher that was so concerned with the outcome of his students and to tell you the truth I never worked harder for a teacher than I did this one and I think I can speak for the most of the class by saying that they hadn’t either.

In my opinion if you choose to become not only a leader but also a mentor you will not only impact those around you for the sake of your profession, but you will also impact their lives. A teacher will soon be forgotten but a mentor will remain in the lives and hearts of his students forever.

What are your thoughts on leadership versus mentorship?

Fashion

2011-01-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

I have always enjoyed fashion so when I had the assingment recently to write a thesis paper I chose the topic of fashion and the role it plays in our lives.

Fashion, Bridging the Inside to the Outside

Fashion is and has always been an influence on society as much as it has been influenced by society. From the early times when it was a means to survive, a way to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer, to more recent centuries when it has been a way to impress and inspire, fashion has played a role in the life of every human being. Since the 1800’s and especially through the twentieth century, fashion has changed roles from that of survival to that of communication. What we wear can communicate to others our interests, social standing, financial status, occupation, and many other clues about who we are. A white coat is often worn by medical personnel, a neatly pressed uniform with medals pinned on it by member of the armed forces, a black coat with florescent stripes by a firefighter, a three piece Armani suit by an upper class citizen, an ill-fitting, odor emitting, stained sweat suit by a poverty stricken person, a star wars t-shirt by someone who enjoys watching science fiction, and a workout outfit and sneakers by someone who is probably headed to the gym. In essence what we wear presents a statement to the world, true or false, about who we are. However, the uniform of the solider not only tells of his career choice and passion, his medals not only of where he has been and his veteran status, but they also demand from the onlooker respect and honor. Not only can what we wear and how we look communicate our lifestyle, but it can communicate our level of credibility as well.

Every day we probably see at least a few people that we have never seen or had contact with before. We automatically make assumptions about that person perhaps regarding his or her occupation or social status. Determining this in our mind determines the amount of respect we have for that individual which ultimately determines the manner in which we will or will not address that person or the answer we would give that person if he or she were to ask a question of us. All this has been determined without that person even speaking a word. The fact is, we do this time after time each day in our sub consciousness and without even realizing it we have established the level of credibility of a person without knowing a single fact about them by simply observing the clothing that they were wearing. First impressions are important and what we wear can greatly influence that impression.

Fashion promotes self-confidence. Wearing stylish clothing and looking neat and well-dressed can boost your self-confidence. Matthew Jackson of The Daily of the University of Washington, says that when we wear clothing that makes us feel good it makes us become more confident which makes us look good (1). People with low self-confidence can appear more together and confidant just by dressing a little sharper. A guy in a tuxedo or a girl in a dress and heels would probably stand a little straighter and walk with a little more dignity than if they were wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Dressing appropriately is an important key to gaining credibility. If a person went to a job interview well dressed and spoke with confidence he or she would be more likely to be hired than if he or she attended an interview wearing sloppy clothes and appearing uncertain and unsure. Looking put together and stylish will make you feel more confident about yourself and will help you to be more successful.

There are some opposing views when it comes to the idea that fashion has something to do with the level of ethics or trustworthiness a person might have, that there is no link between a person and the clothes a person wears. Dressing up or down, sloppy or neat, clothes that fit or those that don’t, everyone wears whatever they like without giving one thought to, or being affected by, their occupation, meetings they might be attending, friends they may be having lunch with, people they want to impress, or anything that their schedule might consist of on a particular day. I would beg to differ concerning this particular point. Most often an organized person is going to appear organized in the manner in which they conduct themselves and in the manner in which they dress just like a person who expects nothing less than perfection in their own life is probably going to appear very put together. A hard working person with a high level of integrity is probably not going to show up to work looking sloppy and a mess. Often times it does not matter as much what people are wearing as to how they are wearing it. While there are exceptions to every rule for the most part you can correctly assume a lot about people by simply observing the fashion in which they conduct themselves and the manner in which they appear.

One other view point on the topic of fashion is that what one choses to wear will not affect the level of respect that one receives; we are respected for who we are, not what we wear. While this might be the way things should be it is not in reality the way things are most of the time. Imagine a scenario of a professor on his first day with a particular class, or perhaps a guest speaker at a conference making his entrance to speak to a crowd that may or may not have prior knowledge or respect for him. Neatly dressed and with and air of confidence he steps up to the podium and without even opening his mouth but has probably already impressed his audience. Imagine that same person shows up in a sloppy pair of dress pants that are way too short and unattractive, wearing a big, baggy shirt and drags himself up to the podium to speak; what kind of impression has he made to that audience? This person could be the smartest person in the world, bearing an important message that every human being could gain wisdom from, but he has lost forever his chance of being heard because he simply did not take the time to match his clothing and attitude to his message. Often a misconception of the word fashion is made concerning the fact that it refers only to clothing but in truth it also refers to the way one carries himself, the etiquette that one uses. As Henry Ward Beecher said, “Clothes and manners do not make the man; but, when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance.”

Fashion in itself is nothing. It determines nothing about you, and it changes nothing about you. Each and every person in the world is different in his or her own way, every person has their own story to tell, their own message to relate, and each holds within their own hands the chance to make a difference. Fashion is an aid in helping to gain enough respect and credibility to have a chance at making that difference, to have a chance at changing a life, or perhaps changing the world. It is matching what is on the outside to what is on the inside; communicating to the world the person that you are.

Love's Orchestration

2010-11-10T13:05:00.000-08:00

This is a part of a essay I wrote about love....what do you think?

Love’s Orchestration

Love is like music. Your love is your own to give to whom you choose, your most prized possession, a part of you bestowed upon another. Music is the gift of its master bequeathed upon its listener, the heart of its writer penned upon parchment, voiced through the sound of an instrument. Love manifests itself in many different ways through many different types of people as music manifests itself through many different instruments with many different types of sounds. You can hear the flighty trill of the flute in the love of the little girls kiss on her father’s cheek, the deep warm bowing of the cello in the a grandfathers loving words to his grandchild, the clarinets boisterous voice in a mothers loving care of her children, and the beautiful voice of the violin, its notes soaring through the heavens, as the love of a bride and groom on their wedding day. Love provokes emotion in even the most distant, cold soul. The bitter old man who shows no feelings until the day the stubborn, persistent care of a friend breaks through the barrier of his heart. From the rousing anthem to the mournful refrain music also evokes feelings and emotions. Most importantly you are the conductor of your own symphony of love and the way you choose to guide the instrumentation of that love will ultimately affect the dynamics and level of harmony in your life. Music is just ink on a page and love is just love until they are played and poured out bringing forth power and beauty to those around them.

Human Species

2010-10-22T20:35:00.000-07:00

Here is another essay I recently wrote. I have been enjoying my composition class at school and thought I would share another one of my assignments.

Human Species

Mankind as a whole is made up of many different groups of people including the wise and educated, the ignorant and self-centered, and the many that fall in between. These different groups or characteristics are expounded upon and defined by the authors of the books Ethics of the Fathers, Analects, and ABC of Reading. The authors of these works classify into several groups what they perceive to be the different characters found among men. While all of the authors classified society into different characteristic groups they all used different types of people therefore coming to slightly different conclusions. Ethics of the Fathers in V:18 speaks of those who are in the presence of sages or wise men and how they retain the words spoken by them. These are classified as “the sponge, the funnel, the strainer, and the sieve.” V:15 defines groups of students according to their speed of learning and their tendency to quickly forget by using four basic categories including those who are “quick to learn and quick to forget…slow to learn slow to forget…quick to learn and slow to forget…(and)slow to learn quick to forget.” Characters of men are classified in V:13 from the selfish to the giver, from the one that says “what is yours is mine, and what is mine is mine,” to the one who says “what is mine is yours, and what is yours is yours.” Analects speaks of the gaining of wisdom by categorizing people into groups of those whose are born wise, those who are wise because of education, those who are wise by pure toil and effort, and lastly those who though toil painfully never reach the brink of wisdom. Lastly, Ezra Pound in his book ABC of Reading classes people into groups of inventors, masters, diluters, and the starters of crazes. Each of the five sayings provides a group in which you as a human can fit yourself into.

Every day we come in contact with people, whether it is a family member, the girl at the coffee shop, a coworker, gas station attendant, or just a passerby, we immediately classify them into groups in our sub consciousness not even realizing what we are doing. Each of us has a different method in which we classify, for some it may be by attire determining if he or she is wealthy or homeless by observing a suit and briefcase versus raggedy clothes and a shopping cart. If I were to classify the students who I am around at Monroe Community College my classification would go something like this. “There are four types of students: those who listen and learn attentively and study seriously, those whose only goal is to pass a class not really caring to be the best that they can be and putting little amount of effort into assignments, and finally there is the student that really does not care if they pass or fail, they put the least amount of effort into assignments and attendance while often laying the blame on the teacher for their own failure.”

We can all fit ourselves into one of the categories defined by these sayings. Perhaps we do not find ourselves among the selfish but at the same time we’re not amongst the most unselfish either. While we might not categorize ourselves as wise we definitely don’t perceive ourselves to be fools. Often we find ourselves in the middle of the road which begs the question, is this where we want to be? Do we always want to be mediocre or rather should we be always striving for something better? We don’t realize what we could be until we realize what we are.

Faith versus kitten heals

2010-09-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know I never write on here..... I am currently taking a composition class at school and thought I'd post some of my essays on here for you to see....

This weeks essay was supposed to be about something you can see versus something you can't and the conclusion about the two so here goes.....

The Seen Versus the Unseen
Faith, in its earliest recorded definition is described as the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” While the recipients of ones faith may drastically differ, there is no denying the fact that we all posses it. To some it’s a reverent belief in God, a trust, a hope in his word, a unfailing commitment to serve him for life. For others it may be the confidence in a spouse or parent to provide, to nurture, to protect them from any seen or unseen danger or happenstance that might enter their lives. A child often possesses the simplest, yet greatest amount of faith. In their eyes nothing is impossible for the one who holds their faith and trust. Whether it be the action of service to God, the ability to believe in a loved one, the trust in a government to protect, the force that pushes you to jump out the window of a burning building into the arms of a firefighter, or the simplicity of a child’s trust, faith remains in the possession of every human being. Though unseen, it may possibly be the greatest thing you own.

On the other hand there are shoes. From Gucci and Prada to Chuck Taylors and Converse, a shoe is often the definition of ones taste and style. To some a shoe is for comfort and practical use while to others they are a trendy accessory. The assortment of shoes are endless, athletic sneakers, hiking boots, fluffy slippers, spiky heals, dressy sandals, flip flops, the list goes on and on. Shoes not only serve a practical purpose of protecting your feet but also can lend some insight as to the one wearing them. For instance, a men's Italian leather shoe may speak of class and sophistication while a dirty pair of work boots may speak of hard work and commitment. A girl in kitten heals probably enjoys fashion while a pair of plain flats are most likely worn by one who isn’t as worried about appearance.

Shoes and faith are two very different things on two very different spectrums, the seen and the unseen, but the line between the two can become a little blurry if looked at in certain ways. Faith which is unseen can become visible when it becomes the action of trust or belief in a seen thing. Shoes, a visible, seen object can give unseen insight about the person wearing them. The once blurry line becomes quite clear though when the shoes grow old and out of style and are tossed away only to be replaced a short time later. Faith is evidence of something that can never be replaced and never grows old. While the seen may sometimes become the unseen and the unseen the seen, at the end of the day what matters the most are not the things we see but the things we have the faith to believe in.

A few quotes.....

2010-01-18T21:00:00.000-08:00

I thought these quotes were funny and very true....

“Those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, usually do”

“No doubt exists that all women are crazy; it's only a question of degree.”

“All of us are crazy in one way or another.”

“Some people never go crazy, What truly horrible lives they must live” (this one is my favorite)

“Part of being sane, is being a little bit crazy.”

2010-01-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
-- Melody Beattie

I thought this quote was fitting in light of what happened in Haiti this week. We never really understand how to be grateful or even what gratefulness is until we are faced with tragedy and chaos. Seeing what is going on on the other side of the world today in Haiti makes me so grateful and thankful for what I have and what God has blessed me with. I hope that we who are safe and warm living in comfort today will have learned a lesson about thankfulness and contentment, I know I have. May we keep them all in our prayers including the rescue crews and the military that are on their way to help.

Free Walmart givaway at my brothers blog!

2010-01-08T15:29:00.000-08:00

http://tomsdiscountsales.blogspot.com/

Funny video

2010-01-03T20:18:00.000-08:00

2009-11-24T19:04:00.000-08:00

13. Ok so I haven't written what i am thankful for in a few days. Well today I am thankful for prayer-our avenue to God. I am thankful that I have a God who listens and who I can go to.

2009-11-20T21:28:00.001-08:00

12. Today I am thankful for second chances

2009-11-19T19:32:00.000-08:00

11. I am so thankful for good friends. They are defiantly few and far between.

2009-11-18T19:13:00.000-08:00

10. Tonight I am thankful for Gods perfect word.

2009-11-16T19:55:00.000-08:00

I heard this today and thought it was interesting.......

Anyone can achieve their fullest potential
Who we are might be predetermined
The path we follow is always of our own choosing
We should never allow our fears or the expectations of others to set the frontiers of our destiny
Your destiny can't be changed but it can be challenged
Every man is born as many men and dies as a single one

2009-11-16T19:52:00.000-08:00

9. Gods love

8. nice weather:-)

2009-11-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

7. Laughter..........what a dull world it would be without it.

2009-11-14T18:37:00.000-08:00

6. I am thankful for missionaries who are winning the world for Christ.

2009-11-12T19:29:00.000-08:00

5. I am thankful for days not filled with ringing alarm clocks :-)

2009-11-12T19:27:00.000-08:00

4. I am thankful for my 3 jobs......even if I don't always feel that way...... :-)

2009-11-10T19:17:00.000-08:00

3. OK so today I am most thankful for my laptop and my ipod :-)

2009-11-10T19:16:00.000-08:00

2. Sanity

2009-11-08T13:04:00.000-08:00

2. Today I am thankful for Gods gift of music. Not only did he give us a beautiful thing, He gave us something to learn, something that can never quite be mastered, something that we can strive to better at our entire lives.

Thankfulness

2009-11-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

November is a month for thankfulness so for the rest of the month I am going to write what I am am most thankful to God for each day.

1. New Days - New Beginnings

Walt Disney Quote

2009-10-24T07:59:00.001-07:00

There are three types of people in the world today. There are "well-poisoners," who discourage you and stomp on your creativity and tell you what you can't do.

There are "lawn-mowers," people who are well-intentioned but self-absorbed; they tend to their own needs, mow their own lawns, and never leave their yards to help another person.

Finally, there are "life-enhancers," people who reach out to enrich the lives of others, to lift them up and inspire them.

We need to be life-enhancers and we need to surround ourselves with life-enhancers.

~ Walt Disney

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time

2009-10-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

This chapter has really meant a lot to me this week. The fact that God has a time for everything in our lives. Whether we are on the mission field serving him , at home or at work, raising a family or pursuing a career, it is all in his time. He may have us serving at one point in our lives and not at another point. Its a hard thing to understand sometimes. I was pondering these thoughts when I came across this chapter the other day and was really encouraged by it. My hope is that it might be encouraging to you also.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

Pies

2009-10-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

I have been in the pie baking mood lately....In the last few weeks I have made a few peach and a few apple pies. There is something about fall that makes you crave pies.....This year so far I have managed to be quite the safety model in the kitchen. I have not dumped any unbaked item into the bottom of the oven as I was putting it in, which has happened a few times,and I have not burned anything at all! Most of all I have not set the oven on fire one time this year!!!!!!Yay!!!Somehow I have managed to do that quite often in years past. Oh wait I did set my bread on fire new years day but that doesn't really count right? Well I am pretty sure I should be come a firefighter because of my large set of skills regarding the distinguishing of oven fires!! I know....I am absolutely a dangerous asset to the kitchen:-) Anyway,I thought I would post some pictures of my latest pie baking adventures.

Christmas will be here before we know it!

2009-10-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

Well I have been in the Christmas mood lately. I know really early. I love Christmas time though-Its defiantly my favorite time of year. Billy Gilman sings beautifully so I thought I 'd post one of his Christmas songs"Warm and Fuzzy."

Written in frustration

2009-10-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the distinguished voice of mezzo -soprano ringing in your ears and cringed at the thought that this was talent? That the high pitched vibrating volume piercing your eardrums was a result of years of concentrated effort? Now imagine that resonance again throbbing through your eardrums only this time in a pitch slightly off. A pitch that makes a once beautiful intonation (if that is what you can consider it) the most awful torturous reverberation that has ever resounded through your sensitive ears. Does this harmonious thought make you squirm with disgust?

They say that the violin is the closest thing to the human voice. Now imagine once again with me the soaring notes of the soprano, only this time it’s heard on the flying notes of a bowed instrument. The melody though squeaky high as the sopranos ringing notes yet sweet as dove flying through the heavens. Swiftly let our imaginations take us to the torturous reverberation of the off key noise, only this time it’s worse. Instead of the voice it’s a violin flying through a high key with intonation so off all you can do is cover your ears never quite able to block out the cringing tone.

This is the most explicit explanation of my fingers fumbling along the neck of my violin. My inability to perform in tune has led me to the point of great frustration. Sometimes in order to vent such feelings, I will play and loudly as possible in hope that that the roar may become a sweet missive to ones ears. Yes, I know that is not the answer but I have managed to make poor Charles Dancla’s Air that he imagined sweetly dolce sound like a mad elephant. All the while piercing the eardrums of every member of my household including the neighbors.

While I strive to come to a perfect pitch I sometimes feel like quitting in the middle. Venting my frustrations on paper instead of on that beautiful instrument I feel I might have saved some unfortunates from going deaf all the while hopefully providing some amusement for my readers. At this time I believe I shall take my leave and greet once again the dirty looks my violin is sending me. Thank you for reading this and just for the record I like soprano singers in case my earlier mention of them did not leave a good strain of thought.

Virginia

2009-08-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

I recently took a trip to Virginia. Its a beautiful state with a lot of historical and scenic areas. I thought I would post a few pictures.

The Peaks of Otter

This deer came right up to me. It was so cute!

The octagonal outhouse at Poplar Forest.

Poplar Forest. Thomas Jefferson's summer home.

Red Hill. Patrick Henry's plantation.

Trinidad Trip

2009-05-16T13:23:00.000-07:00

I took an awesome trip to Trinidad for 10 days and thought I'd post some pictures. I went with a group from my church to Work with the Hoffmiester family who are missionaries their. One of my highlights of the trip was getting to know the girls from the church in Trinidad. While we were there we went to hospitals, schools, and witnessed on the streets and door to door, and held a crusade on the weekend. It was a great trip and we were all blessed.

Happy Easter

2009-04-11T21:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Resurrection Sunday everyone. Here are a few neat quotes I thought I share.

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances. ~Robert Flatt

Where man sees but withered leaves, God sees sweet flowers growing. ~Albert Laighton

“The highest act of love is the giving of the best gift, and, if necessary, at the greatest cost, to the least deserving. That’s what God did. At the loss of His Son’s life to the totally undeserving, God gave the best gift – the display of the glory of Christ who is the image of God.” [John Piper]

"Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer;
Death is strong, but Life is stronger;
Stronger than the dark, the light;
Stronger than the wrong, the right;
Faith and Hope triumphant say
Christ will rise on Easter Day."
Phillips Brooks, An Easter Carol

Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time. ~Martin Luther

Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling" [Augustus M. Toplady, Hymn: Rock of Ages]

Ducky Cake

2009-03-07T18:30:00.000-08:00

I made this cake for my friend Christa's baby shower.

NECKLACE GIVEAWAY

2009-03-06T20:29:00.000-08:00

Check out this giveaway for a beautiful handmade necklace on my friend Arianna's Blog. http://arianna-elizabeth.blogspot.com/

Paris

2009-01-18T14:41:00.000-08:00

So with all this snow and winter weather I was thinking of vacations to far away places. A place I would love to visit someday is Paris. Here are some cool pictures I found and some random facts.
Random Facts about Paris
1. Approximately 60 tons of paint is required to paint the Eiffel Tower
2. It is painted every seven years in 3 shades of brown using brushes
3. The top tourist attraction is Disneyland Paris.........go figure
4.Paris is the world capital city of shopping and fashion
5.The McDonald's big m in Paris is the only one in the world that is white
6. It is 3630 miles from New York
7. It's average January temp. is 39 degrees F........warmer than here for sure!
8. It's population is 2,153,600
9. The Eiffel Tower contains two restaurants,a snack bar, and a post office
10.Feel like going don't worry your airfare will only cost about $2,800...... :-)

2009-01-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

I changed my blog name to City Girl so if you follow me you can change the name..........

2009-01-14T11:27:00.000-08:00

Hi! My name is Kelly McNamara and I am 21 years old. I thought it would be fun to start a blogg so.........here it is......
So I have question for everybody.
Do you prefer hot coffee/ cappuccino or iced cappuccinos?