Moments in Time

Life after graduating college (December 2012) becomes more real each day and it opens a new door of adulthood. A new chapter, a new stones to be stepped on. I guess it's okay fall over and get muddy. But the other hand, I say proudly say that I have a Bachelor of Arts in English with the concentration of English as a Second Language. I'm still looking for a job currently. These two months have not been great when I'm used to always doing something everything since I've been in school since 2007. But I'm sure if I keep looking and work hard to my goals, then something is bound to pop up and catch my attention. Or even better fall into my hands! I certainly can't go too long without money. Tisk, tisk.. being broke and without is not an option. 

Besides that this winter has not been a real winter. Sprinkles, snow flurry showers, and an inch of snow here and there just isn't satisfying me right now. The only thing I think we have to worry about here in Memphis is icy and slick road conditions. Never the less I was happy get that much. I'm just ready for warmer weather and longer days! Those spring, warm, breezy days are coming soon. I can feel it. And I think Blogger should take after Microsoft Word and add more choices of fonts and real, numerical font sizes. If the options are good enough for them, then it may just be good enough for us to use. But I'd suggest upgrading those areas.

And if you don't like Adele, you should. That's all I'm going to say about her.. ooh.. and her performance at the Oscars!!  However, the song is "Skyfall" is still growing on me. Last year's Grammay performance?... my life was handed to be all in one night. I was "Rolling in the Deep" with Adele. Loved it! Despite the negative comments from the oppositions, I'm still gonna love her. She finally said her baby's name.. and I'm waiting for a new album from her. I'm sure she's been working on new songs.

I think I've written enough. At least for now since I haven't published a fresh post. Talk to you later.

What does it mean to live a good life? What matters most in life? What are the things that are essential to life that we find that can create an impact on us? What is my purpose as a human being? Such questions soar through my head daily.

I’m just an ordinary person living the life of an average person. Not everyone is the same. While I am misunderstood sometimes because of my way of thinking on what matters to me, it seems like others find them meaningfulness. What matters to me is living the good life. If my smile can change someone’s frown upside down, then that simple random act of kindness makes me day even brighter. Living the good life means to dig down within myself to find what motivates me to continue on to pursuing my goals. Appreciating the simple the things in life -and what I have and don’t have- are important to me.

Being an altruistic person matters to me; it’s a unique personality trait that I can see shining within me. Altruism exists when someone does a favor for someone they do not expect anything to be given back to them as appreciation. I look at this as a random act of kindness; expecting the unexpected. Isn’t that we are suppose to be towards each other? We do a favor for someone and don’t really expect for it to be returned but yet they will give us something in return. It is called doing the right thing. Yet some people do wrong, but as long as I’m doing right and setting an example, it matters. It’s the thought that counts. I find quite a few things (music, books, quotes, movies) along with family and friends that keep me motivated and inspire to find my purpose and to allow myself to continue staying positive.

They say the grass is greener on the other side. Some people have worse days than I do. I don’t think a person can live a perfect life, but life is what we make it, and like the cliché goes “life isn’t fair.” Sometimes my goals and things I hope to accomplish are bigger than the shoes I can fill. Because the dreamer I am, some goals and things I want to do is simply wishful thinking and a plenty of daydreaming.

There is this show on MTV called The Buried Life that deals with four friends traveling across North America on their purple bus named Penelope while they complete their 100 list of “things to do before you die.” In each show they complete an item off their life list and even help a stranger to go after their dream or something they always wanted to do. One simple question can leave an impression about the show: “What do you want to do before you die?” MTV might not be for everyone, but I find this show to be worth watching. It inspires me to want to achieve my goals and dreams before I die whether they are silly, serious, something simple, and or just a random thought. If I could help a stranger out with the resources that I have then I know that I’m living the good life because I’m giving back to make a difference in someone’s life and perhaps this is apart of my purpose.

In a sense, if the guys in the television show can go complete things off their list and help a stranger out in each episode, then I’m sure I can accomplish the goal of becoming a teacher. Perhaps at this point this is what I’m questioning myself about whether I want to continue to be a teacher or not. Since the third grade, I’ve said that I wanted to be an English teacher. Throughout my years in school, I have had the privilege to be taught by teachers that have really cared about educating me and hundreds of other students to come to class and learn; to be a productive citizen of this country. They all have been encouraging educators.

In my family and some of my friendships, I’m known as the one that will become the teacher or the college professor of English. Past experiences in high school deepened my interest in teaching; however, I usually have second thoughts about being a teacher. I’m not sure if I want to teach public schools or venture into writing or a career in some other career. But I can’t imagine myself not teaching something. Never the less, I want to be like the teacher, Erin Gruwell in Freedom Writers. She was brave enough to teach those inner-city students who came from different ethic background and knew nothing when they stepped into her classroom. No matter what happened to her and the students, through all obstacles, she never gave up with giving them a well rounded education. That ambition inspire me to become a teacher because there are students that are needing to be taught and school systems are lacking teachers since not many people want to join the teaching field. But someone has to do it. To change the way students are taught and making a difference in someone’s life matters.

What I’ve said so far matters to me. It’s a side where you have to get to know me because I don’t reveal or talk about myself much. I totally don’t care if I get the look or that doubt that I can’t be a person that can help change the world. I shouldn’t care but I do. And I don’t know why I care so much, but I do. I may feel like I’m in a world of my own with dreams of wanting to be a person of change, an educator, a person who wants to leave in a society where people can just live without no worries or problems, people should live in the country where the laws are to help and not to bring people down. I daydream a lot, and I think of big dreams. Sometimes I feel like they are dreams bigger than my shoe size. I want to change the way people may look at me, not that what they think matters, but I want them to think of me as I want them to be. I want to make friends that will always be my friends. People change and so do their agendas. It appears that nothing stays the change. Just maybe we just drifted off into our own lives and never thought about one another and checking in to them to see how they are doing in life. Sometimes meeting strangers and having conversations with them can lead to new friendships. I don’t want any more people I know becoming people I knew.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

-- Robert Frost

So I have not been myself lately. I usually don't like venting...but I got to some feelings/emotions/stress to release. Trying to keep up with all the homework and assignments given in school and staying focus. I gotta get back on track. Its not like me to fall off the path of success... Often times I may not talk to everything to people. I tend to frequently keep things to myself...but it depends on the situation and if I need to speak up. Sometimes I don't even bother. So much goes on through my mind, that I don't even really care to share. I try my best not to be a burden to people. I try not to bother people for whatever reason. People seem so busy these days. I don't think they got time; time has them!

I don't know if that's good or bad. I've been spacing out and pretty much been preoccupied. I'm pretty much paying attention to where I'm going rather than where I came from! I'm thankful for those that I've gotten to know and even still know them. Its the simple things that matter. Sometimes people we know become people we knew. Those that I do know and once knew, I still think about them, wondering what they are doing in life. That's what people, friends, associates, etc, are supposed to do right? Or maybe I'm just being too nice. Perhaps to some agree people may feel the same or beg to differ.

Okay, so I'm different than most people I know and associate with on some basis. Being different with commonalities is cool because it won't be any fun if we were all the same. I don't set myself apart from others. Rather I'm just being myself. Yep.. just Kelvin! Okay. So maybe there are some things I need to work on about myself. I'm not too keen when it comes to socializing and meeting and greeting people. But that shouldn't be too big of a factor, right?...I don't really talk with a lot of people. Barely get text or phone call...maybe they forgot about me and find time to talk with others. Or even maybe it is just me over thinking things. I do talk on the phone sometimes...if I have something to say or need to for necessary reasons. I'm always thinking about things and trying to tighten up any loose screws in the head. I try not to go insane in the membrane! I try to keep things simple; and making such things not so complicated like I normally do. Sometimes behind the smile you never know what is going on in a person's life. Its the simple small talk, or a smile, or a text, phone call, or something that can make a difference's in someone day or even bring a smile on their face...

And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in all the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual. – John Steinbeck

To be an individual… means having personality; differentiating yourself from the others. Often times we all want people to befriend and network that stand out amongst the crowd. We have too many followers in this world. Half of the time they are not following for the good reasons but for the things that they are after  that are often associated with the in-crowd, the popular people, the overrated social constructions. No, I’m not saying that everything is constructed by people turns out to be bad. Rather simply saying that don’t be a second version of someone else. What I’m saying is that it tiring to see people become like others as if they are those “so called reality shows” and other programs that air on television that end up having a spin-off show. To be an individual means living an autonomous life. I may not be the person with the most to say, but I have something to say.

Any type of corruption in this country is what the individual seeks to make nonexistent. Every day some group of people are fighting for some sort of freedom to live their own lives in which the government should have less interference. In modern terms, to be yourself in America is the best thing. We need diverse people (not just by natural color), but by the means of exchanging similar or differ ideas, beliefs, moral values, personality, leadership, and bringing all that we have to the table. As people with minds of our own should we not have open minds and reject the perspective of our friends and family, we should learn to “agree to disagree.” True enough we may not all agree on the same thing, but common ground needs to be made. To be our own selves is to be awesome. That means we are enjoying life and making the best of everything, and putting our best foot forward. Whatever we do whether it is an art project, writing, blogging, creating some service, and what have you, the first thing you may tend to add your personality to it. That uniqueness to make whatever you are working on stand out amongst the other similar blogs, writings, services, etc. We all are inspired some way or some how to make life valuable. We accept those challenges and opportunities that will make us all individuals that can work together in such a diverse society.

And when you become individual and figure yourself out, then the changes will be noticed by family and friends. You may end up influencing other people. So much is happening these days that it seems like the truth is hidden and some one around the globe that just want things to be better. Those “things” could be the government -national and local- and even in the education field. We all have own plans (dreams) that we want to purse. Some may not be realistic as most, but it is valuable to be productive in whatever you are doing (hopefully, it is something good and not bad).

Take this post however you want…

To be an individual…

 

Community Discussion
What makes us who we are? What is your ‘ultimate’ goal in life? Have you ever felt the need to just be quiet and observe? What do you value most in life? What makes a community? Have you ever felt the nee to just be quiet and observe what is happening around you? As always your thoughts and comments are welcome below.

So here’s an outline of a chapter that we are assigned to do in my Sociology of Gender class. We are assigned into book groups and there are four textbooks. And we each read a chapter from the book that we have chosen according to the group we are in. So I joined a  group, read the chapter and created an outline. Then we will present it to the class for a grade as well as class discussion. I believe that this is great information since I do believe what it says is true and that this happens on college campuses and in middle and high schools.Seems like gender is everything in America.

This first part talks about students and their educational experiences. The second part talks about the faculty of colleges and what their role and expectations are for each gender. However, I only provide the first part of the chapter and the outline below.

Book: Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender, and Culture
Author: Julia T. Wood

Chapter 8: “Gendered Education: Communication in Schools”

I.        Gendered Expectations and Pressures Facing Students

A.      To understand the gendered education system that exists today there are three gendered dynamics that plays as a role in today schools; especially on college campuses.

1.      Academics: Both males and females encounter with the gendered expectations and pressure from the time they enter kindergarten all the way through graduate and professional school.

a.       Males

1.      The author points out that in younger grades, the learning environment is feminine since the adult females outnumber the male teachers.  Boys tend to have more physical energy and less impulse to control themselves as they try to adjust to the classroom setting

2.      Males are behind in reading and verbal skills and females are more likely to achieve such skills faster. Furthermore, females are more likely to succeed academically whereas 33% of males are likely to drop out.

3.      After high school, females are 22% more likely than males to plan to attend college. Today women make up 58% of students in two- and four- year colleges. Minority women are twice as likely to as minority men to earn college degrees.

4.      Choices of how to spend time whether studying or doing extracurricular activities plays an important role of both genders level of accomplishment. In schools, they discourage boys and men to develop traditional feminine skills such as caring for others and entering fields traditional for women.

5.      Sex combine with race can help cause disadvantages for some male students.  Low expectations towards African American males are communicated from the teacher.  They are targets of teacher disapproval and unfavorable treatment than their white peers.  Therefore, African American males drop out in higher numbers than white males or females of any race.

a.       Females

1.      Women are faced with the bias and barrier of being less skilled in the field of math and science education that could decrease them getting a career in said fields.  Faculty and their peers feel as if they are less able than males in the fields. Women earn 22.6% of undergrad degrees in physics but only 15.5% of doctorates. They earn nearly half of undergrad degrees in mathematics and less than that in getting doctorates.

2.      Cultural stereotype of femininity do not include women being skilled in science and math; therefore they are being disapproved are judged incompetent if not extremely successful and perceived as cold, selfish, and manipulative, and not liked they are successful.

3.      Sex-related differences in the brain allow males to have slight edge in math and science skills than females. Males are likely to be encouraged to peruse careers in these fields and females should have careers that involved being interacted with people.

             B.  Gender-Stereotyped Curricula

1.      Gender stereotype still exist in the curriculum in schools. For instance, history is taught and only males are the spotlight of lessons and very seldom are the women are noted to their contributions. This is like a lesson that talks about war battles and military leaders.

2.      When women are mentioned in the curricular they fall under two categories:

a.       The women who fit traditional stereotypes of women: For example Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag.

b.      Women highlighted in curricula distinguished themselves on men’s term and in masculine contexts: Mother Jones was a powerful organizer for unions. Women in this category tend to represent as exceptional cases or remain hidden.

3.      1974: Researches identify a hidden curriculum that reflects gender stereotypes and sustain gender inequities by giving less attention and encouragement to female students than to white male students.

4.      Historical events are taught in terms of what men did and their effects rather than highlighting the women. They neglect their impact on women and minorities. The major events are not taught on how women gained more opportunities, were considered inferior because they were assumed to have limited capacity to reason and how the Industrial Revolution changed women’s lives, work, and relationships with their husbands.

5.      Sexism in education intersects in the other forms of discrimination such as racism, classism, and heterosexism. Certain males are presented as the standard typical white, heterosexual, able-bodied, middle- and upper-class men as the norm in textbooks. Women and minorities are still underrepresented in educational materials.

6.      Not only do students learn just only about men and their experiences and perspectives, but they deprived of learning about women and their experiences and contributions to the world.

               C. Athletics

1.      Today females to have plenty of opportunities to participate in sports due to Title IX. This the section of the Educational Amendment of 1972 that makes it illegal for schools that accept federal funds to discriminate on the basis of sex.

2.      Though this is really great, male athletes and coaches of men’s teams receive more support (and financially, too) than female athletes and coaches. Also, the numbers of female athletes have no increased evenly. Only 41% athletes are female and 58% of undergrads are females. And before the passing of Title IX, more than 90% of coaches of women’s sports were women.

3.      Division I colleges pay male coaches more than women coaches and a few women’s sports are actually coached by women. Originally the law required schools that receive federal funds to provide equal opportunities to female and male students to participate in intercollegiate competition. To meet this requirement, most schools had to show evidence that their programs accommodate both male and female students’ interests and abilities.

4.      In 2005 a court case of this law stated that all colleges had to send students a survey and one even by e-mail about their athletic interests and abilities. If they don’t reply it was assumed that they were satisfied with the present policies.  A lot of questions were raised by critics of the new ruling. They worry that not all non-responses indicate satisfaction with athletic opportunities on campus.

                     D. Gender Socialization in Peer Cultures

1.      Once children begin to interact with other children, peers exercise strong influence on gender attitudes and identities. The culture of most campuses today put gendered pressures both men and women. This is the case since men are encouraged to conform to social views of masculinity, and women to social views of femininity. College campus is a training ground for adult gender and peer groups are for socialization.

2.      Males are much more insistent that boys do boy things than females are that girls do girl things. Boys learn that in order to fit in they have to be strong though, and aggressive. If they are not up to this standard they are insulted with phrases such as “You’re a sissy!” They are not to show any signs of femininity. The cultural message that masculine is more valuable than feminine: Boys may not act feminine, but girls may act masculine.  Male bonding reinforces masculine identification in most boys

3.      Males are often engage in drinking and sexual activity to demonstrate their masculinity; especially fraternity brothers. The frat brothers embody extreme versions of masculinity wit heavy drinking, having sex with many women as possible, and talking about women in demeaning ways.

4.      Girls often make fun of or bully other girls that may not wear popular name bran clothes or weigh more than what is ideal. Fitting in with the popular crowd is a cornerstone of self-esteem. Children and adolescents do whatever it takes to get approved and acceptance of their peers.

5.      Women feel compelled to achieve effortless perfection which is the need to be beautiful, fit, popular, smart, and accomplished without any visible effort.  Some college faculty treats women students in gender-stereotyped way such as compliments on appearance instead of their academic work to offers of higher grades for sexual favors.

According to the journal article, “Sociolinguistics is the study of language as a social and cultural phenomenon.”  Sociolinguists make a definite distinction between DESCRIPTIVE and PRESCRIPTIVE grammar. 

Descriptive grammar is more a type of informal language since it does not really focus on strict rules in different ways in the language of grammar and language. With this in mind, this type of grammar is generally use with writers and speakers in according to exactly the way a sentence is structure, the use of grammar, and not whether the words and sentences are structured correctly with meaning. Descriptive grammar is understood to be our natural language, regular speech. The nonstandard use of English can be stated in the example in casual chat. For example, two students are using slang while having a conversation that shows or gives away their social or cultural status. In other words, this is a good example because not every person may use the Standard English to which the conversation can be used to understand language.

On the other hand, prescriptive grammar is known as the proper English because a person must know the set of rules dealing with the structure and meaning of sentences and language. Linguists believe that prescriptive English have rules that define what is correct and incorrect.
Unlike descriptive grammar where you are able to use it at anytime in different settings, prescriptive grammar is the type of structure English (Standard English) that people should be using. If you think about it, this type of grammar is very similar to what is taught in schools. An example that shows how prescriptive grammar is used can be related to job interviews. This is a good reason because the people that will be hiring the applicant will be expecting the person to know important and correct grammar and not using slang or incorrect English. Also, importantly the dress code will give off the vibe about your job status or personality. With the use of prescriptive grammar and knowing that it should be used in job interviews or formal settings, it will help.

There is much debate currently going on in the Nashville area regarding the “English Only” debate. Historically, increased levels of immigration have given rise to concerns about English as an official language.  What traditionally has happened to the heritage language of first and second generation Americans?

I would have to say that the languages they are popular in the respective country should be on a societal scale and also those other languages that may not be known but are in this country. That is, have information and provide every language be given support in every aspect of life. Although English is the language of the United States, it is not official, but to continue to go on with the belief of the country being a melting pot of all cultures, we should not leave anyone out. There are so many languages, but every language that is spoken should be supported. You often see the different product manuals in different languages and in most cases every other thing in Spanish and then maybe French. I remember writing an essay in English 1010 about this issue and I forgot which side I had supported, but it may have been that English should be the official language (I still have a copy of the essay). Nevertheless, I guess the as this country advances, people will reflect on how the past was and how things are now; comparing and contrasting the way of life. Sometimes the heritage language may die out or be overlooked because of other popular languages. In some cases first and second generation Americans could lose their identity or feel as if they did because of how this country is advancing. They think their language is fading away and everyone is being Americanized and the trends are starting up and that they may be left behind.

Briefly describe your idiolect.  Where are you from?  What unique vocabulary do you use? 

I have lived here in Memphis now for a good handful of years; however, I am originally from St. Louis. I say that my idiolect is somewhat different than my peers and those in my age range. I will have to say that often time people may not understand what I am saying because I am talking at a rate to where I sometimes say words not fully or I have problems pronouncing certain words since I did to go speech classes in elementary. I guess the vocabulary I use may not be words or language people around my age may not use and use words such a “nifty” and “totally wicked.” Also my favorite word is “pragmatic” which may slip in conversations. Certainly, I my idiolect is could be distinctive different from others.

How is dialect different from accent? 

Dialect is different from accent because to do with the style of language of a person or group of people. It deals with the use of vocabulary, grammar, common words, and the way you speak. On the other hand, accent deals with the way someone pronounces words and the sound of their speaking. Accent (the way speech sounds from a particular person) helps to give someone their unique speaking tone or characteristics. Dialect is the way you deals with language and vocabulary; meaning whereas accent deal with sound and pronunciations.

The United States is known as the melting pot because of all the vast amount of people from different racial groups and ethnical backgrounds. There are also different type of systems in our country – government, education, healthcare, and societal rankings of people. As more international people come from other countries and into the United States they have to adapt to the American way of living how the systems work here. One of the largest subordinate groups, Mexican Americans, is known to have different stereotypical views against them, being employed with jobs that have low pay wages that someone else may not want, the group that have big families with a lot of kids, and they are also viewed as immigrants as they assimilate into a foreign culture and lifestyle in this country.

Mexican Americans are known as immigrants because of the economical and political conditions in their county that creates a driving force that they can no longer withstand that causes them to immigrate to the United States. After the Spaniards try to conquer what is known as Mexico and the southwestern part of the U.S., Mexico won their independence as a country from Spain in 1821. Anglo-American immigrants moved to what is not as Texas once this happened and adapted to the Mexican lifestyle. Before Mexico won its independence from Spain, the Spaniards wanted to take over the country for the reasons of agricultural and mining businesses would make money (J. Feagin and C. Feagin, 173).

Mexican immigrants have always lived or came to the United States, dating back to 118,000 during the 1850s. Unlike to the English colonists moving into the land of Native American territory to take over and impose their culture onto the Native Americans, presently Mexican Americans migrated to the United States because they voluntarily wanted to move into a country because of number of different factors such as poor economic system, lack of education, jobs are scare and political conflicts. And they sought this country for better way of living and possible to have a job. To them America is the land of dreams and opportunities.

The peak immigration periods have been 1910-1930, 1942-1954, and 1965 to the present. Today, 54 percent of immigrants from Latin America live in the U.S and then there 31 percent of Mexicans-born immigrants that are included with the foreign-born population (Tomas, 93). The effect of the living conditions that push Mexican Americans from their own country such as Mexico, for example, has caused many illegal immigrants to find a way to cross the borders. These are immigrants who are undocumented. However, not immigrant come to the United States by cheating the system, you have the immigrants who are official citizens and have Green Cards.

On the opposite scale of Mexicans being known as immigrants unlike most other racial groups, some Mexicans are over here to work and send money back to their family from Mexico. For example, in 1942, the Emergency Farm Labor granted many Mexicans work permits at the employers request; however, this helped for more documented immigrants to come to the country. Today we see many Mexicans working at fast good restaurants and doing other small jobs that plays a part in lives every day that no one else may not want to do. Often times Mexicans are grateful to be able to work and make money. Congress passed an act in 1996 that restricting legal immigration and undocumented immigration called the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (J. Feagin and C. Feagin, 177). Today Mexican immigration occupies a hot topic in the U.S. legal system and in U.S. public opinion.

---------

Work Cite

Feagin, Joe, and Clairece Feagin. Racial and Ethnics Relations. 2nd Custom Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2008.

Tomás, Jiménez. "What Different Generations of Mexican Americans Think About Immigration from Mexico." Generations 32.4 (2009): 93-96. Web. 6 Dec 2009.

Englekirk , Allan, and Marguerite Marín. "Mexican Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. 2nd ed. vol. 2. Detroit: Gale Group, 2000.

It’s my birthday… my 22nd birthday! I’m so grateful to be turning (or have turned) 22 years old. I can not believe that I at that age. Put your Mr. Rogers sweater on because it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood and a cold one at that. Happy birthday to me!!

Hello! Hello! I’m proud to announce this great book giveaway. This first of its kind and the first to be on this blog as well. What a way to start the New Year by winning a book  for yourself or give it to a friend or family member. You just might need it one day. Winning free stuff is fun, right? Of course it is! So this giveaway is for those who may need that book that will help you or someone else find that right job that you have been seeking or just want to know the jobs other people like you have for a living. This contests will last for TWO WEEKS!! That is a lot of time to enter the contest and spread the word around to everyone you know. More than enough chances to enter the contest this contest and win a cool book! So now on to the contest details…

 

Conversations: Find Your Niche!

Editor: Van Twelves

This book is the ultimate tool to help you decide on a career that’s right for you! Here are the three key tools that can help that are ALL included in Conversations: Find Your Niche!

1. A demonstrated research and decision-making procedure called the Find Your Niche Roadmap
2. Focused, in-depth interviews with 150 working professionals from the full spectrum of career fields about the nature of their jobs all in a fun, conversational format
3. Six special appendices offering you an invaluable collection of critical career information and hard to find resources that will save you months of research

How to Enter

WIN this FREE BOOK by simply commenting on this post below.  You must do this first step to enter the giveaway.  Be sure to include your first name and last name initial.

You can earn optional, additional entries by:
- Following KeeperPress on Twitter and tweeting about this giveaway. You may do this twice a day. Leave a separate comment with the URL of each tweet.  
- Putting a link to our book on your blog roll ( www.KeeperPress.com ).  Post a comment with your blog’s URL.
-Putting a link to our blog on your blog roll (www.CareerDecisionsMadeEasy.blogspot.com).  Post a comment with your blog’s URL. 
- Posting this giveaway on your blog with a link to this giveaway post. Leave a comment with a direct link to the post.
-Become a fan of Conversations: Find Your Niche on Facebook.  Post a comment.

One winners will be randomly selected from the qualified comments received by Sunday, January 17, 2010, at midnight ET.

Please leave an email address when you are posting your comment(s ) if it’s not available on your Blogger profile. Winner must respond within 72 hours or another winner will be drawn. U.S. addresses only.

Happy New Year!! It's 2010. Amazing. Look out because I'm stronger, bolder, bigger & better like never before!

This is my first post for New Year 2010! I still find it amazing to write and say the the dates with the new dated suffix 2010. Unlike 2009, 2010 has a special ring to it. In some ways it means something. And later this month, I will mark my 2 years of blogging. How cool is that!?! I believe that this year we are opening new chapters, creating new books. The pages of either one are blank, but we are the ones that will put the words in the chapters and books. I have not really made any new year resolutions. I never have in the past few years. However, this year I want to continue to be the person I intend to be in every aspect of my life – socially, physically, mentally and academically as I continue my collegiate years at the Univ. of Memphis. I want to continue to be the better person that I’m striving to become. I don’t really do resolutions because I tend to see them as goals that I may not realistically meet. However, it would not hurt to even attempt to accomplish the resolutions if I were to make any.

I read somewhere online about someone making the statement that it is a new year, but same problems that normally happen. Maybe it is true… maybe its false, but anyway it matters I believe that it is a new leaf for everyone. I can’t imagine what could happen this year, but I can imagine the music that will be dropped by different artists and the awesome movies that will come out. Maybe a few sequels to come that have already been made or even some that will rock our socks off. Anyway it goes, entertainment is always on the rise on all level imagine. Next month I will be turning 22. That is exciting for me. A year older, but yet I’m still in my “youthful era.” All in all I believe everyone is exciting for it to be a new year and a new month.

As I conclude this first post for the year and the month, happy new year to each and every one of you!

Sorry I am on my soapbox again. It can be true or be evident that we do good things at our greatest and best work when we are inspire to do what we are passionate about. If you are passionate about something, then it will show and others will notice. And if not in most cases, in some cases, we may not do well under pressure or certain circumstances. Other times what we do comes natural. There is something special for each of us. This reminds me of that famous poem by Robert Frost that tells us that we should take the path not taken instead of the one that has been walked on before us. Then we should not go where the path led us but instead leave a trail.

The reason why the world lacks unity, and lies broken and in heaps, is, because man is disunited with himself. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think in 2010, a wonderful resolution is evolve into the person we intend to be. I think that will be a good one for me to accomplish in my social, academic and personal life. It’s not often I jump on my soapbox, but I felt like that this is something I need to tell someone… for my sake and to let others that they are not alone. I always feel like I want to give up and throw the town in, but I always keep my head up and remember why I’m going through certain situations. But at times I just dislike when people are not real. I mean they seem like they aren’t themselves…maybe they have to put on another persona in front of all the fame and fortunate, but up close and personal they may just be a different person. Hhmmm… knows because I don’t surely do not. Often times I want to go the place where I belong. I like that song Home by Daughtry. The band has pretty good songs. But I’ve heard the popular ones and not the ones that are not played from the rest of their albums. And I also think it would be sweet for me to find that special person next year. Yep. I have been riding the single train. And on the train are other people single, too, but I have not met the match yet, but I am sure that will change sometime soon. I don’t have nothing else to do so I decided to write and yes, I know, its long over due, but heck I had to give in from not writing. I was not purposely trying not to write, but there are days where I have those days. You know? I’m sure you have those days as well.

So this is a reflection…  The holiday that happens once a year, but the spirit that we have should occur ever day; not just observed on one day. The way some people act around Christmas, “I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month (Harlan Miller).” As every one counted down the days until they are able to spend time with family and give and receive presents of all sort. However, this year seems to be a bit different. Something about the season was a bit different, but I wasn’t a Scrooge nor the Grinch, but I was in the holiday spirit, but Christmas was different. Now that is just me… I don’t know how it was for you. Or maybe I just lost that state of mind this year. But Christmas really has felt very different this year.  However, never the less, since after Thanksgiving I have fallen in love with Christmas music. I don’t think you can be in the Christmas mood without the music. One of my favorite song is Felize Navidad. I will break out with that song in a heart beat. But sometimes the holidays can’t be too fun and charitable for everyone because less fortunate will be out on the their mischievous adventures robbing cars, people, and stores, for whatever presents they may have.

Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day. – Helen Steiner Rice

Similar to what they say about Thanksgiving that we should not be thankful for just that one day, but every day and throughout the year. I know that may sound cliché, but it is true. I’m learning that not everyone will have the same feeling or the way you have for the holidays. We are some days away from ending 2009 and celebrating the year 2010. I believe that this year has been such a year that I want to leave everything that happened in the past and look to the hills for the year 2010. I can not actually believe that it will be twenty-ten soon. That’s unimaginable to be saying. I am excited to see what surprises and things will happen next year. I know for a fact that I’m a bit thrilled to be turning 22 on February 15th. I don’t believe that I will be that old. I will be growing older, but growing up is a different story. And with the year comes the resolutions. I really don’t make any sort of resolutions.  Why make them if you can’t successfully fulfill them? I think to some extent they are overrated. I’m sure people will be making them if they have not started already.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
- Lord Alfred Tennyson

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!  - Charles Dickens

Ahh the holidays are here. Thanksgiving is one day of the year where we not only show our appreciation and gratitude for being alive, but for having such wonderful friends and loving family. It is usually said that we should not be not thankful just on Thanksgiving day, but every day. Students enjoy being out of school (and I’m really enjoying my break), Black Friday and the other holiday sales to encourage to buy, buy, buy everything for low prices (Christmas presents), the delicious food, cold weather, and memories occur doing the holiday season. I got so many text messages, and random ones, many Facebook statues, and blog posts all saying the same thing in different ways wishing people a happy holiday and showing how much they thank their family and friends for being in their lives. That is what Thanksgiving is about- thanks for giving and giving thanks to where it is due. I love the holidays; especially when it is cold and all the leaves on the ground. And I have started listening to Christmas music already since they play it on the soft rock radio station since November 12th. There is something about this time of the year that make me feel warm inside. I just love it.

Christmas is the holiday that has a special meaning just as Thanksgiving does. Christmas brings together the family to one location to celebrate and find true meaning of the reason for the season. Presents are all unwrapped by the children and at young ages some may not think about the meaning of Christmas, but rather than getting toys. When we get together on this day, it brings back childhood memories for everyone. There is nothing like laughing and crying over the stories about different family members and maybe even some stories about you. I enjoy getting gifts, but now I can not seem to know what I want. So I really don’t tell people what I would like rather give me something where I can buy myself something. Gift cards, checks, money orders, cash are acceptable (laugh out loud). But really, I’ll be satisfied with whatever gift I may get and if I don’t get anything, then I will still be happy. Often times it is not all about receiving, but giving unto others-whether big or small-will show that someone care and truly that is just the right thing to do. For if someone can not make it for Christmas for some reason or another, we know they are with us in spirit and a phone or text message away. This is where technology intervenes to allow us to talk to those who are in great distance.

If there is a friend or someone who may not be jolly during this season of Christmas, don’t be a Scrooge. Do something to show that you care and wish them a Merry Christmas or some sort of words of kindness. We should do all we can to help the homeless, being mindful, that some people act homeless because they can always go to a home and have a fancy car and we may not even know because they are on the street holding a sign. But just out of generosity and your heart, help someone out this Christmas. Yes, you may meet other people who want to be Scrooges, but that just may be their personality. They will be who they are and not let our kindness and theme of family and blessings in their way of not liking Christmas for one reason or another. We should not want to steal Christmas for others. These days people forget about Christmas and they go buy presents without even thinking about the season or the meaning. So through all the presents (entertainment wise), be thankful and let us not forget the reason for the season.

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?  It came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  It came without packages, boxes or bags.  And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. - Dr. Seuss

This is a guest post by Joshua A. DeLung.

So, I’ve never met Kelvin Oliver — not in person, anyway. We’ve known each other online for quite some time now, though, and I suppose just the notion that I would refer to him as a “friend I have down in Memphis” might have been a bit absurd only a few years ago. But with the increasing popularity of social media (which has been popular among folks like Kelvin and I for years now), I think it’s becoming more and more common to consider people you’ve never met before, at least loosely, as friends.

And why not? Friends are people we can bounce ideas off of, people we can turn to for advice, people with whom we can collaborate. So when Kelvin asked if I would consider a guest post for Moments In Time, I thought sure, why not, why wouldn’t I write guest post for that friend I have down in Memphis who coordinates a mean synchroblog?

But with writing a guest post comes the need for a topic. I mean, sure, part of guest blogging is an opportunity at shameless promotion of one’s own blog or agenda. But you just don’t want to come up in someone else’s audience and have those readers come away questioning the blog owner’s decision-making skills after you’ve supplied him or her with a dud of a post.

Now, about that need for a topic…  oh yes, so here are five tips to a good guest blog post (I think that’s what I was getting at):

1) Have a clever, insightful introduction that mentions the contemporary state of medium.

2) Be sure that you promote the host’s blog in the nut paragraph, not your own! (Until, that is, the end of the guest post.)

3) Pretend as though you were struggling to find a topic, just to keep readers on the edge of their seats (even though everyone knows writer’s block is something only experienced by people who aren’t really meant to be writers… the rest of us always have something to say, whether it has any value or not).

4) Use a sort of how-to list because people probably will not read the rest of the post and will only scroll down to grab some quick tips anyway. (Caught you!)

5) You should probably do some research about the audience of the blog on which you’re posting, chat with the blog owner about expectations, find something useful to say, include fun links, follow the style of the host blog and do a bunch of other technical hoopla.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post, readers of Moments in Time! Perhaps you found it helpful, entertaining or just plain confusing. Ciao!

Joshua A. DeLung is the creator, owner and primary writer at Relatively Journalizing, where he writes about journalism, public relations, new media, life musings, sports and more. In addition, he also blogs for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Empowers Web site, which chronicles the personal stories of American people whose lives have been touched by energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies.

The views, opinions and any other content created by Joshua A. DeLung on personal or social media sites do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. government or any other entity and are not approved by or affiliated with those entities.

Often times it is a relief to sit down and write. Sometimes there are no words to describe how life is whether bad or good; hopefully the latter. Writing helps me a lot in the ways that I can express myself through words and sort of have a one-on-one talk with someone. I will say that this particular semester, there aren't really any words that can be used to describe it. One word can be unique, but that is not the word although I'll use it. College can be a journey of self-discovery. Exploring what we want to do, who we are, and being able to do just about anything. Whether or not someone attends a college or university, in whatever they do, they will something about what it is they do to be enjoyable and worthwhile in a way.I can attest to this because this semester (along with the stress and long nights and sleepless nights.. ups and downs), I'm finding out who I am and where I'm going in life.

Since being at the University, I've met some cool people, those that I admire (have not found too many of them), and the ones that set them apart in a group of their own. But all in all, we are here doing what we do for a reason. Maybe the dreams or goals that I aspire to achieve may be too big for me or often times maybe I may get the weird look or feedback of people thinking I may be crazy. I know not everyone wants to be a teacher and not everyone will feel the same way I do, but hey, that is just me. I know there are those who may not want think or dream the same things I do, but that is just me. Maybe I'm thinking about actually want to be person that wants change, but there are others who may not be on the same page. I am not the person I use to be, but I'm the person that is evolving to the person I want to be. Sometimes it is said to be the change you want to be and I don't know that not everything will change, but coming to the realization of true reality and the purpose is something to think about.

There is something I must remember is to stay positive, keep my faith and moral values at heart, and know the reason that I should not fall but keep on going. I didn't want to continue onto the University for nothing. I'm not wasting my time and money for nothing. There's a path I have decided to take and that's a path that is not taken.

Today is 20 Something Bloggers 6th Blog Swap. So, the members of the community who decided to participate has a partner. My partner is Jennie White, the writer of the blog Generation You. So she is guest posting for me on today and kindly enough have written such an awesome post. Don’t forget to visit her blog to read my post! Now presenting to you, today’s guest writer Jennie White!

Hi Guys, sorry, but this is not Kelvin! I am taking over Moments in Time on this fine Monday. Kelvin has been so generous and awesome to let me guest post over here and I am really excited about it. For about the past week, I’ve been exploring Kelvin’s blog, Moments in Time. I am sure you all know this by now, but our friend Kelvin here is a beautiful writer. He’s deep, descriptive, and thought provoking which are all crucial for a successful Blogger. In Kelvin’s most recent post, “The World of Blogging,” he talked about why he blogs and why blogging isn’t for the faint of heart. It got me thinking, why should we blog?

Why is it important for us to twenty-somethings to sit down and pour out our thoughts on the Internet? We don’t blog to give our problems a microphone, we blog to connect to one another. I’ve “met” or connected with people from all over the world. I mean I am guest posting for Kelvin who lives in Tennessee! Kelvin and I probably would’ve never met had it not been for blogging.

This might sound like a far out comparison, but I often like to compare bloggers to a hockey team. Often people don’t recognize why people blog. They don’t understand the commitment and passion that goes into blogging. Just like I’ve never really understood hockey players waking up at 4 am to skate in a freezing cold ice rink. Hockey players and bloggers alike have a deep routed passion and the support from their teammates or fellow bloggers is key. We keep showing up to our blogs and to the rink because we’re getting this high and rush from the support and feedback of our peers.

Just like a hockey player, bloggers need to be tough. They need to show commitment and show passion. Use your blog to broadcast your commitment and passion. Who knows who will stumble upon it from Google one day? Commit yourself to your readers and your network; blogging is all about supporting one another. Your thoughts are more valuable if they’re out there, available for people to react, agree, and disagree. What good are your thoughts locked up inside that brain of yours? Trust me, we want to hear them!

So yes, maybe I did just compare blogging to hockey, you’ve probably never heard that one before, but I really liked how in Kelvin’s post, “The World of Blogging,” he stressed the importance of staying committed to your blog.

So, I have not written anything lately in this space. On the brighter side, it will be the weekend and tomorrow is Friday! 20 Something Bloggers sent out e-mails for their 6th 20SB Blog Swap to those who are participating, letting us know about our partners. This is my third time joining the fun and swapping posts with other bloggers. It’s a thrill to see what random person I will get partnered up with. So on next Monday, the 26th, you will get a chance to see Jennie’s (her blog is Generation You) post on this blog and mine will be on hers.  You can find both of our (awesome) posts on next week!

I’m noticing a trend of comments from anonymous people. I’m not saying that there is nothing wrong with that, but I would like to know who they written by instead making a connection of the authors being random people. Sometimes I find it interesting to read comments from others. I would have to say that. But I think they tend to not want to be known. Sometimes I write things and not think, one some topics, about editing a post. Blogs… if you have one and most do, you have to make it your own. No matter what way you blog, in whatever writing style. It’s your account, your space, make it your own. I believe that a lot of people, from what I read from 20SB, have their own feelings and thoughts when it comes down to reading blogs. But I am not going to talk much in depth about blogging because I’m sure you may have read and talked with others all things blogging. People tend to blog for different reasons and you know the whole deal with that. I do tend to try to blog each week. Even more so I like the conversations and the comments that are left because they help to spark new ideas and perspectives. Not everyone read blogs will comment. Only when they feel needed to comment. There are conversations out there about people leaving useless comments that do not contribute to the conversations. Sometimes the comments may strike up a hardcore debate; whereas others just want to leave their remarks.

You may be wondering exactly what I’m talking about. I’m really not talking about anything specific. Overall, blogging to me is like being able to write and keep an electronic journal publicly or privately-for yourself or those select people. I may not be a complete expert, but I will surely enough give you a best and complete answer to any question that may be asked. But I think my perspective of blogging has changed and still is changing.  From classroom blogging in the English Composition class to just continuing blogging on my own.It’s like almost everyone is blogging. Some have been blogging for 4 years while others have started within the last year or few months. I will say that blogging may not be for everyone. Some start off blogging, but then all of a sudden they stop writing and disappear. And this may happen to those who really have a unique style and we enjoy their blog. And the next thing we know, they stop posting and we only get the few posts that are still up to read and cherish. I even have seen this happen a few times. Where the good bloggers stop posting and I wonder where they have gone off to. Johnonline has the statement “Blogging is not a habit. It’s a lifestyle” on this blog. I think that is quite interesting that he makes that statement. Could blogging be a lifestyle and not a habit? A hobby? Or something we think would be fun?

Well, you may notice that there has not been a post written in a couple of days, more so a week or two. Don’t worry, I have not fallen off the cliff of a mountain.. not yet at least (laughing out loud). But there will be a post soon. So much has been going on over the last few weeks and another week until Fall Break. Woohoo! I’m excited. I hope you all had a wonderful week and the weekend is going good for everyone. There have been a couple of guest bloggers that have accepted the invitation to guest blog for me. Sometimes the blogger needs a bit of creative boost and go away from the work space to muster up the next best thing to write about. To put the cap on this quick update post, here is a video for you to enjoy… It’s one of my favorite.

 

It's been awhile since I've sat down and watched TV. Maybe a year or so. But, from when I did, I remember a commercial for Audi. Clearly, this commercial was posed for the young, up-and-coming gen-y. If you don't remember the one, let me give you the run-down:

Behind a stark, stoic desk sat a stark, stoic man. In front of him: a younger man, much less comfortable in the office filled with deep mahogany furniture.

The elder of the two dogmatically laid out the other's life for him.

"You will attend one of these three [Ivy-league] Schools"

"You will enter one of these three [high-paying, upper-echelon] professions"

"You will drive one of these three luxury cars..." and, of course, this is when the Audi pulls up providing the perfect option #4.

What Audi did well was identify a foundational paradigm shift in the mindset of this generation: we're willing to take the chance behind door #4. We are making choices that dumbfound our elders, but seem natural to us, albeit a bit risky from time to time. But that's what excites us. We know this is our life, and we're set on living.

One year ago, I walked - or rather flew - through my door #4. I left the comfort of my hometown, my friends, family, managerial position in retail, roommates and culture to fly to the other side of the world and teach English in Taiwan for a year.

What I learned in that year I will carry with me the rest of my life. My view of culture (both mine and foreign), and my view of myself altered entirely. The details of how and what are chronicled on my blog, but I'm not here to bore you with that.

What I'm here to say is this: the rules of the game have changed. Door #4 is not only a more viable option, but a more accessible one.

On the rise in the US, and already widely accepted in much of Europe and Australia, is the gap year. This is the idea of taking a break from life and doing like I did: getting out. It's generally before entering university, after graduation, or occasionally in between (though the "adult gap year" is on the rise as well).

As the world gets smaller every day, and technology makes life and communication more mobile, leaving for a year (or 6 months, or a month) becomes easier.

There's increasing research that the "gap year" has unseen benefits that employers are taking notice from. Economist.com reported on researchers finding an association between those who have lived abroad and an elevated level of creativity.

But here's my beef with the "gap year" mentality. It leaves the traveler with the idea that the year is a "break" from her/his life.

Let me tell you, that year is as much a part of your life as your 4 years in university. Or getting hired at your dream gig.

Over at The Drift, we have a saying: The Journey is the Destination.

We've been programed to think our life is a succession of events: High School; University; Career; Family; Retirement; Death.

That's boring.

Really.

If I can encourage readers to one thing, it's this: Don't be afraid to do something different. Something you never thought you'd do. And when you do, remember what you do along the way to your "life goals (or "destinations")" is just as much of your life as those big events. Because Life isn't about the big events; life started yesterday, and yesterday is gone. Don't wait for some far off event to start living.

More than any point in history, any generation before us, the door on option number four has blown wide open. The rules of normalcy have changed, and the rise of information and technology have given us the keys to our life. Take them and use them. Find what you're passionate about through your door #4, then walk, no, fly through and live your life.

Because Life is a Journey, friends. And the Journey is the Destination.


[Photo found here through Flickr's Creative Common]