Summary (negative)

            I learned many different things in this class. One of them is patience, as essential as some think this course is I feel very differently about it. I understand the goals of this class but I don’t agree that they are productive. If there was a survey of the students that have take this class and how beneficial it actually is I think the numbers would be stunning. I think the expectations for these classes are a little too much. I am enrolled in Comp 2 and I didn’t have to write near this much. I understand what the goal is but I think it is gone about in the wrong way, but I guess who am I to say how to teach things that kids should already know.

            I am very strong in English and in speaking my mind. From this class I learned what it’s like to be completely frustrated. I have so many things that are more important like guitar lessons, theory, comp 2, but I am required to write a 1600 word page on what I learned from this class. I did learn that I need stop procrastinating so much, as well as my study habits and life habits. Those things are the only positive things I got out of this class, in my opinion every one of these courses should be equal. My peer Alex Eastman took this class first 5 weeks and barely showed up had minimal amounts of work. He said when he did show up that they were expected to do much. I think if this is a school wide curriculum that this institution feels strongly about it should be equal to all students. I’m not wanting to put down anyone for doing they’re job this class is probably beneficial to some people. I just know for my personal experience it was more of a burden than a blessing.

            My progress through the course has not been changed I came in knowing the things that were taught and came out with the same mindset. I know this is extremely negative but I think it is absurd that a 5 week course is required to do this much. I found some of the reading beneficial but not much. I got a more concrete view of my procrastination as well as my ability to speak my mind. Those two elements that I am very strong at I know procrastination is a negative thing and I will need to work on it, but speaking my mind is something that everyone should be able to do.

            I think if this course should be offered either optionally or be a one or two week course. Honestly I found it a waste of my time, I am not meaning to put down anyone and they’re job but I feel I should be as honest as possible so it is evident how other students feel. Every person who has taken this course that I have spoken to all agreed that this course was not essential in they’re learning. This class may have worked for some kids who are extremely clueless to life, but for the majority of kids who are 18 or 19 should already know these life skills. If they do not they will learn the hard way of not studying, not doing what is expected, and not performing as well as they can. Learning the hard way is sometimes the best way a person could be taught.

            I guess this community college just likes to nurture they’re students and treat them like they are less than adults. College is about figuring yourself out it’s about learning who you are and I don’t think that a 4 week course on different things that we learned in freshman health is beneficial. The three most beneficial things for keeping you saneness in this course have to be, patience, dedication, and the ability to write a paper that is equal to a comp 1 research paper. I think this course should be offered as a optional course to those who are extremely indifferent about what they are doing with they’re life. I apologize for being so extremely negative throughout this whole experience I am almost 100% always positive I have a great outlook on life and love to have fun. I guess this course is just so frustrating. It should not be near as difficult as it is, difficult is not the exact describing word, and only because 250 words about things you know about isn’t difficult. Although it can be difficult when you as a student are required to do things that don’t benefit you on top of the things that have and impact on your collegiate experience.

            I hate being this negative because some might enjoy this course I just know that of the peers I have spoken to they absolutely despise this course. I understand the aspirations for this course I just don’t think they are delivered in the right way. This course has never been required in past years so why start now. Why make another course where students have to stress about assignment. This class like I said could be beneficial to some it just wasn’t for my 10 friends and me. I apologize for being so negative but after writing all these assignments that I had procrastinated on it started to really irritate me that I was spending all this time writing this when I could be practicing for lessons or writing my comp 2 paper. I’m apologize that I did not get much out this course because maybe I was just negative about it from the get go, but I wanted to be honest. Honesty is something everyone should cherish. So is a positive attitude when you are required to do things you don’t enjoy, but you can’t be positive all the time.  

 

 

Community Service

I would say out of everything in the world today the three things that trouble me are the war, our government, and gay rights. Although none of these topics can necessarily be solved they can be improved or assisted. First the war, there is so much to say about this awful and terrifying war. I read enough Newsweek and Time to know enough about what is going on, but I know that what I am reading is just a fraction of the headache and chaos that the war continues to produce. This war has been raging on for years and it only continues to get worse. The causalities of this war are usually going un-recorded, because this war is not just fought by our US forces. I read a book last summer called Black Water: The Rise of the Worlds Strongest Mercenary Army, and in it informed me about the corporation side of the war. I’ll repeat that, there are corporations that thrive off the war. These hundred billion dollar companies are profiting off of killing people. You can’t get around war not if you live in the US, our government didn’t really seem to follow Machiavelli’s tips on running a government. Our nation always seems to get in situations that don’t necessarily benefit the citizens. Now all the war seems to do is make more millions for the people who already have millions.

Now on to our government I don’t have much to say about it but we desperately need change. President Bush has done enough with our government, vetoing every bill that comes his way and switching out cabinet members like pinch hitters. I am not one to sit around and bash the president, our government or the war for that matter. I am Ross McEwen 19 years old whom lives in Andover, Kansas what can I possibly say or do that will make our people in office have an epiphany and want to change. As utopian as that thought is it unfortunate that is true. It is unfortunate that we the people of the United States don’t really have a voice anymore. Our voice if any is vetoed or stepped by the greedy aristocratic members of the office. What happened to united we stand? Where did the radical Americans go that would stand up for themselves? In today’s day and age people would rather be comfortable with themselves instead of standing up and making a difference. Think of how many things could be solved if more people stood up instead of just going along with the norms in society.

            Gay rights, many people because of our nations favored religion disagree with gay rights. I being the sibling of a gay person obviously I am pro-gay rights movement. This subject has always bothered me, in my opinion it is time for America to wake up and see what they are actually doing to they’re own people. If gay people had some horrible gay virus that struck everyone once accepted it would be understandable not to approve of gay-rights. But in a day and age when divorce rates have almost raised to higher than 50% it is ridiculous that gay people are denied marriage licenses as well as shared health along with a slew of things.

            I understand this really has nothing to do with community service but the premise of the discussion was things that concern you. These things I all feel strongly about, I cannot do anything to help any of these topics all I can do is wait.

 

www.shadowcompanythemovie.com

 

www.ACTUPNY.com

 

 

 

 

Academic Plan

I am going to college to learn and soak up every piece of information that i can get about music. I want to transfer to MSTU (middle tennessee state university) so i can get a degree in music business. I would like to be a producer for a major record label. I've been obsessed with music since i can remember and i have a wide variety of music that i listen to. Because of the program i am currently in at butler right now i will be graduating here with an associates in something dealing with music. Like i said i will be going to school to be a producer so i will have to study theory as well as learn how to program and use the new technology that is being implemented into the studies. I plan to after i receive my associates degree to transfer to MTSU to finish the rest of my music training there. They are very well known for they're music business program. It is also located near Nashville which as everyone knows is a big music city. I'm very excited to move out to tennessee, i've never lived anywhere but in Kansas. So i'm excited to see what this huge world has to offer i know that tennessee is not the world but it's far enough for me. 

www.mtsu.edu

www.musiciansfriend.com

www.fender.com

www.google.com

www.rollingstone.com

Academic honesty

Academic honesty is something that every student is responsible for. It is the respect for yourself and for the others that make academic honesty what it is. Academic Honesty is when a student could choose to either plagiarize a whole paper or use excerpts that we're not they're own. It is something that every student struggles with in some way. In this day in age when the internet is so huge that it is impossible to look at every article or even a fraction of the articles available, it is easy to use that to your advantage to more or less cheat on an assignment. If found guilty of taking material that is not yours could result in very serious punishment. The definition of plagiarism is using others’ ideas and words without clearly acknowledging the source of that information. To avoid plagiarism and keep your academic honesty you should give credit whenever you use another person's idea opinion or thoery. Any facts statistics, graphs, drawings or any pieces of information that is not common knowledge. Also when quoting someone's actual spoken or written words. (Plagiarism) 

I know personally i have been tempted to break my academic responsibility simply because i didn't give myself enough time to complete the assignment. The easiest way to avoid this is by having your penguin handbook that is given to you when you are enrolled in any english class. You could even go out and buy an MLA handbook. These two books have the essentials for properly completing any paper or assignment that you will come across. 

Ross 

Time Management

Throughout my learning career, time has always been an issue. I started playing guitar in the 7th grade and ever since then it has conflicted with my school work. I always struggled with my school work and it wasn't until last year that i got tested for ADHD. Let me tell you i wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for this Adderall. Not literally, but it has helped me out so much. I know i have a better grasp on tasking and what I'm doing with my time. I still need to improve on my procrastination habits. I need to try to finish my assignments once i receive them instead of waiting until 3 minutes before the class to finish it. Time is something every person never seems to have enough of. Managing it is a sometimes difficult task as your life can get bogged down with so many things. I'm just glad that i have a good concept of time and what time is. Time management is so much fun once you know what it is and how to do it. Managing time is something everyone needs to know how to do it is essential for your everyday life. I love adderall if it weren't for that wonderful FDA approved drug i would not know how to manage time. Time management when mastered allows you to do as many things as you can in one day that you want and need to get done. I'm so happy i was required to take this class so i could learn great skills such as time management as well as coping with change. I wouldn't know what to do if i didn't have this class to fall back on. 

I love life and I am so sad Student orientation will be over soon :(,

Ross 

Coping with change

To cope with change one must have something dramatically change in your life. That's not the case with me, it's just school, i didn't move to the dorms so my environment didn't change. The only thing that is different is my classes and school. It's never been a problem for me to adapt to whatever situation I am in. It took me a month to get the hang of everything and see how college works. Since then i feel i have a pretty good idea of how to act and my responsibilities that i have to take care of. I must say the only thing that changed were my classes that i am taking. I love school right now, i'm enrolled in all music classes and 2 english classes. I understand that every semester will NOT be this easy but i am enjoying it while it lasts. I have my performance classes MWF and i love it, 3 hours of singing and playing guitar. I enjoy choir class because it is fun to be singing with 100 some people but what i really love is Headliners. Playing guitar for 2 hours and receiving credit for it has to be the greatest thing since sliced bread! Music is the essence of my being, it is what keeps me breathing and what keeps me sane. I'm just so happy that i can sit in class with other talented musicians and play for two hours. The song selection is pretty good we play every style so hopefully it makes me into very versatile musician. I love music, i love life, and bootsy (my source of inspiration).  

until next time,

Ross  

Hello

My Full name is John Ross McEwen, I am 19 and I've lived in the "dover" area my entire existence. Music, my Family, and Friends are the most important things in my life. I have a very good skill (some call it a bad habit) of making things the most awkward they can be at any given moment. I love my Family. I love people especially the ones I surround myself with.

  I've heard it said music is the soundtrack to your life that is true, but in my case it IS my life. I've played guitar for about eight years now, and I am so excited now to actually be receiving credit to sit on a bench and play. Now if i could only get paid to do that it would make all my dreams come true. I aspire to be a producer, i think with some more knowledge and my natural gift I could be a very successful producer. 

I'm about the easiest going person you will ever meet. Some call it apathy, I call it the "Amazing ability to never have to worry about anything." Honestly though, Life is not for worrying it's for living that's why it's called LIFE. 

Other than playing music, I like reading, Laughing, Watching Movies, Laughing while watching movies and playing around on my computer. I am also in my own respects a Mac Nerd I'm about 4 years in to my mac experience and I shall never revert back to the evils of Microsoft.  

I guess that is all until next time...