A Reflection

Reflection

  It's now the end of the semester and I am ending my Eng 092 class with a B, to be specific, an 86.32%. I can honestly say I have learned so much from this semester. My approach to writing has changed dramatically during this course. What had helped me the most in this class was peer reviewing. I had really helpful and supporting classmates that gave their honest opinion on my essays. Not only were my classmates helpful, my instructor was as well. Ms.Eyres have supported all of her students throughout the semester and motivated us in our paragraphs. She prepared us with assignments, connect lessons and sample paragraphs to get us ready to write the big essays. She was honest in her feedback and always made sure we understood what was being taught. In this class, I learned how to paraphrase correctly, use different forms of brainstorming, write in different techniques and many more. If I could take this course again, I definitely would and I wouldn't change anything. This class prepared me for Eng 101 and I will use everything I learned in this class for my next class.

Barbara Oakley is a professor of Engineering at Oakland University. Oakley researched neuroscience in school and realized many things of the human brain. In her Ted Talk, she explains the different types of thinking, which are focused and diffused mode. Focus mode is when one thinks of details and diffused mode is when one thinks of general ideas and you're relaxed. Oakley states that one should jump back and forth from diffused and focused mode of thinking. To summarize what she says about focused learning, you should re-do homework over and over again until the answer comes naturally to you. She later ends her ted talk with, ''Don't follow your passions - broaden your passions.. and your life will be enriched beyond measure.''

Goals

Goals

  One question I always get is, ''What are your goals?'' People always expect an answer of some sort like, ''I want to have a good career, have a family and own a house,'' not mine. My ultimate goal is to never lose myself in this world. In other words, never give up and always motivate myself for the better, I have a purpose and I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. For example, I tested into Eng 091, a majority of students dropped the class within a couple of days but me? I could never do that. The reason behind it is because I will learn something from it because every experience is a lesson learned. If I never lose sight of myself and focus on what really matters, everything else will fall into place. So when people ask me what are my goals I respond, ''I don't have a list of things I want to accomplish, I just have one mission I want to fulfill and that's staying true to myself and always stay focused on the bigger picture.

According to Carol Dwech: the power of believing that you can approve, Dwech explains the power of a child with a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. Someone with a growth mindset is open to learn and engage new things and someone with a fixed mindset would rather not do the extra work to learn different things. Encouraging and praising kids on their focus and perseverance can go a long way. It is possible for a student to go from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset just by pushing out of their comfort zone to learn something new and different. When students and educators have a growth mindset, they believe that intelligence can be developed. Teaching a growth mindset creates motivation and productivity in the world of business, sports, education and many more.

Movie

What Makes A Great Film?

The best movie I have ever seen was, ''The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.'' This particular movie is about a boy named Bruno and his family who resided next to a concentration camp during the World War 11 era. Bruno was wandering behind his house one day and met a boy named Shmuel, a Jewish boy of his age. Though there was a barb-wired fence that separated them, Bruno and Shmuel created a friendship. What happens next in the film is a surprise. This is a great film because it was well put together. From the characters, to the plot and the jaw-dropping ending. This movie definitely has my vote on the top 3 movies of all time!

According to the Ted Talk, ''How Movies Teach Manhood,'' Collin Strokes is stating that children are socialized by pop culture. A lot of the Hollywood movies are showing kids that the boys/men are supposed to be violent and the woman are supposed to be innocent/sensitive. Strokes has a point, that movies have a big impact on how people act. Films are showing our children that there is no female/male equality. We need more shows that are balanced where each party views people working together without anyone excluding anyone else. 

Keys to Success in Life

Best Advice

By: Ajok Majak

           The best advice I have ever received was, ''No matter what you think of someone or how they may seem, you can learn something from everyone.'' In other words, instead of focusing on what you think of them, find out what you can learn from them. After hearing this advice, I had a different view when I meet new people. Upon meeting someone new, I always have an open mind. Instead of judging someone by how they look or how they may seem, you should be considerate because you never know what you can learn from that individual.

In the clip, ''The Fringe Benefits of Failure'' by J.K Rowling, Ms.Rowling explains the benefits of failure. Failure is not always a bad thing, it's the key to success. Failure is actually success if you learn from it. You shouldn't let it stop you. You learn more from failure than succeeding, it builds your character. Ms. Rowling has failed many times in life but it only made her stronger. Life is very difficult and complicated, failing is inevitable. It's not about how many times you fail that makes you a failure, it's about whether you give up after you fail. Failure should motivate you to be successful.

The Effects of Praising Children

Praise?

    85% of parents are guilty of praising their kids. Most parents are guilty of giving out the wrong kind of praise which leads kids in the wrong direction. Study shows that mental challenge is what really builds children's confidence and competence. In my opinion, the best way to encourage students to do their best is to give students a sense of control. In other words, instead of putting pressure onto a student, give students a choice and some control over what happens in the classroom. 

According to ''The Myth of Praise,'' video clip, one line of praise is really powerful. They have done a study with two students, one was praised on their intelligence and the other wasn't. The study shows that the student who wasn't praised tends to challenge them self which is better for school. ''Every time you challenge your brain  new connections are forming between neurons,'' says Po Bronson. Those who are praised for being smart tend to do activities they know they'll do good at rather than wanting to challenge themselves. Several parents are guilty of praising their children the wrong way, as long as they keep it to a minimum they're on the right track.

How important is social media?

Social media (n) : Websites and applications that let users create and share content. Social media has it's pros and cons. Most social sites like Twitter, Facebook and Myspace are great for connecting with classmates, friends, and family. It's one of the easiest ways to stay in touch with many people and meeting new people around the world as well. Although social media has some great effects, it also has negative ones also; such as cyber bullying, scams and inappropriate videos/pictures. It is mostly important because not only does is connect ones around the world, it keeps us aware of things going on that's not talked about in the news.

In, ''How Social Media can Make History,'' Clay explains how social the media is. For example, the China earthquake. People were video taping and posting as the quake as it happening. Because of that there were many trends on twitter that lead to donating sites for China. I see social media as one big helping hand. Even though it has it's cons, it is a powerful tool that can either make us or break us.

Who Is Ajok, Anyway?

 Book definition: Introvert  (n); A person predominantly concerned with their thoughts and feelings rather than with external things.
My definition: A shy person.
A third to a half of the population are introverts, I, however, am not.
Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Ajok. If I had been born a boy I would have been called Majak. I was named after my great grandmother and in my language, my name means a God. Those of you wondering what language I speak, it is Dinka. I was born in Khartoum on March 31, 1997, I came to the United States in 2000 with my parents and my older brother. I am the second oldest in a family of five. My favorite hobby is reading books, I am currently reading the House of Night novel. On my free time I love to hang out with my friends, read books and take lots and lots of pictures. My favorite artist is Drake. Did I listen to his diss to Meek Mill? I sure did! I tend to find myself looking up pictures of Drake or singing some of his music when I can't sleep at night. I advise you not to Drake and drive. College is really my only option because I don't rap or sing, I don't scam or sell drugs and ball is not life so catch me at GCC.



 What makes me an extrovert? According to, '"The power of introverts'' by Susan Cain, an extrovert is energized by being around other people. This is the opposite of an introvert, who is energized by being alone. Without having anyone around me I tend to bore myself. I'd rather sit with someone else rather than sit alone and think. I enjoy social situations and even seek them out since I love being around people so much. I'm that person who can be put into a room full of people I don't know but find myself talking to them like I've known them for years. As an extrovert, I tend to make a lot of mistakes. The reason being is because I take risks without thinking about the outcome. I'd so much rather take risks than wonder about what could have happened. When I finally have children of my own, I'm going to guide them to take risks as well so they never have to ask themselves why they didn't. I'm going to have a lot of stories to tell my grand kids because I chose to take risks and get the best out of life. Life is too short to worry about what others think or say about you, I say have fun and give them something to talk about!