Hello all!
So I just wanted to post a little bit about my experience participating in Habitat For Humanity over my February break (yes, we have February breaks at my school!). I just want to emphasize the importance of Habitat For Humanity, and for organizations similar to it, because I find the mission of HFH to be so significant. I encourage everyone to participate in something like Habitat AT LEAST once in their lifetime.
For anyone who has not heard of Habitat For Humanity, it is a nonprofit organization that depends on the effort of volunteers to build simple yet durable housing, and the finished houses are sold at an affordable price to individuals and families in need. I went with my temple youth group, which includes a total of about thirty 11th and 12th graders from my congregation, and we spent the week in South Carolina, working on houses in three different locations.
I can honestly say that my experience at Habitat was one of THE MOST incredible experiences of my life. The trip was a great bonding experience, and it left me with a greater sense of appreciation for life and I was, and still am, thankful that I had the opportunity to give families a substantial place to live and create better lives, new memories, and experience so much happiness.
On one of the days we were at this one housing site where this woman stopped by and introduced herself to our group. She said that her name was Richardina, and she had found out, just a few days earlier, that she is going to be the proud owner of the house we were building come April. Richardina said that she has been living with her mother and her three children-- one of whom is about to have a child of her own-- and she told us of how she has been working two jobs to keep her family happy and well. She shared with us the joy that she felt upon hearing that her application to Habitat had been accepted, and the whole time she was in our presence, not even for a moment did a smile leave her face. She laughed and hugged us all, and she shared with us how happy she is that the school where she works just moved from Unsatisfactory State Grade Performance into Satisfactory, which means that her school will now be receiving more funding from the state for resources to better the quality of education at her school and enable students with more opportunities to succeed.
Hearing her story, and seeing, in front of me, a real person who is going to benefit from a house that I helped to build-- it is just an experience that is too amazing to describe in words. All I can say is experience it yourself if you are ever given the opportunity-- I promise it is a life-changing and rewarding experience, and I can assure you that I will be participating in more Habitat trips in my lifetime!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
AHH, THE BRAIN!
This video is a great example of how images and music affect the limbic brain: the cute and fuzzy little animal combined with the upbeat music make it so that any viewer feels happier and more cheery upon viewing. The images are just great in this video-- the entire clip is of a hamster lying on a piano, munching on a piece of popcorn! And I have yet to meet a person who doesn't react to this video with an "AWWW!" or at least a smile! The music has a good beat with lyrics sung in high voices, which cause the viewer to perk up and feel more vibrant. Whenever I'm feeling grumpy, I search "Hamster On A Piano" in Youtube and I am put in a much more cheery mood because the clip certainly has that energizing, uplifting effect on my "emotional" brain. I hope it has the same effect on anyone who watches it here!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Media :)
1. BOOKS - Do you read books? What kinds of books do you like to read? What’s a book you are currently reading that you are enjoying?
I am the biggest Shakespeare advocate! I really enjoy all of his work. In particular, I love the Taming of the Shrew, King Lear, and Hamlet, and I am currently reading Much Ado About Nothing. I enjoy reading Shakespeare and other early Western Literature because it is just so interesting and fun to read works from previous time periods and just observe how literature has developed and changed over the centuries. I am a huge fan of satirical works too, such as Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron and Marguerite de Navarre
's Heptameron because I enjoy how they convey meaningful observations about society in a compelling, comedic, way.
2. NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES – Do you read newspapers or magazines? What kinds of newspapers and magazines do you enjoy and why?
I truly think that it is important to stay updated in national and global news. As far as magazines go, I love Time and Newsweek. I read them frequently and bring them with me to school to read during my downtime-- I love how they talk about everything, from politics to technology and health studies.
I also use online news sites, such as the New York Times site (http://www.nytimes.com/) and I love http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/ which offers a TON many links to so many online newspapers from all over the world! Online news sites have the same information as print media right at your fingertips, and I really enjoy just browsing and finding articles that interest me.
In such a busy world it is hard to find time to watch the news on T.V., but news magazines, both in print and on the web, are a really great way to stay updated on daily events.
3. MUSIC – Do you listen to or play music? What kinds of music do you like to listen to? How do you listen to music – via cassettes, MP3 files, radio, or live performances? Who is a musician you currently are listening to?
I listen to and play music! Music is an essential part of my life: I play in both the concert band at my school, participate in flute choir, and take private lessons. My flute teacher says that she uses flute to center herself when she is dealing with stress in life, and I couldn't think of a better way to de-stress than playing. However, I love listening to music as much as I enjoy playing it: At home I listen to Pandora.com and I also listen to music via MP3 files. My favorite artists of the moment are Dave Matthews Band, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, Guster, and The Grateful Dead, but I am exposed to new, awesome music every day, and am pretty much open to anything!
This is a picture slide show that the one of the music directors at my school put together. It has both choral and instrumental groups, but I play in the concert band and flute choir :)
4. TELEVISION – Do you watch television? (I have not watched TV for 20 years, but I used to watch hours of TV a day as a kid). What kinds of TV do you like to watch and why?
I do not watch television regularly, nor do I follow any particular shows, however, I am a huge South Park fan: some people think it is just a silly cartoon but I find it to be so clever and funny! The political themes, mixed with the humorous subplots and twists, are just so great and keep me thinking and laughing for hours (seriously, HOURS). I also enjoy watching a ton of movies with friends and family-- especially films from the late '70s/ early '80s. I love anything starring Molly Ringwald-- The Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, and, my favorite movie, Sixteen Candles. Also, the classics such as Airplane, Can't Buy Me Love, Say Anything, When Harry, Animal House... I love the corny romance plots, dialogue, and comedy of the '70s and '80s.
The trailor for "Can't Buy Me Love" fits the typical '80s style. I love it :)
5. VIDEO GAMES – Do you play video games? Which games do you play and why? What is your favorite video game experience right now?
I have played Wii and Guitar Hero (I am not very good!) and I must admit that I find them quite fun, however I choose to kick it old school with my game systems: I love Gameboy Color! I know they have modified the system numerous times and Nintendo keeps popping out "new and improved" versions but nothing can beat the earlier model. Call me old-fashioned but all I have to say is VIVE SUPER MARIO BROS!
I'm trying to teach myself to beatbox the mario theme on my flute but it's really hard to do!
6. COMPUTERS – Do you use computers much? What kinds of things do you do on your computer?
I just recently started using computer programs such as Garageband, Keynote, and Powerpoint. I mostly have just used them for school-related projects, but I really have enjoyed experimenting with these programs and finding different uses for them. I would like to learn how to use computer programs more though because I think they are fascinating, and I know they have the potential to be used for so much-- I just have to figure out where and how to use them! I really am interested in learning how to make films and edit videos using programs on the computer.
7. INTERNET – Do you spend much time on the Internet? What kinds of activities do you most enjoy pursuing on the Internet?
I do love the Internet, and am constantly fascinated by how much it has to offer. I really did not use the Internet all that much until last year, and I am really happy I utilize it more nowadays, both for leisure and school. I met a ton of wonderful people over the past few years, at camp and summer programs, and I was regretting the fact that I fell out of touch with these people during the year so I decided to make a Facebook account to make communication easier. Now, I regularly communicate with my friends both in the US and in other countries, and my friendships with people who I do not see regularly (because they live in parts of Massachusetts, America, the world...) continue to flourish as a result, which I am incredibly grateful for :)
And Youtube is also great. If ever I miss something on the television news, or if the president makes a speech that I can not watch in real time, I rely on Youtube to keep me in the loop. Everything big on TV is put on Youtube instantly, and it's just incredibly convenient.
Barack Obama's Youtube channel is so useful and I can listen to it whenever, wherever.
Media preference ratings... this is very difficult...
1. Internet (including the online news sites)
2. Music
3. Books
4. Newspapers/ Magazines (print)
5. Computers
6. Television
7. Video games
I am the biggest Shakespeare advocate! I really enjoy all of his work. In particular, I love the Taming of the Shrew, King Lear, and Hamlet, and I am currently reading Much Ado About Nothing. I enjoy reading Shakespeare and other early Western Literature because it is just so interesting and fun to read works from previous time periods and just observe how literature has developed and changed over the centuries. I am a huge fan of satirical works too, such as Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron and Marguerite de Navarre
's Heptameron because I enjoy how they convey meaningful observations about society in a compelling, comedic, way.2. NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES – Do you read newspapers or magazines? What kinds of newspapers and magazines do you enjoy and why?
I truly think that it is important to stay updated in national and global news. As far as magazines go, I love Time and Newsweek. I read them frequently and bring them with me to school to read during my downtime-- I love how they talk about everything, from politics to technology and health studies.
I also use online news sites, such as the New York Times site (http://www.nytimes.com/) and I love http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/ which offers a TON many links to so many online newspapers from all over the world! Online news sites have the same information as print media right at your fingertips, and I really enjoy just browsing and finding articles that interest me.
In such a busy world it is hard to find time to watch the news on T.V., but news magazines, both in print and on the web, are a really great way to stay updated on daily events.
3. MUSIC – Do you listen to or play music? What kinds of music do you like to listen to? How do you listen to music – via cassettes, MP3 files, radio, or live performances? Who is a musician you currently are listening to?
I listen to and play music! Music is an essential part of my life: I play in both the concert band at my school, participate in flute choir, and take private lessons. My flute teacher says that she uses flute to center herself when she is dealing with stress in life, and I couldn't think of a better way to de-stress than playing. However, I love listening to music as much as I enjoy playing it: At home I listen to Pandora.com and I also listen to music via MP3 files. My favorite artists of the moment are Dave Matthews Band, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, Guster, and The Grateful Dead, but I am exposed to new, awesome music every day, and am pretty much open to anything!
This is a picture slide show that the one of the music directors at my school put together. It has both choral and instrumental groups, but I play in the concert band and flute choir :)
4. TELEVISION – Do you watch television? (I have not watched TV for 20 years, but I used to watch hours of TV a day as a kid). What kinds of TV do you like to watch and why?
I do not watch television regularly, nor do I follow any particular shows, however, I am a huge South Park fan: some people think it is just a silly cartoon but I find it to be so clever and funny! The political themes, mixed with the humorous subplots and twists, are just so great and keep me thinking and laughing for hours (seriously, HOURS). I also enjoy watching a ton of movies with friends and family-- especially films from the late '70s/ early '80s. I love anything starring Molly Ringwald-- The Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, and, my favorite movie, Sixteen Candles. Also, the classics such as Airplane, Can't Buy Me Love, Say Anything, When Harry, Animal House... I love the corny romance plots, dialogue, and comedy of the '70s and '80s.
The trailor for "Can't Buy Me Love" fits the typical '80s style. I love it :)
5. VIDEO GAMES – Do you play video games? Which games do you play and why? What is your favorite video game experience right now?
I have played Wii and Guitar Hero (I am not very good!) and I must admit that I find them quite fun, however I choose to kick it old school with my game systems: I love Gameboy Color! I know they have modified the system numerous times and Nintendo keeps popping out "new and improved" versions but nothing can beat the earlier model. Call me old-fashioned but all I have to say is VIVE SUPER MARIO BROS!
I'm trying to teach myself to beatbox the mario theme on my flute but it's really hard to do!
6. COMPUTERS – Do you use computers much? What kinds of things do you do on your computer?
I just recently started using computer programs such as Garageband, Keynote, and Powerpoint. I mostly have just used them for school-related projects, but I really have enjoyed experimenting with these programs and finding different uses for them. I would like to learn how to use computer programs more though because I think they are fascinating, and I know they have the potential to be used for so much-- I just have to figure out where and how to use them! I really am interested in learning how to make films and edit videos using programs on the computer.
7. INTERNET – Do you spend much time on the Internet? What kinds of activities do you most enjoy pursuing on the Internet?
I do love the Internet, and am constantly fascinated by how much it has to offer. I really did not use the Internet all that much until last year, and I am really happy I utilize it more nowadays, both for leisure and school. I met a ton of wonderful people over the past few years, at camp and summer programs, and I was regretting the fact that I fell out of touch with these people during the year so I decided to make a Facebook account to make communication easier. Now, I regularly communicate with my friends both in the US and in other countries, and my friendships with people who I do not see regularly (because they live in parts of Massachusetts, America, the world...) continue to flourish as a result, which I am incredibly grateful for :)
And Youtube is also great. If ever I miss something on the television news, or if the president makes a speech that I can not watch in real time, I rely on Youtube to keep me in the loop. Everything big on TV is put on Youtube instantly, and it's just incredibly convenient.
Barack Obama's Youtube channel is so useful and I can listen to it whenever, wherever.
Media preference ratings... this is very difficult...
1. Internet (including the online news sites)
2. Music
3. Books
4. Newspapers/ Magazines (print)
5. Computers
6. Television
7. Video games
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