Current Connection: 2.1

In an article entitled "4 Keys to Good Decision Making" from Karen Wolff gives her views on making good decisions.

Some people do not have any problems on making the correct decision, but others have a really hard time. The article says, "...it's difficult to know if we're using good judgement as we make daily decision about life." Some people's lack of judgement can get them into tough situations. We must try our best to gain as much good judgement as we can, so when the problems pop up, we can make sure we make the right decision.

Life, a crazy roller coaster, a maze that we are all trying to find our way through, becomes even harder to figure out when it is time to make important decisions. The article states, "It becomes even harder with important, life-changing decisions." It seems like when everything is finally going smoothly a problem pops up. We must make wise decisions accordingly. We must look ahead and try to picture every possible outcome.

We always ask other people what their opinions are. Whether it is a parent or a friend, we want to know how another views our problem. The article says, "Surround yourself with people who are further along in the journey." When we are not sure about a situation, we should ask someone's opinion who has already went through something similar. Learning from someone else's mistakes, we can prevent our own from occurring.

Looking into my own life, I have found more than enough mistakes that I have made. They developed by not making the right decision. I have now learned from my mistakes, expecting to make good decisions in the future. Life is full of mistakes, yet lessons come out of each one.

Whether you make the right or wrong decision something positive is bound to come out as the sun the morning. Always try your best. We all mess up, but make sure you look on the bright side.


Works Cited
Wolff, Karen. "4 Keys to Good Decision Making." http://christianity.about.com/od/practicaltools/a/decisionmaking.htm     2013. Web. 9 Nov. 2013.

Current Connection 1.2

     Is the American school system fulfilling the goals of a true education? The picture shows a gap between the human and the goal by a puzzle piece that seems to be missing. The school system needs some construction, but it will not become successful until we take action.  According to the picture, there is only one person holding the missing puzzle piece. It will take everyone trying to complete the puzzle bridge to reach our goal, a school system that will be suitable for our students. One person cannot do it alone; therefore, we should all do our part.  Also according to the picture, there is one puzzle piece missing out of the bridge, a path that will eventually lead to our main goal. That one missing piece is the one we need to make the bridge functional so that we may reach our goal of education as a nation.  The picture shows the person and the large red word "GOAL" separated by a gap that can be filled with the missing puzzle piece. It can easily be put in place if we are willing to work together and put it there, so we can crossover and be where we need to be educationally.  This picture can be related to a situation not so serious as well. Such as, if my goal was to make a homemade chocolate chip cookie. I would put all the puzzle pieces, my ingredients, together and eventually be able to cross the bridge. My stomach would then be filled with a warm yummy cookie; therefore, my goal would be met.  Sometimes it takes a large group and more than just a few ingredients to achieve a goal. The goal of a true education can be accomplished if we all match our puzzle pieces together to create the pathway to an outstanding American school system.

Current Connection 1.1

     In the Three Rivers Edition paper on Sunday, September 8th, 2013 there was an article about a teacher named Nathan Waggoner. The article is called "Searcy resident recognized for EMT teaching excellence," by Lisa J. Burnett. Nathan Waggoner is not only a teacher, but also a paramedic. He uses his real life situations as he teaches his students to become future paramedics. By teaching his students with this method, he is preparing them with all sorts of knowledge for their medical careers that are to come.  The article says, "He uses his real-life experiences as an emergency medical technician as learning tools to teach his students each week..." Using real-life examples in teaching students can help the students truly understand the lesson the teacher is trying to teach. Those examples can also open up doors to new thoughts and help them analyze those thoughts with a totally new perspective.  The article also says, "Waggoner said he loves seeing his students succeed inside and outside the classroom." Teachers everywhere should be proud of their students. Nothing encourages students more than to see their teachers proud of them in what they accomplish.  The text states, "Waggoner's experience off campus gives him a way to connect with his students." Connecting with students is the key to great success in their future. They will always remember the connections they have made in the past and apply what they have learned in the past to the future problems that they will face.  This article reminds me of my dad who teaches respiratory therapy. He works at the local hospitals on his days off or when the hospitals needs an set of hands. He uses his experiences to teach his students just as Nathan Waggoner does.  Nathan Waggoner's way of teaching his students should be the main example of educators around the world. He is putting forth his true effort in the goal of education. Because of his teaching strategies, there will be so many people who are assisted and even saved. That should be the main goal.

Missing Mom

     After 11 years, a missing mother returned home. The text says,"A Pennsylvania mother who left the laundry half done and dinner defrosting in the kitchen 11 years ago to go hitchhiking with strangers has returned home." A true mother would not have just dropped everything and left her family. The family must have been heartbroken to see their wife and mother just get up and desert them. The text also says, "Her family had long ago written her off as dead. Her ex had even been a murder suspect in the case." Because of her choice to just get up and walk out with strangers, she caused everytone around her to hurt. Her ex's life was ruined by her choice to leave randomly.
     She gave up everything. The text says, "She was my best friend, her and I were so close, I never thought she would do this to me and my brother..." Those were the words of the woman's daughter. I could never imagine that happening to me and my family. It would break my heart if my mother walked out on my family. The text also says, "...she lived in tents, and under bridges, scavenging discarded food..." Why did she give up everything and then hurt her family and the ones who loved her in the process? She had a loving family and a roof over her head. It would not have been worth it to me to give up everything and then end up with nothing.




http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2013/05/02/20788606.html

Tough Having Fluff

     The public wonders about young people being over weight. Teens and younger children are over weight by simply not eating and exercising. The article says, "More than 80 percent of U.S. teens have a poor diet and many are not physically active, U.S. researchers say." If teenagers would just get up and move around even a little bit, it would help. Sitting around on their phones will not burn calories. The article also says, "The healthy diet...of fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains...was recommended." If the kids would start eating more healthy, it would bring down their fat levels. A Big Mac from McDonald's won't make you slim.
     Teenagers should really focus on their eating choices while they are still young. This way it could become a habit. The article says, "...blood pressure, total cholesterol...blood glucose, healthy diet, physical activity..." All of these issues are issues teenagers need to watch now so when they get older, they can already have a handle on being healthier. Being over weight can cause so many health problems later on. The article says, "One encouraging finding was the majority of boys and girls had never smoked a cigarette or hadn't tried to smoke one within the previous 30 days." Smoking will cause even more health problems along with the over weight habits of teens. If you make healthy choices now, you will most likely make healthy choices in the future.

http://m.upi.com/story/UPI-13101365358161/

Seeing is Hearing

     It is always pleasant to see others helping the people around them and making them feel accepted. 45 year old Ms. Parker did sign language for the people who are deaf and hard of hearing at a concert in Chicago. The text says, “Music is such a large part of who I am,” she said. “I want to be able to open up that experience.” This lady wanted to use her intersts to help others enjoy it, too. People who are hard of hearing or deaf are not able to enjoy concerts, but Ms. Parker helped that not be an issue. The text also says, "...she communicates the entire musical experience. She mouths the words. She plays air guitar and air drums. She jams along with the bands." She not only helps the people see what they are saying, but she demonstrates what is going on around them so they get the full affect of what is going on on stage. This is a great way to give back to the community and let the people who cannot hear be envolved in what everyone else is doing.

     With Ms. Parker interpreting what is going on around her, the deaf people in the audience can now enjoy what other people love so much. The text says, “There was a kind of reverb,” she said. “The deaf audience was just — I just saw these jaws drop open like, ‘Oh, that’s what it’s like.’" This tells us that usually they do not get to experience what goes on around them unless they can see it. With Ms. Parker doing sign language, the people finally found out what that was like to be at a concert. The text also says, "...understanding the emotions behind it, the meaning behind it, and being a part of the concert experience just took my love for them several notches up.” Having this experience will give them the opprotunity to appreciate what they have missed all this time. It gives them the opprotunity to actually know what is going on and be envolved with what other people are envolved with. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/arts/music/sign-language-interpreters-bring-live-music-to-the-deaf.html?ref=us&_r=0

     

Smothered with Snow

     Snow plowers are supposed to clear the roads of snow so the people of their city can have safer journeys through the snow. One snowplow driver decides to cover up cars and block driveways on purpose. Why would anyone do that? The text says, "Hussey filmed himself through the windshield of his snowplow after a Feb. 10 storm dropped two feet of snow on the area." People who do things like this are ignorant and have no common sense. When you have a job, you should do it well with actual positive effort. The article also says, "If you're plowing, I know you're not having as much fun as I am." Trapping people with snow two feet deep should not be enjoyable. This was an action that interfered with other people's lives and safety.
      The people of the city were very upset with the snow plower. The text says, "...some people's fears that snowplow drivers make their lives more difficult on purpose..." I would be so mad and aggravated if that had happened to me. There is no reason to make people's lives more stressful. The text also says, "...residents are not amused." I would definitely not be amused. What the snowplow driver did was very absurd.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/snow-plow-driver-covers-cars-driveways-purpose-171946901.html#more-id

Doctor Eliminators

     Three doctors from North Korea were killed in Nigeria this morning. I cannot begin to even imagine how people could kill their source of medicine.The article says, "...reports suggested it was a robbery that resulted in the medics' deaths.." If people would do what they are suppose to do in the first place and not steal from their neighbors then those doctors would not have died. It is not right to kill people, especially doctors, because now other innocent civilians will die from lack of medicine and care. The article also says, "The motive of Sunday's attack was not immediately clear..." This horrible crime will never be morally clear. I hope whoever committed this terrible crime will be caught and brought to justice soon. This will make everything crystal clear.
     I cannot fathom how much the families are hurting. The article states, "Unknown attackers scaled over the fence of an apartment in Potiskum housing three Chinese doctors around 1am and slit their throats." If a family member of mine was murdered, especially like that, my heart would never be able to pump the same. I can guarantee the families of these innocent doctors have overwhelming sorrow among them. The article also states, "we have commenced investigation to unravel the killings..." Even though the scars will never heal completely, this will give the families some hope on resolving the case. If it was my family, I know for sure it would help heal my deep wounds, but my scars would never go away.

Quakes Can Shake

     Living on a fault line, people should try their best to be ready for an earthquake at any moment. Accidents happen, but there are still ways to prevent so many casualties.
     On August 11, 2012, two earthquakes shook the country of Iran. The quakes killed at least 300 people and injured 5,000 more. The text says, "Homes and businesses in Iranian villages, however, are often made of concrete blocks or mud brick that can crumble and collapse in a strong quake." The people should try and build more sturdy buildings. If they live right on a fault line, then they should build according to the geography around them. The text also says, "Buildings in Tabriz, the provincial capital, are substantially built and ISNA reported nobody in the city had been killed or hurt." That is wonderful that no one got hurt in the city, but what about the villages? They need strong houses and other structures to keep them safer during an earthquake. In California, wimpy buildings are very rare. The people that live there are aware of their surroundings. The people in Iran should be, too.
     Iran should also have more space to keep the injured people when disaster strikes at any given moment. The article says, "Photographs posted on Iranian news websites showed numerous bodies, including children, lying on the floor of a white-tiled morgue in Ahar and medical staff treating the injured in the open air as dusk fell on Saturday." To me, that would very uncomfortable. Iran should have space to keep the people that are hurt somewhere where they feel safe and comforting and nothing else could injure them further. A doctor could trip over them, therefore, hurting them more. The article also says, "Most patients had been taken there by their families, he said, indicating a shortage on ambulances." When disaster strikes, there is little or no warning whatsoever. Even if there is a shortage of ambulances, there should always be backup transportation. In California, they live in a spot where they have to constantly be aware of what is going on around them. They have special procedures, and they follow by them very closely.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/12/us-iran-earthquake-idUSBRE87A08N20120812