Experiential Learning Project

 

    In this weeks post I wanted to reflect on the group project we are currently working on.  As we near the end of the project and we jump into presentations, I wanted to discuss how much I enjoyed the project.  In the formatting of the project there is a lot of space left open to interpretation.  I really like that there wasn't a ton of restrictions on the project and we could choose any place we felt fitting.  While there are some guidelines to follow, it was nice that we didn't have a strict plan of what exactly we needed to do and what we had to use to do it.

    Doing this project also taught me a lot more about different non-profit organizations in the community.  Our organization was Gabriel's horn which is a homeless shelter for women and their children.  Had we never done this project I probably never would have known about this organization and I never would've been able to help spread information about them.  Gabriel's horn isn't a permanent home but rather something temporary just to help the women and families they house to get back up on their own to support themselves and their children.  I also wasn't aware of how desperately they are in need of physical and monetary donations to provide clothing and safety to their residents and to be able to expand their facilities in the near future.  I love what the organization stands for and my overall goal with completing this project is to be able to share their mission with others and bring more awareness to their cause and hopefully get others to feel the same way.  

10/19 Freewrite about Intertextuality

     

    There's many times where you'll hear something and you have to do a double take or go back and listen again just to be sure that you heard right.  Recently, I saw a video compilation of artists that have referenced Selena Gomez in their music.  Some examples included, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, and Charlie Puth.  Often times, we forget that celebrities have lives outside of their Hollywood world and they experience relationships and friendships the same way we do.  Some of the lyrics are so well hidden in the song and they blend in with the chorus that at first listen, you may not even catch it.  None of the lyrics in any of the songs were degrading her in any way but rather alluding to her or a situation she has experienced.  Many of these artists even admit in an interview that a specific moment in their song was about Selena, but others only refer to certain situations with a person without stating her name.  Even though they don't explicitly state it was Selena, it was quite clear who they were referencing. Sometimes it's funny when you think about how musicians can actually make more money just by singing about a person involved in their everyday life.  

    The main takeaway from this is that we experience these references all around us without even being aware of it.  In every movie, song, or TV show there always is a hidden message.  These intertextuality moments are very important to our understanding of the world and how we can relate to given situations.

Free Write 10/14

     In this free write I wanted to talk about the weather lately.  Super weird and random topic I know but the weather affects everyone differently.  Some people love the rainy weather and gloomy skies but I hate it.  Every time its rainy and dark out I feel so tired all the time and I feel like I'm constantly dragging.  It also seems to throw all the seasons off making it seem like it's April when it's really the middle of October.  Because of the rain everything is still so green when it is supposed to be turning orange, yellow, and red.  I feel like everyone lately has been feeling very tired, and slow-moving and I really think the main cause of that is the terrible weather we've been having.  

    The conditions in the environment around you really seem to affect you a lot more than one would think.  In retrospect we try to not let that bother us, even some people love this kind of weather and it makes them feel happy, but when it has been going on for weeks on end of consistent rain, clouds, and humidity it makes things in your life around you feel out of place.

Group Work

 

    Group work hasn't always been my favorite thing only because I'm a very independent person and I always have worked better alone.  This time around though, I have a very understanding group and we all work well together and fairly delegate tasks.  I believe that many people don't like working in groups because they have previously had a bad experience working with a group and they are afraid it will happen again.  All that it takes to change that is a second chance with a different group of people.  

    Sometimes you don't have a choice but to work in a group.  Even in the working world you are asked to do group assignments for a job and you have to collaborate with others.  That may be a very hard to task to learn later on.  It's better to just pick up on it now so that you have time to adjust and understand how delegating works.

    Working in groups that have a good work ethic will change your mindset on how you view group projects and how well you can delegate with others.  My suggestion is even if you don't believe in group work to at least give it a try.  If you think you work better independently, work with a group that knows how to evenly distribute work and share tasks.  You never know what you will and won't like if you don't try.  So do just that, make a group and give it a try, if you don't enjoy it then that's okay but you'll never know if you never try.