College Experience

There isn't much I can say about my experiences so far about coming to college for students coming here from high school next year. To me high school didn't prepare you enough, the teachers let you get away with too much, like assignments being handed in weeks late, and being graded too easy. In college, missing too many days gets you kicked out of a class you just spent a few hundred on to go to for two or three months. In high school, if you get kicked out, at least you can come back a few days later or just repeat the year again next year for free ( unless attending a school other then public ). In college there is more self responsibility. Your parents and teachers don't bug you to get your work handed in, you need to act upon it yourself and ask questions about your grades yourself. There is no principal there "to keep you in line." Basically in coming freshman need to become more responsible of their own work, and become a little more aware of life and succeeding on their own without someones hand their to guide them along the way.

Random quote I happened to come across..

"We're never so vulnerable than when we trust someone - but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy." -Walter Anderson.

I'm not going to say I know exactly what he is implying by this quote, but I know if I had to draw my own meaning from it, I would apply it to myself in this manner: I would say from my own experiences, that the times I've whole-heartedly put myself out there and gave all my trust to someone, that over the course of time, trust that has been built up between two people can be taken advantage of and taken for granted while slowly being torn a part in minutes; taking a lifetime to repair ( or so it seems that way). I totally agree with the second part as well. I've come to realize that those I can't trust, our relationship seems to be at a hault, making it ultimately impossible to learn to love or be happy with them. So I guess what I want to get out of this, is the possibility to ever go back to a level of trust you had with someone from the start.

Christmas Shopping..

I have about 3 weeks left before Christmas, and I feel like I have got nothing accomplished. I must have been to the mall everyday these past two weeks since black friday thinking that I might possibly leave with a gift for someone. I think my parents are the hardest to shop for. Not so much my mother, but my father, I don't even know what to think about getting for him. What do fathers like ? Golf balls, picture frames, a Rolex watch maybe ? Friends are easy, even if it means picking out something YOU would like for christmas and giving it to them. It might work out that way because we are friends with people who like the same things we do right ? Nieces and nephews, since mine are all still very young, a barbie doll or wii game will do the trick. For now, I must manage my money and even it out to make sure I don't go broke before I'm done buying for everyone I need to.

Restricted Calls.. ?

So I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to write about for this blog. I even asked one of my friends to give me a random topic. She said to write about respect, which quite frankly I think I could write a good amount about. It's about 10:30pm and like always I receive a "restricted call" on my cell phone. For a while now this has been going on. Whoever it is, they persistently call me at all hours of the day and night and I'm tired of it. Speaking of respect, this person has none. I don't know why it gets me so angry, but for someone to have the nerve to call me from a blocked number and not say anything is pretty immature on their part. These are the things we did in middle school, and I highly doubt someone from that age group is pranking me.
So what I would like to do is trace the call. What I need to know is if it is possible, and where to get information on how to do it, in reguards to costs and stuff like that. I hope to find out who they are, and make them feel like an idiot for doing it becuase what goes around comes around, even if I'm stuck paying a sum of money for it.

Bad Friendships..

I've broken up with a bad friend lately as well. It's funny how some of us spend every waking moment till the time we go to bed with the same person everyday. Before you know it you start finishing each others sentences in odd ways, and saying the same phrases. Yet, I knew it was impossible to become so close with a person in such a short period of time, because she was fake. I'm not going to lie, but this girl was a complete idiot with no friends and I finally realized why. Throughout our entire friendship she would talk bad about me behind my back to anyone she could start a conversation with, including people at the job we went to together. I'm not one to get involved in drama, or even care for that matter, but it's terrible to think of how nice I treated her; not because I felt like I had to or felt bad, but because it was the "right thing to do." I included her in everything, introduced her to all my friends, and for what? .. to get stabbed in the back. Since I've broken off our friendship, I totally agree that a million pounds got lifted off of my shoulders, and I love it.

Eleventh Assignment

Well, I'm not going to say that I didn't learn anything from this class, or that I havn't become a better writer from it. Anytime I'm in a class writing during the school year I feel that I accomplish more then the year before; mainly because over the summer I think we tend to loose brain cells, and the parts of our brains exercised for learning (school work) goes to sleep for a bit causing us to forget how to do things we learned in our previous years of schooling. So what I'm trying to say is that a lot of this semester has been a review for me, but it was important because it went deeply in depth to bringing out writing skills I've never noticed. Also, I think when it comes to writing paragraphs and determining what is and isn't needed I have a slightly higher level of thinking. All in all, I enjoyed being in this class these past few weeks, and so far, I don't think there is anything I need help with at the moment.

Tenth Assignment

Dear Santa,

I have been a good girl this year. Yes, my heart has been broken a few times, and some "faces" have been broken in return because of it ( which I had no part in whatsoever ) but I think it's about time I wished for my dream man for christmas. If it's possible, I ask, that my dream man be some what tall with dark hair, tan skin, caribbean blue eyes, and big muscles =), as well as a personality to die for.
Secondly on my list, I would like a new car with ZERO miles. If I keep mine any longer, in a few months it's bound to reach (literally) 300,000 miles and just coast off a cliff. I would prefer a black Infinity G37, with tints, and 24 inch black & chrome rims.
Lastly, for christmas, I ask to be sent away for a month to Cancun, Mexico. It's just too cold lately, and it would be nice to escape to a suite with an ocean view and 90 degree weather to wake up to everyday.


As always, the cold glass of milk and warm chocolate chip cookies will be left on the coffee table infront of the fireplace.

Sincerely,
Lauren

Bonus Assignment

There are plenty of things I am thankful for.
First off, I am thankful for my parents ( though they are a pain in my rear). I am thankful how they pay for my schooling, and try their hardest to send me to good schools, and keep me involved in church. No matter how bad a situation tends to be, and how scared I am to come to my dad, I know he will be there for me to lead me in the right direction and keep me on my feet.
I am thankful for the house I live in, and the annoying siblings I have but love. =) Plenty of my friends are already out living on their own, or have been kicked out of their homes, and encourage me everyday to take advantage of the roof I still live under.
I am EXTREMELY thankful for my close guy and girl friends that would do anything for me, and I for them.
I am thankful for my job and my managers that even try their hardest to keep me out of trouble, and look out for me as well.
I am thankful for my car ( yea it's crap sometimes, but it gets me places).
I am thankful for the community I live in, and the people around me.
I am thankful for the school I get to go to and my professors I got to have this semester (to be honest, the classes I'm in, I've never had any teacher explain things this well in all my years of highschool, then now).
Lastly, Im thankful for the life I live, and the person I'm becoming thanks to everything around me, and the people I've grown up with to make me the person I am now.

For now, this is what im thankful for, and I wouldn't trade any of it for the world.

Eigth Assignment

Dear Head Manager,

I've been working with this company for two years now. Recently I've been promoted to processing manager of the night shift. I feel that the treatment I receive from co-workers and other managers is unfair. I try my hardest to put on a good face and get along with everyone, as well as manage the place as a whole when I need to by pointing our employees in the right direction in their line of work. Still, I get told off and disrespected, even by those who have only been here for a short period of time. I understand when I first started, that any in appropriate language and actions were dealt with accordingly by you, and I feel that employees now just aren't being handled the same way I was at the time.
Also, I've tried numerous times to make you aware of my schedule and how I need some changes with my hours. I am the only manager forced to work an eight hour shift at night, leaving me less then six hours to sleep to then wake up and come back for another eight hours in the morning and so on for the entire week. I would consider myself a very hard worker, and would like to be given the same priveleges as other managers here.


Sincerely ,
Lauren

The 7th Assignment

I don't think it's harsh at all. Your paying for the class, and you wake up every morning choosing to come to class or not. Its COLLEGE ! No one said it was going to be easy. The way I see it is, if I can't manage to come to class everyday and get work done, then how can I be expected to be taken seriously and succeed at a real job in the next few years. The reason I'm even going to college (and why everyone else is too) is to figure out what I want to do with my life. I feel that my teachers assign just the right amount of work, where I'm not over loaded, but not too easy. In other words, the work I'm accomplishing in school will pay off when it's time for me to pick my occupation. My occupation will just be the next step up from all my work I've accomplished during my years of school.

WHY ?

Just the other day at work, I was conversing with my manager Jon about math and history class. Every year in the beginning of math class I ask myself the same question. How am I going to use any of this in my future? Why do I need it in order to succeed? Jon then went on to say that its more important that students at that age learn to balance a checkbook, and figure how to manage taxes rather then about our country's past ( like who discovered each country and how they came to be). I don't totally agree with that, but I think in highschool we should be teaching kids more about whats really expected of them in the real world, and to be aware of the wars happening around us currently.

The Sixth Assignment

I guess Occ is pretty much as I imagined it to be. It's deffinitly not like highschool but my classes so far I feel like I'm reviewing things I've learned already. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, because no matter what in order to move forward I've got to go over the old things. I'm just tired of the same subjects. I'm enjoying this semester though, I like my classmates and teachers, but I'm also looking forward to choosing new classes for next semester as well.

The Fifth Assignment

"I've got the game in the palm of my hand, and I'm playing it better then you think," I was told by my friend ali. Guys seem to think they can "talk" to a few girls at once and get away with it.
One reason why teenage boys (and men that range in their early 20's) make me sick. This line inspires me to keep waiting for the right one to come along. There are so many of them that are cocky and convinced they can get any girl they want, and I hate that. It has become obvious the first time I hang out with a guy that I can tell right away if he will be worth my time or not. This could be the reason why I havn't had a boyfriend in a long time, but i figure, if I'm not getting attached, then I won't get hurt. Through out middle school and high school years, everyone knows that every girl dreams of finding their prince charming and falling in love forever, which is over rated big time. Maybe it will eventually happen, and maybe it won't. What I do know is that I'm not going to base my life around coming across that guy during this chapter of it, and for any other that thinks he can play me, or sweet talk his way in, best think twice.

The Third Assignment

Attendance Policies

College is probably the most expensive, besides car insurance, that students will pay for at this point in their lives. Missing days of class is most likely to happen a few times as well. Why should a professor have the right to kick you out for missing too many classes? You spend crazy amounts of money on the books and classes right? It's your money and education that is being wasted when you don't show. Yet, if your willing to waste precious class time, miss assignments, lectures, and classwork, and still pass the class at the end of the semester, how is that fair to other students who work hard, show up everyday, and complete all their work. They're doing twice as much and passing because they earned it. How can you earn anything if you are never present.

The Fourth Assignment

I noticed that with my girlfriends I tend to talk a lot about going to clubs outside of New Jersey. It's odd because how much can you say on one topic everyday ? Each girl has her own opinion on it, and its interesting to hear about why some of them would and wouldn't want to go based on music, distance, and the weirdos you come across in these places sometimes. After a few minutes the subject is changed to what the other girl your speaking to is more interested in at the time, but because I'm comfortable with that subject, i find it to be the easiest way to start a conversation with someone. Boredom could be another reason why we tend to talk about the same subjects. Sometimes there's an akward silence between you and the one your socializing with, then you feel the need to burst out your thoughts, knowing it could possibly strike up a juicy conversation, rather one where neither of you can only respond a few words to.

Bonus Assignment

If people around the U.S. are aware that a volcano is present underneath Yellowstone National Park, then the people that choose to live there should already be aware of it as well. It deffinitly is the governments responsibility to let people know that the volcano is over due to explode at any time. Everyday the news reports on tsunami's, tornados, landslides and floods that leave people terrorized. The scarey part about it, is that you just never know when it will happen to you. Even though the people are aware of the volcano underneath Yellow stone National Park, its evident that they won't act upon it till the last minute when the vocano errupts.

My night out at Long Horn Steak House.

Located in Howell on Rt. 9 south, the first impression I got when I heard the name Long Horn Steakhouse was that the appearance of the restaurant would consist of western mammals, cows and bulls to be exact. The moment you walk through those double doors it's not hard to miss the massive bull head hanging up on the wall. The place was shadowy and dim, with lanterns in the booths to provide light. The walls were draped with cow heads, horns, cowboy lassos, and rodeo photos of all sorts. The atmosphere was inviting, as well as relaxing and comfortable.

The wait wasn't too bad. On a busy night it could range between 20-40 minutes. Luckily one of my siblings works as a host here, so the moment I entered with my family, there was a booth already set and cleaned for us to be seated at. Our waitress was friendly and spirited. Right away she offered the specials of the day, along with an order of drinks. Every once and a while, the manager himself would walk around and greet the customers with a warm smile and hand shake.

While we waited for our meals to be served, the waitress brought out a loaf of freshly baked warm break and butter served on the side of a wooden cutting board. Not only was the bread delicious, but so was the sides of salad as well.

Everything about my meal was just perfect; from the delicious mouth watering steak to the warm seasoned mashed potatoes on the side. The menu ranged from fresh chicken, thick juicy burgers and sandwiches, lunch steaks, legendary steaks, salads, salmon, ribs, pork chops, Corral, and side dishes of all sorts. Not to mention the various cheesecakes, pies, chocolate cakes, and sundaes under the desserts section. The meals were fairly priced ranging between 12 and 20 dollars a meal.

I had an excellent night at Long Horn with my family. I would recommend this place to families, parties, and friends looking for a unique restaurant with an abundant variety of meals to choose from.

the second assignment

English is too widely spoken for it to die out. It's true that the language is evolving everyday. The other day i was told that "bling" was added to the dictionary now. There are so many words I've never heard of or could even think of a meaning for if i heard them. It's crazy because there are too many words that sound nothing a like but have the same meanings. In class today there was a discussion about the different "dialects" around new jersey, and how if you traveled a few miles out of your area that you wouldnt understand the way others talk. It just goes to show how different our enviornments are that effect the way we learn to communicate with others.

I don't think my thoughts would be that much different if i spoke in a language other then english. I believe my thoughts would change if my enviornment changed along with the language though. People perceive things different based on the culture they were brought up by and the places they live. In general, english will always be here, though not a national language, but thought of as a language to fall back on to communicate to others from different countries since it is so widely spoken.

Email vs. Homework ? - The First Assignment

Writing out of no where or about a topic assigned is difficult to a point for me, especially when it's a topic i really cant relate to much, or have no interest in at all. Then I start struggling, trying to find enough information to reach 500 words worth or more. Email, texting, and Instant Messaging make things so much easier because theres someone else there to respond. I could be talking to the most boring person in the world but even if you dont know someone that well, you can still strike up a conversation about the most pointless things ever.

If you dont have much to say about a topic, the one responding might. In a way, talking to people through texts and IM's is kind of like having a reference when writing about a topic or doing homework. No matter what you'll never get all the information you need from your own mind. There's always an outside source.

Im not exactly sure what is classified as "real" writing. It makes me think of novels and articles in news papers. The topics that relate to what is going on in the world. I guess texting and IM's could be considered "real" writing. When I text my friends its not always a few words, it becomes a paragraph till i cant fit any more words in the box. Your writing about your life, what happened during the day, the things that matter to us, and to me that could be considered real writing. When it comes to professors looking at writing in this way, im really not sure about. Im sure they would have some positive and negative aspects as to why this could or couldnt work.