How do I talk to you, and have you talk to me? How do I communicate? Does it matter if it's a group of people or just you and I?
The answer to that last question in my book is most definitely! The difference between a group and a single person are how can you combine a group of people and their feelings and how do you talk to an individual with singular feelings.
When I'm talking to an individual I really try to make them feel as comfortable as possible and so my way of communicating is usually catered to who they appear to be as a person, like gregarious or quiet, guarded or open. Sometimes I look at myself think it might be "flip-flop-y" but really I just think everyone has a unique story to tell and by communicating to different people differently you allow them to feel secure and therefore tell more of their story. So with a person who is an obviously loud open person I expect a lot of talking on their part with little prompting on mine. But for someone who seems more guarded, it might take more questions to discuss something.
When looking at a group their is a big difference in communicating. Because their are so many thoughts and words flying around you really need to be a more vocal person to have your voice heard. And then to lead that group, I think you need to be obviously passionate in your way of speaking to make all those people follow your idea.
What's interesting about communication is that as humans we do it so many different ways. Through actions as well as words. A single, well-placed hug can mean as much as a years worth of "Thank You" cards. And who can say that they talk to their grandparents or baby cousins the same way they talk to their close friends in college.
Communication is as unique as the person who's wielding it, and appears in just as many forms.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
This i Believe
http://thisibelieve.org/essay/21253/
This essay from the "this i believe" website is written by a man who grew up in the projects named Frank X. Walker.
When I first started looking around the "Believe" website I didn't quite know what I wanted to find/ read. This is a reoccuring theme in my life. I often feel that there are a million different paths and directions that I can choose from, but don't know which would be right for me. Frankly, I'd like to try them all, but as we undergrads well know there are never enough hours in the day.
So I started in by clicking on "browsing by theme." There were many that caught my eye and I sorta checked them out, but then I saw the one labeled "purpose." I mean Perfect!! since I'm always looking for a little direction in life.
This man's story revolves around the idea that we are all creative, not just the "painters, artists, and sculptors." This to me was eye-opening. I often label myself as not creative at all because I'm not artistically nor musically talented. I settle myself for the practicality aspect of whatever I'm doing and leave the creativity for those with freer-minds. But what Walker writes is that he believes there is creativity in our everyday aspects. Because we are all different human beings, each one of us is creative. What a wonderful celebration of diversity at it's root level, and especially so, based off of last week's class.
I believe in Responsibility.
My dad first read this poem to my brother and I when we were just starting to realize ourselves and our actions (I'd say about 10 and 12). He said that this was a poem his father had read to him when he was young and wanted us to know it. Eric (my brother) and I would always dread when he would whip this poem out at the dinner table because we knew it came with a lecture, all be it a gentle one, following the reading of the poem.
However, where I stand now, I think responsibility is one of my core values. I believe in responsibility for yourself and actions and how they will affect your life and the lives of others around you. I believe that if you are able to work you have a responsibility to do so and not be a drag on society. I believe that you have a responsibility to be a "lifter."
What does responsibility mean? As defined by Webster's Dictionary "responsibility" means that you are liable to be called on to answer for an action. What I interpret this to mean is that you have an obligation to understand what your actions will mean for others and if they will be an improvement on the world around you. I think one has a responsibility to family, work, and integrity, with many other things in between.
My first encounter with responsibility came in school (mundane example,but it played a big role in my life), I always knew I wanted good grades because I wanted to be able to go to a good university. My actions in school would have a direct correlation to where my future was headed.
This essay from the "this i believe" website is written by a man who grew up in the projects named Frank X. Walker.
When I first started looking around the "Believe" website I didn't quite know what I wanted to find/ read. This is a reoccuring theme in my life. I often feel that there are a million different paths and directions that I can choose from, but don't know which would be right for me. Frankly, I'd like to try them all, but as we undergrads well know there are never enough hours in the day.
So I started in by clicking on "browsing by theme." There were many that caught my eye and I sorta checked them out, but then I saw the one labeled "purpose." I mean Perfect!! since I'm always looking for a little direction in life.
This man's story revolves around the idea that we are all creative, not just the "painters, artists, and sculptors." This to me was eye-opening. I often label myself as not creative at all because I'm not artistically nor musically talented. I settle myself for the practicality aspect of whatever I'm doing and leave the creativity for those with freer-minds. But what Walker writes is that he believes there is creativity in our everyday aspects. Because we are all different human beings, each one of us is creative. What a wonderful celebration of diversity at it's root level, and especially so, based off of last week's class.
I believe in Responsibility.
LIFTERS AND LEANERS
There are just two kinds of people on earth today,
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.
Not the rich and the poor, for to count a man’s wealth
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.
Not the humble and proud, for, in life’s little span,
Who puts on airs is not counted a man.
Not the happy and sad, for the swift counting years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.
No, the two kinds of people on earth I mean
Are the people who lift and the people who lean.
Wherever you go you will find the world’s masses
Are always divided in just these two classes.
And oddly enough you will find, too, I ween,
There’s only one lifter to twenty who lean.
In which class are you? Are you easing the load
Of overtaxed lifters who toil down the road?
Or are you a leaner who lets others bear
Your portion of labour and worry and care?
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.
Not the rich and the poor, for to count a man’s wealth
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.
Not the humble and proud, for, in life’s little span,
Who puts on airs is not counted a man.
Not the happy and sad, for the swift counting years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.
No, the two kinds of people on earth I mean
Are the people who lift and the people who lean.
Wherever you go you will find the world’s masses
Are always divided in just these two classes.
And oddly enough you will find, too, I ween,
There’s only one lifter to twenty who lean.
In which class are you? Are you easing the load
Of overtaxed lifters who toil down the road?
Or are you a leaner who lets others bear
Your portion of labour and worry and care?
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox -
My dad first read this poem to my brother and I when we were just starting to realize ourselves and our actions (I'd say about 10 and 12). He said that this was a poem his father had read to him when he was young and wanted us to know it. Eric (my brother) and I would always dread when he would whip this poem out at the dinner table because we knew it came with a lecture, all be it a gentle one, following the reading of the poem.
However, where I stand now, I think responsibility is one of my core values. I believe in responsibility for yourself and actions and how they will affect your life and the lives of others around you. I believe that if you are able to work you have a responsibility to do so and not be a drag on society. I believe that you have a responsibility to be a "lifter."
What does responsibility mean? As defined by Webster's Dictionary "responsibility" means that you are liable to be called on to answer for an action. What I interpret this to mean is that you have an obligation to understand what your actions will mean for others and if they will be an improvement on the world around you. I think one has a responsibility to family, work, and integrity, with many other things in between.
My first encounter with responsibility came in school (mundane example,but it played a big role in my life), I always knew I wanted good grades because I wanted to be able to go to a good university. My actions in school would have a direct correlation to where my future was headed.
My most recent example of
responsibility was seen in the classroom with you, my fellow ELPers. When
standing in that line, and understanding what those who had been hurt by
differences and stereotypes had to say, I realized that this was another
instance of responsibility. Negative phrases are said everyday and have an
obviously hurting effect on others. Although we might not have recognized it,
now from this class we have been educated and I believe that we have the
responsibility to rectify our actions.
I believe that you must own up for
your actions, no matter their size. I believe that we must strive to improve
our world, not just throw it away. I believe that we must be conscientious of
ourselves because we must be aware of the effects we have on others. I believe
that we are responsible.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
What path to pick?
I like to be contrarian. Now, most times we laugh at people who say this, because while it can be frustrating, it makes for an endearing person. But what I think it really means is that I take pleasure in being the opposite of stereotypes, the challenge of proving that to someone else (epitome of exroversion) excites me. Now normally this is all fine and dandy and makes for some spirited banter, but in one scene of my life it took a toll: picking a college.
The Setup:
I applied to 16 schools and got into 12. There were schools out of state and schools in state, both private and UCs. And there was Santa Clara University. For some background, I am a third generation Santa Clara attendee. First, my grandfather, then my mom, his daughter, and now me. And I should also mention that my aunt and uncle went here and all of my mom's friends, who are our close family friends went here. Therefore, I have been raised white and red since day one, both through the forceful influence of my grandfather who thinks that there is no better school (think traditional, all family goes here, etc.). And also through the much subtler influences of hearing the fabulous stories from their time here and seeing their wonderful friendships.
The What:
So when the time finally came to pick a school I was at a loss of where to go. This may not seem like the biggest challenge but I had been dreaming of college because of my mom since day one. To me this would be it, I was going to make these the best four years of my life no matter what. But where to go? I felt like this decision would define my life because it seemed like it had my mom's (one of the people I admire the most) and everyone else around me. I got in to UCLA and UC Berkeley and those were at the top of my choice list, along with the ever-present Santa Clara. And it's not that I didn't want to come to SC, even back then I think I knew I did, it was more that I didn't want to be or have people think that I was being just like everyone else in my family. I like to be slightly rebellious and do things my own way, it makes me feel individualistic. So going to the same school was about as far from that ideal as I could get. I've always really liked the quote, "If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room." And I would be taking up a ton of room choosing the school everyone in my family had gone to. Plus factoring the opportunity cost of giving up an education at UCLA and UC Berkeley was tough.
The So What:
The reason this decision matter more to me than most was because in my world college was it. I would be 18, and out of the house, and beginning to live a life away from my parents. This decision would be the first one of my own and make an enormous impact, and to be honest it was scary. Growing up with all the wonderful and sometimes stupid stories of my grandfather, mom, and friends I wanted to have the same exciting experience more than anything. But at the same time I wanted to be my own person, and make my own life, not copy someone else's. I felt like I was uninteresting and someone who couldn't make their own unique choices so I would just follow in the footsteps of everyone else.
The Now What:
When push came to shove in the 11th hour I realized that Santa Clara is an incredible school and just because my family had come here it shouldn't stop me. I am my own person even if we attended the same school. Sure some of the experiences will be the same, but I am not. I will meet different people and make different and just as exciting everyday choices. Plus, looking back and laughing at myself, my dad attended UC Berkeley for a masters degree, so even if I had chosen to go their I would have still been in the family tradition of sorts. I realized that just because I like the same things as my family doesn't make me boring. In fact I am now proud to be at such an amazing school with such a vivacious and driven student body, SCU is the best place for me and I love everything about it. Just take a look at my URL for this blog, "happilyabronco.blogspot.com." Santa Clara was the best decision I ever made. It just took me a while to get here...
“Why do we have to listen to our hearts?” “Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.”” – Paulo Coelho
The Setup:
I applied to 16 schools and got into 12. There were schools out of state and schools in state, both private and UCs. And there was Santa Clara University. For some background, I am a third generation Santa Clara attendee. First, my grandfather, then my mom, his daughter, and now me. And I should also mention that my aunt and uncle went here and all of my mom's friends, who are our close family friends went here. Therefore, I have been raised white and red since day one, both through the forceful influence of my grandfather who thinks that there is no better school (think traditional, all family goes here, etc.). And also through the much subtler influences of hearing the fabulous stories from their time here and seeing their wonderful friendships.
The What:
So when the time finally came to pick a school I was at a loss of where to go. This may not seem like the biggest challenge but I had been dreaming of college because of my mom since day one. To me this would be it, I was going to make these the best four years of my life no matter what. But where to go? I felt like this decision would define my life because it seemed like it had my mom's (one of the people I admire the most) and everyone else around me. I got in to UCLA and UC Berkeley and those were at the top of my choice list, along with the ever-present Santa Clara. And it's not that I didn't want to come to SC, even back then I think I knew I did, it was more that I didn't want to be or have people think that I was being just like everyone else in my family. I like to be slightly rebellious and do things my own way, it makes me feel individualistic. So going to the same school was about as far from that ideal as I could get. I've always really liked the quote, "If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room." And I would be taking up a ton of room choosing the school everyone in my family had gone to. Plus factoring the opportunity cost of giving up an education at UCLA and UC Berkeley was tough.
The So What:
The reason this decision matter more to me than most was because in my world college was it. I would be 18, and out of the house, and beginning to live a life away from my parents. This decision would be the first one of my own and make an enormous impact, and to be honest it was scary. Growing up with all the wonderful and sometimes stupid stories of my grandfather, mom, and friends I wanted to have the same exciting experience more than anything. But at the same time I wanted to be my own person, and make my own life, not copy someone else's. I felt like I was uninteresting and someone who couldn't make their own unique choices so I would just follow in the footsteps of everyone else.
The Now What:
When push came to shove in the 11th hour I realized that Santa Clara is an incredible school and just because my family had come here it shouldn't stop me. I am my own person even if we attended the same school. Sure some of the experiences will be the same, but I am not. I will meet different people and make different and just as exciting everyday choices. Plus, looking back and laughing at myself, my dad attended UC Berkeley for a masters degree, so even if I had chosen to go their I would have still been in the family tradition of sorts. I realized that just because I like the same things as my family doesn't make me boring. In fact I am now proud to be at such an amazing school with such a vivacious and driven student body, SCU is the best place for me and I love everything about it. Just take a look at my URL for this blog, "happilyabronco.blogspot.com." Santa Clara was the best decision I ever made. It just took me a while to get here...
“Why do we have to listen to our hearts?” “Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.”” – Paulo Coelho
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Open Happiness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceTBF1Hik5I
When we think of security cameras we always think of the usual negative acts that they videotape: stealing, pickpocketing, and violence. But what about the positive things that people do that never seem to be brought up? I love this video because it shows the little good things in life that people are rarely recognized for. It also turns those negative words into happy oxymorons, such as "honest pickpocket," and "stealing kisses." It shows values for both integrity and a force for good.
This video relates to me because this is how I would like to live my life, by making others lives better. My personal goals include always smiling at people I know, even if we are just acqauintances. I like to live by the theme that you never know when you could be making someone's day. In addition, the integrity shown in this video relates to me because even if you are accountable to no one else, you are accountable to yourself. I want to be happy with myself and to do that I don't cheat on tests, return wallets, etc.
This video promotes the value of positivity, which is something I think is often lacking in the world. I look around myself and see the beautiful Santa Clara campus and the beautiful people in it, and am so happy. It's about doing the little things, they will add up to make a glorious bigger picture.
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