Looking back

                This semester has made me realize I really need to work on my procrastination. It is now hindering the work I turn in. I have learned that English does not have to be a class I dread anymore. I have come to the realization that I have no reason to fear my writing. Between this class and my other classes that required discussions, in general people like what I have to say. Are there areas for improvement? Without a doubt, I have learned I was not as proficient in areas as I thought I was; there are areas in which I excel in that I didn't recognize before. I need to stop thinking and just write! I can always go back and tweak things to make it outstanding in the end.

              This semester I have learned that I have way too much unnecessary stuff on my plate. That not being available to do everything is ok. Focusing my time on the most important things and making them the best they can be is far better than trying to be there for everything but only able to give a little each time. Spending time with my children is more important than doing things for them. I have always had a lot to say in life, knowing when to say it is what I have worked on this semester.
           
              One lesson that has smacked me in my face a time or two this semester is that my children watch everything I do! I have always tried to parent by example and follow up with telling them. I noticed lately that I was lacking in that rule and it was showing loud and clear in their faces. We are back on track and ready to be the parents our children deserve. I can't wait for the future!

             The most important lesson I have taken in this semester is discovering that my husband is truly my best friend. That he has and always will do anything for me and our family. He has been the one to comfort me, pick up my slack, show up when I need him, and listen to me. I am sorry it has taken me so long to recognize that. I couldn’t have dreamed for a better partner to conquer the journey of life with.

Word count: 386

Me in a nutshell

Domestic Engineer

-counselor, baker, party planner, event coordinator, crisis diversion, receptionist, advocate, time management skills, organizational supervisor, nurse, detective, judge, jury, lawyer, nutritionist, teacher, physical educator, home health aide, accounts billing manager, personal shopper, maintenance worker, budget planner, interior decorator, personal driver, contortionist, editor, patience, understanding, nurturer, LOVE

Head start teacher

-crisis management, organization, teaching, conflict resolution, nutritionist, activity coordinator, trainer, efficiency, physical education, CORE proficient

Parent Council

-Chairperson, advertisement, social work, coordinator, party planner, trainer scout, clerical duties, public speaking

Sandwich artist

- Excellent customer service, attention to detail, punctuality

Assistant Manager

-customer service training, excellent mathematics skills, proficient in QuickBooks, crisis management, interpersonal interpreter, purchaser, scheduling manager, inventory control, customer service satisfaction representative,

Waitress

- Efficiency, agility, superb social skills,

Delivery Driver

-map coordinator, POS proficient,

Robb's Inc.

- Cashier, building of pallets, Display designer

Scrap booker

- eye for detail, artistic expressionist, website coordinator

Cake Decorator

- express creativity, sugar artist, appreciation for cake decorators, sculptor

Social Gatherings

- News reporter, Facebook update, entertainment provider, comedian

 Word Count:  169

Thesis

It is apparent to me that the thesis of this essay was the speech given by the Governor of Virginia Mark Warner about learning from the past to prevent future mistakes.

1. Eugenics- this paragraph gives a brief description about what Eugenics is. It talks about negative and positive Eugenics and laws supporting Eugenics. In the 1920's and 30's the Eugenics movement was widespread and gaining support. 

2. Father of Eugenics- Francis Galton is known as the father of Eugenics and was among the elite men known as the Anglo-Saxons who were the main proprietors of the eugenics movement. They argued nature had far more effect than nurture.

3. Charles Darwin- promoted eugenics before the movement even came about. He said "it was injurious to the race of men... to allow the sick to procreate". The eugenics movement used Mendel's pea plant study of cross pollination to support their scientific findings about the human race.

 4. In 1895 laws were proposed forbidding marriages of the disabled that were of childrearing age. Most people thought the law was not strict enough and would be broken still so they fought to enforce sterilization. The only sterilization known at the time was mutilation and would lead to hormonal imbalances that at the time they could not replace with synthetic hormones. This brought about the discovery of vasectomies and salpingectomies as a more "humane" form of sterilization.

 5. Organizations like the American Breed Association and the American Eugenics Society tried to convince the public it was their moral obligation to support eugenics. Unfortunately they were successful in their efforts.

 6. Fitter Family contests took place at state fairs; families brought their children out to be scrutinized, judge, and sent through testing; all for the chance to win a medal of genetically superior. Eugenics was crammed down the throats of Americans between High School students studying eugenics at school, sermons on Sunday, movies, to college courses. The message was loud and clear disabled persons were unfit to procreate.

 7. Physicians were performing sterilizations before it was legal to do so. In 1924 Carrie Buck was the first person to be legally sterilized, based on factors of promiscuity, family history of mental health, and the fact she already had a child at age 17.

8. In the case Buck vs. Bell the Supreme Court said it was constitutional to forcibly sterilize citizens, this led to over 60,000 sterilizations all thanks to Oliver Wendell Holms.

 9. Sterilization was legal from 1924- 1976, even the Nazi's adopted our laws and sterilized over 350,000 people in 1933. The eugenics movement came to an end when it was found that Carrie Buck was misdiagnosed, her lawyer corrupt, her daughter a product of rape and grew up to be intelligent.

  

MLA corrections: 

Heading- Name, Class, and Date (left orientation)

Title should be centered and below heading 

Page number and last name should be in the upper right hand corner 

The lines should be double spaced. 

Characters should be in Times New Roman and 12 pt. font 

She misspelled (Rilly 69) in paragraph 7

Word count 512

Don't look at me when I'm talking to you

When I think of public speaking I think great! I love writing speeches! And then the day comes when I have to stand up in front of everyone and I feel like puking! I took a toast masters class in school to help improve my public speaking skills. I have to tell you that I really enjoyed this class. My biggest flaw is that I speed talk when I give speeches. I am talking fast.... the first time I gave a speech in my class I read my speech in four minutes... the speech was three pages long. So needless to say I don’t think anyone understood a thing I said, in fact they probably didn’t even know what my speech was about. I eventually became more comfortable and the speeches improved. I have had to give many speeches throughout my life, in school, support groups, parent committees, etc. I always have the same reaction... I am excited and then when its time I am mortified; panic stricken and want to find a way out. 

Last semester I registered for a public speaking class, I thought if my husband and I both took the class it would be easier and fun. It was time for our first speech; I had put together a very intelligent presentation with report cover and all. I was having so much fun with this speech that I even helped my husband with his. As we were walking to class the anxiety was in overdrive. I felt queasy, my knees were weak, heart racing, ears ringing, and I was flushed. In the end my husband went to class delivered a wonderful speech and I went to the counselor and dropped the class.  

In my college courses when there are discussions in the class room I am attending I have no trouble speaking, joining the discussion, and even arguing my point. When it comes time to hit the broadcast button I freeze up and don't say a word. I don’t understand why I do this, what am I so afraid of? So now I sit here taking online courses this semester, what is wrong with me?

Word Count: 369

here are some cakes

A fool's holiday

This holiday is a favorite amongst my family as it is a free pass to play pranks and no one can get mad. This year my husband encouraged me to make it a little more fun by doing extra special things. We thought of little things like for breakfast we made a breakfast sandwich that looked like a cheeseburger. For lunch the children scarfed down a pizza roll that looked like a glazed Bundt cake. Dinner the family delighted in a meatloaf cake shaped to look like a cake and topped with mashed potatoes resembling frosting and adorned with "cherry" tomatoes. Dessert was delicious cupcakes that were absolutely adorable looking like chicken drumsticks. 

As far as pranks go we try and come up with different and unexpected pranks each year. We have done the whole Oreo prank where you scrape out the filling and replace it with toothpaste. Which is horrible tasting for anyone who wants to try it, but it is quite funny to watch. This year my seven year old got me with the fake dog poop in my bathroom. My husband told me to go help our seven year old clean up his mess in their bathroom and even was getting upset with our son over it. We walked in there to find the entire toilet seat, and in the toilet covered in lumpy chocolate frosting. It took a double take to realize it was frosting and calm my stomach down. My fifteen year old fell victim of April Fool’s when April 2nd rolled around and he was caught at school with a backpack full of Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus pictures. As you can see we love April Fool’s and it's a holiday to show what a fool you really are. Unfortunately there a victims of the fool! :)

One year I was determined to get my husband as he is not easily fooled. I tried pouring the powder of a kool aid package on him while he was taking a shower; unfortunately he was lathered in soap so it did not dye his skin as planned. My children have tried all the classics on him such as rubber banding the kitchen sprayer, saran wrapping the toilet seats, replacing his toothpaste with hemorrhoid cream. I thought I was pretty sneaky and was confident I would get succeed this year. I detached the cord for our fan in the toy room where the computer desk is. I reattached the cord to a cup filled with water and carefully placed it on the fan blade out of sight. I was so excited to see my little prank in action I followed him in there. After waiting fifteen minutes and trying to look like I had a purpose for being in there he stood up tom pull the cord. Instead of tipping on him it fell backwards and spilled all over me, just my luck. So I am back at square one and on the hunt for a prank that will finally avenge the many years of April Fool’s Day I have suffered.

I don’t know about anyone else but telling a story about you and not being able to use the word "I" was extremely difficult. How can I talk about myself without saying "I", I (lol) was constantly trying to figure out how to say a sentence omitting it. The faster I would type the more often I would use the word and have to go back and change it all.

Word Count: 584

You're my HERO!!!

Admire; to regard somebody or something with approval, appreciation, or respect.

Approve, respect, regard, to be in awe of, to marvel.

Where do I start?? There are so many people I admire all for different reasons. I sat and tried to think of one person I admire and I decided I would do the most important people, they all deserve to be recognized.

My husband definitely fits the description of admire. I have admiration for my husband because he has overcome adversity. Since the beginning of his life he had trials, he was born into an abusive, addiction ridden, and poverty stricken family. He was ridiculed his entire childhood and never had the opportunity to have a best friend. Life threw us a curveball a little over three years ago when my husband became disabled. He never quit, instead of giving up he found new passions in life. He is the most amazing father; each time I watch him with the children I am in awe of his love for them.

She is seventy two years old and I hope I am a tenth of what she is someday. Despite her chronological age, her physical age is forty five. She takes care of elderly in their home; cooking, cleaning, anything they may need from her. Losing her husband at the age of thirty six left her with six children to raise by herself, and a grandchild on the way. A highly influential person in my life that has shaped me into the person I am today; I dread the day that she will no longer be in my life the way I need her to be. She is my grandmother, and I say with pride that I am her granddaughter.

When you think of what a mother should be, a vision of my mother is what I see. Although she is flawed she is resilient. She became a mother when she was just fifteen years old and then gave birth to me at the age of eighteen. Despite the stigma of teen mothers, she set out to prove everyone wrong! She was what we call the Kool-Aid mom, snacks waiting for us when we got home, hime room mother, and our biggest advocate. I have learned to always go the extra mile from her; to do everything with your heart, and to cherish your children when they are little. Ten years ago she had a surgery that ended in the loss of her legs. She took it with stride and realized that there is a reason for this and it would not stop her from being who she was. She is amazing!

Last but certainly not least my father, my friend. Anyone who knows our family will certainly tell you I am my father’s daughter. I look like my father and have most of who I am a reflection of my dad. He is strong, brilliant, caring, generous, and stubborn. Although raised in a horrible home, he has been an incredible role model for me. I always held men to the standard of my father, what a man should be like. My husband has lived up to those expectations and more. I am eternally grateful to my father for setting the bar so that I did not settle for less than I deserved.

There are so many more people that I admire in life. I am not the type of person that admires people like Bill Gates, Donald Trump, or Oprah Winfrey. I admire those who stand up against the majority for what is right. The people that change the world through mores instead of money; people like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Barack Obama, Lt. Ehren Watada, Aung San Suu Kyi, Emmeline Pankhurst, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ester, Moses, Ahmad Batebi, Nelson Mandela, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, and Jesus. These people have changed not only the lives of the people in their time but our lives and the future generation; creating the path for the next right fighters.

Word count:669