You live and you learn.

Wow, I can't even believe that this is my last blog post for the semester. This semester in general has gone by extremely fast! As dead week and the end of the semester approaches, I can't help but think about all of the amazing experiences I've had this year. Even school has become more fun for me. All of the classes I'm taking have given me a better understanding in life. Majority of them being psychology-based, I enjoy the topics we learn and how much it relates to us. Despite the excessive amount of writing I had to do, I feel like I've become a better writer. Because of this class and the University Writing Center, I won't completely dread writing my next research paper or lab report.

I wanted to talk about my previous posts and what we can learn from them. Having a blog on peer pressure has given me the opportunity to write about a number of things, such as gangs, school violence, and personal issues that many of us have faced. Though we have all grown up with some type of pressures, we don't realize how dangerous certain negative influences can be. As I read a number of scholarly articles for my research paper, I understood the motives behind peer pressure and violence. However, many people in our society consider this as a norm and natural human behavior. We must realize that proper guidance for any troubled individual can create brighter futures. Children and the current young generation, including ourselves, tend to rely on peers for assistance and guidance. Being away from our families, even as college students we should be able to make smart choices on our own, without our friends' influences. Our social environment must be less contaminated to decrease violent incidences that can easily be prevented. We have learned that a simple mistake can create a terrible situation leaving many people helpless, such as school shootings, extreme drug and alcohol consumption, and gang initiations. In order to live the life you want to, you must learn how to live it properly. Therefore, you can't live unless you learn.

Thanksgiving is almost here!

Hello everyone! So this week has been jam packed for me. I just now finished a 25 page job analysis for my psychology class and I'm still editing the paper due for this class. I still need to finish my lab report due tomorrow...haven't even started. I'm sure you guys are wondering why I'm telling you all this because I know you all have your own problems. We all have assignments/exams before the break so I'm sure we are all stressed. Sleep hasn't been able to fit in my schedule for the past couple of days and I'm sure you can relate.
Alright so now that I have all of the negatives thrown out there,I just want to say that WE ARE ALMOST THERE! Before you know it, we will be enjoying our long-awaited break to relax with our family and appreciate everything we have. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays by far because 1) I absolutely LOVE food and 2) I get to spend quality time with my family. I know that during college we are so busy with our social lives and studying that we get too carried away. We often go days without communicating with our parents and family members. I must admit, I haven't had a proper conversation with my mom in over two days. This may seem like nothing, but in reality its always in the back of my mind. When stressed, I turn to coffee or social networking when I should be turning to my parents for comfort, even if it may be through phone calls. It's important to gain the understanding that friends will come and go, but family will last forever. That is also another reason why I appreciate this holiday.

Just thought I'd share my current emotional state with you all. Hope everyone does great on their papers and exams. Be sure to go home for Thanksgiving and come back for the t.u. game! :)

Until next time,
Peace and Blessings!

A Reflection

When I think about, I realized that I was blessed with a great childhood with family that protected and supported me through thick and thin. Growing up with an older brother, he always made sure I stayed out of trouble and gave me advice on dealing with a number of situations. These situations primarily focused on encounters with strangers who seemed suspicious, pressure from my friends, and other dangers that young adolescents would typically face. Going a bit specific and personal, I do remember a time in junior high where I was pressured to drive my mom's car, without having a license or permit. It was actually a funny story so bear with me. My friends were over at my house for a sleepover and I clearly remember them daring me to take them to Sonic and they would pay for me. Since the whole house was asleep, I decided hey why not? Sonic was literally two seconds away. Well, I barely made it out of my street because I hit my neighbors' mailbox...twice. Thankfully, there wasn't much physical damage, but I definitely experienced some consequences that made me realize it could have been life-threatening. Not only was I 13, I also took the car without permission at a time that drunk driver's are out and about. Moral of the story is that regardless of your good intentions, peer pressure could definitely lead to a detrimental scenario.

If you would like to share any stories feel free to :D
Until next time, good luck on papers and exams everyone! The semester is almost over!