This is my Official Last Blog...

I have to say that I am sad to be done with this class. Even though it was challenging and at times, very stressful, I enjoyed it and I felt that I really learned a great deal. I needed this class as a transfer credit and I think it will really benfit me when I transfer to Lincoln Christian University this fall. I am excited to use what I have learned in my writing through audience, focus, and organization to become a better writer.
I now feel as if I can argue a point for effectively and even though I may not change someone's opinion, I can at least make them stop and think about what I have to say. This makes me feel good and I hope to continue to practice writing like this because when we started the semester, it was my weakest kind of writing. I can write about myself or something fictional but it has always been a challenge to write argumentatively. I can see that I have improved and although I still have a ways to go, it feels good to look back and see progress.
As I am dealing with my final weeks at ICC, I am happy to see how this class in particular has really helped me in college! I have been able to apply what I have learned and see a difference in my writing. Who knows what is going to happen next or what I will learn :)

Audience :] Week 14

I used to feel like I was the only one having trouble in how I am writing to a certain audience. After endorsement groups, I am feeling better because I know that I am not the only one and other people in class have the same difficulties in addressing audience sometimes. For me, as a writer, something that has been the hardest for me to understand and deal with has been addressing my audience. I always have an audience in mind that I am wanting to address but I don't always say what is needed to be said for this audience to make my paper as strong and effective as it could be. For instance, I wrote about fathers and how important their roles are to their children. However, what I had originally was addressed to new fathers. The information that I provided was too general and on top of this, I really needed to narrow my audience. So far for each paper, the place where I seem to be the weakest is in addressing audience. I either have too wide of an audience or else the information that I have does not work for the audience I am wanting to talk to. I am still trying to figure this out but I am slowly beginning to understand how to narrow my focus and stay on topic of my audience. I hope that by the time I make my portfolio revisions that I can have this weakness of mine under control. I really want to be a good writer and a huge part of this is audience :)

Healing :) Blog 13

To think about how complex our bodies are amazes me. I knew I could never be a nurse after working the blood drive my senior year. Blood gives me the heeeebeeegeebies (sp?). The whole concept of nerves and veins and blood vessels truly makes me cringe. Well last week, I was clipping my fingernails and the end of the clippers hit a spot in my finger just right. I had broken a blood vessel in my index finger. It started turning purple and I watched as the blood spread. My finger felt hot and I could see it swell before my eyes. It was red and purple and my first instinct was to run it under cold water and I did. But at that point, everything I saw was going black around the edges. My ears popped and I could barely hear. When I looked in the mirror my face was very pale. I felt sick on top of this. I shut the cold water off and sat on the floor because I was afraid that I was going to pass out. I really didn't think that anyone could pass out or feel like they were at such a little thing. My body just freaked out and I could do nothing to make it feel better besides sit on the floor with my head on my knees while blood rushed to it. This was one of the scariest things that has happened to me and it was not fun. But then only three days later, my finger was healed and I am able to use it like normal again. I could barely use it otherwise because it was bruised and swollen. This concept amazes me because of how complex our bodies are and how they can heal themselves. We can survive so many injuries because of the strength of our bodies and how we were made. In my eyes, this goes to show that our Creator is pretty awesome. :)

Journaling Blog 12

I have been writing so much in my journal lately. It has been my best friend for the past three weeks through all of my stress, worry, and sadness. There is no feeling like writing down what you feel. I find myself going back sporadically to read what I have written and I feel the strength and emotion pour from my writing. It hits me hard to think that those were my feelings and emotions thrown and engraved onto the page. Sometimes, I feel like, “I don’t remember writing that” or “Wow, this really hurts.” In some cases, this writing brings situations back to life. It brings the happiness, sadness, confusion, or anger all back. I think what makes it so strong is that I am not censoring it. I don’t think about what I am writing. I am not watching for how something sounds or a grammatical error or fragmented sentence. I let it pour from my heart without a worry inside of me. No one is going to see this but me. I can be brave and let myself flow into the page. I wish this was how all writing could be. However, some writing does need to be looked at when it comes to audience, grammar, etc. But this is what journals are for. They are there to help a person express themselves and search inside to find what they are looking for. I encourage everyone to try journaling because it is so refreshing sometimes to realize that there is a place to put everything down and no one has to critique it. It is simply you. :)

Easter? Christmas? Blog 11

Why are religious holidays always being taken away? Maybe “taken away” is too strong of a term...

For example, look at Easter. People want to call Good Friday “Spring Day” and silly things along those lines. I personally celebrate Easter and how Christ was resurrected. Also, look at Christmas. People were always known to say, “Merry Christmas” and now many businesses have to say “Happy Holidays” to their clients because saying this doesn’t show a preference and therefore doesn’t hurt people who celebrate other things. They are taking “Christ” out of “Christmas.”

Well I think that people should be understanding. If someone said “Happy Spring Day” to me, I wouldn’t get my panties in a bundle. I would just say “Thanks and have a great Easter.” When I say “Merry Christmas” to someone, they shouldn’t be upset. I’m not trying to be a pain or stomp on what they believe in and celebrate. I’m just showing them what I believe and they can do what they want with that.

I just wish that people would be a little more courteous and understanding. I am a Christian and it is hard for me to look at how religion is being taken out of everything. It hurts me. I also know that people are upset that religion is in many things and I believe they have a right to practice what they want. Even though I may disagree with it, everyone has free will.

If only people would stop trying to make everything uniform... No one is happy when they feel like what they believe in is disappearing.

Texting and Writing :) Blog 10

Sometimes texting can be a bad thing whether it is a distraction in class or a devise used to shut out the world around us. Sometimes though, it can really be a good way to express yourself. I know that sounds stupid when I say that texting can be a way of expressing yourself but I have noticed that when I talk to someone on the phone, things can come across in a way I don’t want them to and it can be easier for me to send a thoughtful or helpful text than to call someone. Many times I use texting as a way to send a Bible verse or inspirational quote or to simply make a point.

Sometimes, writing can mean more to another person than just saying it out loud. It gives them something to refer back to or to read at a later time. I know that I keep the texts that inspire me or ones that have helped me in the past and I just think that writing this way (although it is considered a “less social” way to communicate) is a wonderful way for expressing yourself.

This makes me sound like an introvert but I am actually a fairly outgoing person. I just like to write (or in this case type) how I feel. When I have time to think about what I want to say, it comes across better to others.

I also think that there is a time when writing should not be used and a more verbal communication is best. This goes back to the paper I just wrote. Writing, however, in some situations can be the best way to express a thought or feeling.

Same Names? Week 9 :)

I found out not too long ago that at the University that I am going to next fall has 2 Ashley Schrocks. To make this situation more difficult, we have the same middle name except that it is spelled a little different. I have never been in this situation before and it creates a large amount of stress. I went for a college visit yesterday and realized that whenever I have to talk to someone that I have to give them my entire name and spell it out. I am not upset by this but it is going to create lots of confusion for my teachers and both of us. This is so rare because Lincoln Christian University is a very small school so the fact that we have almost the exact same name is crazy. The school has about 500 students living on campus and a total of 1,000 (ish) students when including the seminary students.
I just wish there was some way to make sure that names don’t get duplicated. I know this is basically impossible but it would make life so much easier. Having a system in which names would not be duplicated would be fantastic. I have to say that although it might not ever happen, it is something that I think would be a good investment. :) I am worried that in my case, our financial aid and classes will get mixed up and this could be a real issue. But then again, I am the type of person who worries a great deal. ;)

Public Affair... Week 7 Blog

I was sitting at my computer a week ago and I was on Skype talking to my boyfriend. In the instant messaging side, another item popped up. I thought someone else was talking to me but it ended up being an advertisement. The advertisement was along the lines of this: “Are you married and wanting to have an affair? Well, you can. Just be sneaky and it’s okay. You won’t get caught.” Now that is a summary but basically that is what I found and I have to say that I was surprised about what I found. It was very discouraging to think how society is so accepting of something that is very hurtful to people. This was very upsetting to me because of what I have believed in my whole life. I think that once a couple gets married, it is for life. I believe in being faithful and committed in a relationship because that is what makes a relationship successful. Things are bad enough in society today and people are being tempted all of the time by everyday things. There is no need for advertisements that shout unfaithfulness and selfishness at the top of their lungs. Having an affair is being advertised for this excitement. It says you won’t get caught and yet, most of the time, people do. It usually doesn’t end well for one person or the other. Also, I realized that our society is so focused on fun. It emphasizes that people need to do things that feel right and to act now. However, impulses aren’t always the answer. I don’t think that it feels right to hurt someone and go behind their back to do something sneaky.

I was shocked to see this public affair advertised and I have to say that it really upset me. I couldn’t believe that the society we live in today would encourage something along these lines. :(

My Expression :) Week 6!

When it comes to expressing how I feel verbally, I can. It isn’t that hard to do. But in certain situations, I can’t do it. I fumble through my words and say things that I don’t mean to say when I am in a tough situation. I saw this happen when I was discussing something with my boyfriend, Justin. We were having a serious discussion and I responded with something that I really didn’t mean to say. It was one of those situations where it just came out wrong but what I had said really hurt his feelings. I tried explaining what I really meant and it still wouldn’t come out right. Here is where I fumbled. It was like: Open mouth, insert foot.

After we hung out, I came home and went to my room. I got out a notebook and just started writing. I wrote about 2 pages worth of what I really meant. My hand was cramping and I was writing so feverishly but the words flowed when I was writing. I knew what i was trying to say and it was so easy to have my feelings out on paper. I gave this letter to him and it cleared everything up. It was more than just fixing something that I said. It meant so much to him that I had taken the time to really write out my feelings and my thought process.

I really made me think about how much writing impacts people. Hearing someone say something gets the point across but seeing it written, in my opinion, means so much more.

:)

Some think Valentine's Day is overrated... Week 5

When February hits, we all begin to see the pinks, reds, hearts, and cupids being plastered all over the place. Valentine’s Day is something that is impossible to forget due to the advertising and rise in prices for flowers, chocolates, and items that represent Valentine’s Day as we know it. This holiday causes hurt feelings for some people and goo-goo eyes for others. I was driving home from class today and I heard on the radio that someone called in because this station was just playing all love songs for the concept of this lovey-dovey day. The young girl said something along the lines of how not everyone likes Valentine’s Day and the music isn’t helping. After that, the song that came on was, “Love Stinks.” Personally, I think that if they don’t want to hear love music, change the channel? I know that this holiday brings heartbreak to some but it ruins it for other people when they put a damper on everything. I am not picking on people but I am just saying that this holiday is here to stay so we all might as well make the best of it. Not only though do spirits get dampened but looking on a different perspective, it is just an excuse to charge people an arm and a leg for flowers, chocolate, greeting cards, etc. I do agree with this which is why my boyfriend and I just do simple things for Valentine’s Day like going out for dinner because many things are simply impractical and overrated. In my opinion, many people just wait to show how they feel until Valentine’s Day but they should be showing their loved ones how much they care everyday. I think this is a contributing factor to why people make such big deal out of it. Personally, I tend to agree that Valentine’s Day can be slightly overrated...

My Arguing :/ Week 4!

Before I came into this class I was definitely a little worried about how I was going to be doing. In nature, I am the type that hates to argue. I will stand up for what I believe but only when I really feel threatened. I am a peace keeper and the type that cries when people yell (I am not joking :P). I think this class is really going to help me in learning how to defend myself in a positive way. I am still not sure how I am going to do in this class but I am definitely ready for a challenge. I want to be able to provide an effective argument and in some cases, change peoples’ minds or at least, allow them to stop and think about what I am saying. We talked about this concept last class period and it really made me think. In some situations, you will not win over your audience that is against you but you may be able to allow them to think about something from a different viewpoint. This is my goal.

I am also concerned with finding sources for this type of writing. I don’t want to pick bias sources but instead, I really want to hit the jackpot in finding accurate and persuasive sources. This has been a struggle of mine and I really want to improve so that I can become a better writer since writing is something I really love. I can’t wait to see what the second of this half will be like when I am finally able to apply all of the new things I have learned. :)

Haiti Adoptions. Week 3!

The earthquake in Haiti has left so many people hurting and lost. Fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, and sisters have been killed and lost among the rubble. This horrendous natural disaster has brought our world together in many ways. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and this was a problem before the earthquake. Many children were orphans before this disaster hit and afterwards, the orphan rates have increased even more. With this happening, the number of American families have felt compelled to help aid this country by adopting a child. Many children don’t know their last names and aren’t even sure how old they are. Since people aiding with this effort don’t have this information, the adoption process is very difficult. There may be a family relative who could take care of the child but without any information, people are not sure if the family is simply separated or if they are deceased. For those kids who were orphans before the earthquake rumbled, they are able to be adopted.

I had discussed in my blog last semester about how I have really felt the desire to adopt a child from another country. I really would like to save a little girl from China. When I see the children in Haiti though, I really wish there was something I could do personally to help them. I would adore adopting a boy or girl from there especially right now for the children who have lost their parents in the earthquake. I know how difficult the process is but it really puts everything into perspective. Many people are against adoption from other countries because it would be hard on the child. However, in this situation, I think it would be harder for a child to grow up in a place with no family around and in the conditions that Haiti is in. The orphanages are full. It is getting tougher by the day and to see how people are willing to help those in Haiti is so heart warming. I just wish I could do more in the efforts. :(

Case Study! Week 2!

So, to introduce myself as a writer, I will share just some basics for you to get to know me! :) Well, as a writer, I am a perfectionist. I like to do well in my writing and I want to be understood. I never used to be able to voice my opinion and I was a very timid writer with a soft voice. I am still working on this but as I have grown up and came out of my shell as a person, I have came out of my shell as a writer.

Writing is something that I love to do in my free time and I don’t even mind doing it as an assignment. I am a person who loves to journal and an artist who loves to draw fonts and use words in art. Also, I happen to be a post-it note junkie and I have quotes and reminders written on them everywhere! I love writing letters, emails, and notes to people. I am a social person and writing comes in handy in so many ways!

I am a picky writer and I write best sitting at the island in my kitchen with my laptop (I am doing this right now actually). This is where I am able to think and really get my ideas typed out. I always have water and food nearby when I am writing because I need to take breaks a lot...in which I do a small bit of procrastinating. ;) I listen to music when I write but I really do not enjoy having the TV on. Music helps me relax and regain focus.

Hopefully now, you can start to get to know me as a writer just a little bit! :)