READING= IMPORTANT

Reading is the most difficult but important skill for a student to obtain during their time in school. Not all students finish school with a strong reading skill set. Without a strong background of language and literacy skills, success is nearly impossible for a student. Constance Zulu, professor in the Department of English at North-West University, wrote an article titled, “Academic Reading ability of first-year students: what's high school performance or prior exposure to academic reading got to do with it?” In this informative article, analysis revealed, “Critical reading was the most difficult skill students to obtain, implying that more emphasis should be placed on teaching this skill” (1). The ability to read is important in more subjects than just Literature and English; Reading expands itself through every subject in school.

Put Up Your Phone and Drive

I would like to take this opportunity to admit that although I recently submitted an argumentative paper promoting technological multitasking, the claims in my paper do not accurately represent my honest opinion on the subject. I wrote the paper opposing the anti-multitasking articles we read, to challenge myself as a writer, looking for key points I could counter Amy Jarmon's beliefs with. I also enjoy a good debate and everyone knows you have to be able to defend both sides of an argument to be effective. Nevertheless, yesterday as I was walking back to my dorm from class, I was nearly run over by a fellow female student of mine, driving a Range Rover while texting. She failed to come to a stop at the stop sign and continued to drive down the street with her face focused on the cell phone in her lap. I cannot begin to express the disgust and anger that overwhelmed me after the incident occurred. This girl nearly killed me over a text message. She is operating a 6,000 pound piece of metal and glass machinery that is capable of reaching speeds near 100 miles per hour. She needs to put down the phone and drive. Talking on the phone is one thing, but deliberately taking your eyes and mind completely off the road to type a message that I assume had no real significance to her life whatsoever, is sickening. My mom was telling me on the phone about the lady who does her nails. Apparently, she has a son that took a summer Art class at SMU last year. He was struck by a vehicle near the McElvaney parking lot and went from being a straight A honor student to not being able to pronounce his own name. I could and probably will write a separate blog entry on how fast some students drive down the Boulevard at SMU. People need to be more careful, even if it means missing a text message.

April weekend

On Thursday night, I stayed up until 7:30 in the morning writing my English rough draft and studying for 3 very important tests. I woke up at 8:45 and can honestly say I feel confident in all my work. I needed a relaxing weekend to celebrate my success while rejuvenating my mind and body. Unfortunately, my weekend plans coexisted with my previous plans of going to the NASCAR Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth. In case you've never been to a NASCAR race before, let me describe it. Basically it's 140,000 screaming fans watching 43 650-horsepower v8 supercars scream down a circular track for 350 laps at 200 miles an hour; and my seats were as close as you can get without being a driver. To say the least, I'm exhausted. I'm sunburned and my legs hurt from walking. My ears are ringing and I cannot begin to describe my headache. Nevertheless, I love NASCAR. In the strangest way, although I was not ready for a strenuous and abusive weekend, I am suddenly energetic and ready to take on the next week of school. I must suggest that sometime before you die, go to a NASCAR race. Mesmerize yourself with the incredible accuracy of the "Red Neck" stereotype you've always heard about. Feel the rumble of all 43 cars washing out your pulse and conscience with nothing but a sweet rumble of an American V8. Remind yourself that you're lucky enough to be sitting in the stands rather than in the car of what you will think is the most dangerous professional sport in the world. Even as you walk away from the track, defeated and torn down with a humble realization that you will only be driving 3 or 4 miles an hour as you try to leave the parking lot, remember that NASCAR only comes to Texas twice a year, and no weekend plans can get in the way of you being there.

4:47 AM

I just finished writing the rough draft for my paper due tomorrow. However, my night is not over. I've been studying for two tests tomorrow: economics and electrical engineering. It's 4:47 in the morning. I don't really know how my sleep habits have gotten this bad, but they have. I am so close to the end of my freshman year but even when it's over, it's not completely over. I'm taking a Summer School class so I can start Cox Business School early. After that, I'll probably be getting a job which will make the Summer fly by really fast at which point I'm going to have to do it all over again. I guess this is my first year as an adult because this is definitely going to be my first Summer as an adult. I miss being a kid. I miss having a structured bedtime and a home cooked meal every night, but at the same time I have so much freedom right now, and I wouldn't give that up for anything. For example, I'm about to go to 7-11 to get some more energy drinks to keep me up so I can get all my work done. This blog post really helped me take a break while still doing some work. I really do appreciate this English class because it has allowed my writing to be very opinionated. I have rarely been able to express myself in a paper the way I have in this class. I'm not here to kiss butt. However, I am here to make an A... even if it means kissing butt. Good night!/Morning!