Senior Reflection #4

I would like to use this senior reflection to thank Mr. Stroud for being a wonderful and dedicated AP US Government teacher. I really enjoyed your class this year and I feel I learned a lot. Have fun teaching AP comparative next year!
Thanks Papa Stroud!

CE #4- "All-star record 'It Ain't My Fault' aims to assist the Gulf Coast"

Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def, Trombone Shorty, actor Tim Robbins, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, have recorded a benefit single and video called "It Ain't My Fault", that will be sold to help the efforts in aiding the oil spill in the gulf. Proceeds (audio and video downloads are 99 cents) will go to the Gulf Relief Foundation (gulfaid.org), which will direct the aid to families in need and to wetlands preservation. The lyrics of the song were written in response to watching oil executives blame each other for the spill during congressional hearings.

I picked this article because I thought it was awesome that celebrities are getting creative and finding ways to use their talents to support efforts to clean up the gulf. There is so much to still be done to clean up the gulf, and it is important to continue to give support and donations to the gulf efforts.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2010-06-15-gulfsingle15_ST_N.htm

Senior Reflection #3

In this senior reflection I would like to talk about how we should have used SOL week as senior finals week. Almost all seniors don't take sol's and the extended class periods would create perfect opportunities to take exams. I felt that during the SOL week I was told to "work on projects" during class...most of which I needed to use a computer or something so really I just worked on them at home. I think if we let seniors do their exams that week while the underclassman took their sol's it would have been a better use of class time, and then we could have gotten out of school a whole week earlier.

CE #3- "How should airlines accommodate obese passengers?"

This article addresses the problem many airlines are having with fitting obese passengers. Many passengers argue that it is not fair that they loose some of the seat they bought ticket for because the person sitting next to them is obese, and is "spilling" into their seat. Arguments are being made to make accommodation for these obese passengers by creating additional rows on an airplane that have larger seats, which can be pre-assigned to obese passengers. When these seats are not full normal sized passengers can upgrade to the larger seats for their comfort. Right now the only accommodation actually being made is that obese persons are asked to buy an extra ticket, however many people are too embarrassed to do so, or believe they won't actually need an additional seat.

I choose this article because the title caught my eye and I thought it would be interesting to read. I think that obese persons should have to buy an extra ticket to ensure that other passengers don't lose some of their seat they aid for. I understand however that this could be hard to regulate as people buy their own tickets. I do not think extra rows of larger seats should be made, because obesity s not such we should accommodate to, it is something that should be discouraged.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/experts/hobica/2010-06-15-obese-airline-passengers_N.htm

Senior Reflection #2

My senior reflection this week is in response to the "reality store" activity we got to take part in early this week. I never realized how expensive it was to raise children, and definately have any more appreciation for everything my parents have provided me with. After completeing the activity and realizing how expensive even the necesities of life, such as food and shelter are, I became so much more appreciative of all the luxuries my parents have given me, new clothes, years of flute lessons, sports fees, a car etc. ( I know I would have had to make some serious sacrifices in my budget scenario to provide my kids with these things) . And now they will be paying my college tuition to add to the list. So I just wanted to use this reflection to say thanks Mom and Dad for everything you have given me!

CE #2- An untested tactic as efforts grow desperate

This article was about the efforts to stop the oil spill in the gulf that has been going on for about 5 weeks now. According to the article as early as Tuesday, BP will attempt to "top kill" the leak by shooting thick mud at the well in an effort to plug the leak. Republicans have been criticizing the governments response to the spill saying that they should have stepped in immediately, however the Obama administration is defending their response, and sharpening Their criticism of BP. Many people are getting angry and frustrated at how long it is taking to clean up and plug the leak, but as Robert Dudley, managing director of BP, told CNN, "We've got to do everything we can, shut off the well, clean this up as fast as we can."

I chose this article because I have been very interested in the oil spill, and think it is very upsetting that the leak has yet to be fixed and so much oil is still spilling into the gulf. I thought this article was well written, because it displayed the criticism of the government, as well as the Obama administration's response, while also revealing the latest tactics that will be used to attempt to plug the spill. I agree that the government should have stepped in immediately, no matter whose fault the spill was we should all be willing to help fix the catastrophic event. Hopefully engineers and officials will find a way to fix the problem soon!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-05-23-oil-spill_N.htm

Senior Reflection #1

As an underclassman I always heard people talking about getting senioritis, but I always thought it wouldn't be that big of a problem for me....man was I wrong. As we get so close and yet are still so far away from graduating, it has gotten really hard to stay motivated. Througout high school we have been taught to work towards tests and having a good gpa to get into college, so now that AP exams are done and I know where I am going next year, what do I have to motivate me to keep doing work. Recently I heard that Arlington County has something called "senior experience" where for the last month of school seniors get to finda internships and what not that can relate to things they enjoy and carreers they are interested in pursuing, and I thought it sounded awesome. I personally feel like this would be a more productive way to spend our last month than having busy work that no one really has the motivation to try on.