“Let Teen-Agers Try Adulthood” (pg. 205-207) For You To Analyze

Chayse Adams

ENG: 100-20

10-20-2010

“Let Teen-Agers Try Adulthood” (pg. 205-207)

For You To Analyze

            The author of “Let Teen-Agers Try Adulthood”, Leon Botstein, discusses some problems with the United States’ high schools that he assumes the audience will understand and agree with. Well, I do. I believe that high schools these days do not offer much to their students or the economy. At my high school, our football team flat out sucked, we were the laughingstock of the entire conference and we had no support from our students or our community. People were generally not proud of where they went to school. It had been this way for around ten years and the school had built up a stinky reputation.

My sophomore year our school hired an entire new coaching staff. It got people excited and finally some kids started coming out for the team and other students wanted to come watch to see what all the hype was about. We won a few games that year, not much to brag about, but we only won one game in the previous two years. Next season rolled around and more kids tried out and we got better. Then my senior year we finished our season with a .500 record, we won half our games and homecoming two years in a row. Three years before that, it would have been completely insane to talk about achieving something of that sort. This year, the year after I graduated, my old school has a record of either 6 or 7 wins and only like 2 losses! We have a great since of pride back in our side of town and say we go there with no shame in our voices. However, this is exactly what Botstein was talking about schools getting their stature and all on how well their varsity sports perform.

I think at every high school there are clicks and different groups ranging from jocks, nerds, and whatever other ethnical groups may be attending the school. I agree completely with Botstein that the “real world” functions nothing like that. Since ive been in college, which is not very long, however I have really not saw too much of that kind of grouping. I have saw a group of football players hanging out in the student union but just like that they were all splitting up and talking to people of other ethnicities, social groups, clubs, and classes. I believe there will always be grouping of some sort but in the “real world” people don’t limit themselves to one group, you just can’t get along doing that like you could in high school.

I also agree that we should get rid of middle schools because there was too much time wasted, if we could cut what you learn in six years counting middle and high school down two only four years, I believe that one the time would be better spent because the students are focusing on school and knowing people that can help them pass and complete school rather than which groups make them look the coolest because they have nothing better to do with their time. Cutting two years out of pointless schooling for ever student would also help the economy in tax paying as well. There would no longer be a need for an entirely different school to be operated other than the high school for its particular area and any of the expenses that come with the middle school. It would take less of the tax payer’s dollars to put a child through schooling in addition to the buildings costs. A list of benefits could go on and on, however, a list of reasons of why not to remove middle schools could probable go on as well. I am agreeing that there would be great benefits to Botstein’s plan but I am ruling my decision indecisive due to the fact I would like to hear all the downfalls to the plan first.

“Where College Fails Us” Questions for Reflecting and Writing

Chayse Adams

Eng: 100-20

10-20-2010

Questions for Reflecting and Writing

“Where College Fails Us”

            My experiences in college have been very beneficial to me so far. I have learned a lot in my English class. It has made me a tremendously better writer in helping me gather my own thoughts and putting them down on paper, or computer. It has made me a better typer while doing so. I am much more proficient on reading a text, comprehending and analyzing it, and writing my thoughts about a passage as well as being able to state what the writers intensions were on writing for the readers.

            I have learned a lot about time management and its importance on my success both in the classroom and with my daily life. Not that I did not manage my time well before but I tended to procrastinate some and now when I think of what tasks I need to do I do them by priority to be sure to get the most out of the time I spend doing my daily tasks. I have gotten better with this because of my UNV class which is my freshmen study hall class which is actually not a study hall at all it turns out.  

            My art class is not really beneficial to me. I do know more about art and analyzing why and how it was created and by whom but I really don’t think there is much I will take from that class that will benefit me in the years to come other than personal satisfaction of understanding a piece of art when I see one, which is virtually everywhere you have and ever will look, I still feel that there is not much point in that class.

            I have decided to go to college and further my education because it has been told to me that by doing so I will be able to find something that interests me and I will make a good paycheck and be able to better provide for myself and my future family in doing so. From what I’ve been told, college seems like it is worth it but it is a big investment in time and money and I hope the payoff is good but to be truly honest, after reading this last passage, it is a little discouraging and heartbreaking if I must say that the investment of a college diploma may be worthless and I really hope I did not make a mistake in this investment. If I come out of college with nothing to show for it job and opportunity wise, not only will I be disappointed myself and in a debt I strongly regret of have taking the risk of perusing this dream to be able to live more comfortably but the fear of disappointing my family is overwhelming in its self. I guess I will have to finish what I’ve started to find out.

Task Two-The Importance of Education

Chayse J. Adams

English 100-20 Task Two

10-5-2010

Task Two-The Importance of Education

Education has always been important in my family. My father only has a high school diploma for an education and still has a great paying job with great benefits as a Forman working Union Construction for Collins Plastering but he works his butt off for what he has in the hottest summer days and the dead cold of winter. That’s why he believes that getting an education is so important for me, so that I too can live like my mother who went to college, makes virtually the same pay, has even better benefits, and does not have to work outside all day in the elements, has payed vacation, and her job is not physically demanding on her body. My mother was advised by her mother, my grandmother. I wanted to know why my grandmother decided to attend college and further her education which is ultimately the reason I am attending Missouri Western State University now following my graduation of high school this previous year, class of 2010.

My Grandmother decided to attend college and further her education because her father was a college graduate in the study of law, she guesses that she mostly was trying to live up to her father’s shadow. Her parents, Grate Grandpa John and Great Grandma Joy, allowed or believed that is was acceptable that if she was trying to better herself and way of life for her future that is was not necessary for her to pick up on the household chores and would support her financially through that time. She knew if she did not attend college she was going to have to “enter the real world” finding a job, start supporting herself, and grow up taking on the responsibilities of becoming an adult. She also knew that when that day came when she had to fend for herself that she would be able to get a good job or start a career which she would receive a decent pay for doing with benefits and insurance included as compared to working at a market sacking peoples groceries for a living. She was a very good student in high school, one could say, the perfect student. Straight A’s, graduated at the top ten percent of her class, kept out of drugs, alcohol, sex, and was voted most likely to succeed in her class. She enjoyed school and prided herself in being a good student. Her father always reminded her to, “work smarter, not harder”.

My grandma finished high school at Benton High School in the top ten percent of her class. The following fall she attended St. Joseph Community College that was only a two year school to get her General Education Classes done and was cheaper than attending a big college for those classes. She then moved to Maryville and attended North West Missouri Teachers College which is now the North West Missouri State where she got her major in Teaching Sciences and minored in Medical Technology in 1969.

My grandma started her career as a student teacher in the Saint Joseph School District the fall following her graduation in 1969. The next year she began Substitute Teaching for the SJSD. After a few years of being a Substitute she landed a full time job at Lafayette High school for the SJSD where she taught Several Biology and Chemistry classes. She worked there for five years before a friend told her that he could get her a job working in the lab at a local animal pharmaceuticals company named New Farm making around $60,000.0 a year. She worked at New Farm for ten years before quitting that job because she felt she was being used unfairly. My mother in the meantime had taken a similar career path of animal pharmaceuticals at Phermenta which was later bought out by Boringer Inglehiem. My mother helped my grandma land a job there with her and she has worked with that company for 7 years now, however she suffered a major pay reduction, only making around 35,000.0 a year. She likes it much better where she is now even though the pay cut.

My grandma only has a few regrets about her educations contribute to her life that consist of; not have getting into the field of Medical Technology sooner, however she does note that things may not have worked out as was as they did if she had not gone through the whole process she did. She loved the pay working for her previous employer, but wishes she would have gotten out of that company sooner than she did because of what she had to put up with for so long. She has no regrets about furthering her education and loved college and the opportunities it has presented her through her life and would do it all over again if she had the chance. As words of advice she wishes to pass down to me from her father following my interview of her is to, “work smarter, not harder” and when it come to education, finish what you’ve started, referring to college, because even if you go into a completely different line of work down the road, furthering your education is extremely more beneficial in the work force than not.”

English 100-20 A Writer’s Response pg. 212-214 “Becoming Educated”

Chayse J. Adams

English 100-20

10-4-2010

English 100-20 A Writer’s Response pg. 212-214 “Becoming Educated”

                             My early expectations for college classes were that it was going to be extremely hard, the work would be very hard and take forever, I would have to study for a long time every night, and the teachers would be mean and very uncaring. The reality of my college experience, so far at least, is somewhat close to what I predicted but not near as bad as I thought. College is tough, but it’s more just putting in the time that would cause any problems for me. I feel I have no problem learning the materials yet; it’s just taking the time to do the studying. I do study every night, and I’m up until around twelve every night but my classes usually don’t start until late morning so it’s not that bad for me. Teachers at Missouri Western State University actually are very caring, at least to my experiences. The do not care if you don’t bother doing your work but if you need help, if you show you’re trying and just need some assistance, they will do what they can for you most of the time. I really thought that they would not bother helping you and that they were just there to make a paycheck, but it’s not that different from high school as long as you make it clear that you really are putting the time in and trying.

                             Similarities would be that I too put in long hours but I get a lot more sleep than three or four hours. I too pretty much have one chance to get this college thing right. If I fail I won’t really get another chance at it, at least not very easily, it would be so much more of a struggle that I don’t want to have to think about it; right now I have it made. My experiences are different in that my teachers do not call upon any one group of students more than any other. I have to study but I am not, behind anyone in my classes, where I have to study more to compensate for a lack of anything like Barbra Jordan did.

English 100-20 Task 2, Response to Interview Process

Chayse J. Adams

English 100-20 Task 2, Response to Interview Process

9-30-2010

English 100-20 Task 2, Response to Interview Process

My interview process went pretty well for the most part. My grandmother still managed to find a way to keep talking and talking even though I asked closed ended questions sometimes. After a few minutes of rambling she would catch herself and say sorry, I didn’t want to hurt her feelings so I just smiled and laughed, saying, “it’s okay, it gives me more information I can recall on if I need to, to spice something up a bit. But my next question is…” and it all seemed to work out good, she stayed enthusiastic which was my main concern, that I could discourage her from sharing information if I said anything about her rambling.

I went to my grandma’s house tonight after my last class got out at 8pm, 9-30-2010, to conduct the interview. I called her a few nights before to make sure it would be okay because it was about the only time that was convenient for me and she confirmed it was. I told her okay we’ll make it a date then. When I arrived she had been expecting me and had cookies and milk ready when I walked into the door. So we chatted, conducted the interview and chatted some more while eating our cookies, it was a great night.

I learned that my grandma went to several colleges and earned a major in Teaching Sciences and minored in Science Technologies. Obviously I confirmed my theory that science was her strong point in academics, which I already thought I knew. She attended St. Joseph Junior College, which no-longer exists, it was pre-MWSU, and also attended North West Missouri Teachers College, which was before became what it is known as today, and many more facts, which I will talk about in my paper.

I constructed a question sheet numbered numerically so I could refer to a likewise answer/response sheet also numbered numerically for easy reference to the questions. This will allow me to organize questions into related topics that I will base the paragraphs off of, and insert my information I obtained through the interview. A concern I have is that my grandma is going out of town all next week and I hope that I have enough information to support my entire essay. I hope that I have taken well enough notes of her ramble and responses to questions I asked to thour-o-ly support my essay. Extremely sorry, absolutely could not figure out how to spell that word! (To not miss anything, get everything, like a health inspector at a restaurant).  

5 Questions to Ask My Grandma during Interview Paper and Reasoning for Asking

Chayse J. Adams

ENG 100-20: 5 Questions to Ask

9-28-2010

5 Questions to Ask My Grandma during Interview Paper and Reasoning for Asking

1.      What is your highest level of education achieved?

·         I will ask this to because it will set up the questions to be asked throughout my essay.

2.      What schools did you receive those degrees of education from?

·         To find out where she received her education.

3.      Why did you peruse further education?

·         To find out why she was driven to further her education. Was it for better paying job opportunities or personal gain of knowledge?

4.      Did you achieve your educational goal you wished to reach?

·         To find out if she completed as far as she wished to study or if there was a reason to end her studies early.

5.      Does your job or jobs reflect your education or area of study?

·         To find out if her education has been an essential part of her career success.

*I know my Grandma has gone to college to further her education, however, I don’t know what level of education she has achieved, where she achieved it, why, if she went as far as she would have wished to, or if her job reflects what she studied in college. This is most of the main information I would like to obtain through Task 2. The only thing I worry about with this task is being overloaded with too much useless, irrelevant information. When you get my grandma talking, bless her heart, you can’t get her to stop! One area I struggle with in writing is ridding out information that is not needed, so that is the last thing I need from my Grandma. One way I believe I can avoid this is by following my open-ended questions up with lots of closed-ended questions being sure to only obtain needed, relevant information for my essay.

ENG 100-20 Questions for Reflection and Writing (pg. 132-136)

Chayse J. Adams

9-26-2010

ENG 100-20

Questions for Reflection and Writing (pg. 132-136)

            I can’t think of any cautionary tales that my own family told me at this point in time but there is one that I have remembered since I was a little boy. It is a song by “Lynard Skynard” called Simple Man.

Momma told me when I was young “Come sit beside me, my only son, and listen closely to what I say and if you do this it will help you some sunny day. Oh, take your time, don’t live too fast. Troubles will come and they will pass. You’ll find a woman and you’ll find love, and don’t forget, son, there is someone up above! And be a simple kind of man. Oh, be something you love and understand. Baby, be a simple kind of man! Oh, won’t you do this for me, son, if you can. You’ll get your lust from the rich man’s gold. All that you need is in your soul. And you can do this, oh baby, if you try. All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied! And be a simple kind of man. Oh, be something you love and understand. Baby, be a simple kind of man! Oh, won’t you do this for me, son, if you can.” ”Oh yes, I will.” “Boy, don’t you worry, you’ll find yourself. Follow your heart and nothing else. And you can do this, oh baby, if you try. All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied! And be a simple kind of man! Oh, be something you love and understand! Baby, be a simple kind of man! Oh, won’t you do this for me, son, if you can. Baby, be a simple, really simple man. Oh, be something you love and understand! Baby, be a simple, be a simple man.”

In order to embellish the emphasis of the warning, it was put into a song. It helps you memorize the message. The message is to not live to fast and enjoy life, to find love, if you ever need help don’t forget god is watching from above, you don’t need money to be happy, to follow you heart, be someone you can love and understand, and be a simple kind of man. If you do this you will be satisfied. This lesson is from a mother to her son to remember throughout his life but can be from anyone, to anyone.