Semester Reflection Spring 2010

This semester (Number 4!!!) was pretty similar to last semester. The discussions were fun as always. We actually got together at the beginning of this semester, which is major progress. And I think everyone got along this semester, which is a step up from the first year. I deem this semester a success. Next year, I think we should focus more on our topics for our student works symposium projects. It is nice to get an outsiders perspective on a topic you have been slaving over for a while. It is easy to over look something minuscule if you have been studying a subject for a while. It could arise several good explanations or questions that can be addressed in the presentations. I also find it helpful for me to learn by explaining the topic to someone else. As for my study abroad, I am officially going to Australia this summer. I have my ticket and everything. I also received my itinerary. As I stated in an earlier blog, the program will consist of a lot of traveling (up the coast of Queensland) and a research project. Time in Queensland will be spent at conservation zoos, snorkeling off the coast, a stay at the research center of the Great Barrier Reef, and plenty of time admiring the beauty of one of the wonders of the world (the reef). Excitement doesn’t encapsulate the feelings I have about the trip. I am nervous about being on the other side of the world with a group of people I have never met before. But I keep reassuring myself that I will make friends quickly and will not wont the experience to end. Now talking about capstone, my plans have almost completely changed from last time I discussed my awesome research ideas in a blog. We had a very unfortunate semester in the lab (lesson learned: you can’t fight science). So previously I believed I was going to do my research on fish-predator relations using video clips to test various aspects of behaviors of prey fish. Well as I said unfortunate circumstances has led to the wonderful idea of learning about tortoises!! I have found several articles experimenting with tortoises’ spatial learning. I have not quite decided on an experimental process but I am sure it will follow along the lines of comparing our two different species in the field of spatial learning. One of our species is a burrowing species. I predicted that the burrowing system might have evolved an increase in spatial memory of these tortoises compared to our non burrowing species. The idea still needs research on previous literature and fine toning but I am very excited to get started on the experiment to see if my predictions are right. Unfortunately, I must wait until next semester to find out. I am looking forward to our last year together, and learning about everyone else’s research/ creative works that have results from four hard years of studying. Until next time, peace out my peeps.

Discussion Reflections Spring 2010

The discussions this year were thought provoking and intriguing. We had a wide variety of topics to talk about and each one prove to be worth while. The topic I choose to talk about was the highly controversial soda tax. The article compared the new soda tax to the taxes placed on tobacco products a few years back. It debated whether soda was as detrimental to health as the ever so obvious “cancer sticks”. One point that came across in the discussion was defining a soda product and why just limit the tax to soda? Technically humans only form of liquid needed is water, so why not tax fruit drinks, chocolate milk, sports drinks, and all the other sugar ridden drinks? The research explained that the rising of the price of the sugary drinks will cause a decrease in purchase and consumption. Researchers have also found a correlation to childhood obesity and increase rates of consumption of soda drinks. So by raising the prices of the drinks should ultimately lower the instances of childhood obesity. I agree that some legal action must be taken place in order to help the epidemic but at what point is it effective and how will it ever be regulated?

I also enjoyed other people’s discussions. I always enjoy learning new things even if I can’t quite understand it completely. I also found it cool that Laurel picked the article that she did, about human connections to animals. I am very interested in how humans view animals and if caring for animals do have a therapeutic property to it. I was actually contemplating between two articles when I was going to lead discussions. The one that I did not choose was one about therapeutic animals (such as dolphins). Before I decided to go into research in animal behavior I was planning on being a physical therapist with a specialty in animal interactions. When I lived in Florida I spend most of my free time at a research center that performed many of those types of therapy sessions with dolphins. I was to young to really understand but I enjoyed helping the adults take care of the animals. Overall, I was very pleased with the discussions this year because there never seemed to be a dull moment. Discussions never got out of hand like previous semesters but at the same time my quite nature would seem to show its ugly head and I keep my comments to myself(mostly because some one else already expressed a similar opinion, and I didn’t want to be that dumb kid that sits and the corner and just agrees with everything). I know that in this blog I mainly focus on just one of the discussions, but I really did like everyone’s topics. There were a few that I received late so I only had time to skim through the articles. This semester worked better in the past by getting articles in a timely fashion. Well anyways I am looking forward to our continued discussions in our remaining two semesters.

Art off campus

My off campus experience was completely random. As I was driving home for spring break I noticed a sign for an art show. Not ever interested in art and in a hurry to get home I ignored it. Then I saw another sign then another. The constant reminders and a convincing line to the park entrance, made me stop by the show just to see what it was all about (as a side note, I never stop when I am heading home, when I am on a mission to be somewhere, I get there as soon as possible). The art show/fair consisted of people from all over the state and this very nice couple from Louisiana, wanting to show off their latest creations and sell them to interested buyers. They had everything from masterful paintings to abstract sculptures. I had a really good time (even though it put me off schedule). When I was younger my mom encouraged me to craft as a creative out put. I did not enjoy it that much because I had too much pint up energy to sit still and I had a slight case of obsessive compulsive disorder so I would give up on the first sign of failure of perfection. I never really understood why someone would want to waste their days away creating cutesy crafts that just end up getting thrown away at some point down the road. After meeting some of the artist I was very much impressed by their passion. Last semester I went to an art show on Southwestern’s campus. It was a completely different experience for me as was this. I felt more comfortable at this art fair because it seemed a lot more casual. I talked to some of the artists and asked them what there inspiration was for the pieces of work they created. It seemed like a lot of the artist there were the starving artist type. They either recently got laid off or have been out of work for a while and decided to pursue a dream that ultimately makes them happy regardless if they are successful. I thought it was interesting how many of the artist I talked to, mentioned their recent departure from a job of ten to fifteen years (an obvious sign of the economy). One artist that really stuck out in my mind was one that has suffered from depression after a family member passed away. She quit her “pointless” job to find meaning in life. She said that after feeling helpless, the only way she could express her emotions was through her art work. She felt like art was a calling so she started selling to friends and family and before she knew it she was coming to art fairs to share with the world. The people I meet all seemed so different but yet they had a common trait. Art is amazing in how it can provide so many people with pleasure. It just reminded me that art is important to the wirings of the brain and can be beneficial to people of all types.

On campus with LU

This year was particularly difficult for me to determine an on campus event to attend. I was not satisfied by just stretching my normal habits by going to a concert or musicale or some lecture that I ultimately will find interesting. So I spent the better half of the past semester about how I could really stretch myself (practically on campus) to see college opportunities through a different light. While I was talking to one of my friends about my dilemma she asked me what kind of things interested me. We started talking about the different organizations on campus. We talked about how great organizations were for finding friends with similar interests. Soon after the conversation, I expressed interest in attending one of her meetings, for the organization of Latinos Unitos. I choose that organization because it seemed the most different from the groups I am involved with. The meeting I attended was the first meeting of the semester so the members spent the time planning out events for the year. They talked about three main events that they wanted to see happen during the year. Looking back on the year it was cool to see the events materialize. One of the events that was discussed was the Cesar Chavez dinner. The dinner was taken place on the national Cesar Chavez day. Cesar Chavez is a legacy for promoting civil rights. He was also and educator and an environmentalist. The national holiday was the perfect opportunity for the students to inform other students about a person that has been so influential in their culture. It was cool to see students that are so passionate about their culture and so willing to expand their culture to other students at the university. I thought of the organizations that I am involved with. The closest organization I am involved in that could compare is fellowship of christen athletes (FCA). We try to inform others about what we believe in just how LU tries to inform others how their culture was developed. We also take advantage of our meetings to freely talk about what we believe in. I think that in today’s society Christens have several stereotypes just like how other cultures have stereotypes. It is nice to see fellow students reaching out to not necessarily break the stereotypes but to just inform others what their culture is all about and what makes it special. It seems to be human nature to have a place where you fit in. Having these organizations helps students find other students with similar passions. It is nice to live in a country where an expression for ones culture is allowed. I was just talking to my FCA group about how privileged we are to be allowed to fully express our beliefs in Christ without being thrown into jail or shunned from society. Many people take these privileges for granted and some just don’t take advantages of the privilege. I used to be one, a “closet Christen” I now refer to my days of private worship and prayer. This group meeting I went to showed me just how many people are not taking anything in their past for granted and are proud of their background.

I also couldn’t help but note on the group dynamics. When volunteering for tasks I picked up on certain people volunteering together. I guess “cliques” exist everywhere. I want to see if I could sit in some other organizations meetings, just to see how different groups on campus interact with each other.