My Take on Improving My Writing

This week I have completed and turned in a scientific research paper! This term is coming to an end. I think that the biggest area that can still use improvement in my writing process is the time spent on research. I think that my papers would come together better and more quickly in the end if I spent more time in the beginning working on researching the topic. I would also be more likely to have enough information to fill the minimum page requirements for the assignment without spending time in the end scrambling for more good information to add. I think that not only would my papers be stronger, but I would be less stressed in the end weeks of my classes. Another area that I will continue to work on improvement is using that paramedic revision technique. I had never used it prior to this class, and while I was skeptical at first, I really liked how it improved the flow of my paper. I think that it had a tighter, more streamlined feel when reading it. It also made the writing stronger.

My Take on Research Topics

My take on research topics: I never realized how interested in researching different topics I was until this class. In my College Composition I class I wrote my paper on Childhood Obesity, as this is what I would like to make my main focus as a Registered Dietitian. I would really like to work in a community center setting, or with the school lunch program to improve the quality of food the children are eating. for College Composition II, I chose to write about genetically modified foods. I have learned a lot thus far and am still working on finishing up my paper. I may still find more interesting information on this subject before I turn my final paper in. A somewhat related topic that I would like to research is organic foods. After my research on genetically modified foods, I would like to eat mostly organic food from this point on. I would like to research the correlation between socioeconomic status and eating habits. My research for childhood obesity touched a little on this and I would love to learn more about it. Diabetes is another area that I would like to work on especially since younger children are starting to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. One area that is not related to nutrition, that I would like to research further is spirited children. I don't know how much research I would find on this subject and am curious to learn more. I am currently reading a book on the subject, and would love to learn as much as I could on this topic. I think even after this class I will be researching more than I ever thought that I would.

My Take on Blogging

I have not decided whether I will continue posting weekly to this blog after this school term. While I know it is the "thing to do", I am not sure that I will want to continue to devote the time to it at this point. While I know that everyone has the same 24 hours to use in the day, right now I am just treading water. I am better about taking some time out for myself, other things now seem to slip at times. Also, so far there have been no comments to any of my posts, so I don't think that anyone would be disappointed, or let down in any way, if I did not continue with my weekly rants. If I had followers that commented and kept up with me every week, I think I would definitely make the time for it. I think that it has been a good experience, and in the future it is something that I would consider again, when I have everything a little more stable and caught up. While I don't expect that my life will slow down to a crawl, I do expect to have things more on track to where making the time to do this on a weekly basis would not be too hard to accomplish.

My Take on Genetically Modified Foods

My take on genetically modified foods, is why are they allowed on grocery store shelves in the United States? In working on research for my paper on genetically modified foods, I have come across far more cons than pros. One point that really grabbed my attention, more than the fact that 80% of the processed foods in this country contain genetically modified ingredients, was that 6 African countries in 2002 turned away food aid from the United States due to the GMOs contained in the food. That fact alone, is so powerful. If these countries turned away food to feed their hungry, starving people because they feared it too harmful, why is it in our food in the United States? Europe requires mandatory labeling of foods with GMOs, and for this reason you won't see many of the products containing them on supermarket shelves as people refuse to buy them. Why haven't we fought for mandatory labeling in this country? I think that if people realized how many foods that these ingredients were in they would find it shocking. I think that we would start putting different food choices in our shopping carts. I think that we would start seeing a healthier country overall, with less occurrences of cancers, among other diseases. We may even be able to uncover additional health problems that GMOs are related too. What if we could find and prove a link to the increasing rise in obesity? It has already been determined that GMOs contain less nutrients than their parent counterparts, what if that is helping the rise in the obesity epidemic. Okay, My Take is getting down off the soap box for now.

My Take on the Last Six Weeks

The last six weeks have been very busy, and very long. I am typically a very calm, relaxed person, and I have been tried several times over the last six weeks. I was doing a really good job keeping up with my school work until last week. I turned one project in late, and will turn in one more late project this weekend. What is crazy is that I am spending time every night on my work, so it isn't like I am not putting the time in. I took one night off per week for the past two weeks as we have had dinner plans with friends, other than that I have been on it. As soon as my daughter goes to bed I close myself in the office and get to work! I keep telling myself that it will get better after this week, it will slow down a little bit and I will be able to catch my breath. There is only four more weeks left in the term and I will have some time off! I have also started working part time, I like my job so far, it has just been an adjustment in making sure that I get to bed by midnight to ensure that I get at least 6 hours of sleep per night. I have also had two colds, back to back. I am finally finishing up the second one. My daughter had them both as well, and is still wheezing. She is using her Nebulizer three times per day and taking an antibiotic, and just finished her last dose of steroids today. Thankfully my husband did not catch a cold either time, and has seemed to escape unharmed.

My Take on School

School definitely has a big influence on my life right now. While, there are nights that I really don't feel like spending every moment after my daughter goes to sleep on school work, I know that I have made the right decision in going to school. It definitely makes me stay more on top of everything and it keeps my priorities in check. I know that the hard work will pay off. I know that once I finish my degree, and am working in the career of my choice, it will all be worthwhile. I know that not only will it influence the size of my paychecks and the rewarding feeling at the end of my work days in a job that I love, it will also have an influence on my daughter's life. She will share in the rewards. I also hope that it will influence the choices that she makes in her life and instills in her the belief that she can accomplish anything.

My Take On This Winter Season

Is it me, or has this winter season seemed twice as long as normal? Instead of the weather slowly but steadily improving a little bit every day as we get towards spring, it seems that it is colder and colder every morning when I walk out the door. It is the very last week of February and I have had to clean snow off of my car twice this week already. It looks like tomorrow will be the third day this week. Unfortunately the Groundhog was right this year, he is actually only correct with his prediction 50% of the time, why did it have to be this year?

My daughter asks daily when she can go to the park and play. Tonight before bed she asked me when we are going to take her outside to ride her bike? All I can tell her, is as soon as this seemingly never-ending winter season comes to an end. She has also managed to outgrow the majority of her winter clothes, so we are trying to hold on until the good weather arrives. I have new clothes put away for her for the spring and summer season, if we ever get there.

The worst part is that today the sun was shining so brightly, and it was ever so inviting. And when I walked out to my car the air was so bitter cold it made my ears hurt.

My Take on Being an Online Student

Being an online student works great for me! The flexibility is what I love the most. It allows me to work everything into my days and weeks. I am able to go to work, take care of my family, spend time with my family and friends and still be working on my degree. I am not saying that it is easy, or that I have even thought of uttering the words "I'm bored" since I started school. But I can still work my schedule the way that I need to and get everything done.

I also really enjoy the self-directed style of the courses. It works really well for people like myself who are task driven and self-motivated. You print out the syllabus the first week of your new course, you see what tasks need to be completed each week and you check them off as you complete each one. I see how this may not work well for those who are not self-motivated to get things done, there is nothing to hold you accountable (except a bad grade and not graduating on time). There is no classroom to avoid, no classmates that you will let down.

The anonymity part of being an online student has some benefits as well. Especially if you are a solitary learner. I have always preferred to study and complete my work by myself. I am not a big fan of study groups, I am a very social person, I just like to do my school work by myself. If you prefer to study in groups, there are several study groups that are available to you.

A Historical Moment

Here it is...history in the making....my very first blog post!