Article 2 – Final Draft

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Into the Streets

800 student volunteers, four hours, and a lot of hard work created Into the Streets 2013 at Morningside College. Volunteer students were sent out to different organizations and agencies in the Siouxland Community to help in any way they could.

This tradition has grown in size over the past seven years, to include two thirds of the Morningside student body. The number of participating organizations in nearby cities has also grown. Students have done many different activities, ranging from playing with kids to prairie cleanup. Into the Streets has become such a well-known event that organizations look forward to the help all year. Some organizations are able to save weeks of work on this day.

The director of the Crittenton Center’s Emergency Shelter said, “The volunteers did such a great job. What they did would have taken us months to do.” Regarding the painting and cleaning that the Morningside Men’s Basketball team did for them.

This unique event is also completely student planned. The honor society Omicron Delta Kappa hosts the event every year. This is an honor society for upperclassman students. In this society there is a committee devoted to the planning and preparation of the event.

One of the co-chairs of the committee, Emily Greenlee said, “This was the best committee ever. Over the past four years, I think this was the smoothest the behind the scenes work as gone.”

Emily along with her committee worked for months to find organizations willing to participate, as well as students willing to volunteer. They collectively called close to 125 agencies in the Siouxland area. This calling takes hours to complete as the committee members are working with the schedules of the agencies. The committee successfully found 831 slots for students. While this was over the 800 students that signed up, this was a problem that they greatly preferred to have. Past years had more students than slots, which is a harder problem to solve.

This volunteer service day sets Morningside apart from other colleges. Few colleges set out a day during the busy semester for students to volunteer in the community. What also sets apart this day is the fact that these students are doing this because they want to. Students are not required to participate and do not get class credit if they participate. This says a lot about the student body at Morningside and what is important to them.

Into the Streets represents the mission statement of the college. It takes a great deal of work by dedicated students to plan, as well as hard work on the day from the students who volunteer. Overall, two-thirds of the student body has participated the past five years and if history is any indication, Morningside students will continue to participate for years to come.

News Comment 10-3-13

This article was about the current government shutdown. The article describes Obama’s desire to not give into the wants of a small group of extremists. He is willing to negotiate if they are. He believes there is a precedent at stake regarding the acts of a small group of extremists and their power to control an outcome. Whether it is extreme Democratic or Republican views he doesn’t want a precedent to be set where they can stop important political processes because they refuse to negotiate. The article describes different strategies the Republicans are going through regarding the issues at hand. Some are in favor of the shutdown and some want it to end. The biggest problem comes with the opinions regarding the debt ceiling and Obamacare, issues the two parties will probably never agree on. The need to for a compromise, not an agreement.

I thought this was a very informative article. I was written in way that handled the political issues relatively well. I don’t know much about politics myself but I was able to pretty much understand the issues and what is at stake. I think the article may have strayed a bit from the title “Obama Sets Conditions for Talks: Pass Funding and Raise Debt Ceiling”. Although the article goes into more detail on what the Republicans and thinking and doing than the President this is probably necessary.

The article brings up the important struggle that is going on between extremist Republicans and Obama right now. It was interesting to read and gave me a lot of information but there is no outcome. I’m not sure what to take from this article. I feel a bit worse about the situation having this information than I did before I read the article. It mostly leaves me just as frustrated with the situation and a group to direct my frustration towards.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/03/us/politics/congress-budget-battle.html?hp&_r=0

Article 2- First Draft

Into the Streets

800 student volunteers, four hours, and a lot of hard work is what made up this years Into the Streets event day. For the past seven years the student body at Morningside College has participated in an all campus event day focused on volunteer service in the Siouxland Community. Volunteer students are sent out to different organizations and agencies in the Siouxland Community to help in any way they can.

This tradition has grown in size over the years, to include two thirds of the Morningside student body and many organizations in nearby cities. Students have done many different activities over the years, ranging from playing with kids to prairie cleanup. Into the Streets has become such a well-known event that organizations look forward to the help all year. Some organizations are able to save weeks of work on this day due to the volunteers.

The director of the Crittenton Center’s Emergency Shelter said, “The volunteers did such a great job. What they did would have taken us months to do.” Regarding the painting and cleaning that the Morningside Men’s Basketball team did for them.

This volunteer service day sets Morningside apart from other colleges. Few colleges set out a day during the busy semester for students to volunteer in the community. What also sets apart this day is the fact that these students are simply doing this because they want to. Students are not required to participate and do not get class credit if they participate. Over the past five years participation has grown from 200 students to 800 students. This says a lot about the student body at Morningside and what is important to them.

This is also a really unique event because it is completely student planned. The honor society Omicron Delta Kappa hosts the event every year. This is an honor society for upperclassman students. In this society there is a committee devoted to the planning and preparation of the event. This committee worked tirelessly to find organizations willing to participate, as well as students willing to participate. This may sound easy after six years of positive feedback, but this process takes months.

One of the co-chairs of the committee, Emily Greenlee has said, “This was the best committee ever. Over the past four years, I think this was the smoothest the behind the scenes work as gone.”

She was co-chairs with Sarah Sorenson and they had a committee of nine people they were able to delegate work to. This committee with the co-chairs called close to 125 agencies in the Siouxland area. This calling takes hours to complete as the committee members are working with the schedules of the agencies. The committee though successfully found 831 slots for students. While this was over the 800 students that signed up, this was a problem that they greatly preferred to have. Past years had more students than slots, which is a harder problem to solve.

Into the Streets represents the mission statement of the college. It takes a great deal of work by dedicated students to plan and hard work from the students who volunteer. Overall two thirds of the student body has participated the past four years and plan to continue that trend in the future.

Article 1: Final Draft

The Benefits of Studying Abroad

Many American undergraduate students have never left the United States and never will. Travelling abroad is seen as a luxury, not as necessary. However, in todays day and age a worldview not bound by borders in necessary. A student who is aware and has experienced the world outside of the United States is at a great advantage. A study abroad experience gives all of that and more to a student.

The majority of American students do not study abroad despite the many benefits. Joyce Lau from the International Herald Tribune reports that, “Many American students say they would like to go over seas… but only 1% of U. S. students study abroad during any academic year.” However, Unesco reports that there are 3.4 million students on the move each year all over the world, and that number is expected to grow. So, why aren’t more American students studying abroad and taking advantage of the experiences many benefits?

Studying abroad more often then not is an eye opening experience. Most students go through a period of personal exploration and growth while abroad. The Institute for the International Education of Students reported from a survey that, “When asked about personal growth, 97 percent [of students] said studying abroad served as a catalyst for increased maturity, 96 percent reported increased self-confidence, 89 percent said that it enabled them to tolerate ambiguity, and 95 percent stated that it has had a lasting impact on their world view.” Being completely immersed in a new culture can be incredibly intimidating, but in the end it opens the students’ eyes to a whole new way of thinking and living.

Cultural immersion is a fast and efficient way to teach students that there is a larger world out there. It shows students that there are many different types of people and there are many different cultures. Learning about people and cultures different from oneself creates a global awareness in a student. If a student can prove he or she isn’t ignorant about other people and cultures due to real life experience, it is and invaluable trait for their future.

A study abroad experience can also often reshape the career path of a student. Students with an international experience often take a more reflective approach to the role they are going to play in the world. The study abroad experience gives a student new skills that distinguish him or her from other students entering the work field.

Diversity Abroad, a leading international organization that provides study abroad experiences, claims there are four major impacts career wise for students who study abroad. These four impacts include: A willingness and readiness to adapt to new environments, an ability to look at a project or situation from different perspectives, an understanding of diverse cultures, and self-confidence with an ability to take risks. Studying abroad prepares a student for a successful future in his or her career path.

Studying abroad is expensive. Higher education is expensive. This is the unfortunate truth in the world of education. Many students don’t end up studying abroad because they cannot afford it. However, studying abroad is possible on a budget. The individual students just has to decided if the benefits of the experience will outweigh the hit to his or her bank account. The benefits of studying abroad are costly but if a student takes the time to search for a scholarship, grant, or loan the cost is manageable.

A student who studies abroad is more prepared for life after undergraduate school. The study abroad student has already experienced taking risks, problem solving, interacting with new cultures, working under pressure, and successfully navigating the unknown. The student has gone through an important period of personal growth and an accelerated period of learning. While study abroad can seem like a daunting concept in the beginning, it’s benefits and future advantages outweigh the cost and other personal disadvantages every time. If a student is considering whether or not to study abroad the benefits show, the best response is to do it.

 

Source Links:

http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/11/who-studies-abroad-who-stays-put-and-why/?_r=0

http://www.iesabroad.org/study-abroad/news/benefits-study-abroad

http://www.npr.org/2012/08/09/158501278/weighing-the-benefits-of-studying-abroad

http://www.diversityabroad.com/study-abroad-career-benefits

Article 1: First Draft

The Underlying Benefits of Studying Abroad

            As a study abroad student myself, I know the pros and cons of the experience well. My semester at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance studies at the University of Oxford in England was my most difficult and most rewarding semester so far. I think the benefits of studying abroad completely outweigh the disadvantages. I think more students should take advantage of study abroad programs at their own colleges and universities because there is no shortage of programs out there.

Joyce Lau from the International Herald Tribune reports that, “Many American students say they would like to go over seas… but only 1% of U. S. students study abroad during any academic year.” However, Unesco reports that there are 3.4 million students on the move each year all over the world, and that number is expected to grow. So, why aren’t more American students studying abroad?

Studying abroad is expensive. Higher education is expensive. This is the unfortunate truth in the world of education. An undergraduate education is too expensive for today’s students as it is. Add to that a study abroad experience and if a student wasn’t already in debt, he or she is now. If this student wants to go to graduate school in the future as well, there is no shortage of expenses. Many students don’t end up studying abroad because they cannot afford it. However, if a student wants to study abroad, he or she can search out scholarships, find grants, and take out loans. Studying abroad is possible on a budget. The individual students just has to decided if the benefits of the experience will outweigh the hit to his or her bank account.

Studying abroad more often then not is an eye opening experience. I was changed after my time in England and I think most students go through a period of personal exploration and growth while abroad. The IES Abroad program reported from a survey that, “When asked about personal growth, 97 percent said studying abroad served as a catalyst for increased maturity, 96 percent reported increased self-confidence, 89 percent said that it enabled them to tolerate ambiguity, and 95 percent stated that it has had a lasting impact on their world view.” Being completely immersed in a new culture opens the students’ eyes to a whole new way of thinking and living.

A study abroad experience can also often reshape the career path of a student. Students with an international experience often take a more reflective approach to the role they are going to play in the world. The study abroad experience gives them new skills that distinguish him or her from other students entering the work field. Diversity Abroad claims there are four major impacts career wise for students who study abroad, including a willingness and readiness to adapt to new environments, an ability to look at a project or situation from different perspectives, an understanding of diverse cultures, and self-confidence with an ability to take risks. Studying abroad prepares a student for a successful future in his or her career path.

A student who studies abroad is more prepared for life after undergraduate school. The study abroad student has already experienced taking risks, problem solving, interacting with new cultures, working under pressure, and successfully navigating foreign transit. The student has gone through an important period of personal growth and an accelerated period of learning. While study abroad can seem like a daunting concept in the beginning, it’s benefits and future advantages outweigh the cost and other personal disadvantages every time.

A Fudgesicle on a Cold Morning

The wrapper of the fudge popped crinkled in the already cold room. I already had shivers going up and down my arms creating goose bumps as I held the Blue Bunny Big Fudge Bar.  As I pulled open the end of the wrapper it made a screeching sound. I grabbed the fudge bar out of the wrapper I saw that it had ice chips stuck to it. This didn’t give me much hope for my goose bumps going away. The touch of the fudge bar on my lips gave a cool sensation. It felt like I had been outside in a Minnesota snow storm without a scarf. My first bite sent a shiver through my spine. It wasn’t a pleasant shiver, but the type that cools a person to the bone. I’ve never been able to bite into ice cream or popsicles. My grandma used to give my cousins and I fudgesicles on hot summer afternoons. When the cooling sensation provided by cold treats feels more pleasant. My cousins and I would look forward to the cold chocolatey treat every time we went to her house. Only in the past 5 years has she stopped stocking her freezer with cold desserts. However, he treat drawer remains in use for my younger cousins. I remember the fudgesicles of summer afternoons tasting better than these. The fudgesicle drips on table, leaving a milky brown spot on the gray top. The milky brown color resembles the flavor. It doesn’t taste much like chocolate. It’s just leaves my tastebuds cold. I realize that I have to start eating it faster before it entirely melts. Avoiding my teeth and any more shivers I finish the fudgsicle. I feel the grain of the wooden popsicle stick on my lips. The familiar fear of slivers flashes through my brain. I put the popsicle stick back in the wrapper not in favor of the taste of the wood.

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