Luke de Castro Assignment 6

I love computer science. I read about it in the news, talk about it with my friends, and practice it on my own. I believe this stems from my fascination with the future and what it holds. When I think of computer science, I don’t just think about hardware and software, I think about the real problems it could solve. From self-driving cars, to space exploration, and cheaper healthcare, computer science has touched or has the potential to touch every aspect of our lives.

Computer science, in essence, is problem solving. Over the summer, I worked with a group of college students in a computer science lab at the University of Kentucky, and we were tasked with the problem of teaching experienced biologists how to use computer tools to better perform their jobs. Biology isn’t a part of any computer science curriculum, and yet computers solved a biology problem. The study of computer science never stands alone; it is always married to another field, and this is where it draws its power. From my experience with computer science, I realize that it has become the most powerful problem solving tool in history, and I aspire to apply it to whatever problem I encounter.

Computer science brings the future closer, and by studying it, I believe I will contribute to our future.

Luke de Castro Assignment 5

Television entertains the masses and academia educates them. Both are important in any society, and each holds an award ceremony to celebrate their successes. The difference between their popularities results from their different purposes. Because people rarely follow the physicists, authors, economists and others, the Nobel Prize doesn’t receive the same level of attention as the TV shows that play in everyone’s home. The Nobel Laureates motivation is not entertainment, so naturally, people aren’t entertained.

The Nobel Prizes and their winners resonate less with the average person than the winner of the best TV show. People watch TV, but they don’t follow scholars. TV is designed to entertain and entice its audience, while scholars try to advance society and human knowledge. Although these scholars affect people’s lives more, people prefer to spend their time watching TV.  Audiences’ fixation on the Emmy’s and not the Nobel Prize should not disappoint anyone about the present state of our society. The prestigious nature of the Nobel Prize remains unaffected by its small audience because its purpose is not to entertain and attract. The moment the Nobel Prizes start catering to viewership is the moment we need to worry, for they should continue to award accomplished individuals and not be concerned with celebrity.

Luke de Castro Assignment 4

I found it difficult to answer this question. At first, I thought that maybe I am a sheep who never questions anything, but I quickly realized that it is just the opposite. The prompt assumes something. It assumes that I take beliefs at face value before questioning them first. It assumes that my parents or my community unduly impose these beliefs on me. I grew up in a family culture that promoted questioning and discussion.

It is important to question all ideas and beliefs not simply to change them but to reaffirm and qualify them. Every morning when I drive to school, my dad sits in the car with me. We talk about current events, family, and other interesting ideas. Because we have a more equal footing in our relationship, I challenge and discuss more. Having beliefs about something is as important as the thought process behind those beliefs. Those discussions every morning before school constitute that thought process. Instead of accepting my parent’s ideas at face value, I contribute to their views just as they contribute to mine.

Luke de Castro Assignment 3

When people think of diversity, they often picture a multiethnic group from different countries and areas of the world. People don’t often think about why we need diversity. Sure it looks attractive for PR, but why is diversity truly necessary? At the weekly seminar I attend at the Computer Science Department at the University of Kentucky, I learned that diversity is essential because it exposes us to ideas originating from different backgrounds and viewpoints that we might never see.

At this seminar, people from all over the world, like India, China, Poland, Greece, Italy and more, talk about their research or ideas in the field of computer science. The topics range from better networking systems to revolutionary machine learning. People from different cultures bring new interests and different ways of solving problems. One researcher from India created a method of communication using smartphones after a hurricane wipes out the cell network. He was inspired after his city in India was struck by a hurricane. His experiences with this natural disaster gave him new ideas on how to solve a worldwide problem that I certainly would have never thought of. When people from different backgrounds work together, they combine all their collective life experiences, and this exchange of ideas sparks completely new thoughts.

My times at this seminar showed me that seeking diversity is not just seeking diversity of skin colors and nationalities, but also diversity in experience and ideas. In my future intellectual endeavors, I will seek to work with people of different backgrounds because their new ideas could change the way I think about a topic. 

Assignment 4 Harris Hawkins

   As my childhood begins to come to an end and a new chapter of my life called college awaits, I find myself contemplating what I've been told by adults my whole life. The irony of life is that people spend their lifetime preparing for their next chapter of life, but fail to enjoy their present chapter. The prime example: high school students indulging themselves in various extracurricular activities and clubs that they don't even enjoy.
   Meeting with a college advisor once a month and listening to various "college admissions experts" started to open by eyes to what getting into college is really about. Checking a box. The figurative box checks students use to beef up their resume and keep their over zealous parents pleased. Over the past months  questioned why college admissions revolves around quantity and not quality. Why do students have the notion the more extracurriculars they do, the easier admission into college becomes? I for one, believe participating in a handful of activities students enjoy and activities they feel productive in should become the norm. Basketball, youth group, baseball, EAP, running a small business take up the majority of my free time and I enjoy doing all these activities. If I were to add anything more to my plate, I would become unproductive and less valuable to the activities important to me.

Assignment 6: Create Your Own Adventure (College)

What interests you? What is your point of exigence? What's on your mind?  What do you want to chat about? Rant about? Learn about? What intellectual experience (course, project, book, discussion, paper, poetry, or research topic in engineering, mathematics, science, or other modes of inquiry) that has meant the most to you: 

'Cause really, isn't it all about you? <wink wink nudge nudge>

This response allows you to discuss something that is important to you and to demonstrate how you think about intellectual problems. This is an exercise in creative and critical thinking. It also provides a platform for you to convey your enthusiasm for learning. What excites you about this intellectual experience? How did the experience challenge your preconceptions? How did it impact your way of thinking? What was your reaction? How did it change your perspective?

Ready...

Go!

Due Sunday, October 1st at 11:59 pm

October 15 is last day to make up Blogs 1-8

Assignment 3 Cate Clay

        My family and I love to travel to unique places and absorb as much of the area's culture and history as possible. When I was in the eighth grade we visited Costa Rica and, going all across the country, we saw beaches, mountains, cities, and volcanoes. While seeing this fascinating wide-range of landscapes was unforgettable, my fondest memory of this trip was actually meeting just one person.
        One day while on the beach, I spontaneously decided to take surfing lessons. There were quite a few local surfers giving lessons on the beach, so it didn't take long to hunt one down. My instructor's name was Johnny and to this day he is still one of the most affable people I have ever met.
         What impressed me most about Johnny were not his spectacular surfing abilities, but instead his unwavering positive attitude. As a surfing instructor in a third-world country, Johnny was not very wealthy. But his financial status just didn't seem to affect his outlook on life. He enjoyed life's simple pleasures, like getting the chance to surf on a beautiful day.
         Meeting Johnny will always be memorable because of how it influenced my outlook on life. He made me realize you won't be happy because of the wealth or material items that you accumulate throughout your life, but rather by appreciating all of the small blessings you have in your life. I now truly believe that your happiness greatly depends on how you view everyday life situations. I am immensely thankful that I was able to step out of my usual environment, meet someone completely different from myself, and better grasp how to maintain a genuine happiness.

Assignment 4- Will Gregory

5 Years ago, to the day almost, I had a somewhat life altering experience. It was 2012 and right in the middle of the presidential race. Only 2 candidates remained, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. In social studies class, our teacher informed us that we would have a mock political debate in favor of each candidate. In hearing this, I went home and asked my father to fill me in on his thoughts of the candidates so I would have some fuel with which to argue the following day. I listened to my father closely and even took down notes so I wouldn't forget. The next day I showed up ready to argue all of the points my father had so readily provided. I got up to debate on the issue of Obamacare and started spitting out my father's points of view without truly realizing what I was saying. It wasn't until after I had already argued his very right wing point of view that I realized that I didn't agree with it. I don't blame my father for having these views because they are simply a result of his upbringing but in reality, I don't agree with them entirely and regret arguing for them so adamantly. I think my experience speaks to why we have such a bitter political environment in the US. Many people simply replicate other's views verbatim without thinking critically towards them.

Assignment 4 ellevarner

I have gone to church my whole life. Until I was about 7 or 8, I thought Christianity was the only "right" religion and that all of the other religions were incorrect.  As I have gotten more mature and as I have been taught about these other religions, I realized that there were aspects of other religions that made sense to me- causing me to question my own. There have been multiple instances where I found myself laying in bed before going to sleep just questioning the reality of Christianity. I found that Christianity is more than just a literal story of the lives of people many many years ago. I also found that Christianity is a faith based religion, meaning that you have to have faith in the story- or the story's parallel meaning in order to understand it. because it IS impossible for people to resurrect from the dead- isn't it?

Assignment 3- Will Gregory

When I think about about experiences or opportunities that have shaped or changed my life I immediately think about my church. My church has introduced me to so many things that have altered my views and actions. If I had to specifically pinpoint 1or 2 events that have done this for me I would have to say the 2 mission trips I have taken through my church. The Youth group at my church is very involved in our community and focuses heavily on volunteer work. My mother, a social worker employed by our church eloquently described our churches actions as "putting our mission where our mouth is". She says that so many other churches and organizations are perfectly happy to preach from their high horses about going out and doing mission work and helping one's community, but tend to fail when it comes to actually getting out and doing this work. The volunteer work and mission trips I have taken through my church have shown me parts of this country and people within them that I would have otherwise never encountered. I have learned so much through these trips and hopefully helped many people. They have changed my outcome on life entirely and would recommend them to any and everyone.

Assignment 3 elle varner

When I was in 3rd grade I had the privilege of going on a carribean cruise for Spring Break. My family and I travelled to Cozumel, Mexico; Key West; Jamaica; and the Cayman Islands. Everywhere we went was gorgeous. The water was incredibly blue and clear and the plants and animals were abundant and unfamiliar, especially to a 9 year old who had never left Kentucky before.  But what affected me the most about that trip was the realization of how well off -not just I was- but how well off our country is. This realization became most apparent when I was in Jamaica, where inflation was insanely high. There were impoverished people living on every corner, and despite their condition, they were the sweetest people I have ever met. The trip truly opened my eyes to how good my life is and how I was taking things for granted.

Assignment 3 Harris Hawkins

It's crazy to think how different people live from us, even in our own country. Every summer since 7th grade, Will Gregory and I attended a mission trip with our church youth group. Detroit, Washington D.C., New Orleans, and rural South Carolina all popped my bubble of living in Chevy Chase my whole life. Sometimes when I'm sitting at home watching the new I can't help but to feel helpless. The purpose of a mission trip is to abet people and impact their life positively. Honestly, the people I encountered touched me more than I touched them. Jessica White. I still remember the name of the women in Washington D.C. who shared her homelessness story with me. Jessica grew up in an upper class family. After high school, she went to medical school and became a nurse. She loved her job and lived a comfortable lifestyle. Except for the fact that her job included breaking the news of death to the families in the waiting room. She did this for years and slowly became depressed. One day she was so severely depressed she couldn't get out od bed and lost her job. One thing led to another and Jessica lost her house and car. Jessica's pride prevented her for asking her family for help and she was forced to the women's shelter. She was homeless for 2 years before getting her depression under control, sleeping on park benches and not eating for days at a time. She said the worst part about homelessness is ordinary people acting like she was invisible. Jessica's story shows that anyone can become homeless no matter what their back round. Her story has compelled be to count my blessings and taught me homeless people are just like us.

Assignment 5: For the Love and Hate of Television

The Emmy Awards (aired recently) are kind of a big deal. Not a big deal in that life-altering-kind-of-way, but a big deal in the sense that a lot of celebrities dress up, that a lot of companies pay more money in advertisements, and a lot of people stop watching reruns.

The Emmys are not the only award extravaganza of the season though. During the first week of October, without the advertising, paparazzi, or celebrities, the Nobel Prizes are announced. But how many people are listening? With the Emmys comes television's fall lineup, but what does the common person get after the announcement of the Nobel Prize in physics?

So, what are your thoughts? Choose one or two or all of the following prompts:

Why do you watch TV? Why do you not? What shows do you love or hate?

Does TV provide a good form of entertainment? Is it just a convenient delivery system for advertisers to send their messages to the masses? Is it an inane use of time? Can it be all three?

What does it say about our society that the Emmy's have so much glitz and attention and the Nobel Prizes are quietly announced in the news? Is this bad? Good? Appropriate?

Check out these sites for more information:

Turn off your TV

Television and Health

Positive Benefits of TV on Toddlers and Children

Due Sunday September 24th at 11:59 pm

October 15 is last day to make up Blogs 1-8

Assignment 2 Griffin Coates

-The Teenage Brain
-The Eye of Minds
-The Rule of Thoughts
-Eragon
-Eldest
-Brisingr
-Inheritance
-The 5th Wave
-The Infinite Sea
-The Last Star

As a reader, I tend to like fiction the most.

Assignment 2 - Lizzy Wolfe

Some books I have read in the past year are:

11.     The Teenage Brain by Frances E. Jensen and Amy Ellis Nutt

This was a required book. I probably would have picked it out for enjoyment in the past but with all the brain issues I’ve had in the past year I did not like it.

22.     Writing with Style by John Trimble

I really liked this book. I thought it was useful and I liked Trimble’s style, it was light and conversational.

33.     Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains are Wired to Ignore Climate Change by George Marshall

I read this as part of my bibliography but surprisingly enjoyed it. However, the author uses MANY examples. Because of this, it was dry at times.

44.     Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

This is a satirical novel involving science and technology. It was original and fresh. I really liked it.

55.     A Separate Peace by John Knowles

In my opinion, this book was very slow. It didn’t catch my attention so I only read about 30 pages. It was recommended to me by a past teacher, and I feel like if I got into it I could have finished. But I didn’t try.

66.     The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I watched the movie first – I know, a sin - so I was already familiar with the plot. The book was well written and to the point, which I really liked. There are some differences between the book and the movie especially with characterization but both still made me cry.