Caution: This May Make You Mad (Relfection)

                My Reflection

At first, when I walked into Freshman Seminar the first day I thought: “UGH! This is going to be a blatant waste of me time and energy!” This thought remained with me throughout most of the semester. Although some of the presentations were insightful, wonderfully presented, interesting, and opened my mind to things I’ve never thought or realized before I still felt that being there that one hour was taking up time for me to study or nap. As a nursing major I saw some relevance to what I want to do with my future, but I felt that it didn’t really teach me anything new. However, emotionally Freshman Seminar made me feel empowered.

                Another reason I did not like Freshman Seminar was the work load. I know we barely did anything in the class, just one post a week, but when you have big Biology tests to study for and Chemistry quizzes to prepare for Freshman Seminar is the last thing on your mind. Because this class took a back burner to the rest of my schedule doing the work felt like a noscence. For example, I am writing this at 3:40pm. Apparently it was due at 12pm. I couldn’t write it Monday because I was getting ready for a Biology lab practicum, and Tuesday I was getting ready to present my project for this class. Wednesday I was writing an English essay and Thursday I was studying for a Biology test. All day today (Friday) I have been studying for the Bio test. I took that at 3, had a floor meeting about cleaning up before the break, and now I am currently in my bed typing this at 3:52pm. While typing this post I am crabby, EXTREMELY tired (due to going to bed at 3am every night), and sick. Yes, I may be in a bad mood but every thought I have typed about this class thus far is how I honestly feel.  Another thing I did not like about Freshman Seminar is the fact that time plays a factor in one’s grade. For me, I have a very busy schedule and often forget “Oh, I have to post this post by Wednesday at 12 am.” I feel that if by a certain deadline, if all the posts are done one should receive full credit. Lastly, I felt the class was extremely disorganized. Possibly if the class was smaller I could have gained something further from the time spent.

                In conclusion:

• ·         In the end I did learn a little bit

• ·         I felt SOME of the presentations were insightful

• ·         I did not like the grading system

• ·         Freshman Seminar was the class I went to during my lunch break between a busy day of classes in which I would study for other classes.

Reflection - Daisa Gainey

Freshman Seminar was at some points a hassle and I often questioned the meaning for this pass or fail class but all in all, I feel that a meaning was given to the course in only a few of the presentations and through the group projects which focused on a variety of problems affecting minorities. Even though no one wanted to do the projects we were all able to find a problem that we legitely were interested in and come together to discuss it and possible solutions.

I believe the plan outlined by PCAR to make a general seminar for all freshman university wide will be more affective than seminars for each school. Freshman Seminar for COAS is supposed to give students the information believed to be needed to be affective and productive at Howard University so why are we being told different things? And from hearing peers reflections in different schools about their individual seminar experiences, I cannot help but feel that the difference in experiences is unfair and possibly detrimental. Well, maybe not detrimental but I feel the clear separation during freshman year allows a deep rooted separation by school and a feeling of inferiority and superiority on peoples part. It is okay to have pride, but when it comes down to bashing - there is a distinct difference. Thus, I believe the only way for Freshman Seminar to be better is to follow PCAR's advice and become a requirement for EVERY undergraduate freshman, in EVERY individual school and not just COAS .

Daisa Gainey'
Sociology '14

Group Response #2

The first group that went today (Nov 17th) spoke about the advancement of technology and whether it has a positive or negative affect on today's society. Some of the main and most memorable points discussed was the issue of privacy and the affects of being part of the "microwave generation." The microwave generation is a term I learned in US History which refers to us being the generation who has easy and quick access to what we want - from microwavable foods to search engines on the internet and locators connected to social networks. Today we want everything to be of easy access and we become nearly dependent on the usage of technology almost dumbing ourselves down to the point of not being able to do any physical research or investigation ourselves. Using the internet in my opinion is detrimental because we  do not get to experience and learn from trial and error (by researching using books and actual field experience) which prevents us from accidentally learning and discovering new things. In addition, technological advancement can be very dangerous (ie: location options on social networking). Not only is it not everyone on the internets business to know your every location but it is a hazard to personal safety. Today's generation has grown up with technology and year by year as we grow up and mature, so does technology so it is nothing different or strange to us. However, when we speak to older generations they cannot imagine being accessible at all times and writing their lives out on the computer and publishing it for everyone to see. We are so used to technology being an everyday part of our lives but we get so engulfed in it without even realizing; I believe that we all should take a break from technologies such as Facebook and Twitter for a few days in order to get rid of the subconscious dependency.

Even though many of my thoughts toward technology seem to be negative, like many others of my generation and even of my mothers, I own a cell phone, I cyber stalk friends and update my twitter with some of my most recent thoughts that were inappropriate to say at the time I thought them. And like many others I cannot talk about the negatives of technology without talking about the positives. Technology has advanced culture and made life easier in many ways shapes and form and show that we are growing intellectually as a human race. However, I believe in many instances current technology has way more negatives than positives and at times could be the deciding factor between physical danger and safety, between pain and hurt.

Daisa Gainey
Sociology '14

Group Response #1

The first group that went during my Wednesday class spoke about the public school system in DC and the fact that no one who can help it (or is financially able) is willing to work on bettering their schools and will not subject their children to such atmosphere. Obama and nearly all recent Presidents (and nearly every other official) have been quoted saying that they would never send their children to DC's public schools in its current state. Thus, what does this say about the education and environment kids who's parents cannot afford to send them to private school and aren't deemed smart enough to test into other alternatives? What happens to them? They are subjected to a less than adequate education, made to believe that they are nothing and then grow up to be nothing more than working class citizens and criminals. This is a sad truth and speaks volumes about our priorities. DC is this nations capital and we cannot even adequately educate the people here, in DC there are constantly decisions being made that send millions and billions of dollars out of this country and to other areas, but the children here do not stand a chance. This saddens me deeply and with the issue that no one is willing to send their children to a DC public school and work on it simultaneously it seems that this will just be a pattern of failure.

Now, do not get me wrong, I am not saying (and the group did not say) that ALL public schools are failing schools, but the ones that house the majority of the black youth are failing schools, which is a majority of the youth population in DC. And this fact only brings up one nasty fact this nation cannot seem to shake for the life of us: race. Is it by any accident that the failing schools, schools that go uncared for by the local government, are majority black? Unfortunately, I'd have to say that it is no accident. There is still a stigma associated with black youth; a stigma saying that they are violent, angry and will never grow up to be more than drug addicted, baby making machine, criminals who rip off the government welfare system. And until this stigma is erased (which is nearly impossible because that would mean racism would be eradicated along with ignorance), majority black areas do not stand a chance. This problem is not only prevalent in DC, but various highly black populated locations across this nation.

Daisa Gainey
Sociology '14

Health

The other freshman seminar group that presented today presented a topic near and dear to my heart as a future nurse, health in the African American community. They discussed the history of our poor eating habits and how we are prone to diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.  Diabetes and cancer run in my family and my sisters and I as youth try to lesser our chances of obtaining these diseases by excercing and eating right.

                This topic also hit close to home because of my summer 2007. I was a part of UMASS Medical School’s High School Health Careers.  In the month long program I had to study a health disparity and the one I chose was Diabetes. This disease affects millions of adults and children each year.

DC Chillen' Needs to STOP When it Comes to Our Youth

Today, one group discussed DC public schools. The girls talked about the low graduation rates and the low test scores, to which I was not surprised at all. Compared to my hometown of Worcester Massachusetts, I find the youth here to be reckless, misguided, uninspired, and truly lost. I see kinds hanging outside on the corner chillen' rather than doing their homework. Although there are MANY blaring influences here in DC and a lot to do, these children still need to get their priorities straight. It makes me sad whenever I walk by these kids.

                I feel the answer to making kids want to learn is the way the material is presented and the willingness of the teacher to help. Although many adults would disagree and say that the students are just making excuses, I feel the teacher has A LOT to do with the children’s interest in a course. In high school I had an English teacher, Mr. Baillie, who was interactive, lively, and kept the class awake and alive with his personality. In the end of his class I wanted to go to English and I learned the most I have ever learned in an English class. On the other hand, the next year I had Mrs. Webb for English. Her dry, bland personality and lack of enthusiasm in her own profession made me slack off and not care about the class.

                The DC schools need to be revamped. In the eyes of youth I have seen on these streets since my arrival I see potential, and longing to learn and to be a leading man or woman in the world, yet the lack of resources and inspiration have hindered their track.

Natalie Nicole Hampton
Nursing Major/Spanish Minor

African Burial Grounds

Upon hearing about our trip to the African Burial Grounds, I can admit that the main thought in my mind was the fact that I was going to be close to home (New Jersey) and could finally be in an atmosphere that I was more than comfortable with. If I would have researched more about the trip, and actually invested considerable interest in the field trip I would have not been surprised upon hearing the background of the African Burial Ground. 

I originally thought that the burial ground was an area where black slaves were buried and upon construction they discovered the grave site (which is a similar situation to the area near the court house located in Hackensack, New Jersey). However, we were educated and told that the African Burial Grave site was an area where blacks buried their own people accompanied by various emotional rituals. The fact that this was a site where blacks buried other blacks further highlights the fact that our history in this country goes way beyond and before mere slavery and that we did do things for ourselves, the way we wanted them to be done. 

The site had an aura of excellence and enriched culture attached to it, and despite the cold that I also felt, I felt very connected to the spirits of the deceased Africans and African-Americans. When you are surrounded around such a rich history and culture, I felt like I had no choice but to do better, and no excuse to not attain success.

Daisa Gainey

Sociology '14

daisa.gainey@gmail.com