Almost Done!

So this week’s blog is another week where we can write about anything we want, so I am going to talk about my weekend and why I will not be in class with all of you on Friday. I also am going to talk about summer plans! Since finals are so close and everything is crammed at the end of this semester, I was not planning on going home this weekend and instead just locking myself in and finishing all my work! However, this weekend my younger brother, Kyle, is making his confirmation and since I am his sponsor it is important for me to be home this weekend. This event could not have came at better time though considering all the stress of school and finals, which I am sure everyone is feeling, but also the much added stress I have recently added due to other things going on with family and friends back home. I am hoping this break from ISU will be the perfect amount for me to relax and set my mind free from classes, as well as hopefully figure out things back home!

After Friday, I will have a total of 11 days left, including weekend and finals, and I will finally be home for summer at last! Although this summer is most likely going to be just as hectic and the school year at least I will be at home with all my family, boyfriend, and best friends! I am taking two summer classes while also working at Potbelly and keeping my nanny job that I have discussed in earlier blogs. On top of those three commitments, I will also have graduation parties, anniversary party for my grandparents, a concert and country thunder to be completed, as well as working out and spending time with friends and family on a regular basis! This summer is definitely going to be hectic but in the end it should all be fun and I’ll get some credits done for school and make some money! 

(Word Count: 337)

Countryy :)

So this week is a week where we can right about anything we want and I had no idea what to write about until I was listening to music. I was listening to my iTunes library with all my country songs and that is when I decided to write about country music. My dad has always been a HUGE country fan as I was growing up, but I was never very fond of it until a couple years ago when I really started listening to the different songs and words. Now I LOVE country and I could listen to it all-day and everyday! I think the reason I like it so much is because I am able to understand what the artists are saying, unlike rap, and most of the songs are all relatable since country singers tend to sing about real life events, especially relationships. Also, country always puts me in the perfect mood and just lets my mind escape when I am in a bad or sad mood.

I am so excited for this summer because I am going to country thunder all four days!! And I also bought my best friend tickets for the Brad Paisley concert at Wrigley Field for her birthday this summer as well! Not only will we get to see Brad Paisley, but also on his tour opening for him will be; Miranda Lambert, Chris Young, Band Perry and Jerrod Niemann! It is going to be an amazing country filled summer and I cannot wait! Many people I know make fun of country and don’t enjoy it like I do, but I don’t care because I love it and country will always be playing in my car especially when my best friend and I are driving together. If you hear country blasting from a car… it’s us! 


(Word Count: 304)

Research and Writing

            This week’s reading reflection is based on the topics of researching and writing strategies. While reading Susana Rodriguez’s, Researching, or How I Fell In Love With Post-It Notes, I was able to make a lot of connections to the thoughts and strategies Susana discussed. For example right from the beginning Susana states, “I don’t remember ever learning how to research in school… I don’t remember ever even being taught how.” I knew exactly what she was saying with this quote because I feel the same way, and I always have with the fact that teachers always expect us to write excellent research papers, but we never learned how to execute that “excellent” research. Of course over the years of having to perform this task we eventually learn on our own, but it takes quite some time. I still do not like the research process and always feel so overwhelmed when it comes time to research.

            The first thing I have to do is set aside a huge chunk of time that I can sit down and plan my paper and start the process of researching. I need to be in a quiet space and know I have a lot of time by myself to sit and think. Like Susana, I cannot pick up the pieces here and there, I need to start the process and finish the process all together or my thoughts are going to run wild and I will not be able to pick up where I left off. This method of researching has been the best one I have found for me so far. I also like to go over the material I find very slowly and make sure to critically read and pick out the most important information that will help me write my paper. Usually once I find all my sources and information I am able to put together my paper quite easily and efficiently; it is the research that is the biggest strain on my mind! 


(Word Count: 332)

Close Reading

This week’s blog is supposed to be written on the topic of close reading. I never really knew what close reading exactly was until we learned about it this week. I understand that close reading is a way to better understand the text being read and find the deeper meaning in the story. Although this seems like a simple task, I do not think it is. I attempted this close reading on all four of the short stories we read in class this week and I never seemed to get what everyone else did from the text. After listening to everyone’s thoughts on the texts I was able to finally make connections and make sense of the story. Before listening to the class’s thoughts though, I was very lost and had no idea what to think of these texts. My “close readings” consisted of questioning everything in the story and I had a very difficult time being able to put things together in order for the story to make sense.

After working with the idea of close readings this week, I have a much better understanding of what it is and what I need to do in order to complete this task. I do think though, after learning this task I will be prone to “close reading” with all future texts I read. It is a really good habit to have and use with all readings. It not only uses your brain more, but also makes you connect with the text and find the deeper meaning in what you are reading, which is always a good thing to do. Except, now that I know how to close read, I think it is going to get annoying to always read like this since it will take longer to think about and process the ideas of the text.