Texting, facebook shortcuts

How would any of us survive without the modern day conveniences of today's technological world? What did I do before I had a cell phone? Texting not only allows us to stay in toch with everyone else, it is somewhat detrimental. Not a bit of sarcasm can be detected through texting or Facebook messages. Relationships and friendships are often altered or hurt because of the way texting and the written word can not communicate emotion. This is pretty much what I wrote my last paper on. Communication is the key to holding a relationship together, and when it can not used in its fullest ability. When you use communication through texting and messages, a person can not read your emotion or the purpose of what you are saying.

Reality TV

So Im noticing how out of control reality tv is, but I absolutely love it. I have become addicting to insane shows such as Flavor of Love, The Bachelor, New York and so on. It is saddening yet incredibly entertaining how our society gravels over watching other make fools of themselves. I spend most of the time that I watching tv, watching useless reality television. Why are people so in love with watching there peers act foolish and inappropriate. I think part of it is watching other act out things that we would never do. LIving our lives through others. It's incredibly sad, but I'm hopelessly addicted to it. Like, the bachelor for instance, people are living their life through pretty perfect well spoken people on tv. Sad.

...

Today I had my last final and I am sooo glad my first Semester is over with. It has been incredibly long and tedious. It has also been one of the best and most fulfilling experiences of my life. Friends from highschool often ask if college is really that much better than highschool. So much better, so much different. Not only is the social and obvious part better, the academic part is definetly better as well. Teachers who seem actually focused on students opinions and drive to learn. So much time was spent in highschool never learning, never accomplishing anything. It is relaxing, yet motivating to attend class with an actual person everytime.

Disney World

My favorite place in the wrold is Disney World. I have gone there more times than I can count weather it was with my family or different friends. I absolutely am at my happiest when I am in Disney World. It sounds cliche, and silly, but I absolutely love it there, and don't understand anyone who doesn't like it as much. In fact, as a child I was set on working there during all of my summers at college. Of course, this hasn't really worked out due to me actually having to live in the real world. But, that's ok. I think if I did live there I might not love it as much. So, I'll just cherish it while I'm there visiting, and that is all. If I had to pick my second most favorite place I have traveled it would surely be New York. New York and Disney World are kind of similar I think. They are both incredibly magical-there is something new and different every time. I absolutely love these places, and could and do go several times a year. I have been to Europe several times, but still no matter where I go, nothing tops Disney WOrld. Wierd, I know.

Summer

So, I think everyone is getting really tired of eachother. I have made the best of friends this year at college, and absolutely love it here. However, I think that anytime you spend weeks and weeks at a time with the same people over and over again, I think you tend to get a little tired of eachother. We are all put in such a routine here at school, we forget to keep relationships fresh new and spontaneous. Both platonic and romantic relationships need absense to make the heart grow fonder. This is why I am so ready for summer. Summer is going to do so much good for all of my friendships. I know in one week I am going to be already missing everyone like crazy. This is why summer is so beneficial. Come August I am going to be so ready to see all of my friends again, and start off the new year. And when we all get back in the fall there are going to be so many new things to experince at Southern. It is my first year already involved with other activities and organizations. I will begin Greek Life recruitment from a different side than last year. I am so ready for the summer, even though it will be incredibly busy. In June, I am going to work a lot, and save up a lot of money. I am also taking a five week course at 8:00. We will see how that goes.-haha. And in July I'm going to London for m onth where I will study Children's Literature. I can not wait. This summer is going to be incredibly busy, and hopefully I will be able to relax somewhere in there!

Facebook is pretty much the most distracting thing ever ever created. I have trouble writing papers on time, studying for more than 15 mintues or even writing these blogs. Every five minutes or so I feel the need to log on over to Facebook to see if anyone has recently decided to pop up and say hello. I just wrote my recent picture on the negative impacts of Facebook and this is another one. It makes completing anything academic almost impossible. So along to all of the other multiple bad things Facebook does, I add this.

Rambles, rambles

I like to be envolved on campus. Campus envolvement allows for productive time spent, stuff to put on your resumes to then get envolved in more stuff and a pretty good way to meet new people. However, I think the thing far worst than not getting envolved on campus, is gettin over-envolved. There is nothing that I hate worse than when someone spreads them self so thinly and envolves themself in every activity and runs for every position possible. Not only does this hurt others' chances for positions and activities but is not being fair to each organization you join. I know many people who have joined so many clubs and so many organizations that they do not and couldn't possible devote themselves to anything.

Summer

So, I'm really ready for this semester to be over with. I love college and all but this is starting to get incredibly mundance and repeditive. It's almost like being back in highschool and being absolutely thrilled that you had the short summer off. That's exactly what this summer is going to be for me, very very short. But it is going to be an absolutely amazing experience all at the same time. I am staying in Hattiesburg during June and taking a class and working. And then in July for a month, I am going to do the British Studies Program in London, and am so excited. I've been to London before, but it was a long time ago with my parents. Something about traveling with friends and those closer to your age makes the experience completely different. I am taking a children's literature course while there, so hopefully that will help apply to my major in some way. I am an Elementary Education major, so I think that course will be really exciting and interesting. I know a couple of people that are going, but for the most part I will get to meet many many more friends. We also have a free long weekend type thing where we are allowing to visit a neighbooring country, not too sure where I'm going to go just yet. But I will be thinking! And then when I get back from London I start my next semester off wonderfully as well! I'm a GEWW crew leader this year, and am so way stoked. Not to mention Formal Recrutment and lots of new students! I can not wait. As much as I am needing and ready for this semester to wind down, I really can't wait for the next one to begin!

Parking

The parking at Southern is absolutely out of control. I think it is ridiculously unfair. There are half as many parking spots on this campus as there are students, and not even all of those are available to students. We aren't given adequate, reasonably close enough parking and then are shocked when a student is sexually assaulted walking back to her dorm. So, a student figures they will just park in a faculty spot until 7:00 the next morning when they will prompltly get up and move their car. However, this is only to find that they had received a parking ticket an hour earlier, at 6:00 a.m.. I understand that fixing such a huge problem would be quite a financial burden to the University. Perhaps the University could consider not spending millions on stadium renovations and additions, when we honestly don't fill the already large stadium we have. And I think when you examine the dangers, angst and sheer annoyance the parking situation has caused at Southern, that it should be higher on the list of priorities on this campus. Now, I am all about school spirit and pride, however; making this school incredibly attractive to potential students is not quite as important as creating a safe environment.

Citation and Source

1)
Flynn, Amanda. "Log on for Love."
13 Feb 2006. 8 March 2007
www.thetartan.org/2006/2/13/internetdating

This article pretty much discusses how impersonal cites like MySpace, Facebook and match.com are making relationships. In place of old fashioned courtship, flowers and dates, we get facebook relationship status and relationship availability. Even in frienships a wall post or message is acceptable in maintaining a relationships rather than a phone call or a lunch date. A main critique I have of this article is that it didn't show any of the positives of Facebook. Overall, the article will be very beneficial to my argument that the internet is creating and enforcing impersonal and shallow relationships.

Traveling

I am passionate about travel, and am excited to go travel and study abroad this summer. I have been out of the country several times, but this will be the longest time. I am going to Britain and am studying Children's Literature. Last year I went to Scotland and and France and absolutely loved it. I think this will be a new experience going with friends and staying on my own away from my family. We stay for one month and all live together in a large dormitory.

Grey's Episode

So here are my thoughts on tonight's Grey's Anatomy episode. (This will make no sense unless you watch the show) I think that the little girl Meredith is trying to help before she falls in the water is a metaphor for Meredith. Meredith is helping the little girl find her mother, in the same way Meredith longs and is searching to "find" her mother. I think just like the little girl finds her mother at the end of the previous episode, that tonight Meredith will in some way get to experience her moether's presense in a perfect place (i.e. heaven) The mother will die tonight and Meredith will get to be perfect and mroe than oridnary for her mother in heaven. So really, there is a lot of concern that Meredith is going to die in this episode, but I don't think that is the case. They can't kill her off, I mean-it is GREY's Anatomy...

Greek Life

I think the stereotypes made about Greek life are ridiculous and pety. I joined one over the past year, and have loved every minute of it. Others often make generalizations about Greeks and claim to be so superior. For example, the Alcohol Awareness course Greeks are required to take at Southern Miss. I feel being required to take that course simply because you are in a particular organization is not only personally offensive but enforcing the stereotypes that are already so popular regarding Greek life. I guarantee you can find plently of alcohol or drug related problems on this campus apart from Greek life.
When I tell someone I am in a sorority I often get horrible looks and immediate dissatisfaction. Sororities promote academic sucess amongst their members, while implementing opportunities for community involvement and social growth. Greek life here has bettered me as a friend, student and person. Each person is an individual regardless of what organizations they are involved with or activities they participate in. Sisterhood is something amazing, and I honestly wouldn't trade it for the world. I try my hardest not to judge or assume things about people before I know them, and sometimes I wish all people would do that. Nothing is more hurtful than being hated for something you love.
I suppose one blog entry won't change the way people view the Greek system, but I personally feel a little better. It sounds cliche but, I would rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I'm not. Sisterhood can be sumed up in one sentence: "From the outside you can't understand it, from the inside you can't explain it." I guess I'll just have to remember that the next time someone offends me or judges me simply because I am part of the Greek system here at Southern Miss.

Paper Question

Here is my question about my curren English 102 paper. The paper is about the comparison of "Samuel" and "Cathderal". I am comparing how humans treat and judge strangers. In what other way are these two strories similar in the way they describe human interaction?

"My Profile"

My name is Laura Laughlin, I am eighteen years old and live and have always lived in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I go to U.S.M and will major in Educational Administration. Even though I have lived here all my life, my passion is travel and visiting other cultures. I am also passionate about my religion, my sorority and spending time with my family and friends. I love a nice hot shower and taking long naps. I am at my happiest when I am with my friends or on a beach. I am at my worst when I am flying in planes. I often wish I was a ballerina. If I wasn't a ballerina, my dream job would be to be a Broadway critic. I am shy at first, but I really love to laugh and be silly. Next Spring, I will be studying in France, and I couldn't be more excited! Realistically, I really want to be a principal or teacher when I am older. I surely won't be overwhelmingly rich, but I will be happy doing what I love. I am incredibly organized and take pride in campus involvement and school. I am also obsessed with Disney World and watching lots of movies.