Course Evaluation

Mrs. Ross' Composition I class was one that tested me. Even though the course lasted only five weeks, it was not one to play in. We worked hard, and the work we did was challenging. At first, the essays and reflections we had to do were very hard, but as time progressed, it became easier. This class has prepared me for what I will be facing in the Fall. We had to learn in one month what most people learn in a whole semester. At times the work was over whelming but most of my mistakes in class were my own fault because I did not prioritize my time. Basically, this comp I class is good because it not only tests a person mentally but it also gives incoming freshman class a heads up on the college life.

Reflection of my Weekend

Catching big fish, playing basketball, and going swimming, that is how my weekend went. Saturday, I was happy because I was able to sleep in later than usual. We were scheduled to go fishing but our plans were delayed due to the rain. Some people were happy and others were not so thrilled to go fishing. I wanted to go fishing because it seems to relaxes me. Our group caught the most fish with the help of my three catfish. I had a good time fishing because that is something that I do in my spare time. That next day, which was Sunday, I relaxed all day until we shot basketball and went swimming. I also slept in on this day but was ready to do some type of physical activity. I went to bed around ten o'clock p.m. But was mad because I knew that I had to wake up the next morning at five-thirty, and that is how my weekend went.

Reflection of The Prison Visit

"Wow," is the only word I can use to describe my prison visit. We arrived at Perry County Correctional Facility at approximately ten-thirty a.m. We were greeted by a police officer and given the do's and do nots of our trip. The trip was nothing like I thought it would be. No freedom, no privacy, and no place to call your own. That is basically what a prisoner is faced with everyday of their life. As I walked in the door i could see a hand-full of prisoners playing basketball, walking the track, and just lounging on the yard. We were accompanied by two police officers as we toured the facility. The officers showed us the small dorms the prisoners were subjected to live. The living conditions and poor quality of food made me not want to ever go back there. Decisions people make put them in situations where they have to live with their consequences. Some of the inmates were able to talk to us and the consensus theme of all of their speeches were,"You don't want to be here," and "If i could trade places with you I would." The prisoners said these things in order to try and get the point across to us that prison is no place to be. Even though statistics show that most young black males are incarcerated, I plan on not being just another statistic.

Hills Like White Elephants

-The Hills Like Whit Elephants starts off with two people at a restaurant and they decide to order two drinks. As they are sitting and talking about things, the woman notices the hills. She states that the hills look like white elephants. The man and women continue to dialogue and decide to get something else to drink. The woman wants to stay with Jig, so they have a conversation about how life would be if they lived together. During the conversation they both profess their love for each other. The woman is surprised to see two bags that the man has packed and they live together.

-The Hills Like White Elephants is a story about two people who like each other. They are at a bar and they have a few drinks. They talk to each other about life in general and if they want to be with each other. The woman asks if the man loves her and he replies yes. There are two bags that are from past hotels that they have been to. The man surprises the woman by leaving with her on a train and they live together.

Weekly Reflection

Hard work, is all I can say about this week. We ran and did more push-ups than I think I have ever done before. Monday morning, like always I woke up early and worked out, I ran a lot. I was so exhausted, I am sure I was not the only person who was tired because we all worked hard, then we had to go to class. This is something that that i do not like to do at all. Tuesday and Wednesday were just like Monday, and I was getting used to this routine but Thursday we ran even more than we had ran previous days. Friday was no different, and this morning we had to run with Ronde. I hat running with him because it seems like he never stops running, I think he does not have any lungs. but, I know that all of this physical training will help me get into shape and get me ready for football.

Exlemplification

Waking up as early as five o'clock a.m., I finally realized that this Academic Boot Camp (ABC) was no joke. Hard work, dedication, and a will to succeed are somethings drilled into us every day. During this week I have awaken early, worked out, went to class and even sometimes worked out again. But, I know that all this hard work will pay off in the future.

Midan's Reflection

Midan reflected on the Academic Boot Camp (ABC). He said that he reflected on how everyone’s season went. He also stated that he reflected on his own season as well. Midan plays baseball and is a left-handed pitcher; he is also in the band. He is a drum major and the drum major performs at sporting events. There is a numerous amount of stories that he stated that he reflected. These stories can range anywhere from Central Tuscaloosa’s fifteen and zero record in 2008, to their lose to Prattville High School just last year where they did not play too well. Or it could be about G.W. Carver High School and their perfect regular season and all of the records that they were able to break, mainly because of the wonderful coaching staff. He talked about his teams ups and downs through their season. Basically his reflection brought together all of the different people’s past into one group of thoughts and wrote his reflection paper.

Reflection of the Hard Times at the Academic Boot Camp (ABC)

Boom, boom, boom, is the sound I hear as I try to sleep, I am awaken by a group of mentors saying, “Time to get paid” I look at my alarm clock and see that it is five thirty. My body wants to get back in bed, but my mind is not letting me. I feel like I am being pulled by two huge tractor trailers. On one hand I could go back to sleep and have to run later, which would be worse because of the extra activities I would have to complete as punishment. And on the other, I could just get up and work-out and get it over with. Right now, this is one of the hardest decisions I have to make. But, being the pride-filled person I am, I decide to go ahead and take the time to work-out. I put on my work-out clothes, wake up my roommate, and head to the gym. As I am walking I start to ponder whether all of this hard work and dedication is worth it. (This is a question that has plagued me ever since I stepped foot on campus.) There are too many thoughts going through my mind at this time. But, as I make my way to the gym I see a group of about thirty other camp goers. And I tell myself that if they can do it I can too. This means a whole lot to me because me being the person that I am and growing up as always the youngest out the whole group, I would not like to be out done by any one at anything. While entering the gym I remember what my mother used to tell me. “You only fail at the things you don’t try.” So I began to work-out. It gets hard sometimes but I know that if I just take it one day at a time I will reach my full potential and leave this camp as a man.

A List of Things I Would Like To Change

If I did not have to answer this question I would not worry because, I think that I would not change anything about myself. But since I have to then the things I would change about my self are as followed:

• My kindness- I sometimes tend to be too kind and people take that for a weakness.
• My willingness to give- In life sometimes there are times when a person does not have enough to spare, but I am apart of the very few that will give until I have no more.

A List of Qualities

• I am a good listener- I feel that I am a good listener because i would rather hear what someone is trying to tell me rather than talking and have them hear my problems.
  
• I am very intelligent- Intelligence is something that i possess because it is something that has helped me in the past, it has helped me not only in the classroom but in life as well.
  
• I am a fast learner- I grab hold to things at an accelerated rate.
  
• I treat everyone with respect-I do not judge a person because of their skin color or their decisions in life.

Pet Peeves

• Stinky feet
  
• Ugly toes
  
• Women that are conceded
  
• People who think they are better than what they are
  
• Nails grinding against a chalk board
  
• People who are unhappy all of the time
  
• Movies that have the black person dying first

Thank You Letter

-Dear, family, friends, teachers and fellow peers-First of all I would like to think God because without him nothing in life is possible. I would like to think two of the most wonderful parents in the world who were able to give birth to such a talented and wonderful son. Thirdly, I would like to think my whole family because thay have been with me and stuck with me from day one of my life. Next I would want to thank all of my past, present, and future teachers, because we all know that teachers have the "hardest" job in america. Lastly I would like to thank my fellow peers because they are people who i push myself to be better than and strive to be like. These people push me to excell and they keep me on the right track, I would like to thank them and tell them that without them I would not be the person I am today.

One Major Lesson

-One thing that I have learned in life that has stuck with me is, Use your resources because you never know when you will lose them. Growing up I never paid attention to how the world was run, and honestly I did not care. But one day I was called in for an interview for a job at a grocery store. The meeting went on without a hitch. I thought I was going to get the it, so I waited and I waited, but I never got a reply to my status of gaining the imployment. One day I decided that I would call and see if I was still considered for the position, unluckly they said that the job was taken. Later that day I decided to go to the grocery store and get a few items, I bumped into one of my former classmates and asked if he knows who got the job. He replied that the job would have been mine if the store manager's nephew would not have applied for it. This made me think long and hard about how our world is ran, but I could not be mad because if I had the chance I would have done the same thing.

Favorite Quote

-Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. -Booker T. WashingtonThis quote means a lot to me. It basically says that a person's success is not based on what they have or how much they have, but a person's success is based on obstactle that they were able to overcome in their life

Self Analysis Page

-Born Shaun Council, to the parents of James and Janie Council, I was a gift to this world. It became evident when I was young that I would be a smart kid. I used to win spelling bees, and numerous other academic awards. This followed me all through my years of life. These are things that I feel I have to offer the world: My intelligence, this is something that I feel is necessary for me to succeed, and dedication which I feel is also something that is necessary in order for me to succeed. Dedication is not something that everyone can possess, because it is something that takes time to develop, and is not hereditary. That is what I feel is needed by me to succeed and this is what I have to offer life.

Student's Philosophy

-I view my life as lucky based on the simple fact that I am living. This is because some people can not say this because unfortunately, they are not living. On top of living i feel that I am lucky because because I am receiving a college education. I live my life to the fullest everyday because you never know when it could be taken away from you. I have fun all the time, no matter what I am doing because there is no point in being sad all of the time and walking around like the whole world is against you. Enjoy life and have fun while doing it, thats my philosophy on life.

Student's Purpose

-I feel that I have not found my purpose in life because I am so young. I am striving to be a good god fearing young man. Being able to live my life and become a better young man, and being successful when I grow up is basically how I view my purpose. Helping everyone that I can and being able to help someone in need, will be something that I think will help me in finding my purpose.