Brighter Future

In order to make progress and get what you want, you have to push towards those goals by putting in action and planning.

After reading my entire blog, I am pleased to see the things I've done to work towards my goals and the accomplishments I've made. When I read about the certain things I asked and did, I began to think to myself saying that I would not have done this if it wasn't for this class. I am a person that usually only do certain things just to get by and anything I felt was most important towards my degree. By doing the different exercises given in Sher's "Wishcraft" I have learned to be more determined about getting the best out of my education. I've made things that seem so small a big part in my life and I've learned to go get what I want in a more aggressive way. After meeting up with certain academic advisers, I began to look at my future in a more positive way. I began to start thinking about what I want to do after my undergraduate years and what I need to do in order to make that happen. "Leadership for Change" class has helped me to start planning ahead and think about the small and big for my life-time goals.

I interviewed quite a few people who were aspiring teachers, teachers presently as well as retired teachers. Hosting all of these interviews was the first time I have done this. The interviews helped me to realize what I am actually getting myself into as far as becoming a high-school teacher and what the work will be like during undergrad as well as after. The three things that I liked most about about "Leadership for Change" was the Barbara Sher's "Wishcraft" book, the documentary entitled "The Secret" and the "Black List" Documentary. When I think back on this class these were the three things that stuck with me and stood out the most. The three things that I least liked about the class was, well there is only two things that I can think of which is the Komives book and the buddy system. I really enjoyed this class and I believe that by taking away Komives and the buddy system, we would be able to still accomplish what has to be and have been accomplished throughout the semester. I don't really feel as if this class needs any improvements because I feel as if everything was given in a even proportion. Overall I'm happy with my progress throughout this semester and I am looking forward in continuing my next steps planned out on my planning wall. I can't wait to the day that I can look back and see that I have accomplished my goals that I physically wrote out as my life-time goal.

STAYING ON TRACK

The steps I chose for this year to take in furthering my career in becoming a high school teacher was take the basic skills test and pass it, register for content area test, enroll in requirede education courses, speak with advisor about classes and graduation timing and last study and complete every homework assignment for classes to raise g.p.a. As of now I have completed every major step that I have scheduled out that is most important in getting my degree. As of now all I'm waiting for is to see my grades for the semester and continue to study for courses that I have finals in. I have committed to study throughout everyday with mini activities and hobbies in between, that way I wouldn't be cramming alot of information in my brain and not be stressed.

I met with another friend who is majoring in the same major as myself. I decided to choose her because she will be done this year and I wanted to match my accomplishment and future classes and tasks with those that she took. I told her about everything that I gave myself to complete for this semester. She congratulated me on finishing my goals for the year. She asked me about my studying for the english courses and the gpa for my major courses. I replied saying that I was right at a 3.0 for my major courses. She continued to stress the fact that a 3.0 is required at uic for teaching of english major students. She gave me certain points and excellent teachers she had in furthering her years of attaining higher than a 3.0 in her english class. She gave me advice of what she did to keep her 3.0 and higher and what she is facing meanwhile. She encouraged me and reassured me that I am well qualified and able to pass every course at uic with a b or better. She gave me her contact information and let me know that I can contact her at any time and date.

Being that I stated I completed the last steps I scheduled for this year as well as the first couple of steps for 2010, the only thing that was left for me to plan for was to study study study. I decided instead of actually studying with hobbies in between that I would just continue to study harder than ever. Keeping in mind that a 2.5 is required after this semester in order to apply for candidacy in February. I figured that by studying having a 2.5 or higher is waiting on me in the future. I also commit to registering for English 222 course, in hopes of helping other students who may need help with english papers. By registering for English 222, I can get a head start feel of how it would be with a real student one on one in helping a UIC student. I commit to having more than 15 credit hours for the spring semester, in which I feel that I am able to achieve and complete.

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

My Plans for this week was to finish my zoo report and to meet with an advisor about applying for candidacy in the spring semester. The zoo report consisted of me attending a zoo and observing the behaviors of apes/monkeys. I seen different type of monkeys. The zoo report consists of three pages about what I observed at the zoo. I thus far finished 2 and a half pages of the zoo report. The report is due thursday so I decided that I would fully complete the zoo report by Tuesday, if not Monday.

The second thing I did was meet with an advisor this past Tuesday. It wasn't a scheduled appointment so I met with an advisor who I've never met (I usually like to stick with the same advisor each time, but since I planned it I pushed myself to do it). I asked her about the whole applying for candidacy for student teaching and she responded that I was moving in the right direction with other positive responses. One thing she said that hit me that kind of made me nervous was that I would have to have a 2.5 G.P.A. to apply for candidacy. Im currently not at a 2.5, but after this semester I'm quite sure that not having a 2.5 would not be a factor for me. I began to ask her what steps I should take and what it would be like if I don't have a 2.5 by the spring. She responded that not having a 2.5 in the spring would cause me to get an extra semester added to my college experience because there are only certain times where you can apply for candidacy. I became a little worried and this thought became heavy on my mind throughout the week.

With the thought of not having a 2.5 by the spring on my mind, I looked forward to a buddy meeting. I was unable to get in touch with my original buddy that I chose, so I chose someone else who would tell me what I needed to hear as well as encouragement. I told her about my plans for the upcoming week and what I planned on doing. I also told her what I planned to be in the near future and what progress I made. I mention the meeting with my advisor and what was said to me about the 2.5 and candidacy and I let her know that I became a little worried. She told me that I was able to do it, and that I need to start seeing what is most important in my life (as far as goals) and start working towards those goals. Although she is not apart of my class, she agreed to speak to me every week and even dedicate a day to study with me. She reassured me that good grades comes with hard work and studying, all of which is easy. She stated that, "If you have good grades, then your G.P.A. will move, your work will show in how much your g.p.a moves." I was happy to have this buddy meeting because it helped me to realize that I still have more tests and papers to ace to keep up my good grades.

Success Come With Hard Work

The one thing I chose to blog about on that was on my planning wall was studying and passing every test and papers with an "A" and settling for a "B. Yes studying and preparing for tests and papers are easy tasks to fulfill but I feel that studying and prep. aration are great keys in accomplishing a goal. My major is teaching of English, which consists of lots of reading, writing and quizzes. When it comes to studying and preparations for tests and paper, I am one who tends to procrastinate and wait until the last minute. I decided on this past week that I would take at least 2 hours out the day and study or prepare for any upcoming papers or tests, even if they are 3 weeks from now. Sounds simple, but I feel as if I'm a very extroverted person and putting my work and schooling before anything everyday was a big accomplishment to me. I study normally about 3 times a week, but studying everyday was hard. Although studying and preparing for upcoming quizzes and finals everyday was a little challenging, I learned to push away from things that can actually be a stumbling block in my journey in becoming a teacher. The next step for me to take upon completing the basic skill test to become a certified teacher is complete the content area test. I took time out to look up the upcoming dates to take the content area test and made preparations to take the content area test (ENGLISH-only) on February 13, 2010.

I experienced the "Let Them Be Mad" resistance on this past week. I am expected to work hard and do everything in a certain manner, whether its my boss 0r family. I am always expected to do everything perfect and strive for the best, because of that reason I tend to stress alot about different things. When I stress I like to talk about what is bothering me. I often keep things to myself due to survival fear. Talking things out usually ends up with someone fussing with not much support. I usually like to make everyone happy or please everyone. To get around the survival fear, I ended up finding someone who gives support and express my feelings. I also put away or stop doing certain things that wasn't necessary, in order to relieve some stress. I learned that I can't make everyone happy and that my happiness is the most important. Putting my happiness first helped me to overcome certain fears.

The Obstacles and Steps in Becoming A Teacher

The person I chose to interview and write about for this week was someone who has became a high school teacher recently and not that far along in age from myself. I chose this person because she too aspire to be a professor, but wanted to start at the high school. I felt that interviewing this person I would get a better feel of what to expect when becoming a high school teacher because she too is young and is consider fresh in the teaching world.

The interview started with me asking her what was the hardest thing she had to do in college before attaining her degree. She replied by saying actually becoming a certified teacher, and she stated that some people may have a degree and are teaching but there were tests she had to take in order to be considered a certified teacher. She stated that there were tests she took and that the content area test was the most difficult. She stated that she took alot of classes dealing with history (which was her major) but she also stated that the hardest part was keeping a 3.0 in her major classes. She also spoked about when she student teached, how it was beneficial because she felt that she would always have a connection with students being that she too was young, but she stated that things didn't turn out that way. She spoke about she had students who tried to run over her and didn't want to listen because they felt that because she looked so young she was one of them. When I heard that I became a little worried because I too feel that I would always be able to grasp a student attention and keep it because I feel like I was one of them not too long ago and I know what I expected and wanted in a teacher, I also explained to her that I too felt that way. She replied by saying, "You have to be tough and not tolerate nonsense." She stated that once you make that clear, the students will respect you and she stated that after that you will probably come across one or two students who try to step to you in a disrespectful way, but I have to keep in mind that they are still children and not adults.

I started a different conversation with her by asking how is it being a little younger than most staff and working in the school system. She replied by saying, you must always come in strong and to the best of your ability, because you would come across some who questions your ability to teach and expecting you to fail. You stated that I even may come across some teachers who tries to question your education and want to know where you graduated from,etc. She stated that being a little younger than most staff caused alot of students to talk to her more and respect her because she is able to understand why they behave the way they do. She stated that providing a great education to a student will be an essential key to your career, but sometimes you may have to play the counsel role because each student is different and behave in different ways and they may want to open up to you about that. The interview ended short, but I was reassured that I will be just fine and that she is always there for support and help.

My Planning Wall (weekly calendar at bottom, float chart in middle, 6 month goal calendar at top) along with those who inspire me as well as those who I feel are my imaginary family. (was not sure if we was suppose to include the imaginary family, but I saw Dr. Roc do it, so I felt I should do as well. :-))

I committed to completing one first step. I received a passed on the Basic Skills Test which is a first accomplishment in my road in becoming a teacher. You must pass the Basic Skills Test, in order to take the content area test as well as apply for candidacy. I also committed to meeting with the secondary education advisor Kimberly Clark in which I did. She explained everything I needed to do and take in order to graduate on time. She explained that now that I have a pass on Basic Skills Test I need to go to the education department so that they can approve me for the required courses I need to take in the spring semester (so, I decided to make that my next step for this upcoming week along with others)

STUDENT NOW, TEACHER LATER

I INTERVIEWED 2 MORE OF MY ROLE MODELS. ONE WHO IS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER IN THE PROCESS OF TEACHING ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL AND THE OTHER WHO TEACHES ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL AT A PRIVATE COLLEGE IN WISCONSIN. I CHOSE THE FIRST PERSON BECAUSE I FELT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE ME A LOOK AT WHAT TO EXPECT AS FAR AS WORK IN BECOMING A PROFESSOR. I CHOSE TO INTERVIEW THE SECOND PERSON BECAUSE SHE IS IN ANOTHER STATE AND I FELT IT WOULD BE NICE TO INTERVIEW SOMEONE WHO TEACHES AT A PRIVATE COLLEGE RATHER THAN A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY TO SEE IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.





THE FIRST PERSON I INTERVIEWED WHO TEACHES HIGH SCHOOL, YET WORKING TO TEACH ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL SPOKE TO ME ABOUT ALL THE WORK THAT I SHOULD EXPECT POST-UNDERGRAD. I ASKED HER WHAT TO EXPECT AS FAR AS THE WORK AND CLASSES, AND SHE RESPONDED BY SAYING THEIR WOULD BE ALOT OF READING AND PAPERS, SOME OF WHICH MAY INCLUDE GROUP PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OR EVEN A PORTFOLIO OF 75 PAGES OR MORE. I ASKED HER IF SHE IS OFTEN TESTED ON WHAT SHE IS STUDYING AND SHE RESPONDED SAYING THAT THERE ISN'T MUCH TEST-TAKING JUST ALOT OF READING AND WRITING. I ASKED HER HOW WAS IT TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL AND GOING TO SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I PLANNED ON DOING WHILE TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL, SHE STATED THAT IT CAN GET A LITTLE STRESSFUL BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE LESSON PLANS READY FOR EACH DAY AND ON SOME DAYS YOU MAY HAVE TO JUGGLE YOUR LESSON PLANS AND HOMEWORK AT THE SAME TIME. SHE SUGGESTED THAT IN HIGH SCHOOL NOT ALOT OF TEACHERS USE SYLLABUS BUT SHE FELT THAT HANDING OUT A SYLLABUS TO HER STUDENTS MADE IT EASIER FOR HER AND ALSO GIVES THE STUDENTS A TASTE OF WHAT TO EXPECT IN COLLEGE. THE INTERVIEW ENDED WITH HER STATING THAT IF YOU HAVE MADE UP IN YOUR MIND THAT TEACHING ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL IS WHAT I WANT TO DO THEN NOTHING WHETHER ITS STRESSFUL OR HARD WILL STOP ME.





THE SECOND PERSON I INTERVIEWED TEACHES AT A PRIVATE COLLEGE IN WISCONSIN. I CHOSE TO INTERVIEW HER BECAUSE SHE HAS A PHD AND IS AN ACTUAL PROFESSOR INSTEAD OF AN INSTRUCTOR. I FELT THAT SHE COULD GIVE ME A SENSE OF HOW IT WAS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS OF BECOMING A PROFESSOR AS WELL AS HOW IT IS ONCE SHE FINALLY MADE IT AS AN ACTUAL PROFESSOR. SHE FIRST STARTED BY SAYING THAT IT WAS A LONG TOUGH ROAD FULL OF WORK. SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW GETTING ANYTHING LESS THAN THE LETTER GRADE B IN A CLASS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I ASKED HER WHAT WERE SOME OF THE DOWN TIMES SHE HAD WHILE IN SCHOOL AND SHE RESPONDED SAYING THAT USUALLY TOWARDS THE END OF HER CLASSES IS WHEN SHE BECAME STRESSED THE MOST. SHE TOO STATED THAT I HAVE TO HAVE A DETERMINE MIND WHILE IN SCHOOL BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHERE YOU MAY HAVE A OVERLOAD OF WORK AND IF YOU AREN'T DETERMINE THEN YOUR DREAM IN BECOMING A PROFESSOR CAN GET DETERRED BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN 2 YEARS TO BECOME THAT PROFESSOR AND THAT I WILL BE IN SCHOOL FOR QUITE SOME TIME UNTIL I GET MY TITLE AS A PROFESSOR INSTEAD OF INSTRUCTOR. I ASKED HER HOW WAS IT TEACHING AT A PRIVATE COLLEGE AND SHE RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THE CURRICULUM IS MUCH INTENSE AND A GREAT EDUCATION IS EXPECTED ALL THE TIME. SHE STATED THAT DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF PRIVATE COLLEGE YOU WORK AT CERTAIN THINGS ARE EXPECTED ON THE SIDE OF THAT GREAT EDUCATION. THE INTERVIEW ENDED WITH HER SAYING THAT HARD WORK PAYS OFF IN THE END, AND NOT TO PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO HOW LONG I HAVE TO GO AND JUST TAKE EACH DAY AT A TIME.

I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED. I RECEIVED GOOD AND BAD, ALL OF WHICH MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR A BLOG, BUT I FEEL THAT I HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT IM GETTING MYSELF INTO. INTERVIEWING THE PROFESSOR FROM WISCONSIN GAVE ME MORE MOTIVATION IN BECOMING THAT PROFESSOR.

"The Future I Work Hard For"

I am currently majoring in English for Secondary Education. Although I want to eventually become a honorary professor, I've always wanted to teach high school and coach on the high school level. I plan to start off teaching on the high school level once I finish undergrad. Because I want to start at the high school level I figured I start with my role models who are teaching at the high school level instead of the ones on the professor level. The two people I chose to interview was Charles Cole and Gloria Winfield. Both of which who are/was high school teachers in the Chicago Public system.

I interviewed Charles Cole and asked about the rode he took and went through to make it to his teaching career. He stated that, "Once you make up in your mind what you genuinely want to do, you MUST remain FOCUS and let nothing deter it." He talked about how he started and finished at Chicago Teachers College which is now called Chicago State University. The only struggles he faced was the general classes that he had to take and that he major classes were the easiest. He stated that instead of doing a lot of socializing he studied. He formed study groups with others in the class and made sure that he knew the material, being that he studied History for Secondary Education which required memorizing lots of dates. Once he graduated from Chicago Teacher College, he stated that he work in the Chicago Public system for over 30 in many Chicago Public High Schools on the north, west and south side. Once he started his career he stated that the only thing that he had to face that wasn't much of a good experience was misbehaved students, flirtacious young female students and at one point a uneasy principal. He stated that these are some of the thing I may face as a young teacher but all he did to overcome it was set some rules/regulations and remain stearn. The students knew what rules they had to follow and what would occur if they didn't. He stated by him being stearn and being a tough teacher he was able to get the students respect. As for his principal, he stated that as long as you do what is expected than there shouldn't be any bad feedback from your boss. He stated that because he had a love for his students and his job he didn't have many bad experiences.

The second person I interviewed was a counselor who use to be a high school teacher. I chose to interview her because I always imagined myself as a high school teacher who had students that came to her for advice and with her being my ex-counselor and teacher I figured I should interview her. I first started by asking her what made her go from being a teacher to being a counselor. She stated that she loved teaching but she loved helping her students and seeing them succeed by her advice which made her want to change from being a high school teacher to a high school counselor. She was an English teacher which is actually the subject I am majoring in now. She told me to be looking forward to a lot of reading and writing. She talked about how all of her college years consisted of reading a lot of materials she liked and hated as well as a lot of papers that consisted of many pages. She stated, "as long as you read and get an understanding, everything else should come easy." Upon becoming a teacher, she stated she too faced a lot of misbehaved young students, she talked about how I would always face misbehaved students who may or may not want to learn. She spoke about how she made her material more interesting according to the things she that she saw her students has an interest in which made them want to learn more. She too said that I must be have a love for my career in order to enjoy it fully.

Now that I interviewed both high school teachers, I am well aware that I may face a lot of misbehaved students and students who may not want to learn, but they reassured me that if I have a love for my career and students I would be fine. I always had a love for helping and giving advice to younger children. I never imagined the rode to becoming a high school teacher easy but I hope it turns out to be everything I imagined.

"WAT CHU KNOW BOUT ME"

MY DREAM: TO BE A WELL KNOWN SUCCESSFUL TEACHER/PROFESSOR AND COUNSELOR WHO HELPS THOSE WHO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE OR LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES; WHETHER IT BE EDUCATIONAL OR NOT.

TOUCHSTONE: KNOWING THAT I CONTRIBUTED TO SOMEONE GETTING EDUCATION OR SUCCESS.

ROLE MODEL: MY FATHER, MS. WINFIELD (OLD H.S. COUNSELOR) AND MY MOTHER. (I TRIED TO THINK OF SOMEONE ELSE OTHER THAN MY MOTHER AND FATHER, BUT THEY ARE THE ONES WHO I PERSONALLY SAW IN ACTION, WHO GENUINELY CARED ABOUT SOMEONE BECOMING SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR OWN WAY AND GRASPING A GREAT EDUCATION).

TARGET: BE A WELL KNOWN COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND EVEN MAYBE A HONORARY PROFESSOR. WIN A 5,000 SUAVE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (IF THEY'RE STILL OFFERING THEM; LIKE MY FATHER WHO WAS ENROLLED BY ONE OF HIS STUDENTS).

MY PERSONALITY TYPE

ENTJ

(Extraverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, Judging)

ENTJ: The Executive

"The executive primary mode of living is focused externally, where they deal with things rationally and logically. Your secondary mode is internal, where you take things in primarily via your intuition. ENTJ are natural born leaders. they live in a world of possibilities where they see all sort of challenges surmounted, and they want to be the ones responsible for surmounting them. They have a drive for leadership, which is well-served by their quickness to grasp complexities, their ability to absorb a large amount of impersonal information, and their quick and decisive judgments. They are "take charge" people. ENTJ's are very career focused, and fit into the corporate world quite naturally."

MY INSIGHTS UPON REVIEWING "THE PORTRAIT"

THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERED ENTJ "DISLIKE TO SEE MISTAKES REPEATED, AND HAVE NO PATIENCE WITH INEFFICIENCY."ALTHOUGH I KNOW MISTAKE HAPPEN, I DO DISLIKE TO SEE MISTAKE REPEATED. I FEEL THAT YOU SHOULD LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES WHICH IS WHY I WANT TO HELP THOSE UNDERSTAND THEIR STUMBLING BLOCKS AND DIFFICULTIES. UPON READING THIS PORTRAIT. I WAS GETTING A SENSE THAT ENTJ TYPES SEEM TO BE VERY BOLD AND SOMEWHAT BOSSY (I FEEL I CAN BE BOLD, BUT I TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM PLAYING THE BOSS ROLE.).

SOME OF THE THINGS I READ WERE INSPIRING AND FUNNY TO READ, AND MADE ME THINK ABOUT HOW I INTERACT WITH PEOPLE AND HOW I'M VIEWED. USUALLY HOW I'M VIEWED IS THE LEAST OF MY CONCERNS. AS I WAS READING, I SAW THAT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ENTJ TYPES STRIVES FOR ACTUALLY COINCIDED WITH MY DREAM AND TOUCHSTONE.

I ALSO IDENTIFIED MY CAREER WITH JUNG CAREER INDICATOR. I FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT MANAGEMENT IN BUSINESS OR EDUCATION, COUNSELING AND HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION WERE THREE OF THE CAREERS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED, ALL OF WHICH I WOULD ENJOY.

Digging A Little Deeper

PICK A COLOR
I am the color orange. I am a burst of sunshine with a hidden heat that is felt every now and then. I bring a sense of relaxation and warmth with a cool breeze. I am warming and welcoming.

PRIVATE-EYE
Jessica, a 21 year old college student, who attends school and works at a bank that requires her to wear an uniform. Based upon her closet, she likes to look unique and different from the average look of a college student who works. Everything is in its rightful place in a spacious and neat manner. From the looks of all her belongings, she likes anything that has alot of quality and durability. She is very simple with a unique-style. Her living rooms consists of a television/DVD player, a comfortable couch and chairs to give off a warming and relaxing environment.

CHEERING SECTION
Maya Angelou: "Jessica is a very inspiring role-model to younger girls. She shows them how to live outside the box, rather than sinking in this world of routine teenage behaviors.

Michelle Obama: "She has alot of things bottled up that can change someone's life and brighten their smile. She has enough intelligence to succeed in any type of environment."

Laurie Ann Gibson: "She is a quick learner with an unique style. She can be the secret weapon of any society. Sincere love of dance."

Beyonce: "I see alot of qualities in her that I attain myself. Must be a "virgo" thing. Dont underestimate her."

Taraji P. Henson- "Two snaps and around the corner. Jessica is a warming, intelligent, black women. A great representer for women."

TWENTY THINGS I LIKE TO DO

1. Shopping

2. spending time with friends

3. going out to eat

4. dancing

5. watching basketball

6. spending time with family

7. running/racing

8. going to amusement parks

9. traveling

10. watching love/comedy movies

11. clean in any way

12. buying new clothes, shoes, purses

13. getting hair done

14. playing with my niece and nephew

15. being a role model to younger girls

16. taking pictures

17. laughing

18. learn something new

19. get beauty rest

20. get money

The things that I like to do involves:

*having plenty of money and time

*consists of many people

*has nothing to do with school or work

*moreso planned than spontaneous

*physical movements

*the mind, body and spirit. Moreso mind and body.

MY IDEAL ENVIRONMENT

Jessica, 21, very outgoing and open to new things and ideas. She lives amongst the downtown

area. Fast paced with a booked day full of work, fun and counseling. She works from 8:00am to

3:00pm at a Chicago Public high school. After school is out she coaches both track and field and

volleyball and sponsors a newly formed dance group in the school. She has her own personal

chauffeur and lives closeby the Chicago downtown area. She lives near a shopping area, fitness

club and restaurants. She has very energetic and positive people around at all times. She has lots

of friends who loves to laugh and shop as a soul soother, (lol).

MY IDEAL DAY

My ideal day consists of me waking up to a not bath with lots of bubbles. A big breakfast

of french toast, eggs and bacon (yummy). My outfit would be already iron and picked out. My hair freshly permed from the day before. A call from a friend or family member with an idea of something new or odd to do for the day. Making an arrangement to fit in that odd and new idea, possibly taking up a pole dancing class at Flirty Girl Fitness, for a different type of workout. Meeting up with male brothers and cousins to laugh hysterically about anything and maybe play the game "HORSE" in basketball. Arrive back home to freshen up and get ready for my trip to Miami, Los Angeles, or New York. Fly first class at 7:00pm, while a stunning male waits as I arrive to accompany me. If time permits, a simple gathering full of networking, laughs and entertainment. A dinner-date afterwards to end the night with a hotel suite already payed for and arranged to my liking.

FANTASY ANALYSIS

THE THINGS OF MY IDEAL DAY THAT ARE INDISPENSABLE:

BATH

FRESH PERM

LAUGHTER WITH MALE BROTHERS AND COUSINS

OUTFIT ALREADY IRONED

EXCERCISE

OPTIONAL BUT DESIRABLE:

DINNER DATE

FRENCH TOAST

POLE DANCING CLASS FOR WORKOUT

TRIP TO MIAMI AND LOS ANGELES

FRILLS

EGGS BACON

HOTEL SUITE ALREADY PAYED FOR

STUNNING MALE AWAITING MY ARRIVAL

PLAYING HORSE IN BASKETBALL

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH AN ADJUSTED FANTASY DAY WITH ONLY THE INDISPENSABLE ELEMENTS IN IT?

A normal day out with my family or friend. Nothing spontaneous or out the norm.

WHAT-IF ANY-ELEMENTS OF THAT DAY DO YOU ALREADY HAVE?

Laughter with brothers and cousins

the baths

fresh perm

breakfast with french toast, eggs and bacon

outfit already ironed

playing horse in basketball

WHAT ELEMENTS OF THE ADJUSTED IDEAL DAY ARE CONSPICUOUSLY ABSENT FROM YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?

The dinner dates, traveling, regular days of excercise, hotel suite made to my liking already payed for, and pole dancing excercises.

WHAT STANDS BETWEEN YOU AND HAVING YOUR ADJUSTED IDEAL DAY TOMORROW?

My job and school schedule stands between me from having my ideal day. I feel I have all the things I need in order ti make this day happen except the work and school vacation time and a little bit more money.

Jessica in the Eyes of Others

I interviewed both my mother and father about how I was as a child. My father stated that in the first five years of my childhood I was a "real good kid and a quick learner. She learned her numbers and colors and anything that had to do with school in a quick manner." My father was unsure about what I loved and what games I liked to play, he actually stated, "ask your mother, I'm not sure, you liked alot of things." My father stated that the unique thing about me to him was that I always was reading, learned quick, and got good grades. He stated that he thought I would become a doctor or a lawyer when I grew up.

My mother stated that in the first five years of my childhood I was bright but stubborn. She stated that I was strong willed and wanted things my way. I always picked things up quick and always wanted things done in a particular way with everything, Very picky. My mother stated that I would hide things in different places (couch, closet, under the bed) when I didn't want anyone to bother or play with my belongings. She said that I loved playing with baby dolls, dressing and styling their clothes and hair. My mother stated that they would always make sure the doll was bald because I liked to do their hair using curlers, gel, and grease which would cause the doll to be bald the next day or week. I loved playing memory games, hungry hungry hippo and trouble. The most unique thing about me according to my mother was that I was a self-taught individual. Learning was a natural thing and I learned very quick. She felt as if I would be a beautician when I grew up because I always did hair, but she always wanted me to be whatever made me happy.

I interviewed five friends, 4 girls and 1 boy and asked them what did they think were my gifts/strengths. Clarissa stated that my faith, modeling, sense of humor, goal oriented, and persistant. Malisha stated down to earth, real, self-sufficient, sense of humor and goal oriented. Dwayne stated that my attitude, personality, courage, strong will and drive to succeed were my strengths. Jaleya stated that giving advice, great listener, self-motivated, goal oriented and selfless. Jasmine stated that self confidence, personality, determined, fast learner, and communication skills.

The one thing that I did on this week that I stated that I had loved was run/race. I met up with one of my old classmates from high school and spoke about our old track years. I started talking about how we use to race each other for money. I challenged him to run down the block and back. He was a little hesitant, because he felt that I wasn't serious. So he made me make a bet. If he won, I had to get him some icecream and if I won he had to take me shopping. I agreed to the bet and then we got one of our others friends to come watch to determine the winner. In the end, I ended up having to buy him some rainbow sherbert from baskin robbins, in which he is still waiting on :-).

Leadership for Change

Hello ALL,

I go by the name of Jessica Cole. I am currently a senior at University of Illinois at Chicago. I am currently enrolled in a course called African American studies 294: Leadership for Change. I am taking this leadership for change course 1. Because I heard it was a good class/could be a gpa booster (just being honest :-D)and 2. Because its a 200 level class and I needed more 200 level classes (seeing that I'm trying to graduate on time with a good g.p.a.). Upon completely/passing this course I hope to get a better understanding of what I really need to be doing as a career, also learn what it may takes to operate in a certain career.

One of the first assigments consisted of speaking on who we were as a child. As a child I was fascinated with extra-curriculum activities/sports that seemed creative and people who I felt were important. The activities/sports that I considered creative was gymnastics, modeling, acting, track-and-field, volleyball, cheerleading and dance. The people that I've always felt were most important were doctors and actors. As a child I felt doctors basically had your life in their hands and had the ability to make someone feel better, whatever the case may have been. I felt actors were important only because they were on television. I basically lived through each extra-curriculum activity, except gymnastics, modeling, and acting. I always wanted to be a gymnast but was scared to attempt certain behaviors/moves that was required to be one. I wanted to be a model and actor, but was always shy when it came to performing by myself. I loved learning new dance routines/moves to perform in front of a crowd, shy and all. I always wanted to be the best at what I did and looked the best in doing it. I would spend my entire day after practice at home in the mirror re-enacting everything that we went over and working out more to get the title as the best. Although those activities took up most of my interest, I always said that I was going to be a doctor (pediatrician). I would daydream about performing surgery on younger children, and even being an doctor as an actor like Bill Cosby on "The Cobsy Show." I enjoyed learning choreographed dancing and stunts in cheerleading, so secretly I emailed Oprah asking her if she could help me in becoming a cheerleader/dancer that perform on tv. Of course there was no response but that was how bad I enjoyed doing it.

As I got older, I saw younger girls who looked up to me and I began to be a role model/teacher in the cheerleading/dancing world. I liked being like a big sister to younger girls and helping them through things I knew they have and will face as a young female in the world. In high school, I put all my time into qualifying for state in track-and-field. Track-and-field was a sport i participated in all my life and I felt it was the easiest thing to become known or the best in. I became captain of the track-and-field team my junior year in high school, and qualified for state my junior year/gain 1 city champs titles/placing in top 10 in the Chicago Public Schools. Placing in city was a big accomplishment for me, but I felt it was a goal that I met and that my next goal was to be the doctor that I've always wanted to be.

Today i still enjoy watching anything that has anything to do with those extra-curriculum activities/sports. I do feel that I still am capable of performing and participating/and or teaching any of those extra-curriculum activities/sports that I participated in. I feel that these abilities and talents point to me being a coach or school teacher of these activities and or a regular school teacher, preferably high school. I have a strong belief in education for all and I believe high school is a point in a child's life where they actually make the big decision of which rode to take in becoming what they want to be.

Ending this post with a quote I have a firm belief in that i recently saw (forgot the author name) "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."