Journal Blog Post # 3: "What is binge drinking? Why is it so common among young people and here in the CNMI?"

What is binge drinking? Why is it so common among young people and here in the CNMI?

Binge Drinking is an intriguing phenomenon that many young people especially the students take part in all across the country. The issue of binge drinking has been a problem on college campuses for decades. Binge drinking has many horrible effects, but the problem starts with the causes for it. If the causes could be controlled then the issue would not get out of hand. Many college students give different causes for their drinking problems, and experts on the subject have their explanations as well.

Drinking modest amounts of alcohol may have some consequences, but binge drinking has more negative consequences than normal modest drinking. There are many examples as to the consequences that binge drinking can cause to college student’s lives, but one of the main consequences that students face as a result of frequent drinking is poor.

I think why youth in CNMI do binge drinking because it’s fun: This is one of the most common reasons for binge drinking. Most youngsters just want to let their hair down, enjoy a night or two (or more) of revelry, let go of their inhibitions, and ease the burden of so many expectations and pressure. They want to socialize and feel more self-confident. They want to assert their dominance or macho image. They want to forget their problems.

Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity. While it carries connotations of pleasure and sociability in the minds of many, harmful consequences of its use are diverse and widespread. Binge or excessive drinking is the most serious problem affecting social life, health and education on high school students today.

Binge or excessive drinking by high school students has become a social phenomenon in which high school students don’t acknowledge the health risk that are involved with their drinking habits. Furthermore, high school students do not know enough about alcohol in general d what exactly it does to the body or they do not pay attention to the information given to them.

Blog Post

How the NAACP and cultural appropriation is relevant to the CNMI? Give examples.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is the largest, oldest and most well-known civil rights group. The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. While, cultural appropriation often framed as cultural omisappropriation, is a concept in sociology dealing with the adoption of the elements of a minority culture by members of the dominant culture. It is distinguished from equal cultural exchange due to the presence of a colonial element and imbalance of power. In order to set a foundation of our understanding on the term cultural appropriation, I would like to quote Richard A. Rogers, a professor from the School of Communication in Northern Arizona University, in which he states that the term is “defined broadly as the use of a culture’s symbols, artifacts, genres, rituals, or ptechnologies by members of another culture,” and it is “involved in the assimilation and exploitation of marginalized and colonized cultures.” Based on this fleshed-out definition of the term, Post Malone is already accused of partaking in cultural appropriation. Regarding my feelings of cultural appropriation, I feel that people of another culture appropriating from a historically disadvantaged culture is morally wrong and unacceptable. Not to target white people solely, but historically, whites have been known for stealing from others and incorporating into their own culture for their benefit. It is important that this is examined as in a place such as CNMI, whites have found it particularly easy to blend and take part in a culture that is not theirs, and when they it disadvantageous or tiring to do so, they can then easily step back into their own culture and not be found as a traitor for re-assimilating back into their society. Blacks and other minorities, however, had and still have many obstacles to climb in order to successful in this country, and they find the only support they can garner is from their own race/culture. Therefore, when whites and other races can infiltrate that tight-knit community and exploit it for their economic benefit, it prevents people of that race from being able to build an economic empire for them, as their culture is no longer unique and distinct, but instead ready for any person to use and abuse.

Blog 4: Performance Task: Letters

I. In the character of Dexter, write a letter in which you profess your love to Judy and tell her what she represents to you.

Dear Judy,

I don't know how to start this letter, because I'm afraid it might be the end of our good acquaintance, or if I'm lucky, the realization of my dreams, which is for you to love me as I love you. I told myself I might as well take the risks because it's the only remedy I know that could unburden this feeling I've been keeping ever since.        

Judy, I love you. I know you'll find it hard to believe me if I tell you how much you mean to me. I could hardly understand what I feel for you, knowing how to endure those long sleepless nights just thinking only of you.

I've never been like this before. I just don't know how to pour out my feelings for you. I wanted to find the perfect words to make you realize how much I need you and love you, but words continue to elude me, what would they be? Something poetic? I'm sure it should be heartfelt and out of the ordinary. I'm afraid it's no use; every time I look at you, the words came out the same… I love you!

  Love always,   

Dexter    

II. In the character of Judy, respond to Dexter’s letter, sharing with him any feelings you have for him.

Dear Dexter,

So there's been something heavy on my mind and heart, which I've finally decided to reveal to you my deepest feelings. It is just as much overwhelming for me writing this to you as it would be to speak these words. But honestly, you are absolutely and simply, unlike any guy I've ever met in all of my years in living, just as much as these feelings are completely unlike any other feeling that I've felt for anyone before.

            You probably don't even know it, probably truly don't even recognize the full extent of the feelings you make me feel. Feelings that I cannot believe that I was ever capable of feeling, because I never felt them for anyone before, anyone but you. You consume my mind at every waking moment, funny enough, you also appear in my dreams. I feel so shy around you, you probably don't even notice it. I say stupid, silly, and random things to you just to give myself a reason to interact with you, when in reality, my mind goes blank and there is nothing that I can or want to say to you other than my affectionate feelings that I feel for you in the present, so I force other insignificant words out of my mouth.

            I love you, also Dexter.

  Faithfully Yours,     

Judy      

III. Based on these letters, write a brief analysis of why the relationship should succeed or fail.

Every relationship has its complications and everyone tries their best to make it work. But if a relationship has to break, then nothing in the world can stop it, but people try their best to save it. If a relationship was meant to be, then people should be lucky to have that person in their life. In relationships, people assume that there’s only the romantic type of relationships. However, being in a relationship can also mean being in family relationships with some degree on kinship through blood, marriage, or adoption. Friendships are strengthened when friends regard each other with affection, trust, and respect. The relationship must succeed if both of the lovers are happy and contented with each other.

Blog Post #3 : KEEPING THE MOON

I. A summary of what you read for the week.

Mira, Kiki's sister, sends Colie to buy food for their dinner. I love that Mira wears bright clothes and enjoys wrestling but it’s hard to see her as something other than a stereotype of a housebound or an obese woman. At the moment she is a little cliched, almost afraid to leave the house. I am hoping there is some more scope there because her lack of movement is a little frustrating. I cannot believe she is sending her niece off on a bike, in the dark, to a place she’s never been before. Colie may be nearing adulthood but where’s the supervision? At least let her get acquainted with the place. Morgan, the tall, skinny waitress decides to quit after another lousy tip. Norman is the fry cook at Last Chance and wears blue sunglasses on his head. Apparently Morgan quitting is a thing that happens quite a lot.

II. Reflection--include new vocabulary words, their definitions, and how they were used in the book.

1. ROTTWEILER - any of a breed of tall powerful black and tan short haired dogs of German origin that are commonly used as guard dogs.

"Just watch out for the huge pothole and the Masons' rottweiler and you're home free."

2. RAVENOUS - very eager or greedy for food.

"Now sit down and let's eat. I'm ravenous."

3. WRENCH - a hand or power tool for holding, twisting, or turning an object such as bolt or nut.

"Right faucet drips easily, it said. Tighten with wrench after using."

4. GIRTH - a band or strap that encircles the body of an animal to fasten something on its back.

"Cat Norman dragged himself up on the windowsill, settling his girth along its narrow width."

5. SWIVELING - to swing or to turn on or as if on a swivel.

""Oh Norman, you are my saint," Mira said cheerfully, swiveling to point to a stack of books by the far window."

Journal Blog Post #1 : "How big of a problem is sexting?"

Journal #17 – How big of a problem is sexting?

Today the information superhighway is vastly changing. The internet is revolutionizing the way we communicate with each other, and teens are some of the first to experiment with modern technology. The phenomenon of sexting is one of the more recent teenage conspiracies that have the media and active parental bloggers raging through the internet. Unfortunately, it really isn’t a phenomenon at all. It’s simply the result of a combination of having not enough education, unchecked hormones, technology and respect for own self and I think sexting is a big problem.

The outcomes of sexting can be severe, running from humiliation to ­imprisonment or more awful. Express photographs or recordings sent from individual to individual can cause humiliation for the first sender. Numerous adolescents don't understand that once they hit "send," control of whom else sees that compromising photo is presently totally up to the beneficiary. You may think you know your companion, sweetheart, or girlfriend/boyfriend, yet we would not be able to believe or trust them until the end of time. The real problem: like many teenagers, they did not understand the long-term consequences of their actions.

Sexting may seem like harmless fun, but teens should think twice before hitting the “send” button. There is no turning back once a message is sent. When a photo becomes viral online, it is virtually impossible to remove the damage and recall all the copies. We, the youth, must keep in our mind that,” we must think, before we click.”   

Blog Post #2 : KEEPING THE MOON

This last week, what I read was about Colie's mother, which is Kiki Sparks, had been trying to lose weight all her life and it started in Lady Fitness Gym. Then, Kiki started dragging her daughter to lose weight with her. After two years in Charlotte, Collie and Kiki had lost a hundred pounds. Kiki loved her new and fit body but for Collie, it was harder.

My reflection in this story is the mother and daughter were persevered to lose weight and change their lifestyle. 

The new vocabulary words I learned last week are:

1. turpentine - a yellow to brown semifluid oleoresin obtained as an exudate from the terebinth.

"She smelled like a mix of vanilla and turpentine."

2. mortified - to destroy the strength, vitality, or functioning of.

"I was immediately mortified to see the entire Kiki line right there next to my stuff."

3. spandex - any of various elastic textile fibers made chiefly of polyurethane,

"It was tuned to a wrestling match, and at that moment some huge man in cape and a blindfold was leaping to flatten another man in purple spandex, who was writhing on the mat."

Blog Post #1 : KEEPING THE MOON

The book, “Keeping the Moon”, is a young adult fiction by Sarah Dessen. She is the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, which have sold more than seven million copies and have received rave reviews as well as numerous awards. She lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband, Jay, and their daughter, Sasha Clementine. I chose this book, because of the character’s life and their different personalities. The main characters I read so far are Nicolas “Colie” Sparks and Katharine “Kiki” Sparks. Colie is the protagonist of the novel, a 15 year old teenage girl, and the daughter of Kiki. When her mother, Kiki became a famous exercise guru, she shed her weight but not her insecurity to herself. Kiki is a famous exercise guru and Colie’s mother. The story starts with the introduction of the characters. Colie and Kiki talked about what they had been in their Fat Years where her mother had no decent job and house. When Kiki got into the job in Lady Fitness Gym, they started to have a steady income and apartment.

I can reflect myself into this book especially Colie who lived with her insecurity for being an obese. As an ordinary student, I also bullied by my classmates and friends for being overweight. The plot of the story is about Colie and Kiki used to be poor and moved often. They were very overweight and spent most of the time living in their car while her mother switched jobs. What I like in this book is how the author portrayed every character in this story because it can easily understand the flow of the story. The new vocabularies I learned this week are fidget, dune, impassive, subtle, and fathom.