Teacher Perspective!

While I continue to post and search my mind and others to contemplate and babble about the idea of the individual being affected by outside influences; I thought about students.
When we think of the psychological development and growth process a person's minds we are sometimes quick to assume with the impact of our "words" that this process ends somewhere near high school graduation? Would you believe this to be true?

When we think about a toddler it is known that they babble and mimic our adult body language, and verbal language to gauge and learn about what they can and cannot control while there brains are taking in as much as possible.

As every person grows, and experiance different stages in their life, there thought and emotional process adjusts and may possibly even change? Most people do mimic, or are afraid to stand out in the crow; is this because we are all comfortable with fitting in? Or is this because we could possibly be still in the prime stages of our brains growing?
With so much of this to think about, I was interested to finding out what the effects of outside world was like to a student with learning disabilities. Although, interviewing a student may be interesting I thought it would be different to get the perspective of a professional and someone with a lot of experience in this department.

I went to Adelphi Universities Learning Resource Program, and sat with a Senior Educator, Mr. Glenn Suchy. Glenn has had much experience in the teaching world, especially with learning disabled students. In today’s world any sort of disability is not normally presented in the media. This would or could make accepting having any form of a disability difficult, aside from all of the major adjustments one may have to make in order to find a comfortable place in life.
Glenn, has had teaching experience in more than just learning disabled, and he really enjoys it he also enjoys his time off in the summers. In his years of college he had the experience to student teach as part of receiving his degree with many different types of students in many different teaching settings. Since having the experience out of college he feels that the learning styles have completely changed and have bettered in several ways no matter how a kid is influenced by the media.

The media has brought about several changes in the world. He feels that if we eliminated some forms of technology in the learning area of a child’s life each student’s would possibly benefit from school more. He feels that at a college and high school level a student’s brain is still in the prime stage of growth and has not fully adapted its senior growth level. With this understanding, why would technology be of any form of help, College and high school level students are missing out on several important areas of knowledge.

While discussing this with Glenn, he recalled upon a conversation he had with his cousin whom is a retierd police officer and now teaches at a college about his experience and knowledge in the criminal and police force. Glenn wasn’t surprised to find that, his cousin stated a good majority of his students state they want to be in that area or field based on what they see on t.v such as shows like CSI. Although, many programs do not offer internships or shadowing the fact that a high school or college level student fails to see the reality of a job or lifestyle and blends this fantasy idea with a broadcasted show is scary.

Glenn feels that if we possibly implemented critical think lessons, or classes into our schools curriculum along with possible studies of what the reality of entertainment t.v or any form of the media, even advertising students may have a different perspective of them selves. This topic is so interesting because, when we discussed students self growth time periods we found it interesting that many of Glenn’s current students, and students in the past were comfortable with the ideas that they had learning disabilities. Where as most in this age, would feel standing out in a crowd or accepting the idea of being different to be challenging.

This was a interview that made me, personally question a lot. When does a student fully accept themselves and/or find themselves comfortable and accepting of who they are without any influence of media, family or friends? Do we ever find a place in or lives were we can find that or see that? Or does this come in stages?
Glenn found that the majority of students he knows are greatly impacted visually, when we think about watching commercials it’s more about what we see than what is being said. So how does that affect blogging?

To find out more about Adelphi Universities Learning resource program, visit Adelphi’s web page;http://academics.adelphi.edu/lrp/

"Basketball Coaching aside, this is a Life Coaching moment"

There are so many ways to be effected by eachother, poisitvie or negative, and no matter how someone is effected we all seem to have these moments where we look into, up to or at eachother and wonder how green the grass is on the other side - and we all get to that point at some time or another. 

There are many ways a person can be negativly influenced, but there are many ways a person can fight those influences and remain positive. With that in mind; I spoke with my distant cousin and inspiration to many, Phil Weber. 

Many of you may know Phil, from the New York Knicks or the Pheonix Suns basketball team where you would find him coaching. 

Phil's home town is Northport, NY and is a graduate from Long Island Lutheran High School. He ran the basketball team to the champinship where he developed a great passion for sports and pursued this field very seriously. He continued to play basketball in college at North Carolina University, which led him to his first coaching job at Florida State University. In 1999, Phil was asked to coach the Pheonix Suns in Arizona following that he went on the the New York Knicks.

Although, there was a long period of time that I was not around Phil to build a close relationship with him and the rest of my family on his side I knew enough to know I had to include him on this blogging journey of mine. He is a very poisitive but extremly deteremind man with very different views on life that other people should live by.

For starters, Phil is looked up to by so many, and spent some time in the public eye - so it would only be obvious to ask him for his opinions in regards to how and what to do in a paticular power struggle between finding ourselves in a world so impacted by media and society. 

I remeber Phil having a strong mindset, He is the perfect person to coach. Lets take a few steps back from being a basketball coach and view him as a life coach. I say this because he told me his opinion on what the world faces in terms of the media and how it effects society. What he told me has a different spin from some of the others I have interviewed.

Phil takes the idea of media and technology being a huge driving force in changing the future of our children. He describes this thought with great concern. He felt very strongly about the younger generations parenting with the growth of technology, especially because in his eyes he sees great loss of connection.

The only way to live up to the negative and stay true to yourself is to gain knowlegde, described in his own words; 

"Understanding what technology is doing to our society is such an advantage if you understand that simple fact. Why? Because now you can stand out so easily. Instead of a text, call. Instead of an email, write a heartfelt hand written letter.... Be anti- technology and see what happens to your world . Use all the good aspects of technology but understand the need to not let it run your life and take away all the most important and basic principles of life.

Hard work, persistence, true relationships based on caring for others and continual improvement which should be the mantra of every aspect of our lives."

Phil is a very positive person, whom always looks a light in only a positive way, to him there is no other way- this topic is something he seems to be very passionate about and believes in all of the words he says. He simply believes, "If we activly think positively, we will actively live positively and that attitude will spread". Phil explains in order to change these bad habits, or correct the parts of ourselves that have been effected is for starters to realize what is helping us to become weak, when we realize what it is we can therefore attack and change.

What would our world be like? To  make things even more simple, what would we be ourselves, what would we think, act, say, desire? 

Most importantly it is clear to state that if we change ourselves, we can and will change the world- What would be your first change? 

My favorite video of Phil, to give you some insight on the mind set that phil chooses to walk with everyday! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-sQLLpT8TU

...a story that lead me to Project Survive

 

When discussing the many issues that media and society affect, we tend to run into some people with common concerns. As well as the ways we remedy them. I found one such person, and we mutually inspired each other.

 Today, I would like to introduce you to a new set of eyes; A story that may spark interest in the battles that people fight constantly. This story should untangle and help you to creatively think about your own roads to a peaceful life, I know this because I am personally involved.

  

    Three years ago, I transferred colleges with a new mindset and outlook on my future. Although, I was not as "confident" as everyone else, and had several fears and insecurities. I struggled to find my place at my new school, and there were times I wanted to give up- but I wouldn't. I switched my major several times, adjusted my schedule many times, and tried including different hobbies and exercises into my days just to feel more comfortable. All of these things can definitely help find a more comfortable place, and move things along easier but it doesn’t completely solve any problems.

  

Although, it took a few years after high school to figure myself out, dabbling in a class-or two; when I made the decision to transfer I was ready to be a full time student and apply myself 100%. Three years into transferring, I am in my last semester of junior year as a communications major anxious to graduate and see what more the world has to offer.

With dreams of owning my own salon and spa, I transferred into my new school as a business management major. I was getting by until I had to take economics and accounting. This is when the idea turned into a nightmare. I thought I was on another planet, reading and studying a different language and my professors were aliens. This is where I met my good friend, Nicole. I struggled on tests, where  Nicole seemed to ace every exam. 

I quickly learned Nicole seemed to have it all together because she was an accounting major, this was her thing! I was upset that I wasn’t doing well, but was determined and did not want to give up- After all, owning a salon and spa does not require being an accounting or economics genius.

Nicole, I and another classmate started to meet up to study, Nicole was helpful but the whole finance topic was clearly not for me. There was definitely a greater reason for me being in class with Nicole though. We became good friends, and ended up learning a lot about each other. Turns out, Nicole and I both experienced several battles as a child that tied our friendship together differently.

Nicole became one of the first people I expressed many of my own personal hurts to. These were hurts that I experienced, that I found easy to discuss until I started to learn that my feelings were not directly connected to my words. As our relationship changed I started to view Nicole in a different light, I saw her as a confident, bold, and powerful woman. She appeared to be an open book about many of the negative issues she had to face in her life, she never let it weigh her down!

Nicole’s attitude made me crave the same mindset- This is when my mind started to boil.

College is definitely one of those crucial growth periods for many of us. I took several courses, some that were boring, some that interested me throughout the major changes and schedule switches. There were also several classes that moved me. All of this helped me to recognize all the areas of self, I needed to work on.

With so much negative in the world. Why battle it, why find issues and conflicts, why waste the energy and time? I battled this for a long time. I have also had several discussions with Nicole about the battles I faced as well as the ones she faced. While there are moments in everyone's lives that you need to vent, or need the support from someone who completely understands you and your experiences this does not always help, it also as we all know does not take away the bad.

SO WHAT WILL? 

Technology, is growing in more and more ways. There are several positives as well as negatives about it, but everyone definitely finds a means to vent and share there experiences via internet. My question is;

DOES IT HELP?

There are some issues that completely need venting places. I for one found a specific area. Sexual abuse. Personally, I was sexually abused as a child. I am still in the midths of healing. As time goes on, I learn there are more and more conflicts about it  that seem to come up randomly at different moments in my life. Mutually, Nicole and I both agree there are only certain moments in ones life where a person feels completely ready to talk- and we mean talk, being connected to your words.

I for one have learned that child sexual abuse, is a specific issues that allows a child's brain to chemically create coping mechanisms that allow the hurt and effects to remain with you for long periods of time. A child's brain is not fully developed, so when it is affected by trauma it develops methods to "cope", so it can correctly continue growing. This helps most children to put issues such as sexual abuse, on the back burner. Which is something that I did. This is also an issue, like many others that children deal with and have trouble understanding. They are not always sure as to what it is, or how it affects them.

Personally, I distanced myself from many moments in my life I would have enjoyed because of this hurt. I had to carry it most of my life alone, or so I felt that I did. I did not choose to feel it, I also did not know how to fight it, talk about it or deal with it. For me, this was also something that was tough to discuss around my family. I had guilt, because it wasn't anything anyone could have controlled.

With all of this, there had to be other ways  to deal with issues that are difficult to discuss. There had to be other ways to fight what society and the  media not only influence but shuns. That is when an astonishing idea hit me, a remarkable innovative journey that I decided to invite Nicole on with me. Together we hope to inspire others  just as we have inspired each other. 

There are many ways that we can fight the bad, and no one has to or should have to feel they are alone. Together Nicole and I, have created one of several causes to come. We call it "Project Survive". 

As this cause is still in the process of being built we hope that many people find a place to build friendships and areas where they feel a sense of connection. We were not only inspired each other in different ways,  but we allowed our story to empower the cause we created...Project Survive.

With project survive we hope to inspire many, and fill a world that at times may feel hopeless with all the faith we have in our hearts to change the world. Although we are only at the very beginning building our cause, we know that every small bit helps- therefore, "one piece" of our cause will soon lead to greater PEACE...

With everyday life we are faced with several challenges without asking or looking or it- with that said I hope that you take mine and Nicole's story and use it as a guiding example for your own daily lives. Whenever you seek negative- instantly try to see the good... Barley passing accounting did "nothing" for me at the moment, but today is the leading reason for many of the positive mountains I climb, without that moment I would not be here today! 

 Help Nicole and I by Adding our page on facebook, it will be completely up and running sufficiently in do-time!  https://www.facebook.com/nic.cie.31?fref=ts 

 For any info. or further questions you can reach: https://www.facebook.com/lotusflowerproject?ref=hl

For other pages for supporting info., 

Child Sexual Abuse:

https://www.facebook.com/ASAFEPLACETOTELL

A great book that has personally helped me, that has also been passed along to others; 

"A Courage to Heal"-Written by, Ellen Bass and Laura Davis

                                   

 Here us the books facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Courage-to-Heal/107438309286075?fref=ts

Peace sign Picture From; http://www.jennifers-deals.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/peace.jpg

Reaching Hands Picture From; http://blog.firespring.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/How-to-Encourage-Volunteers-to-Raise-Money.jpg

Gears Heart Picture From; http://www.companiesandcauses.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/heart_cogs.jpg

Courage to Heal Picture From; http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/34/Courage_to_heal.jpg

 

Here at Drama High!

The most vulnerable individuals seem to always be viewed or thought of as tweens and teens, so who better to ask advice and hear some thoughts from a high school senior, Gabrielle S.

"It seems as though everyone in high school is always caught up in some form of drama", as said by Gabrielle herself. There are so many ways all of us are affected by the standards of media and society as well as the ways that we allow them to effect us. What if our most vulnerable times, (between tween-teen age) was different. What if we could understand ourselves outside of the pressures and insecurities, What would we sound like, look-like, be-like, how would our lives be different, and how would our futures be shifted ?

According to Gabrielle, the media and society affect more than just your view of self but also skews your understanding of the world ou
tside of high school.  Gabrielle only being a senior in high school and not yet having the experience to live or see outside of her high school life, although she is very mature she feels a sense of competition and pressure from standards that are difficult to live up to and not always realistic in her last year as a high school senior.

Gabrielle is in midst the of feeling the stresses between her, her classmates and group of friends while planning prom witch she feels everyone seems to think is going to be "the most rememberable moment for the rest of our lives". It isn't just prom that has everyone's panties in a bundle, this is just part of the many stresses that senior year comes along with. Aside from all the build up of drama from the facebook prom dress groups, Gabrielle finds her friends are also concerned with what there lives are going to be like as a high school senior graduate. College shopping, Dorm room decorating, and hearing the many rumors of what college life entails along with coping with the severe symptoms of senior itis- Gabrielle just wants to graduate already. One day she and all her friends may look back and have a different opinion on it all. Don't/didn'
t you?

Gabrielle personally feels, that the media affects the way that she looks in terms of body image and facial structure. She feels that she is constantly surrounded by images of completely unrealistic body shapes, sizes and beauty. As a very creative artsy but personable girl, she still thinks of these types of images as "Warped". She doesn't understand how she or anyone can have the knowledge to know that they aren't real and still be impacted negatively by them-including her!

As Gabrielle prepares to be an adult, she states "Mindset, If you dont have a strong mind, what do you have?". She also suggests that on days that she gets to the gym a little earlier, or pushes herself a little harder, and strives to eat healthier for the week that she feels better about herself.
Knowing this and how strong the power is versus the power of the negative images around her, she knows exactly how to bring herself back to a healthy state of mind.

With a strong passion of the arts, and film  Gabrielle understands strongly that she will always be bombarded with these types of pressures, In no though-way is she always confident. Just like everyone else she has hard downs and ups.

So to end the year off right Gabrielle will continue to build her self confidence and mind set for all the exciting things to come, for she knows that if she doesn't as challenging as this may be-there could be a lot she'd miss out on.

Dear sorority and college student self,

 

     When most of us think about college, we think this is a terminal point of growth, were reaching a pivotal time of acceptance and it’s that moment before we spread our wings fully to adulthood.

Sorority, and senior student at Adelphi University speaks up about the challenges she faced at these moments and what her understanding of this time means. Coming out of high school, I was sad to say goodbye but excited to start a new, nervous and anxious I stepped foot in my first class as a freshmen, to the start of my college experience. I knew I wanted to make the most out of college and really spread myself out there, to allow myself to experience it all so I turned to the ideas of joining a sorority. These are the thoughts experienced by Emily K.

As nerve racking as all of this was, I chose to see what sororities were about, I went against all the judging rumors and comments society and the media presented it to be. Today, Emily is happy for her final decision to seek out the perfect sorority for her. She learned quickly that everything the media and society made it out to be was wrong. Funnily, Emily connected to every part of her growing relationship with her sorority.

Just as her sorority and any sorority are judged, Emily felt judged as well. She faced many bittersweet feelings, anxiety, and fear, but also joy and fun experiences. To Emily’s, understandings this is normal, “don’t we all feel pressure from the media and society?-good and bad?”.

Growing up, she felt extreme pressure about her personal and families’ financial status,. She explains that she sees a lot in the media and in her eyes it is all about money, success, and power. This sets a bar for what society accepts and rejects. And this is where as an individual in society I felt pressure. Her greatest examples of being pressured, starts her senior year of high school. Emily felt that as a senior everyone graduating needs to have a car- and she got one, but every senior in her high school had one.

Emily remembers most kids in middle school and high school feeling easily pressured. As she could best explain it,

“It is like being at an open house party during your high school years and everyone is smoking. And there is that one kid that you can feel his vulnerability and willingness to do anything to fit it so he tries smoking-why? Because that’s what you do, that’s what you think at that age. It’s all about fitting in and being cool!”

Today, Emily is a few months away from graduation. She has hopes and plans to go on to graduate school and become a high school guidance counselor. With her experiences she hopes to walk many children threw and be helpful during these times. Especially, in a growing technological world. She feels even though she still battles with her own identity and insecurities, that in a way it’s normal.

As Emily gets closer and closer to graduation, she knows that her experience’s, in the past, present and in the future will only help build her as a better guidance counselor and she will hopefully fill many high school seniors with positive and curious mindsets about growing into the college scene while finding your sense of self and identifying when, what and how society and the media impact each one of us.

Emily is the greatest inspiritaion for many young adults heading into the beginning of the adult life; and if you wish to seek any further interest in her you can reach her at;

https://www.facebook.com/emily.kummer.58/  

Unbalanced, but Strong...

As an average individual growing up, we face many challenges. This is obviously becomes more difficult when dealing with the almighty power struggle of finding our true self, with the overshadowing effects of the media and society.

In my own struggles with life at a young age, on top of my search to find myself without fault or argument, I met my best friend Danielle Cocchi.

When I think of strength I immediately think; "Danielle-Cocchi". I for sure had my own share as any other girl with insecurity issues. I was constantly fighting myself, whether it was weight, my hair, my clothes, grades- you name it- I found reason to argue it.

 There is no doubt that most of my own issues came directly from what the media and society present to me as acceptable.

When Danielle was born;  her small but tough, baby self-battled many health issues. So clearly-Danielle was born a fighter, so who else better to learn from?

Danielle’s intestines were mangled making it difficult for food to reach her stomach. In the immediate 6 hours of being born on July 19, 1988, she received surgery and was at great risk of death.

After her surgery, her health faced more complications, when she was 1 years old she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Danielle most certainly did not give up fighting even though this gave her several challenges, including learning to walk. 

At 6 years old, she received a surgery that rotated her hips and would hopefully make it easier to walk. Danielle had a small limp in her walk, but it never took anything away from her smile and confidence- at least from an outside perspective.


At 13 years old an age full of insecurities, uncomfortable hormonal growth changes and middle school issues. Danielle was diagnosed with a seizure disorder, but didn’t stop fighting. And today, Danielle is still one of the strongest individuals I know today.

She made me realize that life is so much more than standing in a boxing match fighting yourself- In Danille's mind, "There is enough bad in the word, why choose to see more negative?"

This boxing match never challanged Danielle, she was always overcoming of all quick punches, undercuts and uppercuts. She taught me in several ways just leading as a role model how to win these fights myself. 

She is not just a powerful role model to me; she positively influences many more than I believe she even realizes herself. This is why I chose to interview her.

Danielle chooses to see the media as an outlet; she believes that society itself is filled with so much bad she does not understand seeing more negative. She creates her own rules, battling all that she has and getting threw it gives her confidence.

She continues to build on her own confidence even with daily reminders that are inescapable, like her scars; while the media also greatly affects how she feels about her weight and face.

So for a girl like me, who found it difficult to face myself at times? I turn to people like Danielle, whom I never saw walk down any school hallway without her most necessary accessory- Self Confidence.

And for anyone else whom wants to ask Danielle more, or chitchat, you can find her at;  http://www.facebook.com/dcocchi1 




For more info on the two types of seizure's Danielle has-
Grand Mal- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000695.htm

Petit Mal-http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000696.htm

A Behind the Scenes Point of View...

It is clear that, media and society affect every individual. What ways do you think you are or have been impacted, weather positive and negative?

We will all most probably contemplate many different ideas about how people are influenced or persuaded but may all agree “everyone is”. This includes the makers, creators and everyone involved behind the scenes, as well. But being manipulated personally can steer you blind of who are affected.

  Do you think being behind a camera, or behind the scenes of entertainment changes the way a person is influenced?

To give you a different perspective of this I sat with Deb A., a recent graduate, and Master Control Operator for Viacom/MTV Networks, specifically networking for MTV, VH1 and Comedy Central. She is an average 25-year-old ordinary girl outside of work and school, no different from any of you. 

Deb suggests there are many angles and ways to interpret media and how it affects you; she chose’s to let it inspire her. Deb's job makes her responsible for assuring that there are no complications for airing TV shows. The pressure and importance of her job has given her the opportunity to build on her confidence and experiance differently everyday.

We can usually find Deb in her control room; in jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers. Her comfortable casual work attire doesn’t make her feel like she needs to impress anyone or get extra “beautified”. She feels she has great relationships with her colleagues and she doesn’t particularly think the media in any strong negative sense affects them, this is possibly the attitude you may need to be a working as a professional in this type of field environment.

She also stated strongly, that if she did not suggest days were she might have felt, “ugly or pretty” she’d be lying. Aside from her job, Deb feels that just like every girl in the world we feel up’s and downs. No matter the type of pressure we feel, if we remember that even the most beautiful, successful and popular girls the world have the same struggles time to time, everything else is easier to digest. 

 In the most simplistic way Deb’s attitude suggests that to be affected by the media, society or each other is being “human”, it is also a decision solely on the individual to choose what will affect you and what won't.

Spoken in her words from behind the scenes of entertainment TV,

“Perception is everything, the media can affect me but I choose how. I choose to not let the media control how I feel about my body or self-image in a negative way”.

Just yesterday Deb was a little girl who was usually found in front of a TV with big dreams and a growing passion, growing up all to quickly to find herself on the other side of TV as a grown working professional.

She learned that over the years your confidence and self-reflection change and grow, but today Deb finds herself confident in her own light and vision even if she is surrounded and involved in a job that keeps her right in front of the creation of spotlight entertainment.

On a concluding thought, I’ll leave you with this powerful statement, that tells us a lot about Deb’s character;

“I choose to look at the powerful women in the entertainment industry as inspiration and motivation. If they can achieve their dreams, look great and raise a family, so can I. The media can put pressure on you to be many things but if you see those things as negatives then of course you’re going to feel controlled by it. But if you see some things as positives and use it to better yourself as a person and who you are, then you can feel inspired, motivated and empowered.”

These images were taken with oppurtunities D.A had during internships in college, not at her current job. 

Mtv.comVH1.comComedycentral.com

This link will give you much information regarding all the details of Deb’s job;http://www.viacom.com/ourbrands/medianetworks/mtvnetworks/pages/default.aspx%C2%A0