Freshman Requiremnet Reflection #4: Open Mic Night

    On the same night of the vigil, BSU hosted an Open Mic Night. This was a completely different mood and a spritely one to add. Everyone seemed to moved together in rhythm as we cheered for each performer. By  the way, there was not a single soul who got on stage that was not amazing. They all blew me away.
    Two of my friends wrote a rap and performed in the for everyone, and the crown rumbled with laughter. It was hilarious. It did not even make sense at all but it just made everyone laugh. Another performer was a women who was a guest from Dominican. She was apparently the BSU leader of her college and she performed her own poems often. The poem she performed for us was about a man who had betrayed her. I guess he was just a horrible boyfriend who treated her badly, hence she found a better man. But the words she wrote and the way she said it with rhythm was absolutely one of the most amazing things I have seemed a human do. She was graceful, confident, strong minded, brave, sassy and everything a woman should be. She did this on her own. She wrote it, and then performed it with such grace and talent. The crowd was shocked too. The neighbors could probably hear us roaring from a mile away.
    I loved how respectful everyone was to each other, and the vibe of the culture was strong, warm, and inviting. My other friend also wrote a song, sung it beautifully, and had another buddy play the tune on the guitar. There is a great deal of talent at this school. I honestly believe that the voices I heard and the passion on  the faces of the authors was far greater than any famous individual I hear on the radio. It just goes to show that you don't have to just be a good singer to be famous. All in all it was a very fun event and had a lot of success with a big crowd. I felt much more connected to students than I have all year.

Freshman Requirement Reflection #3: Vigil

    On Thursday the 20th of November, NDNU student leaders put hosted a vigil for the 43 students in Mexico that passed recently. Although I was not completely updated on all the news, I could tell that this was a very serious event and felt that my support would be more than necessary.
    In the very beginning, a woman walked in the middle of the circle of people and told us everything in her knowledge about what had happened in Mexico. She told the crowd that earlier this year in September, 43 innocent students were picked up by the police and violently rounded up into cars. On the way to the destination which was later discussed as the drug cartels area, some students were already gone because they had suffocated. When the students finally arrived at the destination, the corrupted cops and disgusting criminals teamed up and did horrible things to 43 innocent students.
    It was hard standing out their holding a warm cup of hot chocolate, sipping the cinnamon flavors and feeling comfortable in the chilly night all huddled with my peers as we tried to fathom how Mexico was getting by. We all lite candled and stuck them in little containers of sand. It looked beautiful all together. We were all mourning for the lives taken and the families and friends around them. We held hands and prayed together. And just like that it was over.
   I stood around with a n]blank face and noticed how quickly individuals got back into their own lives, laughing, dancing, and making jokes. How confusing. It was amazing actually and I am not sure if that was a good thing or not. But the crown moved on fast.

Earth Abides Farm

Going o earth abides opened up a while new perspective of the world to me. And I love it. We go to live in an area where nature really was dominant. Meeting Marcus an Tom was amazing! They seemed so relaxed and calm with the world around them. Nothing to fear. I loved getting learn about other and find out more about myself. It was funny to find out how much we really didn't need our phones and how much anxiety everyone had when the phone was a big part of life. All the anxieties that people had everyday seemed very silly when we were down on earth. There was less fear and I noticed that there was zero jealousy as well. That was a weird sensation to just love everyone and not have any competition for anything. We all worked together as one. I hope I get to go back someday. I really want my family to get the same experience so that hey can be brought back to earth as well.

Gaia Theory Comments

Gaia Theory:
In class when we watched the Gaia theory videos, I leaned a couple of things. First off, Harding discussed a lot about human needing to connect with the earth. Something interesting that he mentioned was that humans are able to connect with nature when we put it to life and not just imagine it as something dead that we live on. Another thing he talked about was how nature communicated with people and how we can become trees in some sense by the way the photons go into our retinas to make light. HE said that this was the light's way of communicating with us. His perspective is always very interesting but at the same time is makes a lot of sense. Although he is positive about nature, he can be quite negative towards humans, saying tat we need to start fixing the earth now and that we should all be depressed.

Biophilia Essay

Mrs. Andrews

Freshman Seminar

Analysis Paper

October 31, 2014

                                                      Nature Keeps the Crazy Away

    Why has this sudden outbreak of mental disaster surged through the world and infected everyones mines, stealing their sanity? Ever since the burst of technology happened people have been spending more time in front of a screen and less time out in te real world of nature and serenity. In an interview by Steve Inskeep, Richard Louv argue that the human need to spend time in the natural world to maintain mental stability. Louv’s argument proves to be credible, convincing, and certain to make the readers think twice about their consuming of technology compared to their time spent surrounded by nature.

    In the interview Louv discusses how time spent outside  should not only be alone quiet time but time spent with family and friends. He recalled on a memorable experience while fishing with his mother, seeing a competitive side of her. He states “Those things are hard  to forget.” There are certain special memories that are engraved in individuals brains and will forever leave a mark of happiness in their hearts. These moments will not come as easily with watching T.V. or playing video games or playing “flappy bird” on an iphone. That are all short term and can catch people off guard quickly as  they wonder where the time went and how they got so behind on work or how they forgot to meet their friend at the park. This is why it is so important to look up from the devices and emerge into nature to clear the mind of all the ruckus it has been carrying around.

    The importance of experience nature is not to simply help people. It is for people to give back to nature. Everything we have on earth had to come from somewhere and humans certainly do not have the magic that nature does. Thomas Berry who wrote the book “Evening Thoughts”, writes a chapter called “The Place of the Human”, which helps support Louvs theory that people need nature. In this chapter her first discusses the seven “transcendences” to which he believes that people fall under. The transcendences are what causes people to lack appreciation on the natural world. They go as follows: monotheistic creative deity, he spiritual nature of the human, our belief in redemption, transcendence of the mind, technology, and the historical destiny for humans. To sum it up, Berry argues that people have been raised to believe in a god that created everyone and made a place called heaven where everyone can live in harmony after they surpass this world. The earth is greatly under appreciated. And of course technology has not helped.  

    Near the end of the chapter Berry talks about the illusion of the “Wonder World.” He states “This automobile, that bar of soap, this or that trinket will bring you to Wonder World. What we are really getting is  a Waste World.” People are constantly in over their head about what the except to be given in this life and fail to notice what they already have.

        Another author that would support Louvs claims is a man named Edward O. Wilson. He wrote a book called “Biophilia” and it this book there is a chapter called “The right place”. In this chapter he states “If certain human feelings are innate, they might not be easily expressed in rational language. A more promising approach is to explore the nature of the environment in which the brain evolved.” This quote perfectly Louv statement that nature will keep humans mentally stable. If one starts to lose control of their mind, they should bring their mind back to its natural biological environment. He continues to support this claim by saying “It is that certain key features of the ancient physical habitat that match the choices made by modern human beings when they have a say in the matter.” This quote puts one last arguments on how peoples lives revolve around their biological background even when we are living in modern day society. Wilson also illustrates the perfect setting for the human. Under a tree and on a hill that overlooks the sunset and the “beauty of the contrast between the golden carpet of buffalo grass and the pale green of the mesquite trees dotting its surface.”

    To help support the biological connection to the earth, authors Brian Swimme and Mary tucker deepen the relationship between humans and the earth in their book called “Journey of the Universe.” With a unique outlook, the authors compare people to the start and state “the stars are our ancestors.” They argue that both people and start attract and repel even though human are emotional and stars feel the reaction chemically. In addition, both stars and humans started from a single cell and turned into something complex. The authors all clearly argue why nature is important and give the readers various reason why nature is crucial to the well being of individuals. In order to maintain mental stability, people need to visit home once in a while, and I am not talking about the once with a man made roof.

                    Works Cited

Berry, Thomas. Evening Thoughts: The Place of the Human. February 16, 2011.

Swimme, Brian. Tucker, Mary E. Journey of the Universe.Yale University Press, 2011

Louv, Richard. Interview By Steve Inskeep. Saving Kids from A Nature Deficit Disorder’. May 25, 2005. http://www.npr.org/templates/story.php

Wilson O., Edward. Biophilia: The Right Place. January 1986.

Sister Nena Reflection #1

Last week I had the honor of helping Sister Nena with her garden. Although there was not much to do for the actual garden, we worked together to water holes that that the ground could be moist for the men who are going to put in another bed soon. She helped me replant my tree too because I had made the dirt moldy and did not go about it correctly the first try. After we finished watering the holes, Sister Nena invited me in her house and we talked about gardening and cooking for about half an hour.
I feel that these visits with her are very peaceful to me and brings me back down to earth. I did not expect to make friends with a nun! But I love Sister Nena :) She is very nice and she has such an incredible life story. It was amazing to hear about her childhood because it is so different from the lives children are enduring today. She is not judgmental or sour about us "kids these days", which makes it so relaxing to be around her and help and learn! I am really very excited for our net visit. Hopefully she will teach me how to cook. We have been talking about that and I hope that I can help her maw dinner one night. I am grateful for getting these experiences and cannot wait to help her out again soon.

Freshman Requirement Reflection #2: Dr. Sakena Yacoobi

      On Wednesday October 22nd, I had the honor of attending the reception and formal Speech of Dr. Sakena Yacoobi. She was born and raised in Afghanistan and became a refugee at a young age. when she saw all the women struggling and being treated horribly, she absolutely felt a strong urge to make a change. In response to the harsh treatment of women, Dr. Yacoobi started a school system for women so that they could learn their way out of struggles. Once the various extremist groups caught he young women and killed them, Yacoobi responded my creating underground school. It worked. And to this day she is helping more women and influencing more people every day.
      She is so loved by everyone who knows her, except for the crazy groups of people that want to kill her. She is extremely brave and stated that when god is ready for her to die, she will die. Something unique about Yacoobi is that even though she is very spiritual, she made is crystal clear that she accepts al religions and that the education had little to do with a actual religion. her goal is to teach young women actual life skills and how to be smart and strong.
        I completely admire and am inspired by this woman to the moon and back. She was kind and sincere in all the advice she gave, yet very humble. This is the kind of leader that has the biggest influence. People follow her because they want to, not because they are scared or threatened. But because they genuinely love this women. I am so grateful to have had this privilege and especially happy that I took advantage of going to it instead of skipping I for soccer. Because just being in her presence was an honor. It was amazing to meet a glorious person, and see how human they are. because if she is just human than that means anyone can be great like her. It was just such a positive and enlightening experience.