Journal # The American Dream

                                             The American Dream

What is the American Dream? Do we really know what it mean? In my ENC1102 class we recently had a guess speaker named Mauricio Garcia who once was an immigrant. He told us about his experience and his perspective about the American Dream. When Mr. Garcia was a teenager him & his brother were forced to leave their country El Salvador to America to start a new life. His parents had no choice but to send them to the United States to have a better life. When he came to the United States he was not interested in learning how to do or say things in the American way. But one day he made a decision to change his attitude. He finally knew what he wanted to do. He explained a few obstacles along the way like his weaknesses and how he overcame them. Once he got past a few of his setbacks he became motivated and successful. Mr. Garcia story really touched my heart and moved me. His story can be very inspiring to other people who are immigrants. Now I have a different view about immigration. I applaud anyone who tries to come to America to better their lives. Mr. Garcia is really living the American dream he learned our language, has a great education, and became a United States Citizen. We as American’s are blessed to be born and raised in the U.S. we have it so easy but some people don’t look at it that way. I’m proud to be an American.

Social Media Essay

Keshawn Vaughan

ENC1102

Prof. Warren

11 February 2013

Linked in to Facebook

Today many of us a linked in to social media sites. Some of the social sites that are often used Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even Twitter. One of the world’s most popular social networking website is Facebook. It was created by Mark Zuckerberg, a college student who was enrolled at Harvard University. Facebook was originally created for college students. However, it became the world’s largest social network, with over a billion users worldwide. Facebook benefits in many ways. You can use Facebook to reconnect with people you’ve lost contact with, such as family, friends, and even coworkers, and it can also be as much of a learning tool as a communication tool, and it can be used in the workplace.

            I and others use Facebook to reconnect with family members and friends who we haven’t seen in years. Since I’ve joined Facebook, I have even found out that I had more family members that I never knew existed. I found out that I do have family members that live in many parts of Georgia and even right here in Jacksonville. Facebook is good to get in touch with people like if the profile user put their home address or phone number so that you can reach them. But it is not good to always put everything on Facebook that is very personal (“Facebook Sharing plans Aren’t Evil”). It also helps me remember family and friend birthdays. It keeps me posted about current family events that I may forget about even events that are here in the city that they don’t advertise on the radio. You can also find out about a lot of different things on Facebook like stuff you didn’t know about a family member or friend, what is going on in your city you didn’t know about, and even what’s going on in the world period.

            Facebook can be used as a learning tool as much as a communication tool. Many people think Facebook is just to find old friends or connect with family. But educators use it to as a learning tool. They can post book reviews, journal blogs, and writer’s workshop. Students can use the note section on Facebook to post book reviews for other students to read or teachers to grade. It’s good for them to access each other papers for peer reviews, or simply maintain online journal blogs allowing other students to respond and react. Facebook is a communication tool as well you can have a chance to communicate with family, friends, and even business partners. If they can’t be reached by email or even by phone.

            Many people use Facebook in the workplace. It was found that 33 percent of people get on social profiles at work, 67 percent does not get on Facebook. Most people who use this social site in the workplace are marketing professionals; work in IT, engineering industry, and in finance. Majority try to keep it under wraps. 64 percent access the site from their phones and 36 percent from catching a glimpse from the work computers. But as far as some companies they block access from social sites. (“Infographic: A Third of Employees Facebook at Work”). many people are LinkedIn to get in front of their respective audiences. Seeking such connections might help to advance one’s career or to link with customers (Kevin Woodward).

            In conclusion, many people are linked in to many social media sites in this day in time whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even YouTube. The many people that have a Facebook are very much linked in. It benefits us in so many ways. It’s good for relationships for family members and friends, learning social education, and even good for the workplace. Since I’ve reconnected with a few of my family members we’ve planned a few events. One event that I loved that meant a lot to me was our family reunion. It meant a lot because I and others have gotten to meet our long lost siblings and we learned our family history. I’m glad that I joined Facebook.  I really think social media is the best thing that was ever invented.

Works Cited

“Infographic: A Third of Employees Facebook at Work." PC Magazine Online 10 Nov. 2011.

            Academic OneFile. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

Ulanoff, Lance. "Facebook's Sharing Plans Aren't Evil." PC Magazine Online 18 Jan. 2011.

            Academic OneFile. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.

Woodward, Kevin. "Working Online: Making The Most of Social Media; Social networks

Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter each may help promote products and services online. But caution is advised." ISO & Agent 1 Nov. 2010: 31. Academic OneFile. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

Digital Nation

Recently in my ENC1102 class we watched a documentary on Digital Nation. The film was very interesting. It talked about how people is basically caught up or wrapped up into the digital world. The video really caught my attention about the digital world. I never notice how I and the people around me, even in the world are hooked to computers, phones, and video games. The world revolves around the internet literally. What was interesting in the video was when they did a study on the MIT students. The students thought that multitasking was actually making them more thinkers and learners. Once the study was over they were proven wrong. It showed that doing many things at once actually slows your brain down. I personally am a part of the digital world. My experience has been the same as everyone else. For example like now currently I’m typing my journal, listening to YouTube, on Facebook and twitter. I’m even talking and texting on my cell phone. I know I shouldn't be on any of these sites or on my phone. But I’m still getting my blog done. I also love playing video games on Xbox connect, Wii, and PlayStation 3. I’m into racing games and games that you really have to physically use your body in order to play. The video games that I dislike are the ones with action, violence, and war in them. But I don’t spend hours on the video games like I would on the internet. I wonder how life would be if it wasn't a digital world.

My view on Reality Televison

                                                         My view on Reality Television

My personal opinion about reality television is it’s over rated. The reason for my opinion is because some of the reality shows they have now are pointless and they have no point of even being showed on television. Most reality shows have people who don’t mind humiliating themselves. They think its ok to make fools of themselves or even ok for other’s to make fools of them. It’s like the people who has control of airing show’s doesn't care what they show on TV. It seems as though they are just basically in it for the money. I really don’t watch reality television as much as I use to.  My reason being is that now I understand that some shows are not real and is just an act so that they can have a lot of viewers. For example theirs this one show I use to watch called Love and Hip-hop. The show is a reality television series on VH1. The series follow the lives of several women who are involved with hip hop. That show has a lot of drama between the women and their men who they are in love with and the hip hop game. They would act very ignorant and out of character as adults on that show. The cast would flip flop with one another often so I knew it wasn't real just to get viewers. I can really relate to the essay reality check. I don’t understand why we feed into people humiliating themselves.