Final Portfolio

Reflecting on ones self is very difficult. I have enjoyed this course so far because it has helped me improve tremendously on my writing while also incorporating history. I have always enjoyed learning types of history. Everyone in my group has played a role in helping me understand the time period, authors and literature because they have explained them differently, each piece being put together. I am proud of every piece I have written, however, I wish it was easier for me to express things and the way I feel through writing. As I said, this class has helped tremendously, but I still do not see myself as being where I would like to be in writing

Since taking this class I have realized that the most important part of this class to me is improving on my writing. I have really enjoyed the essays that we have written because I feel that they have been very reflective all together. I really enjoyed writing the letter to the immigrant, because it really makes me understand more what it was to be an American and reflect on what I feel it takes to be an American. I feel that John De Crevcoeur’s essay “What is an American” really helped me understand more what it really means to be an American. Writing this essay also made me realize that I need to practice my American rights, but I need to learn more about our world. I have never been very big into politics because it has never really interested me, I have always just voted for the same candidate that my parents voted for because that is all I knew. When the next presidential election comes in 2012 I want to be more informed on each candidate and vote for the one that I feel has the same ideas and thoughts that I do.

Week two, when we talked about the “Sublime” was one of my most favorite weeks thus far in this class. I really enjoy talking about experiences and things that make me excited. I really enjoyed reflecting on the time that was the sublime for me, because it was one of the most important days of my entire life. . I also really enjoyed reading my committees sublime moment, some being very happy and some not being so happy. I found it very interesting to see what others thought a sublime moment was for their own selves. I also really enjoyed writing the ghost story (please look at Erin Edwards response) for our discussion board that week. While trying to either remember or make up a story at work, I started talking to some of my coworkers and they told me about all the creepy things that had happened to them in the building and thus my ghost story came to be. The funny thing now, is I am scared to be in some rooms of my workplace by myself. This I feel may be a different type of sublime, because sometimes when I am in a room by myself my heart starts to beat really fast and I turn and look behind me to make sure there is no one there.

Week four I really enjoyed as well, because it gave us time to reflect without having a phone, a computer, or any type of technology period with us. I really enjoyed this week because it really gave us a chance to reflect on ourselves and the beauty that is before us every day. Most of the time I see that people as well as myself, take for granted the beautiful nature that God has created for us. There is so much to enjoy and so much life to see, not just with animals, but with plants, trees and other things. Fortunately, I have the perfect place to really experience the beauty of nature, basically, whenever I want. I spoke about this place in my discussion board (please look at Erin Edwards response). I also enjoyed this week because I got to reflect on what I feel living your life to the fullest is all about. This I feel went hand in hand with nature, because when a person is alone with nothing to distract them these are the things that they think about, at least that is what I think about.

Week five was enjoyable and I learned a lot about my self. I really enjoyed thinking about what I would like my ideal self to be. I have found through out this class that I have never really been a complex thinker I have always just lived for the moment. With this assignment it made me realize that there are things that I want to accomplish in my life not just for my self, but for my soon to be husband and my family. My family has always wanted me to go far and up until recently I have never believe in my self that much. Since thinking about what I want to do with my life I have realized that I can do what I want with my life.

The writings we did on weeks six, seven and eight I feel were the most challenging for me. I have never really enjoyed watching or reading the news therefore writing about a social practice I feel was very difficult, I was not completely ready to write about something as complex as that. Although, I feel that in a way I was still very excited about writing about the issue that I chose because it really gave me a chance to learn about something new. Also, writing the workable solution for me I felt was very difficult. These parts of the course are what made me the most excited and made me break out of my shell. I am not confident about writing to begin with so I really had to do a lot of research and actually think hard about a process for finding a workable solution. This is really when I decided that it was important for me to actually start listening and watching the news so I am not completely oblivious to what is going on in our country and the world.

I very much enjoyed writing about my virtues during week ten. I have never sat down and really thought about what “rules” to set for myself. Since doing this I have started to see a difference in the way I think and speak about others. I am also trying harder to be more appreciative of people and things that I see in everyday life. I have found that before setting this goal for myself I was very negative and judgmental and did not realize it. Doing this list has also made me more aware of people that are surrounding me. I have always tended to trust people too quickly and more than I should. Doing this has made me realize that not everyone is good. I have always liked the fact that I can see the good in everyone but at the same time I did not like being walked over.

Week 12 was another great week for me in this class. I really enjoyed looking into my faith, because I have not really thought about it in a few years. I knew that it has always been there, but I had just had not sat down and thought about it in many years. My profession of belief was a great way for me to express what I think and how I feel about faith. This week also made me realize that I have not been as `close to God as I should have been in a few years. It is very important to me to find a church that I feel comfortable going to so that I can work on practicing my faith more than I do now.

Week fourteen I really enjoyed because I was able to write about how my Thanksgiving was. Every holiday for me is absolutely crazy because I have four different holiday family events to attend, and we have to travel as well. I would not change these events because I get a chance to spend time with everyone and I love being with everyone. This particular holiday however, I paid special attention on what exactly we did though so I could write for my discussion board (please look at Erin Edwards response). Every single year I dread having Thanksgiving and Christmas with my mother’s side of the family, but usually I am happy I was able to see them after the fact because it is never as bad as I think it is going to be.

One issue I have found is that I need to not procrastinate as much as I do. I usually wait until about Wednesday before I start which means that I am always in a rush to do all the readings assigned and finish all the assignments. If I started earlier I feel like I would have more time to focus and think about what to write about more.

This class has really helped me manage my time better. It has made me have to take time out of my own schedule to focus on school work. This class has also helped me broaden my horizons for thinking and has shown me that I need to start watching/ reading the news so I know more about our great country. This class has really made me have to think a lot more than other classes, because it has made me think in different ways. I am very happy that I took the chance on taking an internet class. As I stated, it has really made me take time out of my own schedule to focus on school work. This class has also let me work at my own pace which is very important for me. I very much enjoyed talking this class that I have signed up for another internet class next semester.

The only downfall for me with this class is that it has been very writing intensive. At the same time however, it has been very beneficial. As I have stated throughout this entire paper it has helped me work on my writing because I have never been very confident with writing at all. I feel that this class has really helped me to improve on the overall flow of my writing. It has made it easier for me to actually come up with things to say! It used to be such a task for me to write about anything, but now I feel like I can sit down and once I get started sometimes I do not want to stop.

All in all I have really enjoyed this class and the writings and authors that have been introduce to us. As I stated, I really see that this class has made me break out of my shell, and write about things that I never thought about and about things that did not really interest me. This class has made me realize that I need to be more informed in what is going on in the world. I am glad that I have been challenged in a different way. I do not do well at math so this challenge it a good different. This class makes me want to do better with the writing assignments and makes me want to grow.Another favorite part of this class was the fact that we were able to incorporate history into how we feel. I have a certain passion for history, so everything we went over I really enjoyed. I greatly appreciate everything

Third post of portfolio

Reflecting on ones self is very difficult. I have enjoyed this course so far because it has helped me improve tremendously on my writing while also incorporating history. I have always enjoyed learning types of history. Everyone in my group has played a role in helping me understand the time period, authors and literature because they have explained them differently, each piece being put together. I am proud of every piece I have written, however, I wish it was easier for me to express things and the way I feel through writing. As I said, this class has helped tremendously, but I still do not see myself as being where I would like to be in writing

Since taking this class I have realized that the most important part of this class to me is improving on my writing. I have really enjoyed the essays that we have written because I feel that they have been very reflective all together. I really enjoyed writing the letter to the immigrant, because it really makes me understand more what it was to be an American and reflect on what I feel it takes to be an American. I feel that John De Crevcoeur’s essay “What is an American” really helped me understand more what it really means to be an American. Writing this essay also made me realize that I need to practice my American rights, but I need to learn more about our world. I have never been very big into politics because it has never really interested me, I have always just voted for the same candidate that my parents voted for because that is all I knew. When the next presidential election comes in 2012 I want to be more informed on each candidate and vote for the one that I feel has the same ideas and thoughts that I do.

Week two, when we talked about the “Sublime” was one of my most favorite weeks thus far in this class. I really enjoy talking about experiences and things that make me excited. I really enjoyed reflecting on the time that was the sublime for me, because it was one of the most important days of my entire life. . I also really enjoyed reading my committees sublime moment, some being very happy and some not being so happy. I found it very interesting to see what others thought a sublime moment was for their own selves. I also really enjoyed writing the ghost story (please look at Erin Edwards response) for our discussion board that week. While trying to either remember or make up a story at work, I started talking to some of my coworkers and they told me about all the creepy things that had happened to them in the building and thus my ghost story came to be. The funny thing now, is I am scared to be in some rooms of my workplace by myself. This I feel may be a different type of sublime, because sometimes when I am in a room by myself my heart starts to beat really fast and I turn and look behind me to make sure there is no one there.

Week four I really enjoyed as well, because it gave us time to reflect without having a phone, a computer, or any type of technology period with us. I really enjoyed this week because it really gave us a chance to reflect on ourselves and the beauty that is before us every day. Most of the time I see that people as well as myself, take for granted the beautiful nature that God has created for us. There is so much to enjoy and so much life to see, not just with animals, but with plants, trees and other things. Fortunately, I have the perfect place to really experience the beauty of nature, basically, whenever I want. I spoke about this place in my discussion board (please look at Erin Edwards response). I also enjoyed this week because I got to reflect on what I feel living your life to the fullest is all about. This I feel went hand in hand with nature, because when a person is alone with nothing to distract them these are the things that they think about, at least that is what I think about.

Week five was enjoyable and I learned a lot about my self. I really enjoyed thinking about what I would like my ideal self to be. I have found through out this class that I have never really been a complex thinker I have always just lived for the moment. With this assignment it made me realize that there are things that I want to accomplish in my life not just for my self, but for my soon to be husband and my family. My family has always wanted me to go far and up until recently I have never believe in my self that much. Since thinking about what I want to do with my life I have realized that I can do what I want with my life.

The writings we did on weeks six, seven and eight I feel were the most challenging for me. I have never really enjoyed watching or reading the news therefore writing about a social practice I feel was very difficult, I was not completely ready to write about something as complex as that. Although, I feel that in a way I was still very excited about writing about the issue that I chose because it really gave me a chance to learn about something new. Also, writing the workable solution for me I felt was very difficult.

I very much enjoyed writing about my virtues during week ten. I have never sat down and really thought about what “rules” to set for myself. Since doing this I have started to see a difference in the way I think and speak about others. I am also trying harder to be more appreciative of people and things that I see in everyday life. I have found that before setting this goal for myself I was very negative and judgmental and did not realize it. Doing this list has also made me more aware of people that are surrounding me. I have always tended to trust people too quickly and more than I should. Doing this has made me realize that not everyone is good. I have always liked the fact that I can see the good in everyone but at the same time I did not like being walked over.

Week 12 was another great week for me in this class. I really enjoyed looking into my faith, because I have not really thought about it in a few years. I knew that it has always been there, but I had just had not sat down and thought about it in many years. My profession of belief was a great way for me to express what I think and how I feel about faith. This week also made me realize that I have not been as `close to God as I should have been in a few years. It is very important to me to find a church that I feel comfortable going to so that I can work on practicing my faith more than I do now.

Week fourteen I really enjoyed because I was able to write about how my Thanksgiving was. Every holiday for me is absolutely crazy because I have four different holiday family events to attend, and we have to travel as well. I would not change these events because I get a chance to spend time with everyone and I love being with everyone. This particular holiday however, I paid special attention on what exactly we did though so I could write for my discussion board (please look at Erin Edwards response). Every single year I dread having Thanksgiving and Christmas with my mother’s side of the family, but usually I am happy I was able to see them after the fact because it is never as bad as I think it is going to be.

One issue I have found is that I need to not procrastinate as much as I do. I usually wait until about Wednesday before I start which means that I am always in a rush to do all the readings assigned and finish all the assignments. If I started earlier I feel like I would have more time to focus and think about what to write about more.

This class has really helped me manage my time better. It has made me have to take time out of my own schedule to focus on school work. This class has also helped me broaden my horizons for thinking and has shown me that I need to start watching/ reading the news so I know more about our great country. This class has really made me have to think a lot more than other classes, because it has made me think in different ways. I am very happy that I took the chance on taking an internet class. As I stated, it has really made me take time out of my own schedule to focus on school work. This class has also let me work at my own pace which is very important for me. I very much enjoyed talking this class that I have signed up for another internet class next semester.

The only downfall for me with this class is that it has been very writing intensive. At the same time however, it has been very beneficial. As I have stated throughout this entire paper it has helped me work on my writing because I have never been very confident with writing at all.

All in all I have really enjoyed this class and the writings and authors that have been introduce to us. I am glad that I have been challenged in a different way. I do not do well at math so this challenge it a good different. This class makes me want to do better with the writing assignments and makes me want to grow.

second draft of portfolio

Reflecting on ones self is very difficult. I have enjoyed this course so far because it has helped me improve tremendously on my writing while also incorporating history. I have always enjoyed learning types of history. Everyone in my group has played a role in helping me understand the time period, authors and literature because they have explained them differently, each piece being put together. I am proud of every piece I have written, however, I wish it was easier for me to express things and the way I feel through writing. As I said, this class has helped tremendously, but I still do not see myself as being where I would like to be in writing

Since taking this class I have realized that the most important part of this class to me is improving on my writing. I have really enjoyed the essays that we have written because I feel that they have been very reflective all together. I really enjoyed writing the letter to the immigrant, because it really makes me understand more what it was to be an American and reflect on what I feel it takes to be an American. I feel that John De Crevcoeur’s essay “What is an American” really helped me understand more what it really means to be an American.

Week two, when we talked about the “Sublime” was one of my most favorite weeks thus far in this class. I really enjoy talking about experiences and things that make me excited. I really enjoyed reflecting on the time that was the sublime for me, because it was one of the most important days of my entire life.

The writings we did on weeks 6, 7 and 8 I feel were the most challenging for me. I have never really enjoyed watching or reading the news therefore writing about a social practice I feel was very difficult, I was not completely ready to write about something as complex as that. Although, I feel that in a way I was still very excited about writing about the issue that I chose because it really gave me a chance to learn about something new. Also, writing the workable solution for me I felt was very difficult.

I very much enjoyed writing about my virtues during week ten. I have never sat down and really thought about what “rules” to set for myself. Since doing this I have started to see a difference in the way I think and speak about others. I am also trying harder to be more appreciative of people and things that I see in everyday life. I have found that before setting this goal for myself I was very negative and not realizing it.

Week 12 was another great week for me in this class. I really enjoyed looking into my faith, because I have not really thought about it in a few years. I knew that it has always been there, but I had just had not sat down and thought about it in many years. My profession of belief was a great way for me to express what I think and how I feel about faith.

One issue I have found is that I need to not procrastinate as much as I do. I usually wait until about Wednesday before I start which means that I am always in a rush to do all the readings assigned and finish all the assignments. If I started earlier I feel like I would have more time to focus and think about what to write about more.

All in all I have really enjoyed this class and the writings and authors that have been introduce to us. I am glad that I have been challenged in a different way. I do not do well at math so this challenge it a good different. This class makes me want to do better with the writing assignments and makes me want to grow.

Comments for first rough draft portfolio

Alex Chenault: I really like how well you explained pretty much everything that we have worked on throughout the semester. I agree that one of the most interesting writings for me was writing about the Sublime, however, I my experience with sublime was a lot different from yours.

Rachel: I did not see a blog

Almira: I did not see a blog

Kelsey: As always, I love reading your blog. I feel like you and I are both on the same page about pretty much everything. I agree with you that the week about faith really helped me look into my faith a lot more than I had before.

Kim: I did not see a blog

Alex Smith: I did not see a blog

Reading the blogs of my group helped me add a couple of weeks that I overlooked to write about. These weeks I feel were very important to helping me grow as well as what I have already listed in my portfolio thus far.

First draft of portfolio

Reflecting on ones self is very difficult. I have enjoyed this course so far because it has helped me improve tremendously on my writing while also incorporating history. I have always enjoyed learning types of history. Everyone in my group has played a role in helping me understand the time period, authors and literature because they have explained them differently, each piece being put together. I am proud of every piece I have written, however, I wish it was easier for me to express things and the way I feel through writing. As I said, this class has helped tremendously, but I still do not see myself as being where I would like to be in writing

Since taking this class I have realized that the most important part of this class to me is improving on my writing. I have really enjoyed the essays that we have written because I feel that they have been very reflective all together. I really enjoyed writing the letter to the immigrant, because it really makes me understand more what it was to be an American and reflect on what I feel it takes to be an American. I feel that John De Crevcoeur’s essay “What is an American” really helped me understand more what it really means to be an American.

The writings we did on weeks 6, 7 and 8 I feel were the most challenging for me. I have never really enjoyed watching or reading the news therefore writing about a social practice I feel was very difficult, I was not completely ready to write about something as complex as that. Although, I feel that in a way I was still very excited about writing about the issue that I chose because it really gave me a chance to learn about something new. Also, writing the workable solution for me I felt was very difficult.

I very much enjoyed writing about my virtues during week ten. I have never sat down and really thought about what “rules” to set for myself. Since doing this I have started to see a difference in the way I think and speak about others. I am also trying harder to be more appreciative of people and things that I see in everyday life. I have found that before setting this goal for myself I was very negative and not realizing it.

One issue I have found is that I need to not procrastinate as much as I do. I usually wait until about Wednesday before I start which means that I am always in a rush to do all the readings assigned and finish all the assignments. If I started earlier I feel like I would have more time to focus and think about what to write about more.

All in all I have really enjoyed this class and the writings and authors that have been introduce to us. I am glad that I have been challenged in a different way. I do not do well at math so this challenge it a good different. This class makes me want to do better with the writing assignments and makes me want to grow.

Week 14-Virtue

Becoming more humble is a very difficult process. I have really worked hard to not be as selfish as I am usually, and I feel that I have done pretty well. I have found myself to be less focused on myself around others and to be more focused on what is going on with the person that I am talking to at that time. Around this time of the year is the best time to focus on other people and be thankful for a person just putting the time in to think about you. This time of year I hope will help me in this process so that I can hopefully keep the way I feel going throughout the year and the rest of my life.

Profession of Belief

Belief and faith are two very difficult feelings to have, but everyone needs to have both in order to live a happy and full life. Having faith and believing in God has always been a part of my life each and every day. I have not always gone to church or shown that I am a believer but God and faith has always been present in my life.

When I was younger, I asked my parents if they would start taking me to church and then I really received the chance to learn about having faith and believing in God. Growing up and being surrounded by people that will do anything for you and want the best for you is the best feeling, also knowing that you can always depend on God with everything that you do. I have always been very lucky to be surrounded by people that love me and want me to know that to have faith is one of the most important parts of living.

Since I have grown up, I have gotten away from going to church. Not because I do not believe or have faith, but just because I live too far from the church that I have gone to basically my entire life and because I have been lazy and not gone to look for a church. Now at this point in my life, I enjoy having my Sunday’s to relax and work on things for school. That I do feel is selfish on my part, because God gave his son to save everyone from our sins and I cannot take two hours out of my entire week to go and listen to his word in his house.

I believe, just like Thomas Paine states in his Age of Reason that there is only one God and that after this life there is happiness. I also am like Paine in the fact that I do not judge others for their faith or what they believe in. I feel that it is up to that specific person to decide what to believe or what to have faith in. As long as that person has something to have faith and believe in that, I feel is all that matters.

Since I have been engaged, I have really seen how much faith I have. Before I was engaged I always thought that it did not matter to me who married my fiancé and I. I have now realized how important it is to have God in your relationship. My parents have a Poem at their house and it says that marriage takes three, and I truly do believe that now. I am very pleased with my decision to have God and faith in my ceremony, relationship and my life. I truly hope that my faith does not ever escape me. I truly feel that faith is one of the most important parts of who a person is, and it is so important to have faith in yourself and above all in God, or for other religions at least having faith in something.

Comments for week 11

Alex Chenault- I agree with you when you say that it is necessary to have the different groups. It is very difficult, however when there are too many of one group and not enough of the other. The groups like you said need to balance each other out. Hopefully, since this past election happened this will happen.

Rachel- I did not see a blog

Almira- I did not see a blog

Kelsey- I agree with what you wrote about not being able to have anything to vote for without factions. The thing that has stayed with us through Madison's writing is the fact that there are not any really small groups. The smallest of the groups is Independent, however they do not really have an influence on what is going on with the economy and the country today.

Kim- I did not see a blog

Alex Smith- I did not see a blog

Week 12 reflection

The moment where I felt most engaged in what I was learning last week was again, when I was writing. I feel like each week while I am writing is the most interesting to me. I enjoy thinking about the topic at hand and discussing what I think and feel about the topic.

The time that I felt most distant from the class was during the reading assignment. It took me several time of reading the Federalist # 10 and conversing about it with my Fiance' before I actually understood what was being discussed in the writing.

I really liked the fact that there was a link that we could listen to what we were to be reading and that we could also read it. I feel like that helped me comprehend the writing more.

Week 11- Factions

In Madison’s writing The Federalist Number 10 he explains that there are two ways to limit factions and that is to either remove them or to create a society that has the same opinions and beliefs. Madison then goes on to explain in his writing that ordinary peoples opinions are always persuaded by their emotions and their self interest, not necessarily what is best for the country.

Madison then goes on to explain that the only problem comes from majority factions wanting to enact what their popular beliefs to the people. If this happens this will not allow the country to be a free country. He then continues to explain that there are two ways to check for majority factions, either prevent the “existence of the same passion or interest in a majority at the same time” or leave a majority faction unable to act.

He then continues to explain that he is in favor of a large republic instead of a small republic because he feels that if there is a larger republic, there are a greater number of voters and candidates and with that the probability to elect experienced representatives is a lot higher. With a larger republic the voters will also have wider options. He explains that with smaller republics it would be easier for candidates to fool the voters. Also, he states that in a smaller republic there is a lower variety of interests and parties and more frequently a majority will be established. The number of the contributor will be smaller and the fact that the area is smaller and it would be easier for the republic to agree and work together for the success to their ideas.

How I understand everything that I have read is the fact that Madison wanted to have fewer parties and for them to be larger. It is apparent that today this has held through out time considering that there are only two major parties in the United States, and that every time another party tries to intervene it is unsuccessful. I believe that Madison wanted larger parties so that the people of the United States could be more independent and if there are a lot of different smaller groups I feel that it is easier to listen to people rather than listening to your own self.

Honestly, I do not believe there is a way to get rid of factions all together. The United States is built around two larger factions and one smaller and these are the Republican, Democratic, and Independent parties. If these parties did not exist there would be no reason to have the people of the United States vote. If we do not vote for what we believe in then there would be no order in the United States and people would not have anything to fight for. I feel the same way that Madison did when he wrote the Federalist , it is good that there are not a lot of smaller parties in the United States because if there were too many then it would be more difficult for the people of the United States to choose which party is best for them because they would feel that they could not follow their own interests.

Comments for week 11

Alex: I agree with you that selflessness would be the hardest one to work on, because it is so easy to be selfish.

Rachel: Good luck with getting more organized! It is very difficult, I am not organized at all and I have been working to be more organized me self.

Amira: I love your virtue that you chose to be more flexible. It is very hard to make change, but I will soon be experiencing a lot of change. Which I hope I am ready for!

Kelsey: I always enjoy reading your blogs! Thankfulness is a very good virtue to want to work on. I have realized as I have become older to really be thankful for the things that I have. My mom would do and still to this day helps me out the way your mom does.

Kim: I agree that trust is a very important virtue. Sometimes I wish I was like you in where It would take me longer to trust someone. My problem is that I trust people way too easily and I often get hurt in the process.

Alex: having a relationship and faith is God is the most important part of life. It takes everyone different amounts of time to truly understand that. Good luck with understanding this virtue, it is a great thing to have.

Learning Reflection Week 11

The moment I felt most engaged last week was when I was trying to Choose my virtues and while reading Benjamin Franklin's virtues. I felt most engaged at this moment because I enjoy writing about things that make me a better person and because I love anything to do with history.

I did not really feel distant from what the class was doing because I really enjoy this class as a whole, and again because I love history.

Comments for blogs

Nicki- I did not see a blog
Alex- I really enjoyed reading your reflective essay. I really enjoyed reading Poe's writings as well. I was awesome to learn more about someone that is so important to Virginia's history.
Rachel- I agree with you on learning more from our classmates. I really do enjoy this class and i feel like one of the reasons is because you can learn more from your classmates with reading their blogs.
Almira-I have realized that I need to prioritize as well. I actually wrote about that in my blog this week.
Kelsey- I also really like that this class makes us write things about ourselves. These things I feel like we do not think about everyday, so it is awesome that we get to think about these certain things in this class.
Kim- I also was inspired when I was writing about what being an American is to me. I really enjoyed reading your blog and I am sorry that you have things going on that have made you fall behind.

My Virtues

Have Faith- Always have faith in God and know that he wants the best for me and loves me always.
Be honest- Always be honest with people and with myself.
Be thoughtful and considerate- Be thoughtful and considerate to everyone even if it is your enemy. Always think about other people around you.
Love everyone- Always love everyone, do not be mean and hurtful.
Work hard- work as hard as you possible can, always put 100% towards everything that comes your way.
Be humble- Do not be rude and take others opinions for granted. Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts.
Think before speaking- Always think about how people will be effected with what you are about to say, do not offend people by speaking before you think.
Respect everyone-Always respect other people and do not judge.
Have an open mind and heart- do not be close minded and rude. Whatever you are presented with please think about it do not just automatically turn it down.
Be more frugal- Do not spend money that you do not have.

The Virtue that I would like to work on and feel that is the most important is being more humble. At times I find that I am probably more judgmental than I should be. I do not like that about myself. I know that I am a good person and try hard to appreciate everyone and everything that is around me but at times I find myself to not be very humble.

Addition for self reflection essay-week 10

Reflecting on ones self is very difficult. I have enjoyed this course so far because it has helped me improve tremendously on my writing while also incorporating history. I have always enjoyed learning types of history. Everyone in my group has played a role in helping me understand the time period, authors and literature because they have explained them differently, each piece being put together.

I am proud of every piece I have written, however, I wish it was easier for me to express things and the way I feel on Paper. As I said, this class has helped tremendously, but I still do not see myself as being where I would like to be in writing

Since taking this class I have realized that the most important part of this class to me is improving on my writing. I have really enjoyed the essays that we have written because I feel that they have been very reflective all together. I really enjoyed writing the letter to the immigrant, because it really made me understand more what it was to be an American and reflect on what I feel it takes to be an American. I feel that John De Crevcoeur’s essay “ What is an American” really helped me understand more what it really means to be an American.

The writings we did on weeks 6, 7 and 8 I feel were the most challenging for me. I have never really enjoyed watching or reading the news therefore writing about a social practice I feel was very difficult. I feel I was not completely ready to write about something as complex as that. Although, I feel that way I was still very excited about writing about the issue that I chose because it really gave me a chance to learn about something new.

One issue I have found is that I need to not procrastinate as much as I do. I usually wait until about Wednesday before I start which means that I am always in a rush to do all the readings assigned and finish all the assignments. If I started earlier I feel like I would have more time to focus and think about what to write about more.

All in all I have really enjoyed this class and the writings and authors that have been introduce to us. I am glad that I have been challenged in a different way. I do not do well at math so this challenge it a good different. This class makes me want to do better with the writing assignments and makes me want to grow.

Reflection #2 week 9

This class for me has been very challenging at times with all the writing we have been participating in, however, I have not considered withdrawing from the class. I feel that this class is a great challenge for me and cannot wait to see what is in store from this point on. I have really enjoyed learning about the different parts of history and literature so far. It has been very interesting reading all the literature and learning about all the authors we have been studying. I feel that I have been working very hard for this class and everything that has been published on my blog shows how hard I have worked. I have really been able to write down my feelings my blogs. I also feel this is a different way to understand people. I have really enjoyed ready each of my groups blogs from week to week, it is very interesting to me to see how people think differently and the same as I do on certain issues. Overall, I have really enjoyed this class.

Week 9 reflection

Reflecting on ones self is very difficult. I have enjoyed this course so far because it has helped me improve tremendously on my writing while also incorporating history. I have always enjoyed learning types of history. Everyone in my group has played a role in helping me understand the time period, authors and literature because they have explained them differently, each piece being put together.

I am proud of every piece I have written, however, I wish it was easier for me to express things and the way I feel on Paper. As I said, this class has helped tremendously, but I still do not see myself as being where I would like to be in writing

Since taking this class I have realized that the most important part of this class to me is improving on my writing. I have really enjoyed the essays that we have written because I feel that they have been very reflective all together. I really enjoyed writing the letter to the immigrant, because it really made me understand more what it was to be an American and reflect on what I feel it takes to be an American. I feel that John De Crevcoeur’s essay “ What is an American” really helped me understand more what it really means to be an American.

The writings we did on weeks 6, 7 and 8 I feel were the most challenging for me. I have never really enjoyed watching or reading the news therefore writing about a social practice I feel was very difficult. I feel I was not completely ready to write about something as complex as that. Although, I feel that way I was still very excited about writing about the issue that I chose because it really gave me a chance to learn about something new.

All in all I have really enjoyed this class and the writings and authors that have been introduce to us. I am glad that I have been challenged in a different way. I do not do well at math so this challenge it a good different. This class makes me want to do better with the writing assignments and makes me want to grow.

Week 8 Immigration resolutions

Last week, immigration was my topic of choice when looking at social practices that are not compatible with the basic beliefs of the United States. I feel that it would be very difficult to come up with a solution that would stop illegal immigration completely, as I feel all of us as a country would need to agree on a common solution. After all that is what being united is all about.
While reading the information I gathered last week on immigration I read a certain idea that was suggested by Charles Schumer, a senator from New York, that I thought would be a great policy for helping people that want to be part of our wonderful country. The idea was that the federal government would increase border security and create a new fraud resistant social security card. The illegal immigrants that wished to remain in the United States would have to admit they had committed a crime, pay all taxes and fees that they owed, and pass a criminal background check to be eligible for legal residency after eight years.
I truly feel this is the best alternative to decrease the number of illegal immigrants in the United States. The issue with this, however, is that that no one person has the same opinions as the next person. If these illegal immigrants do not think they will not get caught in the United States, then what will make them admit he or she committed a crime? In the end this particular idea is probably not the best because it is up to that certain someone to admit to what they had done. In today’s society, most people would not admit it.
Another option that, in my opinion, has worked to decrease the number of illegal immigrants is sending federal agents to hunt through company records to identify any illegal immigrant workers. Immigration and Customs Enforcement went to over 2,900 companies and performed audits of all their employee files. This worked because it did not cause a commotion and did not give any of the companies that were audited a chance to cover their tracks and hide any employees that were not authorized by the United States to be working. I feel that this is something that should happen at all companies across the United States.
Additionally I believe that a program which requires all United States based corporations to review the immigration status of both their current employees and potential employment candidates could decrease the number of illegal immigrants. If they find a person that is not a legal citizen of the United States they should deport them. This could be a good program, but it would be difficult to have everyone cooperate, as it is extremely profitable for companies to pay illegal immigrants under the table, and not provide them with benefits. As we all know when it comes to people losing profits it can be very difficult to get those people to go along with the program.
The most important factor in the solution to illegal immigration is the full cooperation and support of the Mexican government. The number of people leaving Mexico certainly is not helping their economy, and is also putting a drain on ours. Therefore the Mexican government should want to keep their people from crossing over into the United States.
I think that all of the options listed are very good ones, but, unfortunately, I do not think that getting all illegal immigrants out of the country or having them become legal citizen is possible. There will always be some people that get through the system without getting caught. I think the best option out of all that is listed is for the government to create the program that checks all current and potential employees’ citizenship. This topic is very difficult to come up with an easy solution, and the process of resolving it will undoubtedly take a very long time and compromise.
This issue is a very hot button issue and our country, and is so for very good reason as it is a very important issue that requires careful consideration. The number of illegal immigrants needs to be decreased so that we as a country can work to rebuild our economy and reduce the number of Americans who do not have jobs. Resolving this issue will be a major leap forward for our nation’s recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Coments for ideal self

Alex: I truly agree with you. I also feel the jobs that are being done overseas should be moved back to the US. Great topic.
Rachel: I agree that outsourcing needs to be minimized to give Americans jobs. Good topic!
Almira: I really enjoyed reading your paper. It is very true that people get themselves into debt because of credit cards. Lets hope people smarten up and don't depend on credit cards.
Kelsey: I agree with you when you stated in your paper that if a person that murdered a family they should be punished the way they punished the family. Very good topic.

week 8 reflection

During week six and seven I felt most engaged with what I was learning when I was gathering information for the big writing assignment for the week. I really enjoyed getting to write about an issue in the United States. I don’t take the time to watch or read what the news to find out what is happening because it has never really interested me that much. I really enjoyed learning more on the topic I chose, however. I also feel that my writing has progressively gotten better throughout the semester.

Social Practices of Today’s Society

I tend not to read or watch the news very much, so this assignment I feel will be kind of difficult for me. When I think of social practices that I see are incompatible with the basic beliefs of our great Nation, the first one that comes to mind is immigration, and, in particular, the immigration across the Mexican border. While I do not stay abreast of current topics, I do know that this is a hot button issue and am therefore very interested to learn about this topic.
Immigration has always been a very integral part of what makes up the United States of America. After all, the United States was founded on the principle of equal opportunity for each and every person. It has helped the growth of our country while constantly being a source of conflict. In recent years, our country has experienced another huge wave of immigration, and, in fact, it is the largest since the 1920’s. These days, unfortunately, illegal immigrants outnumber the legal immigrants. It was estimated that the number of illegal immigrants were 11.9 million in the year 2008.
Legal citizens of our country obviously do not care for this statistic, because it shows that American jobs are being taken by those who do not pay taxes, and are therefore harming the economy. In recent years our government has been working to figure out a way to keep illegal immigrants out of our country so that more Americans are able to have jobs, however, some people feel they are being discriminated with the laws that have been placed into effect.
The controversial law that has been put into effect is in Arizona. It requires that all immigrants carry their papers with them at all times. This law states if a person is pulled over for a traffic violation and the officer suspects they are an immigrant he or she can ask to see their papers. If they are illegal they are deported.
I feel this topic is a bit like slavery. The law that was put into action in Arizona is to cut down on illegal immigrants in that state because that state is one of the most populated states for illegal immigrants. I feel that this law is unjust and I do not agree with it what so ever. I do feel that it is important to decrease the amount of illegal immigrants in the United States, however, it should be done in a different way.
The methods used to decrease the number of illegal immigrants have been a fight for several years now. Since the Arizona law has been passed politicians have been attempting to figure out new ways to discourage immigrants from crossing the border illegally. Senator Charles Schumer of New York outlined changes in the immigrant policies by stating we should enhance border security and create a new fraud resistant social security card. It also stated that illegal immigrants that wish to stay in the United States would have to admit to breaking the laws that they have broken, pay back taxes and fees that are owed, and pass a criminal background check in order to qualify for legal residency after eight years.
The option listed above I feel is definitely the better choice for decreasing illegal immigrants in the United States. This option still gives immigrants a chance to be able to live in our country and have a chance to experience the lives that all Americans are able to experience each and every day. This gives them a chance at having freedom. Freedom is one of the most important things to each and every person in the entire world.
Another way they have tried to decrease the amount of illegal immigrants is by building a 700 mile long fence that cuts the border between Mexico and the United States. This fence was also built to decrease illegal drugs from coming into the United States as well. Since this fence has been built there have been a number of immigrants that have tried to cross the border by traveling through the Sonoran Desert and then crossing the Baboquivari Mountain in Arizona. By doing this, these immigrants must travel through 50 miles of unwelcoming terrain just to get into a country they know they are entering into illegally and could possibly be sent back. This is where immigration draws another parallel to slavery. Each and every slave that had a chance to escape from their master so they were no longer treated poorly would do so. This resulted in the Underground Railroad. Harriet Jacobs wrote in her story that she escaped her master so that she would not have to be treated poorly.
Reading Harriet Jacobs story and the news on immigration has really opened a new door for me. It has shown me that there is still injustice in this country even though slavery in the United States is long gone. The United States has always been thought of as the land of opportunity, but with the way we treat immigrants today, is it really?

Learning reflection week 6

I feel I have learned a lot through this class and I feel that my writing has improved tremendously. I have found it kind of hard to comprehend a lot of the readings the first time I read them, however I feel if I really focus and read over the readings more than once I am able to understand them better. I really enjoy writing each week as well.

Comments for "Self Reliance"

Alex: I truly agree when you say that your ideal self is to just be you. People now expect way too much of them selves. Great writing!
Rachel: I do think that working hard is part of being your ideal self. I can't wait to have the experiences and work hard for my kids and my husband. Glad you were able to understand your ideal self better.
Almira: I agree that one of the most important things about your ideal self is believing in yourself. your writing was very en-lighting!
Kelsey:I think it is very difficult to know what makes a person their ideal self. I love reading your blogs because they come directly from the heart. I wish I was like you in where it took me a while to trust people and let people in. I admire you for that because I trust people so easily. Great writing!

My Ideal Self

Everyone tends to make their ideal self as hard as possible to become. I feel that I have done that for myself. It is very hard to explain your ideal self to someone, because they will always say that you are being too hard on yourself; which is usually the case. With this I will try and explain what I see as being my ideal self.
Emerson states in his writing “Self Reliance”, “Trust Thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine province has found for you; the society of your contemporaries, the connexion of events” (HB 1747). I feel that this quote is one of the most interesting quotes that I have ever read. I feel that this is one of the most important parts of self reliance and truly knowing your ideal self. If you cannot trust yourself who can you trust?
Another part of what I feel constitutes the real you is motivation to better yourself. Motivation to better yourself is important because without it you will not truly care about yourself enough to keep it in shape and make yourself happy. Motivation to better yourself should not be just to work out and eat right, but also to have real relationships not only with other people but with yourself as well. You need to have motivation to do well with everything you attempt, such as school, career, and hobbies.
Believing in yourself is another part of the ideal you. I feel this is very much like trusting yourself, as if you cannot believe in yourself than you cannot believe in any other person that is a part of your life. You must believe in yourself to accomplish anything in your life such as getting a job, getting through school, and having meaningful relationships with people. If people see that you do not believe in yourself, then they will not believe in you.
I feel that it is important to be somewhat independent to be the ideal you. You should be able to be dependent on people for certain things but you should always be able to depend on yourself. It is good to not be completely independent with everything because you need to be able to depend on certain people to help you through tough decisions and tough situations.
Being confident in yourself is an important part to your ideal self. If you do not have confidence in yourself then no one will truly have confidence in you. You must be able to convey confidence in yourself for things such as work interviews, sports, meeting new people and so on.
Loving yourself is another part to your ideal self. If you do not love yourself then it will be hard to love other people. Loving yourself does not require you to be self involved, and not care about the feelings of others. Should people see that when they look at you then they will not want a relationship with you which is certainly not ideal.
Being a caring person along with taking pride in yourself is another part of your ideal self. I feel that the first part of being a caring person is to care about you. Taking care of yourself is not only for your own good, but also for the people who love you. By taking care of yourself you are also looking out for the important people in your life. Taking care of your appearance and your body with working out and eating correctly are good just a couple of examples of how to do accomplish this.
Being successful is another part to your ideal self. Everyone wants to be successful in what they do. I feel this is part of the American dream, as everyone strives to be the best they can be. If people are not are not successful, then they feel that they fall short of their dreams.
You must be surrounded only by good to be your ideal self. If you surround yourself with bad and evil you will not ever truly be happy. Emerson states “When good is near you, when you have life in yourself, it is not by any known or accustomed way; you shall not discern the foot-prints of any other; you shall not see the face of man; you shall not hear any name – the way, the thought, the good shall be wholly strange and new” (HB 1755). This quote I feel is a very important part of being your ideal self, as it is shown everyday that when people surround themselves with constructive activities and good natured people they accomplish what they set out to do. It is when people surround themselves with hatred, ignorance and malicious individuals they falter and come up short.
All in all I feel that it is important to believe in yourself and love yourself before you believe in others and love others. You need to be true to yourself, because until you find your true self you cannot allow others to see the true you.

Best blogs in the class

Picking five of the best blogs is a tough task, because you don’t want to hurt the feelings of others in the class. If I had to choose five of the best blogs though they would be Anna, Raleigh, Kelsey, Andrew, and Kim’s. Each blog looks the same so choosing these blogs were very difficult to me.
The one that stood out the most for being the best blog would be Anna’s. Her blog was very organized and easy to read. I like the way her fonts are different for the quotes used out of the readings.
The second blog that stood out to me was Raleigh’s. I thought her blog was also very organized. I enjoy reading her blogs because it gets me laughing and thinking about “real life” issues.
Kelsey’s blog is another blog that I think is one of the top ones in the class. Again, hers is well organized like the others. I like how Kelsey puts you into her life and how she truly feels. Her blog keeps me intrigued.
Andrew’s blog is another that I chose. I enjoy reading his blog because his stories can be funny but are also from the heart. His blog is as well very organized.
Another blog that I chose as one of the bests is Kim’s. Her blog is also one that is very organized. I enjoy reading her stories as well because they all come from the heart.
As I said picking the five best blogs in the class was a very difficult task, because everyone’s blogs are good, however, these blogs are the ones that stood out for me the most.

Comments for living life to the fullest

Nicki: I do agree with you that you wouldn't be where you are today with out your family, because I don't know where I would be either!

Alex: I completely agree with the fact that there is no one out there that doesn't have regrets. This is so true EVERYONE HAS REGRETS! Great writing!

Rachel: Each point that you hit on was great! I too want to travel and see other places. I have yet to have my own kids but I can't wait to have those experiences you explained!

Almira: That was such a beautiful story. I'm so sorry you are not able to live in your country now. Hopefully one day you will get your dream to live in the mountains in your log cabin!

Kelsey: It sounds like you know what you need to do. I am very sorry about your break up I have been where you are and it took me a long time (much longer than you) to get over it. But I am now with someone that is so nice and loves me and does not take advantage of me. There is one out there for you!! :-)

Kim: First of all Congratulations! That is so exciting! Good luck with everything! Very nice writing! I understand your regrets with leaving a school, I did the same thing and am still in school!

Week Two Reflection

Last week I learned a lot more about Edgar Allen Poe. I have never taken the time to learn about him or read his stories and poems. I found it very odd that someone could be so dark, but soon realized that is the way certain people think. I am glad I was able to learn so much more about someone so important to American Literature and Virginia history.

Living Life to the Fullest

Everyone has their own way of explaining how to live life to the fullest, thus there is no one way of instructing on how to do so. To me, living like to the fullest is the experiences you create for yourself. The only way these experiences can happen is by opening yourself up completely to each and every thing, person or experience you come in contact with. This might mean getting hurt a time or two in the process but, you have had the experience and given it all you could.

I have had opportunities in my life, that could have quite possibly been once in a lifetime chances, which I have let pass me by. Unfortunately, this was because I did not make choices with myself in mind, as I was living for another person. This person took over my emotions and trapped me mentally. Luckily, I came to my senses, but only after I left college and stopped playing competitive softball.

There are only a few things that I want in order to live my life to the fullest. These things are not possessions, but only experiences and memories. If you think about it, do you really remember what your parents or grandparents give you for Christmas or do you remember the memories of that Christmas?

First off, a big part of what has contributed to helping my life be lived to the fullest is falling in love. I have truly found my best friend and better half. I cannot wait to marry him next May and start the amazing journey of our life together. He has shown me so many new things and has given me memories and experiences that I will never forget.

Another part that will contribute to my life being lived to the fullest is to have kids of my own. To see something that has been created by my best friend and I will be one of the most amazing things anyone can experience. The day that happens will truly change my life forever.

It has taken a few years, but I have finally decided what I want to be “when I am grown up”. I’m excited to get a job that I will love doing and not dread waking up everyday to go to a job that I hate. This, I feel, is another part of living your life to the fullest, loving what you do.

Additionally, I feel having a good relationship with my parents and in-laws is another part of living life to the fullest. I feel that my parents are two of the most important people in my life and I know I would not be here or where I am today if it was not for them. I would never trade the relationship that I have with my parents for any other. Having a good relationship with your in-laws will help with keeping stress off of your relationship and marriage as well as it will not be miserable when you have to attend family functions.

Another ingredient in the recipe for a full life is not taking the small things in life for granted. If you do you will have nothing to truly appreciate in life. A night to yourself so you can reflect, a night with just your significant other, a hug, a kiss, a look, a smile, these are all perfect examples of the small things to not take for granted.

I want to travel as much as possible. Part of my family is from Ireland and England, and I would love the chance to travel to these places to see what and where my family originated. I want to experience different cultures, because no culture is exactly the same and no part of the earth looks the same.

I want to live in another state, not on the same coast such as Seattle, Washington. It is an absolutely beautiful part of the country, as there is no place in the world like Seattle. All the sights and where it is located make this place like no other. I have lived in Richmond all my life, so to experience a place so different would be part of what helps me live my life to the fullest.

I love music, so seeing as many concerts as possible would contribute to me living my life to the fullest. One person that I would love to see in concert is Josh Groban. I have seen people such as Dave Matthews Band, O.A.R, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Buffet, John Fogerty, and so on. To add to that would just make it only that much better.

As you can see, I have a lot of things that contribute to me living my life to the fullest. As experiences and opportunities present themselves I’m sure I will add to that list. For now, however, I am very content with where I am in my life, but I am glad I still have many of these experiences and memories to look forward to in the future.

comments for Sublime writing

Kelsey: That truly is an awesome experience! I am so happy that you were able to experience that. I do agree with how you feel about the Sublime it is something that you want to remember forever!

Rachel: I agree with you about writing is the best way to explain this feeling! Such a great experience for you to have! Great job!

Almira: You made me cry! What a beautiful memory to have for your sublime. I cannot wait to experience that feeling that you had when you saw your baby girl for the first time.

Alex: I am sorry your girlfriend had you go see that movie! My fiance doesn't go see some of the movies that I want to see so I applaud you for going with her! I love the way you explained your story I found myself laughing!

Kim: I agree that all men can be the same! I love Sex in the City also! It is true that everyone want to live the American Dream...I definitely do!

Nicki: I had a similar experience last August. I went to Seattle, WA for vacation and while there we went to see Mount Rainier(which is the volcano that has not erupted in over 100 years). I have never experienced something so beautiful. I was not able to go to the top because once you got half way (the top is 14,500 feet up) you had to go on foot, but it was absolutely beautiful! What a good experience!

Week one learning reflection

I feel in last weeks writing exercise I learned more about what it means to be an American. I feel I already knew plenty but added just added more. I took into account that people outside the United States may see us as people who are very selfish and conceded from reading Raleigh's blog. She really had good examples of television shows like Jersey Shore that really show how much we will belittle ourselves and how we portray our country. Honestly, I had never taken that point into account.

The “Sublime”

Sublime is explained as a greatness to which nothing can be compared to. For some people that could be winning a game that was very important to them, or going to an outstanding concert, while for others that could be something that scares them such as a horror movie. In some cases in can be experiencing something that they never dreamed they could see or do like skydiving or meeting a celebrity. It depends on the person as to what really excites them and puts them in complete shock.

My definition of a moment of sublime for me would be the day my fiancée, Chris, asked me to marry him. I was so shocked the day he asked me that the first words out of my mouth were “Are you serious?!” I was so flooded with emotion that I didn’t know what to say or how to act, so I just froze. After a minute of standing there in awe and listening to what Chris was saying, I finally said “Yes!” and started to cry.

I believe that people seek out these types of experiences because they can only be created once. Chris worked so hard to create the perfect moment and proposal so that it would be something that he and I both would never forget. He spent months planning this one moment out so that he would receive the reaction that I had. I feel that people also want and like these sublime experiences because some are taking a risk. Life would not be worth living if there were no risks involved.

These sublime moments work as if you are creating a world of supernatural experiences while still being plausible. Another way of explaining these moments is when boundaries of a person’s perceived reality are crossed or pushed. For example, the original plan that Chris had was that he was going to take me on a private sail boat ride where there was wine, strawberries and music. There also would have been a private photographer to capture the moment in action. Unfortunately the weather did not allow for his plan to take place, but what did occur completely surpassed what I could have ever imagined. I would not change the way it happened, because it was natural and perfect. My experience was so great, but it was not to the point where I thought it was too good to be true.

If I were a romantic artist and I had to create or re-create this moment I would do this through writing. When I read books that interest me I find myself to be lost and in another world in them. If one could figure out

the words to describe the moment I could definitely get lost in my imagination. Writing is a good way to explain moments in general because it portrays situations while still allowing each reader to interpret the tale in their own way. Writing leaves thing to the imagination, the reader can create what people and the settings look like in their head.

In conclusion, I feel that writing is the best way to convey a moment of sublime, however the only way you can really experience sublime is to actually live the experience.

Comments for What is an American essay

I think this letter is very intuitive and gives good examples of why being an American is a privilege. Good job Kelsey!

What a funny way to convey what you are trying to say Raleigh! I love that you talked about the Jersey Shore. You are totally right about how people from other countries probably see us!

Michelle, I completely agree that freedom is the most important part of being an American. Very well written!!

What is an American?

Dear Margaret,

First of all, welcome to the United States of America. I trust you will find it a beautiful, exciting, and fun country with opportunity aplenty. In an effort to get you acquainted with your new home, I want to tell you what being an American is all about.

American citizenship first and foremost means you are free for freedom is the founding principle of the United States. We have the freedom to live where we want and worship in a way we choose. America is also a nation that finds its strength in its diversity, for anyone can be an American no matter what color their skin is or what country they hail from.

An American loves life enough to want the best it has to offer. In America anyone and everyone has a chance to further themselves and pursue their dreams. This country is known as the land of opportunity, and each of its citizens truly embrace this philosophy. Americans look into the future and are always striving for a bigger and better tomorrow.

Americans also understand that achieving the best in life requires action, hard work and a lot of effort. You will have anything you want at your finger tips, but know that you must work for it, and take some risks in order to achieve it

Americans think ahead, in every way possible, and are very generous. We care about helping the poor and helping the earth in anyway possible. Whether it is planting a tree, picking up trash, or recycling, Americans help in any way they can. We give money to charities in order to help kids who do not have homes or are being treated for an illness, and donate millions of dollars to those suffering from natural disasters both domestic and abroad.

Americans seek economic prosperity in everyway possible. Unfortunately, right now it is hard because we are in the worst economic state as possible, but we as Americans are working as hard as possible to rebuild our economy. Once that is accomplished we will be the successful country we once were.

Being an American has a sense of pride. We as people are very proud of what we do and make. We work very hard to create things that are cutting edge, leading in technology and of tremendous quality. We build things we are proud of, and we only build the best. We put all of our feelings and emotions into what we build, as we do not sit and wait for things to happen. We get things done and fight for what we want for both ourselves and our families.

Being an American is also being able to think as an individual. We can express yourself in anyway we like. We are very proud of what we believe in, which is demonstrated through our politics. People who run for office express how they feel, stand up for what they believe in, and explain what they would like to see for the country. This liberty is what we call freedom of speech, and is a founding principle of our nation.

We have a government that is for the people and is run by the people. Those in office have a passion for keeping our country happy and doing what they think is right for the public they serve. Our government is diverse as well, as it does not matter what color you are as long as you fight to keep our country to the best it can be. Americans fight for what is right, and stick up for people suffering in foreign lands. We fight so that other nations can also be as free as we are. We want each and every person to be able to think like an individual and worship like an individual.

An American supports their troops in every way possible. We know our troops fight to keep our freedom and to help in anyway possible. Our troops are passionate for our country and put their lives on the line everyday to fight for our freedom and safety. We always keep them in our thoughts a prayers so that one day they can come home to our country safely to be with their families.

All in all the importance of being an American is thinking like an individual and being your own person. Having every chance to pursue your goals, and being passionate are common qualities of our people. In short, being an American means believing in yourself and your country. I hope that you and your family have safe travels to our glorious nation, and wish you nothing but the best of luck as you join us.

Sincerely,

Erin Edwards