Learning Challenges

After watching the two videos, I was very surprised that I have never seen the Jelly Bean Video. It's an incredible example of how our daily routines take up such a huge part of our lives. From hygiene, to commuting... Putting a visual to those concepts gave me a slight panic attack. It makes me not want to be staring at my computer screen. It makes me want to jump out of my chair, grab my friends and go on a spontaneous adventure. This all relates back to time, the time we waste or spend a lot of time doing silly, fun, irrelevant, routine tasks. As a student, I identified with the Time Management side of Learning by HEART. 

The Truth

I procrastinate to spend time with friends. I justify it with creating memories.
I procrastinate because I know this task will take a long time.. and that's a lot of commitment.
I will find myself unconsciously on Facebook without realizing I left my homework assignment.

There isn't one solution to this problem. The Science of Procrastination encourages students to put a timer on your task to create a sort of deadline. This is a great idea to keep yourself on track. I think this would be beneficial for me because I makes me focus for a certain period of time instead of allowing myself to get side-tracked. At the end of the day, time is fleeting. It's hard to make sure you're living life to the fullest, and making the most use of your time.

Growth Mindset

Outside our Comfort Zone

I have never hear dog Carol Dweck and or the growth mindset before. After watching these videos, I was blown away by her insight and ideas. In the video "The Power of Believing That You Can Improve", she gave ten year olds problems that were slightly too hard. Some of them reacted positively, having a growth mindset. Others felt this was tragic, having more of a fixed mindset. They felt as if their intelligence was up for judgment. 

"They were gripped in the tyranny of now", she stated. 

No matter what age, I see this in the classroom. Whether it is volunteering with middle schoolers or looking around a classroom full of my peers. Some don't grow out of this mindset because for some people the goal is to get the best score they possibly can. There is a need for constant validation attached to this mindset. She mentioned this idea of a grade, "not yet". We are on a learning curve. Instead of receiving a failed grade, we can receive a "not yet". This creates the mindset that we are on the uphill climb to constantly improve ourselves. 

I'd like to say that I have a growth-mindset when it comes to academics, but sometimes in the moment of taking a test or getting my test results back I find myself with "fixed" commentary running through my head. I can be too hard on myself or convince myself that I have failed. When I am able to take step back I realize that this isn't true. During my time at OU, I have been completely pushed outside my comfort zone. I feel more comfortable in smaller classroom settings, but at a big university I have been a part of large lecture classes. I have had to make an effort to get to know my professors without getting lost in a sea of students.  Every aspect of college is not easy. Whether it is putting yourself out there, applying or things on campus or applying yourself in the classroom. 

During "Make Challenge the New Comfort Zone" Dweck explains the idea of easy versus a challenge. If it was easy, every one would be doing it.

 "We should make the students feel cheated if the work is too easy." 

She showed us the idea that challenge should become the new comfort zone, not easy being the new comfort zone. This is an incredible idea of testing every individual to reach their full potential in all aspects of their life. I was raised in a home where my parents gave my siblings and I the freedom for challenge. They raised us on independence and determination. They encouraged us to challenge each other and ourselves. They never set a standard for us, but they expected us to set a standard for ourselves. Dweck's idea of challenge brings back moments of my childhood where I learned the most from doing things outside my comfort zone. I would love to continue learning about the Growth Mindset this semester. I think it is a great accountability tool to show that there is always room for improvement. 

Storybook Favorites

While browsing the archive of storybooks, I was just scrolling to see which one would catch my eye. I first realized the importance of the title. The title is always the first thing that will catch the reader. I skimmed over "Cupid on Trial". I immediately laughed because my friends and I were discussing earlier today what our Valentine's Day plans would be while our other friends go on dates with their significant others.

Cupid Called Ryan Gosling

I imagined Cupid being on Trial for being the god of love and attraction, and just giggled. The story did not disappoint. I loved the way they used different gods and goddesses. My favorite part was the perspective that it was told. I imagined me being that person sitting on the couch having the same thoughts and reactions. It was an amazing way to turn the idea of "women sulking on their couch on February 14" into a positive, light-hearted story. 

"I also help people find their true love. I know many people are upset that I have not made them fall in love yet but a lot of those people are just not ready. They may think they are ready but they are still lingering over a past lust or are not quite mature for true love. Yes, that includes you."

The second article that caught my eye was Live On University Legends. During my freshman and sophomore year I worked as an OU Tour Guide. I learned of all of these legends and spooky stories. It was refreshing to hear of them told from the person themselves. I love how she put them all together as if they are walking around on campus, as I type this story in Gaylord. Although slightly spooky, the story was a great reminder to enjoy time as a student because it is fleeting. 

Live On University Campaign

My next favorite was a cute, modern twist of Cinderella. The Latest and Greatest of Cinderella was an incredible storybook and extremely entertaining. I loved how they worked E!News into it, to give it a modern flare. It was a fun way to hear of legends and stories told in a different way.  The story of Rhodopis in the original Cinderella version was a great opening and made me excited to read the rest of the articles. Then bringing in the story of the Broken Pitcher was brilliant.

Good Question

Not so Un-Familiar Un-Textbook Overview

The first unit that grabbed my attention was Alice in Wonderland. When trying to come up with a name for my blog I searched through the different units to see if something witty and funny came to mind. I wasn't very successful, but I was curious when I saw Alice in Wonderland. The second unit that really caught my attention was Alice's Looking Glass. I looked up a brief summary online and decided that I would name my blog through the myth-folklore looking glass. Since it inspired my blog name, I can't wait to read more about the story and have concrete details. I have seen the Alice in Wonderland movie and grew up watching it, but have never heard of Alice Through the Looking Glass.

Alice Through the Looking Glass Movie Cover Image

The third unit that caught my attention was the unit that I used for my Storytelling assignment, Aesop (Winter).  I don't know what it was, but when I was trying to come up with a story I had a really difficult time. I decided to take a second look at the other options and as soon as I saw Aesop for children, it clicked. They were simple, easy and left room for any sort of creative direction that I wanted to take. I look forward to reading more fables! I also love learning about the women in the bible. I think there is such depth to each of them and something that we can learn from each one. For Week two, I will most likely be reading and writing an blog post on one of the women from the Bible. 

I look forward to using this class as a "Looking Glass" to discover new things and new perspectives.

Storytelling of the Gnat and the Bull

THE GNAT AND THE BULL

The Gnat and the Bull

A Gnat flew over the meadow with much buzzing for so small a creature and settled  on the tip of one of the horns of a Bull. After he had rested a short time, he made ready to fly away. But before he left he begged the Bull's pardon for having used his horn for a resting place.

"You must be very glad to have me go now," he said.

"It's all the same to me," replied the Bull. "I did not even know you were there."

We are often of greater importance in our own eyes than in the eyes of our neighbor.

The smaller the mind the greater the conceit.

____________________________________________________

It was a brisk day in Spring. The sun was shining and the cows were grazing in the pasture. Flies were buzzing over the meadow, acting as an annoyance in the pasture. Gnat, an enthusiastic, little fly made his way into the meadow looking for a place to rest his wings. Gnat found his way on the tip of a horn of Bull, a well-mannered, but quiet creature. He didn’t want to be a menace like most of the other flies, so he crept down to in between Bull’s horns.

“It is a beautiful day in the meadow,” he said.

“Indeed,” replied the Bull.

“Thank you for letting me rest my wings,” said Gnat.

“Of course. Thank you for saying hello,” replied Bull.

They exchanged a smile. Most flies will use the Bulls as a resting place, but never exchange a smile or hello, but Gnat knew that people should always be thanked for having a giving and selfless spirit. Sometimes you will have a greater importance in the eye of your neighbor, if you take a look at their world through your own.

Author's Note: When reading the original fable it is a simple story of The Gnat and Bull. There are a few exchange of words and it is a usual interaction that a fly and a bull would have on a daily basis in the pasture. I wanted to twist the meaning of the story a little bit. The overall message of this story was, "We are often of greater importance in our own eyes than in the eyes of our neighbor", but I wanted to change this to show that you can become more important if you walk a mile in someones shoes It is important to know the power of saying hello and offering a smile. Additionally I wanted to change their actual names to Gnat and Bull rather than it just referring to the general animals. 

Bibliography: This story is based on the fable “The Gnat and the Bull" Aesop for Childnre, by (anonymous), illustrated by Milo Winter (1919)

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Introduction to the "Nevada Girl"

Hello! My name is Christina Newcomb. I am a junior, Advertising student, pursuing my minor in Human Relations and sometimes I am sometimes known as the girl from Nevada.

"Nevada? How'd you come to Oklahoma?"

FAQ:
Have you seen the show Reno 911?
No I have not. I am pretty sure it is filmed in LA.
Did you go to Vegas every weekend?
No.

The Reno Arch

Downtown Reno, Nevada

I grew up in The Biggest Little City, in Reno. It was an incredible place to grow up because it has a little bit of everything. It has the city feel, with a cute little downtown area. It has the outdoors, with Lake Tahoe nearly 30 minutes away. San Francisco is only 4 hours away, and places like Oregon and others are not too far either. A lot of my childhood was spent taking little road trips to Oregon and California to see family. I grew up loving the mountains and everything outdoors.

As I got older, my parents always pushed my two brothers and I to go outside our comfort zone, whether it was academics, jobs or friendships. They really pushed this idea when we had a rule of not being allowed to go to college in-state. My oldest brother went to school in California, while my other brother went to school in Idaho. When I started my senior year, I didn't know where I wanted to go. What I did know, was that I wanted to go somewhere different than Reno. I applied to over 20 schools and through my college search, Alabama was my number one choice. An friend from high school who attended OU heard of my interest in Alabama, and immediately contacted me. She took me out to coffee and convinced me to apply to the University of Oklahoma. Once I got into both, I took a campus tour and fell in love with OU. The beauty of campus, the people and the atmosphere it provides is unlike any other university. Although I can be known as "the girl from Nevada", it is fun to share stories and differences of the West Coast. I have brought friends home with me so they can see how unique and fun it is.

I have loved every second of my time at OU. It has challenged me in the way that I wanted when looking at colleges and I have met the most incredible people here. It has changed my perspectives and tested the person I am. If I could go back and do it again, I would chose OU every time, regardless of the results of the National Championship.

Boomer Sooner

My Favorite Place

Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Lake Tahoe Mountains Photo

Lake Tahoe. I am from Reno, Nevada and have grown up loving the outdoors. When I was a little kid, my brothers and I grew up taking trips to Lake Tahoe. As I got older I also grew to love and appreciate the beauty and variety of activities that Lake Tahoe has to offer. In the summers we would take boat rides and swim. In the winters we would ski, sled and snow shoe. There was always something fun to do, but the beauty of Lake Tahoe will always be something that will shock me the most. The views from all angles are breathtaking. I never know where the blue sky ends and the clear, blue water begins. It will always hold a special place in my heart and it will always be a place that I return to visit. 

A picture that I took from a hike in South Lake Tahoe