Week 8 Comments and Feedback

Overall, I feel like the quality of my feedback has been pretty helpful. Also, I think the comments that have been the most useful are the ones that offer examples with the constructive criticism. Further, I think being able to read other peoples stories has inspired me to do new things with my own story writing. For instance, I read one story that was written from the 1st person perspective, which is something I haven’t done before but would like to try!

I feel like the introduction blog posts are really neat and they give me an insight into my fellow classmates lives. After visiting numerous introduction posts I think I’m going to incorporate some personal photos into my introduction. Looking forward, I plan to try to give constructive criticism with examples, as well as give praise for the things that I liked about the stories that I’m giving feedback on.


I choose this image in particular because I feel like with the help of feedback one is able to reach new heights in their work, andthis photo encompasses this notion perfectly.

Feedback Cats.

Week 8 Reading and Writing

Looking back, I have really enjoyed the reading assignments so far. In particular I very much enjoyed reading the Ramayana. Further, I feel like my reading notes have really assisted me in writing new stories. I think its neat that my reading notes are not just a summary of the original story but instead allows me to talk about specific aspects that I would like to some how incorporate into my own story.

I choose this image because I love flowers and they remind me of new beginnings and spring. I feel like this is the perfect picture to use when looking to the future of this class.

Flower Garden. 

When looking forward I plan on taking advantage of the audio if it’s available. I feel like I will be able to get more out of the reading if I can hear it and follow along. Also, I’m going to try to get my readings done a head of schedule that way I have more time to focus on writing my story.

Wikipedia Trail from Arjuna to Transcontinental Countries

Arjuna: He is one of the main characters in the Indian epic Mahabharata. Arjuna is a very skilled archer, one of the best ever. He is one of the three pandava brothers, he has had four wives and four children.

Archery: This is a sport in which one uses a bow to shoot arrows. A person who participates in Archery is called an archer. This practice was used for warfare in ancient civilizations and now it has evolved into a sport.

Egypt: Egypt is home to some of the oldest civilizations and relics, such as the great pyramids of Giza. I was surprised that modern Egypt began in 1922 when it declared its independence from the British Empire. Further, I’ve always been fascinated with Egyptian culture and it was really cool to look into the modern Egypt as well.

Transcontinental Countries: I wanted to look this up because I wasn’t exactly sure what this meant. I learned that a transcontinental country is a country that is located on more than one continent. For instance, the territory of Turkey is located over both Asia and Europe; where as Egypt can be found on Africa and Asia.

An Ancient Egyptian Archer.

Tech Tip: Canvas Mobile App

I downloaded the canvas mobile app last year and it was the best thing I've ever done. The mobile app is so convenient and I really like how I receive instant updates when new grades are entered into my account. Overall, I think the canvas mobile app is a great tool and I would recommend that all students download it!

Learning Challenge: Sleep

I read the article,10 proven ways teachers can improve their sleep, and I found it really insightful. Here is the link to the article.

A good night's sleep is important for keeping your body and mind operating at optimal levels. Good ways to ensure good sleep are consistent bedtime, routine sleep cycles, avoid caffeine and meditation.
However, the article mentions some methods that I was not aware of like de-cluttering your bedroom and beware of cold feet. Studies have shown that a messy room will increase stress levels and contribute to poor sleep quality. If your feet are uncomfortable with the temperature you will sleep restlessly. I am going to make sure that my feet stay warm by wearing comfortable socks to bed and keep my room clutter free and see if I can fall asleep easier and have a more restful night of sleep in the weeks ahead!

Sleep allows us to recharge. 

Growth Mindset: New Situation

I read the article "How to get over your fear in new situations," by Keith Rollag. Here is the link to article.

Putting ourselves into new situations can be uncomfortable for most people and this can inhibit us from growing and experiencing new things.

So how do we overcome this uncomfortable feeling that many times prevents us from entering new situations that can enrich our lives? Our mindset is the problem. Instead of looking at new situations as a test of being perfect and proving ourselves, we should view new situations as an exciting new learning opportunity.

I am going to shift my mindset and look at new situations as a learning opportunity and to engage with others as a student that is hungry to learn. I need to just be relaxed and look at new experiences as fun and helpful in my own personal growth. There are so many opportunities to grow in our lives and we need to take advantage of those as often as possible!

The New Stamp of Approval.

Reading Notes: Mahabharata, Part B

I really enjoyed reading part B of Mahabharata and I found a lot of stories that I  have drawn inspiration from for my own story. The first story that caught my attention was "The House of Fire." I liked the idea of how Vidura , is the wisest of his two brothers however because his mother was a servant he could not be considered to be king. Even though he would be the most qualified and probably do the best job. I would want to use this same theme in my own story only I plan on setting it in a modern time. For instance, I would have my Vidura character be a women who is one of the top lawyers in a prominent firm located in New York City. And just like the original Vidura character, my character will also be the wisest or best at the job however she will be overlooked for making partner at the firm because she is woman and her competition are two males that went to the same ivy league as the CEO. I also thought that the idea from the original story of how Vidura works for one brother, but he is loyal to the other brothers children was really neat. In my own story I want to incorporate this contrasting theme of personal vs. professional. Further, I plan to have a substantial amount of dialogue between my characters.

New York City, the city that never sleeps.

Bibliography: The Indian Heroes by C. A. Kincaid. Link to Reading.