Truly analyzing... :)

Hello everyone!!!!!

I hope everyone is doing great!  My classmate and I were assigned to make observations in the cafeteria.  I actually noticed certain behaviors I probably would have never realized if I didn't become critical and truly analyze my surroundings.  The cafeteria is usually a place to eat (of course), socialize, and for most college students (including myself), it's the only "break" they get.  The walls of the cafe are a light and medium colored green, with a lot of lighting coming from the windows.  When I walked in, there were a few students and it was very quiet.  Most of the students who were present were eating by themselves.  Interestingly, I realized that those who were etaing alone were listening to their ipod, watching music videos on the screen, looking through their phones, and eating slower than those who were socializing.  There were two soccer guys who were talking really loud, of course :) The two basketball players who were present as well, hung out in the cafeteria, watching everyone who walked in, after they finished their meals.  With the presence of the cafeteria director, the employees were very active and doing a job well done, and being very attentive to the students.  One of the chefs who was doing his rice specialty would offer every student with excitement.  I couldn't say no! Around 12p.m. (on the dot) so many students started walking into the cafeteria, and it continued to get louder and louder.  I noticed that ALL the athletes eat with their teammates, which I thought was nice.  The most subtle situations I caught was someone dropping food on the way to the trays and not cleaning after themselves.  Those who were eating alone were more likely to rush through their meals.  Others continued to socialize, even after they completed their meal.
That's all for now :)

Blessings,

Enlighten7

What a LONG day.. :)

Hello everyone,

I finally completed my Annotated Bibliography! Woohoo! Anyways, I thought it was a great assignment because it allowed me to get deeper into the studies conducted, and really analyze the data analysis.  This research is amazing because I can actually apply this to my future career- Sports Psychology.  Many of the authors who conducted these studies are involved in Sports and Exercise Psychology, giving me an understanding on how they approach the athletic world and their ways of viewing certain characteristics.  I learned that resilience is a learned behavior and can be obtained through eduactional courses or sessions.  Why don't they offer these type of classes in high school?!!! I had to experience a nervous breakdown, and then when I finally got through it, it was a very long process to learn how to cope with stress, and use it as a motivatinal tool rather than a threat.  Even family interaction and support can influence resiliency because it gives the person a sense of support; he/she is not going through a tribulation alone.  My next step is to interview some of the coaches.  I have to come up with the best questions to get the most out of it to enhance my research! Be back soon!

Blessings :),

Enlighten7 

On my way to California :)

Hello again,

Hope everyone is doing great!  I just got back from San Diego, California, and it was absolutely AMAZING! The people, the weather, the food and the city were indescribable J Anyways, during my flight, I read an article entitled, “The Associations among Social Support, Stress, and Life Satisfaction as Perceived by Injured College Athletes”, and new questions and ideas arose.  I want to know whether some sports (according to their exercise intensity) have a greater impact on resilience compared to other sports.  In other words, if the women’s basketball coach promotes a challenging practice every day (e.g. higher intensity, such as more sprinting, more strengthening drills, etc.), will it have a positive outcome by preparing the women’s basketball team for greater life challenges they will face in the future?  Golf, on the other hand, involves less exercise intensity, so will it affect their resilience level?  I will definitely interview all the coaches at St. Thomas University and ask them to provide a description of a typical day of practice.  With surveys and a few observations, I might have a better understanding on the impact sports may have on resilience.  I’m not sure if my point came across effectively, but I’ll keep you posted!

Blessings J

-Enlighten 7 

A Journey Through Hollywood.....FL! :) WITH PHOTO :)

           

I’m researching on the city of Hollywood, Florida.  Google led me to the City of Hollywood website, which is filled with information about events hosted in Hollywood, the commissioners, and more.  My first impression from the website is that Hollywood is a very organized and giving community.  The events page provides the time, location and event for the month of September, giving residents anticipation.  The City of Hollywood Directory provides the names of phone numbers of the City major, commissioners of every district, city government, financial services, recreational areas, etc.  There’s easy access to those who are seeking information about Hollywood, providing job opportunities, and recreational activities. 

            My interview went great, and it flowed smoothly.  The first question I asked her was, “How long have you lived in Hollywood, FL?” She’s been living in Hollywood, Fl, and surprisingly has NO IDEA who her mayor is.  The website provided so much information about the mayor, yet he has no easy access, and he’s obviously not doing a great job because an 18 year resident doesn’t even know his name.  I asked her about the education system in Hollywood because I researched in the statistics, which follows:  23% Hispanics have a college, bachelors or grad degree, and 20% attend some college.  She mentioned that she attended public and private schools, and she was content with the system and her teachers.  During my research, I realized that Hollywood has nine museums, and when I asked her about it, she looked at me like I was crazy.  I asked her if she ever had field trips to the museums and she said no, so that was really surprising.  In fact, she wasn’t aware of the museums, which obviously means it isn’t being promoted or encouraged.   I asked her if there are lots of leisure activities in Hollywood, and she said that most of the events are hosted in Downtown, Hollywood, promoting youth circles, events, cancer walks, etc, which I thought was really interesting.  I asked her about the Hollywood police department, and she mentioned two incidents that occurred, and the police officers responded really late, both times.  However, if it is a business incident, the police would most likely arrive to the location immediately, rather than attending an individual.  She said that although there many homeless people on Hollywood BLVD, she feels safe in her neighborhood, and has never heard of any crimes in her area.  She pointed out how there are many people walking and riding bikes opposed to other cities.  I asked her if the police reinforces a particular law, and she said no that she’s aware of.  For instance, in Hialeah, there are countless of signs that say, “Click it or Ticket”, and in Opa Locka, “No if’s, and’s, or BUTT’s.”  Hialeah police department reinforces seat belts, Miami Lakes reinforces speeding, and Opa Locka reinforces a dress code.  Hollywood is predominantly Hispanics, according to my classmate, which doesn’t match with the statistics provided in the City of Hollywood website.  For instance, Hollywood’s fastest growing groups are Colombians and Venezuelans.  I also mentioned the Hispanic Affairs Council which “promotes and supports Hispanic culture in the City of Hollywood”, who hosts countless of events for them, and she has no clue! 

            According to my interview, Hollywood isn’t a place I’m looking forward to live in, however, it seems like a nice place to live in.  The Hialeah Major is really involved, and I’ve actually met him personally.  He attends the openings of new restaurants, the 4^th of July event in Milander Park in Hialeah, and he is quick to improve isolated areas in Hialeah.  Opposed to Hollywood, there is more community involvement in Hialeah because of the small carnivals, recreational parks and giveaways in Amelia Earhart Park.  

A Journey Through Hollywood.....FL! :)

            I’m researching on the city of Hollywood, Florida.  Google led me to the City of Hollywood website, which is filled with information about events hosted in Hollywood, the commissioners, and more.  My first impression from the website is that Hollywood is a very organized and giving community.  The events page provides the time, location and event for the month of September, giving residents anticipation.  The City of Hollywood Directory provides the names of phone numbers of the City major, commissioners of every district, city government, financial services, recreational areas, etc.  There’s easy access to those who are seeking information about Hollywood, providing job opportunities, and recreational activities. 

            My interview went great, and it flowed smoothly.  The first question I asked her was, “How long have you lived in Hollywood, FL?” She’s been living in Hollywood, Fl, and surprisingly has NO IDEA who her mayor is.  The website provided so much information about the mayor, yet he has no easy access, and he’s obviously not doing a great job because an 18 year resident doesn’t even know his name.  I asked her about the education system in Hollywood because I researched in the statistics, which follows:  23% Hispanics have a college, bachelors or grad degree, and 20% attend some college.  She mentioned that she attended public and private schools, and she was content with the system and her teachers.  During my research, I realized that Hollywood has nine museums, and when I asked her about it, she looked at me like I was crazy.  I asked her if she ever had field trips to the museums and she said no, so that was really surprising.  In fact, she wasn’t aware of the museums, which obviously means it isn’t being promoted or encouraged.   I asked her if there are lots of leisure activities in Hollywood, and she said that most of the events are hosted in Downtown, Hollywood, promoting youth circles, events, cancer walks, etc, which I thought was really interesting.  I asked her about the Hollywood police department, and she mentioned two incidents that occurred, and the police officers responded really late, both times.  However, if it is a business incident, the police would most likely arrive to the location immediately, rather than attending an individual.  She said that although there many homeless people on Hollywood BLVD, she feels safe in her neighborhood, and has never heard of any crimes in her area.  She pointed out how there are many people walking and riding bikes opposed to other cities.  I asked her if the police reinforces a particular law, and she said no that she’s aware of.  For instance, in Hialeah, there are countless of signs that say, “Click it or Ticket”, and in Opa Locka, “No if’s, and’s, or BUTT’s.”  Hialeah police department reinforces seat belts, Miami Lakes reinforces speeding, and Opa Locka reinforces a dress code.  Hollywood is predominantly Hispanics, according to my classmate, which doesn’t match with the statistics provided in the City of Hollywood website.  For instance, Hollywood’s fastest growing groups are Colombians and Venezuelans.  I also mentioned the Hispanic Affairs Council which “promotes and supports Hispanic culture in the City of Hollywood”, who hosts countless of events for them, and she has no clue! 

            According to my interview, Hollywood isn’t a place I’m looking forward to live in, however, it seems like a nice place to live in.  The Hialeah Major is really involved, and I’ve actually met him personally.  He attends the openings of new restaurants, the 4^th of July event in Milander Park in Hialeah, and he is quick to improve isolated areas in Hialeah.  Opposed to Hollywood, there is more community involvement in Hialeah because of the small carnivals, recreational parks and giveaways in Amelia Earhart Park.  

Thank you & Blessings! =)

-Enlighten7

Interview =)

                After interviewing one of my classmates, I was able to understand and apply certain reading skills she uses in her life.  I had a long list of questions to ask, but I realized that she was more interested in the steps she takes to choose/read a book, in other words, open-minded questions.  I started the interview by introducing myself, and thanking her for giving me the opportunity to enhance my research by interviewing her.  I provided a brief description on the purpose of the research, which is literacy development.  I first question I asked was “When and how did you learn how to read, and what was the first book you read?”  Thankfully, we were able to relate to each other with our learning and reading process in elementary school, which made the interview go smoothly.  I jumped into questions regarding books, and I asked her “Do you skim before you actually begin to read the book?”  With that simple question, I was able to learn the steps she takes to choose a book.  She usually doesn’t read books other than the assigned readings for school, but she is able to force herself to find interest in certain books.  I asked her if she needs to read a book more than once to grasp the meaning of it, and she said she doesn’t because she reads slowly, which helps her understand better.  If she gets bored while she’s reading, she usually takes a break and then comes back to the reading.  The title of a book usually grasps her attention, more than the picture of the book.  She also likes to read the summary about the author because it tells her a lot about who he/she is, and what the book might be about.  If the author seems psycho, she obviously won’t buy/read the book.  I started asking her questions about the research project, and I learned that she prefers reading journal articles, rather than checking out books.  She also prefers to read experimental articles (e.g. statistics, numbers, etc.), rather than articles written solely on deep information.  She also prefers reading journal articles because there’s easier access to the readings.  She also prefers to teach reading rather than being taught.  She prefers to read open-minded books that go deeper into the subject and can make different judgments, rather than reading factual books, such as historical books.  She enjoys reading other people’s works (e.g. friend’s essays, etc.) because she finds it interesting, and she enjoys reading her friend’s poems.  During summer vacation, she doesn’t read because it doesn’t catch her attention.

                I ended the interview by thanking her for her time, once again.  I learned a lot through this interview because it made me realize my comfort zone.  For instance, if I was a little nervous interviewing one of my classmates who I feel comfortable with, imagine how nervous I’ll be to interview someone outside my environment.  Therefore, I will prepare myself by writing an outline, and providing one for the interviewee as well.

See ya!

=) Peace & love

-Enlighten

Excited!!!!!

Hello everyone!

Tomorrow is the first meeting for The Break Thru club! I'm so excited and whoever is reading this, you're ENCOURAGED to go!!! (Fernandez Family Centter, 8pm; room 211).  Because athletes will be actively involved in this club, it'll be a great source for my research, from a faithful perspective.  After challenging weeks of practice, it's nice to meet with a group of faithful people who will encourage you to keep going in life, no matter how bumpy the road gets!  I will also be able to infer the positive impacts that occur in the lives of athletes because of the preachings that will be given every second and fourth Monday.  I'll keep you posted.  Until next time, God bless you all!
-Enlighten 

Excited to Dig DEEP =)

Hello everyone,


I finalized my Research Proposal, and in the process of revising, a brilliant thought came to mind! I wonder, “Is the college graduating percentage higher for athletes than non-athletes?” That simple question can answer so many other questions and open new paths to my research. If you really think about it, graduating doesn’t quite determine the resilience/vulnerability of a person, but it reveals the drive of a person to finish their education. College isn’t easy. When I was in high school, I couldn’t wait to graduate, and now I realize how much more difficult it is financially, emotionally and psychologically. In my opinion, you must be mentally strong to complete four-years in a university because you are constantly faced with obstacles, whether it’s financial difficulties, struggling with class, experiencing family difficulties, etc. So if the higher percentage of the graduating class is athletes, it says something about the athletes. Is it their athletic scholarship that helps them complete their education? Are athletes given special attention by certain professors? Are coaches/teammates continuously motivating the athletes to preserver? Do athletes perform better in their classrooms because they have mandatory study hall? Questions just don’t stop coming =)

Be back soon :)

More & more questions :)

As you may already know,
I've established my topic for my semester-long research: Are athletes more resilient than non-athletes, when overcoming adversary.  Now, it's very general, but I'll slowly get deeper into the topic.  I'm so curious!  I've been an athlete since I can walk, and I've realized how much it has helped me in making decisions, controlling emotions, etc.  I often question, is it the challenges athletes are faced with that promote the development of resilience, or the support of a team/coach that gives people hope?  As an athlete, I'm constantly receieving inspirational lectures from ALL my coaches and people need it! Speaking for myself, all my coaches have inspired me some way or another, and without their awareness, they have been a part of my triumph in an obstacle.  Having a .350 batting average isn't going to get you to Graduate school or make you a better person, but the challenges that come with that .350 batting average will teach you useful values in life.  I'm off to do more research! Be back soon! =)