The Blog-a-day Challenge: June 2009

Progress Report for June

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 11:00 PM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:30 p.m.
Date: 6/30/09
Official End Time: 11:00 p.m.

So, its the end of the month and not much has changed here at Ningxia Dragon Student Ambassadors. We didn't grow, no new groups were added, and we haven't had really any activity. Ning got an update, I guess that counts for something.

Summer has been progressing nicely, but my days are counted. It seems like the days are just passing by and I'm not taking advantage of the time I have off. I remember the last few days of school and how I wanted to take the world by storm. Now that the summers here, it seems like I haven't accomplished much and that sucks.

The site is just one of my many concerns. I want this summer to be a summer where I grow. Where I learn knew things and learn to appreciate the things I already have. I want this summer to be concise and perfect. I want this summer to be different. What I need to do is outline my ideas and create a timeline to measure my progress. I'll keep you posted.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Dinner

Monday, June 29, 2009 9:30 PM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 9:00 p.m.
Date: 6/29/09
Official End Time: 9:30 p.m.

It seems like dinner has lost its touch. In the last couple of years, I’ve noticed that dinner: dinner time, the preparation of the meal, and the way it brought families together, has fallen apart. It’s a terrible site and something I hope will change in the future that lays ahead.

Coming from a big family, I have seen this happen time and time again. My family is no exception. I come a family of six and I know first hand how it feels to have everyone at home. The house is a mess, there’s a lot of yelling, but there’s happiness. In this mountain of chaos there is love and kindness. There is always someone to talk to and always someone to fight with. In every way, it brings life to the home as brother, sister, mothers, and fathers learn to live as the grow and learn about life.

Dinner in my family used to be the essence point of this incident. In the past, dinner gave my family the chance to reconnect after a long day. However, times have changed and family members started to fade away. We grew apart and fell into our own departments: killing the energy that once brought to our home.

However, not all is lost as holidays reunite and the table is once again populated with ideal conversations and loving hearts in search of that energy that bring life to every home. I just hope that future that lays ahead still has room for rituals like this.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Children

Sunday, June 28, 2009 4:00 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 3:30 a.m.
Date: 6/28/09
Official End Time: 4:00 a.m.

On a similar note, today I wanted to talk about children. I wanted to talk about what children symbolize and the idea of having a child means to me and hopefully my future wife.

When I think about children, and the idea about having children, I think about a lot of great things. Immediately, my head begins to explode with how great it would be to be a father and how I could teach my son or daughter so much. I think about all the moments we’ll experience and how our relationship will grow.

In a broader perspective, I think about the life I have just brought into this world and how fortunate I am. I think about all the people who are unable to have children and how I’m lucky that I was blessed to have a little boy or girl. I think about the life force I hold in my arms and how they have so much ahead of them. I think about all the trouble they’ll get into, all the funny moments we’ll share, all the growing they’ll do, and all the things they have yet to experience.

When I think about children, I think about myself at there age and how right now the world is there oyster. They have so much to learn, so much to experience, and yet they are one in a million. They represent such a small dot in comparison to the millions of other children there are out there and yet they mean the world to you.

There’s nothing in my opinion grander than seeing your son or daughter take her first steps or read her first book. It’s just something that I feel has been ingrained into my head, probably because of the parents I had, and has made me feel the way I do.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Marriage

Saturday, June 27, 2009 3:00 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 2:30 a.m.
Date: 6/27/09
Official End Time: 3:00 a.m.

I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I think by writing it, I’ll be able to learn more about myself.

Marriage.

I want to talk about marriage and how I feel the way people look at marriage defines the kind of people they are sexually. I believe that people often perceive marriage as being this holy unison we are destined to make while there are those who see it as the next step in their relationship. I just want to discuss my take on the situation.

I, for one, feel that marriage is really a major milestone in your journey throughout life. When I think about marriage, I think about unity and how two people wanted to define that unity by giving themselves to each other. It may sound poetic but I think marriage, a true marriage, should represent the combined efforts of two people who really love each other. It should be done out of love and should be only done when you love this person.

I use the word love to express what this person means to you. Love in my opinion represents how important this person is to you. In life, nothing comes easy and love is no exception. True love doesn’t just fall out of the sky, but when it does it proves that anything is possible. In my opinion, love is meant to unite people. It gives us purpose and hope. It proves that there is more to life than what math and science can define.

Oh to often however, I feel that love is confused. That lovers are blind and mistakes are made. Accidents happen, children give birth to children, and the world weeps as we see innocent lives ruined. These are the things I hate about love. I hate how it has the ability to tease us. I hate how it has the ability to trick us. I hate how love has the ability to push us to do crazy things and imagine the impossible. And yet, I find myself often in love with love.

When I think about marriage, I think about how it symbolizes the perfect unison of two great people. About how it introduces us to new worlds and new walks of life. I love how marriage basically makes it official and how true love isn’t defined by money, cars, or clothes but by the conviction shared between lovers and the things they are able to make together.

I believe that marriage gives us the chance to work shoulder to shoulder with our partner. That it gives us the chance to grow and learn from one another. More importantly, I feel that marriage gives us the chance to realize how much this person means to us, and how we would be willing to sacrifice ourselves for them.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Not Crying

Friday, June 26, 2009 3:00 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 2:30 a.m.
Date: 6/26/09
Official End Time: 3:00 a.m.

Michael Jackson’s death has been making it’s influence world wide as you see hundreds of fans crying and talking about how his music impacted their lives and how they’ll never be another Michael Jackson.

I myself couldn’t find it inside me to cry. I’m not surprised that I wouldn’t cry because I just didn’t know Michael Jackson personally. More importantly though, I realized that I’m just not the type of person that cries.

I think its because of the way I was raise that I lack the ability to cry when I should be crying. Its a bit scary at times thinking how I really couldn’t see myself crying at either of my parents deaths or the death of a close friend. The reason I think I wouldn’t cry is because I don’t think crying solves anything.

Crying is suppose to help you express pain/sorrow but really I think its my male instinct that makes crying so difficult. It isn’t really about being a man, but how crying doesn’t accomplish anything. Really I feel like taking action or understanding why you should or shouldn’t be feeling a certain way gives reason as to why you should cry.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Michael Jackson Died

Thursday, June 25, 2009 11:30 PM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 11:00 p.m.
Date: 6/25/09
Official End Time: 11:30 p.m.

Today there were several things that happened but there was one event that completely blows the rest of the events out of the water.

Today Michael Jackson was announced dead. He was found dead in his Netherland Ranch but there are still many details to be worked out before we can officially say what exactly happened and why.

It was a big shock for a lot of people; he was the king of pop. Michael Jackson’s work wasn’t exactly during my era but his impact was definitely felt. I grew up listening to a lot of his music and could identify some of his best work and some of his work that wasn’t as popular. His music will live on and he will always be missed.

I can predict a lot of publicity coming from this event and a lot of money sadly going to the Jackson family, not in donations, but in memorabilia from fans who never understood Michael Jackson or his work. No matter what way you look at it, these things always happen and it usually exposes people to a new avenue of musical style that can have great affects. I hope that’ll be the case.

Rest in peace, king of pop.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Schooling

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 11:00 PM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:40 p.m.
Date: 6/24/09
Official End Time: 11:00 p.m.

In the last couple of days, I’ve been doing some serious thinking about school and why we feel that it is important to go to school.

I started to think about elementary school and how elementary school represented a very interesting time in a child’s educational experience. During elementary school, there are tons of kids and more twice the number of available schools. In my city, there are only about 3-5 high schools, while there are maybe 5-8 elementary schools.

At this age, school is your only outlet as it provides with the foundation you’ll need for higher levels of education and understanding. Here you learn how to read, write, calculate, and reason to a certain degree. After you graduate elementary school you enter a bigger pool where you are no longer centralized by a single teacher and your opportunities begin to grow.

During this period, I feel students define themselves and the kind of people they want to be in the future. We won’t always be students. Some of us will go on to be teachers, lawyers, doctors, and professors. These are moments where we take into reality that we are getting older and we less chances to go the wrongs we have already made.

Finally, high school in my opinion is where you are given four years to establish the future you want for yourself. In those four years, it is up to you to network with the right people, take the right courses, and venture into new fields that you know will prepare you for the future that lays ahead. In my opinion there is no formula for success in high school; there is only purpose.

Oh to often, I feel students in my accelerated program feel that it is either Yale or bust. That men and women of simpler walks of life are ignorant of education and what it means to work hard. I hear stand as firm believer of education and self-improvement to say that it is not a battle of schooling but rather resilience. It really doesn’t matter if you’re a teacher or a doctor. It matters more the impact you are able to make.

There are tons of great teachers out there that I feel aren’t given enough credit. And there are tons of great doctors our there that I feel aren’t given enough credit. What I’m trying to say is that like pieces of drift wood in a giant lake, we must first stick our hands into the water if we wish to define our destinies and the lives we wish to pursue: whether doctor or teacher, lawyer or artist.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Library

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:30 PM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 11:10 p.m.
Date: 6/23/09
Official End Time: 11:30 p.m.

So, I remember yesterday mentioning a home library to you guys and how I plan to have one in the future. Well I did a little research and I started to map out how I would want to set it up.

For starters, I would like to dedicate a whole room, a study, to it. I organize the books according to the Dewey Decimal system once it grew large enough, otherwise I would just group them by category . . . books about education, ancient civilizations, religion, and a variety of fields.

Finally, I want to teach my goods using the library and have a section dedicated to books I grew up reading and they should enjoy too. Eventually, I’ll just buy a bunch of the books they make us read in high school while I stay on top of books in fields that I think interest me.

It’ll be sweet.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Book shelf

Monday, June 22, 2009 11:30 PM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 11:00 p.m.
Date: 6/22/09
Official End Time: 11:30 p.m.

With all the books I’ve acquired this summer, I think its time I buy a bookshelf. (maybe bookshelf is the wrong word, more like a bookcase)

The bookcase is gonna be big and needs to be strong. (I have some heavy books) I’m really looking for a 5 ft. by 3 ft. bookcase that has shelfs that range from 1 ft. to 8 in. in height. I don’t think it’ll be too hard to get a bookcase that meets those needs but I should start thinking how I’ll pay for it first, before I buy it.

Either way, I’ve always wanted a bookcase and in the future I plan to have my own home library so I guess its smart to start collecting books now.

Wish me luck.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Summer Reading

Sunday, June 21, 2009 4:30 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 4:00 a.m.
Date: 6/21/09
Official End Time: 4:30 a.m.

This summer there’s a lot of things I want to do. Of the several things I wish to accomplish, I want to read . . . a lot.

This summer I plan to read a book a few books I bought at Barnes & Nobles, a few text books, and some old books I never got the chance to read. Basically, I want to increase my reading skills and how fast I can read. I know college is going to require a lot of reading so its smart to start now. I’ve taken the first step toward college with next years rigorous schedule. I’m willing to take every step I can towards making sure that everything next year goes right and that I’ll be ready for college.

At the moment, I can read about 40 pages an hour (when its an easy read) but I want that 40 to grow and become the standard. I think I can do it, I just need practice.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

2010 Summer Camp Experience

Saturday, June 20, 2009 3:30 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 3:00 a.m.
Date: 6/20/09
Official End Time: 3:30 a.m.

I always felt that I would one day return to China and now I have the chance. I got the offer a while back and since then I’m pretty pumped about going back.

So it all started after Steve got back from a trip in China. He sent an email detailing what he did on his trip and in how of July of 2010 I could go back to China and see all the old and new friend I had made. Basically the trip was being ran by the foreign office and they were giving Steve 20 spots for Chinese-American students and 2 spots for American students. The students would visit all the major sites and would only have to pay for the international airfare.

By going back I could get to do all the things I didn’t do on my first trip and see/meet all the friends I had made since my first trip. On this trip, I plan to correct many of the wrongs I made on my first trip. On this trip I want to want to show people how much I have grown. I want to make a good impression on the people I plan to meet and the people I haven’t met yet. Most importantly, I want to avoid getting sick.

Besides that I can’t wait. Pretty soon, I’ll start talking to Steve about recruiting the new members and organizing the trip. It’s going to be so sweet that I can barely type.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Curriculum Designers, Inc.

Friday, June 19, 2009 3:30 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 3:00 a.m.
Date: 6/19/09
Official End Time: 3:30 a.m.

Probably one of my biggest summer goals would be to launch Curriculum Designers, Inc. (I’ll fill you in in case you don’t know)

So in late March/early April of last year, I decided to start my own social network where I could express some of my expertise that might be helpful to students, teachers, and educators. Eventually I got the idea to register the site under Curriculum Designers, Inc.: a social network dedicated to students, teachers, and educators interested in creating/designing innovative curriculums that encourage student leadership and collaboration through the use of social networking in a Web 2.0 environment such as Ning.

So far the site is still under construction but I know that it has potential. I want the site to represent an online academy (sort of like Moodle) where students could work on courses, design courses, and even create their own course. It’ll be a while till it gets to that point but it’ll be so sweet when it does.

For now, I just need to keep adding more content to the site. Right now, I’m just working on the about us page and making sure that I cover all the necessary details. Eventually, I’ll start adding courses and getting members. In a couple of months I can see myself getting teachers and students on the site. I’ll keep you posted.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

The Site

Thursday, June 18, 2009 3:30 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 3:00 a.m.
Date: 6/18/09
Official End Time: 3:30 a.m.

It’s been a while since I talked about the site and this summer I really want to see things on the site come together.

So when I first started on the site we had 111 members and barely any activity. Since then, we gain 572 members as the community new projects designed to promote collaboration and creativity. Currently, we’ve been working on some courses and projects designed to get students collaborating and spending more time on the site.

This summer, I want to launch a bunch of new courses for the course. Furthermore, I want to find students and teachers who we can collaborate with for the courses. I say this because only with oversight and work get done. Students alone usually don’t tackle opportunities like these. Therefore, I feel that by having a teacher and her class sign up on the site to participate in the course we make,we can expand the impact of the site and the services we provided.

Additionally, I want to increase the structure of the site. I want the site to be built in response to the students who will be working on the site. I think that instructions are what the site is missing (along with a teacher who holds grades above your head). Providing new fresh content and just having students engaged will really help the site grow and prosper.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Language Project

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 3:30 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 3:00 a.m.
Date: 6/17/09
Official End Time: 3:30 a.m

Another one of my goals this summer is to create a workbook/resource for language teachers in my high school that would help students expand their foreign vocabulary as they tackle spanish, french, or italian. (I’m only fluent in spanish, but if the idea works, it could be translate into hundreds of other languages)

The idea originally started when I was in spanish class and I was frustrated being punished for using spanish that the rest of my classmate didn’t know. I was only taking the course because the language course I was previously taking had been cancelled and I was given this one instead. It screwed me over in many ways but I believe fate has its own way of doing these things and I can’t say I lost too much out of having to take this class.

So one day I started to talk to my teacher and how I wanted more materials that would let me practice spanish more at my level. We then started talking about her other classes and how students weren’t grasping the concept. That only those with parents who spoke the language were really able to grasp the subject and excel. I then proposed to her the idea about creating something that would help students do better and I started to think.

I thought about how we learn English and I remembered the spelling books we used when we were little and how they taught us English by providing us with a vocabulary to build a foundation upon through readings and assignment driven towards a certain word.

The idea really is simple: create a spelling book in spanish (or any other language) with assignments and examples that expand a students vocabulary and helps them identify patterns in the language that helps them grasp the language with ease. I’ve acquired a couple old spelling books but I need some more current ones and the assignments that go along with them. I tried my old elementary school but you’d be surprised at how difficult it was to even get one book. Education surely has hit on some hard times.

I’m not sure how things will work out but this is a project I would like to pursue into the future. I’ll let you know how it goes and what future lays ahead for these kinds of missions.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Learning Chinese

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:30 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 1:00 a.m.
Date: 6/16/09
Official End Time: 1:30 a.m.

Of my many goals for this summer, learning chinese is definitely one of them. Let me explain why.

So around this time last year I got the chance to go to China and visit a part of China that very Westerners ever get to see. On my trip I made a lot of great friends and saw a lot of great sites. The languages barrier between us wasn’t too bad because the friends I made knew some English but I knew that if I knew Chinese we could of gotten closer and I could have made more friends.

I always felt that I would one day return to China and see the faces of the friends I made such a long time ago. I wanted to impress with them with how much I had grown. I wanted to redefine the sickly image I had left behind. SInce then I’ve done a lot of things. I’ve made new friends, met new people and discovered new things. Since my trip, I’ve met people like Lane, Aobo, Huke, and Jassica who make everything I do worthwhile knowing that there is recognition.

To wrap it up, I’ve acquired some materials and I’ve given it a try here and there at learning Chinese. I’ve tried Livemocha and I still have an account where I can go and practice (it’s just kinda hard). I also got a book, Chinese in Plain English, and I plain to go through as thoroughly as possible. In the end, I know I’ll probably need more help if I want to become fluent in Chinese and it’ll take more books and time, but I’m willing to do it when it comes to the friends I’ve made and hope to keep for years to come.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Summer Assignments

Monday, June 15, 2009 3:00 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 1:00 a.m
Date: 6/15/09
Official End Time: 3:00 a.m.

Summer Assignments, ugh!

So, this summer I was blessed with a crap load of summer assignments. I have summer assignments from three classes that I will taking next year and in retrospect it isn't a lot of work, but its the summer: I don't want to work. I really can't be saying this seeing as next year I will be taking four APs, one UConn, and an elective that's basically giving me another ap exam to worry about. I guess the $75 will make it all worth it at the end of the day.

So these are my summer assignments . . .

English 12 AP Literature and Composition

2009 Summer Assignment

“Reading for Literary Value: Defining Good Literature”

1. Read each of the works listed.

Frankenstein: Prodigal Son (Book 1), by Dean Koontz

Foe, J. M. Coetzee

Grendel, John Gardner

You will need to purchase a copy of each book. (You may want to look into purchasing used copies of the books.) You will need to annotate as you read and will need to bring the marked novels, to class during the first week of school.

For each of the works, analyze/discuss the identified literary element(s) within the story and the author's ability to use said element(s) as a storytelling method: (min 2 pages per analysis)

Frankenstein: Prodigal Son (Book 1) - plot/subplot and suspense

Foe - point-of-view and narration

Grendel - characterization

3.Respond to the following essay prompt using one of the assigned books:

"Writers often highlight the values of a culture or a society by using characters who are alienated from that culture or society because of gender, race, class, or creed. Choose a novel or a play in which such a character plays a significant role and show how that character's alienation reveals the surrounding society's assumptions or moral values."

Please contact me at snicholas@waterbury.k12.ct.us if you have any about assignment.

Email assignments to snicholas@waterbury.k12.ct.us by August 17, 2008

Hello and happy summer!

In preparation for the upcoming school year, in particular you AP psychology class, I’m sending you your summer assignment. It should be INTERESTING and EXCITING - but it is an AP class so it will be fast paced and we will have to work hard from Sept. - April. Your AP test should be early May, then we can ease off for the rest of the school year. (this doesn’t mean do nothing, but more fun stuff, film, activities)

Your summer assignment is this life of important psychologist that you may be asked question about on the Exam.

1. obtain a notebook just for the names you will need in Psych. (I highly recommend a loose leaf type notebook with dividers is best - that way you can add or shift paper as needed)

2. research on the internet (or the long way through the library literature) for each of name:

a. biographical data: birth/death

b. educational background

c. achievement(s) (such as awards, discoveries, etc.)

d. psychological domain work was done in (ex. Methods, behaviorism, development, biological, etc.)

e. psychological theory/research and importance of the research

3. this can be in note form (not sentence/paragraph)

4. each name should have a separate page (to allow for extra that may be obtained throughout the course

******I do not want you to simply download from the internet or cut and paste

read and summarize in your own words

******Also, this is not a joint project - the work must be your own...see attached “cheating” insert

have this completed for the first day of school (August 27), as it will receive a test grade (begin working on this early, don’t leave it for the last minute!)

When we being the class, you will also need a notebook for terms that you’ll need to know not only their definition, but also be able to apply them and relate them to psychologist. (again, a loose leaf notebook with dividers for sections such as names, terms, notes, and assignments just for psych, would be ideal.)

It is essential that you have access to the internet since some of the quizzes and homework will be submitted online. You will need to register as my student at the website listed below. (my email is:amlavado@waterbury.k12.ct.us)

We will be using the David Meyers book: Psychology (ninth edition). There is a website that you can access (www.worthpublishers.com/myers) Here you can access information on topics related to the practice tests, review activities, and web links form more information on topics related to the history and scope of psychology, as well as more about various psychologist.

I am looking forward to working with you this school year. Enjoy your summer - but save a few days to get you work done! See you August 30th!

Sincerely, Mrs. A. Lavado

Abraham Maslow

Albert Bandura

Albert Ellis

Alfred Binet

Benjamin Whorf/ Edward Sapir

BF Skinner

Carl Jung

Carl Rogers

Carol Gilligan

Charles Spearman

Edward Chase Tolman

El Thorndike

Eleanor Gibson/ Richard Walk

Eric Kandel

Erik Erikson

Francis Cecil Sumner

G. Stanley Hall

George Sperling

Hans Eysenck

Hans Selye

Harry Harlow

Herbert Simon

Howard Gardner

Ivan Pavlov

Jean Piaget

Jerome Kagan

John Garcia

John Watson

Lawrence Kohlberg

Lev Vygotsky

Lewis Terman

Margaret Floy Washburn

Martin Seligman

Mary Calkins

Max Wertheimer

Michael Gazzaniga

Nathaniel Kleitman

Neal Miller

Noam Chomsky

Philip Zimbardo

Raymond Cattell

Richard Solomon

Robert Rescorla

Robert Rosenthal

Robert Sternberg

Roger Sperry

Sigmund Freud

Solomon Asch

Stanley Miligram

Stephen Laberge

Wilhelm Wundt

William Dement

William James

AP Calculus BC

Preparation for Calculus

Study: Section P1 Graphs and Models p.2-7

Study: Section P2 Linear Models and Rate of Change p.10-15

Do problems #1-6, 7, 11,15, 23, 27, 47, 59, 69, 83, 91.

Study: Section P3 Functions and their Graphs p.19-26

Do problems #1, 11, 19, 21, 33, 51, 57.

Study: Section P4 Fitting Models to Data p.30-32

Do problems #1-4, 7, 15, 17

Review p 36-37 Do problems #1-49 (odd)

Study Chapter 1.1 The tangent line Problem p.45-46

Do problems #1-11 p.47

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Summer Goals

Sunday, June 14, 2009 11:00 PM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:00 p.m.
Date: 6/14/09
Official End Time: 11:00 p.m.

My Summer To-do List

Finish All Summer Assignments

AP English Literature and Composition

Buy, read, and annotate all 3 books
Complete all four essays
Complete all assignments before August 17

AP Calculus BC

Complete required assignments

AP Psychology

Complete required assignments

Learn Chinese

Chinese in Plain English

Finish reading the book and grasp all major concepts

Livemocha

Finish the course and grasp all major concepts

Reading Foundations for the Media Literate Minds of the 21st Century

Spelling Book

Create a translated spelling book
Create a course to go along with the book (a teacher's guide)

Ripples

Read the teacher's guide to Ripple
Build spelling book and tools around principles used to create Ripples

Sample product

Create a sample product to present to Perugini
Work on other language products (Spanish, French, Italian, etc)
Acquire basics on other languages (sentence structure, pronunciation, writing styles)

Ningxia Dragon Student Ambassadors

Analyzing Digital Media

Finish the course
Create pdf for the course
Spread word of the course

Blog-a-day Challenge

Catch up on the blog-a-day challenge

Community

Gather 1,000+ members for the site

Curriculum Designers, Inc.

Company Information

Finish the About Us, Our Mission, and Our Team page

Courses

Upload courses for the community

Community

Gather members to participate in the community

2010 Summer Camp Experience

Participants

Recruit all 20 necessary Chinese-American participants for trip

Planning

Make plans with Lane, Jassica, and Snow while in China

Paying

Collect $250 service fee from each participant

Goal ~ To Finish All Summer Assignments by August 17, 2009
With the extra time, I plan to accomplish all other goals and prepare for the next school year

Additionally, I'd like to read the following books

China: A New History
The World Is Flat: A Brief History of Life in the 21st century
Sociology in Everyday Life
Silent Spring
World Civilizations: The Global Experience (text book)
The World's History (text book)

Books I still need to buy . . . so I can read

5 Minds for the Future
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

With all these books, I should build a bookcase . . . right, bookcase

Other things I need to do for the summer

Practice for the SATs

Practice until I get a 1900

And I think that's the end of the list

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

ACT

Saturday, June 13, 2009 5:00 PM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 4:00 p.m.
Date: 6/13/09
Official End Time: 5:00 p.m.

Summer didn’t exactly start the moment I finished my chemistry exam. I actually had the ACT test the next day and I decided to study for the first time in my life.

The ACT test is basically like the SATs accept more organized, random, and rigorous. There’s a math, english, science, reading, and writing section that basically encompass 5 hours of my life. Practicing for the exam really did help and I only wish I did more studying.

The only thing that sucked about the exam was that I had to go all the way out to Hartford to take it. I did have a ride but it took forever and ended up being an exhausting day.

So, now sumer is officially in session and it’s time I get some rest. I have all summer to work, might as well take a personal day.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Last Day of School

Friday, June 12, 2009 3:00 PM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 2:00 p.m.
Date: 6/12/09
Official End Time: 3:00 p.m.

Today was my last day of finals, which means . . . . school is over!

I’m so happy to be done with school. I can finally sleep late and do the things I want to do. I can’t wait.

So to fill you in, today I took my chemisty final. It was a definant change in pace. There were a lot of question I wish I knew the formula for and there were parts of the test I swore I couldn’t figure out if I had a thousand years to work on it.

Out of 125 questions, I think I got a good 70% right. I do however have 7 extra credit points going to the exam so no matter what I can at least get a 7. After all the mutiple choice there were open ended questions that made you apply didn’t formulas and processes. That’s were the exam got hard but I was given some leeway as I could do an extra question and have it be graded out of 10 rather than 9.

The question basically asked you what was your favorite part of the course and what kind of advise you would give him for next year’s students. Through that question I told Mr. Reed (my chemistry teacher) about the transformation I had undergone thanks to his course and how it taught me that only with hard work can you succeed. I’ll see Mr.Reed next year in AP Environmental Science and I plan to really make him proud with my level of commitment and determination to do well in the course.

As for the summer, the world is my oyster and I must take whole of everyday that I can. I’ll keep you posted.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Day 2 of Finals

Thursday, June 11, 2009 11:00 PM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:00 p.m.
Date: 6/11/09
Official End Time: 11:00 p.m.

Today was my second day of finals and it was definitly a nice change in pace in comparison to my first day of finals.

Today I took my pre-calculus and spanish finals. My pre-calculus final was divided into two parts: her part and the states part. On her (Mrs. Kollchaku) part, I did pretty well seeing as she gave us the answer to each question. If anyone failed her final it was because they were drunk and didn’t care.

In a serious tone, I really do have a lot of respect for Mrs. Kollchaku. Since the day I met her, I knew she met business. Mrs. Kollchaku is one of those teachers who cares more about her students comprehending the subject then passing it. She works hard to give us the best material and always makes fun of us when we’re not paying attention: that she’s teaching the blocks on the wall and not humans. I’ll be taking her next year for AP Calculus BC and I’m sure I’ll be able to pass the course with such a great teacher and role model.

Next, I took my Spanish final and it was soooo easy. Granted I know Spanish, but it couldn’t have been any easier. It was however ridiculously long. I swear there were more than 400 questions! I eventually did finish and started talking to Mrs. Perugini about next year and if I could take the AP Spanish exam next year. I was happy to find out that I would not only be able to take the exam but that I would be taking Mrs. Perugini again next year.

I met Mrs. Perugini at the beginning of this year and since that day I’ve realized that not all teachers are robots. There are those who really care about their students, work extra hours, and cry when they see students being abused and mistreated by the color of their skin or creed and not by their misdeeds. Perugini is probably the most straight up teacher you will ever meet. She would threaten to punch me if I didn’t sit down. What teacher do you know is crazy enough to do that.

Today was a good day and tomorrow will be my last day of school. Wish me luck.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Day 1 of Finals

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 11:00 PM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:00 p.m.
Date: 6/10/09
Official End Time: 11:00 p.m.

Today was the first day of finals and I’m a little shaky. It didn’t go bad but I wish I did better. I guess I’ll have to wait till report cards come to be sure.

So period 1 I had my culinary arts final and that was bad. I couldn’t remember certain parts of the exam and feared that it would cost me too many points. In no way do I think I failed but I really need a 90 or higher if I want to keep my standards up.

Period 2 I had Walker (I’m sorry Ms. Walker) and we had to present our final projects as our final. For Ms. Walker’s class, I wanted to re-write the 1st marking period syllabus so that it would give students more help in developing their writing skills. However, I guess that pissed Ms. Walker off seeing as I basically told her she did a shitty job (and I don’t take it back). In the end, I was stuck with creating a manual/presentation/guide as to how to write an essay for the AP Exam.

My presentation wasn’t bad but seeing as I only had 8 minutes I didn’t have much time to go into as much detail as I would have intended and basically had to rush through the whole presentation. Ms. Walker only had a few things to say after I finished and I really didn’t care because I already knew my grade wasn’t gonna be spectacular.

After everyone finished presenting we got back our grades and you could see the shock on people’s faces. For instance, one student brought Ms. Walker cake and basically devoted her presentation to Ms. Walker’s greatness and still got an 80. I lost points on things that weren’t even part of the presentation. Somehow doing my rubric properly and on time makes cost me 5 points since apparently it was done at 5:00 a.m. (wtf)

Anyways, most of the guys got 80s and were robbed of points that weren’t even on the rubric. After a while it basically got to the point where why did she even make us create the rubrics when she wasn’t even gonna use them to grade us. I did however notice that the students who did very well were the presentations she could show to new coming students for the AP English Language and Composition course. I doubt anyone will want to do it knowing Walker (yeah I said it) is teaching it.

GOD!

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Course Schedule

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 2:00 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 1:45 p.m.
Date: 6/9/09
Official End Time: 2:00 a.m.

So its getting close to the end of the year and course selection is really eating away at everyone. Classes are filling up and if you’re not careful, you could be screwed out of the course you wanted.

I myself had to struggle with getting the courses I wanted but in the end I was victorious. My schedule for next year will be pretty steep but I know that all that work will pay off. Basically, I’ll be taking AP Psychology, AP English, AP Calculus BC, AP Environmental Science, UConn Modern European History, Ace Spanish 2, and ISSP.

As you can tell, I’ll be taking 4 AP courses and the reason I’m doing it because they count for more credit and they’re really the best courses to take when it comes to getting ready for college. I also might be taking the AP Spanish Exam if things work out, but I won’t really have to do much studying. Additionally, I’ll be taking UConn Modern European History and ISSP. UConn Modern European history might present an issues if I lose focus while ISSp will give me an outlet to express all the knowledge from the hundreds of pages I will have read.

In the end, I’ve come to the conclusion that if I want to succeed I need to put my best foot forward and dedicate as much time as possible to each course, learning to love the course and the drive I’ll need to excel.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Constipated Thoughts

Monday, June 8, 2009 2:00 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 1:40 a.m.
Date: 6/8/09
Official End Time: 2:00 a.m.

Finals are around the corner but right now I’m a bit distracted. Between school, the site, and Jassica, I’m find it hard to focus.

There’s so much I want to do but I’m having trouble getting it out. I want to add a bunch of new stuff to the site while I want to work on some independent projects. Since working on the site, I’ve discovered a lot of cool resources online and at the same time have learned how to apply them in a proactive way.

This summer I plan to take the world by storm and really take a shot at all these ideas. Hopefully they made some sense.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Relationships

Sunday, June 7, 2009 1:30 AM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 1:00 a.m.
Date: 6/7/09
Official End Time: 1:30 a.m.

Relationships. This year as in many years, I have grown. I have taken on new endeavors, new challenges, and tried out new things.

In a way, I feel like I am socially retarded when it comes to relationships. At times I feel that I am to hard on myself while other times I wish I could be more casual, more suave, more likable. Let me explain.

At my age, I feel that I am self-conscious of my looks and my personality. I want people to like me and I want to be someone that people can relate to. I want to be normal. I understand however that these feelings are normal and they are all part of the growing up process.

I’ve realized that these things come in time but there are times when I wish the process could be sped up. There are times when I wish I knew where I stood in life and the future wasn’t a complete haze. There are times I wish I had the chance to go back and correct the mistakes I have made. However, I digress.

In my opinion, relationship, both sexual and non-sexual, are things that just happen. Relationships come and go and because of that it is up to you to decide how you will react. I’ve realized and have seen with my own eyes that honesty is the best formula. That definition shall kill us. And that we are always thinking; pondering if our actions are just and if others will accept us. It’s all part of the growing up process.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

The SATs

Saturday, June 6, 2009 11:00 PM Posted by Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:50 p.m.
Date: 6/6/09
Official End Time: 11:00 p.m.

Today I took the SATs and I think it went alright. I took them early in the morning and did alright in most of the subjects. I through the reading and writing parts were pretty easy. The math wasn’t hard but there were somethings that I wish I had studied up more on.

The whole test was about 4-5 hours and it really just became grueling after a while. It was like section after section after section with no end in sight. It eventually did come to an end and I was finally out of that building to go work with my cousin for the next 11 or so hours. That was interesting all on its own.

I’m kinda tired so this one’s gonna end right about........here.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

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