The Blog-a-day Challenge

Official Start Time: 12:46 am
Date: 10/6/08
Official End Time: 1:36 am

I felt that I needed to reflect on the progress of my experiment thus far and express what hopes I have for the future through doing this experiment.

Looking back at my previous entries I noticed that I write a lot. With each entry I feel like I am writing an essay and am producing some of my best work. Other times however I am just blabbing on about the small details in my life. Either way I feel that I am really doing something great with each entry and am glad to see the way I express myself. It brings a sense of achievement when I go back and read the thoughts, feelings, and ideas that have just came out of my mind.

I also noticed how much time and effort it takes to do something that you really care about. Doing a blog a day seems pretty easy but often I find myself coming down to the last minute of the day trying to achieve my goal of doing a blog a day. Something that I might get back to doing is writing the blog around midnight of the day that it is due. It eliminate the worry of not being able to complete the blog and gives me more time to produce a better piece of work.

Things that I hope to gain from this experiment would be a timeline that I could look back on from the day I started to the day I ended. I hope that after doing 365+ entries that I can really look back at the person I once was and what new exciting things can come out of the person I hope to be. Additionally, I hope that through this experiment I can decide to do something great in my life and really make a difference.

I think I will do a progress report at the end of each month. In each progress report I hope to give a better reflection of how I feel about my writing, insert quotes that I feel capture the message I was trying to send, and provide myself with goals that I hope to accomplish through future entries. This progress report obviously doesn't cover enough time for me to really reflect but in the future expect a more in depth analysis of the experiment I am doing.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 11:00 pm
Date: 10/5/08
Official End Time: 11:59 pm

A side-note for most of my entries. I typically write about topics that I feel were the highlight of my day and gave me a new understanding for the world and the people around us. Whenever I have a day with less excitement I may find myself talking about less interesting things, but the quality I can insure you will get better with time.

Today I want to write about maturing and what prioritizing can mean as you get older.

As a child we are given opportunities to grow and develop in a world that has so many opportunities to offer. We are young and full of energy. Our parents lecture us with how we have to work hard and grow up to be functioning members in our communities. It may not seem like it but we are being groomed for a better life since the day we are born.

It isn't till we have really gone out into the world that we realize what life has awaiting for us. As a child we are indifferent, almost innocent to the malice that consumes our planet. Our minds are untainted and we are able to see everyone as equals. As we get older however something happens to the child that was once so innocent and open-minded. We are subjective to the decisions we make and almost ignorant of the opportunities we reject. Opportunities to make friends, to be a better person, and to make the decisions that matter most.

Lost time can never be recovered and what we do with the time we have now will determine what we can do with the time we may have in the future. Maturing and prioritizing the things we have in our lives are decisions that come all on there own. We cannot control the fate we have but can definitely make the right decisions to insure a better life. Making these decisions can result in the lost of friends, love ones, and things that we feel make us the people we are.

It is difficult to accept these changes but if we want to move on; it is a decision we have to make. The ends however justify the means as Machiavelli once said. We cannot control the world in front us and must learn to accept and adapt to the changes it may throw our way. The purpose that we have with our decisions is what ultimately affects the world around us and will determine the type of people we grow up to be.

Not all of us are meant to be doctors, lawyers, or politicians that remodel the social structure of our planet. Maturing and prioritizing the things we have in our lives are decisions that come all on there own. We cannot control the fate we have but can definitely make the right decisions to insure a better life. A better life for our children and a better life for those who are still so innocent to the changing world we are living in.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:21 am
Date: 10/4/08
Official End Time: 11: 59 am

Today I wanted to do an interesting piece about commitment and determination. How long should we be wiling to hold onto an idea or a person before we lose everything? I can only provide my honest opinion with this issue and wish to know what your take is on the issue?

With experience and time we come to a point in our lives where we find something that we truly love. It can be a person or an idea that we feel we are incomplete without. There is a passion, a fire that is found deep inside our soul and it is driven to do the best to keep this dream going. It becomes almost second-nature and if anyone where to ask us why we feel so passionate about this person or idea we leave them speechless with our response. How much we are willing to sacrifice for this person or idea is where we prove how much we care.

The drive we have to keep this person or idea alive is where our determination comes into question. When faced with adversity we can simply give up and turn our backs on the love we once had for this dream. If we are determined we would fight to the final hour to give this dream only a few more minutes on this Earth. We are lost to the idea of having to go on after our dreams have been crushed and our souls have been put to rest. However there is no remedy to pacify the pain of losing those we hold close and it is only with time that we can learn how to live our lives again.

The motives we have for this dream are pure and become a part of us as the years go on. Speaking about the issue almost becomes as easy as breathing. No one can persuade us to think differently of what we believe is so pure and honest in our world. Religion, relatives, and relationships all hold a special place in our soul and mind. The motives blend into each other and we are unclear between what motives are more important than the others. Often we get lost in the crossfire and hurt those we did not mean to hurt.

The people, money, and time we are willing to sacrifice for this dream often leaves us with more sorrow then we would have intended. We threw away our life savings and shut the door on our friends all for the chance of making this dream a reality. We become blind to the world around us and refuse to listen to the rhyme or reason of others. We hit the wall face-first and lose the things we hold dearest before we realize what we could have if we only were more open to the ideas of others.

Waking up the next day however is unimaginable. It is impossible to go on with our day when we no longer have the foundation to our soul. Life almost seems worthless but all good things must come to an end. We must learn that things happen for a reason and that we must continue to go on. Once we accept this, we are able to pacify the pain in our soul and teach others that life isn't always about superficial things, but giving back to the world that our children will one day live in.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 10:08 pm
Date: 10/3/08
Official End Time: 11:51 pm

Usually I do my blog post around midnight or later on the day they are due. Yesterday (earlier today) however I found it impossible to do a blog. I had a great subject, but last night it was like I had writer's block; I just couldn't get the words out.

So the event that I was gonna write about yesterday takes place 26 hours ago, where I find myself in my old middle school serving as a translator for a close relative. While at the meeting the school's principal starts addressing the parents about the community that the school represents and how with their help remodeling the school to the needs of the students should be no problem.

While listening to his lecture I was finding it difficult to not burst out of my seat and share my experience and opinion with working as a driving force through education. Eventually I was spotted by a former teacher during the meeting and was asked so many question about what I had been up to after graduating middle school. When I told them about Education Connection, China, and all the plans I have for the future they were shocked. Never before had an alumni came back and shared success stories like the ones I told that night. I was asked to come back and talk to future graduating classes, telling them to stay on the right track if they wanted to be successful in the future.

Leaving that meeting I was moved by the words of my former teachers and shocked at the urges I had to share my experience when the subject of a community in education came up. The fork in the road that I have described in the past presented itself to me again on the ride home and the course of direction seemed a little easier to choose from. Making a difference in education through implementing innovation and 21st century skills seemed more and more tempting as I got closer and closer to our destination.

The words of my parents made choosing a little awkward though as they engulfed me with the tales of college life for them while they were training to become doctors. The studying, doubts, and determination they showed really made me question if I could meet up to their standards. My mother of course had the closing statement which gave me doubts more than motivation. She told me that if I wanted to succeed and become a great doctor that I should start now, and read as many books about medicine and science so that when I do find myself in college, I have a heads up for what's yet to come.

That was a great piece of advice, but something about that message brewed fear in my soul. Maybe its the unknown, but I often question how I would face reality when confronted with such a threat? But it all leads back to my point that I must remain a well rounded person, prepared for whatever the world may throw at me. Either way I go I have to understand that hard work, doubts, and ambition is needed if you want to succeed.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 12:36 am
Date: 10/2/08
Official End Time: 2:31 am

Today I was able to finish my homework super early. I didn't have much but was stunned at all the free time I had after getting done what matters most. With that free time I was able to relax and at the same time take a closer look at the website we share and the technological world we have in front of us.

When you visit our website you are greeted with the home page and a few picture and some information about who we are. There's a lot of stuff to see on the front page. What catches my eye first would have to be the tab to the right that tells you the latest activity on the site. Through that tab I can see who might have left me a comment, if a new video was added, or a new addition to the site. The layout of the site seems to have been updated with a lot of new information that makes it easier for the user to get the information they might be looking for.

Looking at my page I noticed that my picture now stands in the top left corner with my caption to the right. Underneath that is a list of the things I have been doing recently along with a short bio underneath. When you look to the left there is a list of all the elements to your profile that provides you with information about blog posts, discussions, events, groups, photos, photo albums, and videos that you may have created or been affiliated with.

The friend's tab has also been revamped. When you click on the tab it'll tell you who your friends are and friend request that you might have sent out. Everything has a value on the site and provides options to see not just your information but everyones. Everything has a picture assigned to it as well. Overall the site has become more attractive to the eye and easier for the user to access the information they might be looking for.

The Ning network is famous for this kind of work. Using the Ning platform, a person can create their own social network that can then be link to other social networks creating a growing community of people who may share similar interest. Ning now a days is used to create communities that act together towards a cause that they believe is worth fighting for.

This idea of people coming together through social networks and organizing themselves in response to a cause they believe is worth fighting for is amazing. The technology and opportunities we have in todays world and age are making it easier and easier to remodel the world in front of us. Things like getting the news, buying gifts, and staying in touch with friends can be done from the comfort of your own home for almost little to nothing. The biggest movements are the ones being done through education and the idea that books and an instructor are not the only tools a student in todays world should be equipped with. 21st century skills are being implemented more and more in today's curriculum. The response is students who are more aware of the opportunities available and what they can do make to their dreams a reality.

The morals and incentives behind these movements are as pure as the morals and incentives of the teachers that taught us from the book. Through the internet and its open-sources, students can be exposed to an education that isn't confined to the 4 walls of the classroom, but to the power of the technology being used. Purpose and collaboration is all it will take to take the world we have in front us and remodel it so that future generations can continue breaking down the brick walls that stand in the way of good students on the road towards a better tomorrow.

Sincerely, Hector Guzman

So right there is a pretty good overview of my feeling towards technology and the great things being done using technology through education. The world in front of us is changing dramatically and will be even more dynamic within the years to come. Purpose and collaboration is all it will take to take the world we have in front of us and remodel whatever way we please.

Official Start Time: 1:13 am
Date: 10/1/08
Official End Time: 2: 36 am

My entries seem to be getting later and later. I think in today's entry I will discuss my typical eating and sleeping habits which I believe account largely for me going to bed so late. Over the past few weeks I have been going to bed at 2 am or later and find myself stuck in the habit of going to bed at this time. Its a bad habit that I should get out of as quickly as possible.

So typically my day starts around 6 am after having gone to bed the night before at 4 am. Throughout my day of school I have plenty of energy but as soon as I get home I wind up taking a nap for a good 4 hours. My mom complains a lot that I am working myself too hard and that managing my time better would help me go to bed earlier. Around 7 pm I have gotten enough rest to be kicked out of bed by mom as it is time to do my homework/eat dinner. Neither things really happen at 7 pm. Usually we have dinner around 8-9 pm. Between taking a break after dinner and going on YouTube I wind up starting my homework around 10 pm or later.

The work load isn't a lot but I am faced with many distractions. The biggest would have to be how easily I can get distracted. I'll be writing an essay that typically takes 30-40 minutes and wind up spending an hour and half between talking to friends, messing around with iTunes, and doing everything else besides writing the essay.

One solution would be distorting myself from these distractions. I would say that if I didn't talk to people on Skype, use the internet, or listen to music while doing my homework things would get done a lot quicker. The amount of time I usually spend doing my homework is mostly lost to goofing off with the things listed above. Even right now I am talking to someone on Skype.

Eliminating these distractions would save me a lot of time but still doesn't insure me a good working environment. Often the things that go on in my house prevent me from concentrating and getting my work done. I literally can get any work done until its 7 pm or later due to the bickering that engulfs my house. Its either an argument between my mother or my brother that makes it almost impossible to get anything done. However at night, I am able to work in peace and quiet. I will be scolded for being up so late but at least I can get my work done without any interruptions.

I finally do finish my homework around 3 am and wake up the next day for the same routine that is wearing me down little by little. I can't keep going to sleep so late or I will fall asleep in class. One thing that I should do is eliminate all distraction so that I can save myself some time doing my homework and maybe go to bed at 1 am instead of 3 am.

Wish me luck, Hector Guzman

Official Start Time: 12:02 am
Date: 9/30/08
Official End Time: 1:54 am

Today has to be one of my better days for today I have found the time to think. Thinking and overall reflecting is something I try to find time for to make sure that I stick to the right path and do not get side tracked. I need to do this more often for I always find myself doing things at the last minutes or not doing the things that matter most.

Something was different today that some how inspired me to look at what I am doing with my life right now and what I need to do with the life I plan to have. I can't really say what made me achieve this epiphany but something sparked this thought that made me realize what I should have seen from the beginning. I think I might have a general idea of what made me come to this conclusion.

For the past few weeks really a month I have done a lot of reflecting trying to see what I wanted to do with my life and what events/elements of the life I have lived thus far can help me decide. For starters I may sound like I think too much in my entries but most of the time I don't think enough. I lack the ability to act on things that I wish I had acted on differently if I had the chance. Overtime however I learn to accept that what happened happened and that I must continue to move forward.

Things that I have worked hard for in the past really leave an impression that reminds me of the hard work that must go into anything we do that we expect to get something out of. There are no short cuts to success and with diligence anyone can make it. It's easy to say that but confronting this idea for some reason breeds fear in the hearts and minds of the person. It is natural for us to feel this way with decisions that may concern the life we have in front of us. However we must learn to tame this beast so that our lives may continue to coexist.

When in search for an answer I act like a historian and look back at the examples of prior people to see what kind of solution they came up with to address the issue. My issue however is not invasion or disease but choice. I have to learn to choose what my calling is in this life and what I want to be known for before I leave this world. I look back at the examples set by my parents, my friends, and the people I have worked with and decided that I cannot determine what my calling in life is.

The simplest solution is sometimes the one looked over the most. There's no reason to get scientific when the answer you look for is evident to everyone that knows the kind of person you are. I have not lived enough to determine what my calling is and what to expect in the years to come. Not enough can be controlled making me feel that the best solution is to be a well rounded person that is open to change and will be ready to make the right decision when the time comes for it.

No one is perfect in this world and seeking perfection can drive someone to the brink of insanity. We must learn to accept our faults and try to be better at what we do each and everyday. The brick walls we will face are there to prove how badly we want something. When we are able to break through these walls and accomplish the goals we set only then will we be able to understand that we did our best and did the right thing; giving us peace at mind.

Sincerely Hector Guzman