James McBride Response

Lily Terhune

November 21, 2014

ENGL 1100, Writing Skills Workshop

Professor Young

With many of my other classmates, had the opportunity to sit in the audience and watch the author, James McBride speak. Although I never got to read McBride’s most popular book, “The Good Lord Bird”, I was still able to connect with some of the topics he was talking about. McBride came out wearing a hat on his head and automatically felt comfortable with the crowd. He made jokes that us students could directly relate to. 

McBride gave a lot of advice for us to be who you we are. He explained that failure is okay and that we need to forgive ourselves for doing so. Also, he mentioned that there will always be someone better than you so failure is going to happen in our lives. For the first time ever that McBridge gave a speech he made us close our eyes then quickly open them again. He explained that life goes by just like that fast and you should do what you love for the rest of your life. He told us to imagine what we do when we aren't doing anything and find a way to achieve that. 

He also explained the importance that reading has on our overall intelligence. He told us that the way we can become smarter is to for example pick up the NY Times and read it every morning. And that is the way that we are going to broaden our knowledge.

I really enjoyed having James McBride come to our school because he did not just give us a boring assembly where we had to struggle to keep our eyes open. He gave an insightful talk that I received a lot of vital information from that is beneficial for my future. 

Lily Terhune

November 1, 2014

Professor Young

ENGW 1110

Dennis Dutton talks about beauty as something that is constantly evolving. Dennis argues on Ted Talks, “I have no doubt whatsoever that the experience of beauty, with its emotional intensity and pleasure, belongs to our evolved human psychology. The experience of beauty is one component in a whole series of Darwinian adaptations. Beauty is an adaptive effect, which we extend and intensify in the creation and enjoyment of works of art and entertainment.” His point about beauty is that our definition of beauty changes along with our evolution. There are also different kinds of beauty. There is natural beauty and artistic beauty. The definition of beauty varies from each person’s opinion on what pleases their eye and arouses them.

What pleases many eyes is the hand axe. Dennis makes the point that the ancient hand axe is beautiful. We aren't sure what the hand axe was exactly used for. From the hand axe’s symmetry to the hand axe’s blades, it is viewed as beautiful. Beauty goes back all the way to the ancient times. The artifacts were the earliest forms of art. They had jewelry and makeup which all represented beauty.

Evolution tricks us to be aroused by the sight of something, resulting in us finding it beautiful. Today, we look to movies and landscapes as beautiful. We also think people and and food can be beautiful. But all these things are so vastly different. That is why Dutton thinks we do not have a set definition on what we think is beautiful. The experience of beauty changes with our human evolution. 

Can Beauty Be Constructed?

Lily Terhune

October 29, 2014

ENGL 1100, Writing Skills Workshop

Professor Young

Can Beauty be Constructed?

Actress, athlete, and fashion model Aimee Mullins said, “In our humanity, we need to celebrate those heartbreaking strengths and those glorious disabilities that we all have. It is our humanity, and all the potential within it, that makes us beautiful.” Aimee is saying that beauty is within all of our lives. Aimee Mullins is disabled with prosthetic legs and I agree with her opinion that beauty can be constructed. 

Although constructed beauty is not honest, it is still beauty. With today’s advancements in technology we are able to make beauty from man-made products. Examples of these products are Botox, breast implants, and buttock implants. These procedures are a more serious and permanent way to change our bodies. We also have makeup, hair tools, and other things that can transform a person’s appearance. These cosmetics are usually part of a woman’s routine to get ready in the morning. We have become accustomed to apply makeup and do our hair almost everyday. We give into the social pressures to look a certain way. But looking this certain way gives us a sense of confidence. Lastly, we have photoshop, special lighting, and filtered lighting. All of these things alter our view of true beauty and change our perception.

I believe that it is not fair to say that beauty can not be constructed. If you think of people like Aimee Mullins you cannot say beauty can not be constructed. She had prosthetic legs made to help her walk and look beautiful which gives her confidence. She has over a dozen pair of legs, all made very intricately and beautifully.  Her beauty is confidence and her prosthetic legs contribute to her beauty. All women are beautiful whether we give into the societal pressures of cosmetics and procedures to alter our appearance. Natural beauty or constructed beauty is beauty no matter what.

Aimee Mullins believes that beauty can be constructed and I strongly agree with her opinion. She constructed  her beauty with her prosthetic legs. She is able to change her height which alters our perception of her. She changed the way we normally think of beauty. We are able to make beauty with many things although it may not be honest.

Revision of : Can Beauty Be Honest?

Lily Terhune

October 28, 2014

ProfessorYoung

ENGW 1101

Revision

Can Beauty Be Honest?

In today’s media, the meaning of beauty has been transformed into meaning that you must be tall, skinny, and have a pretty face. But when did this change? When did we start viewing each other as beautiful based solely on our looks? When did being beautiful have such high standards?  Through this all I believe we lost touch on the true meaning of beauty. Beauty is something that is attractive to the eye. Beauty can be honest if it is natural. When beauty is constructed into something man-made it then becomes a lie.

I believe media is to blame for our misconstrued view of beauty. In Cameron Russell’s Ted Talks video she talks how media has negatively effected her and her confidence. Cameron was posing for pictures at a young age and was put in clothes and makeup that made her look like a woman. Yet, Cameron did not even get her period yet.

She was not a woman but she was portrayed as one through the media’s eye and the use of beauty products. She also felt very insecure among the other models because of the high standard in the modeling business. As a child we are raised to look at the celebrities on tv and want to be exactly like them. We see the celebrities’ hair, makeup and bodies and idolize them. But what we see is false and leads to our distorted view of beauty. Deep down these models are most likely not happy with themselves. Beauty does not equal happiness.

We use  man-made products to hide ourselves behind. The makeup is a mask and the extensions are a wig. When we step away from all the makeup and when models step out from under the lights and behind the camera we become our true selves. Beauty is true and beauty is real. We do not need to cover up who we truly are because I believe that everyone has their own beauty in different ways. 

Although beauty is constructed does not mean some people may not perceive it as beautiful. It is very beautiful to be confident about yourself. If man-made products are needed for someone to feel beautiful then I believe thats okay. Plato said, “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”.

Everyone has a different opinion on what they believe is beautiful. Each person will believe different things are beautiful.

Media has influenced our perception of beauty. In today’s society, beauty means to have a flawless face covered in makeup and have the perfect long hair. You are also considered beautiful if you have a model body which is tall and skinny. But that is not reality. I believe each person carries their own definition of beauty. When we step away from the man- made products we are are true selves and I believe that is beautiful. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM4Xe6Dlp0Y

Lily Terhune

October 26, 2014

ProfessorYoung

ENGW 1101

Can Beauty Be Honest?

In today’s media, the meaning of beauty has been transformed to mean that you have to be tall, skinny, and have a pretty face. But when did this change? When did we start viewing each other as beautiful based solely on our looks? When did being beautiful have such high standards?  Through this all I think we lost touch on the true meaning of beauty. Beauty is something that is attractive to the eye. Beauty can be honest if it is natural. When we construct beauty into something that isn't true and that is where it becomes a lie.

I believe media is to blame for our misconstrued view of beauty. As a child we are raised to look at the celebrities on tv and want to be exactly like them. In Cameron Russell’s Ted Talks video she talks how media has negatively effected her and her confidence. We see celebrities hair, makeup and bodies and idolize them. But what we see is false, and leads to our distorted view of beauty. Deep down they may not be happy. Beauty is not happiness. Yet, beauty is true and beauty is real. We use all of these man-made products to  ourselves behind. When we step back away from all the makeup and hair stuff and when the models step out from under the lights and from behind the camera we become more our true selves.

I believe even though beauty is constructed it does not mean some people may not perceive it as beautiful. Plato said, “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”. Everyone has a different opinion on what they believe is beautiful. Each person will believe different things are beautiful. Its also very beautiful to be confident about yourself so if man-made products are needed for someone to feel beautiful then I think thats okay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM4Xe6Dlp0Y

Final Essay 1

Lily Terhune

September 24, 2014

ENGL 1100, Writing Skills Workshop

Professor Young

Essay 1

Identity

When I walk through the streets I feel as if people’s eyes can see right through me. Who do they see? Do they see my baggy jeans, my sneakers, and my hoodie and think I am a guy? Or do they see my small frame, long eyelashes and cheekbones and think I am a girl? My name is Sam. I was born a girl, yet I know inside I am a guy. If I want to change into who I truly am, Im not going to let anyone stop me. My sex is not my identity. My sex is not who I am. In Gloria Anzaldua’s passage, “ How to Tame A Wild Tongue”, her identity is her language. Gloria speaks in her own “slang”, Chicano Spanish, a mix of Spanish and Mexican. She is told that her language is not correct and that she needs to change it. However, Gloria says you cannot change ones identity, “Wild tongues cannot be tamed, they can only be ripped out” (Anzaldua 244).  Anzaldua’s language makes up who she is and I stand by her and admire how she does not change her native language for anyone. Identity is important because it makes up who we are and who we will become. 

Identity is made up of who you are and it is important because it is a sense of self and an acceptance of your inner pride. Anzaldua belongs among the Chicano’s and grew up always being corrected for the way she spoke. She says, you cannot “tame” a wild tongue. Her native language cannot be controlled or changed because it is who she is; her identity. Anazdula felt as if she had to hide her language because she was always being told she was wrong. She feels very passionately about her language being part of who she is. Anzaldua says, “ I am my language. Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself” (Anzaldua 251). I think its important to be passionate about your identity because it shows the inner pride you have in yourself.

If  identity never existed we would be always searching for something we would never find. Searching for your identity is a common thing for teenagers. We all experience those awkward years from middle school into sophomore year of high school. We struggle to find a place and meaning in this world. We meet new people and experience new things that all have an impact on who we are. But sooner or later we find who we are and where we belong. In middle school going into my freshman year of high school I wasn’t sure who I belonged among. I wanted to be part of the popular kids and be involved in the things they would do, yet my friends from middle school meant a lot to me. I enjoyed my time spent with my old friends better. It took me a while to realize that it was not important to be popular and do things popular kids did. It was more important to have true friends. These friends shaped who I am today which is a big part of my identity. 

Once we reach find who we are, we have completed our search. But what if there was no such thing as identity? I can’t imagine a world without it, it is necessary. It is made up of a lot of things like characteristics, beliefs and morals, hobbies, and language.  I would feel lost without music which is part of my identity just as Anzaldua would if she did not identify herself with the Chicanos. She feels a sense of home among them. It is necessary and without it we would be lost, never finding a place where we belong.

Our identity is necessary and without it we would be lacking something crucial to our development. Our identity is complex and changes over time by internal and external forces within our everyday lives. We are able to control some of those forces. Our self- identities show our perception of how we belong in different social groups. If we do not find our identity, that may lead to weakened sense of self. I believe it is important to have a strong sense of self because that leads to a strong self esteem. People with strong senses of their identity have a better chance at being aware of their future and feel confident in social situations. All of these things are essential to our development and the people we become.

Identity is important to the way we carry ourselves. It is the way we view ourselves as well as the way we are viewed by others. Its important to our development and its also important to be confident about your identity and not change it for anyone. Gloria Anzaldua is told her language is wrong and that she has to change who she is to be proper. She sticks up for herself and does not change because being Chicano is who she is. As I walk through the doctors office doors the beat in my chest gets faster and faster. My face masks exactly the way I feel. I keep my expectations low. Now that I am eighteen, I finally have the ability to do this without the permission of my parents, which I would never receive. Today is the day, the day I can start my transition into the real me. My search for my identity is over. My looks will soon portray the way I feel. I have pushed through all the obstacles, never stopping to give up. I never let anyone stop me from being who I am. Im now standing in front of the doctor, my feet cold against the tile floor, about to finally take the steps that I have been waiting to complete. I am ready for the next step in my life, I am ready to be the real me. 

Lily Terhune

September 29, 2014

ENGL 1100, Writing Skills Workshop

Professor Young

Community Essay

Doing work in your dorm room at Fairleigh Dickinson may be hard because of the noise coming from other rooms. Students may be playing music very loudly, or hanging out with a lot of people in their rooms causes a distraction. The sound of music when you are trying to work is like the sound of bees buzzing around your head.  It is a huge distraction that you may not be able to control. Although we have a library easily accessible, sometimes doing homework or studying in a dorm room is preferred. In Valerie Kinloch’s essay, “Harlem, Art and Literacy and Documenting ‘Harlem is Art’/ “Harlem as Art”, the problem in Phillip and Khaleeq’s community is that Harlem is being denitrified. Although their issue is on a different level of seriousness than mine, loudness in the dorms can pose many problems for students at Fairleigh Dickinson. 

Kinloch talks about Harlem as a place full of art. From the buildings to the people on the walking and talking on the street, it is all art whether they know it or not. Although, the art is slowly being taken away by gentrification. Whiteification is happening and new buildings and stores are being built, taking away from the old Harlem. Big chain stores like Old Navy are being built in place of little independently owned stores. The buildings are turning from projects with fire escapes running up and down the buildings to beautiful buildings with balconies. They try to embrace the old art of Harlem, yet find it hard because of the many new things rebuilt in place of the old. This a bigger problem for Phillip and Khaleeq compared to my problem in my community. My problem consists inside of my dorm building, where I live and spend most of my time. 

Quiet hours were constructed to make it easier for students to sleep  without being interrupted. Finding time thats quiet during the day to study or do homework is a problem; therefore it would be helpful and beneficial for students if daytime quiet hours were made. Silence is necessary for students to get work done efficiently. We are able to focus on our work more without any distractions. Without silence, our work can be put off causing students to procrastinate often. With a lot of noise, students might wait until its quieter and never get their work done on time.

Students also need silence in the dorms to get sleep or to take naps. Most college students will be up late at night doing work so naps are crucial for college students. Sleep affects our stress level, G.P.A, and the efficiency of our work. Sleep is important for our health. Lack of sleep can really affect student’s academic performance. 

Fairleigh Dickinson is a beautiful campus in Madison, New Jersey. It has trees that reach up to the sky. The buildings are old and beautiful, giving meaning to the campus. Theres always students everywhere, either in the dorms or on the big open lawn spaces. Like Kinloch’s essay about Harlem, the scenery in both Harlem and Fairleigh Dickinson plays a big part of the community. The amount of students that hangout in their dorms can cause the problem of it being hard to study during the day. The noise coming from the rooms can be so loud at times that doing work or studying is tough. This problem has been ongoing for a while now I assume. Although there are quiet hours, they are only at nighttime on Sunday to Thursday from 8pm-10 am and Friday and Saturday from 12 am to 10 am.

If students use Ihomes or speakers to play music the music can be heard from one room to another. Especially if the music is being played loud, it can be a distraction to the other rooms close by. If a student is trying to study for a test, doing work can be as hard as trying to do work in a room full of people. If quiet hours during the day were implicated, it would benefit students who try to get work done in their dorm rooms during the day. Quiet hours from the hours of 2pm to 4 pm would be perfect for students. 

Is this a problem for all students? Are students having trouble studying in their dorms? In Kinloch’s essay, “Harlem, Art and Literacy and Documenting ‘Harlem is Art’/ “Harlem as Art”, may people were not standing up to present the problems of Harlem being denitrified. If students do not stand up for what they believe, nothing will be accomplished. Quiet hours would be implicated for all people in the dorm building and would help a lot of students. Two hours a day to have quiet time for work is all that would be needed. Students may develop better studying habits in their dorm rooms without distractions. Without this, students may have trouble studying in their rooms and never learn good study habits inside their rooms.