Famous Last Words: Coming to an End

As the semester is coming to an end and my mind is already focusing on my finals and final projects due, I reflect on the whirlwind of events. This was my first time being a full time student since 2012, that along with a demanding part- time job and having a boyfriend being a full- time engineering student meant no time for relaxation. The good thing is, I realized it was too much for me if I wanted to make the grades I want/ need. When I quit my job, I felt so elated. Yes, I will be on a job search once the semester is over but this time I will focus on it furthering my career... and not knowing how to order copious amounts of food for events (which is definitely a skill I have learned).
Enough of my job woes, though.

I believe I will I will be able to finish up this class over Thanksgiving break and I am very, very thankful that we have that option to finish early. In my other online course the assignments due that week are not posted until Monday (sometimes even later). This can be very frustrating and can make it difficult to plan ahead. Other online professors at the University would really benefit by looking at how we do things in this course. I really feel we have been set up for success in the Indian Epics course plan.

I started a story this week but never published it. It is just not what I want it to be. I have decided based on our time left in the semester and the points I need to finish I am not going to write another story unless I become very inspired by something in the readings. I have decided to focus on my portfolio and perfecting those stories.

(The University of Colorado Boulder)

I chose a picture of The University of Colorado Boulder because I have been focusing on what graduate schools I would like to attend. This is definitely in my top five picks along with The University of California. I would like to study Hydrology in graduate school. I just bought a GRE study guide and will probably spend my summer studying for the exam. 

I liked writing a To-Do list last week so I will keep up with it.

• Complete my readings for Monday/ Tuesday by Tuesday Morning.
• Maybe do the Tech Tip and Growth Mindset extra credit on Tuesday as well
• Do my Project Comments on Wednesday or Thursday morning. 
• Do comments and extra blog comments on Friday
• Do project ASAP

Learning Challenges: Time

H-ealth
E-mpathy
A-ttention
R-eading
T-ime

This week I chose to focus on time. I mean who wouldn't like more time? Or at least manage it better so it feels like you have more time. I started out by watching this video that was posted on the Learning by HEART blog page. (Using my new skills learned with a  TechTip to insert a video)

I watched the video before I went to bed and slept on it then watched it again this morning. I must admit, I have never thought of the science behind procrastination or think about why we even do it. So watching this video is rather mind blowing! The video suggests a promodoro technique which is setting a timer for about 25 minutes and then giving yourself an award whether it be to get on social media or candy. I have tried using this technique in the past but would not actually use a timer but just try to be aware and at least get up and walk around. This actual technique intrigued me so I did a quick pomodoro technique google search and found there is an actual website (you can find that here). The website is pretty cool and totally worth a look around if you are interested. There is even another video going more in depth of what the promodoro technique is. 

I am definitely going to give this whole reward technique another try. Specifically when I am studying all Saturday and Sunday for a test or writing a paper. The only thing I am worried about is when I get into my zone I do not like to be interrupted. Maybe when I write my Famous Last Words Post on Monday I can give you an update on how it went!

Growth Mindset: Stories About Growth

Being a science major and sometimes one of the very few women in my classes I absolutely hate pointing out gender differences. Like when people say, "Men are just good at math." Like yes, that MUST be the reason why there are only 5 women out of 40 in my calculus III class!  It really does not get anymore close minded than that.  People like that are the reason why there were only 5 women in my calculus class... because we have been told our whole lives, women just are not good at math. But this is not what I am writing about! (I just got side tracked by one of my tangents).

After reading the prompt for this Growth Mindset challenge I started to really think about some of the characters I have read about this semester and what kind of mindsets they had. Women do not play huge roles in most of the Indian Epics but most of them have relatively open minds. Rama told Sita she did not have to follow him but she was willing to try something new and not afraid. Savitri was willing to marry Satyavan even though she knew he would die after a year of marriage. In the story, The Divine Brothers, the youngest wife grabbed at opportunities and brought her family riches.

These women and many more have all practiced a growth mindset the way I see it. Savitri could have easily not married Satyavan when she found out his curse that he had no idea about. She chose to stay with him and grow. In the end she was able to persuade Yama to give him a second chance.
The women in the stories seem to not let bad luck or circumstances get them down but keep fighting on.

(women in the workforce)

Reading Notes: Sacred Tales of India, Part A

The Divine Brothers

• A rich farmer had 7 sons, all of whom were married. 
• Their 7 wives were sitting around one day talking about what their wish would be if they were granted one.

             - The youngest did not talk until called upon to state her's but she was hesitant she finally said
                hers.
          *I could write a story about how since she was patient her wish came true and all the other
            wives were jealous.

• I could write a story about her time spent with the snakes. I would like to do something different though. Not with snakes or if I used snakes they would only have a minor role in my story. 
• I would like to focus more on the 7 wives and how they share jobs and gossip to one another. Maybe the youngest wife is bullied by them or something like that. 

Snatched from Death

(Savitri and Satyavan)

• Savitri is a princess and is able to choose her own husband. She chooses a blind hermit's son, Satyaban. 
• Unknown to him, he is cursed and will die at the end of the first years marriage.
• Savitri knows this and prays to the gods every day to let him live. 
• Yama's messengers went to collect Satyaban when he died but could not bc the chastity of his wife Savitri. 
• I already have one story about Yama I would love to write another one!
• Savitri tricks Yama into giving Satyaban's life back.
• I really feel like I can do something with this story. 
• **In my story I think the messengers will act as the middle men between Yama and Savitri. Neither of them willing to give in.**

By Itu's Favor

• 2 daughters, Isani and Rama, were banished in the forest for eating loafs of bread the wife made. 
• I do not really like this story.
• Their dad basically tricks them into thinking he was attacked but then they still wish wealth for him... so they knew he was alive the whole time?
• After years the girls returned home and, their father was rich due to them wishing this upon him, but he gets mad at them again and says the next guys the pass will be their husbands.
• Isani was married and no longer worshiped the god, Itu Thakur, so every town they passes would go up in flames or an epidemic would break out

                 - People called her a witch 

• Rama continued to worship Itu Thakur on the daily. The towns she passed would flourish along with their crops. Even brought a dead girl back to life with her holy water. 
• **I could write about the fortune of the girls but in modern day** Maybe they won the lottery and one lost her money trying to play the lottery again or she is just flat out unlucky.**
• A lot of banishing going on in this story. 
• Itu has lots of power. 

Bibliography: Scared Tales of India by D.N. Neon. Illustrated by P. Ghose. 1916. 

Reading Notes: Jataka Tales, Part B

I know I said in my Famous Last Words post that I was going to try and read something else besides fairy tales but I could not help myself! I absolutely hate not finishing a book or article or story. I had only completed part A so I have to complete part B now!!

The Wise and Foolish Merchant

(Conestoga Wagon)

• A wise merchant and a stupid young merchant were traveling through the same city and bought a puppy of goods they were going to sell as they traveled the country
• The thrifty merchant did not want to travel together.
• The foolish young merchant decided he would go first
• I could write a story about the demon who tricked the young merchant but not the wise one.      

                   - in my story maybe the demon has dialogue with the merchants or maybe the wise one 

                     convinced the young one to go first because of the demon.

The Elephant Girly- face

• Girly- face is a super kind elephant that overheard some robbers talking about how to show no pity for people they are robbing. Girly-face overheard this and was convinced that is how he was suppose to treat people now
• They sent good people to talk her his stall to convince him to be kind and it worked!
• I think I could make a story up about bullying in school and how when people talk it is so easy to convince a little kid that is how one is suppose to act.

The Banyan Deer

• Deer the color of gold and eyes were like round jewels. 
• This deer reminds me of the one that Sita wanted Rama to catch for her, maybe I could write a story about the deer that Sita wanted!!!!

The Princess and the Water- Sprite

• Story about Prince of the Stars, the Moon Prince and the Sun Prince.

The King's White Elephant

• Kind of  a sad story but the white elephant was always well taken care of. 

The Ox Who Never Envied the Pig

• Ox named Big Red
• Young brother named  Little Red
• Do not be envious of people for what they have because you do not know what will become of them. 

Grannie's Blackie

• I could write a story about the encounter black, the elephant, had with the man trying to pass the river with his wagons. 
• Blackie was a smart elephant and would not leave until the merchant gave him what he promised him. 

The Crab and the Crane

• The story about the crane tricking the fish in a shallow pond to be carried to a big pond to only be eaten by the crane
• The crab did not fall for it though!

Why the Owl is Not King of the Birds

• Apparently owls and crows do not get along which is why the owl is not king but the turtle dove is. 

Bibliography: The Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt. Illustrated by Ellsworth Young. 1912.

Famous Last Words: Riding the Struggle Bus

This week I am really regretting not doing the extra credit assignments before now. They are fun! Why is that no matter how many times we are told to do something or try something out we just don't.... or is that just me? Literally every day of the week in announcements, our class has been told to try out some of the extra credit and I have not until now! The tech tip, I mean it is so useful and not just for this class but for others as well.

This was the first week I did not write a story. It seems now that the semester is ending my creative side is struggling to keep up. I have been reading the Indian Fairy Tales, which is what I wanted to do since the class began. Now that I have read them though I just cannot seem to think of a story to write. I guess you could say they are not inspiring to me. This week I think I am going to switch it up and read something different. Maybe my creative juices will start to flow.
This week I also quit my job. As a full time student I was definitely being overworked. Staying up until at least 1:00 am in order to work on my online classes to wake up at 6:00 am on the daily to get to work and go to class is not my ideal schedule. So, hopefully, this week I will not be stressed about my time management and will actually get ahead in the class!

So here is my to-do list this week:

• Find a new story to read
• Try to get my readings done by Tuesday morning 
• Start writing my story on Tuesday, hopefully get done by Wednesday morning (the story writing seems to take me a few hours, creativity is not my forte). 
• Edit my Story for the Project
• Get my new story in my Portfolio by Wednesday night. 
• Start commenting on Thursday/Friday
• Extra Credit on Sunday. 

P.S. I am very good at making lists. I should have been doing this the whole semester!

(Making a to-do list)

Growth Mindset: Perfectionism

Wow. Was this an eye opening article to perfectionism. I think most people have at least a hint of perfectionism in them. Maybe some more than others, I will be the first to admit I am a perfectionist most of the time. I am much more aware of my perfectionist attitude now that I am out of high school and got slapped in the face with the real world pretty quickly.
I do not want to blame social media, simply because I enjoy social media outlets, but people get to pick and choose what to post about their lives. This means most things are only happy (guilty as charged) and people only get to see in your one window; that one widow being the perfect window.

Social media is not all bad. I am going to share this Huffington post on my Facebook and encourage my friends to read it. I think the more people we have aware of their perfectionist attitude the more they realize how sad it is to go on carrying this point of view. Once aware, we can grow from it and learn from our mistakes. Maybe what we learn today about growth mindsets will benefit our children the most.

The perfectionist Cycle