Interview of "The Writer"

For me, writing is like going to the gym. It is fun when it is voluntary and dreadful when you don’t want to go.

1) What are the different ways you use writing (in and out of school)?

            I use writing in order to express my feelings when I am upset, sad and sometimes even happy. I write these feelings in my journal; on my Facebook page and I text messages my friends and let them know what is going on in my life. In school my writing is very different depending on the assignment. For example in Human Physiology I wrote a research paper on a disease that I found very interesting. I wrote the paper with a very serious tone and no expression to my feelings about the topic. I found myself writing a boring paper, but the topic was very interesting. 

2) What writers have you read that you could say had an authentic “voice”? Describe the qualities that made them unique.

            Victor Villaseñor is my favorite writer because his books are usually based on his family’s history and traditions. I find it refreshing to read a book that directly relates to my personal culture. He tells tales of how his family lived their lives illegally in the United States after war broke out in Mexico. He includes in these tales the Mexican and American history. This allows me to relate it to the stories my grandmother would tell. His voice is very authentic because of his uses of Mexican American terms throughout his stories, which is how my grandparents speak to me.

3) How would you describe your writing voice? How connected is it to the way you think and talk?

            The way I think is the way I speak. I have no problem expressing my self unless speaking to a person of authority, or a professional in which I usually would intend to impress. The way I text message and the way I speak are very different in that in text messages and informal e-mails I tend to use abbreviations for words. The way I write in school and in my journal is also very different in that in school I write in a formal manner rather than in my sloppy shorthand handwriting that would be found in my journal. My writing voice can take multiple tones.

4) List all the types of writing you’ve done in this class (brainstorm together). Were some of these more challenging to you than others? Which ones did you feel most comfortable writing? What does that say about you as a writer?

            A formal paper (issue essay), informal writing (rant), I have also written assignments (research logs) with a formal tone in order to help me later write my multi-genre research paper. I felt the most comfortable writing the issue essay only because it was a formal paper that I intended to make seem professional. One assignment that was very hard for me to write because it was an assignment is the rant because it was an informal piece of writing that was an assignment. I feel that as a writer for other people I want things to be through and make sense. I like to present information in an organized manner as for my personal life (writing that shall never be read just written) I feel is PERSONAL and should never be seen I can be an intimate writer as long as I know that no one will read the words I have written.

           

5) What is your earliest writing memory?

            My earliest writing memory is when I was learning how to write my name in kindergarten I thought it was cool that I could write my own name (a noun not in the dictionary!) in crayon if I wanted but that my name meant me! I was very excited to see my name written on the wall by me. I think it was so significant because of how cool I felt that I could spell and write my own name.

6) What is your best/worst writing experience?

            My worst writing experience was during my senior year of high school my English teacher assigned the class three five page papers due the next day because certain people were fooling around during lecture. I was so upset I started crying because I knew it was a joke. I left class for lunch worked on one paper and got a page and a half into it and broke down crying hoping for an e-mail from my English teacher saying, “Just kidding haha!” I never got that e-mail I finished my school day and went to softball practice. After practice I took my brother to eat and then to his baseball practice. When I was at his practice I bust out with my laptop trying to finish the first paper I finally finish right as his practice is ending and then I realize that my computer is about to turn off. I hurry to plug it in but I was too late. I get home and tell my mom about my crappy situation and she laughs at me and sarcastically asks, “Well, what do you think college is going to be like? You better go finish its almost 8:30[pm].” I sit down and start writing again. I finished all three papers and my homework for all of at 6am the papers were done and I had to be at school at 6:45 for zero period on my way to school I stop for coffee and a donut I get to class I am dead tired and my English teacher tells us to turn in our papers. We pass them in and he puts them in his desk as he says 25 points extra credit each paper turned in half the class didn’t bother and I was one of many that stressed out about these undeserved papers. It was a horrible experience and the next time a classmate acts out during class I asked them to behave. 

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Research Log #4

DePauw University student Sarah Eutsler began to research Generation Y her freshman year of college and was immediately intrigued, just as I am. Eutsler states “[i]n the face of a bad economy, Gen Y may be dazed into believing the tales that we’re lazy, cell phone-obsessed, and that we know more about Justin Bieber than politics. But here’s why Gen Y will save the world, even if we don’t find jobs:” split into categories of “[w]e seek out meaningful opportunities”, “[i]t’s all about the cause”, “[w]e’re redefining home” and “[w]e want a life”.  Each of these categories clearly defines Gen Y as a proud and productive generation. I have personally encounter many people in my college career that are not just obsessed cell phone users and abusers we are a generation of meaning we have a lot to give to the world. Not through technology but through what we have learned from the harsh economy. We are the generation that has made it harder to get into colleges and universities. We are the reason colleges and universities are more diverse than before. We are the reason there is so much volunteer work being provided through colleges and universities. We see to do things for others as Eutsler states “[s]ervice opportunities are a priority.”

Eutsler also states “[t]he radio of advertising bureau reports that over half of Millennials feel that their role is to make a positive impact on the world”. This is an indication that Generation Y is a generation to provide meaning to the world. Aside for feeling completely responsible for the future of our horrible economy, we have been the redefining generation in how work is taken up with something that we like to do. We want our lives to be filled with achievements living in this competitive world has taught us we have to build our lives around something meaningful. Through competitive college acceptances it is harder than ever to get into college let alone find a job that is more of a hassle than what its worth. I have come to the conclusion that Generation Y is more than just a generation obsessed with technology. Due to the fact that Generation Y is redefining the way we live our lives by incorporating technology into our everyday routines. I choose this article for my research because it expresses the concern that most members of Generation Y have such as having a career to best fit their personal interests and benefit society. As Generation Y evolves through technology we are using it to benefit our personal interests and for the greater good of the world. We have been very proactive about the green movement taking place. I believe Eutsler provides evidence from other sources in order to allow for an alternative view of the true Generation Y. As a generation we have adapted to the uses and advantages of technology in order to produce a better future for our future generations. Unlike before we have been following traditions all in the while Generation Y is the revolutionary generation, in that we have formed new standards and evolved with the development of technology.  

Eutsler, Sarah. "Gen Y Will save the World, Even If We Don't Have Jobs | USA TODAY College." Untitled Document. 1 Mar. 2011. Web. 30 Mar. 2011. <http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/blog/gen-y-will-save-the-world-even-if-we-dont-have-jobs>.

Research Log #3

In David Pogue’s article “Many Ways to Plug In to Tech Savings”, he explains, how to utilize the technology available in order to save money. One example he gives includes cutting the landline. This in fact has already happened in my home. We are completely dependent on cellular devices because they are cheaper and mobile. Pogue also brings up the “pay as you go” no contract plans that help people manage their cell phone usage and bank accounts. I am personally a cell phone user and do not use a landline any more. They are non-existent in my generation. I have come to the conclusion that technology’s constant development continues to allow for Generation Y to be the trendsetters. Pogue states “[h]ome landline service is also declining; once again, the Generation Y’ers are leading the way.” (Pogue 2).  I think that Pogue is right about using the new technological advances to make a tight budget a little less tight. As a college student I have no cable and no television. I utilize the wifi provided by campus housing and watching television on my laptop instead of buying an expensive television set and paying a monthly cable bill. I personally eliminated a cost that will not only save me money but gives me pride to say I learned to do this through my peers (members of Generation Y). Using Netflix, ABC.com, and other cable networks provide television shows online. It’s better than paying for the cable when you only watch a particular show.  Pogue also addresses the “sacrifice: You’re also losing the nonmovie stuff on HBO, the dramatic series and so on; then again, why not get those on Netflix DVDs? The savings: $132 a year.” (Pogue 2). Pogue not only points out alternatives to saving money but also shows how Generation Y has impacted the growth of technology and how to  use it to full advantage.

            I choose Pogue’s article from the New York Times because it was easy to follow and had to do with the technological advances and how beneficial Generation Y has made these technologies worth the minimum expense. Generation Y has been finding ways to make technology useful in the department of economics due to the continuous development, there are always new and updated versions. There are always new things out on the market making our economy continue to grow, which the United States is desperate for in this current recession. In Pogue’s article I noticed that it was written in terms to better the recession for the people that have to live through it. With the current job losses and continues budget cuts as Generation Y we have no other choice but to use the technology to the best of our ability in order to eliminate costs whether it’s a phone bill, cable bill or any bill for that matter in the economic conditions we are living in now is the time to cut corners and save as much money as possible. The perfect way to do so is to utilize the technology available. 

Pogue, David. "Many Ways to Plug In to Tech Savings - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 07 Jan. 2009. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/08/technology/personaltech/08pogue.html?pagewanted=2>.

Research Log #2

            “Judith (“Ski”) Lower, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNRN, is retired nurse manager of the neurocritical care unit at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Now a consultant and lecturer, she serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses” (Lower). Lower wrote the article,  “Brace Yourself Here Comes Generation Y”, based on the technological benefits Generation Y brings to the nursing career. Lower states that Generation Y in has been “making suggestions during the developmental and piloting phases of technology projects, they can help make the workplace better and more technologically advanced.” This is very beneficial to healthcare providers all over the world. If Generation Y can make such a big difference in the healthcare industry why haven’t they? Lower expresses the idea that Generation Y is inexperienced and incapable of learning from older nurses “because they grew up with the Internet and are completely at ease with the online universe, they may have more current facts than their instructors.” (Lower). Lower expresses the concerns of “Author, speaker, and innovative educator Michele Deck.” According to Lower, Deck “emphasizes that Generation Y is a TV generation used to getting information in snippets, with commercial breaks at least every 10 minutes. In teaching sessions, she suggests giving Y’ers a mini-break every 15 minutes by having them do something unexpected—stand up, tell a joke, get a reward (such as a piece of candy for a correct answer), hear a drum roll, or use a secret word.” Knowing that Generation Y’s way of learning has been completely altered by the advancement of technology it worries me for the fact that it may also have an effect in our health. I have taken into consideration that these advancements may have both positive and negative effects but I would like to learn why Lower would be more interested in the benefits of the generation as a whole rather than their inexperience and the possible side effects in the health of the members of Generation Y.

            I agree with Lower in that Generation Y may be unprepared in the health industry working with “schedules [that] will resemble those of their earlier years, when parents and schools “protected” them. They’re used to having flexible rules and taking part in decisions about their schedules (among other things). They want schedules that allow time for “life” and family.” Having fun and having personal time for “‘life’ and family” are aspects of life that Generation Y has been taught to value (Lower). With the comprehension that being a nurse is not only competitive but a tough career to start with is something that Generation Y nurses need to find a way to cope with this highly demanding and inflexible career. Generation Y has put into perspective that they have a lot to offer not only in the knowledge of basics in technology but with their competitive and refreshing high achieving attitudes. I personally choose this article because it was interesting for a nurse to take so much time to write this piece based on the generation that will make the world a better place through the nursing industry. I personally am a pre-nursing major and am very pleased with the way Lower has analyzed my generation not only as a generation but also as a group of people that have more to offer than in previous years. I would like to further analyze the other things that Lower stated in her article and discuss that she is not just a nurse but also an unbiased observer of Generation Y.

Works Cited

Lower, J. "Brace yourself: here comes Generation Y." Critical Care Nurse 28.5 (2008): 80. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. EBSCO. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.

Research Log #1

Currently generation Y has been accused of being a selfish and spoiled generation. These accusations I believe has a lot to do with the writers of this topic. Due to the fact that the writers of the articles claiming that Generation Y is spoiled, leads me to the idea that the writers are not only from previous generations, but that they may be biased in their ideas. People are writing articles with the conclusion that Generation Y has become very dependent their parents. People are speaking of Generation Y as if they have done everything the wrong way. As a part of Generation Y I believe that we have been misjudged and technology has a big impact a side from the biased writers. I believe that Generation Y has come to be through our parents, which would be the previous Generations. We learn not only from teachers in a school setting we learn based on what is available to us such as the Internet. Technology has developed so much in the past few generations that Generation Y is completely dependent on technology. Technology has become part of our everyday lives and most people do not realize it. I understand that times have changed, but my generation does not have to look up books in the library any more, we Google them.  My question is this a bad or a good thing? Is this hurting our brain’s development? Being so dependent on technology may hurt our health, development and adaption to the new world of technology that we are living in. It has come to my attention there is no solution to what will become of future generations but I am anxious to see what the world has in store for our future based on technology.

I choose the article “Gen Y: Who They Are and How They Learn” by Alison Black an associate professor of education at SUNY-Oneonta because it gives her credibility in the department of education. She evaluates the reactions of administrators at her college. In doing so she attends many meetings of the administrators and learns of the growing concern if Generation Y could and should be taught by past generations. I believe this is a good concern considering the fact that not all generations before Generation Y have very much experience with technology. This leads me to the idea that maybe technology has advanced so rapidly some past generations may have not been able to keep up.  Given so Generation Y should be able to learn just as well as any other generation.

Black questions the quality of education in the article  “Gen Y: Who They Are and How They Learn”. Black starts off with the question of whether or not the generation gap has any effect on Generation Y’s learning process. Following this question, Black analyzed the responses from Faculty in a Leadership Pilot Program, which included interviews of the administrators at Black’s college. A concern from the administrators was the adaptation to teaching today's students and meeting the needs of the students. Within her teaching, Black has found that students born in Generation Y have already adapted to the use of technology in everyday lives and communicate more with their parents.

Following the abilities learned from past generations there has been a great advancement in technology allowing for communication and learning to be faster than ever. Students are now more competitive. It is harder to get accepted to a University than it was in past generations. I have heard my grandparents tell me that if I go to college I will automatically get a job. In the current economy of the United States that may not be true. Being a second generation Mexican/American, I have learned that from generation to generation you learn from your family’s history. You see what has been accomplished throughout their education and decide what you want to do with yours. Given the skills of technology and the ability to adapt with the continual development of technology, there is no reason for my education to be compromised. Teachers and administrators also need to adapt to technology as their student already have.

           

Works Cited

Black, Alison. "Gen Y: Who They Are and How They Learn." Educational Horizons 88.2 (2010): 92-101. ERIC. EBSCO. Web. 22 Mar. 2011