Invitation to Insight

For this assignment I was asked to identify relationships that have in any way been impacted by social media, the questions are as follows: 
Question 1: Can you identify a relationship that has been enhanced by regular mediated interactions?
Question 2: Can you identify a relationship that was created through mediated channels (for example social networking or online dating sites)?
Question 3: Can you identify a relationship that would suffer or end if mediated channels were not available?

The short answer to these three questions is 'yes'

I want to point out that the majority of social interaction that is being "done" in this era is not face to face but rather through the internet or cellular devices. People are now closer than ever without being physically near each other when it comes to getting a message across the country, or even globe. Family members have access to communicating freely through video calls, texting, and social media with other family members in their hometowns. This is especially crucial when the time comes to leaving for college, out of state internships, and transferring from one workplace to another. 

From personal experience I can say that it is easier than ever to start a relationship through social media. Whether it be amorous, friendly or strictly business relationships are made everyday through Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter etc. For example, I have created "friendships" (more like acquaintances) with other girls solely because they comment nice things on my selfies and will act like I've known them for years when I see them in person. To an extent it reduces the awkwardness of formally meeting a person on the street and having to introduce yourself.

Now, I know of plenty of friendships that rely on social media. I for example still keep in touch with my middle school friends that if it were not for Facebook and Snapchat I would know nothing about. What they looked like, what they were doing etc. So those who no longer attend the same school, or live in the same state rely heavily on social media to be able to shoot a text, or randomly show that they still think about one another. 

Just Another Statistic

I want to start off with acknowledging the fact that I had no idea what to write about up until 2 seconds ago. I got off a 7 hour shift knowing 2 things: 

1. I have approximately 3 hours to create the best blog ever
2. This assignment on education can make or break my grade

So, after 5 seconds of brain storming I came up with the idea to write about standardized tests.  

Since the beginning of time you are taught to figure things out on your own, to do your homework to practice what you did that day in class and edge it into your brain even more. But in reality all you are taught is memorization. For example: 2*2 = 4

Why? Who knows. All we are taught is to be able to make the connection between the multiplication symbol and a couple numbers and are expected to put these answers down on paper.

In retrospect, I've taken a plethora of standardized tests, two of the most important ones through out my entire education being the ACT and SAT. These tests are supposed to determine how well prepared a student is for college. But how accurate are these exams every high school student is required to take?

According to another blogger, not very. He contrasts how he has gone from an average ACT score to a straight 'A' student in college in comparison to his acquaintance. Adding on, I could personally identify myself as another "average ACT score" and have no hesitation I will continue to perform highly in college.

MY EXAM STORY:

Like the good procrastinator that I was, I did not study at all until the week prior to the SAT. Now, these exams are typically on a Saturday morning; So, I decided to go to tutoring for about 1 hour each day (a total of 5 days) until I had to put my little knowledge to good use. 

For those who have taken the SAT know it's a test consisting of a writing, reading, and math portion all broken down into about a million sections. Despite the below zero conditions, and timer anxiety I faced, I had managed to pull through. 3 weeks later I found I had done okay-ish for my first attempt with a cumulative score of 1510 (which converted to a 21 in the ACT chart). Knowing my approximate score for the ACT made me believe I'd be fine and I completely blew off any studying for this different formatted test. The ACT consisted of only about 2 math, reading, and science portions. Again, I was placed in a classroom that felt like an igloo, and was overwhelmed timer anxiety. However, after another 3 weeks had gone by I was shocked to see a 24 instead of a 21 as calculated by the SAT. 

The stress and last-minute hours of studying had not done any good since I had scored much better on the ACT than on the SAT. 

After doing some research I found that the SAT predominates on the East and West Coasts, the ACT is more common in the Midwest, Southwest, and Deep South. Which led me to think, "Did I do better on the ACT because my geographic location falls within the Southwest region? Or was it mere coincidence?" 

Guess I'll have to keep researching.. Til next time!

Tuition Costs Add Up, Minimum Wage Doesn't

Let's talk about the first real problem all "young adults" must face, paying for college. When it comes to growing up. It sucks! For many years we thought that growing up and moving out of the house would be the solution to all our problems, boy were we wrong!

Nothing compares to having to pay thousands of dollars for schooling we once feigned sickness to get out of. They say growing up comes with having more responsibilities, which is entirely true. Students such as myself, no longer have to depend on parents for rides, lunch money, and getting us up from bed early in the morning.

But what do we do if we no longer have our parents paying for our schooling and receive no money from the government? Simple, we find the minimum wage, or entry level jobs available to us. In many times we might even need two. Or at least that was what students could do up until the 1900's when tuition rates sky rocketed.

Now, studies have shown, that it is nearly impossible to pay off college tuition through minimum wage jobs. The jobs that once were sufficient to cover tuition, fees, room and board would now fall short about $3,200.

Becoming independent comes with a couple downfalls; paying for school, paying car insurance (if lucky enough to save a couple grand before college), meal plans, your own soap.. All these expenses require money. Money that we simply can't pull out of our pockets without the proper college education and stable-pay jobs. 

Here are the three options we have as students: 

1. Ask parents for money (which they may or may not have).
2. Take out a loan at your local bank (which you might not qualify for, or be charged an incredulous APR rate).
3. Take a couple months/ years off from school, and save enough to pay for 1/4 years at a public university.

Should we get started on how many working hours, on minimum wage it takes to pay for higher education? 
Let's look at the graph below

 It would take someone slightly less than half a full year’s work to afford tuition at the average public university.

None of the options mentioned above sound the least bit appealing to my very small and famished wallet. The graphs, not very encouraging either. In the ideal world, tuition rate and minimum wage would have a direct relationship in which a student could have a chance to pay off their own education. Although, reaching a higher education should not mean being drowned in debt after or even before you start college


I do have to acknowledge that the graphs shown only go up to the year 2011/2012 and that the minimum wage has gone up since then. 

However, so have tuition rates. 



With that being said, I will keep posting every other week. (: