It's been great working with the Urban Alliance staff. I have gained so much valuable knowledge. As we conclud our internships, we countinue to use the skills that we have learned in the future. Thankyou to all the interns who contributed there wonderful thoughts on the blog. I shantel Pimble am pleased to present my final post. Another intern will takeover the blog in October and countinue to keep the blog up and running.
Thanks so Much!! :)
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
"Getting Interviewed"
Last Friday myself and some of my fellow UA students had the opportunity to get interviewed by a reporter. She was interested in how students felt about Mayor Fenty and the recent school takeover. I was happy to be in the presence of a reporter because finally we could get our voices heard. All this time we have been going to school and enduring this nonsense of not having enough books, or the unkempt atmosphere of our school. This was an opportunity to tell those who are in charge what we really face behind closed school doors.
At first I thought it was going to be intimidating but it went smoother than I predicted. I felt like a famous person getting interviewed. There was a camera lady who would take our pictures as we talked to the reporter. The reporter took notes on what we said to include in her article that will appear in the Washington Post.
Everyone sat around the table giving their insight or describing how they feel about things. We all approved of Mayor Fenty and we hope that he made the right choice when he chose Ms. Rhee as chancellor. A lot of people doubt her ability to produce real change because she has no superintendent experience. I believe as long as she can stop everyone from saying what they are going to do and start actually putting it into play, then I am happy that she is apart of the team. So, hopefully we will see results soon, and DCPS can be what a school system should be like.
If you where in my situation how would you react?
What’s one thing you would have said about our school?
Do you think what we participated in will bring change? If so how?
At first I thought it was going to be intimidating but it went smoother than I predicted. I felt like a famous person getting interviewed. There was a camera lady who would take our pictures as we talked to the reporter. The reporter took notes on what we said to include in her article that will appear in the Washington Post.
Everyone sat around the table giving their insight or describing how they feel about things. We all approved of Mayor Fenty and we hope that he made the right choice when he chose Ms. Rhee as chancellor. A lot of people doubt her ability to produce real change because she has no superintendent experience. I believe as long as she can stop everyone from saying what they are going to do and start actually putting it into play, then I am happy that she is apart of the team. So, hopefully we will see results soon, and DCPS can be what a school system should be like.
If you where in my situation how would you react?
What’s one thing you would have said about our school?
Do you think what we participated in will bring change? If so how?
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
"College Panel of Alumni students"
What do you think about the college panel that came out to talk to us on Friday?
The alumni students gave out some good information that we could benefit from when we go off to college. Some tips that the college students gave out was to take courses that are transferable. You don’t want to transfer into a school and all your credits don’t go along with you, let alone pay for the courses that would be irrelevant to your major or irrelevant to your transfer. The other tips were to get to know your professors. There are some professors that care about your education and there are some ones that are there just to make that money. For we all heard that college is a business and whether you play with it or be serious, your money is still getting taken away. Some professors don’t care whether you come to class or not. It’s hard to believe but some professors would have the audacity to threaten you into not taking their course or making you think that you are not going to pass. Have you ever felt like a teacher didn’t care about your education?
We hear people talk about college a lot but you don’t here or see certain things until you actually experience it for yourself. It can be hard or it can be easy, it all depends on how adaptive you are. No more having people tell you what to do; you now make the rules for yourself. Some get home sick but others can wait to get away. This panel helped us get more knowledge of what to expect and learn throughout our college experience.
-What are some things that you were shock to hear that happen in college?
- Was the college panel useful?
The alumni students gave out some good information that we could benefit from when we go off to college. Some tips that the college students gave out was to take courses that are transferable. You don’t want to transfer into a school and all your credits don’t go along with you, let alone pay for the courses that would be irrelevant to your major or irrelevant to your transfer. The other tips were to get to know your professors. There are some professors that care about your education and there are some ones that are there just to make that money. For we all heard that college is a business and whether you play with it or be serious, your money is still getting taken away. Some professors don’t care whether you come to class or not. It’s hard to believe but some professors would have the audacity to threaten you into not taking their course or making you think that you are not going to pass. Have you ever felt like a teacher didn’t care about your education?
We hear people talk about college a lot but you don’t here or see certain things until you actually experience it for yourself. It can be hard or it can be easy, it all depends on how adaptive you are. No more having people tell you what to do; you now make the rules for yourself. Some get home sick but others can wait to get away. This panel helped us get more knowledge of what to expect and learn throughout our college experience.
-What are some things that you were shock to hear that happen in college?
- Was the college panel useful?
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
"Public speaking challlenge"
As you all know the Public Speaking Challenge is just weeks away. Are you ready to engage yourself in this end of the year event? I hope that you all are. Now you can finally brag about the things that you did at your worksite and the cool and exciting people that you were able to meet. You will be surrounded by a various group of community members including your friends, mentor(s), program coordinators, and judges. All theses people will be there to support you and hear how you progressed throughout the year.
Don’t be nervous, just practice, practice, practice! The more you practice the better presenter you become. The PowerPoint presentation will consist of many different prizes including a $100 bonus for a highly scored presentation. Even though the program is about to end for us, you can still use what you have learned and apply it to your everyday world. Beginning this program, most of us only expected a job and a paycheck. But after experiencing what we’ve experienced in the world of work, we can better understand and expect what we want out of life.
UA has helped taught us about networking, with these presentations we can pass it on to someone else. Practice makes perfect!!
What rating would you expect to get on your presentation?
How prepared do you think you are?
What are some things that would make your presentation more appealing?
Don’t be nervous, just practice, practice, practice! The more you practice the better presenter you become. The PowerPoint presentation will consist of many different prizes including a $100 bonus for a highly scored presentation. Even though the program is about to end for us, you can still use what you have learned and apply it to your everyday world. Beginning this program, most of us only expected a job and a paycheck. But after experiencing what we’ve experienced in the world of work, we can better understand and expect what we want out of life.
UA has helped taught us about networking, with these presentations we can pass it on to someone else. Practice makes perfect!!
What rating would you expect to get on your presentation?
How prepared do you think you are?
What are some things that would make your presentation more appealing?
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
"Weather vs. Professionalism"
It’s hot and you want to stay professional and be cool at the same time. How do you do that? I know that this is a challenge for many but it can be done. Don’t think about the heat, concentrate on making a good impression by the way you dress and carry yourself. Here are some heat friendly ways in which we can apply this to our everyday work wear.
For the ladies you could put on a nice knee length skirt and a tank top. Some of us are not fortunate to get rides so we have to catch the Metro. You could where your tank tops walking to work and have a little sweater in your bag or purse to put on when you’re working in the office. For the shoes you could where nice flat shoes or nice pair of sandals that you can be comfortable in and look professional at the same time.
For the Fella’s it’s all about less dress. If it’s a hundred degrees outside, you don’t want to come to work with a full suit on. You could simply where a button up shirt, short sleeves and some nice cool slacks. Light colors matter. Try to wear light colored slacks and not black because black carries heat. The office is always cold so you don’t have to worry about being hot in the workplace only going to and from work.
- How do you survive with heat?
- Do you think there should be less pressure for interns to dress up?
- Do you feel that the same rule applies to everyone?
For the ladies you could put on a nice knee length skirt and a tank top. Some of us are not fortunate to get rides so we have to catch the Metro. You could where your tank tops walking to work and have a little sweater in your bag or purse to put on when you’re working in the office. For the shoes you could where nice flat shoes or nice pair of sandals that you can be comfortable in and look professional at the same time.
For the Fella’s it’s all about less dress. If it’s a hundred degrees outside, you don’t want to come to work with a full suit on. You could simply where a button up shirt, short sleeves and some nice cool slacks. Light colors matter. Try to wear light colored slacks and not black because black carries heat. The office is always cold so you don’t have to worry about being hot in the workplace only going to and from work.
- How do you survive with heat?
- Do you think there should be less pressure for interns to dress up?
- Do you feel that the same rule applies to everyone?
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
"School Takeover"
I think Mayor Fenty taking over the DC public schools is a great idea. Maybe we could actually get better teachers, newer books, safer and cleaner environments. This would also eliminate the teachers who are not actually doing their jobs. We need teachers who would come to work to teach and not come to make friends with the students. Having Mayor Fenty in the office to make sure students receive good teachers would not only help the school system but it would also help change the learning environment. Here are some links to different articles where Mayor Fenty talks about the new DCPS chancellor and more in depth information on the takeover.
Links:
1. 20 Questions to Ask the New School Chief
2. An Even Bigger School Bureaucracy
3. D.C. Schools Investigation
4. Longtime D.C. School Woes Eclipsed Board's Triumphs
Questions:
1. What do you think of Mayor Fenty’s choice for the new chancellor, Michelle Rhee?
2. What type of impact do you think this will make on students?
3. Do you think teachers should start getting full background checks before they are allowed to teach?
4. Do you think Rhee will last?
5. Do you think Mayor Fenty should have told Superintendent Clifford B. Janey in person first and before announcing the takeover to the public?
Links:
1. 20 Questions to Ask the New School Chief
2. An Even Bigger School Bureaucracy
3. D.C. Schools Investigation
4. Longtime D.C. School Woes Eclipsed Board's Triumphs
Questions:
1. What do you think of Mayor Fenty’s choice for the new chancellor, Michelle Rhee?
2. What type of impact do you think this will make on students?
3. Do you think teachers should start getting full background checks before they are allowed to teach?
4. Do you think Rhee will last?
5. Do you think Mayor Fenty should have told Superintendent Clifford B. Janey in person first and before announcing the takeover to the public?
Thursday, June 14, 2007
"Is Technology really the Future"
The way technology affects metro can totally put a turn on the future. For an example with metro you find more inconvience while riding a bus or a train today than ever. No one ever knows what the cause of breakdowns is and delays; all they do is keep apologizing to customers who ride them. We hear them apologizing but we never see anything being done about the situation. The ones who operate these machines know that it has also caused problems in their work performance.
They claim that they are using the money to enhance new technologies to make it better but it seem as if it’s only getting worse. I think they are just using that money and putting it into the pockets of the workers that operate the machines. What they need to be doing is using that money to get new machinery instead of holding on to the old ones. The buses and trains can only hold up for so long. It seem like there are more problems happening more so now than it did ten years ago. The more you use them the less accurate it becomes over time.
We are always paying for more smart trips but trains are steadily coming to the station late. Metro is something that we need in order to travel from place to place but how can we depend on the metro when it’s always breaking down. Riders are not being able to rely on the train and the bus to get to their destination on time. This issue just by pass because their always money involved in the situation and they say getting the necessary money takes time.
Do you as a customer riding metro trust that technology is really the future?
Would you be more cautious when you use or ride these new technologies that they are making so rapidly today?
They claim that they are using the money to enhance new technologies to make it better but it seem as if it’s only getting worse. I think they are just using that money and putting it into the pockets of the workers that operate the machines. What they need to be doing is using that money to get new machinery instead of holding on to the old ones. The buses and trains can only hold up for so long. It seem like there are more problems happening more so now than it did ten years ago. The more you use them the less accurate it becomes over time.
We are always paying for more smart trips but trains are steadily coming to the station late. Metro is something that we need in order to travel from place to place but how can we depend on the metro when it’s always breaking down. Riders are not being able to rely on the train and the bus to get to their destination on time. This issue just by pass because their always money involved in the situation and they say getting the necessary money takes time.
Do you as a customer riding metro trust that technology is really the future?
Would you be more cautious when you use or ride these new technologies that they are making so rapidly today?
Thursday, May 31, 2007
"Prom is Over time for Graduation"
High School Graduation could be a scary feeling and it also could be a good feeling. It all depends on the plan that you have after graduation once all the celebration is over. What fits you - college, trade school, join the army, or work? No matter what you decide to do, you have to have a strategy. No one can plan your goals for you; other people can encourage you to do a certain thing after high school but it’s up to you if you go through to choose your own desire. I challenge all of the seniors and upcoming seniors for the year 2008, how would you make sure after graduation you pursue positive changes for the rest of your life.
Some think that since they’ve graduated from high school everything is all said and done with. The road only gets tougher and tougher and it’s up to you to stay on the right path. Many people probably doubted your ability to graduate but you successfully succeeded in that area. Now its time to prove the doubters wrong again, but this time for the rest of your life. This phase is just the beginning of your life and your future.
If school was challenging for you, maybe college is not for you. But if you are a dedicated person when it comes down to fulfilling different tasks then maybe working would be good for you. No matter what you decide to do, you can still change the world for the better. Graduation is a celebration of you completing high school and moving on into the real world.
What are you going to do next?
What does graduation mean to you and what do you plan to do for the rest of your life?
Some think that since they’ve graduated from high school everything is all said and done with. The road only gets tougher and tougher and it’s up to you to stay on the right path. Many people probably doubted your ability to graduate but you successfully succeeded in that area. Now its time to prove the doubters wrong again, but this time for the rest of your life. This phase is just the beginning of your life and your future.
If school was challenging for you, maybe college is not for you. But if you are a dedicated person when it comes down to fulfilling different tasks then maybe working would be good for you. No matter what you decide to do, you can still change the world for the better. Graduation is a celebration of you completing high school and moving on into the real world.
What are you going to do next?
What does graduation mean to you and what do you plan to do for the rest of your life?
Monday, May 21, 2007
"Making History"
We all know the honorable Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who participated in the Civil Rights movement when segregation was present. His oldest child Yolanda King died on Tuesday. She was only 51 years old; she died in Santa Monica, California. She was one who used public speaking, plays, and movies to get people to understand that its time to make a change in the world. Just like her father she stood up for the rights of others, and the injustices that are still occruing this day. Yolanda King was a motivational speaker and every where she went she tried to get the message of what her father had been fighting for all his life. Yolanda felt it was her calling to further the goals her father carried during his life. She continued to do so all throughout Mississippi where she grew up at.
How many people would be willing to do something that Dr. King and his daughter Yolanda King has done for the people. The legacy does not have to stop right here. They called for the future to be different and to make the world a better place in every aspect. People that we read about in history books are leaders, but we too can be leaders. What we do for the good could change the world forever and make it more meaningful to live in. This just goes to show that life is precious and we should do something meaningful for the world before it gets too late.
Yolanda King died at an early age but the with time she spent on this earth she made a powerful impact. In conclusion, how many people think that they could walk in her shoes and lead a group of people in a positive way?
How would you inspire change?
How many people would be willing to do something that Dr. King and his daughter Yolanda King has done for the people. The legacy does not have to stop right here. They called for the future to be different and to make the world a better place in every aspect. People that we read about in history books are leaders, but we too can be leaders. What we do for the good could change the world forever and make it more meaningful to live in. This just goes to show that life is precious and we should do something meaningful for the world before it gets too late.
Yolanda King died at an early age but the with time she spent on this earth she made a powerful impact. In conclusion, how many people think that they could walk in her shoes and lead a group of people in a positive way?
How would you inspire change?
Monday, April 30, 2007
" Mario's Story"
Some of the students went to a screening on Friday for workshop. There was a boy by the name of Mario Rocha who was convicted of a murder at the age of 16, but he was innocent bystander who just got caught up in the mix by association. He let the streets and the gangs that he hung around define who he was. Mario never pictured something happening to him like this but it did and although he was innocent he was still held responsible for his actions. It took a lot of time, effort and consistence from the fellow people around him to get his voice heard.
Mario started to get the best attorneys and all the right people that he could possibly get to help him be free. His family always stood by him and they supported him because they knew that he was innocent they just had to make the judge and the victims family realize that he was indeed innocent. Mario has been on trial for over the past ten years and he is currently getting retrial early in the early part of May.
What do you think the outcome of the retrial would lead up to in court?
If you were in Mario’s shoes how you do think that you would have handled this even though you knew you was innocent?
Mario started to get the best attorneys and all the right people that he could possibly get to help him be free. His family always stood by him and they supported him because they knew that he was innocent they just had to make the judge and the victims family realize that he was indeed innocent. Mario has been on trial for over the past ten years and he is currently getting retrial early in the early part of May.
What do you think the outcome of the retrial would lead up to in court?
If you were in Mario’s shoes how you do think that you would have handled this even though you knew you was innocent?
Thursday, April 19, 2007
"Shocking News from a Nearby College"
Devastating news came from Virginia Tech College. It was a typical day like no other, everything was the same but this time something was different. A senior by the name of Cho Seung-Hui who attended Virginia University started a massacre. Some witnesses say because of his girlfriend but the truth of the matter was that he had problems within himself that made him react this way on that particular day.
Cho Seung-Hui killed 32 people and injured at least 29 other students and teachers. Cho was the 33rd person after he shot himself in the head. Everyone says he was a smart kid. The ones you least expect can be plotting your death right in front of you and you don’t even know it.
A lot of students feel that it is okay to pick on the less fortunate or the ones who are slow but you never know what they have or are going through. When you get on a person’s bad side you never know what they are capable of until you become the victim. This entire madness just tie into reality, danger is everywhere and you have to be careful of what you say and do to people because you never know what they have in store for you.
Reality check: How do you feel as a senior going off to college, would this change your judgments of going to college, or would it make you more aware of the various things that could happen in college?
What do you think would have prevented Cho Seung-Hui from shooting his fellow peers and professors? (i.e.) friends, change of mind set, psychologist, etc.
Cho Seung-Hui killed 32 people and injured at least 29 other students and teachers. Cho was the 33rd person after he shot himself in the head. Everyone says he was a smart kid. The ones you least expect can be plotting your death right in front of you and you don’t even know it.
A lot of students feel that it is okay to pick on the less fortunate or the ones who are slow but you never know what they have or are going through. When you get on a person’s bad side you never know what they are capable of until you become the victim. This entire madness just tie into reality, danger is everywhere and you have to be careful of what you say and do to people because you never know what they have in store for you.
Reality check: How do you feel as a senior going off to college, would this change your judgments of going to college, or would it make you more aware of the various things that could happen in college?
What do you think would have prevented Cho Seung-Hui from shooting his fellow peers and professors? (i.e.) friends, change of mind set, psychologist, etc.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
"Sanjaya Advances on in the American Idol competition"
If you all watch American Idol, you probably have your own opinion of who should win in this competition. America continues to vote for Sanjaya- are they messing with his head or do they really love him?
Judge Simon Cowell thinks that Sanjaya continuing in the competition is a mistake, but this mistake could excel into a disaster. Sanjaya’s song choices, performances, and hair dos are getting talked about more than the actual competition – but maybe that’s the point of being on American Idol.
I personally think it is time for Sanjaya to get kicked off for his bad vocals. He can’t sing, and he’s too immature for the competition. When the American Idol top two finalists come before the world, I hope that Sanjaya Malakar is not in that category. There are only eight people left, time to make the next cut.
How do you think Sanjaya continuing in the competition affects the ones who can actually sing?
Judge Simon Cowell thinks that Sanjaya continuing in the competition is a mistake, but this mistake could excel into a disaster. Sanjaya’s song choices, performances, and hair dos are getting talked about more than the actual competition – but maybe that’s the point of being on American Idol.
I personally think it is time for Sanjaya to get kicked off for his bad vocals. He can’t sing, and he’s too immature for the competition. When the American Idol top two finalists come before the world, I hope that Sanjaya Malakar is not in that category. There are only eight people left, time to make the next cut.
How do you think Sanjaya continuing in the competition affects the ones who can actually sing?
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
"Making the most out of Work"
A lot of people complain about their jobs, sometimes it could be you or sometimes it could be the environment that you’re in. Not everyone is going to get along with their boss or their co-workers but you have show that you have potential in whatever situation that you are faced with.
A lot of jobs that we get offer us good work experiences that could take us far in life. It seems only about a money situation when you’re first starting out your job. But after the training and hard work that you have put in, you realize you have developed some useful knowledge that you didn’t know about before.
Do you feel challenged with the jobsites that you received? Why or why not? If not, what could you do to change it?
A lot of jobs that we get offer us good work experiences that could take us far in life. It seems only about a money situation when you’re first starting out your job. But after the training and hard work that you have put in, you realize you have developed some useful knowledge that you didn’t know about before.
Do you feel challenged with the jobsites that you received? Why or why not? If not, what could you do to change it?
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
" Conflicts Between Teachers and Students "
Conflicts between teachers and students is a common issue today’s society. Students and teachers find themselves arguing in class because they both don’t agree on everything. Teachers are sometimes rude to students, so it’s only a student’s reaction to respond in their defense. Teachers need to learn how to speak to students in a way where they would listen. Others feel that the culture of disrespect is centered around student’s attitude towards teachers.
I think students and teachers can bridge the gap in communication and reduce conflicts by being respectful to one another. If teachers show some type of love and affection then maybe the students wouldn’t disrespect their teachers. If students stop being rebellious then teachers would be able to help the student. It goes both ways for the students as well as the teachers - both parties play a part in the conflict with each other.
What are the effective ways of dealing with conflict? How do you resolve conflict and keep both parties happy?
I think students and teachers can bridge the gap in communication and reduce conflicts by being respectful to one another. If teachers show some type of love and affection then maybe the students wouldn’t disrespect their teachers. If students stop being rebellious then teachers would be able to help the student. It goes both ways for the students as well as the teachers - both parties play a part in the conflict with each other.
What are the effective ways of dealing with conflict? How do you resolve conflict and keep both parties happy?
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
New National's Stadium
The new National’s stadium is being built as I write. The stadium will be located in Southeast Washington along the Anacostia River bounded by South Capitol Street to the west, M Street to the north, First Street to the east and Potomac Avenue to the south. It will take $535 million, maybe more, to publicly finance 41,000-seats. The stadium is scheduled to be completed in spring 2008.
Mayor Anthony Williams should use that money to give DC students new books and better teachers that will actually do their job and teach. The stadium money could help DC kids who have a desire to go to college but simply cannot afford it. This is big money that we are talking about and spending it on a new stadium is just a waste of my future. Besides we already have the RFK stadium it might not be the best stadium but it’s not the worst either – why couldn’t it have been renovated? With all the money that they are putting into this new project, they could have used it to benefit something that is much more valuable - our future.
How do you personally feel about the new stadium, is it worth the time and money?
Mayor Anthony Williams should use that money to give DC students new books and better teachers that will actually do their job and teach. The stadium money could help DC kids who have a desire to go to college but simply cannot afford it. This is big money that we are talking about and spending it on a new stadium is just a waste of my future. Besides we already have the RFK stadium it might not be the best stadium but it’s not the worst either – why couldn’t it have been renovated? With all the money that they are putting into this new project, they could have used it to benefit something that is much more valuable - our future.
How do you personally feel about the new stadium, is it worth the time and money?
"Ground Rules For UA Blog"
Purpose: The purpose of this blog is to share other interns’ opinions about how they feel about the Urban Alliance Program, School, and Life as a senior, and other general questions, comments, or concerns that they might have.
Ground Rules: There would be different ground rules that the interns must follow in order to take part in the everyday blog activities.
- No use of profanity in the comment blogs
- No putting others down; everyone is entitled to their own opinion
- No starting drama with anyone in UA.
- Express your feelings or concerns in a professional manner
- Commit to writing in the blog at least once a week
- Address any new ideas that UA can do to make the program fun but also meaningful
Name for the blog: - Blog-it-Out
Ground Rules: There would be different ground rules that the interns must follow in order to take part in the everyday blog activities.
- No use of profanity in the comment blogs
- No putting others down; everyone is entitled to their own opinion
- No starting drama with anyone in UA.
- Express your feelings or concerns in a professional manner
- Commit to writing in the blog at least once a week
- Address any new ideas that UA can do to make the program fun but also meaningful
Name for the blog: - Blog-it-Out
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