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Comment on If you’re not sure what to get people for the holidays… by eajohansson

eajohansson — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:28:57 +0000

Thanks! You can get one, or more, at Appalachian Outfitters in the Valley…

Comment on Habit # 13 – Taking Responsible Risks by Nate

Nate — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 01:02:44 +0000

I am with Nick when it comes to weighing the risks. I see it as if it were a scale. The consequences balance out the rewards. Good risks can prepare you mentally, to create a mental resiliency to deal with tough circumstances that come up. Also, risks prepare us physically by challenging our bodies to be stronger and ready for whatever life throws are way.

I am more cautious than many people, probably because I am the oldest. Every new things involves unknowns and risks because siblings have not done it before us. Because my brother and I are close in age, sometimes we take risks together, and sometimes things I have to try are because of him.

Comment on Habit # 14 – Finding Humor by Nate

Nate — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:51:19 +0000

I am one of those people who laughs a lot. I will laugh at pretty much anything – even if others don’t think it is funny. Especially with my brother, who says he is the funniest in the family, we can get each other going pretty good. My mom and I read this and thought that the phrase “whimsical frame of mind” described him pretty well.

I feel like I can be serious when it is necessary. I try to share humor with others, but lately I have not been yucking it up as much.

Comment on Habit # 15 – Thinking Interdependently by Nate

Nate — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:35:56 +0000

I do work well in groups for the most part. It depends on the situation for me. I work well when people in the group know how to get things done. I like serious people who don’t goof-off or slack. Then I am efficient too. I don’t do well when groups are off task or off focus, because I can be distracted easily and get off task too.

I have had to work in groups before, mostly through school. So far in my life there have been few opportunities to work in group not associated with the classroom, however I have done plays and was in a traveling comedy troop. We had to learn to play of one another, because it was mainly improvisation.

Comment on The 16 Habits of Mind – A Summary by Nate

Nate — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:29:00 +0000

While reading and thinking about these readings during the fall, I learned that I don’t do much thinking about my learning. The readings have forced me to think about this more. This assignment has also made me think more about myself. I don’t usually think about what or why I do what I do, but I have learned more about myself. Before the reading I would do assignments by just trying to get to the end of the task instead of trying to develop a plan for doing it. My grandparents, who were both teachers have different personalities this way. I am more like him – do it and figure out what it was all about later. She is more likely to figure out the plan first and get around to finishing the task later. I think the reading have helped me to realize that people are unpredictable and ever-changing.

Comment on Habit # 14 – Finding Humor by Brian Charbonneau

Brian Charbonneau — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:24:14 +0000

Having a sense of humor is truly what gets me through the day. I try to have a good laugh whenever possible. It is necessary to have a sense of humor and laugh about things, because if not, our lives would be so somber and bleak it would be unbearable. I also always attempt to laugh or find the hilarity in somber situations, when appropriate. The worst situations are those when everyone is almost refusing to find humor and would rather mope angrily. Regardless, I still always try to laugh and share my humor.

I like to think that I make humor a large part of my life. I try to bring it with me wherever I go. Humor can change a situation or improve any situation, so having humor and sharing it is great, I only wish more people would be humorous.

Comment on Habit # 16 – Learning Continuously by Brian Charbonneau

Brian Charbonneau — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:57:03 +0000

I believe thoroughly that I, along with everyone else, will be a lifelong learner. Continuously learning is something that is naturally programmed into anyone or any animal. If a dog licks something, and it is scalding hot, he won’t lick it again. That is clearly a rather obvious thing, that shouldn’t require much thought, but clearly humans have much higher thought capabilities than other animals, so we should learn more and more much easier.

The simplest way to continue to be a life-long learner is to observe and always stay open-minded. Regardless of how much you think something is wrong or how redundant it is, any diamond in the rough is a new thing you could learn. This also relates to applying past information to new scenarios. Every new thing you learn can help you learn more.

Being able to do this is an incredibly valuable skill in life. Continuously learning is what helps you go above and beyond. Rather than learning what you need to know, and stopping there.

Comment on Habit # 14 – Finding Humor by Erin Muri

Erin Muri — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:13:39 +0000

I personally love laughing, and enjoy being the source or cause of laughter. I feel that you have to open yourself up enough to let the little things in life humor you, which would cause you to lighten up, and focus more on the important things in life; like bonding with family, and making memories with other loved ones in your life. I am one who does tend to laugh at situations where humor is the last thing on people’s minds, but that is a technique I use to help myself cope and get over the sad things in life. Laughter is the key to a lot of things. It helps people forgive and forget, and it helps people love, which are some very important and influential factors of life.

Comment on The 16 Habits of Mind – A Summary by Lienne Sethna

Lienne Sethna — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:33:41 +0000

This assignment has been unlike anything I’ve ever done before. In other classes, you occasionally get the “self-evaluation” form to fill out which, to be honest, I totally blow off. But this assignment really challenged me to look at my behavior and inner workings and helped me understand what category of person I fall into.

By far, my favorite Habit of Mind was #14, Finding Humor. I think that humor is one of the most defining characteristics of my personality and has a major role in shaping the way others perceive me and my relationships with them. I learned that laughing isn’t just something silly people do, it releases creative energy and provokes higher level thinking. I’m laughing because I’m smart!

Habit #5, Striving for Precision and Accuracy, made me realize how sloppy some of my work can really be. Because of reading and responding to that assignment, I began to really look at what I was turning in and began to hold myself to my own standard.

A lot of the habit assignments reiterated the fact that I am an adventurous and curious person. I already knew that I liked to learn new things but these assignments helped me realize how I learn and how I can optimize the experience.

Overall, I really liked the assignment. It was very interesting and really helped me see what my strengths are and what I need to work on.

Comment on Habit # 16 – Learning Continuously by Lienne Sethna

Lienne Sethna — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:42:51 +0000

I think that everyone will be a life-long learner. Everyday, we’re exposed to some new phenomena and an opportunity to learn about the things around us. The only difference is whether we’ll take that opportunity to grow from our everyday experiences.

This reading and everyone else’s responses reminded me of the story of Watson and Crick – the two scientists that discovered the structure of DNA. It is told that when Watson was little, he was scared that by the time he was old enough, everything in science would have been discovered. Ironically, he grew up to make a huge scientific breakthrough which in turn led to the asking of new questions and new discoveries. I think that this story proves that knowledge will never cease to expand and grow. The acquisition of new knowledge only leads to the thirst for more.

Learning continuously is something I have been, and will always be, committed to. I think that it is the only way to better yourself personally and the only way to find success. It’s not that hard to learn new things, you just have to be open to the world around you.