Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Who are you? Why are you here?
Obviously, I am paid to teach this class -- in addition to having a personal commitment to teaching and career goals that mesh with our semester together. Mark W. Shealy is a teacher and a student, an individual (some of the time) and a member of the local cultural community (most of the time) and a node in the larger national sociopolitical body USA (all of the time). Who am I as a global citizen? Not sure right now. As a spiritual being? Ask me after class. I can tell you that we all -- in the wealthiest countries -- are in the process of transforming our technologies into something human-like, simultaneous with transforming ourselves into something trans-human. This semester we are going to look at these two broad concepts (identity and technology) together using fiction, nonfiction, and visual media: 1. How we identify and 2. How our extensive techno-bodies alter the ways we see ourselves and the ways we speak of ourselves as being "human."
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Hello, my name is Allison McDowell. I am a duel enrolled student at South Walton High School, and this is the second English class I have taken at North West Florida. I consider myself a feminist, and someone who is concerned with current events and issues. I want to be more active in helping with social issues then I am, and I’m hoping this class will help me with that. Along with that, I am going to University of West Florida next year to begin getting my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After that, I hope to specialize in anesthesiology and become a certified Nurse Anesthetist. This will be a rewarding, challenging job, and will also make me lots of money which is a nice bonus.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Joshua McGlone. I am a dual enrollment student at South Walton High School. My predicted major is Nuclear Engineering. I am attending Texas A&M next semester with a Naval ROTC scholarship. My life’s goal is to be wealthy. The idea of never having to think about cost or having fiscal issues is enticing. I’m not a huge of English classes. I enjoy reading but I am terrible at essay writing and frustrated by the infinite interpretations of every piece of literature.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Daniel Dearing. I find myself in this classroom because I decided that I wanted to further my education in order to have a more positive future; not only financially but spiritually as well. 5 years ago I wouldn't have pictured myself where I am today. Freshman year of high school I was anything but focused and really didn't have an interest in college. I grew bored with school and, as a result, I became mischievous. I dropped out of high school before completing my first year. At the time, partying and having fun kept me occupied while the important things seemed irrelevant. Now, I'm halfway through with an undergraduate degree and I’m setting my sights on graduate school. What is it that changed me? I'm not really sure but I've undoubtedly changed. Drastically.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Ryan Kay, I'm eighteen and currently I am trying to serve my country to the fullest extent I possibly can while improving myself educationally, mentally, and physically. The reason why I am here is because I need college credit to make myself more competitive in military and for future jobs in the service (MOS's). I also want to bone up on my writing skills and abilities. I only have six college units currently and to get into the maritime law enforcement field for the Coast Guard you need to have at least fifteen college units that are degree seeking. Also having the college units will further promote my resume when I go up for rank. That simply is the reason why I am here along with a brief introduction of who I am. -Ryan Kay
ReplyDeleteI'm a high school student that uses dual enrollment through NWFSC as a way to escape South Walton High School. I learned independence at a young age due to being an only child which is a trait I really like about myself. I've always looked at life in the matter of the glass being half full. In the Spring of my Sophomore, I realized that I had a niche for all thing medical. I decided to dual enroll so I could begin to take classes to help me work towards Nursing school. Dual enrollment has been the best decision I've made with my education thus far and has helped to get my brain into a driven and ambitious state of mine. I'll be attending the University of Alabama-Birmingham in the Fall of 2015 and I'm absolutely ecstatic to be attending one of the top medical and research schools in the Southeast. No matter what I do in life, my goal will always be to do what makes me happy and enjoy life every day. -Karis Ederer
ReplyDeleteMy name is Brett Gelineau. I currently reside in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, working as a beach attendant on Co. Rd. 30-A. I am originally from Memphis, even though I was born in Monroe, Louisiana, I would call Memphis my home town. In 2010, I decided I would try out college at East Tennessee State University, majoring in Environmental Health. I then decided after a semester of being eight hours away from family, that it was a little much for me and moved back to Memphis. Shortly after, my mother decided to move South to where she spent most of her life, Fort Walton Beach, Florida. With myself loving the salty waters of the gulf so much, I decided to tag along with a stuffed full compact car. Now that I live half a mile from the beach, I sure do not miss Memphis (especially now that the average temperature up there is in the thirties). I am here because I love the water and all that it has to offer. When people come down here on vacation or make this area their new home, it changes the way people feel and act for the most part. People are less stressed, don't drive as fast (that can be annoying sometimes), and are generally happier than when they were back in lets say Atlanta or Boston, or even on the coast of Texas. That is why I am here. I am one of those people.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Megan McNeely. I am eighteen years old and have lived in Santa Rosa Beach for the entirety of those years. As a consequence of my being born here and never moving out of the area I am ready to leave and experience other places. I am taking this class because it is required and I basically had no choice. I am a big fan of reading in my leisure time. I love photography and have recently taken up film photography in my spare time. I enjoy cooking and watching Food Network. I have not quite figured out who I am as a person yet. I consider myself to be more of a realist than an optimist or pessimist. I value my friends and family, but prefer to spend most of my time alone with my thoughts. I am generally quiet, awkward, and random.
ReplyDeleteHampton Schaffer
ReplyDeleteMy name is Hampton Schaffer I am a very optimistic individual, I want to learn every day. Despite my doubtful thoughts I strive to be a better individual and accomplish something new life brings me and enjoy it. I believe everyone was planned and to have a purpose, bring a different need into this life such as myself. I believe I was put into this life to encourage others and be the best person everyday while I’m here. Life is way too short, that’s what I always think about when I wake up every morning. Live it up and have no doubts.
My name is Stephen Stroop, I am a student at South Walton High School. The reason I am taking this class to try and get ahead of my classes before I go off to a major University. I also want to improve my writing skills and learn more about literature. I am not a big English person, but I am hoping this class can help change that. My goals are to study business and get my master’s degree. I then plan to be an entrepreneur and start up and run my own business. I feel this class will help me achieve everything I want to do in the future. - Stephen Stroop
ReplyDeleteMy name is Chris Bijou and I turned 18 on January 3rd. I started dual enrollment last summer and I only need two more classes to get my AA. I am going to UWF next year and I am going to major in Biology and minor in Criminal Justice and Spanish. I currently have an internship with the medical examiner in Fort Walton that I go to after school. My plan for life is to become a forensic investigator or crime scene investigator. I like to think of myself as a feminist and environmentalist. Equal rights is something that is very important to me.
ReplyDeleteI was born Zachary James Harder in Sacramento, CA to a fighter pilot and accountant. This event put me on a path of travel and exploration. Any one who is a military brat knows one of the aspects of the gig is moving. In my case alot. My tightnit family and I would relocate every 2 years. Moving like this has both blesssings and curses. You get to see the world. A wonderful upside. You gain and lose many friends. The most unfortunate side. So I am a product of this life I was born into and was shaped by all these moves. The military upbringing gave me the courage, determenation, and responsibility to open my own business. And that has me seeking more from life. At this point in time that is an education. I see it as a privelege to be here.
ReplyDeletezachary harder
I am a certified personal trainer and I have an insatiable zest for life. I own a small business and I am often described as optimistic, trustworthy and goal oriented. I spent six years in the United States Navy as a master at arms (military police officer) and I attended the University of Maryland online while I was stationed in Sigonella Sicily. I have been fortunate enough to train celebrities, doctors, lawyers, professional athletes and other top leaders in their respective industries which has lead to the success of my personal training business. I am here to develop the skills necessary for me to communicate more effectively with my clients. Correct grammar and literature are vital in my daily affairs since I am constantly conversing with individuals who have several degrees and hold upper level positions. I want to ensure that my emails and social media reflect a man of intellect although I have consciously decided not to pursue a solid 4 year degree of my own. Some people believe that you have to go to college and get a degree in order to be taken seriously but I know that's not true for me. - Justin -
ReplyDeleteMy name is Angela Beabout. I believe that God created every person for a specific purpose, big or small. Life is a chance for human beings to grow spiritually. We are here for our own specific purposes, and sometimes we never realize our impact that we have on the world. It is difficult for me to see the world from an unbiased standpoint because I haven't seen much of it. I strive to travel the world so that I can broaden my horizons. I have not come to understand my specific role in life yet-which is okay because I am young. I look forward to unraveling the mystery.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Chloe Taylor, I have lived here all of my life and can't wait to move to experience new things. I'm an aspiring and determined student, my main goal is to achieve my degree and continue in a field that I will enjoy doing. Although that seems like an obvious goal, it is very crucial to me because I will be the first in my family to do so. Traveling is very important to me, I have a desire to experience new cultures and get out of my comfort zone. One day I hope to observe the world even further by not only traveling for leisure, but to experience more poverty stricken and third world areas.
ReplyDelete-Chloe Taylor
I am Natalie Diciaula, I am a 17 year old high school student with a plethora of goals and aspirations. I am from a very large city so I would say I have big city dreams. I am originally from Toronto, Canada, which so happens to be my favorite place. I must say I enjoy warm weather though. I currently reside in Destin, Florida against my will. I am hoping to attend the University of Central Florida in Orlando next fall. I am taking ENC1102 to be ahead on my perquisites and to not be overloaded on classes next year. My long term goal is to be a fashion marketer or makeup artist. I would live in the makeup world if it was a real place. It would be ethereal to live in California or New York one day since they are hubs for the area I would like to go in. I hope one day that will the direction I am heading.
ReplyDeleteI am an 18 year old, adventurous being whose main desire is to find out the reason for my existence. Constant determination fuels my desire to bestow kindness and caring upon all those I meet. I am in this particular class to further my education to aid calling in the medical field. I am currently living in Florida because of my parent’s decision to migrate towards warmer weather and beautiful beaches. We’ve lived in several places including Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. I recently made the decision to move out and stumble onto more adventures. I believe that I am here to provide people with a deeper level of caring and to make a change in other’s lives.
ReplyDeleteJordan Hepner
I am a twenty year old aspiring teacher. I throughly enjoy reading novels, news stories and Internet articles. I enrolled in this course in order to fulfill the English requirement first and foremost, but I also believe I will enjoy this course quite a bit. I am attending college in order to provide a better life for myself by having a career I enjoy rather than just a "job." This course will allow for me to be one class closer to my ultimate goal. As for what I enjoy recreationally, music festivals are the highlights of my life. I am very fond of Suwannee music park in Live Oak, FL. Suwannee is where most of my happiest memories live. Music means a lot to me, and I cannot imagine a life without it. I suppose the reason I am here is to achieve the goal of being a teacher and enjoy my life to the greatest extent I can, and I am just a girl who loves music and life.
ReplyDelete-Brittany Clemmons
My name is Joseph Ledo-Massey. I am seventeen years old and a duel enrollment student that is currently attending North West Florida state college and South Walton high school. There are two reasons I am here in this ENC 1102 class taught by Mr. Shealy. The first reason I am here is because I enjoy challenging myself and being more than an average high school student. The second reason I am here is because it is free to enroll in college courses as a high school student and I thought that this would be a good way to take it easy on the bank account before I enter further education as an adult when I have to pay hundreds of dollars to enroll in a college course. The overall goal for me is to earn an Associates of Arts degree before I graduate high school and this course is one of the challenges in the quest to conquer that goal.
ReplyDeleteJoseph Ledo-Massey
My name is Madison, and I attend South Walton High School. I’m from Louisiana and lived in Alabama prior to moving to Florida. I plan to go to an art Institute maybe in Chicago, California, or possibly somewhere else. I was invited this summer to attend a summer program in Chicago, which I’m hoping to do. I play a couple of instruments, and attend a few art classes. I don't necessarily follow a religion but I do believe something is greater. I support animal rights and believe in rescuing and helping any way I can. I'm very shy and to myself, and just enjoy working on art pieces and staying in.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Sidney, daughter of Yvonne and Mike Freeman. I was born and raised in Destin, only because my parents hate for Montgomery, Al was strong enough to make the transition to Destin's white sandy beaches. If it were my choice, I would still be living in Alabama. The soft southern thrill attracts me, Destin is just another vacation spot. I just transferred to South Walton and really learning to open up and not be shy. However, since I’m here for another year and half, I’ll treat this period of my life to prepare for my goals and true dreams.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Shane, I am here because I am trying to complete my English credits for my A.A degree. After I get my A.A degree I want to transfer to San Francisco State University and pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Finance. After I get out of college I want to live in San Francisco for a few years, then move around to different places throughout the United States for a few years. For a career I want to work in the stock market, maybe as a financial analyst, then start my own business sometime in my 20's.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say, my name is Shane.
DeleteI am Will Canaday and I was born and raised here in the panhandle of Florida. Growing up here has allowed me to learn many skills that I might not be able to learn anywhere else. Living in the woods and having my own pond in my back yard has given me the opportunity to learn to hunt and fish. I am an avid angler and hunter. You learn how to live on the land if needed to. Now I am attending college trying to earn a degree in civil engineering, so that one day I can own my own engineering business. I want to be able to go through big cities and see my name on plaques of buildings or stadiums that I built.
ReplyDelete