Famous Last Words: Molecular Biology Test

So all of my classes seem to be going very well this semester except one... Molecular Biology. We took the test last week but this week we got our grades back and I didn't do as well as I would have liked. I felt terrible leaving the test but I didn't think I would do as bad as I did. I was 1 point below the average but the grade itself was not a good one in terms of me wanting to get an A. This class is difficult in terms of material, but I felt well prepared going into the test so I'm not sure what I'm going to have to do to perform better. Luckily, this class allows for a single drop of a test grade so hopefully I can make this test that drop. I think even though I felt prepared for the test, I should have started studying earlier for it. I should be reading the notes I take along with the book everyday, which I didn't do for this last test. I will make sure to stay current with the material instead of trying to cram for it the way that I did. I also think that I should try to study with other people, because last time I just studied by myself. I think that this would help because then I would be able to ask them questions or maybe hear there interpretations of the material. As I said I have done well in all of my other classes, but honestly my schedule is a lot lighter than normal so that is probably why. I also need to start focusing more on my studying for the dental exam than what I have been doing. Its time for me to focus up on my studies and pursue it harder. I have been somewhat lazy compared to other semesters and it is clear that this won't cut it any more.

A picture of Science materials found on Wikimedia Commons. 

Google Timer Tech Tip

So I usually use my phone to set up a timer when I need it but recently I have been trying to leave my phone in my backpack when studying. This is where the Google Timer came to be a great tool for me. I used it for when I was reading because sometimes I like to make a 30 minute timer to make sure I read each day for at least that long. This allowed me to not get distracted as easily. I'm definitely going to continue using this because it seems to work really well in keeping me focused.

Learning Challenge: Talking to myself

I should title this "Reading Aloud" but I felt talking to myself sounded better because that is what it would appear I'm doing to someone else. This last week I had a Molecular Bio test that required copious amounts of reading. I tried the reading aloud method in things that I seemed to find difficulty in understanding. So in my room I casually read about transcription and translation in order to help me understand it. The process worked in my opinion because it made me slowly realize what I repeatedly said. I liked how it made me focus on what I was saying rather than drift off and day day dream. The only thing I didn't like was how slow this made me go over material but that was expected and worth the price. I definitely will apply this style of learning when I'm struggling to comprehend as well as when I'm tired because weirdly enough it kept me awake.

This is the picture of a book found on Free Stock Photos.

Growth Mindset: W.I.N.

W- Whatever
I-it
N-Needs

I am a full believer in competition and with that I believe in winning so this seemed to make sense in my mind. Sometimes people can win things easily but when competition comes to be difficult I find that people will go to unbelievable methods to win. I'm not saying cheat but find strengths in you that you didn't know you had to be successful. If that means you have to keep pushing forward in studies to "win" on a test then keep going. The same goes for everything. I believe in being competitive and to be a true winner you must dig deep and find whatever it needs to meet the standards of winning.

This is a picture of my Acronym that I created using Canva. The key is to symbolize this is the key to success. 

Wikipedia Trails: From Jackal to Snake.

Jackal

After this weeks reading, I realized I wasn't completely sure what a Jackal was so I thought that would be the start of my Wikipedia trail. I learned that the jackal is an omnivore that belongs in the same family as domestic dogs and wolves. I also learned that they have long legs and feet adapted for traveling long distances. I also learned they have canine teeth like reptiles which brought me to that page since I took a herpetology course this brought me to the reptiles page.

Reptile

Although I know a fair share about reptiles from being a Biology major and having taken a herpetology course, I decided to let my curiosity head here. I personally am not the biggest fan of reptiles but they do interest me. I learned that reptiles date back 312 million years ago to the Carboniferous period. I also learned that many people feel that birds should be categorized as reptiles as well.

Amphisbaenia

I saw this on the Reptile page as Worm lizards and the name itself grabbed my curiosity. They are described to be more like worms than they are snakes (which is what I was wondering how they would be separated from snakes themselves). However after the reading I learned they are classified more as lizards because of their phylogeny. One thing that separates them from snakes is their lung system.

This is a picture of a Worm lizard provided by Wikimedia Commons. 

Snakes

Even though I know what snakes were I thought I might as well see what Wikipedia had to say about the creatures I am terrified of. I learned that snakes have been found on every continent except Antartica and they have even been found as high as the Himalayan Mountains. I also learned that there is a process called parthenogenesis where some snakes can even reproduce asexually. As much as I hate snakes this page was somewhat informative for something I have just studied.

Week 5 Story: Pac's Guide to Music

Pac's Guide to Music

One day Kendrick was casually walking home from school listening to his rap music as usual when he saw an all-black note book laying on the side of a bench. Being curious Kendrick gradually walked over to the book and picked it up noticing the first page to say, “Pac’s Guide to Music”. Kendrick knew he had to be home soon so he just put the book in his back pack and began making his way home again.

When Kendrick got home and was done with his chores, he decided to flip through the book some more. Kendrick couldn’t believe his eyes as he began reading. The book started with how to set up the perfect song and then lead into songs that “Pac” had written. Kendrick being a huge fan of rap music realized that this book was his golden ticket to success. Kendrick thought he had found his calling and way to get out of the town he knew would lead him to a poor lifestyle. He knew that this book was more of an art rather than a guide of making music.

Kendrick started to study the book for hours and hours each day. He did his best to memorize every word on the page. He even realized that in the bottom right corner of each page of the book said, “Thug Life” and that is how he started living his life. He learned how to put syllables and rhyme schemes together to where he could start writing his own rap music. Kendrick practiced and practiced making music until he got the confidence to perform in front of others. Everyone thought Kendrick was a genius and encouraged Kendrick to enter the rap battle that was coming up.

So, Kendrick gathered the courage and money to enter the Rap Battle being held at the shelter nearby.

Feeling pumped and ready to go Kendrick showed up to the venue only to see that his first opponent’s name was “Pac”.

“There is no way this could be the same guy” Kendrick thought to himself.

Well the time had come when Kendrick was to battle where he went to the stage and saw “Pac”. He was standing there confident with a clean bald head, his shirt off, and the biggest smile across his face as if he knew he was going to beat Kendrick.

The DJ held a coin flip to decide who went first and Pac won.

“Let’s hit em up, I’ll go first” Pac said as Kendrick slowly began to realize what he was in for.

The beat dropped and Pac began rapping what seemed to be the best verse that Kendrick had ever heard. It was just like the style of rap that was in the book he had found. At the end of the verse, Pac ripped his shirt off only to expose his giant tattoo of “Thug Life” written crossed his belly.

A illustration of the words "Thug Life" found on Pixabay. These words are tatted on Pac's belly in the story. 

Once finished, Pac walked over and gave the mic to Kendrick but without anyone hearing he said, “Keep the book”.

Kendrick was in shock as if God was speaking to him. As the beat started Kendrick was completely silent and the only noise for what seemed forever was the beat.

Kendrick just shook his head in disbelief with what had happened forced the words “I need to work harder” as he handed the mic over to the DJ.

Author’s Note:

This story is based off “The Jackal and the Crocodile” written by Cecil Henry Bompas. In “The Jackal and the Crocodile” a boy loses his books to a Jackal who goes home to read the books. A crocodile over hears the jackal reading the books and asks for the jackal to teach his children how to read and write. Agreeing, the jackal tries to teach the baby crocodiles but they just can’t seem to learn any of what he is teach so the jackal gets mad. Getting so mad one day he decides to eat one of the baby crocodiles, and doing the same with each new day. The adult crocodile nervous of losing his children then asks to see his kids where the Jackal tricked him into thinking they were all fine, but the crocodile decided to hide and make sure this was the case. The crocodile saw that only one child remained so he saved his baby crocodile and ate the jackal. Although this story is very different, the idea of the book being taken by someone else and that person being fooled was the main aspect of my story. I wanted the jackal to be symbolized by Kendrick, and I wanted Pac to symbolize the book/crocodile in a sense. Overall in this loose interpretation, I wanted a modernized story of a book leading to one’s downfall yet I wanted there to still be hope for Kendrick in the future unlike the Jackal.

Bibliography:

Folklore of the Santal Parganas by Cecil Henry Bompas (1909). The story "The Jackal and the Crocodile" can be found here.

Reading Notes: Santal Folklore, Part B

The Jackal and the Crocodiles

In terms of admiring the writing properties of the story, I think the most admirable aspect of this story is the introduction. You think that the boy who is having his books stolen would be a main character, but really he was just an introduction device of the jackal. This makes me think maybe in my stories I could write a fable like this where there are side characters for the use of introduction only. I was thinking maybe I could tell a story involving people but instead of learning to read and write they learn to use technology. This would allow for a new twist with modernization. I also would consider making the baby crocodile persona's a bit more defensive and/or smarter to give the jackal a harder time. I could maybe even do a spin off the boy himself and have him watching what is going on and trying to intervene. I also would enjoy possibly changing the ending to be where the jackal would outsmart the crocodile once again because I kind of feel like that was the idea behind what the old man said of the jackal being witty. I also think the story could have had a better climax moment rather than the crocodile just eating him so casually. If anything this story stuck out to me as to how under written it was and for me to have an example of places where I feel details could have made the plot better in itself. One thing I did like though was the repetition of what was being said because it added a simpleness that was entertaining to read. I did like the way this story flowed as well which comes from its simpleness. Although I would add more description and emotion, I like how it flowed from the boy to the jackal to the crocodile and would try to keep that simplicity in my story.

This is a picture of a live jackal from Wikimedia Commons.

Bibliography:

Folklore of the Santal Parganas by Cecil Henry Bompas (1909). The specific link to this story is above.

Reading Notes: The Life of Buddha, Part A

Maya's Dream

One of the things I admire of this story is the essence of beauty described. From the beginning to the end nothing is described without great positivity other than the nervousness the king feels. I feel the minor details of the beauty to what is being taken place are all perfectly written to show how good of a thing is taken place. The reader is able to realize through the multiple cases of positivity from the God's to the Brahmans how good of an event this is. As a writer I need to take note of how this story uses a higher power to communicate such strong things in a good moment. Normally higher entities come down in bad times but this is a rejoicing moment which this story perfectly uses higher entities for. I think one way to do this is to show the promise to come for example when it says what all Buddha must do to be revered.

Siddartha is Eager to Hear the Great Truths

In this part of the Buddha stories what I took away was the ability for a writer to disguise characters. I found it impressive for the Gods to be disguised as a beggar. I know this takes place in other stories but it is always a great way to convey the meaning of something, or rules, and even just a way to hint for future plot mechanisms. The way the beggar describes himself truly shows how little he has too which I think should go for any description of a character. I think someone describing themselves as a character truly helps rather than just the narrator describing characters. I also thought the way the last paragraph was written truly showed the harshness within the story. The way that everyone is described as dead truly shows the graveness in my opinion. Repeating words truly shows the seriousness just as description does because the repetition puts it in the readers head. I tried this in some of my stories but I haven't done so in such  serious way, so next time I write a story if it is something to be seen as serious then I will definitely remember to repeat what I want to be engraved in the mind of the reader.

A picture of a statue of Buddha on Pixabay. 

Bibliography:

The Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold (1922).
The specific section links are above in the text.