I Pledge To.....

This blog is a little different than what I’m used to blogging about. This blog is regarding a couple Pledges I plan to keep that deals with the Year Up program and how I plan on keeping myself motivated with my studies and other areas in this program.

I The Adventures Of Jourdan, PLEDGE to NOT PROCRASTINATE by:

•  Completing my assignments on the day given to me.
•  Setting reminders for myself on when to get my assignments done by.
•  Pushing myself to get work and home work finished as soon as possible.

I PLEDGE to TRY and NOT EARN any INFRACTIONS by:

• Turning in assignments on time.
• Arriving on time.
• Maintaining a professional attitude.

I PLEDGE to NOT STRUGGLE to STAY AWAKE in class by:

• Getting a good night rest the night before school.
• Eating a light breakfast most mornings.
• Eating a light lunch during the day.

North Vallejo Living

My neighborhood can be described just as any other can be described. Some people can bovine. There are roads with ditches, potholes, and graffiti on the outsides of fences, groups of young people walking around with no destination, boards on some houses and cars on blocks and violence everywhere and anywhere that’s concealed. My neighborhood is called Rancho or referred to as “The Swamps” or “Swamp Side” Vallejo California. I moved around a lot and finally anchored into Hayward California also known as “The Stack” to some. Although living here is quite different I have learned to adapt to this lifestyle and neighborhood. Like the swamps, West Hayward is home as well. The streets are a little better than Rancho, but the people on this block are the same as any other block in Vallejo but there are more stores that aren’t closed down close to home.

           I am a product of my neighborhood. I am who I am because of the neighborhood I grew up in. Some of the upbringings I went through in my neighborhood were fun and willing as others were hard and something I didn’t want to do. Although each and every single one was necessary. If you take a look at anyone I grew up with you would find little difference in the way we carry ourselves, the way we talk, and our decisions with life. Maybe even in the way we look. Although some of the experiences we have had are the factors on which made the kids on the block to who they are today like myself. With some of the hardships that went on where I am from pushed people from my neighborhood as well as myself into a whole new direction or lifestyle. Which is a good thing for most.
           

Advertisement. Love Or Hate?

Mmmmmm

Advertisement is a double edge sword in my opinion. You either want what they're talking about or want to throw it out the window. For me certain advertisements that pull me in have to show me what I like in an instant. Some things that strike my interest are new music, tasty looking food, or new technology, which I find predominant. Some forms of advertisement that interest me are billboards, something with humor/catchy phrases, or teaser commercials (commercials that don't say much but show the product).

Ha Ha Ha

Some ads that I run away from or makes me change the channel are infomercial type of performances, or when they try and introduce something I know that I would never need or know that wouldn't work, something that stops me from playing music after a couple songs like on "Pandora", or the commercials about starving kids, such propaganda strikes me as sick. The worst of all to me has to be spam. How can something so delicious be named as the same thing that is so irritable? Once I see an email with something I don’t recall applying for like becoming a dentist or doctor or even the simple “get rich quick schemes” I instantly delete the email.

There are plenty of ads I just simply ignore. Being a smoker, I always turn my eyes to something else when the advertisements for quitting smoking comes on the TV, or anything that has to do with telling me that I’m doing something wrong with my life like not wearing my seatbelt although it’s true I should be wearing my seatbelt, I’m a rebel. There are other kinds of advertisement that I avoid which are the ones on the radio due to the fact I can’t see what they're offering me so the product doesn’t appeal to me at all.

The New Guy

Have you ever walked into a job interview, a new school, or even a new city unprepared at that?

I have.

I’ve been to plenty job interviews and HAVE’NT gotten a single job because I wasn’t prepared or even properly groomed. I’ve been the NEW KID six times at six different schools. I’ve only moved once but that wasn’t very fun either.

Now I’ve become the new guy at a job and a new school in a new city all at once. Talk about a tough break.

That’s not even the tough part. I’m taking classes that I haven’t even heard of before. I’m lost and have no clue of what I’m doing. I’m in a totally different scene. Talk about first day gitters.

I’m skeptical about plenty of things being new to all these things at once. How would this turn out? How can I make things better? How can I succeed?

I’ve come up with goals and ways to achieve those goals for each class so that these questions can be answered.

Business Communications

• ·      Build correct grammar

o   Practice everyday and eliminate the grammar that isn’t proper.

• ·      Build larger vocabulary

o   Read different words everyday and use them in conversations with my colleagues

Pro Skills

• ·      Become more presentable

o   Request and accept any feedback while working on my posture

• ·      Obtain a great handshake

o   Shake hands everyday and practice with everyone

Tech

• ·      Become computer savvy (there’s a difference between computer savvy and computer literate)

o   Study hard and read the book cover to cover

• ·      Learn the hardships

o   Take notes and review everyday until it sticks

Each goal works towards my main goal, which is to become a great asset to the business community.

I hope I didn’t bore you too much.