Hats

I only wear snap back hats. I also only wear a hat when my hair is too long. I am currently wearing my little sister's boyfriend's hat. He wants it back, but I am for sure wearing it all summer.

Next Year

Next year I plan on getting my instrument rating as a pilot. I also want to work part time at charter fitness. I would also like to work at Camp Long Horn again in the summer. Hopefully my grades will be just as good as they were my freshman year of college.

Biggest Fear

I guess my biggest fear would be becoming a bum. Not being financially independent would just be an embarrassment. Its like everything you've ever worked for would just be thrown away.

Favorite Sport to Watch

My favorite sport to watch is football. Nothings better than seeing a grown man get absolutely clobbered. It's really the only sport that can get me on my feet. My favorite team is the Cowboys.

Freshman Year of College

My freshman of college was interesting. I managed to visit 18 different schools. I met a lot of new people and learned how to fly a plane. I also got back into playing volleyball.

Friend

My best friend is Sean Hughes. He is absolutely hilarious. Whenever he hangout, it is the best time of our lives. I wish we went to the same college together.

Jack

My friend Jack is in the Army. He is currently stationed in Iraq. He is one of the funniest kids I've ever met. The kid can drink a beer like it's water.

The Fam

My family is awesome. I have an older sister named Margo, two older brothers named Mike and Sam, and a younger sister named Maeve. We're all over the place. Margo lives in Nebraska, Sam lives in downtown Chicago, Mike lives in New York, and Maeve and I live in Evergreen Park.

Dream Vacation

Look, everyone wants to go to Hawaii. I want to surf, snorkel, and meet Hawaiian babes. I would also like to hike up volcanoes and say that I've explored one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Favorite School Subject

My favorite subject in school is physics. To me it's a subject actually worth learning, because you can compare to what you learn in class to real life situations. There is also math involved in physics which I enjoy.

Guitar

I've been playing guitar since I was in eighth grade. I have bought 2 guitars since then. I never took lessons. I go on youtube and look up tutorials on how to play songs.

Favorite Band

My favorite band is the Zac Brown Band. I went and saw them live on December 13th in grand rapids Michigan. I know how to play a few of their songs on guitar. My favorite song by the Zac Brown Band is Sweet Annie.

High School

I went to St. Rita high school. It is an all boys school with a population of about 700 students. It is located in Chicago on 79th and Western. It has been around for more than 100 years.

Gramma

My gramma is 77 years. Every year she calls me and congratulates me on baptismal, communion and confirmation days. She likes to refer to me as her "favorite flavor." She is a saint.

Texas

I was born in Austin, Texas. Half my life I grew up in Dallas, Every summer I go back and visit family and work at a summer camp. The Texas flag is hanging in my room right now.

Red Bull

If there's something that gives me wings, it's Red Bull. Its actually the only thing getting me through this week. So cheers to Red Bull, you are the real MVP.

Research Argument Synthesis Paper Reflection

This paper was one of the biggest challenges I have ever had as a student. From an annotated bibliography, to eight pages, and ending with a presentation, this project had it all. I knew my stance on lowering the drinking age in the U.S. wasn't going to change even before doing all of my research. However, it was discouraging to see that there were more people who were against lowering the drinking than those who were for it. These paper pulled out all of the creativity in me to convince my audience that lowering the drinking age in the U.S. would be beneficial to the country. I not only had to refer to my sources, but to some of my personal experiences as well. Overall, the work that I put into this project not only showed my the benefits and defects of the national drinking, but it made me more passionate about the movement to better the quality of life for young adults in the U.S.

Looking Back

My experience in College Writing II this semester managed to pick at all of my weak spots as a writer. I had never written more than seven pages for a paper before, and I have never used a number of resources that were in the double digits. The challenge of researching, analyzing, synthesizing, and presenting a topic I cared deeply about seemed daunting. However, I took the challenge on day by day and realized that writing is a never ending process. Everyday I found something new that could've been added or changed to my work. Even after I turned in my final draft, I knew that there could still be some changes made to the paper. This semester help me realize that as a writer, my work is never done. I can only continue to grow as a writer, and this semester showed me that I can face the challenges ahead of me when it comes to truly understanding how to present an argument, synthesis, and idea.

Class Activites

    The actual physical set up of my College Writing II class was different than from any class I've ever had. We students sat in groups of three, and we were all facing one another. There were multiple smart boards for presentations and the computers were able to move freely. This setup was designed so that I could work together with my class mates. Sitting in pods of three gave us the ability to do book work together and peer review each others writing projects, which happened consistently throughout the school year.

What do you love?

I've traveled to 16 different colleges this semester. Each and every college has a way of doing its own thing, by that I mean every college I've been to has gotten me drunk in a way that was new to me. Each time has been a blast. I think that what a vacation really is: getting drunk in new and exotic place. I guess that is what I love. Being surrounded by friends or family with a cold one in my right hand whether its at a bar, lake house, or the beach. I think that's what I and everyone else wants to do with their life, at least on the weekends.
However, there are only so many places my Volkswagen can take me. Why not make the world my domain? That's why I decided to become a pilot. Pilots who fly for major airlines have huge benefits and can travel anywhere they want with whoever they want. I hope that someday I can become an airline pilot so that one day my friends, family, wife, or even kids can pick a spot on the glob like Jamaica, Paris, or Hawaii and get absolutely whacked for a weekend and live to tell about it. I reinforce this dream every time I take to the sky during my flight training.

My Research Question

Topic: Should the drinking age be lowered?

1. I chose this topic, because it is very much a part of the lives of young adults. I think it would be interesting to find out exactly why the drinking age in America is 21.
2. I want to answer the question as to whether or not the U.S. would benefit from lowering the drinking age.
3. I chose this question, because I felt that it is a topic that I could write passionately about. It is also a subject matter that many people take a strong stance on.
4. I need to learn about the pros and cons of lowering the drinking age. These pros and cons can be social, economical, physical, psychological, etc.
5. I need to read from experts who have done research on the topic. Other countries allow a drinking age that is lower than 21. I need the facts about how these countries benefit or suffer from having a drinking age lower than 21. Also, research done by health professionals would also help, as alcohol causes major changes to the body.

Essay 2 Reflection

After performing some research and writing about the gluten-free diet, I discovered that I was not only trying to inform the audience about why there is a growing trend of the diet, but about all the aspects of gluten intolerance. At first, I thought I was just going to write about the numbers and statistics of the growing population of people trying out the gluten-free diet, but I realized that my audience would need more.  I went into detail about what gluten is and how it affects the body. The research taught me how gluten affects the immune system of people with celiac disease. I also thought I would be more personal about my own experiences and my family’s experience on being gluten-free, but I thought the audience would want to learn more about the diet itself than about me.

In comparison to my design plan and outline, I found that I was actually informing the reader more than I thought I would about celiac disease. In fact, I wrote more about celiac and its affects than about people without celiac trying the gluten-free diet. I also found more reasons than I thought I would about why the diet is growing, such as the popularity for Paleo diets and the placebo effect.

There were some aspects in my design plan that I did end up performing. I planned on using an image, an article, and a novel as my sources for my paper. I did use these three different types of sources effectively in my essay. Lastly, I stated in my design plan that the purpose for this communication was so the audience will have a better understanding as to why people are gluten free, why they see gluten free items on menus at restaurants, and even motivate the reader enough to consider whether or not they should go gluten free. I believe that I fulfilled out the purpose of this communication in my essay. 

Shoes

I noticed today that I had missed placed my shoes. They are my favorite pair of shoes. I had custom-made them online over the summer. It was the first time I had ever spent over $50 on a pair of shoes. If anyone finds a pair of black white and blue Nikes, feel free to let me know.

Writing essays

Recently, I have been using my phone to write essays. I use the microphone on my earbuds and the phone records what I say. The phone then types out what I say so I don't have to type using a keyboard. It has improved my essays greatly. 

Carthage

I recently visited my friend Sean at Carthage College. His roommate is super fat, but he is a nice guy. We went to the volleyball house where I met a girl from Hawaii. Unfortunately, she had a boyfriend. 

Favorite school

I have visited 14 different colleges and universities this school year. My favorite university that I visited is Wisconsin University in Madison. The campus was huge, the parties were awesome, and the people were great. I wish the school had an aviation program.

My dog

I have a dog named Buddy. It is a 10-year-old beagle. I got him as a surprise present after a trip down from Texas. So far, I have taught him how to sit, Lie down, hi5, and roll over. He is the loudest barker ever.

New car

My dad just recently got a new car. It is a 2014 Cadillac. It is awesome. But what is even more awesome is that he gave me his old car. It's a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. I love the thing.

Gluten

I have been on a gluten-free diet for almost 7 months now. It has tremendously improved my digestion and overall health. Being gluten-free on campus was easier than I once thought it would be. However, it is hard to resist pizza.

Fishing

I love fishing. In fact, fishing is the reason why I have the roommate that I have. Often, we go to local ponds and reel in big bad bass.I like to go fishing whenever I can.

The C-Store

Survival at Lewis University consist of two things, good hygien and the C-store. If it were not open 24 hours a day, I would presume that there would be at least two deaths on campus per week. It's supplies me with Gatorade, granola bars, and chips.

Volleyball

I had played volleyball my freshman and sophomore year of high school. Unfortunately, I tore my ACL my senior year. Luckily, Lewis University has a club volleyball team. I play outside and lebaro for the team and it is a lot of fun.

Sodexo

Everyday when I go to Charlie's Cafeteria at Lewis University, i stare in awe at the food and the workers presented before. The workers, although they have their own person issue, are actually very nice. The food however, not so nice.

Lacrosse

I don't play lacrosse, but I know that it was inviented by Native Americans. My roommate plays lacrosse. He enjoys watching games on his laptop while in our dorm room. His club team played ISU last weekend. It didn't end well for his team. 

Spring Break

Went to Spring Hill College over spring break. I dressed up as a pizza delivery man and surprised my friend with a me and pizza in the middle of one of his classes. It was a great time.

Failed

Today I had my first flight stage check and I failed. The ultimate reason was that I stalled during slow flight. It was a crushing blow knowing that I failed not even 20 minutes into the flight. We continued with the test, and I continued to fluctuate my altitude during my maneuvers. The chief pilot described it as a "bad day." Sucks so bad.

Explanatory Synthesis Notes

The topic of my essay is about the gluten free diet trend. In this essay, I want to communicate to the audience why the gluten free diet has only recently developed in the last decade or so, and why they might find themselves encountering a gluten free person or perhaps come across gluten free products when shopping at the grocery store. I first want to explain what gluten is at first and where it can be found. I also want to go into detail about the aspects of a gluten free diet which includes its pros and cons.
My sources for this paper are a novel, a magazine article, and an image. The novel is called Gluten Free Living, and it is basically a guide as to how to live a gluten free lifestyle. This book will provide me with statistics of the number of people who are on gluten free diets and why.
The magazine article I chose, The Great Gluten-Free Diet Fad, discusses a personal story as to why a boy named Sam went gluten free. This will help me communicate to the audience in a way that is personal to someones life. The article also explains the science behind celiac disease.
My third source is a bar graph the supplies percentages as to why people have decided to go gluten free. This image will assist me in providing more information and statistics on the benefits of a gluten free diet.

Explaining _____

Well I first went fishing when I was 4 years old in Galveston Texas. The way I saw it at that time was you would tie a hook to a line of string that went down a pole and wrapped around a rod. Then you would put a piece of shrimp on the hook, push a button on your Incredible Hulk fishing rod, and cast the shrimp out into the ocean. You wait until you felt a fish on the hook and reel it in. I got such a kick out of it that my forearms would be beat red sunburn by the end of the day from fishing so much. Now a days I fish more strategically. I love fishing for bass. Fishing can be done in a variety of different ways. You can fish off shore, on a boat, deep out at sea, and even on ice. There are so many different kinds of weights, rods, nets, and baits you can use to catch almost any kind of fish you want.

Lent

I gave up social media and looking at snap chat my stories for lent. It's going well. I thought it would be a lot harder than it actually is.

Pilot Stuff

Helping out my friend James get ready for his stage 1 private pilot oral exam. My oral exam was 2 hours long. James isnt doing so hot right now. 

Weekend

Got to spend the weekend with my friend Jack. He told me he's getting deployed to Iraq in April. I'll get to see him again in March. Gotta live it up before he goes. 

Reflection on Synthesis Essay

When I first started this paper, I knew that I had a general negative attitude towards social media and cell phones. I didn't like how people would use them while at the dinner table or in class, and I didn't like how I personally feel the need to check my phone all the time. After working on this essay for some time, I realized that I didn't just dislike cell phones and social media because people were on them all the time, I discovered how cell phones and social media take away from important experiences in our life. I believe that they make us feel obligated to do things that generations before us have never felt obligated to do. The main obligation being that it is our duty to share our lives with everyone. This idea of sharing with other people over texts and the internet takes away from our notable experiences in life, because all we are worried about is making sure that other people know about what happens in our lives. I also learned that they change the way we think and feel. After absorbing my sources for this paper, I realized that cell phones can take away from human curiosity and wonderment as well as our own feelings. In my original design plan, I had only pointed out that it was just social media that had caused this issue. After diving deeper into my paper, I found that it was both social media and cell phones that are causing the problem, because we take our cell phones with us wherever we go, and we feel naked without them. I felt that I accomplished what I was set out to do in this paper, as I discovered how cell phones and social affect me and how I truly feel about them. Another reason why I feel a sense of accomplishment, is because I may have changed the way other people view social media and cell phone usage after reading my work.

Weekend

At Lake Geneva with some new friends I met at Lewis. Had a ton of fun last night and tonight we got a pajama theme going. Can't wait. 

Blog app

Just downloaded the blogger app. Hopefully this will keep me caught up for all my blogs in my college writing two class! 

I'm trying to prepare for my first stage check ride. It's very discouraging when you see money going down the tube after a bad flight. However, I learn from these bad flights and continue to try to improve, even if the bad flight makes me feel awful for the rest of the day.

I got my ass kicked last night and this morning, because of this paper I have to write. I wrote about how cell phones and social media are dehumanizing. I'd like to think I did a good on it.

This past weekend was only my second weekend I've ever spent at Lewis. In a word, it was weird. I've had my keyboard for just one week and it's crazy how much better I've gotten. The only thing on my mind right now is getting past my first stage check ride for flight. There's been a lot of review lately which means a lot of money. Dad's not too happy.

4. Explain the symbolic meaning of a piece of clothing.

The hood on a coat or sweatshirt covers the head, ears, and some of the face. It is not only a form of protection, but it is also a sort of badge that one wears. On the badge is written "Don't go near me, for I am far too busy for you to get in my way." The hood blocks out the outside world so that one can have his or her attention focused on whatever matters the most in that present moment. However, the hood can serve a purpose that is less aggressive. A hood can act like a shell on a hermit crab. A person can cower themselves behind the hood as not to be seen, to be hidden from the world around them. When a person wears a hood, they appear to be dark and mysterious, but when the hood is removed, it is as if they are reborn in a way.

What does it mean when I say _____?

What does it mean when I say "happy?" When a person says "I'm so glad with my career choice. I'm so happy," I think they are in denial. I hope to be a pilot one day. That is the career choice that I have chosen that I think will make me the happiest. However, I do not actually want to be pilot. What I actually want is to be on the beach with my friends having some cold beverages. What I actually want is to go skydiving and run down the sand dunes in Colorado. Having fun is my idea of happiness.

My idea of _____ is like _____.

My idea of reading is like my idea of going to mass. Reading is tedious, boring, and makes you want to sleep. Church is very similar to that. Have you ever read a book or heard a homily that changed your life? Me neither. However, I know that reading and going to church are good for me. I may not remember every book I've read or every homily I've heard, but I know that every time I read or go to mass, it plays a small a part in the development of the person that I am today.

Just bought a piano keyboard for $20. Hopefully learning a new instrument will get me through this semester. The first song I am going to learn is called Back to Life by Giovanni.

Today was a review day during my flight block. I refreshed myself on how to perform steep turns, power on, and power off stalls. In meteorology I learned how a micro burst in a thunderstorm can be hard to predict and can cause serious issues for a pilot. In college writing I learned that the best way to design a text is to first find out who the audience is.

As we blog, we open up our ideas and opinions to others, not only so they can be shared, but so they can be judged and criticized. In order to blog one must have a sense of humility. The reason this sense of humility must be present, is because we realize that what we think about something could be flawed.  When we blog we are being honest to ourselves, as we come to the realization that who we are or what we think is not always perfect or right.

Our responsibilities to each other when we communicate derive from the knowledge of the language that is being used. I do not think our responsibility is to use a proper tone or to be serious. Communication is created when people clearly understand each other whether or not the proper tone is used or if the communication is serious. As long as the language is being used properly and what is said is honest, the communication can be clearly understood.