Organization

I happen to think that I have relatively decent time management skills. I (almost) always get all my assignments in by their respective due dates, I make schedules both on paper and in my head to keep myself on track. I think that something a lot of people forget to consider when they think about time management is scheduling time for relaxation and social time. When I was growing up, everyone always talked about the importance of making time for all my work, but time for friends and time for yourself is just as important, I think, just not in ways that are so clearly stated. If you mismanage assignments, you get bad grades and it's obvious. If you mismanage time for yourself or those important to you, the results a bit more covert. You get stressed, let relationships wither...I'm sure we all know the phrase "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."

But there are lots of ways to improve on time management specifically for work and studying. I'm taking the LSAT this year, and I am not enrolled in any expensive study program so I have to take one online. Since I'm going to need to develop my own schedule and carve out time specifically for studying the LSAT, I read the article "How to Build a Realistic Study Schedule" by Amanda Collins. All of her tips were a bit intuitive, but reassuring nonetheless to see that I can accomplish my goals this semester by creating a study schedule around my job and my classes, and making sure that I reserve only as much time as I need.

I also read "The Psychology of Checklists" by Lauren Marchese. I am a huge fan of checklists. I've always found that physically writing my goals and responsibilities makes them not only real but accomplishable. I liked her idea of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals. This semester I also have to write a research paper for my Honors thesis. Even though I don't think I can get it all written this semester, what with my classes and the LSAT, I want to get the lion's share of it done. Putting it off until next semester would be risky because I am a senior this year, and I need it done before graduation. 

I think that all these skills will help me not only in this online class, but in my other endeavors as well. 

(will add photo later, my computer is refusing to download images)

Class Tools - Technology

I'm not a person with a lot of technological prowess. That's why I'm very thankful for the post about how to use certain sites, tools, and applications. I'm also glad that the easiest and most user-friendly are included in the post. If I'm being honest, I'm probably going to have one of the more simple blogs in the class. Even with all the help, it's much easier and more time efficient for me to focus my energy on my content, rather than the appearance of my blog. I can appreciate blogs which are beautiful, I just don't really see myself in a position to create one that is very complicated or showy. I don't mind inserting images. It's pretty straightforward, and relatively simple. It's the same with embedding links when I'm providing the source for my images. In spite of this, since I've learned that this is a course with a pretty heavy creative-writing component, I find myself wish that the images were optional. I know that it can be helpful to the reader to provide images, but I really want my writing to be able to paint a picture. maybe as we get further into the semester, I will come to appreciate the impetus for the images. After all, I don't really know what the Readings or writing assignments will be like. 

I know it's not popular to be unfamiliar with basic technologies but I think there's something to be said for simpler times. My best friend is obsessed with Apple products and AI--which relatively unappealing to me, and she doesn't understand my obsession with ancient history. But it was my love for history (and stories in general) that led me to this course. If I could've taken it in person, I certainly would have. But I think that it's cool that the past and present (which includes technology the original tellers of certain myths and legends could never have dreamed of) have come together in this online class.

Technology
Source: skeeze via Pixabay

Class Assignment

The setup of this class is not really what I was expecting. I thought that we would read myths and folklore from around the world and discuss the cultural and philosophical implications. Maybe that is what we're doing to some degree, but I didn't think that I would take place in a creative writing context. Nevertheless, I'm not really disappointed. I like creative writing, I like the space to put my own spin on things, and there are some aspects to well known myths and legends that I'd like explore. For example, the story of Medea in Greek mythology--the witch who killed her father for Jason then was spurned by him, prompting her to murder their two children in revenge and ride away on a dragon. I'm not agreeing with the murderous parts, but why has no one ever acknowledged how thoroughly badass it is to live in a male-dominated society, and to not only get the last word but to then ride away on a dragon?! This class seems like a great platform to put forth my own takes on classic stories.

"Medea" by 25kartinok
Source: Deviantart

I've also rarely read lore from other societies and cultures, so I'm excited to add more stories to my repertoire. I'm vaguely aware of some African tall tales that my parents used to read to me as a child, and some Native American stories as well, from a class that I'm taking (also online). Everyone knows European fairytales (i.e. Grimm Brothers) and anything that Disney has made into an animated film--although I've never seen certain Disney classics, like Beauty and the Beast. I don't actually know if Beauty and the Beast specifically began as a myth or as folklore, but it doesn't seem too far-fetched. 

I think the final project will be a fun undertaking as well, though I haven't quite decided if I'll be doing a portfolio or a storybook. I'm tempted to say portfolio, because I am not a technologically savvy person and some of those sites were intimidating. It's too early to tell, I suppose. In any case, I think it's going to be an interesting semester.

Growth Mindset

I had never heard of growth mindset until now, but I have to say, it makes a lot of sense. I've even seen the effects of praising ability in my own life and family.

I think that my parents did a fair amount of both praising our intelligence growing up, and encouraging us to persevere when the going got tough. As a result, I find myself capable of wanting to give up when I'm not good at something. I don't like to seem like I'm struggling, and even though struggling is something that I rarely do, it's still something that I avoid at all costs. My brother too, exhibits some of the symptoms of a "fixed mindset," as Dweck puts it. He doesn't like to appear to be struggling either, and sometimes, when he does struggle, he feels insecure about his intelligence. He doesn't want for his classmates to think that he is having difficulties. My sister is the same way, but she is infinitely more sensitive about it because she has dyslexia, so it's difficult for her to relate to her errors. 

Source: Rocks Digital

I am person who doesn't like to try and fail, but I don't mind challenging myself. I don't do it for the sake of the challenge, if there is something to be gained by overcoming the challenge. I'm an honors student, which means I have to write a Research thesis, take extra classes, maintain a certain GPA. It's difficult, but I want that cum laude. I'm a double major because I want more bang for my buck, why get one degree for $21,000/year when you can get two. I am okay with challenging myself but I don't like the challenges being set for me.

Now that I'm older, I'm more of the mindset that errors occur and I've become more blasé about it. If I fail, I find a way to make it work. But I don't really go looking for opportunities to fail. Maybe I should. But I also wonder, where is the line between avoid difficulty and simply pursuing your interests. I like the more abstract subjects, like literature and philosophy. Sure, it's hard to be wrong about themes and thought processes, but why would I take more math a science courses when I don't enjoy them. Sure they would challenge me, but am I avoiding them, or am I just embroiling myself in the subjects I enjoy? Are the two mutually exclusive? 

I think that the emphasis on growth mindset could be helpful not only to the kids who would directly benefit but for school culture in general. I mean if educators created an environment wherein students were encouraged to try and fail rather than to appear to succeed, then I think the insecurities that plague young students would lessen significantly. No one wants to be teased by their peers when they don't understand. It would be much more helpful to have students acknowledge when each other fails and have a culture that helps each other see the "yet" and the value in persistence. Imagine what kind of world that would be in a few generations. A whole society full of adults striving for success but not crippled by failure. Interesting to think about, that.

Introduction

My name is Alona Kemp. I'm almost 21 years old (August 26). I'm from Dallas, Texas. 
I don't like my name, I'm young for my "grade", and I've never taken advantage of living in a major US city.
I'm a senior this year. I'm an Honors student. I'm a Letters major and an International Area Studies major. I've just returned from a semester abroad, in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where I finished my French minor, satisfied a requirement for IAS, and made lots of good friends.
I'm a woman. I'm bi. I'm Black. I'm a Liberal--like, super liberal. I'm willing to discuss nearly anything, but I can't promise to come around.
I'm partially deaf in both ears, so I read lips to catch what I miss in conversation. I don't see that posing a problem in this course, but if I ever meet any of you in person and I watch your mouth move, either ignore my gaze or speak up.
I'm an atheist. That doesn't mean that I don't believe in good or evil, or in the value of a human life. I just don't need a god to get me there.
I have a brother and a sister (Nicolas, or 'Cole' and Karis), both younger. Being the oldest has its perks, but I think the damage that your inexperienced parents do on your psyche isn't really worth being the first to get a car. 
I love fantasy books, and sci-fi books, and historical fiction books...I really like books. I think it sucks that I don't have any time to read for fun anymore.
I love all kinds of music, except for country. I can't say that I like the whole genre, but I like a few songs within the genre. But I like reggae, alternative/indie, rock/soft rock, R&B and Hip-Hop. Sometimes I listen to German rap. I don't speak a word of German.
I have a dog, a mutt named Ginger. She was abandoned in our backyard when I was a kid, and we kept her. She's nearly 14 years old now. I live in Norman now, but even when I lived in Texas I never had much time to play with her. I do love dogs though. All dogs. Cats, not so much.
I love to paint and draw. I design tattoos for people, professionally. I cannot actually tattoo anyone, but I can give you a sketch to take to an artist.
I am writing a Research thesis this semester to earn my cum laude in International Studies. It is incredibly stressful to keep up with two online classes and a 30 page research paper. Why would I register for 2 online classes and a high intensity research paper? Apparently, I like pain.
I'm emotional about the most random things. I don't cry at funerals, but I watched the destruction of an ancient library on the news, or read about the extinction of the black rhino, and I cry like a baby. 
I watch the most random shows on Netflix (my parents won't but a Hulu account and I refuse to buy one for some reason). Archer, That 70's Show, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Lucifer, Big Mouth, Sherlock, Shameless, Parks and Rec, Merlin, Peaky Blinders, Supernatural, The Get Down...I highly recommend any of these shows by the way. If you'd like more, let me know. I've got good taste in TV, haha.
When I graduate in May, I plan to go to law school. Hopefully on one of the coasts, East or West. I want to work to secure human rights for people around the world and within the US. I think I'd like to work for the ACLU, and eventually for UNESCO. I know I'm a weirdly ambitious person, but you gotta shoot for the moon. "Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."
If I had the time I'd try calligraphy. But all the supplies look insanely expensive, so I'm stuck with beautiful handwriting in pens from Walmart.
I was not popular in high school. Or middle school. Or elementary school. Now that I'm older, I'm okay with myself, but I used to be incredibly insecure. I still find that insecurity creeping up on me sometimes. 
I've always had an interest in mythology and folk tales. When I was a child, my parents had a book of African stories and tall tales that they used to read to me and my siblings. When I got older, I read them to Cole and Karis myself. I used to research Greek and Roman myths for fun, fueled by Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series. Later I got into Egyptian mythology, Norse mythology, African mythology. I think that they reveal so much about humanity collectively, and studying humanity from the vantage point of "one of them" is one of my favorite things.
I'm excited for this semester.

Storybook

I read several stories from the storybook, and I think that the concept in and of itself is interesting. In my head I've been calling them "fanfictions" of myths and lore, but I think that it's more than that. So much is revealed in the way that the authors retold well-known stories, and in the stories that they chose to showcase. The three that I've chosen for this post are: Project Humanity, Desperate Goddesses, and Ancient Chinese Fairy Tales.

In Project Humanity, an alien is tasked with reviewing ancient myths and stories via a supercomputer aboard his ship, in order to learn more about what was important to humanity.

"Project Humanity"
Source: Alliance United Planets

The very first thing that I noticed about this story is that lots of nouns are changed to reflect the story's sci-fi premise. Within the narrative, I wasn't clear if this was done by the supercomputer to accommodate the alien's interpretation of reality, or if was something that had been lost in translation in the years since humanity vacated Earth. Either way, the analogies were creative, and neither too difficult to follow nor too pedantic for the reader. I was quite familiar with the Greek myths that were adapted for the story: Castor and Pollux, Orpheus, and Daedalus and Icarus. The Lion and the Mouse fable took me a moment to recognize, I'll admit. I think that the stories chosen reflect which aspects of humanity the author finds most important, and I like that he focused on that function of myths and legends. They aren't just entertaining, they showcase the best and worst of humanity from the safety of fiction. It was really interesting to see that written from outsider's perspective, even more so because the alien's reactions to the stories revealed a lot about his fictional intergalactic society, without taking attention away from the myths.

The second Storybook that I read was Desperate Goddesses: Life on Mythological Lane. This story is based on goddesses from various pantheons and societies around the world, set in a fictional neighborhood and loosely based on Desperate Housewives.

"Desperate Goddesses"
Source: Vanessa Nova via Desperate Goddesses

The idea of goddesses as "Desperate Housewives" was interesting to me for one major reason. Deities are often thought of as empirically above human impulses, despite much of their lore showing the exact opposite. This story gave them the room to be both powerful and painfully familiar, with such emotions as jealousy, betrayal, and vanity. Some of the stories could've used more depth but I thought overall they showed interesting duality of character. I think this story also was indicative of why we like myths featuring gods and goddesses. They are shown to have the same problems as humanity as well as the power to change things. It's also interesting that the god's actions rarely end well for humanity--and ultimately, we can see these stories in two ways: an explanation for awesome events, or gratefulness that they are only stories.

The finally, I chose Ancient Chinese Fairy Tales. Like many people on this side of the world, as the author addresses in his introduction, I am unfamiliar with Eastern myths and fairytales.

Tin Hau Temple - Hong Kong, China
"Ancient Chinese Fairy Tales"
Source: Mosaic Art Source

I like that the author wrote them as is, because had he added his own changes I would have missed them entirely. It serves as the first telling of lesser-known lore for me, as opposed to a retelling of famous mythological characters. I found the Chinese legends to be elaborate, with their titles giving almost nothing away. I think the most important thing that I took away from these myths was the importance of the intangible. Where western heroes are more important when they are "self-made," the heroes of these stories didn't rely on practical application entirely, but luck, spirits, and good intentions as well as practice. I think that it's an interesting disparity in Western culture vs Eastern culture: denying the importance of luck and circumstance as a necessary element for success, as opposed to acknowledging it.

I think that I have a few ideas for my own project, having read over the works from previous students. I'm not quite what one would call "technologically savvy," so building the site in itself will be a bit of a task for me. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to my own storybook project, I'm sure that it will be a lot of fun.

Favorite Places

Victoria Falls, Zambia
Source: Flickr

I think the Victoria Falls in Zambia may be my favorite Wonder of the World. Sometimes I forget the the Earth is an ever-evolving entity, and this a huge crack running down through one of the largest continents, creating rainbows and supporting both an ecological and an economic system, reminds me.

Porto, Portugal
Source: Flickr

I visited this city while I was studying abroad in France. The view from the water made me think about how amazing humans are. This city is very old, and it has endured numerous floods and bridge collapses before becoming the stunning site it is today. I know that building cities near to a water source is practical, but I also believe that they thought the beauty that accompanied the hardship was worth it.

Singapore Trees of Light
Source: Flickr

I like these trees because they're a perfect example of how humans can coexist with nature without making life more difficult for indigenous species. The birds, lizards, and other wildlife who lived here before still have a viable habitat, and we get a beautiful monument to compromise.

Mic Check

Hello! This is my test post, hopefully everything is in working order!