...This was one of the biggest decisions of my life. It was something that would certainly change everything. I had just turned eighteen years old, and was considering dropping out of high school. I was about to be considered as an adult and have the freedom to make my own choices and I was not sure I would act responsibly. With personal obstacles and building debt due to legal issues it seemed impossible to not make the decision I was debating about for weeks. I weighed the pros and cons and finally decided. It seemed to make the most sense at the time, and I dropped out. Report cards are what I dreaded the most in school. That moment that even if I could have fooled my father that I was working hard, the report card always told a different story. It infuriated me that I knew he would have a mouthful to say, but could have cared less to pay attention to what I was doing the last few months to get there. I couldn’t blame him completely for my actions, but some part of me wished he was at least consistent with his lack of interest. The freedom of being able to do whatever I wanted with zero accountability and only having to face the music when the report came home made slacking off quite easy. After the snowball of my bad habits seemed to find me digging a hole I could not see myself getting out of, I found myself transferred to another school. I arrive to Glenwood Academy, an alternative school for people with behavioral and social issues. I am nervous but also relieved...
Words: 948 - Pages: 4
...question of every college student that does not spend their education time wisely. In today’s society, media and social network seem to be the main focus of most college students with low self-control. For those that have low self-control there is less time used focusing on learning. Research on decision making suggest that if college students are left to their own devices they will choose to spend their time on guilty pleasures rather than class work. This paper will support Panek’s theory that, “interaction between the high choice media environment and user’s low self- control accounts for decline in learning among college students”(Panek, 2013). In the article Panek shows that students with low self-control choose immediate gratification and forfeit the benefits of waiting the long term. Panek (2013) noted, guilty pleasure appeals and take up a majority of the time that could be spent on learning. He says, “guilty pleasures appeals to one desire for immediate pleasure rather than one’s belief that they should partake of a product or experience so as to obtain long-term benefits” (Panek, 2013, p.563). Panek used a review of literature on temptation and self-control and self-control and media choice to prove his hypothesis. Panek, (2013) suggested that the college students that overuse are aware of the overuse of leisure because they have no self-control. Panek (2013) admitted that because of the small population that they interviewed, that their research does not definitively...
Words: 1012 - Pages: 5
...Easing himself into the tub, Tom released a contented sigh as the warm water washed over his aching leg muscles. Soft music played in the background, the low quality, tinny sound of the small transistor radio invoking memories of his childhood. Almost instantaneously, a kaleidoscope of images flashed through his head. Each one was carefully selected for maximum pleasure, and closing his eyes, he leaned back against the hard porcelain and took a stroll down memory lane. A small smile tweaked the corners of his lips. He was back in the fourth grade, and he’d just hit the winning run in the final game of the little league playoffs. Coach Edison had taken the team out for pizza, and he’d positioned Tom at the head of the table, in what he referred to as the hero’s seat. It was a proud moment for the youngest Hanson, and he’d relished the adoration. But of course, all that was before the death of his parents, when he was still a normal American kid doing normal American things. Time and circumstance had changed him, and he no longer enjoyed being in the spotlight, preferring to keep a low profile wherever possible. As far as he was concerned, it was better to be unseen and unheard than face a crowd full of jeering people pointing at you. It didn’t take long for the memories of Booker’s verbal attack to chase away his happy thoughts, and his serene smile slowly faded. When he’d returned to work, he’d found himself facing more ridicule. In his absence, Sergeant Parry had coined the...
Words: 492 - Pages: 2
...Many of today’s values are derived from respect and responsibility. It is the basis for civility and consideration towards others. We can’t get away with being rude our entire lives and never expect to pay the consequences. Our actions will always lead to some sort of punishment or reward. A disrespectful person will not be followed by good things. If a person is being treated with respect, they are being shown that you expect good things to precede you and them as well. A wise man shows regard for another’s thoughts. Recent studies (conducted by the University of California, Davis) reveal that a happy person that desires a peaceful existence gives and receives more respect as opposed to a person with blatant disrespect for those around them. Today, so many of us are busy with our own hectic schedules that we don’t have a lot of room for anyone else or their needs or feelings. This doesn’t show the intention of being rude or disrespectful, but in reality that is exactly what it translates into. We are losing out on so many things by being rude and inconsiderate. We miss opportunities to excel and to better ourselves as an individual as well as for your career. Since the first key step to building any relationship, whether it be work related or personal, is respect, then the absence or breakdown of respect is a key factor in the breakdown relationships and the occurrence of conflict. Another way of understanding why respect is so important is to imagine a world without...
Words: 746 - Pages: 3
...John Palfrey, a former executive director of Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society once stated, “Television did not transform education. Neither will the internet. But it will be another tool for teachers to use in their effort to reach students in the classroom. It will also be a means by which students learn outside the classroom” (pg. # if available – if not just put the period inside the quotations and delete all of this). Social media is so popularized today that it is finding its way into the classroom. It is available 24/7 on a variety of different devices and has the potential to aid in academic success, but it also holds a lot of setbacks (Alwagait, Shahzad, and Alim 1092). When there is a lack of balance between social media and real life, many problems can arise. Some of the problems include lack of time management, poor academic standing, and lack of self-control. In many instances one or more of these problems overlap. * Make the font type the same throughout paper- may just be showing up different on my computer for some reason Time management is paramount to a successful college experience; therefore, poor time management can in turn affect academic performance. Factors that account for poor time management are known as time traps. Today, one of the biggest time traps is technology (Bal Bal- is this person’s last name Bal Bal or should it be Bal and Bal? 134). In the 21st century, social media and the use of technology have skyrocketed in popularity...
Words: 861 - Pages: 4
...The Stanford marshmallow experiment[1] refers to a series of studies on delayed gratification in the late 1960s and early 1970s led by psychologist Walter Mischel, then a professor at Stanford University. In these studies, a child was offered a choice between one small reward (sometimes a marshmallow, but often a cookie or a pretzel, etc.) provided immediately or two small rewards if he or she waited until the experimenter returned (after an absence of approximately 15 minutes). In follow-up studies, the researchers found that children who were able to wait longer for the preferred rewards tended to have better life outcomes, as measured by SAT scores,[2] educational attainment,[3] body mass index (BMI)[4] and other life measures.[5] However, recent work calls into question whether self-control, as opposed to strategic reasoning, determines children's behavior. The purpose of the original study was to understand when the control of deferred gratification, the ability to wait to obtain something that one wants, develops in children. The original experiment took place at the Bing Nursery School located at Stanford University, using children age four to six as subjects. The children were led into a room, empty of distractions, where a treat of their choice (Oreo cookie, marshmallow, or pretzel stick) was placed on a table, by a chair.[1] The children could eat the marshmallow, the researchers said, but if they waited for fifteen minutes without giving in to the temptation, they...
Words: 581 - Pages: 3
...Words to Live by; "My power lies in balance. I strive for equality and choose not to indulge in instant gratification at the expense of my purpose. I am responsible for my own decisions and take on only what I can handle based upon that which I value. I am empowered by choice and my asset is negotiation". Unfortunately, easier said than done. The power of peers always amazes me. I can have an absolute purpose in mind, and get me around several peers out for no good, and I become one of the pack. Becoming one of a pack can never have a good ending. It was going to be a boring Friday night. Just the thought of sitting at home watching some old rerun with my mom rubbed me the wrong way. But earlier, I had an invite from Jennifer to a birthday sleepover. At 17, I'm past the age for sleepovers but weighing my options, a sleepover didn't sound so immature. I found myself getting an address and saying I'll see you around 8. At home I get on Facebook to see who all is going to be there. The more I read, the more I know I shouldn't be attending this gathering. It has become more than a sleepover. The location has been moved to the house of some older boys who have graduated and are renting out a house referred to as the "party house". I know there will be no supervision, but this just makes it more interesting. I tell my mom, of course, it is still a sleepover for one of my friends birthday. I get her to drop me off before she has to go pick up my sister at...
Words: 654 - Pages: 3
...Grit Test Questions: 1. New ideas and projects sometimes distract me from previous ones. • Not like me at all. 2. Setbacks don’t discourage me. • Not much like me. 3. I have been obsessed with a certain idea or project for a short time but later lost interest. • Not like me at all. 4. I am a hard worker. • Very much like me. 5. I often set a goal but later choose to pursue a different one. • Not like me at all. 6. I have difficulty maintaining my focus on projects that take more than a few months to complete. • Not much like me. 7. I finish whatever I begin. • Very much like me. 8. I am diligent. • Very much like me. 9. Gender • Male 10. Year of Birth • 1989 11. Do you currently live in the United States? • Yes 12. Ethnicity • Caucasian/White 13. Highest Level of Education • Associates Degree Result: 4.88 Out of 5 90% Grittier than people of your age. Ways to Improve My Grit I noticed throughout the test I had one question in particular that I had answered less than exceptional on. “It being difficult to maintain focus on projects that take more than a few months to complete.” I believe some of this is due to the fact that I am a patient person, but eventually my patience runs thin. This causes me to get\ discouraged and more willing to give up. Although, I have noticed throughout the years, as I get older, that my patience and my discouragement become less and less. I can...
Words: 891 - Pages: 4
...|Grade Level: 4th & 5th Grades | |Topic: Behaviors that disrupt communication | |Essential Question: | |How do our personal behaviors affect the climate/atmosphere of the classroom? | |Activating Strategy/Introductory Activity/HOOK: | |Select 2 – 3 students to sit in chairs facing one another. Instruct the students to count how many times they can hit a balloon | |back and forth w/out it touching the floor and w/out getting out of their seats. Afterwards, discuss whether or not they wanted | |to “slam” the balloon at the other person. If so what they did about that impulse? How did they stop themselves? | |Teaching plan: | |Write IMPULSE on board and define – a feeling or urge to have to do or say s/thing | |Ask: | |Have you ever been told that you were...
Words: 492 - Pages: 2
...with Kelly McGonagall”* The video for Week 2 Assignment is all about willpower and how it works. Having inner experiences and impulses and still directing the energy and attention to the things that matter the most to you. You have to know what you really want and not let the universe impose on you. You need to take action to have the ability to say yes to yourself. Willpower is like having three (3) powers I (will), I (wont), and I (want). I use me (will) and I (want) power the most and resist most of the temptations. I have self-compassion; I take small steps for small actions and get a bigger change. Sometimes we have to force ourselves to do things that we really don’t want to do but need to do. B. Article – “Academic Delay of Gratification, Motivation, and Self-regulated Learning Strategies”* 2. Using your own words define willpower and explain what it means to you.* What Willpower means to me is when you hold yourself back from doing something you may regret in the future. Having willpower is the ability to recognize when you’re about to do something that is inconsistent with your culture, values, and literally put on the I won’t brakes on and say I will. An example of when I used willpower is when I decided that I wanted to make healthier eating habits and shed some weight. See I’m the kind of person who likes junk food. I had to have the willpower not to eat junk food and try eating healthier snacks. It did work I lost a few pounds. Although I am the kind of person...
Words: 1250 - Pages: 5
...convenient for you. B. You do not have to fight crowds in the mall or store. 1. There is no traffic to worry about getting to the stores. 2. During the holiday season, you do not have to worry about many people crowding you. II. You can see what you are buying. A. Depending on what you buy, you can feel the item and actually see the item. 1. You can feel the texture or weight of an item. 2. You can see if the item is big or overweight. B. There is no wondering if you are getting the item that you ordered. 1. You can be positive that you are getting the correct item. 2. You can see the exact shade or style of what you are buying in person. III. Instant gratification A. There is no waiting to receive your item. 1. You are able to take your purchase home that same day. 2. Site to store is an option with many stores and it is possible to pick it up that day. B. Being able to choose when you need the item in question. 1. If you choose to buy in store, you can have it right away. 2. If you choose to buy online, you can wait up to a week for the item. Online, in store, it does not matter which form of shopping you prefer. There are many viable options from which to choose. You are bound to find the right one for...
Words: 339 - Pages: 2
...guided journal questions in Chapter Ten on page 251 (please write the number of the question you chose). (5 Points) Prompt: #1. Analyze your self-discipline for college by answering the following: How difficult or easy is it for you to delay gratification (wait for a reward)? Accept responsibility? Balance between immediate and delayed gratification? Explain thoroughly and use examples for each question. I think it is not easy for me to delay gratification because I feel everything is like a mess. For example, I will travel to Paris tomorrow. I think if I prepare my luggage one or two day before the flight’s day, it is sooner. Thus, I decide to prepare them in the morning before my flight. However, when I arrive at airport, I forget something such as my wallet or my passport because I don’t have enough time to check again. Maybe, I put somewhere in my handbag or my baggage and I can’t remember. We have to accept responsibility when we delay gratification. We can’t blame for time or someone else. For instance, when I have exam next day, I don’t review lessons. I think it won’t be waste lots of time before the exam. Therefore, I will review them quickly before taking exam. To balance between immediate and delayed gratification, I think we know how to manage time. Which date and time should be priority? We will do it immediately. For example, I have a test tomorrow, I will review lesson immediately. Another task I will study later. (5 Points) Prompt: #3 (not number...
Words: 400 - Pages: 2
...Internet. When broadcast television came in to the scene it provided entertainment and information, this is similar to what the Internet is providing people today. However, the Internet does provide certain advantages over television. The three main advantages that the Internet has are that it provides instant access to specific information, information that can be accessed from anywhere in the world, and that the Internet is interactive. Society has become very big on instant gratification. People need their information right now and the Internet can give us that. The Internet is an excellent source to find information and the best part about this is that people get their information instantly. People now have instant access to the news, stocks, weather, online bill pay, electronic mail, encyclopedias, and many other resources to conduct research on any given subject. With the Internet accessible from anywhere in the world, life without the Internet is unimaginable. The Internet is available to us at airports, Starbucks, McDonalds, hotels and many other places that Americans travel everyday. With the technology of an air card one can plug that in to a laptop and have instant access on vacation in Europe, a Business trip in the Caribbean or working from home in Alaska. The Internet is interactive; one can choose what they would like to view. People no longer have to see or read what ever is presented to them. People can view live news broadcasts, chat online with someone...
Words: 371 - Pages: 2
...computing or cell phones. The information a company has must be readily available at any time anywhere in the world. Even social media is being used in companies. The amount of people a company can reach through social media is in the hundreds of millions. The CEO of Facebook has realized that companies are making millions of social networking. He has started to limit who can see what and when. The goal of this is to start charging companies for unlimited viewing of their product/service. This would be a huge money maker for Facebook as companies know how fast their name can spread on social networking the companies who are not on board with these changes are left behind. Information has to be transferred instantly. Companies want instant gratification. When they ask a question they want an immediate answer. Today's internet has made this possible. IT systems are no longer just to access information and email customers. Today IT systems have to be configured for mobile computing, web 2.0 and social networking. The amount of information that is sent and received over the internet is staggering. In many companies the bulk of the work performed is completed over mobile computing or cell phones. The information a company has must be readily available at any time anywhere in the world. Even social media is being used in companies. The amount of people a company can reach through social media is in the hundreds of millions. The CEO of Facebook has realized that companies are making...
Words: 390 - Pages: 2
...for the casual home user and the phenomenon of compulsive-impulsive behavior disorders related to Internet addiction disorder (IAD) and excessive, problematic computer use. If every drug that is abused yields a level of gratification, then based upon a person’s use and frequency, it would appear that social networking activities (Facebook, MySpace, blogging, Twitter and instant messaging, multiplayer online games, e-mail, online gambling, etc.) must afford some users similar gratification. Perhaps the chief component and allure of these social network forums for some is the level of anonymity, the possibility and excitement for reconnecting with past friends and relationships, and perhaps just the inherent instant communication and social connection with others who share similar interests via online environments. Arguably for some individuals, social networking sites fulfill an unmet real life social need, which therefor reinforces the excessive or prolonged computer use. In fact, the success and pervasiveness of the social networking platforms has even permeated its way into business sector via sites such as Linked-In and corporate sponsored social network sites, as a means for individuals to network professionally or to gain new customers through instant information and visibility saturation of products and services. However, for all the potential benefits of social networking, an unfortunate outcome of this pervasive Internet access and social networking has been the host...
Words: 1179 - Pages: 5
