Talk to Facebook!

Facebook is a social network that youth use to connect with other youth that is both beneficial and harmful to their social interaction and health. On facebook youth write all about their problems in school and with family to vent out how they feel. For example, one youth recently wrote to me in a private message that went into great detail how her friends approached her about things she finds wrong and how she should have handled it. Because we live three hours away and she really needed to talk to me, she used Facebook to reach out to me. For some friends, this is the only way to talk like our situation, because like us, they may have met at a church retreat or even at a purely social get together and went to keep in touch. Therefore, for some, this helps to release any negative feelings. Even so, being on Facebook for so long can cause depression for some youth. This is so, because of the fact that they may constantly talk about emotional pains that if they hadn’t talked about so many times would have healed. For other youth, Facebook is a social network to keep in contact with friends and family. When used for socializing, teens are not just spending hours on the computer, but instead are learning more about socializing and technology. When socializing, it is beneficial for youth, so that they can learn more about making friends and maintaining friendships, even over the internet. Of course, youth are not the only ones on social networking sites like Facebook. Ages ranging from pre-teen to all ages of adult are on Facebook, but everyone has a Facebook account for different reasons. Youth use it to be cool and chat with each other well into the night when they should be sleeping, because of the enjoyment of talking to friends. But no matter what the reason youth have, Facebook is great tool for youth. No matter what negative results may occur due to the use of Facebook by youth, the youth of not only the United States, but also other countries use Facebook to have social interaction and to talk to friends all over the world that they have made.

Word Count: 373

Lack of Motivation

Up until last winter, reading wasn’t something that I particularly liked or enjoyed, because of the lack of motivation to do it. My parents never read with me and no one really liked to read with me when I was a kid, so I always found reading to be boring and unimportant except for class readings while in college in which case I barely found the motivation for. Last winter, my parents went to Korea to see my grandparents before they passed away, so that my stepfather could meet my grandfather. I was at home all alone during the Christmas holiday season. I spent Christmas Eve. at my church so I was around people then, but then the rest of Christmas day and New Years, I was so bored and lonely. I read my Bible to study, but then, I wasn’t able to read the entire Bible and study it. I watched television, but that didn’t help either. Finally, I decided to read a book hoping that it would pass time. I hated reading, but I was so bored that I decided that reading would be better than the boredom I was enduring. I began reading a book series by a Christian writer named Francine Rivers. Her series is the Mark of the Lion Series. There are three books in the series. I was given the first book in the series 6 years ago from the Sunday School leader at that time, but I never had the motivation to read it. I decided before my parents left to try to read it, so when I went out, I bought the other two books. I figured because it was a Christian book, I would give me some insight if anything. When I began to read the books, I looked at the titles and I looked at the images on the front covers and my thought was "okay..." I opened the first book and immediately as I began reading, I felt like I was in the time period that she wrote about. It was intriguing and exciting for me as a reading experience, although the series’ beginning was a bit sad. I finished the book series in one week. I was so into the series that I would stay up until 2 or 3 in the morning reading. My eyes would begin hurting by then and my vision blurred, so I had to sleep. I would read the books every chance I got, even if it was only for a second. Ever since that experience, I realized that reading can be fun and allow a stirring in the imagination. I’m grateful that I did come to see that reading can be more than just a boring class reading; it can be an exciting adventure in the midst of a chaotic day. Since then, I have begun reading more Christian books that take me to that same exciting place of fun and adventure and in that place, I will never be bored again.

Word Count: 500

My Culture

Culture has many definitions. I could say that I'm Korean and white, but that doesn't make up who I am as a person; it makes up my background. My culture consists of what I am. I'm a Sunday School teacher at my church and have been for 7 years. I love children and I can't wait to begin teaching in my own classroom. I take care of the younger children in my life and make sure all of their needs are met. I am a caring, love, respectful person that enjoys seeing everyone I love happy. That is my culture.