Back to me...

As many of you know my english lit class has recently taken over my blogging topics. I have been caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, school, and the ins and outs of life as a college student living in (gasp) Miami. So heres a little update on my life thus far:

I am currently 3 weeks away from my second semester as a college freshman. This semester has flown by, and I can say that I have grown more in these past 4 months than in the past 4 years... allow me to explain.

Appreciation is a word used often in my vocab. recently. Throughout high school I was as i like to put it "stable". My finances, my relationship with God, and my Relationship with my boyfriend at the time. The most hurtful thing in my life was the "family life" situation. Well, in the past few months much has changed. I am no longer financially independent meaning for the first time in my life I have to RELY on PEOPLE IE(my mom and G-Ma) for money. Hard hard hard concept for me to swallow.. (im hard-headed, I know Im working on it...) My relatinship with God also took a bit of a nose dive over the summer. Some know things i went through, but basically I was ignoring God flat out. I could see him calling me to a higher standard and moving my life in different directions than i chose to go. And my boyfriend situation took a turn for the worst, but not only that, i listened to the people around me about relationships rather than looking to God for what he wanted for my life.... so after being a mess for a few months... with some hard work, and some deep God time, heres what i have so far...

1) I've realized that dispite my pride, its ok to rely on my mom for things. I have found that having to go to my parents for money has not only made me appreciate their graciousness, but it has made me see how blessed I was before and how i still am so blessed. I know God is still calling me to tithe and I am doing so with the faith that he will provide, and guess what?? He Has.

2) For the first time and a very long time, my family is finally stable. I cant tell you how long it I have prayed for life to be just normal. And you know what, God always answers our prayers, maybe not in our time frame, but in his, and you know what? My mom is now getting married at the Ritz in Miami to a wonderful man of God... hows that for an answered prayer.

3) Finally, the big one... i started working in student ministry again... I cant tell you how good it feels to be where I feel like I belong again. I have been praying for just paitence in every aspect of my life. As far as relationships go, im done doing it my way. I am finally content waiting on Gods timing... if its today, tomorrow, next week, for 5 years... he has never let me down in any aspect, and I dont know why Ive doubted him in this area of my life.

So there it is... my life up until this point... lots has changed, some good and some bad, but I'm a work in progress and as long as I keep my feet on the ground and eyes on God, life is and will continue to be....GOOD!

NCLB

The upcomming election is rapidly approaching, and as the days are counting down the real issues have come to the forefront. As a future teacher, and a current student, Education has become a primary issue and concern on my part. Early on in President Bush's term, he implimented the "No Child Left Behind" act. The goal was to subject students around the country to national assesments to test the indivudal's level of reading, math, and science skills in comparison the rest of the country. The goal was intended by the year 2014 for every child to meet a standard of reading and math scores on the assesment tests. A seemingly good idea; however, the program, although good in theory was never properly funded or carried out.


A question that has been raised for the upcomming election has been whether to revise or removed the current policy in place. After listening to both canidates on this issue, I must admit, my opinions reside with Senator Obama. In his speech regarding NCLB Act, he says:
"The assessment tools are inadaquate to measure a child's comprehension level. Although I do believe in setting a high standard, children reach their benchmark of high standards throughout different points in their education. The NCLB policy must be revised to form a growth model, to track a students progress. Instead of penalizing schools and teachers for not having students meeting a high standard, instead provide them the tools and resources needed to improve test scores. To recieve funding, progress must be made every year."

After hearing Senator Obama's comments on this issue, I happen to agree. I think we all can agree that the status quo of education in the United States is not acceptable. Test scores are at an all time low. Forcing children to reach a standard at the same point in their lives is an impossible task to attempt to accomplish. Ask anyone with more than one child and they will tell you that no two children reach the same peak in benchmark at the same time. I believe that these tests undermine the quality of educaution and promote superficial educaution goals that prevent real learning from progressing.

It should be abolished and a new growth model set into place so that schools and teachers can recieve funding and resources to ensure that ever child is truly never left behind.