How to overcome procrastination.

Charles Dickens once said "procrastination is the thief of time." I believe Dickens to be a smart man.  I procrastinate on a regular basis, but recently I have found that my procrastination, along with all of my friends has gotten enormously worse.  My original theory was that my senioritis had gotten the best of me, but I soon realized that I wasn't the only one.  And along the way I learned that perhaps my previously diagnosed "senioritis" was just procrastination wrapped in a fancier word.

be right back... taking care of a few things...

My first goal was to find the true meaning of procrastination.  Along the way I found out that more people have the same problems as I do.  By clicking HERE you can view all of the answers that I received along the way.  However, I found that most people define procrastination the same as I do, procrastination is putting off the work that you don't want to do.  

However, I wasn't satisfied with just finding the meaning of procrastination, I wanted to hear stories.  I wanted to hear how other people have procrastinated.  Through asking what the meaning of procrastination was, I decided to ask these individuals what their worst procrastination story was.  I wanted this video to show the raw emotion that comes through procrastinating.  When someone procrastinates to the point of "FINAL COUNTDOWN" a sudden panic races across the persons mind.  My hope for this video was to show the slight insanity that comes with procrastination, along with the humorous moments that may happen. You can watch this video by clicking HERE

But if humorous, weird videos can't make you motivated here are a few simple tips for overcoming your procrastination:

1. Deal with your stress.  Sometimes extra stress can cause someone to distance themselves from the work that they have to complete.  My suggestion?  Make sure you get enough sleep and take plenty of time to relax.

2. Set a Schedule.  Days can go by so quickly.  There can be one moment where you have enough time in the day and then the next you see shooting stars.  Set a schedule, plan out your day.  Provide yourself enough time to accomplish what you have on your list that day.

3. Give yourself a firm deadline.  I find this tip to be the most helpful.  Sometimes my main problem is that I see the abundant amount of time that I have and I keep putting it off until "later".  Well "later" always become procrastinating until the last minute.  If I can I try to set a firm deadline for myself, and then if I meet the deadline I reward myself with a new nail polish, shirt, or whatever strikes my fancy.  

These three tips will surely help out future procrastination problems.  But remember take baby steps and go at the pace that you feel most comfortable.

Sexism in the Media

I recently watched the a documentary called MissRepresentation.  MissRepresentation was created by Jennifer Newson and in the film countless individuals talk about the current situation of sexism in the media. I was inspired by the film and felt that I needed to do some research on my own.

MissRepresentation Trailer 

The first thing I researched was sexism in advertising.  In the film 'Mona Lisa Smile' I remember Julia Roberts character talking about the way advertisements portrayed women.  Advertisements would specifically state that women were meant to be in the kitchen.  So what were some of the most scandelous advertisements from the early 1900's?  Here's an article that I found on Vintage Advertisements : http://www.amusingplanet.com/2010/09/45-vintage-sexist-ads-that-wouldnt-go.html But here are a few that caught my eye: 

So has advertising today changed at all?  Sure it's not as up-front and in your face as these old advertisements, but it's still there.  Here's an article from the most offensive ads of 2012: Advertising Fails 2012 and I do believe that my most favorite out of all of these is the commercial that dumbs down science enough so women can understand it: 

In the film MissRepresentation, I believe Lisa Ling, executive producer and host of OWN's "Our America" said it best "As a culture, women are brought up to be fundamentally insecure and always looking for the time when that knight on a horse will come and rescue us or provide for us."

I believe that there is a problem that we as a culture are facing.  The United States is 90th in the world when it comes to the number of women in state legislatures.  Girls today continue to have distorted body images about what is perfect.  I whole-heartedly believe that women need to stop dumbing themselves down and start remembering the women who fought so hard to get us where we are today.  Inspiring women such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Maya Angelou and many others.  These women are the women that we should be celebrating.  

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Western North Carolina

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Western North Carolina has been granting wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses since 1985.  Make-A-Wish is a national non-profit organization that started in Arizona in 1980.  Since then the organization has grown to have more than 50 chapters nation wide.

Most people only see the wishes being granted, but how does this organization run on a day to day basis.  So much goes on behind the scenes that a lot of people don't see.  I went to the office for Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina and sat down and asked the employees there a few questions.

Since Make-A-Wish is a non-profit organization, they have to raise their own funds to be able to grant wishes to children.  Through fundraisers, grants and donations from individuals and organizations, Central and Western North Carolina was able to grant 213 wishes last year.

This video will showcase what this organization stands for and how they are able to grant wishes to so many children.  Through hope, strength and joy Make-A-Wish is able to give happiness to children who need it the most.

click here to view my video

Vive La France

This spring transfer students from France started their journey at Winthrop University.  Coming to America means a huge culture shock for most French students.  I decided to ask a few students what stereotypes they had initially heard about America and how that changed after getting here.  To my surprise most students said that they had always heard that American people were genuinely nice, especially in South Carolina.  Below is a link to a video capturing the french students impressions of America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkGc0qFLYaA&feature=youtu.be

The Hardin Garden at Winthrop University

  The Hardin Garden

   

                                                                             photo cred: Winthrop University

     Winthrop University's Hardin Garden was completed in Spring 2011.  A class project recently led me to find out a little more about the Hardin Garden. 

    I was asked to find out more information about the garden.    The garden was made possible by a generous donation from Patricia Carter, a 1969 graduate from Winthrop University.  The design of the garden is mimicked by the "Golden Section," a principle that can be found in the pyramids of Egypt, Notre Dame Cathedral and many other pieces of art and nature.  

     As I walked around the garden I finally noticed all the intricate details that was poured into the design of the garden.  So many little things surprised me.  A small section is designed to allow nature and man-made objects work together to form art.  So many details make this garden a beautiful place to visit and relax.  When you're not looking at the art pieces placed throughout the garden you can wander over to the several waterfalls that are placed in the garden.  

A small Utopia among Winthrop's campus.

The Hardin Garden

     

Just Another Manic Monday

     To most students Mondays are commonly known as “Manic Monday.”  (Manic Monday is the struggle that most students experience from coming off the weekend.)

Morgan Bingham

     While some students would prefer to ease into their week, most students find their Monday’s to be their busiest day.  

     Morgan Bingham, senior, said “I hate Monday’s because I immediately have to start with an 8 a.m.”  Bingham’s Mondays start with six hours of class and then continue into five hours of work.  

     And for sophomore, Annie Dover, Mondays are no different.  “Mondays are really bad for me because I spend my weekend preparing for my Monday classes and then I just get even more work,” Dover said.  

Annie Dover

     So are Monday’s really that bad?  

     According to the Huffpost, researchers from The Telegraph said “Monday mornings are so depressing that, on average, we don’t crack our first smile until 11:16 a.m.”  

     So how can students, or anyone, get rid of the “Manic Monday” blues?  

     Researchers said, “The best way to beat those Monday blues is by indulging in activities like watching television, online shopping, buying chocolate or make-up, or planning a holiday.”

Leads and Nut Graphs

1.     One man is left dead and two men are hospitalized this morning after a car collided with a fire engine at the intersection of Post Rd. and Rollins Ave.  At 7:10 AM Charles R. Lydon was driving north on Post Road approaching the intersection at 40 mph.  His van then struck a fire engine that was responding to an emergency call.  Both its lights and sirens were in operation.  The two firemen aboard the vehicle were hospitalized; their condition is not currently known.  Lynden was killed upon impact and his van was totaled.  Damage to the fire engine was estimated at $50,000.   The fire engine was traveling at an estimated 25 mph, while responding to a report of a store fire.  Authorities have not yet determined who was at fault. 

2.     A report issued in DC today by the Highway Loss Data Institute, an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said that there are advantages to driving big cars. A study by the institute found that small two-door models, and many midsize sport or specialty cars have the worst injury and repair records.  Many of these smaller cars show injury claim frequencies and repair losses at least 30% higher than average, while many large cars, station wagons and vans show 40-50% better than average claim records.

3.     An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, out today, concerned the dangers of hotdogs.  According to a researcher, “if you were trying to design something that would be perfect to blow a child’s airway, it would be a bite-size piece of hotdog.”  The researcher concluded that children under the age of four should never be given a whole hotdog to eat and that hotdogs should never be cut crossways.  Studies estimate that every five days, someone, somewhere in the United States, chokes to death on a hotdog.  Other risky foods for children up to age 9 include: candy, nuts, grapes, apples, carrots and popcorn.

4.     A local family is distraught today after finding out that the body they buried was not of their loved one.  The family of Kristine Belcuore received an apologetic call from the morgues office saying that the body they had buried was that of a woman whose corpse had been unclaimed for a month.  The error was discovered after the medical examiners office realized the month-old corpse had disappeared.  According to the morgues office someone probably “misread” the identifying tag.  During presumed funeral for Mrs. Belcuore the family never viewed the remains, the casket remained closed throughout the proceedings.  A family relative said, “we went through all the pain and everything, all over the wrong body, and now we have to go through it again.”  Mrs. Belcuore died of a heart attack last week at the age of 51.  She leaves behind a husband and four children.  

All About Wyatt Minton

In between fighting villains in World of Warcraft quests, throwing together fashion statements, flying through the air during a Quiddich match and basically juggling classes, Wyatt Clifton Minton IV is anything but your ordinary college student.

Minton, 20, is a Winthrop University student.  Currently Minton is pursuing a major in digital information design with a concentration in interactive media. 

“When I graduate I would want to be a front end web developer for a fashion house,” Minton said, “ultimately I just want to be successful and make a difference in the web world.”

However before Minton graduates he finds himself busy gaming, spending time with friends, being Vice President of the Winthrop Quiddich Team and losing himself in fashion.

Minton’s style in mostly influence by what he can throw together.  Being instinctively creative, Minton loves finding unique items from stores like Goodwill and Plato’s Closet and is able to throw together an outfit unique to him and his style. 

“I don’t have a defined sense of style, one day I’ll be in something ‘normal’ and the next day it’s like I stepped off a skateboard,” Minton said.

Minton admits that his interest in fashion stems from his 31-year-old older sister.

Minton’s sister is currently a supervisor at a shelter.

Along with his sister, Minton’s mother is a stay at home mom while his dad is a Pastor in the Methodist Church. 

Because of his father being a Pastor, Minton grew up traveling a lot, but considers Summerville and Columbia, South Carolina to be his ‘home-base.’ 

“With the whole moving thing, I had to make friends quickly.  So basically I can talk to anyone and make friends with anyone,” Minton said.

The most interesting thing about Minton is that his interests have a very wide range. 

Interests / favorites include all of the following:

·         Favorite singer: Beyonce

·         Favorite director: Christopher Nolan

·         Favorite super hero: Green Lantern

·         Favorite movie: Law Abiding Citizen

·         Obsessed with tigers

·         Scared of heights and wasps, but loves scorpions

All in all Minton loves what he likes and is determined to become the person that he wants to be.