Indian Epics Blog

My sophomore year, first semester, I was hitting a wall, and I failed a test in Real Analysis. I would have to get a 100 on every homework, quiz, midterm, and a 95% on the final to get an A in the class. In the process, I would likely need to throw all of my other classes too, so it became a question of prioritizing that one class, or the other five. I'll spoil the ending and say I got an A in analysis as well as my other classes, but it was not because I suddenly sacrificed my time like no other- I just became more efficient at using it. I read two different articles over time strategies, one which covers beating procrastination, the other over prioritization of tasks. How to Beat Procrastination Beating procrastination is likely the first step one needs to overcome in the path to achieving something. Often times, we can see a huge list of things we need to do, and we become so discouraged by the volume of duties, that we put it off all together. In this article, Caroline Webb ...

This class uses a wide array of different technologies to assist students- far more than just Canvas. I actually am very excited about this because up until now (my former blog posts as evidence), my main excitement of the class was learning Indian Epics; however, with the emphasis on modular technology skills as well, there will be a more lasting impact. As an engineering major, we are told that if we have the free time, we should pick up computer science skills, such as programming, or online design skills. The issue is, with such a packed semester, it can be hard to add in different classes. Though I had the free time, I chose to add math instead of CS. With this class, I do not expect to gain an in-depth knowledge of programming nor website design, but rather, an introduction to basic image manipulation or website design to allow me to further skills later if I wish. An edited statement- Looking forward to learning about Indian Epics and more about technology in the classroom! ...

I had the chance to see all of the classifications of the different required assignments as well as the extra credit options that the class contains. Central to these assignments is an emphasis on effective dissemination of information. There are reading assignments for us to learn the material, storytelling assignments for us to have a chance to increase our skills, then feedback/project oriented assignments to give us the chance to see how other students are doing. Overall, I believe this seems like a large amount of work, but not because the work itself sums to a large amount of time, rather, because it is a litany of different kinds of assignments. I'm looking forward to the class structure as a whole though because of the free form nature of the assignments. While there are set due dates for some of the assignments, they are spaced out enough for more freedom to tackle the class when one is free. The year is well-defined and thought out, and I hope that I will learn a lot!...

I've had the chance to hear about the Growth Mindset in two other areas before today: Dean's Leadership Council and The OU Math Center. Both involve working as a student mentor/assistant to ensure academic and collegiate success. The overall idea of the growth mindset strikes me as a great idea, and the criticisms against it seem to be moreso against poor implementations of the idea, rather than the idea itself. Though I had the chance to hear about the growth mindset earlier and even the studies that were run on the kids, I did not know about the overall results and the "Not Yet" grade. I find this to be a great idea, because it pushes the idea that the end of the semester is not the final indicator of success, but rather, the chance to continue for the next semester. The main reason I find the Growth Mindset to be so persuasive is because it stresses the idea of inspiration. I would like to work more ideas from the mindset itself into my life and see what result...

My name is Sean, and I am double majoring in chemical engineering and mathematics. I enjoy mathematics and computations, and the engineering program marries these two very well, while the mathematics program introduces a theoretical side. I hope to learn enough about mathematical modeling and refinery operations to become a financial forecaster for crude training. Favorite Foods: My favorite food of all time is the szechuan chicken with hot chile oil from a restaurant in my hometown called Szechuans. But other great foods include: gumbo, steak, and kettle chips. I had the chance to intern at ExxonMobil in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where I consumed a large amount of cajun food. I had gumbo 3-4 times per week and while there are many kinds of gumbo, the best is by far chicken and sausage. Free Time: In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer, running, and racquetball. Soccer is a sport I've played for the past 15-16 years, and I've played for many teams including intramural and c...

As this class moves further in the semester, I have had the chance to see a few different Storybook projects. Below are three that especially caught my attention. Stepmother's Prison I've always found prison to be a fascinating story concept because of the power it has. Some consider the loss of freedom to be the punishment itself; others will consider the society of criminals to be the real punishment. Either way, this story grabs my attention because of the niche crime it appears to represent. Wicked stepmothers are a common archetype in stories, but mixing them with prisons is a somewhat different take. The blog divides the story into each inmate's tale, and it invites the reader to find out who truly deserves to be in prison. Remains of the Dungeon Rachitova in Romania, Source: Stepmother's Prison Tales from the Arabian Nights My first introduction to the Arabian Nights was through a Looney Tunes episode where Bugs outsmarts Daffy at every turn to ke...

Last summer, my family had the opportunity to go on a cruise around Hawaii, where we stopped at many different islands within the week. Of all the things one would here about Hawaii: the beaches, the food, the people, and the weather, it can be difficult to explain exactly what about the area I liked the most because each trait amalgamated so well to create a great experience. Though it can be difficult to choose the best part of the trip, there were three key things that stood out to me when compared to any other location: the inland areas, the food, and of course, the beaches. The cruise we went on featured great shore-trips where we had the chance to go inland and try out things such as river kayaking, rappelling down waterfalls, and biking on volcanos. It gives a great sense of what the area is really about as opposed to tourism. The food itself was different because of the freshness it exuded. Each morning there was an array of different fruits available for breakfast that had...