proposal

My critical question is “the role fear plays in athletes and their sport.”
Patrick Grayson wrestler UNL
His sport has a lot of fearful aspects, danger, aloneness, ect.
How he uses his fear and if they hold him back in his wrestles
FEAR
I met him a week ago and have a class with him
We are literally talking about is as I write this.

1. What is your biggest fear coming into a match?
2. Does loosing make you loose faith in your game plan?
3. What do you feel before a match
4. How do you handle fear before a match?
5. How does fear motivate you or hold you back?
6. If you could compete without fear how would that change your performance (better or worse)?
7. What is your preparation for the match?
8. How does preparing help calm nerves?
9. What concern does your coach have going into the match?
10. Have you ever been shut down by fear? And explain.
11. What role does fear play across the sport?
12. How does the fear of getting hurt hold you back or impact your performance?
13. Because wrestling is a dangerous sport how does your love for it over the fears?
14. How do you think playing this sport will effect your future?
15. How will changes or improvements in athletes’ performance impact the game? (athletes are getting stronger player are bigger and faster)

blog 4

Reading both of the podcast “Summer Camp” and “Becoming Batman” I really understood “Become Batman “and having to talking to others about “summer camp” really helped in my compression of it. The main point in “summer camp” was how there is nothing like the way kids connect and interact in a camp setting. There this authenticity in kids doing childish things when they are around one another that can not be imitated in normal society. The way kids act around another in a summer camp setting is unique and very special. In “Becoming Batman” the head point was about how we has people can literally handicap people that have the ability to overcome it. This podcast I liked listening to a lot, it shows how if we expect good thing from people the people can meet any point they set for themselves, no matter their situation. Like with the rats that had the same intelligence but a group of people were told one set was smarter than the other. So we expected more from what they considered the “smarter rats” so they handled them with much better care, which ultimately ended up with better test results. This was a great way to show when you expect you behave differently, in the case positively and they got positive results.

I feel we hear from the journalist more then the subject they write about to the control they have on how it is edited and exposed. They can twist quotes and leave things out that could have a major impact on the point the subject was trying to get across not say all writers do so, but the defiantly have that option when publishing a piece of writing.

The most intriguing of either podcast to me was the part in “Becoming Batman” when they talked about how the blind society was holding blind people back and not letting the reach their full potential in life. “The Blind society” did not expect them to be able to do thing they are capable of doing.

Brainstorming

I think I would be interested in doing a profile project after listening to the podcast it was extremely interesting in how they used that piece to show like to there subject. How I will incorporate my critical question is going to be a little hard, but I want to do it I first need to zoom in who exactly I will pick to “ shed some particularly interesting light” Maybe I could do Chris Borland and his fear of future injury which brought a premature stop to his career. I could talk/study the team doctor and get and see how he goes about handling head injuries and what he thinks the way we should go about taking care of them even some prevention stuff. but the problem I might run into with this there is so much info already  out there on this subject there is no light to be shed. I need to find places to shine light. It is going to be a challenge to find new angles to take this story on. This point is highly talked about around sports probably one of the most talked about issues so I probably talk to some people and see what they think.

How would the world be different if fear did not play such a big role in our lives and our community? Fear is something that is personal to everyone, everyone has at least one thing that’s terrifies them in some ways. This question has a huge impact on the society because are communities are so affected by fear without it we could unravel. Depending on your point of view the answers can be vastly varied. Questions that come can be spun off of are things along the line of, “what is we took out other emotions like anger?” and “is fear necessary to survival?” Talking about fear is Broad enough to have a lot of different ideas, specific enough to be able to focus. I honestly do not know where I stand on this my point will probably form somewhere during the writing process.

Waking up early to this alarm going of I place my feet onto the icy cold floor and mown in grief for my soles. I look blankly in the mirror know I have to make this extremely long walk to class after breakfast. During that walk the sun peeping his large head through the clouds smile upon my face baking my skin and causing my pours to flesh open. As I would continue to walk I see the proud Nebraska N on all the banners, which bring happiness to my family, and me knowing I am apart of the greatness. I will eventually enter my first class and see all these familiar but still new faces, and begin my day.

1.     Grim reaper

2.     Scythe

3.     Fear Factor

4.     Roller-coaster

5.     Death

6.     Sickness

7.     Not doing what you love

8.     Loosing people love

9.     Love

I think the best artifacts for this story would actually two of the artifacts from my list, the Grim reaper (Death`s Personification) and his Scythe. First the grim reaper an American classic in my opinion one that depicts mainly death one of our societies biggest fears. The Grim`s image is a sign the end is near no matter how hard we try to avoid it we can not. Even how we envision the grim reaper provides a ominous and inevitable feeling of darkness. His massive, but slight figure covered in a long dark rob, he seems to appear out of nowhere escorted by a cloud of smoke and leaves in similar spectacular fashion. Now to his weapon of choice, The Scythe a tool used for cutting crops such as grass or wheat, with a long curved blade at the end of a long pole attached to which are one or two short handles. But in his hands turns into some so much more devious. So as we all know death has many ways of getting the job done, caner, disease, accident, and even doing others to do his bidding.

People fear death but we also have many other fears that are not a ultimate and for me that is not being able to play football. Some people may not be able to understand it but my love for football has gotten me through a lot. Its kept me on track in school and built my character I ways I probably would of never reached without it. Just the thought of not being able to continue to do something I love this much shakes me to the bone. This fear I have is unfortunately a situation that is possible playing the game everyday is putting your body at risk for something to hinder or even stop completely your ability to play. It is not only on field actions that can cause this, many none football related situations can as well. There are  many other fears that some have and all are real how could we live without it.

While I was looking around my room a few things caught my eye I noticed a few things, my towel slumped over it self like a crippled old man who has had a very long day. My broken TV old and uninstalled sit it self on top of my dresser that holds more dirty clothes than clean ones. My closet with disappointed hangers do the lack of clothes actually hanging. The trash bin standing in the corner surprisingly more kept together than most things in my room. But the pride of my room just so happens to not even be in my room, it actually the beautiful view out the window, with the broken blinds. Once you get past all the ugly distractions in front  the scene you get a glimpse of is one to behold.

Living Cather Hall is an unique experience do to the communal living and the close proximity to your fellow room mates. Which means you also have to share very tight restroom and bathing areas. I can remember the last time I took a shower having a very long and quite comical conversation with myself. As I looked down at my showers shoes, which make me chuckle every time I see them, I start to think why exactly we need them. The chance you could get sick from the bactira from everyone who uses them before is what I was always told, but I thought to myself what if that was not the case? What if the reason we have to protect our feet from hitting the bottom of the shower floors was do to there being chemical that seep out from the drains. Something similar to what the “Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles” encountered. The result of the contact with it could be the reverse turning us humans into Old age Mutant Samurai People.

Last night my parents left  UNL and leaving me here to fend for myself in this new surroundings. It is a ten hour drive from here back to Dallas one we have made once before. I am confident in my dads driving abilities, but with at drive that long I had to be somewhat concerned. I simulated what I think the drive would be like in my head over and over. Nebraska to Dallas is a trip headed south and in a car you will spend some time driving in every state in between. After you leave Nebraska you will hit Kansas, next you will enter Oklahoma, and lastly Texas then smooth sailing to Dallas. That’s the plan I knew I will give them a call as soon as I woke up.

My favorite class in high school was definetly football, since I lived in Texas the sport was considered a class you were graded on. You did not get things like standard test but you were graded on how hard you worked. Performance was not grade able either because for those who did not play might have worked harder than those who are playing, but just not as talented.

            The most recent argument I had with a friend that got really heated really fast was over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. They tried to discredit all of our success as an organization. People simply do not like you if you win and that is what told him. His side was every time we win there is always an asterisk, meaning there was always a rule broken or bent.

            Right now I am thinking that this work is very, very time consuming and as soon as I get it done I have another class to start on. My spelling is terrible and saying my grammar needs work is a huge understatement. Now being in college the little things that used to get passed up in high school wont fly.

            When I think of home I imagine my high school football locker room surrounded by all my old teammates from all past years. Our head coach is giving us one of his famous old school country pre-game speeches. We laugh insanely hard and got out a play an amazing game of football. What team are we playing?  Is  it a home or away game? The game was amazing but did we win?

BLOG 2

How would the world be different if fear did not play such a big role in our lives and our community? After listening to “Invisabelia’s Fearless” the first thing I noticed as the story progressed was, I was totally fooled by the title. “Fearless” at first look it kind of sound like it would be a motivational piece but to my surprise it was totally blinding. After reading the article I did find some thing very interesting, the story about the lady born not being able to feel fear. Her brain can literally not feel fear, which is crazy to think about. Not being able to be scared seems like a recipe for failure, but she has survived it states that she does have common sense, but in my head being scared of something causes you to avoid it, avoiding it keeps you safe. that process seems like common sense so it shocks me she is still alive.

The question “How would the world be different if fear did not play a big role in our lives and our community?” is one that came to me reading the article. Imagining a world with no fear to me seems like it would lead to a world that lacks respect. A lot of people combined fearing something and respecting it, world leaders like Kin Jong Un ruler of North Korea is very respected simply through fear. Although the respect you get from fear is only there as long as you are in control it still very much exist. Growing up in my parent household they raised us in fear of being whooped for making the wrong decisions. By doing that my siblings and I were more cautious at a young age, respecting other and things better than most of our peers.

            One thing is for sure that society has changed over time do to fear kids have less freedom do to concerned parents seeing stories on the news about abductions and petrifies on the streets. They aren’t willing to put their kids a risk so they restrict and have tight leash. People walking around with more and more concealed weapons in fear of being mugged or assaulted. The families that only have one parent working three jobs in fear of loosing shelter for their kids.

                                 

            I feel this question could be answered by so many different people give a wide variety of answers, ranging from pure and complete peace across the world or true and utter chaos though out the globe. With such a wide area of responses this question is perfect to get people minds working trying to put themselves in a mental simulation of a world where fear is none existent. My only concern is that the one trying to answer the question wont be able to get a vivid picture of what their reality would be like with no fear, leaving them unable to provide a answer the truly believe.

 "Leaders aren't born, they are made. They are made by hard effort which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal which is worthwhile." - Vince Lambardi ( Curated Quotes , 2015 ). 

This quote is something I try to embody as a person. Being a leader is something I strive to be. It's my most notable trait. If you were to ask my friends to describe me they would say something along the lines of a charismatic leader, who strives to be the best and to get the best out of people around him. Being a leader especially helps me out when it comes to the sport I love, which is football.

            Football has always been a major part of my life. Since I can remember I’ve always wanted to play,  but I didn’t get my chance until the fourth grade. That’s when my love for the game began. Starting from my pee wee days, I was a lineman who craved for the ball to be in my hands. Getting the opportunity in the seventh grade. The journey at the running back position took off. From there on out, my destiny was set in motion. Which lead me to a very successful high school career. Where I had to step up and be a leader at a young age, earing the starting spot on varsity as a sophomore. It was a difficult position to fill, but with the help of my teammates, coaches, & family we overcame the odds with three consecutive winning seasons. Which ultimately landing me with a full scholarship to the University of Nebraska. Giving me the chance to play the game that I love.

           

            Growing up with two immigrant parents from Nigeria taught my sibilings & I about the value of a good education & strong work ethic. Watching them work to provide for my older sister, Sandra, older brother DJ, and younger sister Sabrina really showed me that everything  they tried to teach us were lessons worth learning. Watching them barely make ends meet gave us the drive to be successful in doing something we love.  My oldest sister Sandra, thrived in the classroom. Earning her multiple academic scholarships to the university of her choice. She ended up starting off at Rutgers, transferring to the University of Houston and getting her masters at Texas Womens. My older brother excelling on the court gave him the opportunity to play college basketball at Concordia University in Austin.  My youngest sister is currently in the middle of her high school shot put career with one offer already on the table.

           

            Friends are also very important to me, they are the people we  choose to be around which make them special in a way that they fits exactly what we are looking for in companions. My male friends are heavily guys I have played football with or against. We have built strong connections due to the trials & sacrifices football has put us through.  Although one thing I think I do very well is being able to meet & talk to people, making them feel comfortable around me. Which allows me to connect with people from all different backgrounds.

                        There are short and long term goal that I hope to achieve in college. My short term goals include finishing the summer session with a GPA of at least a 3.5, and making a strong impact during summer workouts with the team. My long term goals are to graduate UNL as an All American in athletics and in academics. I hope to achieve all these things & more, but I know it will take hard work & dedication that I am willing to put in.