WRITING SAMPLE 1
As a daycare teacher I see many young kids struggle with special needs such as Autism, ADHD, and even EDD. Many child that struggle with special needs can start showing signs from the young age of two. Most daycares are staffed with individuals who are not necessarily trained or have the qualifications of a professional that teaches children with special needs. This can make teaching children with special needs a bit challenging, especially when trying to teach twenty other children. I believe every daycare should have a qualified special education teacher.
I believe most people/companies find procedures that work for them and produce the results they are looking for and stop there. These people and companies may not make changes to avoid taking a risk in trying something new, even if it works better. Some people get comfortable with how things are already done; that fear of failure may prevent them from trying something new. It could also be more expensive to change things, and maybe too expensive for people or companies to want to make changes. Most special education teacher choose not to work at daycares because of the difference in pay compared to an elementary school or high school. Compared to elementary schools and high schools, special education teachers can make $30,000 less in daycares.
To make this kind of change, there would need to be a law in placed stating that special education teachers would get paid a rate within the same range as compared to elementary schools and high schools. There would also need to be a mandatory guideline for each daycare to have a special education teacher. Daycares would have to hire special education teachers that have degrees/certifications working in special education. These teachers would help share their insight and help guide other teachers in the daycares with how to best teach children that have special needs. They will be available for one on one sessions as well as being able to help in each class. They will also be able to assess and evaluate children with permission from the parents.
There is a couple risks with this plan; some parents may not appreciate this because they would not like hearing that their child may need to be evaluated. Parents can sometimes be scared or in denial about these things and may not want to hear that their child needs extra help. To handle this the special education teacher will have to be completely honest. “People need to believe that your character and integrity are solid. They need to believe that you are worthy of their trust.” In order to gain the trust of parents, these teachers and daycares will have to exemplify honesty.
The second risk would be if the special education teachers were not producing results. The whole point of this would be to help children with special needs receive better education and care at a younger age. The special education teachers would need to be competent and produce better results and progress. “People have to believe that you know what you are talking about and that you know what you are doing. They want to be confident that you have the skills and abilities to follow through on the promises that you make…” Parents will want to be able to trust that this process works and will only appreciate it if they see results. They will need to see that these special education teachers and daycares are fully competent.
Stepping out of your comfort zone shows how far you are willing to go to achieve the goals you set for yourself. When you step out of your comfort zone you are pushing yourself and challenging yourself to make changes and try things differently. Pushing yourself past your limits show others that you believe in yourself, and that confidence is what will make others want to follow your lead. It makes you a better leader by being able to take risks and try things a different way. Being able to make changes shows that as a leader, you can adapt to any situation.
WRITING SAMPLE 2
HARRY POTTER, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
“Harry Potter” is more than a story of mysticism and magic. It is more than just a battle of good versus evil. It is a series with many important lessons and values to be learned and taught. The story touches on concepts of prejudice and intolerance, as well as the issues teenagers face everyday. The characters face battles and struggles within themselves dealing with identity and fitting in, much like many teenagers today do. Watching the movies or reading the books has helped children to connect to the characters and the battles they face.
The main character Harry Potter is a relatable hero that starts off by being bullied by his family and feeling like an outcast. Harry Potter’s best friend also struggles with being different from his peers because of his family’s financial status. Even the story’s heroine is made to feel different from her peers due to her family’s lineage. The feeling of not belonging and loneliness is something many teenagers go through; especially ones that are bullied or just treated differently. Most children that read “Harry Potter” can relate to these issues and use this series as a way to cope with those feelings.
Author of “Why Everyone Should Read Harry Potter”, Bret Stetka feels there are important lessons to be learned from “Harry Potter”. Lessons of empathy, prejudice, and intolerance are shared in the series and have helped many adolescents. Those that have faced these struggles can relate to the series; and those that have not gone through these issues can now empathize with those that have. The studies Stetka discusses in his article have shown how this series has increased positivity, empathy, and tolerance in children. “Among those who identified with the Harry Potter character, attitudes...were found to be significantly improved in children who’d read passages dealing with prejudice.”(Stetka). “Harry Potter” has created a positive influence on today’s youth and shed light on serious issues that everyone faces.
HARRY POTTER, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER 3
Sarah Rainey author of “You can’t be serious about Harry Potter”, feels “Harry Potter” is not an academic work. Rainey is right in saying so. “Harry Potter” may not be the next “Hobbit”, and JK Rowling may not be the next Tolkein; but she and her series were not meant to be. “Harry Potter” is a children story and is meant connect to young adolescents and the issues they face. Rainey only sees the series as being compared to academic works, “her books, though enthralling, weren’t written for academic study. It’s an injustice to Britain’s true literary greats to pretend otherwise.”(Rainey). Rainey’s article shares many of her negative opinions of the series, yet it does not discuss the positive influence the books have had on today’s youth. Each character in her series is relatable in some way; even the villains and less liked characters have their own struggles that make them relatable. JK Rowling created a world in which children can connect to one another and overcome their issues.
“Harry Potter” is not just a popular series, it has become so much more than that. It has become a way for today’s youth to overcome their struggles and differences. This story has taught valued lessons to children and become a positive influence for them. “Harry Potter” has become a way for people to connect to one another. “Harry Potter” is more than a book, it’s a way to bring people together.
MY GRADUATION STORY
Who was I before I came to Full Sail University? I was a college dropout. I had attended a university before with a very different plan in mind, but I wasn’t sure that it was the right path for me. I had felt lost and confused what the future held for me, so I had dropped out. I have always had a passion for writing and art but never believed I could pursue a career that would fulfill these passions. I had dreams of being a journalist but debated whether I could actually chase after my dreams. After not finishing my degree at the last university, I had doubts about going back to school. I would be starting over completely and going in a completely different direction than I originally had planned; I was scared. I was scared I would fail.
Then I found Full Sail University. I had heard of Full Sail while I was in high school but assumed it was just an art school. I didn’t know how much more there was that Full Sail could offer me. I wanted to do a bachelor degree program online that was fast paced. Seeing that the MCBS program would take less than three years to complete, I picked up the phone and called. I was able to speak with someone right away; they answered all my questions, listened to my concerns, and before I even realized it I was being interviewed to enroll. After one phone call, I knew Full Sail was the right school for me.
I was excited knowing I was going to learn new skills and develop myself into a successful journalist. I was ready to learn graphic design and editing skills that I had lacked before this program. I knew nothing about graphic design, editing, Adobe apps, and marketing. All of these skills were completely foreign to me and I knew I would have to work even harder to learn these new skills. My courses did more than just teach me new skills; they challenged me and pushed me out of my comfort zone. I enjoyed New Media Tools, Graphic Design and Communications, Editing for the Web, Gaming and Transmedia, and Media Entrepreneurship. These classes showed me all the potential I
possess and showed me the endless possibilities I can pursue with this degree.
Before this program I never imagined, saying I could be able to create my own commercial, website, or logo. Or start my own business and create my own business and marketing plan. I never thought I was someone capable of owning my own business, but after taking Media Entrepreneurship and being assigned to create my very own business and marketing strategies, changed my perspective entirely. Learning all of these skills through the projects and assignments given was not only fun and interesting, it was also challenging and rewarding; knowing that in the future I can apply these skills to my career as a journalist. Being able to create and edit content, and create a brand for myself gave me the skills needed to define myself as a journalist and be prepared for the tasks that my future has in store for me. These classes showed me what I am capable of and what I can accomplish. I am beyond proud of all the new skills I have learned, all that I have accomplished, and the growth that this program has given me in this short span of time.
At the start of this journey, my goal was to complete this program with honors and master the new skills that I would learn. Going through this program and realizing all the different ways my degree could benefit me, my goal changed. I wanted to make myself the most well rounded and successful journalist I could be, by having a bachelors in Media Communication. Like anything in life that you really want, this program required time, focus, and determination. I struggled with new apps and tools I had never used before, but my creativity and inspiration thrived and continued to grow. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to chose Full Sail from the very beginning of my college experience. I would have told myself to start this journey sooner and chose what I am truly passionate about. So now that I am graduating what’s next for me? A masters in journalism and pursing my
dream. After completing this program I can finally say I am a college graduate.