"WHY YOUTH LOVE SOCIAL NETWORK SITES: THE ROLE OF NETWORKED PUBLICS IN TEENAGE SOCIAL LIFE"

In this article by Danah Boyd, the author discusses the importance of social network sites in the lives of teenagers. The author tells us about the opposition MySpace, Facebook, and other sites meet from society, and the issues these sites are creating. There are many expectations placed on these social sites which are also leading to social hierarchies and drama. Parents and older generations do not appreciate the lack of privacy their children have online and do not understand the new behaviors that come along with networked publics. The author established that the norms of older generations and younger generations are creating a divide between participants and their families. This article was interesting to read because what the author said was true, but it was wierd to think that someone actually studied something that everyone already knows and accepts.

"RIGOR REDEFINED"

This article by Tony Wagner is based on the 21st century skills that employers look for in possible workers. We learn that many schools are failing to teach students these necessary school and how this is becoming a problem. 21st century skills are the skills necessary for survival in the modern world and include: critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, leadership, agility, adaptability, initiative, entrepreneurialism, effective oral/written communication, accessing/analyzing information, curiosity, and imagination. And although these skills may me missing in some students and workers, they are included in the ESLRs of my school, Granada Hills Charter High School. The teachers have taught us how to communicate and think, not just how to memorize information. I have also learned basic technological skills and how to learn as well as many other things that will come in handy when I enter the work force.

MY ROOM Personal Narrative Video

For my film class we created a film that told our story. The film is our own personal narrative. For my film i decided to base it upon my life--where and how I live. I realize that I spend most of my life in my room and everything in that room represents me. Hope you enjoy it!

VIDEO STILLS:

THE REAL WORLDStan Chambers Video Journalism Award

What everyone says about sports is true—it prepares you for real life. Volleyball is my sport. From it, I have learned leadership, teamwork, patience, and all the other cliché qualities we say are essential in a person. But I have also learned how to let things go, how to keep my mouth shut, and how to put up with people one wouldn’t necessarily want to work with—qualities necessary for survival in the business world, the so-called real world. They aren’t traits one would necessarily strive to attain, but vital attributes nonetheless. But I wonder why the life I’m living now not considered the real world. Is it fake? Does my current environment not exist? No, I think people just don’t want to admit that high school is the real world—it never really ends.

MY ROOM Personal Narrative

I live at school. The hallways, the lockers, the gum speckled floors. This is where my day begins.

I live at work. I sip my Starbucks frugally as I enter the grey room. Work, paper, red pens, paycheck. Then I drive home when the lights are bright and the skies are dark.

I live at home. Up the wide streets lined with trees. I park, eat dinner, catch up on my shows, and go upstairs.

I live in my room. I see my bulletin board, points in time frozen to be stuck upon my wall. I have a closet, my own bathroom, a desk, a bed. In my closet there are the clothes I wear and the volleyball gear I cherish. In my bathroom there is all the makeup I use, a shower, a toilet, and more lotion and body spray than I will ever need. In my desk there are papers and paychecks and junk. In my bed there are blankets and a pillow. This is where I live. After all, you spend two thirds of your life sleeping!