Reflection on the blog

I feel that the blog was definitely a positive aspect of this course. It allowed the student to express feelings and opinions that otherwise, may have been ignored. Having casual assignments almost forced the student to think more "in-depthly" of what occurred in class (not that it's a bad thing). Writing blog entries almost became routine for me. I even blogged about things that don't really have to do with the class.

The professor's blog also provided the class with very interesting reading material that did not always relate to class material. It was a source of interesting casual reading for me and I will probably continue to read the professor's blog after this class.


I think I will continue to blog on my page after the class as a casual way to express my feelings and thoughts. Blogging can be a very healthy way of stress relief. When I have no one to talk to about my problems, I can blog and talk through my keyboard.

I once had a class where we did something similar to this. But, it was a forum on blackboard and the topics we wrote about were largely based on research and dry facts. The benefit of having a blog over a forum is that each student has their own personal space to work with. I can make my page green if I want, I can post pictures, I can even post videos. I can also write more casually knowing that it is MY page.

One way to improve this blog assignment is to add a "Class" blog/forum maintained by the professor. On this blog/forum, students can communicate with other students about school, study groups, etc. This forum can also be a means of communication between the professor and the student.

Company Name: My Life

I am my boss, I am my worker.

I budget my time, I manage my work,

Full-time student, and thirty-five hours of work.

I need a good GPA, and damn, it's hard to get those A's.

To manage my week, I lose a lot of sleep.

Put through a lot of stress, and sometimes, I feel like a mess.

But hey,

I can manage.

I am dominant

I was ranked a "D" on the DISC personality gauge. I think this D describes me pretty well. I am an aggressive, strong-willed, and sometimes even stubborn person. I try to convince others to view things through my perspective rather than sit down and rationalize (unless I really have to).

At this point in my life, I am content with being a "D." I think all young people should be "D" because we should be dominant and be aggressive in order to strive for our dreams. I don't think it's a good idea for anyone to wait till they're over the hill to start hustling and being dominant.

However, I do believe that a person can change. For example, as I mature and get older, I will obviously change my view on the world and change my method of dealing with problems. Depending on what stage of life I am in, I think I would score differently on this DISC test.

But for now, I am definitely a "D," no doubt about it.

Quote I came across

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

-Theodore Roosevelt

"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

I believe this quote can apply to almost every aspect of life, including management.

Random thought

After reading the professor's blog entry about the bear and making rash decisions, I thought of an experience I had in 5th grade. Yes 5th grade. 5th grade was about ten years ago, but I remember this moment as clearly as if it happened yesterday. My class was given the assignment to clean the classroom and I chose to slack off in the back of the classroom with a group of friends to play with our yo-yos. When the teacher came around, everyone got caught, minus me. I coincidentally was behind a cabinet to pick up my fallen yo-yo, so I was out of harms way. I heard my friends being scolded at, and I chose to remain hidden behind the cabinet. However, my teacher still saw me and pulled me out and said "look how this one hides!" I felt terrible, as if I betrayed my friends. My rash decision of avoiding my problems and allowing my friends to suffer still affects me up till this day. It was a lesson well learned. Since then, I have never hesitated for a second to approach my problems and conflicts face to face. Since that day, I have not once shied away from a problem in fear. I thank my teacher for pulling me out that day, because that experience really really left a footprint in my mind.

My Goals and Visions

1) I wish to become a high ranking officer within the NYPD

As I stated in my earlier blog entry, I am currently a cadet for the NYPD. After I graduate from college, I plan on entering the police academy. I could actually drop out of college right now and enter the academy, but I have chosen not to do so. I want to at least get my bachelors degree so I would have more promotional opportunities in the future as a police officer. With my dedication and passion towards my career, I believe I have the potential to excel within the ranks of the NYPD.


2) Continue my education in Chinese history

I have a very strong interest in ancient Chinese history. I will be studying abroad during the upcoming summer semester in China and will be taking courses in Chinese history. I enjoy reading about ancient China as my leisure reading material. But, I will not be able to finish a degree in Chinese history in the near future because I am preoccupied with my accounting degree. A month after I graduate from Baruch, I will enter the police academy, and due to the amount of time necessary for a career in law enforcement, it will be near impossible to attend college at the same time. I plan on putting this goal on hold until I retire from the NYPD around the age of 45. After retirement, I will have all the time in the world to study and go back to school.

3) Start a family

Well what's life without family? I think family is an essential part of life but it is being slowly forgotten about in our fast paced ways of life. Many of my friends are single because they spend too much time with their work and do not wish to settle down. But, I feel that all that hard work and dedication to a career is necessary, yet one also needs to have a home to return to. In terms of how I can achieve a family, I don't really know what I can do at the moment.

4) See more to understand

I don't think it is possible to know about others without actually traveling and experiencing the world. I wish to take a year or two off after I retire to travel the world and just enjoy life. In terms of an itinerary, I definitely will try to travel through most of China, including the rural and undeveloped areas. There is no point in traveling to gain knowledge if I restrict myself to cities and developed areas. In terms of what I can do to achieve this goal, I will have to work hard up till my retirement so I can be financially stable. I mean, how can I travel for two years if I am broke?

Chaos in class

I took the avoidance approach towards handling this conflict. Although I avoided the conflict, my reason for avoidance was not because I felt that my opinion didn't count, it was more that I felt indifferent towards the outcome, just as long as I was not hurt in any way. I would have been happy with a 5 point curve or even a 1 point curve, because either way, it would be a gain. By my entering into the conflict and adding a voice into the chaotic classroom would just cause more noise and more chaos.

I feel the outcome was pretty favorable. I was surprised the class was able to come to a consensus. Each person had a different agenda that benefited him/herself. Conflict was inevitable, and I think the class handled itself very well with the given time constraint and lack of resources. I think if we took a couple minutes out to clearly define and spell out the details of each proposal option, less conflict would have resulted because there would be less misunderstandings amongst students.