Conclusion

      My English course gave me the opportunity to create this blog where I could express my thoughts on different themes. It has been a very beautiful learning experience to share my ideas with everyone who reads me. All themes were very interesting, but my absolute favorite was education. This particular one is well related with what I am studying, and as a future educator I pour myself out and gave my definition of education. Every person has his/her point of view and it should be respected. I feel very satisfied with the class during the semester because we were able to do different things. Now it has come to an end in which I have the opportunity to meet and share with extraordinary people, and, of course, an excellent professor. I acquire more knowledge and experience about my area of study, and have an unforgettable time. This little moments in life are the ones that makes us  grow as humans and, by consequence, as professional. I say it, and I repeated, I am very satisfied with the quality of class that gave my professor. I appreciate each and everyone who took time to read my entries; it has been a pleasure sharing my thoughts with you. But now it time to say good bye, I wish all a beautiful Christmas break with your family and loved ones,, and that this New Year brings you a lot of blessings; in other words: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

                                             

Poverty in the world

   Poverty is an epidemic that has spread around the world for many years. We can travel to any country and there will always be a poor town but the reality is that they never show us that part of the country. Just as there are people with great riches, there are also people living in extreme poverty. These people all they ask is to have a meal or a roof to sleep a day, while those who have everything do not value anything that they have and demand to have more. World poverty affects us greatly, because for that, thousands of innocent people die each country because they have nothing to stay alive. Those most affected by global poverty are children, because they have no way to get educated, to eat, to have access to medicine or to a roof to live and all because of their economic situation. It is very sad to see these situations and act as if nothing were happening.

                                    

   Ending poverty will be difficult but it is not difficult to achieve if there is a will to do so. If every person in the world furnish to help these people who need it so much maybe everything would improve. For me, one of my goals is to make my country a center where people with any type of need (whether food, clothing, sleeping, etc.) can have it. It is time to come together and help all those people because we have a genuine intention to do so. Someday life will reward each person who makes this gesture of charity with many blessings. The world needs to change and what a better way than all united to achieve it. Since childhood I have always been taught to help those most in need because although it is little that one can give, that means a lot to them. People, the world is in our hands and we must do something to end world poverty.

   
                                        

Education

     Education is an essential tool in the lives of each of us because it is what helps us grow as a person. It is sad to see such "important" tool, as is education, go hand in hand with politics. I find it totally absurd that our education change every four years because of a politician who unscrupulously desires to do so. Today the public schools of Puerto Rico have a major impact in terms of the special education program and this is because less than half of the students receive needed services. Many of these children have their condition and require some special services, but very few can get them. We must eliminate this issue that is happening in our schools because our children are the future of this country and need to be offered the best education. As a future teacher, I understand that we must meet the unique needs of each child and not discriminate any student. Also, it should be provided the necessary services to all children so they can have an excellent academic achievement. Teachers should accommodate themselves to the needs of each student to offer a proper education.

                                             

    The Department of Education should prepare all teachers, through workshops, to deal with all situations and conditions in the classroom so that all students have the necessary facilities to be segregated. If we want a change in education, it is in us as educators begin the exchange by providing each student with a good education and equity that each deserves. According to the laws that protect the rights of students, all should have the same educational services without discrimination. It is in our hands to make the change. Education is the most important thing we can give our children because it enriches and assists in the full development of intellectual abilities.

Horror movies

   Movies besides being an entertainment, relax us and help us release stress. Horror movies are the ones that people look to feel that fear or suspense that causes it. This type of film can create psychological damage in people. These films also can make people relive the memories of traumatic events. Most horror films are based on real facts and that is why the people get curious to see these films. Horror movies cause psychological effects through fear, anxiety, phobias, insomnia and mental trauma. For people who suffer from some of these types of effects is good to see these movies because it helps them overcome fear or anxiety they feel. These psychological effects could be felt by days or several months. People who suffer a traumatic event in real life and see some of these films that are based on real-life events, can cause post-traumatic stress because it is like reliving that situation.

   Although these films create some unfavorable effects to people, it also have their advantages. Horror movies help desensitize people to violence and to create an impact on the behavior of the person and help in their real life situations. These films are of great help to overcome fears and phobias. These films are my favorite because I love to feel the suspense of the film and more if they are based on real events. Through these films we can give constancy of the different situations that happen nowadays and many of us do not give importance.

A Celebrity

    

    Ricky Martin is one of the celebrities that I most admire because of his interest in helping others. He took the initiative of creating a foundation where education about the existence of human trafficking through research and community initiatives is going to be the primordial, anchored in the defense of children and youth. It was founded when children around the world faced perplexing situations that left them vulnerable to trafficking. His foundation is a leading voice that has made a progress in the protection of human rights of our children around the world. Very few people are given the task of helping others without expecting something in return, Ricky is one of them.  The genuine interest of this artist in promoting social betterment is truly admirable.

      His foundation works in operations centers to impact childhood offering a comprehensive educational service that addresses their academic, emotional and public health needs. Ricky stands out as a person who likes to help and give love to everyone who needs it. I have had the opportunity to see his work with the children in the center of “SER of Puerto Rico”, an organization that treats people with special needs. For that and many other things that he has accomplished for the children, it is that he has earned my admiration. Guys, we must see beyond and help anyone who needs us because today they are in need, but we don’t know if tomorrow we're going to need too. I congratulate this very special being, Ricky Martin, for his work with all children. He is a great example for each of us because not everyone that have the resources are given to the task of helping. He had the honor of being recognized by the Department of State as an international hero against human trafficking in 2005. I must admit that he deserves the respect of everybody.

The two faces of social networks

   Social networks are of great importance in society today. According to Aristotle, they reflect the human need for expression and recognition. He also said that the human being, to meet their physical and spiritual needs, needs to live in society because by being a rational and individual creature, is not self-sufficient and requires the help and protection of others. Social networks have their advantages and disadvantages. Through social networks we can make a reunion with people we can almost never see. Also, you get to share special moments with those closest, like family. As a means of communication so accessible, it facilitates contact with people who are distant. 

    They are of great utility in the professional field. Like everything in the world, these have its good things and its bad things. Social networks can be dangerous because if you do not set well your personal information, you can risk your private life to be disclosed. There are people who create fake profiles and steal identities. On the other hand, these have affected us negatively because we do not share the same way in different activities because we are slaves of them; we do not release our technological devices and not socialize with others. I believe that we must have a balance and not depend so much on the technology or social networks. They help us a lot but if are used in excess, can cause us great harm.

Marriage is an outdated institution

        Marriage, according to the dictionary, is any diverse form of interpersonal union established in various parts of the world to form a familial bond that is recognized legally, religiously, or socially, grating the participating partners mutual conjugal rights and responsibilities. In a nutshell, marriage is the legal unity of two individuals.  In the past decades, marriage has been on a non-stop evolution in every way from social, cultural, religious, economical and even to legal. Marriage is a decision and not an obligation.  If you want to get married you have to do it in a legal way.  That means a lot of papers, certifications and money.  Civil marriage is run by a state authority; also the couple needs two witnesses of legal age.  In some countries the institution of civil marriage reflects a desire to separate the institution of marriage from the influence of religious institutions, and by joining the movement of separation of church and state.  People can dissolve a civil marriage and that act is called divorce, which also cost a lot of money.  Marriage is no longer necessary in modern society.  I love old music and the first thing that came in my mind when I heard the word marriage is the song "My Old Man" by Joni Mitchell.  I like the phrase that says "We don't need no piece of paper from the city hall, keeping us tied and true."  That little phrase fits in this topic very well.  Marriage is just a tag that people think is necessary to live with your partner.  Marriage is not necessary to prove that two people are in love and want to be together.  If they like, they can just have a relationship.  Living together, doing whatever they want to do without marrying each other that in several cases, ruins everything.  But everyone believes it’s morally right so people continue to marry each other. Society believes that we must get married to be recognized as a serious couple.  There is no need to marry someone to be united; people are united by mutual love.  In fact, I think couples do not need any approval from other to be able to share their lives together.  I think approval is not an important factor.  If a person wants to be with someone, they don’t need approval from their families.  The couple should decide to be together and should not feel uncomfortable if society rejects them, every person’s opinion and decision must be respected.

      High class looks mostly remain economically stable. This means that the thought of marrying seek to be with someone at the same level.  This is an example that marriage actually represents an economic community.  Furthermore in marriage you agree to share all that you earn with your partner.  If your marriage fails, you must split with your spouse all your assets acquired in marriage.  So why get married? In case you have children involved it doesn’t matter if you’re married or not, once separated if you are the man, you must pay maintenance until the children are young adults.  You can do the same living with your partner without getting married. Marriage in the religious aspect is the union of two people who love each other and that union demands a lifetime commitment that cannot be dissolved rather than the death of one spouse.  For one to be with someone it’s not necessary to make a religious commitment because if they want to be together all they need to be is committed to each other, love and respect without having to marry each other.  I believe that marriage is not necessary for one to be with the person you love.  Religion will say it’s sinning because they believe two people must get married to do things married couples usually do.  According to them the only thing that is acceptable to God is the religious marriage.  When you're with your partner without being married it takes a few years to have the same benefits as a couple that is married.  To procreate it’s not necessary to be married, religion says you must be married to procreate but I don’t see the need.  Kids will be given the same love and education that a married couple. The concept of marriage has changed drastically throughout the years, what was a decision taken by your parents against your own will, is now an individual’s decision to love who he/she truly loves for the rest of their lives and not for family convenience.  Decades back in time, marriage was decided by parents on the economic status of both families, feelings weren't considered whatsoever.  After a few years from that generation, after countless objections by the couple put together marriage changed to a decision based on whoever you loved is worth marrying, yet shunning the acts of divorce and gay marriage.  Nowadays gay marriage rights are being fought for, and many countries have approved it.  As pope Francis said "Who am I to judge?  We shouldn't marginalize people for this.  They must be integrated into society."  And divorces happen on a regular base as marriage continues to evolve in our constant changing culture.

The difference of being an atheist and a christian

     "We tend to think of atheism as a war between religion and science, but in ancient times atheism was more complex and more rich, according to the philosopher John Garay." For us a godless person (atheist) doesn't believe in any God, believes in itself and science, while a christian person, believes in a God. Atheists don't believe that there is a life beyond after death because they believe that when a person dies, dies his whole being. Christians believe in eternal life after death and also believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each person has their point of view and opinion about their beliefs. I don't think that being an atheist makes you be a bad person just because you don't believe in God. Nor is bad to believe in a God that gave his life to save you.

      I think that each ideology has it's form of expression and that they must be respected. There are people who doubt on the belief that there is a God made man and those people are believers but not christians. The reality is that to be a christian you have to have great faith and believe in that God that gave it all for you, however the atheists do not believe in that but they have their own beliefs. They will always have wars between atheists and christians, but I consider that wars must end because each person has the decision to believe in what they want. If you don't believe in God because it is your point of view, that is something nobody should question; if you believe in God that is also something that should not be questioned.  Each one of us has it's ideology, and that should be respected. Being atheist or christian is something we decide and at the end, nobody should question it. 

                             

Posttraumatic stress disorder after war

    Posttraumatic stress disorder is an illness that some soldiers suffer after living a traumatic event. This disease can cause problems like flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, feeling of loneliness, explosions of anger, worry and guilt.  The psychological disorders from missions in the hospital are mainly from accidents with vehicles or helicopters. Perhaps one of the most serious was the incident with the Cougar in Afghanistan last August which killed 17 soldiers. The soldiers who were in the second helicopter saw the disastrous situation of his companions and had to evacuate three with acute stress", according to Enrique de Nicolás, Commander and head of the psychology services from the Central Hospital of the Gomez Ulla Defense. This type of situations are the ones that make many soldiers start being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The situations these soldiers live are difficult. These are some words a soldier said and in them we can see reflected how hard it is for them to recover: "There are times in which I feel like crying and remember the cries of people when bombs exploded. I cannot erase from my mind the moment where I had to kill an Iraqi to save my partner’s life. The fact that I can put my feet on the floor and it might be a pit, frightens me ". We all are fighting against those memories on a daily basis and many of them decide to take their life so they don’t have to continue living a traumatic event, such as the war.

    Post-traumatic stress disorder is a disease which has not be given adequate attention. Many military soldiers who go through this disease are not served in the best way. By not being nursed appropriately, we have soldiers that have gone through terrible situations: "In January, 2010, Trooper Joshua Tabor was found guilty of assault after keeping his four years old daughter's head under water for not remembering the alphabet, according to Suzanne Kianpour and David Willis." The mentioned soldier is one of many who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders, and was not nursed. These soldiers became aggressive but it is due to the disorder suffered, and as they were not served because their military base was considered problematic before, so cases of disorders by post-traumatic stress were not taken care of. It is unbelievable how situations so serious the Government ignores and even more worst as it’s a fact that other people’s life may be at risk if these soldiers are not cared properly.  I believe that the Government and each base must provide their military soldiers all the necessary medical care after returning from war, as not only soldiers are affected by this disease also their family is affected.

The loss of a loved one

     The loss of a loved one is often very painful. When someone close to us dies creates a very deep pain because it is someone with whom you have lived so many important moments. Everyone reacts differently to the loss of a loved one. This loss can affect in different ways. Many people are affected emotionally as it is hard to get over. 

     The duel is used to enable people to take comfort from the loss of that loved one. The ceremonies help people cope the first days of the loss of a loved one and honor his memory. In those days you do not feel the emptiness that person leaves; you start feeling it  when you're alone remembering every moment lived with that person. Mostly it is at that moment that they begin to think what it will be now that human being is not present. That's where they begin to find some way of coping that grief, whether it's trough religion or otherwise.  Now they just have to accept the loss and live with the beautiful  memories that the loved being left.

Helping others

        There are certain things we do in our lives that fill us as humans and change our perspective of things. Our actions define who we are. Helping others without expecting anything in return is one of those things that touch our heart and gives us a pure happiness. The satisfaction and the feeling of calm that we receive after giving a hand to the needy is simply inexplicable. People who selflessly help don't receive money or recognition, they just carry with the gratitude of having contributed to social improvement. 

        I believe that happiness is a way of life, because no matter the negative things that happens, we must always see the bright side of every situation. There are those who dedicate their lives helping others to social improvement. We live in an unequal world where not all were born with all the amenities. To start eradicating inequalities, we must help those who suffer it and serve as a tool for change. Doing good without looking at who, is one of the most beautiful gestures that can be done because it feeds our soul and heart. There’s no money or anything material that can replace the infinite happiness we feel when we contribute positively to someone's life. We must change our mentality, stop focusing on material things and help with the heart, because this certainly gives us a genuine happiness. 

Introduction week

Hi! Welcome to my reflexion lounge. My name is Millie Anette Matos Matos. I'm studying adapted physical education at the University of Puerto Rico, Cayey campus. I'm known for being someone kind, friendly, cheerful, cooperative, discrete, honest and loving. My favorite type of flowers are sunflowers and I identify very much with them for their delicacy. Sunflowers inspire me and give me peace and joy. The reason why I created my blog is due to an English class. On my blog I will be writing on various topics and I hope they will be of your liking. Thank you!