Tonilynn Holtz

Introduction This week we went back to our normal schedule... sadly. Although I enjoyed I previous weeks classes, this week was a lot more helpful. Our topic was degree engagement and consisted of everything we need to do during our years at college to prepare to get our degree and beyond.  Monday On Monday, we discussed the steps we should be taking to get our degree. They told informed us about the course catalog , which none of us had heard of. The course catalog is a list of major specific requirements that were set for the year you declared that major. Over the years, the catalog change, but you have the choice to stick with the catalog you were assigned or to use the new catalog. We also briefly discussed the MACE, major and career exploration center (shout out to Taylor). The last major requirement thing we learned about were our program maps and where to find them. Program maps are spreadsheets that ourline the classes we should take to graduate in four years. At ...

Introduction This week we discussed the recent event on campus, the book burning lecture. I thoroughly enjoyed our class discussion this week. I felt as though everyone who spoke gave their own thoughts and opinions in a respectful way without making anyone else feel uncomfortable. I was very impressed with my fellow classmates and how they were mature and respectful enough to have such an open conversation about such a hard subject. For this week's blog, we were told to take it where we felt we lead, while also incorporating articles from class. My Opinions In last week's blog, I chose to take a more neutral approach to this topic to ensure I didn't offend any of my classmates, but this week I feel comfortable enough to share. Regarding Jennine Capo Crucet's speech, I feel as though her speech was very eye-opening and EXTREMELY empowering. She said things that needed to be said and addressed common issues that needed to be addressed. The only issue I had abo...

Introduction For this course, all freshman were required to read Make Your Home Among Strangers. We were required to read the book before week 8 of class to discuss it and as well as go to the authors lecture.  Make Your Home Among Strangers I'm gonna be honest, this was not my favorite book to read, but I managed to get through it. The novel is about a Cuban girl named Lizet and her first year at Rawlings University. It follows her journey and shows the issues she faced as not only a freshman at a college far from home, but as well as being one of the only people of color on campus. The author added a fictionalized version of Elian Gonzalez to add more drama into the plot as well as tell a story of a huge controversy in her community and around the world. In the book, Lizet has no support from her famiy as she faces her first year at college. They don't care about her grades and they feel like she would have been better at home. My situation is very similar. My family...

Introduction This week we were assigned to watch  Instructions Not Included . The film is about a "player" whos life gets flipped upsidedown when one of his ex-lovers shows up at his door with his newborn. Then he goes on a journey to LA to find the mother and return the baby.  Overall Impression 1 I actually really enjoyed watching this movie. When it first started playing, I honestly didn't know what to think. As it went on, I ended up liking it more and more. I really liked watching the progression of Valentin and Maggie's relationship. The two went from going on a journey to be separated to being inseparable. Not only was the film funny at times, but it was also very serious and heartwarming. I've already recommended it to a bunch of my friends, primarily because I want to crush their hearts the way mine was. The most jawdropping scene for me wasn't even something I noticed, but rather something Doctora pointed at. That scene being near the en...