My topic for project three was the pitfalls of college independence. Financial management is the most common struggle young adults face. I used various different mediums to support my theme: a blog, letters to three organizations that relate to college issues, and a fable. The main purpose of project number three was to inform my audience about common issues faced by young adults in today’s society.
The blog that I created was titled The Pitfalls of College Independence. My blog consists of a variety of information that is relevant to my topic. Organizations that I found to relate to college were FAFSA, IEFA, and NAFSA. I wrote to these organizations to thank them for helping future college students afford college tuition, and giving them the opportunity to receive a high level of education. Another thing that was posted on my blog was my research paper, in which I took a deeper look into common college struggles and how they are handled. The fable was aimed at a target audience of fifth through eighth graders. To teach young children responsibility, I chose to create a board game that teaches children how to behave and succeed. The board consists of numerous squares, which are either a good deed or a bad deed. If a player lands on a good square, they receive a small piece of candy. If a player lands on a bad square, candy is taken away from them. I think that this will teach kids what not to do in today’s society, and what is considered correct behavior in society.
To guide my construction of project number three, various tools and ideas were used. I posted all of my ideas on my online blog so that other viewers could see them. I am looking forward to adding video clips or other appealing extras to make my blog more eye-catching.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Fable
For my fable, I chose to do a board game to teach fifth through eighth graders about responsibility. Here are the directions.
This board game is aimed at helping fifth through eighth graders learn about responsibility. Each player is to pick a game piece. All players roll the dice to see who goes first. Whoever roles the highest number will go first and so on. Each player is to start with five pieces of candy. After they roll their dice, they are to move however many spaces they are told to. Each box on the game board has either a good or a bad deed. If the deed is good, such as you finished all of your homework, it will say take one piece of candy from the pile. If the deed is bad, such as you forgot to feed the dog, you must give away however many you are told to. There are three free spaces on the board, where you do not collect or give away any candy. If you land on the spaces that say either go to principles office or detention, you lose your next turn. The goal of the game is to have the most pieces of candy at the end. When the game is over, you can eat whatever chocolate you have left.
This board game is aimed at helping fifth through eighth graders learn about responsibility. Each player is to pick a game piece. All players roll the dice to see who goes first. Whoever roles the highest number will go first and so on. Each player is to start with five pieces of candy. After they roll their dice, they are to move however many spaces they are told to. Each box on the game board has either a good or a bad deed. If the deed is good, such as you finished all of your homework, it will say take one piece of candy from the pile. If the deed is bad, such as you forgot to feed the dog, you must give away however many you are told to. There are three free spaces on the board, where you do not collect or give away any candy. If you land on the spaces that say either go to principles office or detention, you lose your next turn. The goal of the game is to have the most pieces of candy at the end. When the game is over, you can eat whatever chocolate you have left.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tara Gavenas
4200 54th Ave South
St. Petersburg, Fl 33711
P.O. Box 778
IEFA
International Education Financial Aid
To Whom It May Concern:
I am an 18 year old at Eckerd College. I am writing to concerning the pitfalls of college
independence. I wanted to thank you for how much your organization helps young adults in today's society.
As the International Education Financial Aid, I understand that your organization
provides resources for students so that they can learn more about international financial
aid. IEFA is a great resource to help students find the right financial aid for them. Financial management is one of the most common struggles faced by college students, and I have one theory why.
I believe that parents neglect to teach their children the importance of financial
management. I think that students are too used to relying on their parents for money that
when they are living on their own, money becomes a big struggle. I know I can personally
relate to this because as a freshman, I find that spending money is easier than saving
it. Do you have any other opinions?
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Tara Gavenas
4200 54th Ave South
St. Petersburg, Fl 33711
P.O. Box 778
IEFA
International Education Financial Aid
To Whom It May Concern:
I am an 18 year old at Eckerd College. I am writing to concerning the pitfalls of college
independence. I wanted to thank you for how much your organization helps young adults in today's society.
As the International Education Financial Aid, I understand that your organization
provides resources for students so that they can learn more about international financial
aid. IEFA is a great resource to help students find the right financial aid for them. Financial management is one of the most common struggles faced by college students, and I have one theory why.
I believe that parents neglect to teach their children the importance of financial
management. I think that students are too used to relying on their parents for money that
when they are living on their own, money becomes a big struggle. I know I can personally
relate to this because as a freshman, I find that spending money is easier than saving
it. Do you have any other opinions?
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Tara Gavenas
Tara Gavenas
4200 54th Ave South
St. Petersburg, Fl 33711
P.O. Box 778
FAFSA
Federal Student Aid Information Center
P.O. Box 84
Washington, D.C. 20044
To Whom It May Concern,
I am an 18 year old student at Eckerd College. I am writing to you concerning the
pitfalls of college independence, and how your organization helps students who are financially struggling.
I understand that the FAFSA is a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. I also realize that this document is the first step in the financial aid process, and I wanted to thank you for all your help. I know you have helped me personally find financial aid for college, and I know you have changed many other families as well. More and more students are able to afford school because of the FAFSA form.
I believe that by recieving financial aid, students are less stressed about their tuition. I believe that they will be focused on their studies more and not as concerned with working to pay off each semester. Once again, I just wanted to thank you for helping students, including myself, attend college.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Tara Gavenas
4200 54th Ave South
St. Petersburg, Fl 33711
P.O. Box 778
FAFSA
Federal Student Aid Information Center
P.O. Box 84
Washington, D.C. 20044
To Whom It May Concern,
I am an 18 year old student at Eckerd College. I am writing to you concerning the
pitfalls of college independence, and how your organization helps students who are financially struggling.
I understand that the FAFSA is a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. I also realize that this document is the first step in the financial aid process, and I wanted to thank you for all your help. I know you have helped me personally find financial aid for college, and I know you have changed many other families as well. More and more students are able to afford school because of the FAFSA form.
I believe that by recieving financial aid, students are less stressed about their tuition. I believe that they will be focused on their studies more and not as concerned with working to pay off each semester. Once again, I just wanted to thank you for helping students, including myself, attend college.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Tara Gavenas
Tara Gavenas
4200 54th Ave South
St. Petersburg, Fl 33711
P.O. Box 778
NASFAA
1101 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20036-4303
To Whom It May Concern,
I am an 18 year old female student at Eckerd College in Saint Petersburg, Florida. I am
writing to you concerning the pitfalls of college independence. I wanted to ask your
opinion about the most common obstacles students face, and what you do to help students
and their families overcome them.
I understand that as the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators,
your organization is concerned with helping students find financial aid for college.
Finanical management is one of the most common struggles that students are faced with in
today's society. Why do you think that is?
I believe it is because parents today neglect to teach their children how to manage their
finances. I feel that students are used to relying on their parents for money and once
they go off to college and live on their own, money becomes an ongoing issue. Do you have
any other biases?
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing back from you.
Sincerely,
Tara Gavenas
4200 54th Ave South
St. Petersburg, Fl 33711
P.O. Box 778
NASFAA
1101 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20036-4303
To Whom It May Concern,
I am an 18 year old female student at Eckerd College in Saint Petersburg, Florida. I am
writing to you concerning the pitfalls of college independence. I wanted to ask your
opinion about the most common obstacles students face, and what you do to help students
and their families overcome them.
I understand that as the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators,
your organization is concerned with helping students find financial aid for college.
Finanical management is one of the most common struggles that students are faced with in
today's society. Why do you think that is?
I believe it is because parents today neglect to teach their children how to manage their
finances. I feel that students are used to relying on their parents for money and once
they go off to college and live on their own, money becomes an ongoing issue. Do you have
any other biases?
Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing back from you.
Sincerely,
Tara Gavenas
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The pitfalls of college independence can be examined by formulating interviews with
current college students, performing research about the different issues students face,
and supporting them with evidence. Throughout colleges and universities across the
country, students are faced with a variety of obstacles. Ashley Gavenas, a senior here at
Eckerd, points out the most common problems faced by most college kids today, through
their freshman and senior years. Financial management, the wrong impression of college
life and a search for identity are the three most common issues that have to be overcome.
Students are faced with a large amount of responsibility and freedom, and each and every
individual may respond differently.
Financial management is one of the most common struggles college students face in
today's society. One cause of financial struggles may be that young adults spend too much
money on unecessary items. The temptation to go out with your friends to party, eat and
shop may cause someone to over spend. According to Ashley Gavenas, "Freshman year all I
did was go out with my new friends. We all would go out to dinner because the food
sucked. After awhile, I began to run out of money." In some cases, people are used to
their parents giving them money whenever it is needed. Research states that, " Money is
not a limitless quantity but in actuality, has a very definite end. This face coupled
with a lack of financial understanding and planning leads to the image of the poor
college student with endless debt" ( Summitt, 3). To make this concept feel more
realistic, think of Linday Lohan. She is constantly in magazines and on the news
shopping, and partying, which are both expensive things. Lohan has become a person who
you do not want your child to emulate. Teaching money management is often neglected,
which causes students to be unstable about budgeting themselves. Summitt also states
that, "Money management needs to be taught before and during the college years to help
better prepare us for getting a job and handling our own money" (3). Parents need to help
their children learn to manage their finances before going off to college. This will
prepare young adults for their future. Kandace Barker, who is a freshman at Howard
University, used credit cards because they made her feel as though she could buy clothes
and still have money (Lucas 2). Credit card usage is a rising problem because by using
credit cards, one may think that because they are not paying in cash, then they have not
really spent the money. Managing money is difficult for college students, which is a
common pitfall of college independence.
The news, magazines, and newspapers often give the wrong impression of college life.
Students may think that all college is about is partying, freedom, attending class
sparingly, and little responsibility. An example are the movies Old School and The
Accepted. Both are about fraternities at college, which consist of partying and drinking.
Rarely does the viewer see the students in an academic setting throughout both movies.
Another common issue faced by college students is that they do not attend class as much
as it is needed. Balancing new freedoms with the obligations of academics is difficult.
College students tend to party too much, especially during the week when they have
classes. As a result, grades gradually decline and they may start to care less about
their school work. Students are so used to relying on their parents that they do not
realize how much responsibility they are faced with in college. From doing your own
laundry, worrying about the freshman fifteen and even sleep deprivation, teenagers are in
for a surprise in college. "This new world comes as a surprise, and one of the primary
challenges is acclimating our new freedoms while balancing the obligations of personal
care and academics" (Summitt 2). The media can influence teenagers to attend college for
the wrong reasons.
Another issue that most college students are challenged with is their search for
identity. As a result of moving away from home, students are exposed to new people and
ideas, which can conflict with personal beliefs and values. Summitt argues that, "This
atmosphere forces an internal evaluation of ourselves and can be very confusing,
especially when acceptance is crucial" (4). The whole college atmosphere is a challenge
in itself because students want to fit in and make friends. Peer pressure is a continuing
problem for people of all ages in our society. Students may be pressured into doing
something they find immoral, such as drinking, sex, and not going to class because they
feel the need
to fit in amongst their friends. Change is inevitable. Each person deals with change
differently, and their attitude and personality will change as a result of social
changes. "In the process of living and learning the student shapes his character for good
or for ill" (Cobb, 133). The environment of the campus can also affect an idividual. The
level of expectancy, the teaching, the curriculum, student responsibility and religous
life may change for someone as they go onto college. One may realize that high school had
a different atmosphere than college, which requires one to get used to new things. The
college years are a chance for students to search within themselves to find out what and
where they want to go in life.
On the other hand, during college years, students are not faced with new challenges and
responsibilites. A teenager has enough money to go out whenever they feel like it, and
their parents may even send them money when needed. They have the ability to balance
their social lives with their academics. Students are able to set goals for themselves,
and know when they are able to go out with their friends. Time managment is not an issue.
Going into college, teens know what they want to accomplish in life. Their parents have
taught them most of the things that they need to know, or even what they have to do for
their future. College students do not face any new difficulties or new responsibilities.
The pitfalls of college independence can be examined by formulating interviews with
current college students, performing research about the different issues students face,
and supporting them
with evidence. College students face new challenges, responsibilities, and freedoms.
Financial management is one of the most common problems any student can face. The media
has the ability to portray college as more of a party scene, as opposed to an academic
atmosphere. During college, most kids are searching for their identity. School should be
an academic setting instead of a continuous party scene. College is a time for young
adults to learn new things and learn how to balance their finances.
current college students, performing research about the different issues students face,
and supporting them with evidence. Throughout colleges and universities across the
country, students are faced with a variety of obstacles. Ashley Gavenas, a senior here at
Eckerd, points out the most common problems faced by most college kids today, through
their freshman and senior years. Financial management, the wrong impression of college
life and a search for identity are the three most common issues that have to be overcome.
Students are faced with a large amount of responsibility and freedom, and each and every
individual may respond differently.
Financial management is one of the most common struggles college students face in
today's society. One cause of financial struggles may be that young adults spend too much
money on unecessary items. The temptation to go out with your friends to party, eat and
shop may cause someone to over spend. According to Ashley Gavenas, "Freshman year all I
did was go out with my new friends. We all would go out to dinner because the food
sucked. After awhile, I began to run out of money." In some cases, people are used to
their parents giving them money whenever it is needed. Research states that, " Money is
not a limitless quantity but in actuality, has a very definite end. This face coupled
with a lack of financial understanding and planning leads to the image of the poor
college student with endless debt" ( Summitt, 3). To make this concept feel more
realistic, think of Linday Lohan. She is constantly in magazines and on the news
shopping, and partying, which are both expensive things. Lohan has become a person who
you do not want your child to emulate. Teaching money management is often neglected,
which causes students to be unstable about budgeting themselves. Summitt also states
that, "Money management needs to be taught before and during the college years to help
better prepare us for getting a job and handling our own money" (3). Parents need to help
their children learn to manage their finances before going off to college. This will
prepare young adults for their future. Kandace Barker, who is a freshman at Howard
University, used credit cards because they made her feel as though she could buy clothes
and still have money (Lucas 2). Credit card usage is a rising problem because by using
credit cards, one may think that because they are not paying in cash, then they have not
really spent the money. Managing money is difficult for college students, which is a
common pitfall of college independence.
The news, magazines, and newspapers often give the wrong impression of college life.
Students may think that all college is about is partying, freedom, attending class
sparingly, and little responsibility. An example are the movies Old School and The
Accepted. Both are about fraternities at college, which consist of partying and drinking.
Rarely does the viewer see the students in an academic setting throughout both movies.
Another common issue faced by college students is that they do not attend class as much
as it is needed. Balancing new freedoms with the obligations of academics is difficult.
College students tend to party too much, especially during the week when they have
classes. As a result, grades gradually decline and they may start to care less about
their school work. Students are so used to relying on their parents that they do not
realize how much responsibility they are faced with in college. From doing your own
laundry, worrying about the freshman fifteen and even sleep deprivation, teenagers are in
for a surprise in college. "This new world comes as a surprise, and one of the primary
challenges is acclimating our new freedoms while balancing the obligations of personal
care and academics" (Summitt 2). The media can influence teenagers to attend college for
the wrong reasons.
Another issue that most college students are challenged with is their search for
identity. As a result of moving away from home, students are exposed to new people and
ideas, which can conflict with personal beliefs and values. Summitt argues that, "This
atmosphere forces an internal evaluation of ourselves and can be very confusing,
especially when acceptance is crucial" (4). The whole college atmosphere is a challenge
in itself because students want to fit in and make friends. Peer pressure is a continuing
problem for people of all ages in our society. Students may be pressured into doing
something they find immoral, such as drinking, sex, and not going to class because they
feel the need
to fit in amongst their friends. Change is inevitable. Each person deals with change
differently, and their attitude and personality will change as a result of social
changes. "In the process of living and learning the student shapes his character for good
or for ill" (Cobb, 133). The environment of the campus can also affect an idividual. The
level of expectancy, the teaching, the curriculum, student responsibility and religous
life may change for someone as they go onto college. One may realize that high school had
a different atmosphere than college, which requires one to get used to new things. The
college years are a chance for students to search within themselves to find out what and
where they want to go in life.
On the other hand, during college years, students are not faced with new challenges and
responsibilites. A teenager has enough money to go out whenever they feel like it, and
their parents may even send them money when needed. They have the ability to balance
their social lives with their academics. Students are able to set goals for themselves,
and know when they are able to go out with their friends. Time managment is not an issue.
Going into college, teens know what they want to accomplish in life. Their parents have
taught them most of the things that they need to know, or even what they have to do for
their future. College students do not face any new difficulties or new responsibilities.
The pitfalls of college independence can be examined by formulating interviews with
current college students, performing research about the different issues students face,
and supporting them
with evidence. College students face new challenges, responsibilities, and freedoms.
Financial management is one of the most common problems any student can face. The media
has the ability to portray college as more of a party scene, as opposed to an academic
atmosphere. During college, most kids are searching for their identity. School should be
an academic setting instead of a continuous party scene. College is a time for young
adults to learn new things and learn how to balance their finances.
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