Hi class,

Keep in mind that your bibliography (at least 5 sources) is due Thurs. 13th. That's the Thurs. of the first week we are back from camp. Remember that each source needs to look something like this:

Bieber, Justin D. "I'm All Washed Out." Little Girl Crush 12 Dec. 2013: 26+. Web. 03 Feb. 2014.         
           <www.guysthatlooklikegirls.com>.

Today we had a good discussion on values and success. You know, it seems like we can all agree that certain values are important - like the ones in the book (again I want you to consider where these values come from - ultimately).

Success however, is a bit harder to define. So many people around us want to define it for us. Most people think they have some general idea of success and maybe they do. The question I want you to really focus on is, "When would you consider yourself a success?" When I asked each of the groups today, most had the idea that it would include a meeting or reaching of goals and achievements/standards. There was a common theme in all the answers that success is something coming in the future - a place you'll finally meet up with on the path of life. What if I were to have asked you in the 3rd grade what success looked like? Would you have described a time in the future that maybe you're living through right now in the present? Do you see what I'm getting at? Our goals change, develop, and we add new ones all the time. One achievement only leads to the opportunity to achieve more and more. If you see success as reaching goals and achievement in the future, yet you, your family, your society is always adding more and more, it becomes the elusive destination one can never really reach. So, I ask again, when would you consider yourself a success?.

Often times light-hearted movies have very profound moments. Here is one from Cool Runnings (Disney, 1993). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYRtTqx-IK8

Think about how it relates to our discussion on success.

Make sure you record or print out some of the jobs that are recommended for your code (example: SIA). 

Hi class,

~ Read pages 14 - 21 and answer Key Concept question #2 on the bottom of page 21. Answer the question in bullet point or paragraph form. Understanding the "global economy" is huge for your generation. 

~ Here is the link to the Holland Personality-career test: http://personality-testing.info/tests/RIASEC.php 

Take the test and print out or write down your results. 

~ Be prepared on Wed. to ask and record the answer to the questions, "What would you do differently if you could do it all over again?" and "What would you do the same if you could do it all over again?" We will always ask our guest speakers these two questions and I want you to record (bullet points is fine) the answers. 

Hi Class,

Your topic will not be due until next week Monday. However, some students have already submitted their topic and from the ones that I have looked at, they look great. If you have not already submitted your topic, use this extra week to really search (keeping in mind your personality, talents, interests, etc.) and choose 1 career of interest to research. If you want to see a good example of a topic submission, ask Hawon, Ponh, David, SuIn, Seth, or Alex.

Make sure you narrow it down to 1 career choice and be specific. Do not just say "engineering" as this is a massively broad field. Do a little investigation and choose a specific type of engineering (Example: Bio-engineering).

This week we are going to look at our individual personalities and how they effect our career and college choices.

Praying for you all!  

We have now had two great discussions about the "good", including relativism and how there really does seem to need to be one external standard of moral good. Now, I want you to discuss with each other on a discussion board. You will write a three hundred (200) word short essay on what you perceive to be the good and how it effects your decision for where you go to college, what major you may choose, and what career you may go into. This will be done using Google Docs. I have created a file folder called DB Threads and invited your class (and you too Thim). You will create your doc. in this folder where our class can access it. After you complete your 300 word post, you will respond to one classmate with at least a fifty (50) word response. Your response should add some insight to the topic. 

Due: Your original post needs to be in by midnight Wed. 15th and you response by midnight 17th. 

Enjoy! 

Is that true?

Hi class,

I hope you were stimulated to think about deep things today. As you get older, it is important to really know what you believe about life, faith, religion, morality, ethics, law, family, culture, war, individual personhood, etc. You will be challenged in all these area's of life when you go to university. Let's keep thinking deeply!

Our conversation really focused on one main question: Is the good universal, that is, does it apply to everyone, or is it individual, is it a matter of opinion. Is the good money? Is the good happiness? Is the good nirvana? Is the good family? Is the good popularity? And remember, I'm not asking if the above things are good. Of course some of them are good. Family is good, money can be good, happiness is good, but is it THE good? Left with nothing else, stripped down to nothing but one of the above - is it THE good?

When we really boil it down, the way you live (your actions, behaviors, etc.) reveal what you believe the "good" to be.

Here is a link to an awesome book: http://www.amazon.com/Relativism-Feet-Firmly-Planted-Mid-Air/dp/0801058066 Homework: Click on the link and read pages 49-51.Notice how much of that came out in our discussion today? What do you think about the deserted island example? Interesting isn't it? Would it be wrong for one of the occupants of the island to kill? After all, there is no society or majority to dictate what's right and wrong. If you still think it would be wrong, what does that say about what you believe about morality? Read the pages, write down your thoughts and come prepared to discuss them on Monday. 

Don't forget to notice the title of the book!

HOMEWORK

Have one student print out syllabus. Have another student make copies and distribute to class. Remember to use double-sided option to save paper. Everyone is to have a hard-copy of syllabus for class on Monday Jan. 13th.

Welcome students

Welcome 10th grade students to College and Career Preparation. I know you have many questions regarding what this class is all about. I assure you that by the end of the semester you will have your answers. :) This class is primarily self-discovery - you will hopefully learn more about yourself, your interests, your God given gifts, your talents, and more about the world around you. You will be able to use this valuable knowledge to begin to get an idea of what direction in college and then career you may want to go. These are really big decisions in your life and we want you to have the tools necessary to make wise decisions.

I have already shared with you the syllabus. I will share it again and you need to have it printed out and ready to review on Monday Jan.13th.

I will be praying for you all as we begin this adventure together.

Sincerely,

Mr. Barrett