The three biggest problems I saw facing the world were AIDS, poverty, lack of education, and war. The problem I believe I can most change is poverty and lack of education. By educating people, especially children, one can end the perpetuating cycle. Education can provide for better jobs, and therefore better living conditions. The way I would like to do this is through becoming a student teacher at a local public school. This will give the students a break from their usual lectures and it can also help to stress the importance of education. I spoke with a lady that works for the Department of Social Services. She is in charge of a program specifically for children in families that receive serviced from the Department of Social Services. I volunteered to be part of a mentoring program that is designed for students who would like to pursue a college career, which is precisely why I would like to get involved.
A lot of the time, education is not out of reach. Students do not have the desire for education, and don’t recognize its importance. It may be because school just does not interest them, they think they’re not good enough, or simply because they have no real examples. Whatever the reason, not enough inner city kids go on to obtain a college degree, and many do not even finish high school. This only leads to more poverty, crime, and poor social and familiy relationships across our country as a whole. By having college students who look like them in their classrooms, the students will be able to see that a college education is attainable. This is not to say that everyone must attend a four year university, because it may not be in everyone’s interest. It is only to stress the importance of some type of post-secondary education, and its helpfulness in pursuing a fulfilling career. It is important to have some type of post-secondary training or specialized education that employers specifically select for. You must have something that the people want, and it is definitely more than a high school education.

I would like to implement college preparatory programs in the public school system. With permission from the school systems, I can form a coalition of students each year that will be student teachers for one semester, and also work with the juniors and seniors on college preparation. This program will included everything from assistance with scholarship search, SAT and ACT preparation, as well as college search and assistance with applications. The students in the program will choose colleges or universities in which they are interested in applying, and will receive assistance in proofreading and improving the actual essays necessary. These students will have deadlines and assignments that will help them to prepare for a post-secondary education.
A group of Xavier Students can be designated to one high school in the metropolitan area to ensure that every graduating senior receives the help if needed.
Another of my professors is working with Crossroads on improving the science and math programs in the New Orleans Public School System. I would like to start by working with her. Another thing that I would like to change is the textbooks in the New Orleans Public School System. I was a mentor for middle school students here in the city. We would visit the classrooms once or twice a week. I was very appalled to see that the eighth graders were reading what seemed to me fourth grade science books. To top that , they didn’t even have enough to take home. The public school system in New Orleans needs lots of help, which will require tax money and the actions of the mayor, governor, and other politicians, and may very well be out of my reach.
Dr. Homan is raising a million dollars for a library in mid-city. This seems to be a good idea as well, and something that I would probably have more time to do. When I was younger, I loved the library. We had story telling days, game day, and it was just fun. If there had not been a library in my neighborhood, I would not have read as much as I did, and I would definitely be a different person today. I would visit the library at least twice a week, and stay up late with a flashlight so that I could sneak and finish reading every book I checked out. Reading in the dark is why my vision is so bad, which in my opinion is a good thing.
The library definitely played an important part in my life, and made me want to read and learn. I loved it ! If a million dollars worth of books doesn’t support education, then I don’t know what will. So, I have decided that I am just going to help Dr. Homan raise money for the library. Truth be told I have very very very little free time right now, and I’ll definitely need more of it for all of the other extensive plans I just proposed.

Genesis, the creation story in the Bible, and the Enuma Elish, the Babylonian creation story,both attempt to tell the story of how we came to be. . First, the number seven is linked to creation in both stories. The Enuma Elish was written on seven tablets, and in Genesis, the world was created in seven days. The number seven is said to represent completion because it represented the cosmos (planets, moon, sun, etc). In addition, in both stories, man is made from dirt. In the Enuma Elish, man is made from dirt and the blood of kings, and in Genesis, man is made from the dust of the ground. Both stories explain the relationships we have with the deities.
Archaeology helps Biblical Scholars because it provides historical artifacts that are useful in studying anthropology. It can allow us to find similarities and differences in lifestyles as described in the biblical text and in history. It can also be important when attempting to determine the validity of the text. As stated in the archaeology video, archaeology was initially used to prove the Bible right. Now it is commonly used to disprove it.

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