Week 11
1164 words by bodoi
Responses:
To reiterate to the class and our instructor my partner and I do intend to carry out our original proposal the following semester now that we have established a rapport with the necessary individuals in charge of making it happen. Throughout the semester we have remained professional in our approach to create the organization often forgetting that we were called to do this for a class assignment. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my partner for her organizational skills concerning necessary documents we needed to support our vision. As well as Brandon Leach, president of the National Association of Black Accountants here at Xavier University’s chapter for all of his initial insight that helped us get the ball rolling. He along with Dr. Anil Kukreja who availed himself to us because he too was enthusiastic not only with our maturity for recognizing the problem but for wanted to involve the Business Department which often goes unlooked at our hard science oriented university. Also Ms. Minard and Mrs. Thompson in the Office of Career Services have been beyond useful in answering any question we may have had about the agenda our workshops should fulfill. As well as helping we enhance our skills in professionalism with tasked with speaking to the principal at Benjamin Franklin High School.
Lastly, my partner and I would like to express our extreme gratitude to all members of the class that commented on our project with encouraging words to help us continue on the arduous tasks that lye ahead of us. I appreciate that from reading our report of the implementation of our project many of you were able to sympathized with the “dead ends” to quote Eric Newton you can face many times when trying to put together a project of this magnitude. My partner and I soon realized after making our proposal that we may have taken on more than we could bear. But with our determination to build a foundation for an organization we believed would greatly impact the community we were determined not to give up. As before mentioned in previous blogs I obtained research on the deteriorating education system in public schools here in New Orleans prior to suggesting the project to my partner Jessica Taylor. From The distasteful statistics found I was able to remain encouraged throughout the semester to not give up on the project as well as to do everything in my power to ensure that it is implemented here at Xavier University of Louisiana a prominent college in the New Orleans area even if I was unable to complete it before the semester commenced.
I have chosen to respond to comments placed on my blog entry as well as mention those on my partner’s page because my partner and I have the same objectives and can only benefit from each piece of input our peers can provide. In response to Eric Newton’s comments I appreciate his encouragement as I mentioned before. I realized from commented on the implementation of his project he too faced different trials and tribulations that could have urged him to give up but he was able, like us, to jumpstart his project in such a way to not feel that his efforts were in vain. Eric wrote “the road that you have to follow to really make this thing happen will not be easy” and this comment could not have been more fitting. In keeping with the schedules of employees in the school system that shared in similar hours of unavailability with my partner and I, scheduling conflicts played a huge factor in delaying meetings and playing “phone tag.” Eric went on to comment that he realized that magnitude of execution our project required for implementation was something that could happen within the three month time constraints of the semester. It was also encouraging that he went on to mention that he was sure other members of the class would agree him with and for this I thank him.
Next I would like to thank Garrett Anderson for his words of encouragement and support of our aims to reach children in high school in order to prepare them for things that will be put before them after graduation such as business etiquette that most employers or college administrator will expect. Garrett mentions that he also agrees that our decision to teach profession skills for those interested in entering corporate venues that will have expectations of certain behaviors but are not often taught in the education system. And without these skills my partner and I realize that with a high school diploma or college degree the inability to adapt to the behaviors your career entails will hinder you from upward mobility.
Lastly Maria Flateau’s comments were assuring in telling us that our project would in fact impact a community and a generation which was one of our latent objectives. She was able to understand that the program is not only geared towards preparing students that will soon been applying to universities but will also benefit students that choose not pursue a degree in secondary education but enter the workforce upon graduation. I like that she mentioned that we have been so detailed in the step necessary to implement this project that if some group wanted to replicate it in anyway they would have no problem doing so. These comments were very flattering because as I hope it is evident in our reports, my partner and I have worked very hard.
Lecture questions:
The story of Tobit is found in the Apocrypha in the Bible, it is about a man, Tobit, who despite of the King of Assyria wishes buries Jewish people. In doing this, a bird comes alone and drops his droppings in his eyes while he is sleeping next to a grave which leaves him blind. He contemplates suicide from he new found misfortunes but later meets a woman named Sarah who has also thought of suicide grieving from deaths and bad luck. With their misfortune in common the two decide to get married. Tobit is eventually made to see again from an angel named Raphael spreads the gall bladder of a fish over his eyes. From Tobit’s evolution from being at his lowest point to being cured a lesson of availing yourself to God’s mercy and power can turn around even the worst of situations.
Some people perceive Maccabees to be heroic because of his work done to preserve the Jewish faith. He was responsible for the rebuilding of the Jewish temple for a three year period after it was destroyed by Epiphanies. Hanukkah which represented the rebuilding of the temple can also be accredited Maccabees in developing the structure and acts of its celebration. Lastly, Maccabees saw the importance of the Jewish faith and worked to preserve it which can be seen as heroic.