27
May
2010
My eighteenth birthday was a week ago. In less than two weeks I will be graduating. At the end of September I will be a freshman at UCLA. Everything is happening so quickly that I felt the need to get a picture of where I am going, and what all of this will amount to twenty years from now.
I will be majoring in electrical engineering, so I hope that I will have a job in that field. My dream job is to be an imagineer at Disneyland. I have always loved all of the parks and I cannot remember a time when that wasn’t what I wanted to do. Although after watching The Last Lecture I was a bit discouraged considering how difficult it is to acquire a position with Disney, I’m not going to give up without a try, and perhaps going to school so close to Disneyland will help encourage them to hire me.
By the time I’m 38 I would definitely like to have a family of my own. Not only that, but a stable family, just like the one I grew up in. I believe family is the most important thing in life, and I would like to give to my children all of the same privileges I had, if not more.
I think the goals I have stated so far are things that everybody dreams about at some point or another. A successful career that is also enjoyable, and a family to share it with. But I have goals that are more specific to me as well.
First off, I would like to continue dancing for as long as possible. I know that I don’t have a chance of making a career out of it, and I wouldn’t want to, but dance is something that has always made me happy and I never want to forget the feeling I get from it. Not to mention it is a great way to stay in shape, and I definitely do not want to gain excessive weight as an adult. So by the time I am 38 I hope to still be actively enrolled in dance classes and possibly even still en pointe.
As graduating valedictorian has opened so many doors for me, I would like to continue my high academic achievement in college. I think it is entirely reasonable to believe I can graduate from UCLA cum laude, although I will be shooting for summa cum laude. I have done my research and if I maintain a GPA similar to what I have now, this goal will be easily accomplished. It seems impossible now, but then again, so did becoming valedictorian four years ago.
I think out of all the things I want to do throughout my life, the most important thing to me is to have a significant impact on the world. Maybe it won’t have happened in 20 years, but I can’t see the future. I was recently speaking with a woman in the electrical engineering field, and she described her latest project. Her company was in the process of creating a way for diabetes patients to check their blood levels without needing to prick their fingers or sample their blood at all. The entirety of the conversation, I just kept thinking to myself, “Wow. I want to do something that cool“. I feel like everyone has the potential to change the world, and I want to use my potential to its fullest extent.
Of course I’ve got all of those silly little dreams in mind as well. Go skydiving and bungee jumping. Fly a plane. Meet my favorite band. Have my daddy walk me down the aisle. Perhaps dreams like this aren’t so silly though, because without dreams, nothing would ever get done. Whether I accomplish all of my dreams or not, any way I look at it, I’ve got a brilliant life ahead of me, and I can’t wait to jump in and see what I can make of it.
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24
May
2010
I know that a speech is not the typical kind of material required for a blog, but the assignment is to be thoughtful, passionate, and intellectual, and I can not think of a piece of work that I have put more of my thought, passion, and intellect into.
I just want to make it clear I am not a public speaker. I was never in speech or debate club, I never went out of my way to address large groups of people. In fact, I’ve spent the last four years in high school completely avoiding giving speeches. And now here we are on the last day and they finally got me. I guess that’s what good grades do for you.
I remember watching Gilmore Girls reruns when I was in middle school. For those of you that don’t know, the main character Rory is smart, witty, cultured, and she always had the cutest boyfriends. I wanted to be just like her. In one episode, she was named valedictorian. At the time I didn’t even know what a valedictorian was, but I had to do it. Looking back now, the likelyhood of that actually happening is almost funny. Let that go to show you can do anything you set your mind to.
And that is one of the many things that high school has taught me. I’ve seen myself and my peers grow up so much, and I know we will all continue to grow in college. School is about so much more than the education. I got 100% on Dr. Immel’s legendary invertebrate zoology test when I was a sophomore, and now I doubt I could tell you a single name. But I remember how great it felt to finally got that 100%.
No, school’s not about the education, but the life lessons you learn from it. High school tests your limits and pushes you further than you thought you could ever go. I mean, look at me, up here, giving a speech.
Of course, school wouldn’t be a school without all the teachers, and I think I’ve had some of the greatest teachers out there. Thank you Dr.Immel, for helping me find my voice. Did you notice you can hear me? Mr. Bowers, thanks to you I hate history just a little bit less. And here at Tech we couldn’t function without Marsha and Mrs. T, both of whom have helped me very much.
Here I’ve learned how to get through so many challenges. Friend fights, break ups, jobs. I’ve been through it all. But for all the the bad times I’ve had, there are about a million good ones to match them. I’m happy to say that I have had some of the best friends I could ever ask for. I would now like to acknowledge a few of them.
I can tell you anything, and I know I can trust you with my life. I used to have so much fun teaching you all my dance moves. We still have to watch Pirates of the Caribbean together.
You and me are more like sisters than friends. We fight like sisters, we go on vacations together. My dad even calls you daughter number four. We’ve been through everything together, best friends since sixth grade, and I can’t even begin to imagine my life without you.
I know we’ve had our ups and downs, and you didn’t know I existed until we were juniors, but you have made such an impact on my life. I’m never going to forget sitting in your room, just laughing hysterically for hours, or any of our other memories, and you better not either.
As important as all of my friends are to me, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the most important people in my life. My family. They have always supported me in everything I wanted to do, and I don’t know how I am going to survive when I move away from them this fall. Dad, you had better be filming this. Thank’s for paying for four years of dance classes, as well as every other crazy thing I ever needed. And despite what you may think mom, all those times I said I love you, I wasn’t just looking for money. Kristen and Kelli, as much as mom and dad want you to be just like me, don’t be afraid to be yourself, even if you are pretty weird sometimes. I hope I have made you all very proud of me.
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19
May
2010
On April 20, 2010, British Petroleum’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig ruptured and began spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico. At their worst, the three leaks were releasing 5,000 barrels of crude oil, which amounts to 210,000 gallons, per day. Although since that time one of the leaks has been repaired, experts still say that the amount of oil being spilled into the ocean can reach 60,000 barrels a day. With statistics like that, BP’s oil spill is well on it’s way to being the worst in history. As of May 13, nearly 5 million gallons have been released into the Gulf of Mexico.
Of course, this is not the first oil spill that has ever happened. In 1989, an Exxon Valdez oil spill leaked almost 11 millions gallons of crude oil in Prince William Sound, Alaska. These two oil spills don’t even begin to compare some of the others that have occurred over the years. And oil spills have devastating effects on the environment.
Birds, sea otters, fish, and more are all directly harmed by oil in the water. Cleaning up after an oil spill is not an easy process, and can even take up to several years. With all the consequences that can be caused by an oil spill too close to shore, is it really worth it?
Sure, the country is currently dependent on oil, but it is well on its way to being completely dependent on alternative energy. Scientists are working around the clock to perfect solar, hydroelectric, and perhaps even unknown sources of energy. With such a bright future ahead, why not push to make the transition happen sooner?
On one hand, our country is comfortable with oil. We know what sorts of things can go wrong, we know the harmful effects it has on the planet, and we know how to use it in order to get the most out of it. Our cars use oil, and we can convert it to other useful things. Oil is a part of our every day lives, and once something becomes such a habit, it is often difficult to break that habit.
Oil is not an unlimited resource, and at the rate we use it, it will quickly dry up. Not only this, but drilling for oil on our shores and land endangers Americans and the wildlife that lives near the rigs. And oil from other countries can be very expensive, depending on what sort of terms they are on with America.
Oil does plenty of amazingly useful things, but with such an extensive list of negative things about it, is it even worth it? Perhaps as an incentive to hurry the transition to alternative fuels, America should stop drilling off its own shores. The rise in gas prices and sudden scarcity of oil would encourage more people to find a different option more quickly.
America needs to make the switch to alternative fuel, and fast. Oil is harmful to the environment, expensive, and replaceable. That replacement needs to come before any other trouble is caused by oil.
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16
April
2010
Happiness is ideal. The whole purpose of living is to find happiness. But is anyone really happy?
Happiness is a state of mind and is usually characterized by satisfaction with one or more aspects of life. However, because it is a state of mind, it usually does not last. Happiness is a favorable state of mind, because it makes people feel good.
Happiness means something different to everyone. For some, riches and material items provide happiness. For others, it is something deeper, like having someone to love or enjoying a hobby. And still there are people that will give all of this up to find happiness being homeless.
If happiness is different for every person, then how is it possible for any one person to be truly happy? Many people, philosophers especially, believe that happiness is more than just an emotion, and to achieve happiness, a person must live a good life. Happiness has been characterized in many different ways in the past. Being in good standing with the gods, having good karma, and being kind to others have all been stated to cause a sort of long lasting happiness. There is also scientific reasoning behind being happy. Exercising, for example, causes the brain to release endorphins, which in turn cause happiness.
Perhaps the real question isn’t how can one be happy, but how can one find lasting happiness? Is it possible to live in only one state of mind forever? In my 18 years I haven’t found a single person that is always happy, but living thinking that it is not possible almost gives reason to not even try. In fact, many people become clinically depressed because they stop trying to be happy.
There is no lack of websites, magazines, and books detailing how to find happiness, but most of them are useless because they do not relate to individuals well. I believe that happiness is something that must be found personally, not based on what psychologists say. Whether it matters if happiness can last forever is all up to individual opinions, but I think it is better to take things one day at a time.
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16
April
2010
At the end of the school year, my little sister will be graduating eighth grade. This means she has to choose what high school she will be attending next year very soon. This decision is potentially life changing, and for that reason, it has become the root of almost every argument in my family.
My father wants my sister to attend the same high school I will be graduating from because he is familiar with it, and because we have such high test scores. The downside is that it is a very small school, with about sixty students per grade. My sister has no friends moving onto my high school, and she loves to socialize. This combination makes her want to go to the other public high school in town, however, because of it’s reputation, my father will not allow it.
As I discussed this situation with my father one day, his argument made me question the rights of parents in general. He said something along the lines of, “I don’t care whether or not she’s happy, or if she likes it one bit. She’s being so ridiculous and she’s too young to realize it. I just want her to have the best education she can possibly get and if it’s up to me to make this decision then I will, regardless of what she wants.”
I respect my father’s intentions. Clearly he has my sister’s future in mind and wants what is best in the long run, but I do not think it is fair of him to completely overrule what my sister wants and force her to go to a high school she doesn’t want to be at. Of course it is important for my sister to get a good education, but I feel like it is her responsibility to receive one, not my father’s, her teachers’, or her school’s.
Children are forced into predicaments like my sister’s all the time. They want one thing, but their parents want another, and reaching some sort of agreement becomes almost impossible. When it simply concerns every day issues, such as what is for dinner or a curfew, parents definitely have the right to put down their rules and enforce them. But when it comes to a decision that is life changing for the child, such as where to go to school, the child should at least have some say in what is going to happen.
Arranged marriages are another excellent example of parents making decisions that their children may or may not have wanted. Marriage is a big deal, but in many cases, what a partner can offer financially has priority over love. All parents want to know that when their child grows up, he or she will be safe, warm, and taken care of. They take it upon themselves to find their child a match that can provide these things, regardless of the child’s feelings, and force their child to marry them. Because of lack of connection due to this force, many arranged marriages fail after some years.
Is it okay for parents to make these sorts of decisions for their children at every opportunity they can? It is potentially harmful to not only the child’s happiness and well being, but also their ability to think and make decisions for themselves. At some point in time, the child is going to have to make a decision that is life altering without the help of his parents. Parents will not be there the first time their child is offered drugs or alcohol (unless, of course, they are the ones making the offer), and how can a child possibly make a good decisions if they have never had to decide anything else for themselves. In short, parents taking away their child’s right to make decisions causes more harm then good.
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15
April
2010
July 27, 1981 started out as a normal day in Hollywood, Florida for the Walsh family. While John was at work, his wife, Revé, and son, Adam, went lamp shopping at a Sears department store less than a from their home. Upon entering, Adam became very excited by a large-scmile reen video game display in the toy section. Revé left him to play with three other young boys while she went to the lamp section. The lamp that she had planned on purchasing was sold out, so she placed an order at the register and returned to the toy section to get Adam. She had been gone a mere seven minutes, but when she got back, Adam was no where to be found.
Revé looked everywhere for Adam, asking employees and other customers if they had seen him. Finally, after two hours of frantic searching, Revé convinced one of the employees to call the police. A store security guard revealed that she found the four boys fighting in the toy section and sent two of them out the north entrance and two of them out the east entrance. Adam got sent out the west entrance, one he had never been through before. That was the last time anyone could report seeing Adam alive.
Just a week after Adam had been abducted, 150,000 flyers with his picture were posted throughout the area. His parents hoped for his safe return, but unfortunately, sixteen days after he went missing, Adam’s head was recovered from a canal in Vero Beach, Florida. The rest of his body was no where to be found. Suspect Otis Toole was seen by several witnesses at the Sears store the day Adam was taken. He confessed to murdering Adam many times, but retracted his confession every time. Toole was able to lead police to the place Adam was last seen, as well as the place his head was found, however, police were unable to locate Adam’s body where Toole claimed to have left it. A bloody piece of carpeting was taken from Toole’s car, but at the time, no DNA testing technology existed so police could not use the evidence to link Toole to Adam. After the investigations, he was not convicted of killing Adam, but was already in jail serving a life sentence for other crimes.
27 years after Adam’s death, police reopened the case, and came to the conclusion that Otis Toole was in fact responsible. No new evidence was brought forth, and Chad Wagner, who headed up the investigation, said Toole should have been convicted years ago. Otis Toole died in 1996 while still in prison. On his death bed, he confessed to killing Adam, but was not taken seriously because of previous false confessions in different cases.
There was a very strong public reaction to Adam Walsh’s murder. Many new laws and programs have been put in place since his abduction in order to prevent this situation from ever happening again. Code Adam, originally implemented by Wal-Mart, ensures that employees are thoroughly trained on what to do if a parent reports a child missing. The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, put into effect exactly 25 years after Adam was kidnapped, created much harsher punishments for crimes associated with children.
Perhaps the most touching program to come from Adam’s death is the one that was begun by his father. John Walsh helped form the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 1984. Thanks to John, more that 50 missing children have been safely returned to their parents. His efforts in victims rights prompted the FOX network to approach him about being the host of television show, America’s Most Wanted. John Walsh gladly accepted the offer, and since the show begun, he has been a part of capturing 1,050 dangerous criminals. John Walsh has also authored three books about the tragedy of his son’s murder, and was a big part of the child friendly DVD’s, The Safe Side, which teaches children what do when approached by a stranger.
There have been documentaries made to retell Adam Walsh’s story, and his murder is also listed as one of the worst crimes in American history on several different lists. His abduction has made many parents much more protective of their children, and this has helped prevent kidnappings like Adam’s from happening again.
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15
April
2010
It seems stereotypical to view the First Lady as a positive role model, but the reason so many First Ladies have been considered role models is because they really are. Michelle Obama is no exception to this mold. She is almost constantly in the news for good things, a rarity in today’s tabloids. Michelle Obama should serve as a role model for girls and women all over the world.
One thing that makes Michelle Obama such a wonderful role model is her educational history. Her dedication to academics as a young woman is an inspiration. She put in enough effort to skip second grade and join a gifted class by the time she reached sixth grade. Her academic pursuits did not stop there. She graduated from her high school as salutatorian and graduated cum laude from Princeton University. She moved on to Harvard Law School to earn her Juris Doctor.
Although fashion seems unimportant compared to many other things, Michelle Obama has become somewhat of a fashion icon since she became the First Lady. She was in the list of 10 of the World’s Best Dressed People as decided by Vanity Fair. Her style has been called classy, and many women now try to duplicate it. Style says a lot about a person, and Michelle Obama’s style adds to the positive image she puts out.
Since her husband became president, Michelle Obama has been under particular scrutiny as a mother and a wife. She has done her job well, always being there to support her husband and daughters. There was some controversy caused when Michelle Obama chose to get her daughters vaccinated for H1N1, but she was concerned with her daughters’ health and took the steps that she felt necessary as a mother.
Michelle Obama is very active in the community. Instead of simply donating money like many famous philanthropists, she donates her time. She visits homeless shelters and soup kitchens, among others. She promotes many different causes and helps spread awareness.
Over the course of time, the types of people considered to be positive role models have most definitely changed. This is most likely because as time moves on, human values and beliefs change. Michelle Obama serves as a role model, demonstrating positive and modern values. Parents concerned with the role models in their childrens’ lives should surround their children with influential people, like Michelle Obama, via the television, internet, and newspapers. Discussions about modern values may also be helpful.
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4
December
2009
Each year, 11,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and each year 4,000 women die from it.
Human papillomavirus, more commonly known as HPV, is a group of more than 100 viruses. HPV can infect both men and women, and in most cases it shows no symptoms and clears on its own. However, HPV causes all cases of genital warts and more than 99% of all cases of cervical cancer. 80% of women will be infected with HPV sometime in their life. There is no treatment for HPV, but it’s conditions can be treated.
HPV has a characteristic that makes routine cervical cancer tests come back falsely negative. In many cases by the time the cancer is found, it is too late.
There is a vaccine that protects against the four major types of HPV that cause more than 70% of cervical cancer. This vaccine, Gardasil, is recommended for girls as young as nine years old. There is also a vaccine recommended for women ages 13-26. Because the vaccine is relatively new, many people are hesitant to get it because the any long term effects are unknown, as well as any dangerous short term effects. But the side effects of Gardasil are practically identical to those vaccines required to attend public schools, like the chicken pox shot, and some of these other vaccines have even more drastic effects than Gardisil.
Despite numerous commercials, and magazine and internet ads, only 40% of women have heard of HPV, and only 20% know that it leads to cervical cancer. Among those that are aware of HPV, controversies over the vaccine have been deliberated.
Those who oppose the HPV vaccine are divided into two groups: those who oppose it for medical reasons, and those who oppose it for moral reasons. As of August 2009, there have been 32 unconfirmed deaths due to the vaccine, and research shows that it causes a higher incidence of blood clots than other vaccines. Some doctors say it is best to go ahead and vaccinate children as early as possible, but other doctors and scientists say its best to wait, as there was a rush to manufacture the vaccine, and we have yet to learn about potential harmful side effects. That concludes the medical opposition.
People doubt the effectiveness of this vaccine, since it doesn’t guard against all strains of HPV. Some states are requiring female students to get the vaccine before entering middle school, which is causing controversy as parents don’t like the idea of their 6th graders being vaccinated against STDs, and most insurance companies don’t cover the high cost of the vaccine in their plans.
Also some people think its good to have the vaccine available but they don’t want it to be mandatory. If the vaccine cost was lower, or if it was covered in insurance plans, perhaps more people will be willing to be vaccinated.
On a different note, some people are against vaccinating their children because they believe it will encourage promiscuity, and give them a false sense of protection. Some parents are enraged at the thought of vaccinating young 10 & 12 year olds against STDs. One doctor said:”If parents could tell me exactly six months before their daughters become sexually active, then we can vaccinate them then and it would be effective.” Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
There has recently been some discussion of giving the vaccine to young men, since they can be carriers of HPV without showing any symptoms. There is no way to test males to find whether or not they have HPV, and HPV can cause cancer in males as well, though it has caused exceedingly less cases than in females. Doctors do not know any long term side effects that could be caused by vaccinating males. In the UK, the vaccination is licensed for boys 9-15, and many other countries are trying to license it as well. Some people feel that because HPV has deadly effects in women, they should have first priority. Research has also show that vaccinating males will be more costly that vaccinating females. But males carrying the virus are endangering the lives of females.
This blog was not intended encourage getting vaccinated for HPV, though it is not discouraging vaccination either. This blog is simply informative, because the 40% of people that know about HPV should be 100%.
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3
December
2009
Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
I was raised in a family with very high expectations. In my home, I am required to maintain a straight A’s and fortunately, I have yet to learn the consequences of failing to meet this requirement. When I have asked my parents why they require this of me, they always tell me that I need to go to good college so I can support myself as an adult. My mother did not attend college and is a stay at home mom. She often uses herself as an example of the importance of a college education.
My father manages the engineering department of a small electronics manufacturing business. I have always enjoyed going to his office and observing him at work. I have had summer internships with him twice and have always enjoyed the work. My parents have never pushed me towards any specific career, but my frequent exposure to electrical engineering and natural talent in math and science have left me with a desire to follow in my father’s footsteps.
My interest in math and science also led me to my high school, Technology High. Although it is a public high school, I had to go through a rigorous application process and have an interview with a counselor in order to be accepted. Tech High is a small school located on the campus of Sonoma State University. My graduating class will have less then sixty students, and I know every one of them. I’ve grown to love tight-knit, family-like community of students and teachers. Going to a high school located on a university campus has created many educational opportunities for me and I have taken full advantage. I am currently working on my third semester of college level mathematics at SSU.
My school is known for its project-based learning. Instead of sitting around a classroom reading textbooks all day, I have acquired first hand experience in many different subjects over the past four years. I’ve built electronic circuits, a trebuchet, a miniature roller coaster, a model bridge, participated in a mock presidential election, created websites, and posted web content. In addition to working in various fields, these projects have taught me how to work well in groups and as an individual. I’ve been elected as group leader many times and am now comfortable being in charge and directing the work of others.
My parents have taught me to be independent and go after my dreams. Just like any good parents, they have told me that I can do anything I put my mind to. My school has helped make this possible by presenting me with endless opportunities and giving me the self confidence I need to pursue my goals.
Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?
When I put on the Pointe shoes and stood en-pointe for the first time, the pain was excruciating. The full weight of my body was now borne by my toes and I could feel my toenails sinking into the shoes and being separated from the surrounding flesh. What was supposed to be a rite of passage in my dancing life nearly became a sad and painful ending.
When I was a freshman in high school, a close friend of mine received a flyer in the mail about a dance studio. She wanted to take a jazz class and convinced me to go with her. I was expecting to go for a class or two, just for fun. I never would have guessed that I would soon have a new hobby. With my jazz teacher’s encouragement, I began taking ballet, and I quickly became eager to try all sorts of dance styles. Today, jazz, ballet, lyrical all hold a special place in my heart.
To me, dancing is much more than an after school activity. Dance has kept me in shape throughout high school and I am now one of the few girls in my PE class capable of doing more than twenty sit ups. Dance has also given me self confidence, made me feel comfortable in my own skin, and contributed greatly to my vocabulary of obscure French verbs.
Much of my time at dance is spent working on pieces for recitals. I have been in seven recitals thus far, and the Nutcracker in December will be my first recital en pointe. The time and effort that goes into these recitals is enormous. I was honored to be selected to be front and center in one piece in a last springs’ recital, and I had to land a double pirouette. I practiced for what seemed like an eternity, and fortunately it paid off. I did my turn, landing perfectly, and was met with a huge applause from the audience.
There was a time during my junior year of high school when I thought I was going to have to quit dancing. I had so many other commitments. Marching band, school, college courses, soccer practices, and a part time job left me with little time for anything else. My parents tried to convince me to stop dancing because of how expensive it was for them. Instead of quitting, I made a compromise with them in which I paid half my dancing tuition. I got very little sleep during that semester, but I was not going to let time or money end my dancing career.
When I was promoted to ballet en pointe, it was as if I had to learn to dance all over again. My teacher had me take classes with eight year olds to refine my technique. I found myself taking more dance classes than ever before, and my body was paying the price for it. I blistered my feet so badly that I couldn’t wear tennis shoes for a week. A pain in my hip forced me to limp everywhere I went. The worst injury, however, was a small stress fracture on the top of my foot. When it first started to hurt, I could barely put pressure on it and walking was very painful. My doctor told me the only way for my foot to heal completely would be to stop dancing. I never did stop dancing, and occasionally I am reminded of my troubled by my foot, but for the most part I have made a full recovery.
I have learned so much from my four short years of dance. Not just steps practiced by a community of dancers around the world, but real life skills such as perseverance, team ethics, compromise, confidence, and the ability to recognize areas in need of improvement. I am very grateful for the many gifts that dancing has given to me. I hope dancing will always be a part of my life.
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3
December
2009
Therapy Dogs
It’s not news that many children have difficulty learning to read. I taught my little sister to read, so I can say it’s no easy task. The youngsters tend to feel pressured by their teachers, parents, and older siblings, and that pressure drives them to make mistakes. So many theories about children’s first reading experiences have come about. Many people believe that without their superiors breathing down their neck, a child will learn to read much more quickly and with more efficiency.
There have been many attempts to isolate children from all of the pressures of their world and let them read on their own. Hooked on phonics, for example, uses books and recordings to teach children to read. There are also many video and computer games that are designed to make learning to read fun. But some parents don’t like their children spending all their time staring at a screen, even if it is educational, and some people believe it’s just not personal enough.
I can’t think of a time that I went to a library and saw a dog, but it’s becoming a growing trend. R.E.A.D., which stands for reading education assistance dogs, is a program that was started by Intermountain Therapy Animals and was designed to help children learn to read. Instead of reading to a parent or a computer, children can read to dogs that are trained to curl up lovingly beside them and just listen, not criticize. This gives children a chance to sound out words, without interruption or correction, and it has proven to be effective.
It sounds crazy. Dogs are teaching children to read? But dogs are naturally good listeners, and that is what children really need. These dogs are not only making the children better readers, but they are making the children more confident readers, which is a key element in reading well. Animals have always been very helpful to humans, like guide dogs and rescue dogs. Who knows what will come next? Maybe dogs teaching children to walk, play, and interact with each other.
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