This is to announce the list of semifinalists in the Spring 2015 Essay Contest.
These semifinalists will be evaluated for their inclusion as finalists in the coming months. Articles written by all semifinalists will be published over time.
Congratulations to all those who made the cut, and we sincerely appreciate the efforts of all those who participated!
S. Wang
J.Du
I.Kim
C.Yan
W. Lin
J. Xia
K.Park
J.Lee
Social Networking Sites help us connect with people—friends, family members, and even business partners. But despite all the advantages that these sites provide us with, we can’t avoid the fact that too much of it is a bad thing.
Nowadays, instead of working hard to finish things such as homework, projects and presentations—people opt to go online and log on to their favorite social networking site first; resulting in procrastination and failure to complete more important tasks.
There’s also the case of Cyber Bullying—which has been proven to be a bit harsher than physical bullying as it destroys not only the self-esteem of the victim, but also the victim’s relationship with other people.
As the saying goes, “too much of a good thing can make you sick”—innovation is the start of a brighter future, but if innovation destroys what makes us human then how are we even sure that we may have a future?
(Source: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rb1goz8MXsQ/T4hwhb9fQcI/AAAAAAAAADo/kJGqk3mX0ns/s1600/facebookuser.jpg)
Technology plays a large role in many aspects of day-to-day life, and education is no different. Technology is rapidly changing the way students learn and how instructors teach.
Computers have replaced chalkboards as the go-to tool in classrooms today. And it’s not just happening in higher education; technology is part of education for children of all ages. It’s also a part of their daily lives. According to a research study by Common Sense Media published in October 2011, “computer use is pervasive among very young children, with half (53%) of all 2 to 4 year olds having ever used a computer, and nine out of 10 (90%) 5 to 8 year olds having done so.”
As technology continues to evolve, it brings with it new opportunities and challenges for educators and students. Social networking is a great example of technology that can help — or hinder — education, depending on how it is used and integrated into teaching plans. Privacy and security are two concerns that can come with using social networking in the classroom. It can also become a distraction to students, or even a tool used for bullying. According to a 2011 Pew report, 15% of children surveyed said they had been the victim of mean behavior on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
However, using social networking as part of the learning process can also have benefits. Students who are more introverted may open up and connect more with faculty and other students when they are communicating through social networking. It also affords students the opportunity to collaborate and work together in a whole new way.
There are also social networking sites designed specifically for education. An article on technology in education by Education Week mentions ePals and eChalk as two sites “designed specifically for learning.”
College students can be notoriously connected to technology, including social networking, through their smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Social media in education presents college students with different benefits and detriments compared to their younger counterparts. According to Mashable, “Facebook is the most used social media tool in higher education.” Additionally, Mashable says that colleges can use social media to encourage school spirit, foster the growth of alumni groups, and offer virtual tours to potential students.
So whether it is a college student studying classic literature or a grade school student first learning to read, technology is now an integral part of the education process.
H. Xie
It can be hard to find time for volunteering. But the advantages of volunteering are much bigger for you, your community and your family. If you pick the right way for volunteering, you may end up finding new friends, reach out, learn skills or advance your career. Volunteering also helps in protecting your physical and mental health. There are many benefits of volunteering. These include:
1. It Helps In Connecting With Others: Volunteering helps you in impacting the community. Volunteering helps in making your community a better place. When you dedicate your time as a volunteer, it helps in making friends, boosting social skills and expand your network.
2. It Is Good For Body & Mind: Volunteering helps in improving both mental and physical health. It increases self-confidence. It can give a healthy boost to self-esteem, self-confidence and life satisfaction. Volunteering also reduces the risk of depression. When you are socially isolated, there are increased chances of depression. This can be easily countered with volunteering.
3. It Can Help In Advancing Career: When starting a new career, volunteering can help getting experience in the areas of interest, meeting people of your field and also improving your skills like teamwork, problem solving, teamwork, communication etc.
Concept of random drug testing
Random drug testing refers to unpublicized plan to test every employee having identical possibility of being chosen for drug testing.
This is further developed in the Depart of Labor and Employment sample Drug-Free Workplace Policy and Program. It presents in the documentation that officers or employees may be casually chosen for drug testing at any intervening time having made a firm decision by the company.
However, this does not restrict the privilege of the management to make drug testing compulsory to the employees. The company may ask the officers or their employees to present an individual drug test any time when the company detects that the employee may be under the influence of drugs, including, but not limited to, the following situations: “evidence of drugs on or about the employee’s person or in the employee’s vicinity, unusual conduct on the employee’s part that suggests impairment or influence of drugs, negative performance patterns, or excessive and unexplained absenteeism or tardiness.”
In addition, the management may need a drug test over their officer or employee connected in a near-miss incident or work accident “under circumstances that suggest possible use or influence of drugs.”
J. Del Puerto
