Final Major Blog Stress Academic Lecture

I’m not quite sure of what qualifies as an academic lecture for this blog because I know it cannot be a basic class lecture. I’m going to describe a lecture given by Professor Sampson that was given about stress and its effects on people. This was a lecture that was a part of my Psychology 101class but it was special meeting that occurred at Carroll Hall that did not really correspond to the class topics. Sampson began by speaking about the concept of “catastrophic thinking,” which is one thinks in a pessimistic way and over-exaggerates the severity of their problems. People too often according to Sampson create their own problems as a result of stress. Little things or things that are easy to deal with are blown way out of proportion. Therefore the questions were brought out, which were how to detect catastrophic thinking and how deal with this type of thinking.

One of the ways to deal with thinking so pessimistically is to use humor in one’s life as Sampson stated. He told the audience of a story in Chicago. Years ago in the large city there was a massive flood that wrecked the suburb area of the city. Many people acted terribly whether they cried or shut themselves off. Yet the story told of many who did the opposite. They joked about their homes being destroyed and this in effect lessened their stress and made them healthier. From the lecture I learned that joking around and laughing about terrible events in the right manner and context can help one to deal with hardship and stress.

Releasing pent of emotions was another method of dealing with stress that Sampson discussed. People too often keep their emotions inside of themselves and never let out there feelings. Keeping anger and sadness inside without oneself admitting or putting it out into the open can be detrimental to not only one’s life but one’s health. One case study took place where one group of college kids wrote about trivial matters while the others wrote about personal problems. The ones that wrote about their personal problems had better semesters in the classroom and out of it. They were happier and healthier. Therefore Sampson helped the audience to understand that feelings and emotions should be brought out more openly so that stress, anger, and depression will not arise. Keeping pent up emotions can also create elevated blood pressure and poor immune systems.

Managing hostility and learning to relax were of the last ways Sampson described how to limit stressed. People with lots of anger and hostility has increased risks of heart attacks and normally has feelings need to be expressed but is hidden underneath. People with anger feel as though they are “wronged” and build up stress. Therefore to get rid of the stress they need to forgive others. Relaxing can also limit stress. Ways we can all relax is by being in quiet area, using a song or word repetitively, having a passive attitude, and staying in a comfortable position. Exercising and staying active all help us feel good about ourselves to which can reduce stress as Sampson related. In the end, stress all comes down to thinking irrationally and not be open. When problems arise people just need to breath and deal with them rationally. By limiting stress not only will be people be more successful but also healthier.

Secret Dental Meeting

****The last blog I made for the last unit concerning the IFC meeting was at the Memorial Hall so it won't be my student organization one which this one will be. My previous student organization one is my Memorial Hall major blog.*******

Most Mondays since being here at UNC Chapel hill, I have attended the student organization of the secret dental fraternity. I learned about the group from a fellow brother of my fraternity. My friend, Joc, is a member of this secret student organization and he accompanies me to every meeting. He has been recently accepted into the dental school and has provided me with information over the past two semesters on what I should in order to be on track to be admitted into the dental school. These meetings are fairly basic. Everyone signs in at the beginning and normally some type of food is given out being that the meetings take place around 6 o’clock. We also sign up for charity events like going to the Ronald McDonald House or helping out at the Humane Society. I am a rushee so I am required to attend all the meetings and take part in several of the charity events. I probably will not be able to join until next year but I still have to stay involved.

After all the opening stuff though, we always have a speaker who is either a part of the dental school or an accredited dentist from anywhere around the state. One of the last speakers we had dealt with the issues of the current economy affecting the dentistry profession. He did say that the medical fields will have to take a hit because people are losing a lot of money. Since tooth care is not a necessity too some may feel spending money at a dentist or orthodontist may be unnecessary. Therefore the speaker brought out that it could be a profession that all not all should be interested. Another speaker brought the issues about the social factor involved with the profession. He told his job was something he loved because it was all about talking with people. Supposedly you meet a new person every day. Not to mention you have the job of helping these people and improving their appearance. A teacher who was on the board that decides on applications spoke with us about the needed GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities. One speaker attempted to teach us about the various forms of dentistry whether it be general, orthodontics, or surgery dentistry. He exposed what a person needed to be like or skill they needed for each form of dentistry. Overall this secret association will help me get into dentistry school if I decide to do so. And it will help decide what path to choose once I get into the graduate school hopefully.

Feeder 3.1

In the account by Horowitz's "Confederates in the South" and the film "O Brother Where Art Thou," the depiction of racial tensions in the deep south both in the present and past are seen. In the past there certainly was great tension between whites and blacks, yet not everyone had racial prejudice. In today's America, civil rights have been established and everyone is seen as equal as it states in the Declaration of Independence, but in various parts of our country, especially the South, one can find narrow-minded individuals that still have prejudices and racist tendencies. This shows that in America's history there has always been those with opinions that greatly contrast in their views about the equality of races. In the South since its beginnings to today's present state, there has been racism, but the concept of classes and social hierarchy has had little effect on racial tensions.

In the film "O Brother Where Art Thou," one can see just how little the idea of classes in America has with racial issues. The Cohen brothers although criminals welcome an African America man to join them in their journey and escape from prison even though at least two of the three are white. The young black man tells them of how he supposedly sold his soul to the devil for his ability to play the guitar. From this point the group records a song for a radio station together to make some money. Later on the Cohen brothers find themselves right in the midst of Ku Klux Klan meeting where they are planning to murder their African American friend who could play the guitar so well. The brothers from this point put themselves at risk by dressing up as members of the Klan and in process save the young boy. Another interesting thing occurs in the meeting of the Ku Klux Klan, the leader of the Klan is a man who is running for governor of his state. On his platform he talks about fighting for the little man and underprivledged by using a midget stand with him during his speech. He paints himself out to be a kind and compassionate man too when he has three little girls sing at his campaign event. This man, although obviously of the upper class and even running to be a political figure whose platform is for fighting for the little guy, leads the Klan in efforts to murder a black boy. The contrast between the two examples, the Cohen brothers and the leader of the Ku Klux Klan, reveal just how little class has to do with racial tensions. Just because someone is of the upper class and normally coming from a greater education does not necessarily mean that they will the smartest and best people. In these two examples from the film, it the criminals that reveal the best knowledge and ethics. Therefore it can be said that racial prejudice has little to with the social hierarchy found in America.

In Horowitz's account much to can be seen regarding the relationship between race and class. In Horowitz's depiction of the South, the reader is able to gain a strong perspective on just what life in the South is like today. He quickly finds himself in Salisbury, North Carolina among several whites that are extremely pro-confederate. They have meetings to remember the fallen soldiers for the South in the Civil War and have celebrations for events such as Robert E. Lee's birthday. On the night where they celebrated the fallen general they have trivial where everyone competes to impress the others with their knowledge on Confederate history. Other things demonstrated by these ones are houses covered in Confederate items and even a group that looks at famous cats in the Confederacy. These ones show great respect for the Confederacy yet they are quite obsessive and somewhat ridiculous. Yet strangely the class of these ones differs greatly. One man at the party is a doctor while there is also a janitor. There are ones from the middle, upper, and lower classes proving that racial prejudices occur regardless of a person's standing in the American classes.

Response to Dying for Dixie

In Horowitz account you learn of white, southern male who was shot for flying the Confederate flag on the back of the truck by a young, African American man who name was Freddie. Granted i can see how if an African American can be greatly haunted and offended by a flag that to them represents bondage and slavery. Yet Freddie was in no way justified in killing this young man. There were several weird things about this story. For one this happened in Guthrie, Kentucky, a state that never joined the Confederacy and in fact they sent troops to aid the Union effort. Another strange fact of the story was that a few of African Americans involved in the shooting such as Darden, were neighbors and friends of Westerman, who was the young man who got killed. They frequently played basketball together according to Horowitz. The stories of Hannah and the those involved in the shooting greatly conflicted. Hannah claims that they did nothing to anger the kids except for the fact that they didn't like the flag. Yet Freddie and Darden's group claimed that one of the people in the car shook the flag and called them racist terms. Another fact in the story was the mascot of the school which was a Confederate rebel which was the matter of great debate concerning whether this was disrespectful or not to African Americans. In my opinion, although I am a southerner who has relatives that fought for the South, I believe the Confederate flag is fine to be displayed in public as long as someone isn't throwing in other's faces and trying to stir up problems. Violence too must end. The war has been over and everyone is most definitely created equal so why is there so much anomosity in the South such as at this school in Guthrie. According to Horowitz too, after this event the children of different race at school wouldnt associate and conflicts could easlily be started up. People can wear what they want whether it be a Southern old emblem or a shirt that shows Malcolm X who was a pioneer in civil rights. The truth is people are to sensitive. And no matter what happens killing an individual is wrong everytime.

Autobiography for Dying For Dixie

I went to school in Kinston, North Carolina. This town consists of its fair share of farmers and southern hicks who love nothing more than their trucks, fishing, hunting, tobacco, and football. My school only had one black kid in the high school and only three in the entire school I believe. These numbers are crazy considering my school although small and private was one that had grades from kindergarten to high school. If you weren't white then you were just a minority but really the only person of your race, so obviously these few ones stood out. At times I wondered how these ones felt, but they were greatly accepted and no ones was ever discriminated to my knowledge. Yet only these ones know what feelings and emotions they had bottled up inside them considering their circumstances. I heard racist comments daily. You couldn't go one day at school without seeing some shirt that applied to the Confederacy or its flags. Just like Westerman, several boys' trucks had Confederate features. One in particular truck had a Confederate flag intricately designed on the back. No violence to my knowledge has ever broken out at my school concerning the debate of Confederate flag but certainly there is a possibility after reading the account from Horowitz. All the other teams we played except for one or two in football had African American players yet there weren't problems. Yet one team we always played consisted of all African Americans and there was intense rivarly between the both us in my opinion because of race. Yet back to flag, no one should ever shot because they are expressing their feelings yet people have to be wary of what they are doing. Flying a large flag for all to see is being showy and making everyone notice you. The Confederate flag is key part of our history and must be respected yet shoving it people's faces is incorrect because their negative and terrible connotations associated with it. But just like African Americans at my old school, people need to be less sensitive at times and suck it up. The same goes for whites for example when they see a Malcolm X shirt. Not everything needs to be taken as if someone is trying to offend, which people back home where I'm from did well to my knowledge, but I was in the majority so I have to ask myself really what do I know.