The event I attended was an expand event and it was a movie titled Chasing Ice. I attended this event for several reasons. One reason why I attended this event is because I am a Biology major, so I thought this would be something I might be interested in. I thought I would gain some new insights and help me learn stuff that will make me more prepared about the environment. Another reason for me attending this event is because I need three events, and this one seemed easy. The only thing I have to do is sit there and watch a boring and tedious movie. Even though the movie was boring, it did raise some important issues that we are facing right now because of climate change. The movie starts of with environmental photographer James Balog heading to Greenland, Iceland, and Alaska in order to capture images that will help to convey the effects of global warming. James Balog faced some technical issues on the way, but at the end his team was able to collect photos to show how climate change is making the ice melt.
This event increased my understanding of climate change and how we humans are hurting the environment. If this continues, then the environment would be in serious trouble. The climate will change if we don’t do anything about it. And if it does change, then it could have serious impact to the earth and species.
When ice melts, then sea level will rise. And if it does rise, many people would have to relocate. An example would be Bangladesh; over one million people have been displaced do to the rising sea and the rising rivers. We must do our best to help people and stop damaging the environment because our kids will face serious trouble.

I never liked working in group projects, because I am such a lazy individual. I only like to do work when I am alone and nothing else. However, since I was forced into working with other students in a tight schedule and a boring task, I found myself desperate to just get the project done and move on to more important stuff, such as studying for the finals.
My group decided to pick Global Warming/Climate Change. Probably because that is the easiest topic and requires the least work. I was surprised to find out that my whole group was lazy, just like me. No one felt the need to do any work in advance. Someone even missed a couple days of class, which was crucial for us. I am not going to blame anyone’s lack of English because that is disrespectful and rude. However, I felt like if I worked in any other group nothing would change. Each one is taking many classes, and the last thing they need to worry about is a project. I would say that even though our group was disorganized, we were able to split the work and share some ideas between. Some individuals would might blame me for not doing work until I was told exactly what to do. And I would say that is very true. There is a reason why there is a group leader. The reason for a group leader is to take command and assign work to his partners.
I interact with people in a professional and calm way. I respect everyone and take full responsibility for my actions. I felt that I putted much effort into a not so “fun” topic. The only people I interacted with were my group partners. They were ok individuals. I seriously didn’t have high hopes from the beginning. I did my share of the work and I am proud of my accomplishments. I felt I gained some new insights about Global Warming.

The event I attended Not Your Average Sex and Gender Talk with Marla McCulloch. I attended this event because I had free time on Friday and I needed an event so that I can complete my three event assignment. The event is about sex and gender, and the like. One thing I learned from this event is what orientation actually means. Orientation is who someone is attracted to; can be declared relative to one’s gender (not sex), can be declared simply as the partner’s gender, or can be completely unrelated to gender all of these attributes are independent of each other (there are straight transwomen, lesbian transwomen, straight transmen, gay transmen, and everything in-between). This event expanded my knowledge concerning people’s sex, gender, and orientation. It showed me that everyone is equal and that it doesn’t matter what someone is, every single person should have equal rights and not be judged. This event is going to be fitting in my academic journal. Now I will be more open minded concerning people’s gender and sex. And now it gives me more insight into how transgender and gay/lesbian people have to face prejudice on a daily basis. And how people, such as me, could do things to help this community. And be able to make everyone have equal rights and should not be judged for things that they do. People should be more open minded concerning this topic. Transgender people commit suicide in high rates. One reason for that is because people look down on them. Those transgender people have nothing wrong with them. But when everyone looks down on them, shames them, and makes fun of them, then transgendered people are more likely to commit suicide as a result. It is 2015, people should be more aware with such things. A study even showed that gay or lesbian couple raise kids equally or even better than heterosexual parents. So statistics don’t lie, gay and lesbian people are not less capable of raising kids. Gender equality is good for everyone. And we should stand up when someone is looked down upon for being gay/lesbian/transgender. A person who tries to shame transgender people is Paul McHugh. He has radical agenda. He misrepresents data, rigged studies, and leaves out significant details in his research. He is poorly regarded fringe element in his own field. He was denounced by his former department. No secular medical or mental-health organization agrees with him.

In all honesty, while Charles Blow spoke, I didn’t understand much of what he said. His mic was facing the other way and he was speaking very softly. But I’m assuming he was talking about his childhood and how difficult his life was when he grew up. I think he was reading the first chapter of his book or something of that sort. My reaction was that of sympathy for this man who had to go through so much. Of how he had to hide his sexual preference and such. Of how him growing up poor and having to deal with a lot of bullying and being poor. His talk made me realize not to take things for granted. That there are a lot of people out there that have to deal with so many more problem than me. If I could spend 10 minutes with Charles Blow I would tell him that his life isn’t as bad as he makes it seem. That there are a lot of people out there who deal with such things in a daily bases, yet they know how to handle themselves and continue living without the need to announce it to the world. I would also congratulate him for being able to get a good education and make it in the real world even though he had to go through many struggles and peer pressure. I would tell him that I have sympathy for him and that it was unfortunate for the things that happened to him while he was young. But I would also point out that life is not fair. And that his case of his life story is very minimal when you compare it to that of other people life story. There are many kids who get killed and slaughtered every single day. There are kids who starve and don’t have the right to education. Places where women must remain in the house and don’t have any basic human rights. I would tell him that his life story is that of many. And that it might be better to write about other people who even have to struggle more in the world. That sometimes you have to stop worrying about your problems and think of other peoples. Yes, Charles Blow is influential to some youth kids, but I just think someone like him should be able to see the bigger picture of the world and realize there are so many more important things to worry about.

Growing up in a rough neighborhood, I have seen many violent and tough situations. However, there is one experience that sticks out in particular.  A couple years ago, while walking to school, I saw a homeless man laying on the floor. I walked up to him and gave him whatever was in my pocket ( which wasn’t a lot). I told him have a good day, and he thanked me. I left and continued walking to school. After school was over, I walked back home. On the way back, I saw the same homeless man, except this time, there was a man standing next to where he was sitting. The man had a suite on and was yelling into the homeless man’s face. Telling him about how he should get a job and stop being such a lazy person. The homeless man seemed scared and I felt that I should go and confront the man with the suite on. However, as I was walking their way, I saw the man standing kick the homeless man. I froze in my spot, then the man looks at me and gives me a death look. I turn around and run back home. I was so nervous for my own safety, that I didn’t bother giving help to the homeless man. When I got home, I felt so ashamed of myself. I will never forget that day, how something I might have prevented, didn’t do anything about it. Looking back now, it makes me sick on what i didn’t do. If I see something like this again, no doubt, I will help. But a couple years ago, I was a small little boy who still didn’t know who he was in the world. A kid that was confused by all the life drama. I wouldn’t make the same choice again. I would help if I can go back in time. Anything I could do would be better than just walking away.

Charles Blow and his mother’s lives were impacted by their gender. Throughout her life, people thought that Blow’s mother is weak because she is a woman. People thought that they could step over her just for being a woman. People didn’t respect her and thought that she could not succeed. Yet she proved to people that she doesn’t need a man in her life to function. That she could have her own job and support her family by herself. She was able to get a college degree and become a teacher, even though back then it was hard for a colored women to get a college degree.

Charles Blow gender also had an impact on his live. He had to act a certain way to fit in and not seem gay. He had to try and act tough and hide his sexuality. He joined the basketball team and became friends with cool kids so that he could forget about his sexuality. He feared that everyone will be disappointed if he came out. Because he was a man, people expected him to act in a certain way.

Gender didn’t have much of an impact on my life. I guess my parents thought because I was a boy I should be athletic and such. And that I should be nice to women and respect them. Gender has impacted me in the types of friends I made and of certain criteria I must follow or I will seem not a man.

I have participated in groups many times throughout high school. I have worked in groups such as projects for classes. What I like about working in groups is that you don’t have to do all the work on the assignment. The work is divided equally. Some challenging stuff when working in a group is that sometimes your partner has a different idea of doing something. Then you have to either compromise or give in. An ideal group will look like to me is a group of 3. With intelligent and open minded partners. My role would be a team players, helping people and assisting. I believe that I am the steering wheel of my group. Because I direct them to prosperity.

To me, high school, was very easy academically. Even though I took many AP classes, while in high school, I had plenty of time to spare. Studying wasn’t an issue. I’m good at memorizing stuff, so once I read something once, I could go in and take a test and get a straight A. I managed my time in high school by hanging with friends, playing video games, watching TV, studying, and doing homework.

College on the other hand, has some things common with high school. Like high school, I have a lot of free time on my hands. Once I’m done with a class i could go back to my dorm and do whatever I want. Hoover, college is also kind of different. The classes seem to be harder, and there is less homework (well except for Aleks). Also, my pattern has changed. I no longer play video games or watch TV. Instead, I upgraded, and started watching Netflix.

There have been some changes in my eating habits. I now mostly eat junk food. Mostly everything at Stony Brook makes your stomach hurt. Thankful, I go to the gym regularly, to stay healthy. My sleeping habits also somewhat changed. I sleep later because my classes start later than high school.

I don’t know that many resources that could help me balance my time, because honestly, I am perfectly capable of doing that. But if I do need help, I could ask the RA for resources. I don’t really know how I will be able to balance between studying and ‘having a life’. I will just go in and see how everything unfolds. I don’t know how I will intend to balance, I will let the wind blow and I will fallow.

If I were to write a memoir in four years, I want it to include my multiple successes as a student. I want the memoir to include all the scores I got in my classes. The memoir will include my almost perfect GPA and my DAT score. It will include how working hard pays off in the long run. And that even if a person is smart, he can also have a social life. That Stony Brook is a good way to make friends and find partners. That Stony Brook has many clubs and organizations and how I joined so many clubs, such as UNICEF. Academic success means to me that once who have motivation you could set any goal and achieve it as long as yo put your mind to it. We humans are all different, each with different interests. But it is the interests  that we make great and amazing is what truly academic success comes down to.

I am an 18 year old male student. My name is Majd Abdulmaseeh. I am a fun person and make life more interesting for the people around me. I have many intensest, such as sports. I use to be on the track team a few years ago. I also like to play basketball from time to time. I am not only somewhat athletic, but I am also very intelligent. I love to read books. I usually finish reading booking in a few days. I like most genera. I would just grab a book of the shelf and start reading it. I am a well educated individual that helps the community around me. I do volunteer work whenever I get the chance. With my great and multiple skills, I will be an asset to Stony Brook, and later on, to the world.