Learning Challenge: Deskercise

I read the article about 6 stretches. I liked reading about new stretches and mini exercises that you can do while sitting for long periods of time. I always do chair twists as my back gets tight all the time. I am looking forward to trying the twisting arms this week, as I have never tried this before. I also need to try shoulder rolls and neck stretches more often when sitting in long classes. These small tips are helpful for college students that are constantly sitting in long lectures.

desk stretch

Growth Mindset: Student Thoughts

The first quote that I found provided a new perspective is that feedback is a gift. I have never thought of it this way, but it really is. People are taking the time to genuinely engage with your work and help you to get better. This will help me in appreciating feedback in the future. The second was to find the lesson. This helps me to remain positive in moments of failure. It is important to learn from our failures rather than just become upset and give up. Both of these quotes put growth mindset in a new perspective for me.

Feedback gift

Tech Tip: Following at Twitter

I decided to follow a few OU related accounts. An important one is the OU Emergency Prep. I find this useful because it gives helpful updates about severe weather and other must know news for OU students. I also follow the OU Health Hut so that i can see when things such as the flu shot clinic are offered in Goddard. Following OU accounts on twitter is very helpful to stay up to date on everything happening.

Week 5 Story: Rushing Into Homecoming

          The autumn season in small towns across northeastern Oklahoma is unique to most other areas. There is a faint chill in the October air, as the skies become orange at dusk, matching the color of the falling leaves that canvas the ground. At sunset on Friday nights, the sky becomes illuminated with stadium lights and the whistles from referees almost drown out the occasional moos of the nearby grazing cattle. Football is a lifestyle in these towns across Oklahoma, and that lifestyle reaches its apex during the homecoming game.

            Homecoming is the week that is filled with school pride, class reunions, the football game, and, of course, the homecoming dance after the game. For Bobby Brown, a highly-touted running back for the Quapaw, Oklahoma high school football team, homecoming was the week to showcase his talents to the many college scouts in attendance. Bobby had already been on pace for a historic season, leading the state in rushing yards and leading his team to an unbeaten record. He was the talk of the town amongst the old men in the local coffee shop, as Bobby was nearly unstoppable. But this week, this game was different. There was somebody other than the college scouts that he needed to impress.

            Alyssa Jones was a senior captain of the cheer team. She had long, blonde hair and a captivating smile to match her engaging personality. For Bobby, the ultimate goal was to attend the homecoming dance with Alyssa. But Alyssa was not going to attend with just anybody.

“What can I do to convince you to go to homecoming with me?” Bobby asked.

“Well, Bobby, I really wasn’t planning on going. Buying a dress and getting ready after the late game is such a hassle. But, I’ll tell you what. If you rush for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns this week, then I will go with you to the dance,” said Alyssa.

“Consider it done,” Bobby replied confidently.

            In reality, this seemed almost impossible to Bobby. They were facing the toughest defense in the state this week. Besides, he had only topped 200 yards rushing once in his playing career. But Bobby knew what he had to do to impress Alyssa.

            That Friday night, night fell and the kickoff whistle blew. Bobby started off hot, rushing for 60 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. But the opposing defense started adjusting as the game progressed. Bobby knew this would be no easy task. By the end of third quarter, he only had 90 yards and the one touchdown. Alyssa knew that she would not be attending the dance, and Bobby knew that he had to make up ground quickly. Although he was getting fatigued and beaten up by the stout defense, Bobby knew that his team needed him. He knew that the scouts needed him. He knew that Alyssa needed him.

            With 6 minutes left in the game, Bobby finally broke free for a 60 yard touchdown rush. The game was now tied and bobby has his two touchdowns, but still lacked 50 yards to reach 200. The defense held, and Bobby and the offense got the ball with two minutes remaining and sixty yards to score a touchdown for the win. On first down, the ball was snapped and handed to Bobby. He ran right for no gain, as he was wrapped up instantly. Second down was not much better, as he gained only two yards. Third down was his last chance. He took the handoff from the quarter back, ran left, broke a tackle, made a man miss, and sprinted through an arm tackle. He had done it. There was nothing but green grass ahead.

“TOUCHDOWN! WILDCATS WIN!” proclaimed the announcer.

Against all odds, Bobby finished the game with 3 touchdowns and 210 yards rushing, his best performance to date. He had completed the challenge. The game was won, and Alyssa was going to the homecoming dance with Bobby, the most highly recruited running back in the small school’s history.

Small high school football stadium 

Author's Notes: My story idea came from Part A of Gould's Divine Archer. There is a story in this section in which Rama must string Vishnu's bow in order to gain Sita's love. I wanted to use a similar story of performing an arduous task to win a love, so I changed the characters and story to a high school football player trying to win over a potential homecoming date. In my story, Bobby is the Rama character and Alyssa is the Sita. Bobby must have the best game of his playing career in order to attend the dance with Alyssa. It was no easy task, as he faced a tough opponent, but, in the end, Bobby pulled through and completed the challenge, just as Rama did, and attended to dance with his version of Sita. 

Bibliography: F.J. Gould The Divine Archer 

           

           

Reading Notes: Gould's Divine Archer: Part B

Sugriva fights Vali and Rama kills him by using an arrow. The search for Sita begins. Rama gives Hanuman his ring. Hanuman meets a vulture who gives them word that Sita is in Lanka. Hanuman jumps there over a huge monster. Hanuman meets Vibishana, a supporter of Rama despite being related to Ravana. Hanuman watches SIta as she rejects Ravana. Hanuman gives Sita Rama’s ring. He tells Sita that Rama is coming and he is captured by demons and brought to Ravana. Hanuman’s tail is set on fire. As a result, he grows it to enormous size and the city of Lanka catches on fire. Hanuman then returns to Rama’s camp. Ravana is urged by his allies to make peace with Rama, but, instead, he goes to war. Rama shoots an arrow that knocks off Ravana’s crown. After days of combat, Rama and Ravana finally do battle. Rama slays him with Indra’s bow. Sita has to prove her fidelity. Later, it is revealed that Rama has two sons. Sita again proves her fidelity.

            This section of the reading provides an opportunity for a larger scaled story that spans more time, rather than a side story. A similar story could be told of a hero trying to find his captured lover and defeating her captor. This story would take much more detail to set up the characters and might be a bit beyond the scope of a writing assignment, however. Other ideas include a story about how Sita feels in regards to having to prove her fidelity on multiple occasions. Using Sita’s point of view could be an interesting take on the story. Perhaps she is upset that she must prove her fidelity and feels that Rama does not trust her as he should. Maybe more of the inner-workings of their relationship could be told in a story such as this.

Sita in fire 

Bibliography: F.J. Gould. The Divine Archer

Reading Notes: Gould's Divine Archer: Part A

         The story begins with the celebration of the birth of the four sons, with Rama being the most beloved of the sons. Rama cosmically manifests and then returns to being a baby. A wise older hermit comes seeking help to battle the demons. Dasharatha is reluctant, but he lets Rama go. Later they travel around and are spotted by a friend of SIta. Sita and Rama fall in love when they see each other. To win Sita over, Rama bends the bow and snaps it. Rama then easily strings Vishnu’s bow. Later, Rama is forced into exile for a large number of years. Lakshmana joins Rama in exile. Dasharatha later dies as the result of a curse. A demon woman falls in love with Rama, but he is married. She is then mutilated by Lakshmana and they combine to defeat the warriors. Later, Ravana all but kidnaps Sita. The monkeys show Rama SIta’s scarf. 

        This is an excellent section with many possible storytelling opportunities. To me, the most interesting aspect for a possible story is the part when Rama has to bend the bow and later string Vishnu’s bow in order to gain Sita’s hand in marriage. I think it would be interesting to do a story in which a task, some extremely difficult task, must be performed in order to win a hand in marriage. The story could even have totally different characters and be placed in a modern setting of some sort. Perhaps the story could even include a failure to perform the task successfully, the opposite of what happened with Rama. This option could potentially be fun to play around with creatively. The thought that pops in my head is a high school student performing a certain task to win over a prom date. This would be relatable to most people and could be very fun. 

Bibliography: F.J Gould. The Divine Archer

Rama breaking the bow to win Sita