Dear Senior Me:

Dear Senior me,

Hopefully you graduated or are very close to the big day (fingers crossed). Congratulations on a fantastic four years here in Happy Valley! As I write this, I am in the final stages of my time as a Leaper for the summer of 2015. The past six weeks have been filled with new friends, adjustments, and of course 1 am stops at Canyon Pizza. I seriously hope that Penn State football has beaten Ohio State at least once so I don’t have to hear the constant trash talk from your brother Colin. By now, you are a 22 year old moving into the “real world”. If I were to take an educate guess, you majored in Marketing. By now, you’re a confident individual who is ready to take on whatever life throws at him.

As a senior, you’re probably wondering how time has flown by so fast (I’m wondering the same thing at this very moment in time, 5:28 pm August 10th, 2015). The people you have come in contact with over the four years treat you as well as you treat them. The hard work and persistence of achieving academic goals have finally paid off. Sure, getting an education here at Penn State is most important but I truly hope you have experienced everything Penn State had to offer. Whiteout football games, internships, camping out at nittanyville, living with your closest friends and enjoying the nightlife were all staples of the mark you have left on this great University. The future will lead you to several job oppurinuties, and maybe even with a certain Philadelphia sports team.

Good luck with the next chapter in your life. Youll forver be a nittany lion and you have truly left your mark at State College. Hopefully this letter wasn’t too corny or lame. If so, I apologize the few mintues I have wasted while you are reading this on your Iphone 9. From a nervous freshman in the beginning of my time in LEAP to a strong/matured 22 year old graduate, best wishes. WE ARE

unnamedhhh

 

Dear LEAP Freshmen 2016:

 

Dear LEAP Freshman 2016,

If you’re anything like I was in the beginning of summer of 2015, you’re probably dreading spending the next 6 weeks of your life taking classes away from family/friends. “Why would I want to leave my home after a memorable senior year of high school to have an awful summer full of adjustments and academics” were exact thoughts that I had every day up until move in day. Well, let me tell you something. Feeling nervous, anxious or even scared for the future is completely normal. Little do you know at this point in time that the summer session at Penn State will be one of your best summer experiences of your life.

Spending the majority of my summer in Happy Valley was something I will never forget. The adjustment from High School to college life was certainly a process that did not happen overnight, but youll become more comfortable with yourself and your surroundings in preparation for the fall. Ill place a bet right now that you will become much more independent and organized while you spend your time in State College.

IMG_6041-580x435

As a member of LEAP, you will make memories to last a lifetime. Although my summer flew by faster than I could have ever imagined, I still had a ton of fun being a college student. With your LEAP, youll get to take part in sketchy laser tag, trips to Beaver Stadium, trips to the creamery, and gatherings/study sessions with the other 24 members of your “pride”. With the way this program is set up, making friends is much easier. The plus side of only taking two classes is the amount of free time you get to choose how to spend. Events such as the 3v3 basketball tournament are set up during the afternoon hours, and I highly encourage you to get involved while you spend your time here.

Take a deep breath, relax, and in a short matter of time, you will be very glad that you decided to spend your summer at the greatest place on earth: Happy Valley. Good luck class of 2020! WE ARE

Chapter 14 Student Led Discussion

The video game industry, a relatively new industry, was created based off of two separate developments unrelated to the computer. In the beginning of the early 1930’,s the first pinball machine was created by David Gottlieb and was made popular through entertainment arcades. These locations were home to numerous coin-operated machines. While mechanical developments such as the pinball machine continued, large universities around the U.S were using computers to create new games. In 1972, Atari became the first successful United States company to sell video arcade games. A decade later, social change surrounded this newly formed industry. The rise of the internet created popularity of gaming online and new software that allowed users to message with other users (these were known as bulletin boards). Concentration of power began to shift to Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft. Each major firm came out with separate gaming systems and the Nintendo Wii captured the broadest audience. As time has moved on, it is evident that the video game industry is controversial from the sex and violence seen in many games today. Although the video game industry is fairly new and it has changed as a result of struggles to control its channels to audiences, it has come a long way since the development of the first pinball machine in the early 1930’s.

The landscape of the entire video game industry is very unique. Currently, video game use has been reported at around 67% in U.S households. It is important to note that the average gamer is 30 years old and has been playing for more than 12 years. Convergence has played a major role in the development of gaming consoles. For example, an Xbox 360 can be used to play DVDs as well as the regular gaming functions. Video game use has stretched to desktop/laptop use to interactive TVs and mobile device. And although video games used though consoles and handheld manufacturers get much attention, the largest amount of games are created through third party publishers. In the production field, these companies create games unrelated to the hardware companies. Although the video game industry continues to grow, its rich history and different uses make it unique and special.

The video game industry has a large number of genres of games known as “software genres”. These genres include action games, adventure, casual, simulation, strategy and sports games. Young men have always been the dominating force of video games, until 2009 when simulation video games became popular and other women decided to give it a try. This led to programmers creating a target audience for their viewers having to do with gender race, and marital status. These different audiences led to different concerns about the media overall.

maxresdefault

When the video game industry became more popular there became more concerns on privacy, content, and self-regulation because more people were using the games. The content was controversial because of a video game character known as Lara Croft lots of critics say she has unrealistic body type than most women and is a negative role model for young girls today. A video game known as Grand Theft Auto, which was in controversy for having too much sexual content and violence. People have many concerns with their own privacy on certain online video games such as FarmVille and CityVille. The U.S government has many different laws about collecting data when it comes to privacy and self-regulation. There is an act known as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act also known as COPPA this law requires websites, which includes games sites, to get the consent of the parent to know what site their child is on. The law gets permission from the individual to be on the site.

Video game addiction is something that happens a lot in today’s society. The use of advanced technology has made especially young generation reliant on only technology and not the world around them, that they are invested into this one game. In an academic journal in Media Psychology that was created in 2011 there was a study done by Livingstone and Helsper in 2007 that resulted that higher sensation children are more likely to go online. In a study done in 2004 by Livingstone and Helsper it was proved those children would also be more likely to be addicted to video games. There is not evident proof but it can be suggested that kids that are playing video games want to play a specific type, which is violent video games, and they get addicted to them. In fact, a 2007 study suggested that teens who play violent, shooting video games may have lingering effects on the brain that trigger emotional arousal(“Violent”). Violent video games leads to kids and teens becoming more addicted to online gaming and thinking they are in the specific game such fighting games, shooting games and other violent criteria.

The video game industry has become a huge enterprise for all ages of people looking for a minute to escape and be in a different world. However, there could be effects from the industry that could be negative such as addiction and violence. Whether it is in kids, or adults. The video game industry has come a long way since 1931 with pinball machines and with the negative effects of addiction on children and youth violence today, the industry must go on another level.

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

  1. Jensen, Jakob D., et al. “Developing A Brief Sensation Seeking Scale For Children: Establishing Concurrent Validity With Video Game Use And Rule-Breaking Behavior.” Media Psychology 14.1 (2011): 71-95. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 2 Aug. 2015.
  2. Violent video games. (2007). The Science Teacher, 74(1), 12-12,14.
  3. Carey, Benedict. “Shooting in the Dark.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 30 July 2015.
  4. Miller, Tracy. “Kids Addicted to Video Games May Become Violent: Experts.” NY Daily News. N.p., 25 Mar. 2013. Web. 30 July 2015.
  5. Struthers, William M. “Gaming Addiction.” Addictions & Substance Abuse. Ed. Robin Kamienny Montvilo. Vol. 1. Ipswich, MA: Sale

North Korea Creates Own Time Zone

Just when you think North Korea has done it all, the country and it’s leaders have managed to  make it back into International news headlines. This area, which is in a world of its own, is the most secretive country in the world. Now, reports state that North Korea has created a time zone just for itself. This new time zone could definitely cause some problems in the future.

North Korea will now set it’s clocks back by 30 minutes starting on August 15th. This time, which be known as “”Pyongyang time”, makes North Korea even more isolated before. North Korea, which already has it’s own calendar, will now be 30 minutes behind Tokyo and Seoul. This change in time will have negative effects on inter-Korean exchanges. Jeong Joon-hee, the South Korean Unification ministry spokesman, was quoted saying “Some difficulties are likely to come in inter-Korean exchanges, including flows to and from the Kaesong Industrial Complex”. It is still unknown whether or not South Korea will follow suit with the time change. Moving forward, only time will tell how the situation in North Korea plays out.

150722145256-restrict-dprk360--oversized-sunglasses-fashion-exlarge-169

Reading the headline of this CNN article did not surprise me at all in the least. North Korea always finds a new way to get the world’s attention, and creating their own time zone certainly accomplishes this. This article was intriguing because it gave me more background on North Korea and it’s history. Moving forward, I will continue to follow this story because it affects international relations. This change in time only pushes North Korea further into isolation from the rest of the world. Hearing multiple stories about what goes on behind the walls of North Korea is interesting, and a new time zone certainly adds to the mystery.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/07/asia/north-korea-time-zone/index.html

Reflection- Final FYE

As I am typing this, I cant believe that I have come to the final stages in my first semester at Penn State. The journey is finally coming to an end. As a LEAPer, I have learned new material and met new people that I hope to keep in contact with for years to come. Its crazy to think that this time next week, my classes will be in the past. The nervousness and jitters of moving in and meeting new people seemed like they were just occurring yesterday. My seven weeks here at Penn State flew by faster than I could have ever imagined. Reflection on the past is important as it shows how I have grown into the individual I currently stand as. I can truthfully say that over these past weeks, I have grown into a more mature, individualized person.

Both of my classes in my first semester, Comm 100S and Cas100a, have given me knowledge and skills that I am going to use for the rest of my life. In mass media, I learned how truly important it is to use media literacy when consuming any type of media In public speaking, I became much more comfortable speaking in front of a group(My LEAP group helped with this). Both of these classes were not only informative, but they were extremely intriguing.

IMG_6041-580x435

As the summer is coming to an end, I excitedly wait for the next chapter in my life as a Penn State student. My time in LEAP pride 232 was unforgettable, as I have made memories to last a lifetime. Whether it is late night study sessions or sketchy laser tag trips, I will never forget my first semester. I want to thank my professors, Bhavin(Leap leader, and every person in Pride 232 for making this summer memorable. I cant wait to see where Penn State takes me in the future!

First Trip To Beaver Stadium! – FYE

Before Wednesday, I couldn’t go a single day without someone at Penn State describing how great the atmosphere is at Beaver Stadium on game day Saturdays. “The stadium literally shakes” or “The whiteout is something indescribable” were things I heard daily. In fact, up until yesterday, I had never been inside of the 107,00 seated stadium in my entire life. Thanks to Bhavin(My LEAP leader) and members of our pride, I finally got to experience my first taste of Penn State football.

After taking a short bus ride to the football stadium, we first navigated through the “All Star Sports Museum”. It was pretty cool to see every sport represented(even fencing). This athletic gallery had interesting information, props and trophies on display from the various sports teams. The museum was located at one of the front entrances to Beaver Stadium, right next to the gift shop.

unnamed (3)

As anticipation built, we took an elevator up to the club seat level of the stadium to get a view of the entire field. I was blown away by the size of the football stadium and I immediately could understand what all the hype about this historic venue was about. The view from the top right section of the stands was just my first glimpse of what I will be experiencing in the fall. Standing there, I imagined what it will be like to experience a game with 107 thousand other cheering fans around me. I have been to an Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field before, but I’m sure it does not compare to the Penn State football atmosphere. Earlier in the summer, I woke up at 7 am to snag my season student tickets. After my first trip to the inside of the stadium, I couldn’t be anymore excited for what is to come! (Pictured below is my first view of Beaver Stadium)

unnamed (4)

Skeletons of Jamestown

Jamestown, which was the first English settlement in the British New World, is located in the state of Virginia. This historic town is now in the news again due to recent scientific discoveries. Scientists have uncovered the remains of what appears to be four leaders of the original settlement. These four men were originally have thought to been lost to history after their mysterious deaths in the early 1600’s. As scientific tests on the remains continue, more information will be discovered regarding these four men and the town of Jamestown itself.

A historian and president of the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation that goes by the name of Dr. James Horn was quoted saying “Being able to personalize their stories, they give us another way into looking at the remarkable history of these early years of English settlement”. This man has been excavating the exact site for around 20 years. Discovered in the channel of a church, these four men must have been of elite status when they were alive. This surprising discovery has led to many new developing questions surrounding the lives of these men. This discovery is important because it provides insight upon the lives of settlers during some of Virginia’s most challenging times.

This CNN article provided sufficient quotes and information regarding the new discovery in Jamestown, Virginia. I found this article really cool, especially because I learned so much about this settlement in history class years ago. As scientists continue to survey the remains, hopefully we can learn more about this great nation’s past and where it all truly started. I found it quite interesting that these skeletons were able to be matched with individuals lost in history. Researchers say “The “extraordinary discovery is a window into the beginning of American society” and I would have to agree 100%.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/29/us/jamestown-virginia-skeletons/index.html

150729123319-01-jamestown-skeletons-exlarge-169

Interview of Color

A friend jumps in the picture with Akila(Pictured left).  "I once got stuck in a hurricane during one of my trips to India and was without power for 3 days!" - Akila

A friend jumps in the picture with Akila(Pictured left).
“I once got stuck in a hurricane during one of my trips to India and was without power for 3 days!” – Akila

Meet Akila Shanmugaraj. A bubbly, kind and outgoing 21 one year old junior at Pennsylvania State University. I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to interview Akila due to the amount of material I learned about her life and how it relates directly to mine. Although we are two completely different people, I was able to make the most out of the ten minutes I spent learning more about her life on campus. Through this interview, I became more educated regarding stereotypes on campus and the differences between the experiences I have already experienced for the summer at State College.

Akila is an Indian from Groton, Massachusetts, and is a psychology major at University Park. Just through the short time spent with her, I could tell how much she has loved her time here on campus. After asked how any specific traditions/customs she practices, she informed me that she is Hindu. However, Akila went on to state that she is not very religious even though her family has traditions that they practice. This 21 year old later explained that she actually does not have any close friend at Penn State that are Indian. The majority of her friends are Caucasian. Her hobbies/interests include listening to all types of music and heavy involvement with THON. For those not familiar with this foundation, it is a year-long effort to raise donations and consciousness for childhood cancer. To wrap up the interview, I asked Anita to name one thing most people most likely do not know about her. After pondering for a few moments, she responded by saying “I once got stuck in a hurricane during one of my trips to India and was without power for 3 days!”

The feel of a large campus and the sense of camaraderie felt at Penn State University was a giant selling point for Akila to choose to come to this college. She fell in love with the campus on a tour and loved the idea of getting involved in THON. Akila has loved her time here and told me that she did not have any personal experiences that made her feel different as a person of color on the Penn State campus. Having a very easy time making friends, getting involved and doing well in her classes as made her feel at home. She could not think of anything that has made her feel prejudiced.

Despite the positive time Akila has had in Happy Valley, she has experienced some stereotypes as a student of color here. “Some people I talk to assume I am an engineer or a science major. Also, some think that I do not drink/party”, Anita noted. Despite this set of stereotypes towards those individuals of the Indian race, she explained that she has never felt prejudiced or have had experiences with extreme, negative serotypes at Penn State. All around, Anita couldn’t be happier with the environment found on campus.

Conducting this interview truly opened my eyes to the differences individuals of color experience on a daily basis. Although Anita has not experienced anything extreme or dramatic, stereotypes based off of her race have occurred during her time at Penn State. It must be quite a different experience for Anita to walk into a classroom with a majority of white students rather than students of her own race. This aspect of her student life is something that I personally do not experience. Other differences between Akila and myself include race, gender, religion and intended major for PSU.

Although some differences lie between Akila and me, we actually share many similarities. To start, both of us chose to come to Penn State for the large campus and community feel. Like Akila Shanmugaraj, I also enjoy listening to all types of music in my spare time. Akila is active with THON and with my similar interest in getting involved with this organization, she encouraged me to most definitely get involved. It was easy to connect with her because we shared certain similarities.

This “Interview of Color” was something very important that I experienced and will for sure stick with me for the remainder of the time I spend here at Penn State University. Akila was a very congenial and kind individual to interview and I am very thankful for the insight that she gave me regarding the life of a student of color on campus. I also thought it was interesting to get this perspective from an upperclassmen as compared to someone my same age. Akila taught me more about myself as a Caucasian student at Penn State and the stereotypes she has gone through as an Indian student. Despite our differences that include race, gender and religion, we have some underlying similarities. Akila Shanmugaraj was a great person to interview because of her openness regarding the topics of prejudices and stereotypes. Many people would feel uncomfortable handling these questions and she answered each one to the best of her ability. Thank you Akila for the time we spent together, as I will not forget it moving forward in my life as a college student!

Case Study: TOMS “One For One” Campaign

Founded in 2006, Blake Mycoskie created the TOMs company on the basis of giving back to individuals and communities in need. After taking witnessing the struggles of everyday live in certain communities in Argentina, he found it important to provide children with a pair of shoes who were less fortunate. TOMS currently works with over 100 giving partners in over 70 countries worldwide and has had an impact on more than 35 million individuals. The goals/objectives of this simple campaign has evolved over the years to address the health needs, education, and economic opportunities for individuals in communities around the entire world. As the company has expanded each and every year, so has their list of objectives. Currently, TOMS provides assistance to the categories of eyewear, bags, footwear, safe drinking water, safe birth and even coffee! Giving back to the community is the basis of TOMS and the “One for One” campaign solidifies the belief of improving people’s lives through business.

The message of this business is simple: By purchasing a pair of TOMs shoes, you as a consumer can help improve the lives of someone else in need.  The company has turned into more of a movement that creates better living conditions for individuals in need, specifically children. Even with a business-like approach, the company TOMS seems to provide a message that revolves around going above and beyond their sales for the greater good of different communities.

TOM’s primary audience is targeted at 18 to 25 year olds.  This age group is loyal to the brand and is attracted to them for their comfortable, stylish, and affordable footwear.  The shoes cost range from $44-$68 dollars, depending on the style, which is comparable to Converse.  The most popular and classic style is $44 however. This particular audience is found to be living in the United States, have graduated either high school or college, and or employed.  Most buyers tend to be interested in music, helping others, and being involved in many activities.

Their secondary audience pertains to men and women who are 25 to 34 years old.  Again, they have a high school or college degree and are in the middle to upper class. Due to this, they are more able to spend money freely and buy multiple pairs of TOMS. This ties into the marketing of TOMS. Once a customer recognizes the impact they are making on a child’s life, they will want to help even more.

logo_trans

Unlike almost all companies, TOMS does not have an advertising budget.  They tend to focus more on mission and long term vision.  They attract buyers through design contests, traveling to colleges, and shoe drops, which are mostly in California that give away a TOMS $50 gift bag, stickers and flyers for events.

The tactics and other marketing strategies that TOMS uses differs from numerous businesses. TOMS creates a campaign that benefits all those involved. Not only does the consumer receive their desired purchase but a child in need is also provided with the product. By partnering up with Giving Partners, TOMS is able to reach millions of people in need. These strong partnerships are extremely beneficial as they work together in order to achieve success.

Though the company is mostly known for their shoes, TOMS offers a wide variety of products such as eyewear, bags, and coffee. Again, with any of these purchases another individual will benefit. What is interesting about TOMS is that they assure to cover every costs that is made when transporting and distributing the goods. The final step the company makes is to follow up on the impact they have made globally. Merely by hearing, reading, and seeing all the work TOMS does, it become clear to understand why they stand out amongst other companies.

Overall, TOMS has not only had an enormous amount of success but it has also supported children all over the world. TOMS has given over 45 million pairs of new shoes to those in need and continues to help others due to the One for One campaign (“Giving Shoes”). TOMS is a prime example which shows that businesses and other organizations have the power to make a difference in the world.

toms-giving-1-e1389056651682