Persuasive Essay: Abortion

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Brigh Desjardins

I plan to write my persuasive essay on the topic of abortion. It is an extremely sensitive subject, which is why I was apprehensive at first about choosing it. I found it troubling that I seem to be in the minority here at Penn State as a pro-life advocate. I feel very strongly about this issue – it’s one of the few political issues I actually have a solid position on – but I do not expect a welcoming reaction from my audience. However, I learned from former Irish president Mary Robinson that when you feel particularly strong about an issue, you must prepare to be disliked if you want to accomplish anything.

I studied the harmful effects of abortion for eight years when it was incorporated into my school curriculum. I listened to several guest speakers, watched movies entitled “The Miracle of Life” or something along those lines, and even attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C. the winter of my junior year of high school. Although it sounds as if I have been brainwashed into thinking a certain way about abortion, I have considered the other side and have found that what my school taught me is what I want to believe. Through this persuasive essay, I hope to show the audience my perspective on this topic. I want them to become more educated about abortion – what exactly it is, what its consequences are, and why it is so controversial. I want them to realize and understand the blessing and fragility of life. After all, they would not be here had their mothers not chosen life. I don’t expect to persuade everyone, but I at least hope to get them thinking about the pro-life side of this issue.

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“Football Culture”

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Brigh Desjardins

Very few can argue that football is not a favorite pastime of the United States. Some play the game, some avidly watch, and others do both. Some football fans watch just for fun (like me – I’m more interested in the experience of going to a game rather than the technicalities of the sport). Other football fans, the extremely dedicated ones, are so loyal to their teams that football becomes a way of life. ( Think Pat’s father (Robert De Niro) in “Silver Linings Playbook.”)

The American love for football has made the sport at the NCAA level extremely popular. Student athletes have the opportunity to compete at an intense level, which gives the athletes that excel the proper skills to potentially compete at the professional level. The popularity of college football has turned the sport into a multi-billion dollar industry. Televised games are a means of advertisement for not only the team but for the university associated with it. The better a school is at football – or any other popular sport – the more publicity (and money) the school will gain.

However, some say that college football has become too dominant. They claim that there is a so-called “football culture” in major Division 1 football schools. Coaches go out of their way – sometimes inciting NCAA scandals in which athletes are paid to play – to recruit the best high school athletes from throughout the country. To reiterate the previous claim, the better the football team is, the more money there will be – not just for the school, but for the coaching staff as well. Students supposedly are more focused on the win-loss record of their school’s team than their own grades. The pregame tailgate is more important than chemistry class the following Monday.

Does this “football culture” really exist, though? Looking at the daily headlines on ESPN, it seems that it does. One cannot seemingly watch twenty minutes of Sports Center without hearing news about what’s next for Notre Dame football or live reports from the site of a bowl game days before the event is scheduled to take place. Constant coverage of NCAA football scandals over the past few years gave the sport a bad reputation, especially at schools like Ohio State, USC, and Penn State that were the center of the news. Those stories caused many to question whether college sports should have the priority that they currently have.

When looking deeper at the “football culture” of universities, it becomes evident that it is not just the sport that is important to the school. Football is a representation of what is great about the university. Games provide an opportunity for students to express their school spirit and cheer on their classmates to victory. Following the school football team encourages students to communicate pride and practice loyalty. Football games reflect the atmosphere of the school, the importance of community. At Penn State, for example, the students and alumni gather in Beaver Stadium to celebrate the university. There is much to be proud of, like the hundreds of clubs and organizations offered to students, excellent professors, and THON, the largest student run philanthropy in the world. College football fans also understand the dedication of the athletes on the team. In the words of Vince Lombardi, Jr., “Football is like life – it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.”  The athletes need all the support they can get, since they represent their school as well as their own physical talent. In essence, there is more to football than the sport itself. There is no “football culture” unless the definition of that term is changed to football as a means of celebration of pride in one’s school.

 

žBranch, Taylor. “The Shame of College Sports.” Editorial. The Atlantic Oct. 2011: 80-110. ProQuest. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://search.proquest.com/docview/898362622?accountid=13158>.
žEmmert, Mark. “Office of the President.” National Collegiate Athletic Association. National Collegiate Athletic Association, 5 Oct. 2010. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/NCAA President/On the Mark>.
žJost, Kenneth. “College Football.” CQ Researcher by CQ Press. CQ Researcher, 18 Nov. 2011. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2011111805>.
žPrice, Tom. “Reforming Big Time College Sports.” CQ Researcher by CQ Press. The CQ Researcher Online, 19 Mar. 2004. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2004031905>.
žServices, ESPN.com News. “Penn State Sanctions: $60M, Bowl ban.” ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 24 July 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8191027/penn-state-nittany-lions-hit-60-million-fine-4-year-bowl-ban-wins-dating-1998>.
žWieberg, Steve. “Sanctions against Ohio State Just the Latest NCAA Scandal.”USATODAY.COM. N.p., 21 Dec. 2011. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bigten/story/2011-12-20/ohio-state-sanctions-ncaa-scandals/52132580/1>.
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Books

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Brigh Desjardins

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” 
― Neil Gaiman, Coraline

It is difficult to argue that books are a “little thing in life,” as the theme of this passion blog goes, since we often feel like we’re being swallowed by them. Calculus textbooks strewn across desks, thousands of pages of chemistry accompanied by notes crammed in the margins, sheets of Spanish vocabulary barely bound together… when books are associated with hours, weeks, months of stressful nights of studying, they seem to adopt a not-so-great reputation.

But do you remember when books were fun? When you would beg your dad do read another page of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie before you went to bed, or when you would wait until your parents’ light was finally off so you could turn your own back on to read another chapter of one of the A Series of Unfortunate Events novels?

The great thing about books is that you can get lost in them. As you leaf through the pages, you leave your life behind you and take on someone else’s. Suddenly, you’re being pursued by Mr. Darcy, partying with Jay Gatsby, or discovering that the same pair of jeans magically fits you and your three best friends. It is invigorating to take on a new persona, to be braver, stronger, or more adventurous than you are in your daily life. We let our favorite characters inspire us to be the best versions of ourselves. We learn from their mistakes without having to make them ourselves. We learn that good never fails to conquer evil, no matter how long it takes.

So the next time you’re stressed, crack open your favorite book. Better yet, read your favorite childhood book… it’s amazing how many life lessons are tucked into the story. Reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has helped me forget all my problems for a few hours and has reminded me that a little bit of imagination can go a long way. Happy reading!

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Moderator Training

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Brigh Desjardins

Being a moderator, I feel, is going to be more difficult than it was described in class. Although the moderator does not say much, it is her responsibility to make sure the conversation remains fruitful. The questions posed by the moderator must be phrased in such a way that those participating in the deliberation do not answer the moderator directly but rather discuss their opinions amongst themselves. The moderator also has to be well informed about the issue being deliberated. If she does not fully grasp the concept of the topic and the standpoint of each group, she cannot formulate questions that will prompt productive deliberation. The questions she poses cannot favor one side of the issue over the other; they must be “framed,” so to speak, in a neutral manner.

My moderating philosophy will be a nonintrusive one. I will do my best not to voice my personal opinions during the deliberation. Before the deliberation takes place, I will have already developed several questions that do not favor one opinion over another so that I am prepared to keep the conversation going when a lag or silence occurs. To me, the most important part of moderation a deliberative dialogue is to make sure it remains a deliberative dialogue. It is my responsibility as a moderator to prevent the deliberation from turning into a debate with a winner and a loser. I want the participants to listen to each other and come up with solutions to the sustainability issue as a group. As a moderator, I want to ensure that the participants keep an open mind about new solutions to the issue instead of being stubborn and sticking solely to their own opinions.

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Orange

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Brigh Desjardins

It’s strange how a color can actually mean something. In high school English classes, we would often discuss the significance of the colors chosen for poetic descriptions. I was skeptical of the idea and thought that the significance of a color never existed and that teachers were analyzing written works too intimately.

It wasn’t until recently that a color actually had an effect on my life. Sure, I like to say I bleed blue and white for Penn State and, to an extent, it’s true. But those colors were never the foundation of a cause or a goal. They were a symbol of allegiance. Now, I believe in the color orange. On the surface, it’s simple. It goes unnoticed for the most part because it is, well, just a color. Look a little deeper, and you realize that orange is a symbol of strength and perseverance.

Why? Last week on Monday, I, along with the rest of the Facebook and Twitter world, found out that my friend’s younger brother was just diagnosed with leukemia. My friend, typing from over 700 miles from home at Elon University, was posting statuses about “following the orange brick road” to the cure for leukemia. The hash tag “#prayersformason” became a trending topic on Twitter. Orange became the internet’s new favorite color. The majority of my high school graduating class changed their cover photos to the one shown below. Orange became a symbol of unconditional support and prayer for a kid from my hometown.

Although I hate that this had to happen to a friend of mine – or anyone for that matter – I think it’s fitting that all the hype for the cure happened right before THON. It gives every Penn Stater from my hometown a personal reason to fight for the cure. I also think it’s no coincidence that my THON shirt happens to be the brightest shade of orange I’ve ever seen. I’m proud to wear the color of strength on my back this weekend. For the Cure.

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College Recruitment Process

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Brigh Desjardins

All of us are aware that being a Division I athlete is an incredible honor, challenge, and time commitment. It is not a gift presented on a silver platter, but rather a goal that high school athletes strive for their entire athletic careers. These athletes are the stand-out stars of their sports at their respective high schools. They are members of multiple teams and have dedicated families who travel throughout the country so that they can compete at a high level. They know the value of dedication, commitment, hard work, and perseverance. They strive to be the best in what they do.

Playing for a high school team is a huge time commitment by itself, but elite high school athletes who plan to play for a college team also participate in regional club sports. Emily Fuss, a freshman goalie for Dickinson’s Division III field hockey team, when asked about her experience with club teams, discussed the time commitment of playing a club sport: “A lot of tournaments were out of state, including Virginia, Arizona, and Florida… I played all-year … for my club so when I finished with my high school field hockey team in the fall, I would go right into training with my club team for the winter, spring, and summer.” Matt Greskoff, freshman Division I baseball player for Villanova University, played for summer baseball travel teams whose tournaments, often attended by college recruitment scouts, were located throughout the East Coast. Colleen Hickey, a member of Villanova’s women’s volleyball team, traveled all over the country with an extremely competitive club team that played from the end of the high school season to the middle of July. If you want to get recruited, you have to play for high intensity teams whose tournaments act as showcases for scouts.

Being dedicated to a sport often influences what colleges high school athletes choose to consider. Sometimes playing a sport can be helpful in that it limits the number of schools an athlete chooses to apply to. However, being an athlete can also be detrimental if the schools that want you to play for their team do not meet your academic standards. Emily Fuss never considered a university that would not allow her to continue playing field hockey – she loved the sport too much to give it up after high school. Alex Stensland, freshman ice hockey player for Lake Forest College, felt the same way: “I looked at colleges that had at least a club hockey program for women because it’s something that I’m passionate about and really wanted to continue into college.” Alex Rainone, a member of Fordham University’s crew team, had difficulty finding a school that balanced both her academic preferences and her athletic preferences. Athletes like Colleen Hickey and Matt Greskoff choose schools that aren’t necessarily their top choice but are the ones that will provide them with the most playing time so they can continue playing the sport they love.

Surprisingly enough, academic performance is very important to most universities looking to recruit athletes for their programs. Division III schools like Dickinson do not give out athletic scholarships. They place heavy importance on academic excellence. As Emily said, “We are students before we are athletes, and our coaches follow that rule.” Many coaches believe that hard work in the classroom translates to hard work on the field. At Division I schools, academics are still extremely important, but coaches can influence the acceptance decision of a recruit to help them get into the university.

 

Sources: interviews with Emily Fuss, Matt Greskoff, Colleen Hickey, Alex Rainone, & Alex Stensland

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Packages

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Brigh Desjardins

I think I speak for everyone when I say that there’s nothing better than an email from eLiving informing you that there’s a package waiting for you in the commons. It is a “little thing in life” that’s really not that hard to take for granted because it’s SO EXCITING. Ok, maybe it’s just me, but I love packages. My birthday was the best time of the school year so far. My birthday is in December, so I got both birthday and Christmas cards and gifts in the mail on a regular basis. My sister’s homemade birthday card to me was covered in glitter and, as a result, so was my room. Did it matter? No, because I got it in the mail and I love mail. I even got a birthday cupcake delivery from – not kidding – my dog.

The packages died down for the second semester, aside from the box of items I forgot to pack and needed my parents to send to me. However, yesterday, I got the ever-so-exciting email telling me a package had arrived for me. It was the best news I’d gotten all day, especially after taking a ridiculously difficult math test that finished fifteen minutes prior to the reception of the email. I rushed to the commons and recognized my aunt’s handwriting on the envelope. I opened the package to find homemade chocolate covered pretzels (the kind with the M&M in the middle) and a Valentine’s Day card from my cousins. I was thrilled to say the least.

I think packages symbolize something greater than just a few gifts in a box. They are a tangible symbol of the love your family and friends have for you. They show that you cross the minds of your loved ones and that they want to express their love for you in a simple way. There’s nothing better than that.

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The Power of Words

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Brigh Desjardins

It wasn’t until class today that I really thought about the English language. I take the words I use for granted often times, and I don’t always have the vocabulary I need to articulate my thoughts. The words I use may have different implications for the listeners than what I intend for them to have. What I found particularly interesting was the emotional connotations we attach to words. Never before had I considered a spatula to be an “assault weapon.” The term “assault weapon” accurately described the kitchen utensil I use to flip my omelets in the situation identified by the narrator. Now I see that the emotion of fear can be associated with an ordinary item never before considered dangerous.

Another issue discussed by the narrator was how authority figures influence the emotional connotations we associate with words. Some of us would never consider a weapon to be dangerous had the government not deemed it so. This claim reminded me of a similar theory I learned about in my ECON 102 class earlier this week. When a renowned economist predicts a future trend, people react in a way that actually causes that prediction to come true; these predictions are called “self-fulfilling prophecies.” The example of a self-fulfilling prophecy given by my professor, Dr. Dave Brown, is as follows: “For example, supposed the chairman of the Fed, Ben Bernanke, says that the price of cereal will decrease. No one buys cereal, expecting the future price to be lower. This shifts the demand curve inward, lowering the price.” I find it unsettling to think that public figures can alter our way of thinking so significantly. It makes me think that (to quote the Wizards of Waverly Place theme song) “everything is not what it seems.”

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Comedy

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Brigh Desjardins

“Always laugh when you can, it is cheap medicine.”
― George Gordon Byron

 

I’ve always been a fan of comedy, but it wasn’t until this weekend that I realized its positive effects. I had a very long weekend to say the least. I went on a retreat sponsored by the Catholic Campus Ministry this weekend hoping to both strengthen my relationship with God and make new friends. Unfortunately, the weekend didn’t go as planned. I was freezing, lonely, and intimidated by how devout everyone was. We had no technology so I rarely knew the time and I couldn’t contact anyone when I was lonely. I couldn’t have been happier when it was time to leave.

Things didn’t necessarily get better, however. I returned to a ton of homework. It was overwhelming. For whatever reason my professors decided it would be a great idea to load on the assignments and tests this week and the following week. I did homework for hours yesterday. By 10:00, my brain was fried.

That’s when I discovered the healing powers of comedy. I decided to watch the episode of Saturday Night Live that I had missed over the weekend. I immediately adopted a better mood. Adam Levine was a surprisingly hilarious host, Kendrick Lamar was a fantastic musical guest, and my obsession, Andy Samburg, returned for the episode. I found myself laughing out loud, which I rarely do when watching television. Laughing reduced my stress level significantly. I felt much better about my workload after forgetting about my problems for an hour and just immersing myself in comedic spoofs. Laughter truly is “cheap medicine,” a remedy we often take for granted. It’s important to appreciate its medicinal values and remember to laugh just a little every day.

(If you need a little comedic relief today, here’s Adam Levine’s opening monologue. The rest of the episode was hilarious as well so if you have an hour to spare, this is a great way to spend your time. http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/adam-levine-monologue/n32021/)

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Online Deliberation

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Brigh Desjardins

“So much blood has been shed by the Church because of an omission from the Gospel: ‘Ye shall be indifferent as to what your neighbor’s religion is.’ Not merely tolerant of it, but indifferent to it. Divinity is claimed for many religions; but no religion is great enough or divine enough to add that new law to its code.”
– Mark Twain, a Biography

            I have chosen to partake in online deliberation on www.politicalhotwire.com, specifically on “Forum: Philosophy & Religion.” There is a lot of political controversy due to religious beliefs. After attending Catholic school for thirteen years and as a result of a year-long course on morality my junior year of high school, I feel I know the Church’s standings on most issues prevalent today pretty well. I would like to understand the viewpoints of those with beliefs different than mine, as I know they are in great abundance. I think there are a lot of similarities between Catholicism and other religions. Last year, my senior class studied religions throughout the world and I found myself agreeing with doctrines from each religion we studied. I hope that by partaking in this online forum I expand my knowledge of different religions and adopt some of their beliefs as my own.

There are political issues related to religion that I feel very strongly about. I hope to make a fair argument for my side that doesn’t insult the other viewpoint but rather provide helpful information for my case. People don’t respond well to attacks at their beliefs. As a proper “online deliberator,” I hope to be persuasive and approachable. I don’t necessarily want to force people to change their opinions, but rather I would like to provide them with adequate information to make a correct judgment on their own. In a sense, it’s a small way to change the world – one forum comment at a time.

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