In Conclusion

Three months ago I was assigned to start my blog, Days Full of Sunshine.  Although it started as an assignment for my writing 150 class, I have learned to love having a blog.  It has been a great way to get my thoughts out there. I have always thought blogs were fun and interesting; but I had never taken the time to start one. 

My blog really has no theme, aside from being about me and my life this semester.  The assigned blog posts that were required for my writing 150 class are mixed within my 15 other random posts.   As you read my assigned posts, you will be able to see some of the things I learned this semester in writing 150.  I learned about pathos, ethos, and logos.  I took some time to analyze various texts, mostly conference talks.  I have also posted some of the drafts, and finished papers that I wrote for writing 150.  I learned about the necessity of having diction, dialogue, and details in personal narratives.  I have also learned a lot about research papers and where to find credible sources.

 This semester has been a great time in my life where I have been able to learn.    There are also a lot of posts pertaining to social work.  This is because I have been studying this profession to see if it is something that I am really interested in.   The rest of my posts are about random adventures or things I learned this semester. 

This semester has been so much fun and in some ways I am sad to see it end.  However I am excited for this new chapter in my life. Although I began Days Full of Sunshine for this class, I still plan on keeping it going.   I plan to do this so I can record the crazy adventures I encounter in the time to come!

Easter: A Time to Celebrate

Picture from brojeffssermons.blogspot.com

Easter is a lovely holiday.  It has always been a tradition at my house for the Easter bunny to come and bombard my house with string.  The string begins at the banister and is looped, twisted, and tied all throughout my house.  At the end of the string is where our Easter basket is hidden.  I love reminiscing on my fond memories of this tradition when I was a child.  Each year I was always filled with wonder and excitement as I followed the brightly died string, awestruck that the Easter bunny really did this all throughout my house.

I also love being able to spend time with my family and celebrate Christ and his resurrection.  I am so grateful for this gospel, and my elder brother Jesus Christ.  I can never fully repay him for what he has done for me.  Because of his sacrifice all mankind can essentially be saved through his infinite and merciful atonement!!!!

Social Work's Correlation to the Gospel



Photo from www.lds.org/haiti-relief/relief/why_we_help.htm

        The biggest attraction the social work profession has to me personally is that it goes hand in hand with the gospel and its teachings.  Having been raised as an LDS member, the values and teachings of the gospel have become one with my core values.  In the Book of Mormon it states one should “do good-to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and afflicted” (Jacob 2:19). Christ teaches us that we must help others by giving to those in need.  This is the exact work social workers do.  Social workers gain competence in various areas in order to give relief and counsel to those who have been abused, discriminated against, to those who have suffered from poverty, or other challenging circumstances.  Due to the realization that social workers main goal is so similar to what I have been taught my whole life I feel that I could really enjoy the work I would be doing as a social worker.  My career would essentially allow me to become a better person, and would help me be better at becoming more like a Christian.

Community Action Services and Food Bank Experience

          I received the opportunity to do 20 hours of service for my social work class at Community Action Services and Food Bank.  This was a wonderful chance where I got to experience what it was like to work at a Food Bank.  By volunteering at Community Action I experienced and learned about the atmosphere of the food bank, saw and helped put together packages families receive from the food bank, and learned more about what it may be like to be a recipient of a food bank.

            Community Acton Food Bank atmosphere is full of diverse people.  Within my twenty hours of service I got to work with many different individuals.  Lots of people who volunteer there are court ordered.  Some days there would be groups of people who would show up in orange vests and do their community service.  Other people were there because they got speeding tickets, or had got in trouble with the police.  However I also worked with large groups of missionaries who would come every Thursday.  I would also work with athletes, and students from BYU who were volunteering.  Each day it was interesting to show up and see what groups of people would be there. Every day it was different, and everyone had their own story and reason for being there.   

            The atmosphere I experienced at Community Action was in a warehouse setting.  Each day I went I would enter into the warehouse, sign in, and then do what I was instructed to do.  Community Action Food Bank is split into two areas.  There is a sitting area where I assume people can apply and do paper work to receive their food.  The other half was the warehouse, where I was, where the actual food was stored and put together. 

            Community Action has different packages of food that families get depending on the size of the family.  An example of this is for a family of one, the canned food they will receive will be three cans of 10 oz. soup, three cans of 15 oz. fruit, three cans of 15oz. beans, two cans of 15 oz. tomato, two 15oz. cans of vegetables, and two cans of 5 oz. of meat.  They will also receive other food items, such as things that are perishable, depending on what the food bank has in stock. 

            Putting these packages together is what I did for most of the time.  There are five different packages you can put together for cans.  There is a senior, family of one, family of two, family of three, and family of four package. Each package was different.  The bigger the family, the more cans they would receive.  The process of putting this together would be to first sort the cans according to what they were; beans, fruit, soup, etc.  They would be sorted into big wooden crates.  After they are sorted the food boxes and bags would then be assembled.  The assembling is what I did most of the time.  At first it was confusing to figure out what can would work for the certain number of ounces required. Some cans would be really small, so you would have to put in two or three to count as one normal size can.  However as time went on, I began to catch on.  By the end I could look at a can and decipher what size it was, and how much it would count for. 

            Although at times the work seemed tedious, I was grateful I got to do it because it let me glimpse into the life of a food bank recipient.  While putting cans into bags, I thought about what it would be like receiving a package.  If you were really struggling with making ends meet, and having enough food for yourself and family that would be really hard.  The extra help that agencies like Community Action provide would help immensely. I pictured what it would be like opening up the package of food and seeing what you would be able to eat that week.  It was a very humbling experience. 

            Although I did not receive the chance to work or shadow a social worker in my volunteer hours, I felt that I learned just as much as I would of if I shadowed one.  I could picture these individuals and although they were struggling with providing food, they must be strong and have a great deal of endurance. I learned so much about people, and even though individuals’ situations and lifestyles may be different, we are all humans and need the same things.  Whether it is material things like food, and shelter, or intangible things it doesn’t matter. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to work and learn at Community Action Food Bank.

General Conference- Elder Eyring's "Mountains to Climb" Rhetorical Analysis

General Conference weekends are always amazing.  I love getting the chance to hear from the prophet, and apostles.  Everyone can learn a great deal from every speaker’s talk.  One talk that I especially loved was Elder Eyring’s, Mountains to Climb. Elder Eyring gave a moving talk on trials that was able to touch my heart by his great usage of ethos, and pathos. 

Elder Eyring has great usage of ethos in his talk. Elder Eyring alone has great credibility because of his position in the church.  However he strengthens his ethos by quoting other credible people.  He begins his talk by quoting President Spencer W. Kimball and later on quotes Thomas S. Monson.  A prophet of the LDS church has a great deal of credibility because he speaks the word of God.  He also quotes Christ a lot in his talk; times when Christ has given us counsel to be strong.  Christ is the ultimate source. With Christ’s doctrine backing up Elder Eyring’s talk, Elder Eyring’s talk gains essentially the most ethos he could ever gain in my eyes.

            Eyring also uses a great deal of pathos to teach the saints about trials.  This is a subject that everyone can relate to.  Everyone has trials and difficulties in life.  Therefore this topic is one that can apply to everyone.  Elder Eyring uses personal stories to portray his points.  The important act of building a foundation of faith in your life is essential.  Elder Eyring uses an analogy of a time when he worked for a construction company, to portray the necessity of having a sturdy foundation.  He also discusses stories about his mother and her experience of dealing with cancer.  Elder Eyring’s usage of stories lets people feel connected to what he is saying, creating pathos.

            Elder Eyring’s usage of ethos and pathos make his talk strong.  We are here on this world and it is inevitable that we all go through difficult experiences.  We must rely on Christ and have faith.  Faith in the gospel, and faith that we can make it safely back to God again if we follow Christ and his example. 

Personal Narrative- The Finished Product

                                                     Election Week

          “That’s the last one,” I exclaimed as I stepped back to look at the fresh paper hanging from the wall.  As I spanned Layton High commons I saw that my name covered the area just like wall paper.  Among my campaign posters were various others all rooting against mine, but to me, mine looked amazing.

            “It looks great Han,” my mom replied while picking up the tape and other supplies.  “I’ll be back in an hour to watch your skit.

            It was the end of junior year and I had looked to this day for quiet sometime now.  I was currently junior vice president, but elections for student body officers, SBOs, were finally here for next year.  Running for student body officer seemed scarier than running for junior vice president.  Perhaps it was because SBO elections were in front of the whole school, not just the junior class.   Mixed emotions ran through me.  I was excited because I wanted to be an SBO, however I was more nervous.  I was nervous to put myself out in front of the school and ask for their vote. I was nervous to run against my friends, and more than anything I was nervous to face rejection. 

            “Hannah Jackson,” rang through my ears as the announcer let my name bellow out through the auditorium.  It was my turn.  As the skit panned out everything went according to plan. My lovely friends, who were in my skit, all said the right words and did exactly what they were told.  This year I had a sumo wrestler theme.  Not only did I feel like two of my friends fighting in sumo suits would appeal to entertaining the crowd, but I also felt like it was unique and would stand out.

            “Great job guys, thanks so much for helping me out,” I said as soon as we exited the stage.  In my head I mentally checked off skit on my things left to do.  Now all I could do was wait for people to vote. 

            The week of campaigning is always the worst due to the fact that you have to constantly ask people to vote for you.  There are a percentage of kids who genuinely care however there are also a large percentage of kids who could care less.  This is a challenge in its self to get people to vote for you. 

            For the next three days I roam Layton High commons with a demeanor full of excitement, exuberance, and full of energy.  Although I am still feeling insecure and nervous on the inside, I don’t let it show.    I am dressed in a bright yellow shirt with “Vote Hannah” typed, and ironed cleanly to the chest.  Getting people to remember your name is very important. 

            As the week finally roles by it is time to hear the results.  All of the candidates sit across each other.  I try to make casual conversation but it is hard to hear over the loud pulse of my blood pumping through my veins.  Nerves completely take over, and all I can think about is how bad I want this.   I want it so bad, I can barely sit still.  I wait for what seems like forever until I see the white envelop appear held tightly in Chris’, the current SBO executive, hands.

It is down to me and Melissa, my opponent.  As Chris clears his voice I don’t pay attention to anything until he starts reading names.  This was the moment I had been waiting for.

“Our next Student Body Vice President will be Melissa.” Chris states.  

            “Congratulations,” escapes my lips as I stand to escape the room that is closing in on me. I act happy for my friends and peers who made it, but on the inside disappointment is clawing at me.  The reality sets in as I realize all of my hard work was for nothing.  My want of being SBO vice president was all in vain.    As I run to the bathroom, hot tears of grief burn down my cheeks as I gasp for the air that seems impossible to find.  In the back of my mind I know there are always senior class elections coming up, but I recoil at the thought of having to face campaigning all over again.  I did not want to feel any more pain or rejection. 

Devastation and humiliation welled inside my heart for the next few weeks.  I felt I was a public failure and I hated it.  When I walked down the halls I felt as if people were labeling me as “the girl who didn’t make it.”  All I wanted to do was be alone, and get away from the halls of Layton High that seemed to hold me in like a prison. 

As devastation and grief still clung to me, one day I began thinking about the next year.  Thinking and ponder about my life and who/what I wanted to be.  I knew what I needed to do. The next day I walked into the office, and began scanning the hand outs until my eyes caught sight of a bright blue one.  I grabbed the perfectly pressed paper and walked out.

“Hello, my name is Hannah Jackson and I am running for senior class president,” I exclaimed as I immersed myself in a crowd full of my peers. “Would you mind signing my petition?”

“We would love to,” said a group of girls as they pulled out their pens to sign their names. 

Eliza's Play!

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go home and watch my little sister, Eliza, in her junior high play.  This year they were putting on the production Aida. I was excited for a number of reasons.  One, Aida is one of my favorite plays.  Although I know it was just a junior high production, I still was excited to see how they did.  I was also excited to go back to Fairfield Junior High and see the stage.  Four years ago I had performed on that same stage.  In my mind I remembered it being a fairly big stage, with a big audience.  However as I went back the "big audience” I remembered, was really just a moderate sized cafeteria.  However it was still full of family and friends of the junior high students.  

But the thing I was most excited for was to see my little sister on stage.  She did wonderful.  She was a model and a Nubian. She did all of the right dance steps and played her characters great.  She was a fantastic dancer, and she looked beautiful.  Due to the fact that she was a Nubian, she had to get several spray tans before the production.  These spray tans, in addition to her natural dark complexion, added to the Nubian look.  Overall, she did amazing. I am so proud of my baby sister, and am so grateful I could be there for her.

The fam:)

My sweet grandpa is such a trooper!!