project

I am doing my project on one aspect of a vision that I have for my life. For ten years now I have had a dream to eventually have a group home/ summer camp and eventually end up doing humanitarian work overseas in Africa. My project will in essence be a foundational plan for the educational, disciplinary and utility aspects of the group home/ camp as well an examination of the work of Muhammad Yunus overseas who truly believes his methods of business and helping the poor will eradicate poverty on a global level.As far as the educational plan is concerned I plan to write about the Paideia and Montessori methods of learning arguing their value while particularly emphasizing the effectiveness of the Paideia method as it is less popular and visible. I will examine the implantation of the Paideia method in Guilford County Schools, (Greensboro, High Point) to persuade its effectiveness.The disciplinary and conflict resolution aspects will pull from the works of Parker J. Palmer, Walter Wink and William Glasser. Parker J. Palmer is a widely regarded institutional hero in that his theories are literally saving institutions from implosion and failure while bringing a true renewal to the social health to the entities he is involved with. Walter Wink is a Nobel peace prize winner for his non violent educational efforts during the apartheid in South Africa. His book series concerning "the powers" discuss and educate many ideas for non violent reforms. William Glasser is a Psychologist who developed the applied control theory. Glasser's theory is one that regards all human behavior as intentional. He viewed all misbehavior as failed attempts at reaching ones true intention or motivation behind whatever act effort was made to meet ones basic needs. Glasser views man as having four basic needs while at the center of these four needs is the instinct of survival. The four needs are fun, freedom, belonging and power. Each need has several subsets of needs that are all listed under the central four, for example, power has elements of choice, independence, liberty and autonomy. Power has the elements of importance, recognition, skill and competence. Glasser's model provides a powerful tool to equip people in roles of authority with difficult people especially when it comes to young children and teenagers. The method also really helps bring about more self awareness in people who are being disciplined or nurtured under this style.

past senior projects

I looked over three past projects.

The first that I looked at was "Should Jesus Wear Sunglasses? The Manipulation of Religous Themes in The Matrix & The Passion of the Christ and Their Effects on the Viewer" by Benjamin Morrison.

Honestly, this project was really long. The paper alone was 50 pages and then there were surveys, etc...The thing was an inch thick. I read some of it and found it to be quite heady.

I also looked over "When History Repeats itself: The Need for a Permanent International Criminal Court in Contemporary Global Society" by Krissy Williams.

This paper looks very relevant and similar in essence to my idea of a senior project in that it communicates the state and history of a certain entity and then persuasively seeks to comunicate its value and relevance.

I am interested in conveying through research, story and/or web site the need for reform in mental health care. Mental Health is seeing some serious problems, especially in regard to funding/billing. Programs like Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security are making it extremely difficult for therapists to get paid for treating patients, as well as making it difficult for disabled people to receive aid.

The third project I reviewed is "The Best Friends of All: A Children's Book for Sustainable Development" by Stacey Bumgarner.

I found this project to be very creative with a great use of color and images to help move the story along. However, it was too biased in my opinion toward anti-Capitalism. The assumption that people who live in closer proximity will live a more harmonious life is a bit naive and presumptive. I particularly like that this project is marketable/useful.

random..rambling...Group Project?

Let's skin this hog...




i was thinking that this class is going to be about as good as we make it..what i mean by that is i am really looking forward to this class and watching what everyone does for their project...last semester most people seemed to do group projects..i was going to see if that trend was going to continue..i am interested in doing a project discussing the current crisis in our Nation regarding mental health care..especially for the disabled or poor...

p.s. i drove to Houston Texas this weekend for work and on my way I got to go through New Orleans. I was amazed at how a year later the place is still an absolute mess and there are so many destroyed neighborhoods and communities...I drove through like 350 miles of blown down trees...BIG ONES...I did not see one single inhabited neighborhood..they were all abandoned. At least all along I 10 that is..

I was also amazed at how there really does not seem to be much media coverage showing the cuurent need for aid there...we only want to see all the murders they have been having this year..or at least the media lords that be feel that is all we are intersted watching...

Philosophical Anthropology

Learning



My major is called Philosophical Anthropology. It is the study of human nature. Most of my classes have been in Religion, Communications, Psychology and I have a Music Minor. I plan to get my MBA , CFP or CFA, and work in International business. CFP is a certified financial planner and CFA is a certified financial analyst. CFA is extremely difficult to obtain so we will see what happens.


I have done alot of work with kids as a camp director in the summers and for 2 years I worked as a personal banker and in mortgages. For the last two years I have been a truck driver delivering new furniture all over the US and I still do on weekends and holidays.

I have done work in missions overseas in England and in Ivory Coast, Africa and look forward to returning to help youth in Africa.