Freedom Riders

From middle and high school on, we have always been taught about freedom, liberty, justice for all. We have been taught about the civil rights starting back in the 1920's, but I am guitly of not fully understand and connecting with the people had to go through those struggles.
Freedom Rider's was an amazing, overwhelming, but courageous video that discussed all about the struggles these people faced to try to make a difference for our world. They did succeed of course, but it's sad that the ones that fought for this, didn't make it through the end to see the accomplishment they made. 
I am a history concentration so this to me very very interesting, and what made it better was me being able to feel and connect with Freedom Riders. Now I will never be able to feel the emotions that these people were feeling during that time, but to actually see what they were going through like being beaten to death by a white mob or being thrown in jail for no reason. I will never be able to understand the way they felt, but my feelings were embarrassed, sad and shocked were my emotions when watching this documentary.
I am going to some day have to teach my students about this subject, and it's challenging when they are younger, because they really can't see what was really happening, and lecturing about it, does not give you the same emotional connection as it would when watching it. Going into to teaching and knowing that many international students might not have even realized this was going on or even other students won't be aware of this, its shocking, but I have to think back and understand that I was not around during that time, and teachers had to teach me about this content.
Over all, I felt this documentary was a good eye opener for myself and I'm sure for the people around me. This really did happen and to actually see and here from the survivors of the Freedom Riders, made it that much more emtional and made me feel connected.

Raquette Lake Experience

When I was informed about our class going on a camping trip to this place where I would be COMPLETELY away from civilization, I was extremely terrified. All of us in this generation have been brought up with the advancement of technology so asking us to either not bring our cellphones or to bring it, but expect no service, this was just asking way too much from me! Talking to people from different sections or took Block 1 last semester, some had informed me that it was awful, while others said it was amazing and had a great time! I never walked in with a negative attitude, but hoped for the best.
When we got to Raquette Lake, our schedule for the "2 full days" that we were there were packed with things to do. We did a plethora of team building activities, bonding with other people in our class and the other section, and of course, getting to know and see our professors in a different way, then them seeing us in a different light too! I enjoyed every second of Raquette Lake and wouldn't trade it in for anything. It was so inspiring, exciting, adventrous, beautiful, memorable and busy. The views we all got to see were amazing, and breath taking. I felt so lucky to be going into this field profession, but also to be part of SUNY Cortland's programs. This camp is not open to the public so knowing that I and many other education majors are the only ones to be able to see and us this camp made this trip even more amazing!
I learned a lot from going away for 3 days and experiencing all of the obstacles and projects we had to do. Working and collaborating with other students, not just from my class, but in the other section, was exciting, but also seeing my professors in a different way made me see that they are actually "real" like us as well. I hope to do activities like this with my students some day so they can see that I am just like them too and I enjoy having fun, and that I am a "real" person too! This has made me feel differently about my classes now, but in a completely different way than before. I feel much more comfortable with the students in my classes, but also don't feel so intimidated by my teachers, and its reassuring knowing that my teachers want all of us to succeed and be the best that we can be, and are willing to help us in every step of the way! I am so grateful that I was able to attend and be apart of this trip and will always be able to look back on it with a smile on my face :)