Blog 2- "Scratchin For Some Internet Time"

When evaluating my media habits, I have realized exactly how much I am connected to the media. From the second I wake up to the moment I go to sleep, I am connected to the media in numerous ways through out my day. For starters, I use my cell phone as an alarm clock. It reassures me that I know I will get up no matter if the power goes out or for whatever other reason. I found that using my cell is just the safer way to go. I use my cell phone as a landline and am really dependant on it, being that it is one of the only ways to keep in touch with my family. Once I wake up I usually do the whole morning routine and than go on my computer to check the blackboard site, daily news, and my e-mail. I am on my computer a lot during the day for school purposes and for entertainment. When it comes to television, I really don’t watch that much, unless the Redskins are playing or if I’m bored and have nothing better to do. Listening to music, especially Sublime, really helps me get through my day. Whether listening to it in the car or while I do school work, it is a large part of my life. Analyzing my media habits has shown me that I depend a lot on the media, but most of all I think I am very dependant on the internet. I would rather read about the news rather than watch it on television because it lets me do many things at the same time. I can read about world news and entertainment news at the same time. The internet is also convenient for keeping in touch with friends that I don’t get to see often. As I said in my first blog, I am very family oriented and I do like to stay in contact with all of my family. Being a college student, I unfortunately don’t have time to spend hours on the phone with each family member. It is much easier and faster to send a mass e-mail to see how everyone is. My mom always e-mails me about food safety, crime, and really anything she thinks I should be aware of. I think she definitely influences my relationship with the media, because she is constantly encouraging me to stay informed with the news. In the future, I think I will be even more in touch with the media so I can keep my kids educated like my mom does for me. I will send them crazy news articles to make them paranoid as well. Even though I appreciate the articles she sends me I can honestly say I don’t believe everything I hear or read and tend to always form my own opinion.

Blog1-Who are you? Why are you here?

My name is Mallory and I am a junior here, at UMBC. I should be graduating this year but, I am a transfer from Frostburg State and lost a few credits in the transfer. I am an outgoing, friendly, family oriented girl who is always up for having a good time. I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family, shopping, running, writing, swimming, dancing and am always open to trying new things. As I said above, I love shopping whether it is for me or for other people, it is by far my favorite thing to do. Shopping online, although dangerous for me, still helps me cope with stress.(haha). http://www.bloomingdales.com/ and http://www.nordstroms.com/ are my two favorite sites. I'm a really good listener and love meeting new people. If I could give advice to my classmates and anyone reading this post, for that matter, I would say: “Do what you love, love what you do.” Happiness is what matters.College was never an option for me; it was more of a priority. My parents always said that I could do whatever I wanted in life, as long as I had a degree under my belt. They always taught me that having an education is one of the most important aspects to being an independent person. As a freshman in college, my priorities were very different from what they are today. My main priority was to have a good time, which unfortunately involved no schoolwork. Once I entered my second semester at UMBC, my whole outlook changed when my grades dropped. I started thinking about my goals and realized that I wasn’t in college to waste my parent’s money on partying. I finally became conscious of the fact that I am here to retain as much knowledge as I can so one day I can apply it to my career. Besides the facts and information that I have learned in all my classes, college has most of all, given me the passion and the desire to set goals and achieve them. Now, when it comes to school, I am very hardworking and dedicated to getting good grades and learning all about my major, Communications.I am taking American Studies 222 because it looked like an interesting class that would get me ready and more involved in my field. I have changed my major many times and think that I have finally found what interests me. I hope that by taking this class I become more educated about world news and how the history of the media is involved with it. I am taking two other American Studies courses this semester and am happy to say that I am intrigued by all three of them. This proves that I am one step closer to my goal which is to one day be a successful, independent, woman who loves what she does.

More information about me on http://www.thefacebook.com/