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Effects of Grandparents on Grandchildren

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Digital Journal

How would you like to help our world?

Any way I can contribute to this world in a positive way is what I would like to do. As humans, we are capable of climbing the highest altitudes and plunging to the greatest depths. Everything that happens inbetween is what we are responsible for. The recent debates about how we affect our planet seem trivial to me. Man has only walked this world for a few million years and has completely changed everything about our home. You don’t have to travel far to see what kind of impact we have had geographically. In the east, the highest peaks in Kentucky have been shaved down in processes to produce coal. Our oceans have more tons of plastic than sea life and all but a few protected species have been wiped out on land. You could argue that man has absolutely nothing to do with climate change but if you rely on science and the clear examples the planet is trying to show us, it’s not hard to make the judgement that we have quite possibly ruined our home. Perservation of our planet is something that I would like to do research in. If we can still save the environment without compromising humanity, development in renewable resources is where I would put my money. I think it would be economical to create jobs that support the planet’s need to exhale the virus that is waste. Instead of just having volunteers cleaning beaches, we could have full-time employees cleaning the oceans and shorelines. The impact we have made feels almost irreparable when you look at pictures online of birds covered in oil or a turtle with a plastic straw lodged in his nose. You cannot make everyone care about the environment but I think the amount of effort you put into something advocates your argument and inspires others to understand the reason behind it. The best way I would want to contribute to this movement is to apply my own skill set to the table. Ultimately, my career goal is to become an electrical engineer and develop new ways to generate power and distribute it. The idea isn’t original but perfecting a previously hatched idea doesn’t seem like a bad place to start. I think major flaw and reason we cannot move forward in the technology world is the hesitance to rely on technology and the demand for jobs that extract non-renewable resources. Until we can move from this mindset and put profit to renewable, we will continue to bleach our reefs, submerge Venice and eradicate our wildlife.

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Another Digital Journal

Digital Journal

Would you consider deleting your Instagram account?

The purpose of my Instagram totally escapes me. At first, it functioned as an online photo album anyone could flip through. Since iCloud is now a place where I can universally store pictures and information with each photo time stamped with a location, I might actually delete my Instagram account. I essentially store the same pictures on my other social media outlets like Facebook or Snapchat. The need to hear other’s opinions about my photos is also something else that has lost its luster to me. I’m sure my social media followers know what I look like judging from the number of selfies I post on other profiles. I usually keep the same friends from one social media to the next, with the exception of Facebook. Facebook has been staunchly reserved for family, close friends and maybe that girl from high school that makes posts about her kids. I feel like I know way more about her life and family than I should, but I suppose that’s the nature of the application. Instagram has never actually been an application that I update daily or visit frequently so the need is even more diminished. I downloaded it when I was deployed just to store photos in case I lost my phone or broke my computer. I won’t be leaving against my will anymore so, I think it’s time to delete it. The likelihood of me being discovered on Instagram for anything other than taking lame photos, is extremely slim. I do know some people garner thousands of followers and get paid for posting ever few days. This is also something that doesn’t interest me. The entire Instagram community doesn’t really impact the rest of the world and I feel as though this is the next Vine and will soon disappear. The application is rarely updated and the current add-ons crowd the user. Now, we can post a short video as a story, like Snapchat. I’m beginning to find that most social media is beginning to morph into each other just to acquire more followers or accounts. It just seems odd that anyone would need an Instagram.  

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Digital Journal #11

Comfort food

Comfort has the ability to whisk you away from everyday problems with accessibility and gluttony. I will not waste any time in answering this question: chips and dip. It’s a cheap and easy go-to. Everyone has a food vice and for my mother and I, sitting at home watching movies and munching on potato chips served a sort of bonding purpose as well as remedy for hunger. Whenever I go to the grocery store, I find it increasingly difficult to simply walk past the chip aisle when on the hunt for a filling snack. I almost feel like the T-Rex from Jurassic Park on the hunt for Jeff Goldblum in the Jeep. It’s not that potato chips are filling, but when you have tendencies of consuming the entire bag in one sitting, it makes my love for them understandable. With every satisfying bite, I anticipate the next one. The cool consistency of the dip on the crunchy potato chip is the perfect combination for a rough day.  If you look on the back of any Lays potato chip bag, the short, however effective slogan, “Betcha can’t eat just one” holds embarrassingly true. When paired with my favorite French onion dip, there is no stopping my cravings. The aftermath is somewhat shaming. I cannot stand up, my pants don’t fit anymore, and even worse- I’m out of chips and dip. The demolition is complete. The diet is over. Gazing over the various Instagram model’s photos should be shaming enough, however the general lack of care only thwarts my healthy dietary efforts. This snack is so versatile, it can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere. Part of its allure is its convenience and portability. My love for chips and dips surpasses the sweet craving of chocolate. Yes, ladies and gentleman, chocolate takes a back seat to greasy wonder that is Ruffles and Heluva Good French onion dip. I feel as though comfort food isn’t designed to be healthy, in fact, I think it exists to destroy positive health habits. I am the first one at the party locate, covet and guard the appetizers. While everyone else is enjoying the main entrée, I ensure that no chips or veggies shall be wasted.

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Digital Journal #9: THE Fe(males) and Males.

How do male and female roles differ in your family?

It truly depends on what side of the family you are referring to. The maternal side of my family is full of immensely strong women, none of them sharing the same last name. Most of us grew up in the same town and have dispersed for employment or school. Education is taken very seriously on my mother’s side and was taught that it was the key to independence. Most of the women hold atleast a master’s degree whereas their husbands have obtained a high school or bachelor’s degree. The women I was blessed to be raised by served at positive and empowering role models. Witnessing their success creates and feeling of longing for my own. My mother had this old cast-iron plate in the laundry room that had inscribed, “Women: Think like a man, act like a lady and work like a dog”. I wouldn’t say that was a quote to live by because I would never want to think like a man, I would much rather be, “The Man”.  In any case, each woman possesses a diverse talent, so you can imagine the incredible pissing contest Thanksgiving dinner conversations bring to the table. My paternal side lacks women to evaluate. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away when I was just 13 and beginning to get to know her. She was very analytical and precise in the activities she chose to partake in. She was stubborn, witty and the figurehead of the family. Most events and holidays were centered around her and her modest home in Ohio. She never did attend college, in fact, I don’t think she even had a high school equivalency, but she was not to be underestimated and felt that everyone needed to know that. I do have an aunt and a female cousin on my father’s side that seem to be the complete opposites of one another. My sweet aunt, lives in service to her animals and enjoys a more laissez-faire lifestyle. Whenever I am visiting, she makes it a point to take me, “Thrifting”, and we gossip for hours before having a few beers and going to sleep. She is such a nurturing and beautiful human. My cousin on the other hand is not as delicate. She is very goal oriented and seems to have every second of her life on a timer. She is truly a powerhouse serves as more of a big sister. Collectively, I adore every woman I am connected to in a different way. I have been truly gifted to have been raised by such incredible ladies. I just wish they were more social. The males on my father’s side are all wild and claim to be “alpha” but together get along like best friends. There is an incredible amount of camaraderie amongst the men.  

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Digital Journal #8 <3

Will you be wearing a Halloween costume this year?

 Halloween is without a doubt my favorite holiday of the year. In fact, the entire month of October is the best time of the year when it comes to celebration in my family. Collectively, we all enjoy the spooky and eerie feeling in the air, but I think it’s my sister, Victoria’s birthday that really brings everyone together. This year, on the 21st, she will be turning 21 so we have an evening planned out on the town. We can finally exist as an adult family, and not have to hide vodka bottles or worry about them being refilled with water. To this day, she still doesn’t know that I caught her and promptly “dropped” the bottle to avoid her punishment. She later came clean to our step-mother, citing, “I just wanted to know what the hype was about.” Drinking has never been a big culture in our family, so I suppose the one time of year we have to carry my father out of an Uber would make anyone feel suspiciously about giggle water.  October also happens to be the month of Keeneland holds races. My family and friends love attending the races and betting the most unlikely winners. I think the purpose is not to take gambling to seriously and to have as much fun as possible. It’s rare that you’ll find me in any sort of formal attire, so having an excuse to “dapper-up”, makes you feel good. Aside from the various events and cooled weather, the actual holiday is the perfect way to wrap up the month. This year I have tossed between dressing up as Sailor Moon or a simple scarecrow. I have given thought to almost 30 different costumes including but not limited to: an old lady, Taylor Swift, the Snapchat dog filter, Miss Peregrine of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Waldo, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy and even Rick and Morty; but I think I’m going to settle as a scarecrow or something simple. Not walking into a Halloween express this year is killing me. I lost approximately $100.00 on a crap-tastic costume the last time I shopped there. This is the first Halloween I’ve been able to celebrate on dry-land in the last 4 years, so of course I will be wearing a Halloween costume.

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Digital Journal #7 <3

What emoticons does the world need?

 With this most recent Apple update, it seems odd that there hasn’t been an emoticon, or emoji that we haven’t thought of. You can also add your own gif, or graphics interchange format, if that emoticon hasn’t been added to the catalogue we have available. The use of emoticons has been widely used since the creation of online messengers as a short-hand way to translate emotion more effectively than words. It enhances communication while maintaining a certain level of informality. If I were to create my own emoji, I would create a Buzz Lightyear emoji. The amount of times a day I tell my beloved family, “I love you too infinity and beyond”, would much easier be represented by Buzz. I think the Toy Story character maintains innocence, love and happiness as well as personal growth. Growing up, my sister and I had an obsession with that movie. Insisting that we watch princess movies or even Ferris Bueller’s Day off, every night before bed, my mother would insert the VHS tape into the VCR and press “rewind”. A popping sound would indicate the video was ready to be viewed and our senses would heighten and excitement for the film we had seen dozens of times would play. It was a constant fight between the two of us, who liked Buzz more. It was finally decided one Christmas when my mother bought her a 1’5” replica, so she could sleep with the beloved character. I, on the other had received an ugly Christmas sweater and a training bra. I suppose this is when I knew childhood was over but also that no matter what, I will always love her “too infinity and beyond”. I would also like to add, that if we do in fact have an astronaut emoji, he/she is no Buzz-Lightyear. The retractable wings will be included in this particular emoji and he would fly up from the bottom of the screen to the top, with his blinking lights on either plane, attached to a string pulled by the other Toy Story characters; mostly because as powerful and mighty as we might be, we get by with a little help from our friends.

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Digital Journal #6

What have been your experiences with catcalling or other kinds of street harassment?

Depending on where you are in the world, I think catcalling is inevitable. In my limited global travels, I have noted that it happens more in the United States than in the other cultures. I had this entire entry written and didn’t even think of why until now. We live in an immensely social culture. Foreigners have no problem telling us how easy we make friends with one another and frequently criticize us because we do not form deep, meaningful relationships. In other words, we would rather have 100 pennies, than 4 quarters. In a broad sense, they are right. Many people embrace American’s openness and some abhor it. Whatever your flavor, we have a global reputation of being extroverts who wear blinders to the rest of the world.

It is unfortunate that catcalling is such an accepted concept. A few months ago I was scrolling through social media pages and I saw a video of a woman, not dressed in any special way walking through New York City for 12 hours. What was recorded has been debated as being staged or exhibited as an exaggeration but I can say with 100% confidence that I believe in the authenticity of the message. Men and women are catcalled and objectified walking to work or even on a family outing to get some ice cream. We live in a multi-gendered society and nobody is safe, including myself. I have been catcalled more times than I can remember and sadly most of it has happened on or near this campus. It makes me sad to think that people were raised to think that this kind of objectification is wanted. It makes me sad that anyone could think that it’s a respectful way to communicate any type of feeling with someone else. We have allocated disrespect to human life in our society. It makes me wonder if the perpetrators of these insignificant crimes know the magnitude of their actions or if they have even recognized their negative impact on the world we live in.

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Digital JOuRNAl #5

How do you feel about your last name?

 To me, my last name is as generic as they come. So generic in fact, nobody in the English-speaking language could possibly misspell it. The surname Kennedy has been synonymous with one of the most powerful and revered men of all time, John F. Kennedy and his family. It has been associated with money, philanthropy and power; unfortunately, I bear no relation. My paternal grandfather passed when I was only 6 years old so I wasn’t afforded to opportunity to listen to him ramble about our family history. Luckily, my father did his own research. Since my sister and I are ending the Kennedy name, he found it imperative that we know about what legacy we are concluding.

Most days, you can find my father sitting on his porch in the early afternoon, with his Folger’s Colombian roast coffee, American Spirit cigarettes, scrolling through ancestry.com hunting for our ancestors and putting together our family tree. Through this research, he has found that our family had immigrated from Scotland and England back in the late 1800’s and every child born in America since then. The Kennedy name is said to have originated in Scotland in the early 1400’s with King James the IV.

Personally, my name is just a paternal identifier. Surnames are an archaic way of letting another family or person know who you belong to. If this was the late 1800’s, men would assume because I still use my maiden name, that I still belong to my father. I wasn’t raised with the belief that I belong to any man, but I belonged to both parents. My mother’s surname, is Towner. Naturally, if I could change it, I would hyphenate my name to Towner-Kennedy because both parents had an equal part in raising me. If I were to have children they would follow the rules established by society and carry the surname of their father. I do recognize that many do not share the same sentiment.

When we talk about last names, I feel as though we forget about the maternal histories of a family. Women in my maternal family have always been the breadwinners and true reason for succession. All of these women have different last names, but we all share a bloodline back to the Ukraine as well as emotional and physical traits. This is a huge contribution and main reason for my research question pitch.

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DIGitAL Journal #4

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WeEkLy DiGiTaL JoUrNaL #2

What do older generations misunderstand about yours?             

          Humans are naturally progressive creatures. Innovation throughout our history has been paramount in the survival of our species. Our minds and bodies are evolving to what we need in real time. Each generation has their triumphs and flaws but where does one generation start and the other one end? Why is it much easier criticize than praise? How are we so different and what makes us the same? The primary mission of each species is to ensure that the next thrives and it seems to be a common trend that humans thrive on a certain level of stress to advance.

              Stress can mean different things depending on who you ask but it is either a criticism or something positive but if I apply a negative connotation, patience, whether it’s a lack of it or too much, is hurting multi-generational relationships. If I stand back and think about the great men and women that proceeded me, I take a hard look at their work ethic and how they cultivated it. They worked physically laboring jobs and protested for benefits. They strived and were progressive but did they understand the ramifications it would have on future generations? The American dream was to save and then spend but did they practice what they preached? Judging by the national debt, I’d say no. Today, we keep borrowing, as if it is some sort of learned behavior. I think it is our duty to criticize previous generations so we can fix complications and move forward.

THEM vs US

              I was born in 1993 and already see quite a difference in my life and how I live it if I compare it to my little sister, born in 1996. She was gifted with a cell phone at the age of 11 and I had buy my own. She has never had to hand-write a paper or had her knuckles slapped with a ruler due to foul penmanship. The years I was matriculating, I saw the first computer labs added into middle schools. Libraries began to go digital and the card catalog was rendered useless. All of these things, and I’m only 24. This week we had addressed how we do research but honestly, how many of us are going to pick up a book published 10 years ago, forgotten in the stacks of the library? We are gifted with instantaneous satisfaction, a concept new to all generations but we all indulge in it. My generation like every other has cultivated its work ethic based on what kind of technology was available. When someone looks to numerically separate generations in the future, my year is going to lumped in with someone born 10 years ago, even if we have nothing in common. I think the term is relative to a group of people that have lost connection with one another based on how they acquired their virtues, morals and assets. Older generations misunderstand that my generation has made technology culture and have selected it as something that is going to ensure the survival of our memory and the succession of our bloodline. We have created a world of infinite possibility in a small faction of life. Change isn’t always welcome but is necessary. I feel like previous generations were standardized and limited, and now they’re in a position where the world feels foreign and maybe the need to feel right, wise and superior has escaped them. The next easiest thing is to criticize what you don’t know and I’m sure we will be the same.

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Weekly Digital Journal #1

What am I looking forward or dreading this school year?

 Prior to my first day of class, I was standing in the middle of the crowded Lexington bar I am currently employed at. The hustle and bustle of my co-workers and regular clientele distracted the nerves that would reveal themselves the following morning. Men and women casually strolling in after their third or fourth cigarettes were buzzing about how all the students returning to school and how it was impacting their lives. My boss, Amy, turned to me after business died down and said, “After 5 years in the Navy, you got this girl!” I just scoffed and finished my duties, only to note that her encouraging words may have just planted a seed of uncertainty.

I know for sure what I want out of my collegiate experience but failed to process how life changing my first few steps out on campus would be. After attending the orientation, I set up some personal barriers to deflect internal and external pressures. Few things are going to stand between my chances of success at this institution. My enlistment is finally going to pay off, but how am I going to sail a ship without knowing how strong the wind is going to be? My last life altering decision led me to places in the world I didn’t think existed. I’ve seen some of the most beautiful places and people in the world and here I sit, choking on a blueberry deep in nostalgia. Uncertainty has thus far, brought my greatest joys and most extreme challenges. I am completely optimistic about this first year, but also aware that this is so far, my mission in life and some sort of failure is inevitable.

What I’m trying to achieve at UK is an appreciation for embracing and enhancing an emotional and mental maturity that I cannot do alone. I have found my passion through work and responsibility but being ready to deeply evaluate the full experience and change in my life at this moment is truly a wonderful gift. I want to gather all I can with this opportunity to succeed. It is also my goal to maintain this optimism with a level of discipline and fortitude. I am beginning to accept that keeping an open mind and open heart are what’s going to assist me in my efforts. I think I’m finally ready to embrace criticism to grow even if that means exposing a vulnerability.

The ability to obtain an education is an immense gift that shouldn’t be measured in dollars, minutes in class or even the pressure to do well from others. My mother has always told me that if you want answers you must look from within. I am here of my own accord and will use this attitude to catapult me into every experience henceforth.

 “Dreams without goals are just dreams.” -Denzel Washington

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