Lister Academy Costa Rica Class - Kristine: Technology

Welcome

My name is Kristine Tirone. My goal is to do something I never thought I'd be able to do. Meaning, I never thought I'd even get close to having the opportunity to leave the country, or be involved with a class in this way. Setting standards for myself and working towards something is a new thing for me. I'm writing this blog to raise money to send my class to Costa Rica. Our class, as a whole, is trying to fundraise over $15,000. This will fund everything from our food, a place to stay, to our flight.

I'm getting a new understanding of what it's like to deserve what you work for. Before, I would sit back and let everyone do the work and I would take the credit. My personal struggles got in the way of my everyday functioning. My focus on education was lost to my other struggles. Not only was I not understanding the work, but I had an increasingly low work ethic. This all started to change over the summer of 2010. Bryan, my teacher, makes it known that he has an extremely low tolerance for slackers. I didn't want to disappoint him, and this motivation was new to me.

I realize as my interactions with people started to change, I started to as well. Bryan always expected nothing but good things from me, and I've given him nothing but that. I suppose if you feel a certain way or act a certain way, you become a certain way. From there it's history, ever since I've excelled in my school work and always do what I say I will. You're only as good as your word.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Chapter 5 "Walking with Wolf"

Something that jumped out at me in this chapter (in Walking with Wolf) is when it came to cutting down the trees. Wolf was sick and tired of chopping trees down with axes - he wanted a faster way of doing things. Back in the states they of course have chainsaws. The tico's became very curious about the loud machine. When Wolf showed the tico's it was almost like they laughed at him because they have been cutting down trees for years with axes. They've always done things their way and Wolf has done things his way. I liked that Wolf thought he could finally teach the people that had taught him so much something about his culture and his technology. But at the end of the day Wolf still ended up learning from the ticos.

The message I receive from the book is that there is always something to be learned out of every situation, even when you think you have the upper hand. This is something that has taken me a while to understand. Being the teenager that I am I think I know everything. I'm learning so much from my class and from my class mates. This experience has helped me be much less conceded and listen to others. Costa Rica class has taught me to be considerate of others. I know I have to pull my weight in this class along with everyone else , so our dreams can come true- whatever that means for other people.

In the past I've had a lot of trouble asking for help, leading me down a bumpy road. So like they say, "it's better late than never". Please help my class get a chance of a life time, and see, and learn things we never thought we would. If you would like to help please send a check, payable to Robert J. Lister Academy-Costa Rica Class. Mail to 35 Sherburne Rd Portsmouth NH 03801, to the attention of Kristine Tirone. Please leave a return address so I can personally thank you. =] Also keep an eye out for our fundraising at Texas Road House and dates that RJLA Costa Rica Class will be lawn raking.