Week Two: Post One

I do believe that humans have an instinct for conflict. I am the mother of a three-year-old little girl, and I have extensive experience in working with very young children and infants. Even before babies can speak, it is evident that they experience conflict with others and with the world around them. It seems to me that humans have an innate instinct to survive and protect what they believe to be in their best interests. This mentality however, while helpful in preserving ourselves as individuals, is not always copasetic with other peoples’ wants and needs.

 I would also argue that our inherent tendencies toward conflict do not make us either, more or less human. As it seems, all creatures experience conflict with one another and it is clear to me that these inborn behavioral tendencies toward conflict are not isolated only to the human race. Conflict seemingly exists wherever there is more than one organism competing to preserve their best interests.

Conflict can be a valuable, but also, equally destructive asset. When conflict remains unresolved or results in violence, it is destructive. When conflicting parties are able to work through their differences by learning how to better communicate with one another in approaching and hopefully solving their differences, conflict can be a way to develop better social and problem-solving skills.  

Introduction

So first off, Chatterbox is a nickname that I have had since I was a toddler and I guess that it speaks for itself. I have taken many online classes in the past but this is my first time using a blog. Technically, I am a junior. I have a beautiful three-year-old daughter and she is the main reason why I have taken so many courses online. In a nutshell, she is my whole world.

In trying to accommodate my hectic schedule, I have attended four different colleges (not including SJSU) in the pursuit of completing my education. I applied to SJSU three times in the past, and although I was admitted, I had to turn down my acceptance three times. This is my first semester at SJSU and as you can probably imagine, I am very excited and relieved to finally be taking courses here.

I have entertained the idea of majoring in many different subjects, all the way from Economics to Biology and Society. A few years ago I had the opportunity to have an amazing professor for a Communications course at one of the junior colleges that I attended, and she inspired me in many ways. I decided that Communications was a good fit for me and I love the versatility that I feel the major has to offer.

Aside from school, I am very creative and I have many hobbies. I love painting, sewing (mostly clothes/costumes for my daughter), building things, cooking (everything from home-style dinners to crème brûlée), and I play the saxophone and piano.

I am really looking forward to seeing what this class has to offer both toward my academic goals and to me personally as well.