Reflection for My Class

While I am about to reach the end of my English class, I realize i have gained more experience and will have more ability to deal with English classes in the future. When I reflect upon the information that I have learned, I can say that I have learned the rules of making a good writer. It was a different experience, different language, and different life. When I think back upon my first day in class, it was hard to believe that I would be successful. But, two things made me feel better. 

    First, my beautiful teacher was very smart and helpful and she gave me the motivation to improve myself and also showed me the ways to learn more and become a good writer. Second, a good curriculum gives the students the best way to understand the class material without feeling bored, and the information taught in each class matches the ability of the students. I now realize many things I did not know about English. For example, the instructions to build a good paragraph were perfect. 

    The way to choose the topic sentence, and the main idea which I must put in a paragraph are important so that the readers know what I am talking about. Also, the examples which support the main idea, and the way to write details and put them in the right place helps make my writing clear to the readers. I have gained skills to be a good writer because of all the information that I have learned. In fact, I think it is easy to write a paragraph and essay, because with the right rules to build the paragraph and essay I use the right words and arrange the right sentences and finally give good results to the readers. 

I have gained insight in how to deal with different ways to write different paragraphs and essays, for example, the exemplification writing, definition writing, cause and effect writing, and compare and contrast writing. 

When I think of myself  and how I got so much information in a short time, I feel glad and proud of myself. This was not easy for me, especially since this was my first semester in the United States. When I follow the instructions of my instructor I  always improve. Also, I have improved my writing by following the good steps of writing. For example, start to write by brainstorming and then write an outline and draft that I then share with my instructor. Student give their comments which gives me ideas of how the reader understands what I write. Then I revise and edit my final paragraph or essay. When I think back I now know the way to make a blog and choose the picture. Also the questions in connect have given me more experience and information about writing.

Finally, when I review all the things I have learned in my class I can add nothing, just tell my Instructor, "Thank you for everything that you taught me. I really appreciate you."

How I Achieve My Goals

For me, goals are defined as the ability to deal with what you have and to make good decisions that can give you success in life. In addition, goals are the ability to create successful things from a few available resources that you have. Still the main question is, “What do you want to be?” The true meaning of achieving goals deals with how to find successful ways to be what you want to be. 

In reality it starts with you and ends with you; this is the life circle, or the way I see it. It starts when you deeply seek the things that make you happy, proud of yourself, and glad of what you are; and it all ends with you. 

Life is not always a joyful place and nothing comes easily in life. The goals that you want to achieve could cost you years of yourself and your energy. Sometimes you could be alone and far from family and without friends.

It is not about the biggest hit that life gives to you and you fall and stand again. It is the ability to withstand hits every time you fight in life. For me, to make a difference in life, I need to survive and improve my work.

I am like billions of immigrants in the United States who needs to work and find a good job to pay for my life. But someone I respect taught me a good piece of wisdom when he told me, "Your day, when it is gone, it is gone. You can spend it doing good things or you can spend it on nothing" and that is what gives me the motivation to study hard to get good results. I finished the university in 1999. As a result, I got the respect of my family and friends, which gave me the chance to have a good job.

What I want to say is that the path which starts with a good education can give you the chance to reach all your goals; whereas, if I am just busy with any work and waste my time on it, I will be same person all my life. These goals I had reached before in my life in Iraq because I always asked myself about what I wanted to be and what I wanted to become. 

With my new life in the United States, I will be striving to achieve the same goals that have made me successful in the past, and I will start by studying and getting a certificate which can allow to me get a better job in the future and give me more respect and pride from my family and my friends. Everything during the hard time is temporary, like pain; it may last a day, month, or even year. But finally when we reach our goals, these pains will disappear. 

Now my hardest challenge is how to survive and control a new life in the United States. Maybe that is not easy but my ambition is to get a better job and life, and this will come through one of my best goals:"studying."

First Knight

First knight is a 1995 medieval film based on Arthurian legend, directed by Jerry Zucker. It stars Richard Gere as Lancelot, Julia Ormond as Guinevere, Sean Connery as King Arthur, and Ben Cross as Malagant. The theme of the film is passion because of the love Lancelot feels for Guinevere, his Courage in the battle and the way he approaches the villain. This passion leads to betrayal, as well as the rogue Lancelot's romance with Lady Guinevere of Leonesse. Lady Guinevere is to marry King Arthur of Camelot, and all while the land is threatened by the renegade knight Malagant.

The film draws on the riskiness, adventure, and especially the substantial age difference between Arthur and Guinevere. The film's opening text establishes that King Arthur of Camelot, victorious from his wars, has dedicated his reign to promoting justice and peace, and now wishes to marry. 

Then, the film opens with Lancelot, a vagabond and skilled swordsman, dueling in small villages for money. I believe that Lancelot was the protagonist of the movie because he saved Guinevere many times and killed Malagant. Lancelot attributes his skill to his lack of concern whether he lives or dies. While Guinevere, the ruler of Lyonesse, decides to marry Arthur partly out of admiration and security against Malagant, and who is shown raiding villages. While traveling, Lancelot chances by Guinevere's carriage on the way to Camelot, and destroy Malagant's plan to kidnap her. Once again, Lancelot comes to the rescue.

Lancelot upon their first meet falls in love with Guinevere. Later, Lancelot arrives in Camelot and successfully navigates an obstacle course on the prospect of a kiss from Guinevere. However, he kisses her hand out of politeness. He also wins an audience with her husband-to-be, Arthur. Impressed by Lancelot's courage and struck by his recklessness and freewheeling, Arthur shows him the Round Table which symbolizes a life of service and brotherhood, and warns Lancelot, “a man who fears nothing is a man who loves nothing." That night, Malagant's guards arrive at Camelot and kidnap Guinevere. She is tied up and carried off to Malagant's keep. Lancelot poses as a messenger to Malagant only to escape with Guinevere and return her to Camelot and Arthur.

Once again, Lancelot tries to win her heart, but is unsuccessful. In gratitude, Arthur offers Lancelot a higher calling in life as a Knight of the Round Table. While Guinevere struggles with her feelings for him. Lancelot accepts and takes Malagant's place at the Table, saying he has found something to care about. Lancelot is a likable character because he has many challenges and he was loyal in his love for Guinevere. 

Arthur and Guinevere are subsequently wedded. However, a messenger from Leonesse arrives, with news that Malagant has invaded the kingdom. Arthur leads his troops to Leonesse and successfully defeats Malagant's forces. 
Lancelot wins the respect of the other Knights with his prowess in battle though. But, Lancelot still feels guilty about his feelings for the queen and loyalty to Arthur, and in private he told her that he will leave. She cannot bear the thought of him leaving and asks him for a kiss, which turns into a passionate embrace just in time for the king to interrupt. The two are then charged with treason.

The open trial in the great square was abruptly stopped by Malagant, he intend to burn Camelot and kill Arthur if he does not swear fealty. Arthur gives the order to fight, and Malagant's men shoot him with crossbows. A battle between Malagant's men and Camelot's soldiers and citizens then ensues. The details in these scenes revealed true to life images. 

 Lancelot and Malagant face off, and disarmed Lancelot seizes Arthur's fallen sword and kills Malagant. Camelot wins the day, but Arthur dies of his wounds. On his deathbed he asks Lancelot to, “take care of her for me" – referring to Guinevere. The film closes with a funeral raft carrying Arthur's body floating out to sea, which is then set aflame. The ending of the movie causes some turmoil within me. Though I am happy for Lancelot and Guinevere, the death of King Arthur causes mixed feelings for me.

Pieces of Advice from my Father

It was spring of 1993, I still remember my father’s words when he entered my room and saw me studying till late before my first final exam in high school. Like any Kids who took advice, I was one of the luckiest. Of all advice we took in our lives, as a student I still remember some that makes me successful in my studies.

First, must be understood that the question represents half the answer, what that means is when you want to answer the question, you must read it good and read it again and again till you start to remember the question. Sometimes when reading too much especially in examining time, we lost the ability to focus and we felt that we forgot the answers, but when we repeat reading the question, we start to remember the answer. Repeat reading the questions is important also for the tricky questions that you don't know till you repeat it again.

Second, at exam time the night before it, we read too much beside the other homework, our focusing being lost, and it was my favorite advice from my father when he told me " don't be late with no sleeping at night when the next morning there is exam''. And that it is important to sleep for five or six hours to get rest for the body and to get back the focus.

Beside many pieces of advice that I took it in my life, these two which belong to the study, it made me graduate from my university with good grades, these two were the best which still stick in my mind for more than 22 years. Life in college and university is like normal life, like a family, and the teachers are the parents that can help you to be successful and give you the best advice. Also the students are a part of the family. It is important to choose the good students to be friends with, maybe these relationship will last forever and be part of your life. That is what my father taught me.

Six Steps to Skill Development for students

Skill Development of internal brain programming is the phrase used to show how to develop the ability of success and give motivation to encourage being  the best. When we speak about how we can develop the skills to give the best result as a student, we should start from the earlier age of children.

       The first 10 years of childhood should start by providing children with a variety of educational games and quizzes as a first step of skill development. This can help the brain start thinking and developing the abilities of practice, and this is the second step. These practices give the experience to children to discover in which area they are strong, and in which area they are weak. This also helps children discover what they like. That can lead the brain's programming to create the first steps of decision making, and that is the third step of skill development. It is important that these three steps come with praise and encouragement from the parents to their children. This praise during the first five years of childhood can help them to be more active, and give them motivation to do more. This praising and encouraging represent the fourth step of skill development.

For the second five years of childhood, encourage the parents to motivate their children to be more active with different activities. Provide the children with lesson in swimming, horseback riding, and hunting. These three things are important to build confidence, This confidence is the fifth step and it is very important to push fear away from children. And in fact, it is important to know that punishment in childhood could have a negative effect for children. Teach children that sharing, helping, and cooperation between the family members and friends can contribute to learning the ideas of others. This is the sixth step of skill developing and leads to building good behaviors. this behaviors, especially during the first ten years of childhood are very important to generate the personality and character of the child.

During the second ten years for children as a students, the parents need to start telling them ''you need more practice, you need more work''. There is no such thing as failure, there is success or practice more to be successful. The second ten years are important and the students must know very clearly that the skills are inside each of them, but, they need to refine them and spend hours and hours of practicing to demonstrate those skills. There is no one intelligent or stupid, there is someone who practiced more than others, to be able to sacrifice what you are for and what you will become.

Most students when they study and get tired, they quit, and that is not going to make them successful. For example, some students say '' we are not doing good in math'', may be they are right but that is because they never study. And some students say ''we are not good in writing'', they may be right but that is because they have not written before. Maybe studying sometimes is painful, but the pain is temporary and may last for a minute, an hour, a day, or even a year, but eventually, disappear and something else will take its place. But if you quit, however, it could last forever. Keep practicing is the way to skill development and the way to be the best.

Social Media and the Childhood

Social Media and the Childhood

There are several negative effects on children because of social media.Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and other social networking have negative effects on children's sites. first, using social media in childhood damages the brain's cells, a study at the University of Oxford has shown that using social media led to negative effects on the intelligence of these children, It may be long-term damage and impossible to treat. The second important negative effect of using social media in childhood is the bad Linguistic Programming. The storage system in the brain and the Moot memory of children are very strong and store information quickly, feeding this system with negative information like the sadness, violence, tragedy. Seeing negative movies with killing, suffering, and cheating stories can establish  this negative information in the brains of children resulting in actions and habits for these children to the end of their lives. The third negative effect of using social media in early age is addiction; this addiction has been reducing the focusing skills for important activities in school, reading, and exercise. Because of all these effects of the negative information above, using social media by children at an early age could create an unhealthy generation without skills and good social behavior.

The road to Freedom

The road to freedom

The road to freedom is come by struggles and sacrifices. Many communities of developing countries are calling for freedom, but Calling for freedom does not mean a call for chaos and barbarism.

One of the most important struggles on the road to freedom is fighting terrorism. In recent decades, terrorist groups have been appearing in developing countries, bringing with them new thoughts about the religion, new culture, and new ideas, these terrorist groups declare to communities that they have come to help prevent injustice and suffering.

In fact, these groups enter the countries illegally with hidden goals to steal the wealth of these countries, all these groups do is kill, destroy the cities, and displace the people. 

There is only one way for these communities to get their freedom: by fighting the terrorist groups. The struggle may take a long time, and the war is ongoing, but the smiles of children offer hope for independence.



Also the human rights is main struggle on the road of freedom, like what happened with the girl Malala, she got shot by the Taliban in 2012 simply for daring to go to school and she got injures, but after a few years when became in good health, her families and other people in her city encourage her to haven the education again, there was many girls on her city like to have education, There was only one way for Malala’s community to get their rights by facing the wrong traditions and bad people.

Finally the equality is genuine struggle on the road of freedom, indeed, very commonly in developing countries communities there is inequality situation between the women and men, specially the equality in work and education. That because of the bad habits and traditional came as a result of being far from the religion instruction and rules that achieve equality and respect between both genders.

The limpid meaning of freedom be into the saying, you are free unless hurt, freedom mean persons are able to exercise their activities without coercion, but only to submit to the laws of the organization on these community.

The vision of who am I

That secret feeling which ask you deeply, whisper in your mind between time and time, who are you?, this who I am right now, my first name is Omar and my father name is Farooq and my last name Al Shahwani, it in fact mean the equitable Omar. I am from Iraq- Baghdad but I used to travel when I was young, different cities and countries. I graduated from the university in 1999 and I have bachelor degree in operation research sciences, this major is collect between the management and business. I am very friendly and loyal and helpful.

best time

my nephew and my niece

I have many friends in many countries, but I think that I am mix between introvert and extrovert, especially when I meet the people for first time, I just watch them to know what they like and what is their habits, after that I can get good relationship with them. Some time I just need to be a lone and get some meditation, I traveled to united states of America in June 2014, still figuring what will happened with me, but my first goal is to get a new life and keep going study till get my bachelor degree in my same major of management and business, my hobbies are cooking, swimming, hunting, and traveling. 

Also I work in many foreign companies and I have a lot experiences with the HSE (health, safety, and environment), firefighting, accounting, and management.

Last but not least, this experiences that I got it, because of the traveling between the places, I believe it's not enough and I must know more, but humbly I say I am the man who proud who I am.