If you are one of those brave individuals who pushes themselves by running in the cold, here are a couple of key tips to keep in mind as the long winter months approach. When winter running be sure to:
-Wear clothing that wicks the moisture away from your body
-Wear good socks and running shoes that have good grip for ice and slush
-Set new goals. Winter running is a totally different ball game than summer running so you may want to set new goals such as, "I want to not worry about my time and just run an extra day per week".
-Wear a dry-fit hat or tuque
-Wear mittens (individual finger gloves may still keep your fingers cold
-void cotton materials
-Use vasaline wherever it is necessary. Dry winter air can dry out your skin.
-Wear reflective gear. Winter months have more dark than light times so be sure to have plenty of reflective running gear at your disposal
-Stay Hydrated. Even though it is cold, keeping hydrated is essential for weight maintenance.
Finally, if you are going to start winter running, do not wait until January 1st to do so, start today and get comfortable with the process before the holiday season approaches.
Monday, 31 October 2011
Friday, 21 October 2011
Video Gaming
Ah, today is such a fine day. A nice calm, tranquil day which could be spent outside playing. The type of day where you should typically see a small boy digging worms in the backyard or a girl playing hopscotch. However, that is not the case today. Today, we will in a society of materialized necessity. A society where fear drives the economy and where video games are babysitters.
The problem of video games and consoles is a very perplexed problem in North America. For example, on a storm day what parent cannot find their child playing call of duty, or the latest Harry Potter game, instead of being physically active outdoors or even reading a book. See, parents and young adults alike are mesmorized by the video game age. We can play online, against anyone in the world. We then ask ourselves, "What would I do without Call of Duty" or " What did I do with all my time before I had my Xbox?" We have become so accumstomed to playing these 'near reality' video games that the real world passes us by. Which leads me to the second problem...
The graphics in video games. Now, growing up as a young boy whose mind could be influenced so easily, the games I would play were games like Donkey Kong, or Mario Kart. The violence portrayed in these games were mildly simplistic. In Mario Kart, throwing a piece of fruit at another creature would help you win a race on a go cart. In Donkey Kong, we spent hours trying to throw oranges at things like birds and giant ants which were seemingly Nature's enemy. With advancements, video games are now highly realistic, often in 3-Dimensional form. The more real the game looks, the more people will buy it. Therefore, before we know it we are cutting another man's throat who is a percieved enemy, or we are a sniper on a rooftop, zooming in for the headshot which gives you added points. Wow times have change.
This leads me to my third point. If we are percieved to be the first generation which does not outlive our parents, could there be a relationship between high hours of video gameplay and obesity. What about the corelation between more realistic violence and violence in a real society. If crime rates and breaking the law, such as by speeding, are all things we can do at our fingertips on a habitual basis, could this be influencing our society? Or better yet, is this Utopian world found in World of Warcraft causing higher rates of depression or emotional disturbances when the player has to get out into the real world and work? All of these questions are no farfetched. They are legitimate self reflection questions which we are future parents need to consider. Which leads me to my fourth and final point.
Safety: Parents turn on the T.V and here of an abduction in Chicago. Therefore, they feel like their kid playing on the street in Antigonish may get taken away as well. Therefore, parents, due to fear from the media, fear for their childs safety and keep them inside. This fear justifies their purpose for buying a video game console. "Well my boy is safer in his room playing that video game than being out playing street hockey, right?" That is the problem. Crimes have always existed as far back as we can remember. Therefore, children were stolen, thrown into slavery and treated harshly somewhere in the world in These are not new crimes, they are only increasing in number. Maybe this crime increase has something to do with all of this realistic utopian gameplay. We should turn off the news, let our children play and not resort to becoming a fear Capitalist. Fear Capitalists are those individuals who buy, buy, buy because of the fear of the unknown or fear from controlled media.
So, logically it must follow that we must change what our next generation of children are doing. Espresso just wrote a blog on alternative ways of doing this. We must substitute a ball for a game and a hockey stick for an X-box Controller. Turn off the tube, read the paper and take the time to spend with your kids and not let the console be the "babysitter" keeping your kids quiet and occupied for hours on end. Spend time with your kids. Trust me, in twenty years it will pay off.
Ryan Fahey
B.A Human Kinetics
CPTN Canada
Canfitpro FIS, PTS
NCCP
Perceived Criminals vs Actual Criminals..Is there a difference?
One hundred years ago in this great nation, many small towns and villages had dog fighting and cock fighting as a form of entertainment. If you possesed bot the space and location to host such a controlled event, you were celebrated as a pretty cool person in that area. You were known as the man (or woman) who was a good host or hostess during these cock/dog fighting events.
Most recently, an NFL star quarterback, Micheal Vick, was given a prison term for dog fighting at his house among friends. Micheal was blanketed as a criminal under the criminal code of the United States. Interestingly enough, my opinion of Micheal immediately changed. I compared him to other criminals, judging him as being just as bad as any other man in prison. However, after reading numerous books and articles dancing around this word, "perception" it seems evident to me that the media is wrong and my judgement of Mr. Vick was skewed.
See, Micheal Vick is what I argue as a perceived criminal. A man who commits a crime in a society and context where the "crime" is deemed criminal activity. for example, if Micheal had have done the exact same activity in Canada 70 years ago he would have been a pretty popular guy. However, in this time and place he was an instant criminal. The difference between a perceived criminal and what I call, "actual criminals" is this one thing. Time. A crime that stands the test of time such as murder and theft give birth to undeniable criminal allegations. Understanding the difference between these long term unacceptable crimes and contextual crimes is important to assess a man like Micheal Vick fairly.
While he was in prison, he was visted frequently by a man named Tony Dungy, who never gave up on Micheal. He was down in the dumps because of the immediate media assumptions and labelings, thus ruining his career. Tony understood this difference, saw the potential in this young mans life and took the time to mentor him back into a starting NFL quarterback. Tony and Micheal both accepted the fact that what was done was done and what he had done was wrong, but realized he was a perceived criminal but more importantly, that he was an all-star quarterback that needed the game of football in his life.
I write this article not to promote criminal activity, but to understand criminal activity and its contextual perceptions. Most people do not understand this difference and blanket all as one, just as we love to group other things together in our lives like ethnic groups, sexuality and socioeconomic class. I challenge you to do more than just that. Educate yourselves in what truly means what. Educate yourself in terminology, context and history of social stratifications.
While working on a previous football team the slogan was, "Do what you have to, to do what you want to". I want you to do what you have to in order to better understand the world we live in, only then can you do what you want to do by understanding the world more freely
Most recently, an NFL star quarterback, Micheal Vick, was given a prison term for dog fighting at his house among friends. Micheal was blanketed as a criminal under the criminal code of the United States. Interestingly enough, my opinion of Micheal immediately changed. I compared him to other criminals, judging him as being just as bad as any other man in prison. However, after reading numerous books and articles dancing around this word, "perception" it seems evident to me that the media is wrong and my judgement of Mr. Vick was skewed.
See, Micheal Vick is what I argue as a perceived criminal. A man who commits a crime in a society and context where the "crime" is deemed criminal activity. for example, if Micheal had have done the exact same activity in Canada 70 years ago he would have been a pretty popular guy. However, in this time and place he was an instant criminal. The difference between a perceived criminal and what I call, "actual criminals" is this one thing. Time. A crime that stands the test of time such as murder and theft give birth to undeniable criminal allegations. Understanding the difference between these long term unacceptable crimes and contextual crimes is important to assess a man like Micheal Vick fairly.
While he was in prison, he was visted frequently by a man named Tony Dungy, who never gave up on Micheal. He was down in the dumps because of the immediate media assumptions and labelings, thus ruining his career. Tony understood this difference, saw the potential in this young mans life and took the time to mentor him back into a starting NFL quarterback. Tony and Micheal both accepted the fact that what was done was done and what he had done was wrong, but realized he was a perceived criminal but more importantly, that he was an all-star quarterback that needed the game of football in his life.
I write this article not to promote criminal activity, but to understand criminal activity and its contextual perceptions. Most people do not understand this difference and blanket all as one, just as we love to group other things together in our lives like ethnic groups, sexuality and socioeconomic class. I challenge you to do more than just that. Educate yourselves in what truly means what. Educate yourself in terminology, context and history of social stratifications.
While working on a previous football team the slogan was, "Do what you have to, to do what you want to". I want you to do what you have to in order to better understand the world we live in, only then can you do what you want to do by understanding the world more freely
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Chocolate
Dare I say more. Yes! Chocolate! Hurray for chocolate. Why not buy chocolate? It's one sale...it's a treat for a long day at work, it's the holidays right! Oh, how we love chocolate!
Have you ever walked through the doors of your neighbourhood walmart, superstore or local convienence store only to find chocolate winking right at you as you try to walk by! In today's world, chocolate has become the worlds largest and most fast growing 'treat'. Why is this? Is it the tremendous amount of sugar which strikes a euphamistic cord everytime you bite or is it the texture which comforts the lining of your mouth! Either way, chocolate seems to be everywhere and is here to stay. The next question whic would logically follow would be...Well if everyone is buying it, than I too must have some, right?
Well, what you may not know is that chocolate (white, dark or milk choc) actually drives up your ecological footprint (the amount of land measured in Hectres which you need to sustain life) but is sold at a far cheaper price pount for pound than that of an apple or clemintines. Why is it that a food which takes sooo much energy to be made can be sold much cheaper than something picked from a tree? Logically, as a parent or student struggling for funds, chocolate would be the decision over the apple because of its availability and lower price. Well, if this is the case and we turn on the television only to hear that we must lower our individual ecological footprint. How can we do so? Prime ministers and foreign country leaders all over the world advocate flying less frequently, car pooling or even switching to more grains and less red meat in your diet......But what about chocolate? Perhaps, if we restricted the amount of chocolate we consumed anytime of the year and especailly during the holiday season, would we not be lowering the amount of energy required to sustain more people on this finite planet?? Food for thought....
With regards to availability, have you ever noticed how much chocolate there is in the stores prior to different holidays. Chocolate companies have personalized chocolate and catered it to certain holidays like christmas with chocolate santas for the kids and on easter with the cream egg. Who can forget the "limited time cream egg McFlurry". Chocolate companies continue to strike our stomachs when those holidays are over. For example, as soon as halloween is over the Christmas chocolate festivities begin! Oh, and that halloween chocolate is now on sale! So it is even more cheap than it was before. Therefore, I should buy it! Every single North American holiday is celebrated with chocolate folks. I challenge you to celebrate those holidays for what they are and not with chocolate!
Also, along with choosing the apple over the chocolate, maybe we can cure the obesity pandemic whic has spread coast to coast in this great nation we call Canada. In our parents generation 1 in 4 men are classified as overweight in Canada and 1 in 3 men in the U.S suffer a worse statistic. Therefore, if we keep an unlimited amount of high fat, high sugar and high caloric food such as chocolate flood our shelves, are we not going to see these stats heightened in the generation to come???
Interestingly enough, food prices are predicted to climb in upcoming months due to global fuel scarcities and uprisings around the world. However, I can guarantee to all of you that the last "food" product to go up in price will be chocolate!
Next time you walk in to your local store and see colorful, delightful chocolate and you get that unstoppable desire to have it, I challange you to take a step back and think not only about what you are doing to your planet, but what you are doing to your body as well.
Ryan Fahey
CPTN Canada
canfitpro Fitness Instructor
Have you ever walked through the doors of your neighbourhood walmart, superstore or local convienence store only to find chocolate winking right at you as you try to walk by! In today's world, chocolate has become the worlds largest and most fast growing 'treat'. Why is this? Is it the tremendous amount of sugar which strikes a euphamistic cord everytime you bite or is it the texture which comforts the lining of your mouth! Either way, chocolate seems to be everywhere and is here to stay. The next question whic would logically follow would be...Well if everyone is buying it, than I too must have some, right?
Well, what you may not know is that chocolate (white, dark or milk choc) actually drives up your ecological footprint (the amount of land measured in Hectres which you need to sustain life) but is sold at a far cheaper price pount for pound than that of an apple or clemintines. Why is it that a food which takes sooo much energy to be made can be sold much cheaper than something picked from a tree? Logically, as a parent or student struggling for funds, chocolate would be the decision over the apple because of its availability and lower price. Well, if this is the case and we turn on the television only to hear that we must lower our individual ecological footprint. How can we do so? Prime ministers and foreign country leaders all over the world advocate flying less frequently, car pooling or even switching to more grains and less red meat in your diet......But what about chocolate? Perhaps, if we restricted the amount of chocolate we consumed anytime of the year and especailly during the holiday season, would we not be lowering the amount of energy required to sustain more people on this finite planet?? Food for thought....
With regards to availability, have you ever noticed how much chocolate there is in the stores prior to different holidays. Chocolate companies have personalized chocolate and catered it to certain holidays like christmas with chocolate santas for the kids and on easter with the cream egg. Who can forget the "limited time cream egg McFlurry". Chocolate companies continue to strike our stomachs when those holidays are over. For example, as soon as halloween is over the Christmas chocolate festivities begin! Oh, and that halloween chocolate is now on sale! So it is even more cheap than it was before. Therefore, I should buy it! Every single North American holiday is celebrated with chocolate folks. I challenge you to celebrate those holidays for what they are and not with chocolate!
Also, along with choosing the apple over the chocolate, maybe we can cure the obesity pandemic whic has spread coast to coast in this great nation we call Canada. In our parents generation 1 in 4 men are classified as overweight in Canada and 1 in 3 men in the U.S suffer a worse statistic. Therefore, if we keep an unlimited amount of high fat, high sugar and high caloric food such as chocolate flood our shelves, are we not going to see these stats heightened in the generation to come???
Interestingly enough, food prices are predicted to climb in upcoming months due to global fuel scarcities and uprisings around the world. However, I can guarantee to all of you that the last "food" product to go up in price will be chocolate!
Next time you walk in to your local store and see colorful, delightful chocolate and you get that unstoppable desire to have it, I challange you to take a step back and think not only about what you are doing to your planet, but what you are doing to your body as well.
Ryan Fahey
CPTN Canada
canfitpro Fitness Instructor
Chocolate
Dare I say more. Yes! Chocolate! Hurray for chocolate. Why not buy chocolate? It's one sale...it's a treat for a long day at work, it's the holidays right! Oh, how we love chocolate!
Have you ever walked through the doors of your neighbourhood walmart, superstore or local convienence store only to find chocolate winking right at you as you try to walk by! In today's world, chocolate has become the worlds largest and most fast growing 'treat'. Why is this? Is it the tremendous amount of sugar which strikes a euphamistic cord everytime you bite or is it the texture which comforts the lining of your mouth! Either way, chocolate seems to be everywhere and is here to stay. The next question whic would logically follow would be...Well if everyone is buying it, than I too must have some, right?
Well, what you may not know is that chocolate (white, dark or milk choc) actually drives up your ecological footprint (the amount of land measured in Hectres which you need to sustain life) but is sold at a far cheaper price pount for pound than that of an apple or clemintines. Why is it that a food which takes sooo much energy to be made can be sold much cheaper than something picked from a tree? Logically, as a parent or student struggling for funds, chocolate would be the decision over the apple because of its availability and lower price. Well, if this is the case and we turn on the television only to hear that we must lower our individual ecological footprint. How can we do so? Prime ministers and foreign country leaders all over the world advocate flying less frequently, car pooling or even switching to more grains and less red meat in your diet......But what about chocolate? Perhaps, if we restricted the amount of chocolate we consumed anytime of the year and especailly during the holiday season, would we not be lowering the amount of energy required to sustain more people on this finite planet?? Food for thought....
With regards to availability, have you ever noticed how much chocolate there is in the stores prior to different holidays. Chocolate companies have personalized chocolate and catered it to certain holidays like christmas with chocolate santas for the kids and on easter with the cream egg. Who can forget the "limited time cream egg McFlurry". Chocolate companies continue to strike our stomachs when those holidays are over. For example, as soon as halloween is over the Christmas chocolate festivities begin! Oh, and that halloween chocolate is now on sale! So it is even more cheap than it was before. Therefore, I should buy it! Every single North American holiday is celebrated with chocolate folks. I challenge you to celebrate those holidays for what they are and not with chocolate!
Also, along with choosing the apple over the chocolate, maybe we can cure the obesity pandemic whic has spread coast to coast in this great nation we call Canada. In our parents generation 1 in 4 men are classified as overweight in Canada and 1 in 3 men in the U.S suffer a worse statistic. Therefore, if we keep an unlimited amount of high fat, high sugar and high caloric food such as chocolate flood our shelves, are we not going to see these stats heightened in the generation to come???
Interestingly enough, food prices are predicted to climb in upcoming months due to global fuel scarcities and uprisings around the world. However, I can guarantee to all of you that the last "food" product to go up in price will be chocolate!
Next time you walk in to your local store and see colorful, delightful chocolate and you get that unstoppable desire to have it, I challange you to take a step back and think not only about what you are doing to your planet, but what you are doing to your body as well.
Ryan Fahey
CPTN Canada
canfitpro Fitness Instructor
Have you ever walked through the doors of your neighbourhood walmart, superstore or local convienence store only to find chocolate winking right at you as you try to walk by! In today's world, chocolate has become the worlds largest and most fast growing 'treat'. Why is this? Is it the tremendous amount of sugar which strikes a euphamistic cord everytime you bite or is it the texture which comforts the lining of your mouth! Either way, chocolate seems to be everywhere and is here to stay. The next question whic would logically follow would be...Well if everyone is buying it, than I too must have some, right?
Well, what you may not know is that chocolate (white, dark or milk choc) actually drives up your ecological footprint (the amount of land measured in Hectres which you need to sustain life) but is sold at a far cheaper price pount for pound than that of an apple or clemintines. Why is it that a food which takes sooo much energy to be made can be sold much cheaper than something picked from a tree? Logically, as a parent or student struggling for funds, chocolate would be the decision over the apple because of its availability and lower price. Well, if this is the case and we turn on the television only to hear that we must lower our individual ecological footprint. How can we do so? Prime ministers and foreign country leaders all over the world advocate flying less frequently, car pooling or even switching to more grains and less red meat in your diet......But what about chocolate? Perhaps, if we restricted the amount of chocolate we consumed anytime of the year and especailly during the holiday season, would we not be lowering the amount of energy required to sustain more people on this finite planet?? Food for thought....
With regards to availability, have you ever noticed how much chocolate there is in the stores prior to different holidays. Chocolate companies have personalized chocolate and catered it to certain holidays like christmas with chocolate santas for the kids and on easter with the cream egg. Who can forget the "limited time cream egg McFlurry". Chocolate companies continue to strike our stomachs when those holidays are over. For example, as soon as halloween is over the Christmas chocolate festivities begin! Oh, and that halloween chocolate is now on sale! So it is even more cheap than it was before. Therefore, I should buy it! Every single North American holiday is celebrated with chocolate folks. I challenge you to celebrate those holidays for what they are and not with chocolate!
Also, along with choosing the apple over the chocolate, maybe we can cure the obesity pandemic whic has spread coast to coast in this great nation we call Canada. In our parents generation 1 in 4 men are classified as overweight in Canada and 1 in 3 men in the U.S suffer a worse statistic. Therefore, if we keep an unlimited amount of high fat, high sugar and high caloric food such as chocolate flood our shelves, are we not going to see these stats heightened in the generation to come???
Interestingly enough, food prices are predicted to climb in upcoming months due to global fuel scarcities and uprisings around the world. However, I can guarantee to all of you that the last "food" product to go up in price will be chocolate!
Next time you walk in to your local store and see colorful, delightful chocolate and you get that unstoppable desire to have it, I challange you to take a step back and think not only about what you are doing to your planet, but what you are doing to your body as well.
Ryan Fahey
CPTN Canada
canfitpro Fitness Instructor
Last Spring Grad Trip
Four years of hard work were celebrated over a seven day period with some of the greatest youthful thinkers of our time this past week. Not only am I ecstatic about being able to get to know these grads more, while others for the first time, I am excited to walk across the stage with every one of them on Sunday. I know some of you traveled 30+ hours both ways just to be a part of this event, knowing you would not regret it.
From dancing our souls out, spilling drinks over the floor; to running down the sun kissed beach during a mid morning run, this trip encompassed everything. We shared conversations around the burger bar at 3am, shared clothes with each other when we needed it the most and even put sun screen on each other when we were passed out by the pool. We held the bucket for our sea sick grads, gave multiple toasts at dinner with new strangers and shared laughter with old friends. Whether the dj's liked Romar or not, whether Millar and I got stranded an hour away from the resort, or whether of not Catherine (caper) McInnis was sober on the flight back home, it was all a great week to be remembered.
Many loved the priceless snorkeling session, others simply enjoyed relaxing by the pool. For others it may have been skinny dipping or seeing Mr.Kenny Mop the dance floor without a shirt.
For me, being able to catch up to old friends from long ago was rewarding, allowing these old friends to interact with ones from St.FX really highlighted the sense of connectivity and approachability of St.FX students. Another thing for which I am proud.
Whether you only brought day shorts and night shorts (Justin) or simply woke up with ripped shirts and glitter covering your body it was all part of the grad trip experience. Whether you grinded with "hotwire" at the disco or the random dudes in chicken suits at the beach party or tried the famous Mamma Juana with someone to which you developed an overnight affinity towards, that was what grad trip was all about. Whether it was the small things like running into a giant beached whale, or seeing a picture perfect sunrise or even grabbing that karaoke mic one too many times, it has been a fun ride, solidified within the memories of the "DR" of last week.
As I reflect here at all the highlights exclusive to this trip with these select enlightened individuals, I urge you all one last time to take pride in all of your post secondary accomplishments, both big and small. I encourage all of you to cherish the moments of last week and to rekindle those memories when you glance at your X-ring or your embarrassing pictures from last week! You are all spectacular people from the far reaches of North America from all paths of life and I am proud to know that you will always be a chapter of my life at as a StFX Undergrad. Therefore, Millar, this is my final written toast to all of you. Enjoy this grad weekend to its entirety and never forget this great week. With that, I leave you with a quote by Sean Riley in Gordon Pitts book, "The Codfathers". The quote found in the chapter titled, "The fellowship of the ring" accurately describes the St.FX experience...."Students are looking for a new feeling of family away from home, they are looking for personal meaning that goes beyond the classroom. St.FX, with its students thrown together in a small town, allows that feeling of family to ripen over four years. Relationships are not immediate or automatic or hot and cold, rather they mutate in intensity over time".
Cheers Grads!
Ryan Fahey
CPTN Canada
canfitpro Fitness Instructor
St.FX Human Kinetics Graduate 2011
From dancing our souls out, spilling drinks over the floor; to running down the sun kissed beach during a mid morning run, this trip encompassed everything. We shared conversations around the burger bar at 3am, shared clothes with each other when we needed it the most and even put sun screen on each other when we were passed out by the pool. We held the bucket for our sea sick grads, gave multiple toasts at dinner with new strangers and shared laughter with old friends. Whether the dj's liked Romar or not, whether Millar and I got stranded an hour away from the resort, or whether of not Catherine (caper) McInnis was sober on the flight back home, it was all a great week to be remembered.
Many loved the priceless snorkeling session, others simply enjoyed relaxing by the pool. For others it may have been skinny dipping or seeing Mr.Kenny Mop the dance floor without a shirt.
For me, being able to catch up to old friends from long ago was rewarding, allowing these old friends to interact with ones from St.FX really highlighted the sense of connectivity and approachability of St.FX students. Another thing for which I am proud.
Whether you only brought day shorts and night shorts (Justin) or simply woke up with ripped shirts and glitter covering your body it was all part of the grad trip experience. Whether you grinded with "hotwire" at the disco or the random dudes in chicken suits at the beach party or tried the famous Mamma Juana with someone to which you developed an overnight affinity towards, that was what grad trip was all about. Whether it was the small things like running into a giant beached whale, or seeing a picture perfect sunrise or even grabbing that karaoke mic one too many times, it has been a fun ride, solidified within the memories of the "DR" of last week.
As I reflect here at all the highlights exclusive to this trip with these select enlightened individuals, I urge you all one last time to take pride in all of your post secondary accomplishments, both big and small. I encourage all of you to cherish the moments of last week and to rekindle those memories when you glance at your X-ring or your embarrassing pictures from last week! You are all spectacular people from the far reaches of North America from all paths of life and I am proud to know that you will always be a chapter of my life at as a StFX Undergrad. Therefore, Millar, this is my final written toast to all of you. Enjoy this grad weekend to its entirety and never forget this great week. With that, I leave you with a quote by Sean Riley in Gordon Pitts book, "The Codfathers". The quote found in the chapter titled, "The fellowship of the ring" accurately describes the St.FX experience...."Students are looking for a new feeling of family away from home, they are looking for personal meaning that goes beyond the classroom. St.FX, with its students thrown together in a small town, allows that feeling of family to ripen over four years. Relationships are not immediate or automatic or hot and cold, rather they mutate in intensity over time".
Cheers Grads!
Ryan Fahey
CPTN Canada
canfitpro Fitness Instructor
St.FX Human Kinetics Graduate 2011
Meeting Bill Clinton
Its one thing to say you went to dinner with former President Bill Clinton and former New Brunswick Premier and Ambassador to the United States, Frank McKenna, but it is another thing to recall what I learned from such an event. When I reflect upon this awesome occassion, a few things come to mind.
One of the key things mentioned in Clinton's speech was the impact of fresh water. He talked about Greenland possessing about 8% of the entire world's fresh water resources. This is key in looking towards the future due to the projected need for fresh water resources.
Second, with regards to leadership and being a good leader in the workforce or in one's community, it is important that is this information/communication age that we all accept our similarities with each other despite our possible ethnic and racial differences. We live in an age where globalization is predominant and we must be able to integrate and accept each other for better working conditions and production.
Third, again with regards to leadership, we must stay focused on economic purpose. In history, I have studied many different cultures, dynasties and superpowers of there time continually rise. However, one way or another, each superpower could not stand the test of time. With regards to a capitalist economy, we must produce, produce, produce on a quarterly basis. What has happened is that we have risen and risen and risen economically in North America and have ultimately lost purpose. When we shift away from building for purpose or team based thinking to achievement based thinking about the here and now, we begin to generate a stagnant economy. This is breeding ground for an economic resession, which we have seen in the United States which has spilled over into Canada. Therefore, we must continually, as leaders, think about the wealth we could potentially make, but the wealth our kids and grand kids may be able to generate. When we think in a more economically purposeful way, we can bring our economy back to a more stable state.
With all of this, along with McKenna's, "Thank you to everyone in the room, now I am going to name names very fast" speech, it seemed increasingly clear that I am part of a community building a legacy. This University, St.FX, located in the woods in rural Nova Scotia, is one of the most important institutions buildings business, teaching, coaching and medical leaders in Atlantic Canada. In an area where the University density is astounding, St.FX holds it's head higher than them all. Proof of this was last night, where one of the greatest public speakers of our time, Bill Clinton, came to meet, greet and speak to those select individuals who could attend such a historical event for the St.FX University.
Ryan Fahey
B.A Human Kinetics
CPTN Canada
canfitpro Fitness Instructor
One of the key things mentioned in Clinton's speech was the impact of fresh water. He talked about Greenland possessing about 8% of the entire world's fresh water resources. This is key in looking towards the future due to the projected need for fresh water resources.
Second, with regards to leadership and being a good leader in the workforce or in one's community, it is important that is this information/communication age that we all accept our similarities with each other despite our possible ethnic and racial differences. We live in an age where globalization is predominant and we must be able to integrate and accept each other for better working conditions and production.
Third, again with regards to leadership, we must stay focused on economic purpose. In history, I have studied many different cultures, dynasties and superpowers of there time continually rise. However, one way or another, each superpower could not stand the test of time. With regards to a capitalist economy, we must produce, produce, produce on a quarterly basis. What has happened is that we have risen and risen and risen economically in North America and have ultimately lost purpose. When we shift away from building for purpose or team based thinking to achievement based thinking about the here and now, we begin to generate a stagnant economy. This is breeding ground for an economic resession, which we have seen in the United States which has spilled over into Canada. Therefore, we must continually, as leaders, think about the wealth we could potentially make, but the wealth our kids and grand kids may be able to generate. When we think in a more economically purposeful way, we can bring our economy back to a more stable state.
With all of this, along with McKenna's, "Thank you to everyone in the room, now I am going to name names very fast" speech, it seemed increasingly clear that I am part of a community building a legacy. This University, St.FX, located in the woods in rural Nova Scotia, is one of the most important institutions buildings business, teaching, coaching and medical leaders in Atlantic Canada. In an area where the University density is astounding, St.FX holds it's head higher than them all. Proof of this was last night, where one of the greatest public speakers of our time, Bill Clinton, came to meet, greet and speak to those select individuals who could attend such a historical event for the St.FX University.
Ryan Fahey
B.A Human Kinetics
CPTN Canada
canfitpro Fitness Instructor
Why We Teach
In grade seven, I experienced a life changing event within psychological learning environment of my science class. My teacher at the time, Mr. Dean Smith had been a teacher I had upmost respect towards throughout that fall. However, one morning before class commenced, Mr. Smith approached me as he had heard me talking to fellow students about the science project I had done on building a biotic ecosystem consisting of both plants and insects. I brought it to my desk to take my seat; I looked up and saw Mr. Smith walking towards me with his usual cup of coffee. He looked at me, with his subtle, sincere look and said calmly, “Ryan, you have so much potential. You impress me so much inside the classroom and around the school.” That statement has continued to linger in my mind when accomplishments occur in my life. That statement and the time he took to talk to me that morning motivated me to become a teacher. From that morning onward I knew I wanted to be a man like Mr. Smith. I wanted to be a smart adult who could make the difference in someone else’s life. Mr. Smith changed mine that morning and I only aspired to do the same for someone someday.
I distinctly remember when I walked across the stage for my X-ring, I thought about Mr. Smith and that very distinct learning moment in my life. His comments in his classroom environment that morning was a true example how sensitive a teacher’s word can be. Like Haim implied, teachers are the weatherman of the classroom environment. Their comments can construct or destruct their students psychologically. However, on that morning, Mr. Smith created a blooming classroom environment filled with sunshine and warmth through his words. That is why my vignette is dedicated to him.
I believe that this presentation is an accurate representation of the event which happened that morning. I chose to use stones to represent my students and Mr. Smith’s students that morning. The stones are all different shapes, sizes, colors and outward appearance. Some look rough, some look smooth, some look healthy, some look jagged. These stones, like all stones, are subject to the open environment on this earth. These stones experience rain, snow, sleet, darkness and sun. They can be warm from the sun, cold from the frost and wet from the rain. Just as these stones slowly change from the environment they are immersed in, so too are students. We as teachers subject our students to a classroom environment which can be cold, damp and dark, or could be warm and bright.
The iPod touch represents Mr. Smith and us as pre-service teachers. We possess much information and complexity due to experience. However, we possess a light which can be directed towards our students like Mr. Smith did that day. He created a warm, loving and empathetic atmosphere through his actions and his words which ultimately changed my complete outlook on life as a learner. The light on this iPod can shine on these rocks and make all the difference in how the rocks feel when you hold them in your hand. It is important to recognize that we are the weathermen and women for our students not only when class starts, but before and after class as well. Mr. Smith took the time to shine his light on me, thus I plan to do the same.
I will never forget this presentation just as I will not forget Mr. Smith’s important influence in my life. As I grow as a teacher, I will be reminded each day of the ‘over-the-top’ job
Mr. Smith did for me. Recalling that will allow me to rehearse that warmth to my students in facilitating a warm classroom environment.
I distinctly remember when I walked across the stage for my X-ring, I thought about Mr. Smith and that very distinct learning moment in my life. His comments in his classroom environment that morning was a true example how sensitive a teacher’s word can be. Like Haim implied, teachers are the weatherman of the classroom environment. Their comments can construct or destruct their students psychologically. However, on that morning, Mr. Smith created a blooming classroom environment filled with sunshine and warmth through his words. That is why my vignette is dedicated to him.
I believe that this presentation is an accurate representation of the event which happened that morning. I chose to use stones to represent my students and Mr. Smith’s students that morning. The stones are all different shapes, sizes, colors and outward appearance. Some look rough, some look smooth, some look healthy, some look jagged. These stones, like all stones, are subject to the open environment on this earth. These stones experience rain, snow, sleet, darkness and sun. They can be warm from the sun, cold from the frost and wet from the rain. Just as these stones slowly change from the environment they are immersed in, so too are students. We as teachers subject our students to a classroom environment which can be cold, damp and dark, or could be warm and bright.
The iPod touch represents Mr. Smith and us as pre-service teachers. We possess much information and complexity due to experience. However, we possess a light which can be directed towards our students like Mr. Smith did that day. He created a warm, loving and empathetic atmosphere through his actions and his words which ultimately changed my complete outlook on life as a learner. The light on this iPod can shine on these rocks and make all the difference in how the rocks feel when you hold them in your hand. It is important to recognize that we are the weathermen and women for our students not only when class starts, but before and after class as well. Mr. Smith took the time to shine his light on me, thus I plan to do the same.
I will never forget this presentation just as I will not forget Mr. Smith’s important influence in my life. As I grow as a teacher, I will be reminded each day of the ‘over-the-top’ job
Mr. Smith did for me. Recalling that will allow me to rehearse that warmth to my students in facilitating a warm classroom environment.
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