I've commented on your introduction. Hope it helps. TheKemBlog

After reading an article in the USA Today, I find myself a little shocked. In the article, Mark Stevenson (the author) details the sentiments of Mexican citizens in relation to the bill currently being debated in the Senate; because many Mexican citizens long to migrate to the United States, the idea to make illegal immigrants felons offends many Mexican citizens. Many Mexican citizens plan their lives around migrating to the United States; and in some Mexican villages, Mexican citizens go as far as to "name their babies Johnny and Leslie [because they are certain] that their kids' future lies in the United States"(USA Today). Although it is natural for people to long for better lives, it is absurd for so many people to expect to live illegally in the United States. The Mexican economy is largely supported by those Mexicans living in the United States; annually, Mexicans living in the United States send about 11 million dollars home to their families (USA Today). The United States and Mexico are seperate countries; thus, the Mexican economy should not largely rely on the support of people, whether legal or illegal immigrants, living in the United States. By reducing the amount of illegal immigrants in the United States, the United States government can help to rectify the problem.

Although East Halls has offered me benefits as a college freshman, there all also many downfalls. Of the various buildings on campus, East Halls are some of the oldest and most out of date; the interior of most East Halls building resembles something straight out of the 1970s, making it hard for any twenty-first century student to become fully adjusted to living on campus. When looking for something to eat, the East Halls commons is normally never that appetizing; they offer the same basic meals repeated about every two weeks. Instead of the commons, there is always Fresh Express, Roxxy's, or the Big Onion; however, if you do not feel like getting "the runs" from Fresh Express' food or coating your arteries at the Big Onion and Roxxy's, the other eating destinations would not appetize you. Granted, I have met many of my college friends in East Halls, but the living conditions of East Halls could be improved. Thankfully, next year, I will be not be living in a dormatory but downtown instead.

I thoroughly enjoy my life at Penn State; throughout my freshman year, I have met many new friends and have had both good and bad experiences. In the fall, going to the hospital and getting an underage was easily the least fun experience of my life; after losing my license and paying hundreds of dollars in fines, I can say I have learned some valuable life lessons. I may still drink underage, but by acknowledging the fact that my incident was no one's fault but mine, I have learned that I am no longer a child and should be mature enough to make safe decisions on my own. Getting an underage may have been depressing; however, I can also take many positive experiences away from my first year at Penn State. Penn State's campus creates a positive atmosphere which is easily enjoyed by young adults. Of the fun experiences I have had this year, football games rank high on my list; from tailgating to performing chants while at the game, Penn State football games are an amazing experience no one should miss. Homecoming, Greek Sing, and Thon, experiences that I took part in, are other experiences that all students can enjoy at Penn State; they bring together tens of thousands of college students for an experience that does not involve the consumption of alcohol. College life is completely different from high school, and I do not miss high school one bit. I love Penn State and college life.

Today, I finished my last classes for the semester; despite the fact that I do have two finals next week, I already feel as if I am leaving Penn State. All activities are concluding and most people have began to focus on studying for finals. It may be nice not to have classes over the summer; but I will miss college, the friends I have made, and the independence gained by living without parents. By traveling to France and Mexico and working constantly, I should be able to keep myself busy during the summer; but nothing can compare to the anticipation I will have to return to Penn State.

This weekend, I have spent a large majority of my time studying for finals; whether at the library, in my room, or in the commons, I continue to overload my brain with the sometimes vague concepts of classes necessary for my entrance in the business school. Although finals are an essential part of college, the fact that one test or one paper could determine my success as a student does not seem adaquate. Many students around the world have performance anxiety and fail to perform in critical situations; forgeting terms or concepts for their final or going completely blank while taking a test, these students can struggle to maintain good grades during college. I may not have any such problem; however, I can agree with the idea that finals and heavily weighted tests in general can fail to demonstrate an individuals true knowledge. Thus, I one day hope that teachers could find an accurate method for measuring a student's konwledge; and I am sure most college students could agree.