The Twenty-First Century: All A's

Do all students strive to only get A’s these days? As the subjects get harder and programs get harder to obtain a spot, most students are striving to get A’s. With that in mind, they may not just want the grades handed to them; they work for the grade that they get.
In the article, Generation A+, Suzzane Britt stated that grade inflation is producing a generation of illiterates. She mentioned that in the older days, the grading scale was not a 10 point scale; it was a mere seven point scale. With that in mind, these days it is easier to pass classes. Even though the cut off for grades now has a broader range that does not mean a country of illiterates is in the upbringing. Even since the scale has a wider span, it does not mean that students are not putting in effort to the grades that they are receiving.
If a new generation of A+ students is on the rise, what has happened to the “average” students? In this article, she mentioned that all of the C-students are disappearing. From a view point of a college student, who is putting forth the effort to get the grades I receive, I do not agree with her statement about their no longer being C-students. I do not believe she thought about the fact that maybe students are trying harder and that is why she is seeing the C-students disappear. Since I am working on getting into the Nursing College on campus, I have to put forth so much effort so that I have a greater chance to getting in the nursing program. These days, to get into these programs, there is no room for error. If she looked into the statistics for the College of Nursing and Health Professions, I believe that she would notice that there would not be that many C’s on those in the programs transcripts.
Ever since I can remember, I have always strived to be the best that I could be both in and out of the classroom. I have gotten the occasional C, but that does not mean I did not try. As I climbed up the academic totem pole, I knew that I would have to work harder. I have never expected a grade to be curved for me and that I got the grade that I received. My freshman year of high school, I received a curved grade. As a freshman, I was in geometry and my teacher somehow put together that I was my mother’s daughter; even though she is married, he still figured this out. They had class together as adolescents and he knew that she had a pretty sweet ride. I received an A in that class when I really should have received a B. With that said, I do not think that it is right of teachers to hand grades out to students. I am an athlete and we have to maintain a certain GPA to be eligible. I believe with my whole heart that teachers should especially not boost athlete’s grades just so they can be eligible. Students will never strive for anything if it is just given to them.
Some may believe that the professor’s expectations are too high. In 2010, I do not believe that my professor’s expectations are too high. We are in college, yes it will be harder than high school, and we have to learn to take what is dealt to us. Students today do not have a good sense of time management and tend to procrastinate. If that is a problem on our campus, out students are just in luck. Forty-five minute seminars are offered for both time management and anti-procrastination. Students need to learn to balance academic and social life and their lives will be a lot easier. In 2010, it is not difficult to be a student. I am managing to be a student just fine. I do all of my homework when it is assigned so I can have a social life as well.
Moreover, Britt came off with a strong view point and did not let up to why she believed that this generation is becoming, “Generation A+.” I see another viewpoint than what she saw, with to why the C-students are disappearing. Maybe she is looking though rose colored glasses and only wanting to accept the view point that she sees. She never did make the assumption that students are trying harder. This generation may be a “Generation A+,” but not because grades are dealt to use. We may play our cards right, work hard and strive for our goal, and in the end we will see the results. That A+ on our transcript, we will know that we rightfully earned it.

Striving for Goals

Ever since I was young, I have set goals. My goals have ranged from athletics to academics. Over the years, I have set more goals in athletics because they were important to and I wanted to be the best. I began setting athletics goals when I was in the fifth grade. I was a member of all of the school athletic teams and I was the tiniest one. I had to set goals for myself so I would improve, get better, and have more playing time. After a few months of setting my athletic goals, I began to notice improvement. From that moment, I knew that if I set goals and strived to reach them that I would be able to accomplish all of my goals.
Before seventh grade, I had never heard of cheerleading. I decided to try it to see if I liked it. When I first began cheering, I could not even do a cartwheel. Once we began I knew that if this was something that I wanted to continue, I would have to set goals so I could improve. I asked my mom if I could enroll in a gymnastics class, and she said I could. I started to go to the local gym, Midwest Twisters and I was so able to do a cartwheel. I was able to mark one item off of my cheerleading goals. I then began working on harder tumbling skills; I knew that these weren’t going to come to me as easy so they would take a lot more work and determination.
After cheering for one year at Holy Cross Lutheran School, I decided to change schools. I would be attending Collinsville Middle School. My mom called the school district to see when cheerleading try-outs were. That evening, she told me that she called and found out when cheerleading try-outs were. At this point in my life, I didn’t know if cheering was what I wanted to do. I really enjoyed basketball and track, and I didn’t know if I wanted to give up all other sports just for cheerleading. I ended up going to try-outs and I was certain that I was not going to make the squad based on my tumbling abilities. A majority of the girls could flip. I decided that I really didn’t have anything to lose so I went on. The next day, we went to go look at the list to see who all had made the squad. The second name on this list happened to be mine, Brianne Butler. I was really excited. I then knew that I would have to see a lot more cheerleading goals to improve so I would be right up with all the girls that could flip.
At practices and gymnastics, I gave it my all; I wanted to get my back handspring. I was then introduced to more stunting than I was at Holy Cross; I was no longer a flyer and had to learn to base. I was still one of the tiniest so I knew it was going to hard work to be able to lift people that weighed more than I did. I set goals for stunting as well, but I wanted to focus more on tumbling. I began taking private tumbling lessons to get better. I soon got my back handspring and I was then ready to move on to harder passes. As the end of the year approached, I had yet to get any running tumbling, but I figured I might as well try out for the high school team.
When the day for high school try-outs came around, I was ready. The only problem was that I was too scared to do my back handspring on the gym floor, I didn’t throw it at try-outs, but I still made the Collinsville High School JV cheerleading team. From here, I went back to flying and began to work on one leg stunts. I began stretching everyday so I would be able to pull things in the air. My tumbling improved and I got my round off back handspring.
The following year at try-outs, I did all of my tumbling that I had and I made the Varsity Squad. I was still flying and improving my air skills and then I got moved back to basing. I had to start all over again, learning the techniques. I based for the next year and a half. My basing goals ranged from basing heel stretches to being able to catch full downs. I managed to meet my stunting goals. I set another tumbling goal that year; to get my round off back handspring tuck. At the end of the year, I achieved my goal!
My junior year of try-outs, I made the Varsity squad again and did my tuck at try-outs! I based this entire year without having to start from square one with stunting again. This year, I really decided to challenge myself, I wanted to get more standing tumbling. I took a countless number of face plants into the blue mats that year, but it didn’t discourage me.
My final year on the high school squad, I had to start over with stunting skills, it was a new and young squad and I had to learn to back spot. I was use to having to re-learning different places so I took to it and told myself that I was going to be able to back all kinds of stunts.
This past May, I figured why not try-out for college cheerleading. I tried out as a back spot and did all of my tumbling. That night, the coach, asked me about my standing tumbling. I wasn’t planning on throwing it but I decided that I had nothing to lose. I took a face plant to the ground but I still held my head up. I made the squad and immediately was told that I needed to learn how to fly again. The very first practice, I began to learn how to full down from stunts. For months, I wasn't able to make it completely around. I was told, "Grab your pocket." For me, grabbing my pocket wasn't working and I would get stuck half way. In September, I tried a new technique and I made it all the way around. After months of hard work and determination, I mastered one of my newest goals. I have never set so many goals for myself in one year. I have gone from pro-back spot to a flyer that isn’t scared to fall from pyramids.
My main goal that I set for myself this year was to improve my stunting skills and to not be afraid of stunting. I have passed that goal with flying colors! I really proved this last night when we were doing stunts that I had never done before and I went in not afraid and I did what I had to do.
In conclusion, I have set many goals in my life. Mostly, my goals have dealt with cheerleading and athletics. I still am setting goals cheerleading goals so that I can improve and become a better cheerleader. I know I am not the best and that is what pushes me to make and meet goals. For me, it goes to show that hard work and dertermination will help you reach your goals!

Being a Leader

Participating in athletics all through out high school was important to me. As senior year rolled around, I had to make the decision to weather or not I was going to continue cheerleading and receive my final Varsity letter bar. Many factors went into my decision. I knew in the spring of 2009, that if I did in fact decide to cheer one more year, I would be the one everyone on the squad looked up to.
On the day of try-outs, I walked into Renfro gymnasium with confidence that cheering one more year was the right decision to make. I checked in and started to stretch out. I looked around and noticed that no other soon to be senior was trying out. I was quickly over whelmed with joy. During try-outs, I gave it my all even though I knew that I had nothing to worry about because I had already secured a spot on the squad. The anticipation of being able to see the tumbling skills everyone else has at try-outs has always been the most exciting. I quickly began to observe and noticed that this year would not be like years past, the tumbling capabilities were not there. I began to recall the previous year’s try-outs, all of the skills that everyone had. I wondered where it had all went. After observing everyone else’s tumbling passes I did mine, and I knew that this would be my year. Freshman year, I was not the tumbler, but I knew this year that I would be bring a lot to the squad with my tumbling abilities.
After two days of learning the material for tryouts, it was finally the day. I walked in wearing my purple shorts, white shirt, and shiny silver bow and I was ready for this try-out. I received my number, one, and was well on my way to try-out. The group that I was in, looked up to me like a leader from the very beginning of try-outs. If someone needed help, I was there to assist them. While in front of the judges, I was glad that I made the decision that I did. I preformed all of the material without flaw, and my tumbling had never been better.; my layout was solid. I left with confidence knowing that I had gave it my all, and quickly had to hurry off to the Honor’s Convocation.
Later that evening, we were to go back and pick up an envelope informing us if we made the squad and which one. After I was all done at the Honor’s Convocation, I hurried back and picked up my envelope. I ripped it open and was pleased to read that I made the Varsity competition squad.
A few days later, at our first practice, we met our new teammates and began to practice. The coach was a first year coach, and she knew that I was the only senior and the one with the most experience on the squad and was knowledgeable about all that we did. She quickly began asking me questions about the previous years and what all we did and what needed to be changed. At this practice, we began to stunt and figure out who would go in what group. I volunteered to back spot, the only place in the stunt group that I had never been. I figured that a good leader should be knowledgeable about all aspects of cheerleading and that it wouldn’t hurt to learn. I realized that if I wasn’t flying that I would much rather be a back spot.
In conclusion, my senior year of cheerleading was not how I had imagined it to be. Being the only senior was never a thought that crossed my mind. It was a great experience and taught me more than any other team that I had been apart of. I was a real leader for my squad.

First Blog

My name is Brianne Butler and I am attending the University of Southern Indiana for Nursing and Spanish. I am a member of the USI cheer squad. I am from the village of Maryville, Illinois.