The least authority/ expertise is the role of cyber security student as I have just starting learning so yet I don't have the necessary knowledge to contribute to the field.

2. Everyone should learn how to cook.

3. Students should get free bus passes.

4. Classes should start later in the morning.

5. Homework should be reduced.

6. Social media does more harm than good.

7. College students should take at least one art class.

1.

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/11/04/most-americans-say-its-very-important-to-vote-to-be-a-good-member-of-society/

I selected this as the strongest reason because it is supported by public opinion data showing that most Americans view voting as essential to a functioning democracy. My top pick is based on the research above and evidence backed up by history.

2.

https://thebigswich.com/blog/4-reasons-you-should-learn-to-cook-and-enjoy-the-process-of-doing-it

This source supports the idea that cooking is a practical skill that benefits both physical health and financial stability.

3.

Many students have limited financial flexibility. Regular transportation costs add up over time creating a burden for students and their families.

4.

Adequate sleep is necessary for academic performance. Later start times better align with student sleep cycles, especially for those who work.

5.

Homework supports learning but excessive amounts shift the focus from understanding to simply completing tasks reducing effectiveness.

6.

Social media often highlights only success which can negatively affect mental health. Its design encourages prolonged use making digital wellness balance difficult without strong discipline.

7.

Art is valuable but not essential for all students. Requiring an art class may create unnecessary financial and scheduling burdens for those with different academic priorities.

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The park feels peaceful because of clear rules like park hours and because people respect each other’s space without needing strict enforcement. Observing visitors, I noticed parents carefully monitoring their children, others listening to music or resting near the pond while absorbing the natural surroundings. This blend of activity zones fosters a relaxing environment that discourages loud or disruptive behavior.

A sign warns of surveillance but the absence of visible cameras suggests that safety is maintained more through community presence and social norms than formal monitoring. The park’s moderate maintenance to a lesser extent reflects the economic profile of the surrounding middle-class neighborhood indirectly influencing how the space is valued.

During my walk, I noticed many visitors shared my ethnic background, which contributed to a sense of comfort and ease in social interactions. This observation raised questions about how cultural familiarity affects the sense of community in public spaces highlighting the invisible boundaries that can exist despite physical openness.

C. My knowledge of Captain Tilly Park combines personal observation, informal conversations with locals, and online research. Much of the park’s history and current use are communicated through word of mouth and social media as physical postings like flyers are prohibited.

I share a similar background with many people in the park which made me feel comfortable there. But I know that not everyone feels the same way in every space. 

Springgay and Truman’s approach encouraged me to engage all my senses: listening to the rustling leaves, feeling the breeze, observing the water’s movement and to think about how the space is experienced. 

This walk connected ethos, pathos, and logos. Ethos came by being present and observing honestly establishing trust in what I share. Pathos in the emotional connection I felt to the space and the people in it. Logos helped me think critically about how the park is used, who it includes, and why that matters. The rhetorical appeals made the research feel personal, credible, and thoughtful.

Walking through Captain Tilly Park revealed how social norms and community values shape everyday interactions. It highlighted the park not just as a physical place, but as a lived social environment where history, identity, and power combine. This research method deepened my understanding of how public spaces function and the subtle ways inclusion and exclusion occur. 

Sources

Springgay & Truman
AIF Article
New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
Monument plaque on site
Casual conversations with 2 park visitors

• For those who don’t know you, what are a few key things about yourself that you’d like to share?

• What challenges did you face when your youngest child moved away for college, and how did you handle them?

• What are some things you’re most looking forward to in the next month?

• How has traveling without your children felt compared to traveling with them? What differences stand out to you?

• For your upcoming trip to visit your children, what are three things you want to focus on or experience?

• For those who don’t know you, what are few key things about yourself that you'd like to share?

• What is your strategy to keep your family aligned and supported?

• How important is a mother’s role in critical decision-making?

• How do you make sure your children stay in touch with you now that they live away from home?

• How do you ensure your children grow emotionally strong from within?

• What is a something you'd like to share with mothers?

Being a mother is about guidance, comfort, and courage. I try to think of everything with my feelings and truth so I can guide them correctly. I know their strengths and weaknesses and use that to help them.

A mother should be a safe place where children can speak openly, find direction, and grow, even when life takes them far from home.”

This map represents my journey through the fall semester and beyond. The green route through the center symbolizes the idea of watering your own grass. It reflects the path I can build through my choices, habits, and effort. The dry and bumpy land areas around show the challenges and steady phases I experienced. The greener areas represent moments of happiness and growth. The water sections mark the rare times of clarity and extreme joy.

The red markers also carry specific meaning. The medium marker at Where You Were represents the past: important but something that cannot be changed. The large marker at Where You Are shows that the present first semester. The three small markers that follow represent the next three semesters, each one a step forward. The final small marker at Where You Might Go symbolizes the future: something to plan for but not something to worry about.

These elements show where I began, where I stand now, and the direction I hope to continue moving in.