I personally think that human connection is an important aspect in everybody’s everyday life.  I personally think that sports help bring people and communities together because with my personal experiences I have developed leadership skills that I use In everyday life to help me get through different obstacles that life throws my way.

Sports like hockey bring many communities together and also create new ones. Hockey helps kids have a sense of belonging in a group that you know that will have your back on and off the playing field. Hockey also focuses on other skills other than just playing skill, because with my personal experiences I have learned how to work well with other people that I don’t know. It also brings unity to individuals that are all working for a specific goal.

-Jawon Ironshirt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXE_p_1Squg

How Hockey Connects Us

Hockey creates human connections in many more ways than one. We all get together to watch our favourite teams play. Even if you don’t play it competitively, it still makes you feel a part of something, a part of a team.  If you do play it, it gives you a sense of belonging. Just being a part of a group that constantly depends off of each other is what really makes you feel useful.

 It creates connection by having to create offensive plays, not only offensive but defensive just as much and ultimately executing the play. Hockey is well known and dominated by Canadians but it’s not easy to dominate an amazing sport like hockey. Hockey is just as well known in other parts of the world as it is in Canada; the reason why we are so good at it is because we have a larger fan base for it. Smaller countries like Belarus for example is a small country, thus having far less hockey players like Canada does.

Either way, hockey is a sport loved by many. We cheer for the same teams but you can’t forget that hockey also creates conflict because realistically, we can’t all cheer for the same team. There are many, many loyal fans out there that could hate your team’s guts. When you meet that person, they’re not going to give you quite the welcome you’ve expected.  Win or lose hockey is hockey and Canada will always show the world who is best at it.

-Darwin Healy

 

Dance Factor

When you think of dance what comes to mind? Hip hop, jazz, musical theatre, Channing Tatum? It can be anything. Now what if I said communication? You might say anything but most likely that last thing would be dance. Being a dancer myself I can tell you that dance is one of my best forms of communication, it is how I throw my emotions and my feelings out for people to see. Some people are put off by this form of communication because they “can’t dance” I believe that this is not a true statement. I believe that everyone can dance but they don’t want to because They feel that they will be ridiculed by people about how bad they are. But one thing I learned is that, yeah there is going to be some people who will hate on you, but name one thing that at least one person doesn’t feel like they can bug you about. What helps me not worry about what the mean things that some people say is to think about the positive things that a lot of people tell me when they see me dance. If you’re passionate about something don’t hide it. Let your light shine no matter what kind of light it is.

Some people think they can’t dance because they never learned as a kid so they can’t learn now. That’s not true because I only started dancing two years ago and I’m already doing dance competitions. Basically if you don’t try it won’t ever happen so get up try something new and DON’T be scared if people try to knock you down, just try harder so that you can prove them wrong.

-Nathan Cahoon

Music Brings us Together

Music does bring people together. I don’t know one person that does not like music whether it is hip hop, rap, rock, metal, reggae etc. I know I listen to all of types of music and the way it affects me is it frees my mind and helps me focus on the task at hand. For the most part I always have music playing, well not so much at school, but at home I have my ipod cranked with head phones in just jammin out. Whether playing my game, reading, whatever the task is I always have music on.

Music let’s people escape to a world of their own imagination where you can be free do to whatever. It frees our mind our spirit and our heart. A quote from the great Bob Marley “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”

Music brings people with musical gifts or talents together to play together or create a band. Look at the thousands of people that gather for concerts support the arts by wearing the logo of the favorite artist on t-shits, hats, etc.

When I’m upset or mad the first thing I turn to music. Look how many people listen to music when working out, playing games, studying, etc.

“I think music is the greatest art form that exists, and I think people listen to music for different reasons, and it serves different purposes. Some of it is background music, and some of it is things that might affect a person's day, if not their life, or change an attitude. The best songs are the ones that make you feel something”.Eddie Vader

-Domminic Clifton

Anime

I really enjoy anime and think that it brings people together and takes them apart both at the same time. Anime has a huge following as some people know. There is literally uncountable number of people whose whole life is anime. Although just as many amounts of people would argue that anime is nothing, but something that takes people away from one another and ruins one’s life.   Well, for some people, that is nothing but true. Other people end up doing nothing but interacting with other people because of their choice of the anime life style. Something most people might not know, is that there are a huge amount of social gatherings and events centered around Anime. They are a huge part of the anime community. Every year an unbelievable amount of people end up going to these conventions and meeting people who love the same things they do. It often ends up a lot of people end up meeting new people and might make friends. The conventions are a huge part of some people’s lives. On the other hand, some people don’t go to any conventions and really do just become the person living in a dark basement alone with no friends. There really are people who take the whole thing too far and end up throwing away their whole life and completely center around anime and shut out everything else from the outside world. There really are people in this world how take the whole thing too far and give up on everything else in life to focused on anime. But there are people who even meet a middle ground in this and don’t really get or loss human connection. Really in the end, when it comes to anime and human connection, it totally is up to the person if it will be good or bad for them.

-Garrett Van Lent

Tatoo Artistry

Tattooing is a very interesting and beautiful art. It is an art form where the artist uses their client’s skin as the canvas. Tattooing was used in many cultures in a way to connect their ancestors to the future generations. There can be many forms of tattoos, such as funny tattoos, or even memorial tattoos. Many great actors such as Steve-O, Johnny Knoxville, Wee man, and all the cast of Jackass have many great tattoos. Tattoos are not only meant for giggles, but they are also meant to show the viewpoints of not only the client, but also the artist. Tattooing connects people because it shows the interests of the person that others may also have. While the artist is making the tattoo on the clients body, the two people start to have a nice conversation about common interests.

-Nikolaos Guzzi

Music Connects Us

For as long as I can remember I have been a student.  My involvement in music started when I was six.   I got my start in Children’s Choir at St. Michaels when I was in grade one to five. The director was my grade one teacher Mrs. Wocknitz.  I remember she made sure I made it to every practice, so I was blessed with that opportunity. Because of the confidence I gained from singing at church, I was happily involved in the music class programs through elementary school. I built friendships with everyone that I was in the choir with. It made it easier to bond with some people, and make those connections at school because we were in the choir together. It was where I met my first best friends Jenna and Tessa. It was a great experience for building confidence and making connections with others.

-Brooklynn

When I build things I find it seperates me from the social world which isn’t necessarily  a bad thing because I find it allows me to think about life, and further hone my skills as a creator so I can build the most reliable and technologiclaly advanced equipment that would be strong enough for me to depend on.  This  can also bring together people who  have similar interests in either using the creations or creating them.

-Paul Marcinkowski

Music and Human Connection

Music, it connects some people but for some other people it provides a solace or a place for peace and quiet away from people. In many instances music can relate to what you are going through or sometimes people just need to drown out the sounds of others.   Different moods can be associated with different kinds of music or some songs could trigger emotion or comfort you during hard times. Many songs you can’t find meaning in until you find yourself in a similar situation and you start to understand and relate to it making it more special than just another song to listen to. Listening to music is really good to just sit relax and think about things as long as you’re listening to the right music. Although music is good to listen to and relax, it can bring up old memories and put you in a not so good mood ex. From a funeral, ex-partner, parent, etc. Sometimes connecting with people is just too much and you need to just sit back and be alone, or if people listen to the same music as you it can bring you closer and give you something to connect over. It’s good to be alone sometimes but it is very important that you connect with somebody and to socialize with others because when you don’t have music it’s good to have people by your side, also the other way around.

-Greggor McMillan

People Connect

People need be conected , becouse people can't be alone . When people are alone they start to become crazy. Today we can conect with people  in many ways , like Facebook , Skipe ,Viber ect., so we aren't alone we can be friendly with lots of people. Several years ago people needed to go outside to try to find a friend , and not every body could do that becouse they are scared to speak with other peolpe. Today it is much easier to find people who seem interested about something and people who aren't scared like before. For example when I speak with my friends in other countries I use Viber , so that makes it easier to stay friends with people in other countries then before, but that doesn't help people all time  because they are maybe having fun and you just want be there much more than before and you can't. The best way to have fun with friend is be with them there. Internet and other apps can be good only when you want play a game on XBox, playstation ,... or keep friends in other countries,  but it is not  for having fun , because that is for now impossible , except in some situations.

-Bruno Zunic

Cars

        Many people connect to others in different ways. The main way that I connect with others is through cars. I connect with others by work on cars or talking about cars. There are lots of people that connect the same way that I do. A few of my cousins are the same as me that way and that’s why I get along with them so well. One of my cousins has a 1969 Chevy C10 pickup and I have a 1981 Pontiac Trans Am. Our cars are pretty much all we talk about and we never get bored of it. Another cousin has a 1992 Mazda RX7 and it is the same with him. Another was is that pretty much the only thing that my dad can do together without killing each other is work on cars. Other than working on cars we can’t do anything without arguing.

An external example of this is the Speed channel on TV. This channel is all about cars. It is just a much of different shows about cars and how to fix cars. My two favourite shows on this channel are “Car Warriors” and “Pass Time”. Car Warriors is a show where two teams get the same car to fix up in a limited time of 48 hours, the team with the best car based on performance and looks wins and gets to keep their car. In Pass Time three people make bets on how fast the cars will go down the quarter mile drag strip. Both of these shows are great examples of how many people there are in the world that connect to others the same way that I do.

-Zachary Stronks

Personality Behind the Shoes

In this day and age people are known to have different ways to be in connect with others, I am going to show you how different types of shoes represent how people get in contact with one another.

Party shoes: This type of shoe represents the social side of someone; these shoes are usually the ones that are full of colours and sparkles. They are the type of shoe you put on your foot to go to a social event to have fun and talk to friends and strangers. These shoes may also be your favourite, just because you’re a social and outgoing person.

Skate shoes: This shoe represents the hanging out, chill side of who you are as a person, you may love to go out and enjoy being social with many people at a time, but you also must take some time out to yourself or your close friends or family. It might also be to take time out of a busy schedule to enjoy a hobby or stress reliever. The reason I chose skate shoes was I enjoy to do it as a hobby and it’s a fun pastime to release stress. Plus you learn so much from other people who do it and it becomes a social event.

Work shoes: Work is a whole different atmosphere, during a job you need to strap on the beautiful black leather shoes your mom bought you for your aunty's wedding. These shoes will be the ones that get you through life. Be it if you need to pay the bills, or have a family to support. This shoe represents the serious and straight edge person you are. It is the serious and strict side. The side you love but hate because.. well its work, but you love the money that comes with it.

Cleats: These shoes are the shoes you strap on to be known as a part of a family, a team. One of the most important points in life is to feel like you are a part of something, almost the feeling of family, but with friends. Sports teach men and women to create a bond between team mates; they break down the walls and just enjoy a sport they all love. Sports can almost lend a second family to people who need it or want it. These shoes lend a feeling of belonging.

Running shoes: Running shoes show a healthy personality, they show a strong, fit and determined person. They also show a person that is committed to making sure their own bodies are in tip top shape, or to try to bring it back around to being there. There are many different types of running shoes, but they are all used for one purpose, health.

-Michael Toth

The Sound of Music

Human connection is necessary for the health and wellbeing of any individual. It is something that is easy for anyone around the world to understand. People are connected through cultural music or even just enjoying the same types of music no matter what language it’s in. This past year, when I was in the school musical “The Sound of Music” a lot of the music I sang was in Latin. When you would look in the audience, although they might not have understood the words, they could hear the beauty in the song. People can recognize the tone of music even if the words are foreign to them. Music is like a language all in itself. It has the ability to show emotions and unify all different kinds of people. If you go to an event that includes music, you won’t see just one type of person there. There will be people of different ages, gender and ethnicity. All these people will unite in one place to share a common interest. Music.

When I first started the musical, I was terrified because I didn’t know any of the people there. I had never been a part of anything like that before. At first it was slow, and I didn’t talk to people, but then I started to connect through my love of music. People would start to get to know me, just because of our common interest. I can now say that I have made some amazing friends through this experience. All this happened because I took the chance to pursue my passion. I learned to connect with others when before this; I had trouble talking to people that I had known for years. It helped me to find confidence and to pursue mutual interests with other people around me.

Human connections doesn’t necessarily have to be with another person either. It could be the way that we connect with the music itself. It can affect your emotions and become a large part in your life. When you’re stuck in a rut it’s so easy for music to become your way out. When you hear a song and the mood is gloomy, most of the time this can affect your own mood. Without even realizing, we can get upset just from hearing that sad song. For some people music has a much deeper meaning. It becomes like a crutch, that without it they would be lost. In this case music can affect our connections with other people in a negative way because you no longer need help from others. People don’t understand how much music connects us to others in our life till you think about a world without it.

-Brianna Thompson

The Outside World Known as Canada

For a 10 year old girl from Africa I thought connecting with the Canadian life style was hard, but mostly the language was difficult.  English was a hard language to learn and to this day I am still learning. Back home they tried teaching us both in our language and English, but not much pressure was given to learnimg English so I wasn’t interested in learning it either.

 When I came to Canada everyone spoke English, no one knows my language and even though my teachers back home had tried to teach us English, I didn’t know English. In fact the only words I knew how to say were hi, and how are you.

 On September 1^st I when in to my first class, it was social I think, I had no idea where I was.  At  first I thought I was at a super market in the morning when dad drove me off, as lots of kids were outside with milk curd on their hands.  I asked dad and he laughed and then told me that I was in school and the school sold milk to kids which we both found odd and weird because kid’s don’t have money so by selling things in school aren’t you encouraging them to steal money from their parents?

 My social teacher ask me to introduce myself and I couldn’t.   I couldn’t because I didn’t know what she was saying, she tried using her hands to show me what she was talking about but I wasn’t even looking at her, all I wanted to do was cry.

 I didn’t want to be here at this strange place.  I wanted to go home, back to Africa, where I knew everyone and everything made sense. I was quiet for two years.  I only spoke when I had to and said little, as I was uncomfortable with English. I didn’t want to speak because I had an accent and most of the time what I said wasn’t understood or made sense.

 Making friends was also hard because I couldn’t speak English. It was hard to make friends or talk to people, I made friends at the school park but we didn’t talk they would talk to me and I would just nod for no or yes. You could say I had two pretty easy  years of head nodding.

 I didn’t like the food so much, and I absolutely hated pizza.  The first time I tried it, it was Hawaiian, I was disgusted that Canadians put things such as fruits on their pizza. I didn’t like chocolate either it tasted gross, the water had it’s own taste, it tasted as if someone dump a whole cup of sugar in it, eating was dreadful. Mom tried to make our traditional African foods but they didn’t taste the same. They had some weird taste them, at the end she gave up and forced me to eat Canadian food.

-Edwin Jada

http://www.miis.edu/student-life/world/stories/node/24722

The Exuberance of the Elite

     In a beautiful and secluded corner of Greece, in the north-west of Peloponnese, there is a congregation of tumbled columns and marble blocks on a little plain at the junction of two rivers. It is difficult to imagine that this broken-down sight is Olympia, which gave its name to the Olympic Games where 2,500 years ago the Greeks gathered to see their best athletes contend for the most coveted prize of all - a crown of wild olive leaves. I chose the Olympics because it’s one of the most sought out and looked forward to event in human history. It goes way back to the ancient times with Greece, Rome, and all the other participating nations. Hercules was thought to be the Greek man who started it all. A wonderful thing seems to happen as people from all over the world gather to compete in the Olympics. It brings people from all over the world together; from different countries, races, languages, and skin color. It gives people a sense of other cultures in the world, brings people together by being forced to interact with each other by competing, showing sportsmanship, and cheering for those inspirational moments like Usain Bolt and when India won its first gold. It gives people a sense of how big the world is and how different all of its cultures are. The Olympics is a time when everybody realizes this and develops interest in other countries.

There’s nothing sweeter and more thrilling than marching into the Olympic stadium alongside your fellow brothers and sisters, all bound together by the name we call our home- Canada. There’s only one spot that every single competitor in the games is looking forward to and will do whatever in their power to reach that.  The power and influence that the games have on the athletes and on the spectators is so surreal and phenomenal. People commit hours and hours, trying to get a little better each time so they can keep up with the elite. They one hundred and ten dedicate their time and lives to train and work out, specifically for the Olympics. Winning a gold medal in the games is a very significant and very honorable award for the individual and his or her family.  The top of the podium is where every single person dreams to be and it symbolizes victory and accomplishment. Knowing that everyone else has the same goal in mind and will do whatever it takes to accomplishing it; makes it that much more exciting in which we love. The bar has been set numerous times in past years which mean athletes have to work that much harder if they want their name forever in the book of greatness. Records dating back to the ancient times haven’t been broken yet and even to this day, people are striving towards that level of superiority and paragon.

The Olympics allows the participants to focus on the life changing experience of representing their country and people at the games. People can socialize with other people from other foreign nations. They can learn about other people’s way of life and their way of viewing the world. You don’t have to be an athlete to participate and have the same feeling that athletes feel. We are all bound and sewn together infinitely by the greatness of the Olympic Games. The families of the athletes can share in the excitement and take part in all the fun activities that are offered. No one gets left out regardless if you’re in attendance or not. Every single part of the games gets recorded and aired live on national television for everyone to watch and be a part of. People get tuned in on the events and have a solid idea of what’s taking place on the other side of the world. During the Olympics, countries that normally would be enemies toward each other raise their white flags and call truce until the games conclude. Every person who attends or watches the games are protected from the nations who don’t share our ideas. In the big picture our nations may be at war or in a nuclear race, but when the games start, all that seems to go away. No one cares or is worried about the things that occur outside in the real world. The only thing that matters is concentrating and getting into the zone; therefor so you can carry out what you’ve been training and preparing your body for. We may have human rights issues with them or think they are not good neighbours because of past events.  In the big scheme of things, the Olympics are a safe place for everybody, regardless of gender or ethnicity. During the games, we can sit back, relax, and watch participating competitors and our countrymen/ countrywomen trying to achieve their wildest dream. We can enjoy each other’s company and soak in all the great languages and cultural background. There is plenty of time to disagree and fight amongst ourselves back in the real world. For now, let’s savour the opportunity and experience that only happens every four years. The Olympics give us a few days of peace and security and an opportunity to compete with the best athletes in the world.

When it’s that time of the year as the winter Olympics come around, my family and I usually only focus our attention and time around certain events that we can relate to, such as ice hockey. Throughout my upbringing as a child, my father has encouraged and insisted that I play hockey because he and I had a deep love for the sport.  When I was 7, he put me into minor hockey as a goaltender. I really liked playing and actually being part a team. It felt very good and secure to have people are around me that will do anything for the better of the team and has the same goal in mind. When you are in a team, it doesn’t matter what color skin you have or what language you speak. We are all equal in body and physical capabilities. No one feels left out because we all won or lost as a team. Not him, or I, or me but a team.  I had the one in a lifetime opportunity   to attend the winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010. I didn’t expect it at all. My dad and mom surprised when me one day with the plane tickets. My mood and spirits were lifted sky-high just thinking about it. We watched many events such as bobsledding, skeleton, skiing and snowboarding. The main reason why we went was to see the men’s Canadian team win and bring back gold, and they did which made it that much sweeter. During my time there, I paid close attention to every little detail about the scenery and its people. There were many different ethnic backgrounds which was amazing because I have never seen that much variety. The games most definitely bring people together and are one of the biggest traditions that we as people have continued ever since the ancient times. Something great and special happens when people all over the world come together and participate in the Olympic games. It’s a great time and feeling to have this sort of human connection and human bonds. These bonds will continue on even when we all pass on. The Olympic Games is a symbol of strength and integrity that we as people possess when we come together at this magnitude.   

-Skylar First Rider

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cihUhR8EPDU

Street Racing

Street Racing is one of the most intensive events that take place in such as ‘Streets in the city’ and this is one of the topics I think connects people in this world. Street racing is an unsanctioned and illegal form of motor racing that occurs on a public road.

Street racing can either be spontaneous or well-planned and coordinated. Well-coordinated races are planned in advance and often have people communicating via 2-way radio/citizens' band radio and using police scanners and GPS units to mark locations of local police hot spots.

Street racing is reported to have originated prior to the 1930s due to alcohol prohibition in some parts of the United States. Opponents of street racing cite a lack of safety relative to sanctioned racing events, as well as legal repercussions arising from incidents, among street racing's drawbacks.

Street Racing can be dangerous and it’s the reason why it’s illegal in Canada. And I know some people doesn’t like street racing but I think street racing can connect to other people by making new people who loves the same thing that you love and by talking to them and etc. And this is my Topic of connecting to Humans.

-Samila Walgama

Fashion Styles Bringing People Together

    Fashion designs now a days bring different groups of people together. Back then it was all suits and what was called “class”. Even though it was all suits and stuff there were many different groups such as gangsters and mobsters. Today there are many designs brought upon the common eye. Many designs include the groups who do cosplay, people of the working class and many others. There are many varieties of clothing that can range from tank tops, muscle shirts, short shorts, ankle socks, etc.

    Fashion can also be a part of many cultures, for example a woman who is from a First Nations group and is exemplifying her own culture through clothing by have items such as feathers, moccasins, and jingle bells. A fashion design can separate each different culture from one another, but all together it brings many people together. If I wanted to be say a part of a dirt biking group and I wanted to fit in and be like the other bikers, I would dress up in dirt biking gear. Not like they would care if I showed up in say sweats or other pieces of clothing, they would make sure I have all the safety equipment.

    Also another way of fashion is money, when other people have lots of money; they are going to buy more expensive clothing. If I were to say buy clothing from Wal-Mart, it might not last as long as say clothing from a more expensive brand of clothing. People want to fit in and the most common way is clothing, there are many designs and new ones are being released every so often, and when one design becomes popular, more and more people are going to want to wear what others are wearing.

-Braxton
http://voices.yahoo.com/how-fashion-industry-affects-life-7753179.html

Video Games Provide Human Connection

    Video games have been known for numerous things throughout society. From health positives and negatives, reckless behavior, and changes of thought processes.  One thing that they definitely provide however is human connection. The game I am using as an example is Super Smash Brothers Melee, released for the Nintendo GameCube console on December 3rd, 2001. 

 

    For people who don't know, Super Smash Brothers is a game that is a 2D fighting game where you play as your favorite Nintendo characters on battlefields or "stages" also from other Nintendo series trying to send your  opponents off screen and be the last being alive. From popular series like Mario to the lesser known series like F-Zero, Super Smash Brothers covers a whole lot of Nintendo series so there is a lot for everyone to enjoy. This game series has made people make friends worldwide. Competitive tournaments happen all over the world(mainly in the United States) for this series and players from around the globe travel to these tournaments and play. From Japan to Europe to Australia, there is a global hub for Smash Brothers. Through this passion in this game,they share something in common with other people worldwide and through that, they share a bond and a common hobby to talk about.

 

    This game has personally effected my life as well. In the beginning of this school year, I had New Media as a class. Some of my assignments were related to animation. Through this and a few computer programs, I was making Smash Bros. stages as my assignments and I had to bring a

Nintendo Wii, a copy of Super Smash Bros Brawl(Wii, 2008) and a nine inch television to test my assignments to make sure the stages worked. A few students noticed I brought a gaming console to school every day and gave me the idea to bring a few extra controllers for them to play at Lunch.
Through this chain of events, this became something more. At the end of the school year around the same time I wrote this blog, I also ran an "unofficial" Game Club at Flex and Lunch time and Super Smash Bros is the one game that everyone in the club played. Sometimes other games are brought and played and some people learn new games and some people just leave for the day, but the club is at its best when Smash Bros is brought in. One thing I never thought would happen that did happen
was certain students got into the competitive side of the game and one even went to a large tournament in Calgary and met one of the best "smashers" in the world. Although he lost very early in the tournament, the student still said he had fun and wishes to learn more about this game.
Without the Game Club, I wouldn't have as many friends as I do now. And the best part is is that we have something in common. The desire of "smashing". 
-Brendon Levandosky

A video example of this is the end of a nine part documentary on the history of the competitive Smash Bros. scene called "The Smash Brothers".  Although the documentary is based around the competitive history of Smash Brothers, this part shows more of the friendly side of this game and how it became a part of people's lives and gave them friends and such.

(Apologize in advance for some language.)
Smash Brothers - Episode 9 - Game!

Judo

      With my five years of experience in judo I know that judo is often considered to be an individual sport, but I feel it’s more than an individual sport because my coaches give me wise advise before my matches or teach me more on respect and discipline. It kind of feels like a different world when you step on the mats as a blue belt and I must give the respect to my sensei’s as they would for me.

    Since I’ve been a blue belt people think that all my throws, techniques, gripping, and game plan would be perfect well not exactly; it takes years and years to perfect a throw and my game plan and techniques still needs some work but as they say “practise makes perfect”. In my tournaments I had my share of wins and losses; with my losses some I didn’t know what happened and some I knew that I had the wrong technique or grip and it's important to always learn from mistakes because that’s how to become a better judo player and a better person.  I  have to push myself in order to be a better person.

     But with my wins I really get a good feeling inside of me because of all the hard work and dedication and practising that I do can pay off in the future. The feeling when I step on the mat for a tournament; it can be a little edgy because I don’t know who I am fighting, how strong they are or how they fight, but at the same time I get an adrenalin rush.  I don’t know what will happen and I am just anxious to get on the mat and fight that’s all I want to do is fight and win.

    I think judo can connect us together because it’s a sport where we support each other, take care and even learn from each other new ways to look at life.  Even though judo is an individual sport, it’s the people and teammates that help us to grow.  

-Aaron McKenna

Technology Connecting People

    I will be writing about how phones/social media connect people together. Phones are a big part of how people connect including myself. When I walk around CCH I see tons of kids on their phones even though they are sitting across the table from their friends or walking beside them in the hall way. Nowadays it’s easier for kids to talk between the screens of their phones than face to face. Social media has a big part of it because of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snap Chat.

    I like how the world is changing into these techy advice systems that make stuff easier, but I think that parents shouldn’t be getting phones at the age of 6. Phones take responsibility because you can really hurt someone by your actions you make. You can’t see the face expression of the person they might have hurt so they don’t feel bad. Phones are probably what connect people the most in the word today. I could make a phone call or text message to anywhere in Canada in just a couple of seconds.

    With a phone you can do a lot of things.  A lot of people use their phones as a way to get away from real life. The person might have had something horrific happen to them and they just need plug in their headphones and listen to music or just go and maybe play a game on their phone. The way I connect with my family and friends is mostly on my phone.   I can either text a buddy and see if he wants to hang out or call my grandma and wish her a "Happy Birthday" or use Facebook to see what my cousins are doing.

-Daniel Coatney

http://www.parc.com/services/case-studies/3343/uncovering-new-ways-people-use-technology-to-connect.html

Music Connection

     I believe and will be writing about how music can enhance human connections, because that’s how I connect with other people. Music is a big part of my life and it is to so many people around the globe as well. Music brightens up my day or darkens my day just by what song I listen to; music controls my emotion. I can’t go through a day without listening to at least some music. It connects people because music is therapy for a lot of people.  Like me, there are people using music as therapy, to keep their moods in control. When music is created, it will be heard by SOMEONE.

    Music is very connected with social-media because we all use the internet to find and download music. We come together to find our favorite artist and make comments about them and give our opinions on things like Facebook and twitter because they let you share music and our thoughts on that music. Music is powerful, is can control emotion and thus control crowds of people like at concerts. A nice, pop concert is going to have an upbeat cheerful environment, but a metal, scream-o, hard-core concert is going to get people mad and get their adrenaline going.

    Music also brings people together because it takes some people to make music, sometimes one person can do it alone, but mostly it takes a team to make such amazing instrumental pieces. Orchestras are a great example of a large amounts of people coming together to make beautiful music, individually those people might sound good but when orchestras come together they can make a piece much more epic and inspiring. The most beautiful violin player could still be good at playing alone, but it’s best to help the violin player sound way better with other instruments in the background to help it out.

    Music helps human connection because it brings people together to make the world sound a whole lot better.

-Ted Means

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/mindbodyandspirit/music-therapy

Language and the Social Media

         I believe social media is the best way to develop human connections, especially for me. I came to Canada six months ago from Sri Lanaka.  I came here with my mom and sister. My father, cousins, grandma, grandfather all still live in my country, so as a family member I have to keep in touch with them.  Social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Skype help me to keep in touch with them. For example, I talk with my father everyday through Skype. It makes me feels like my father is beside me.

       Also I lived sixteen years in my country, so I have a lot of friends there. I still keep in touch with them. Facebook helps me to do this. I can share my happiness, problems, secrets with my friends like before.

       The other main thing which comes to mind is the language. Language is a great tool which keeps human connections strong.   I have my own experiences of this, as English is my second language.  When I first came to this country it was so hard to understand the accent. Without proper communication, I couldn’t make any friends, but after that, when I got used to this language, I got some friends. This is a great example to show how language is a great tool which helps to develop the human connection.

As I mentioned above, language and social media are so important for human connection. And helps us develop a strong connection with others. It will help us in our day today activities and also it will help us in the future.

-Saveesha Liyanage

 

       Magic the gathering is the longest running and top selling trading card game in the world; it is played by more than 12 million people worldwide. I experience human connections through magic when I go to play it at any of the local game stores here in Lethbridge. There is something about sitting across from someone and knowing that for the next forty five minutes you and this person are going to be engaging in a battle of wits to prove who the better player is. The best thing is as long as no one is being a jerk

        Magic is also a great way to sit back and relax and just have fun with your friends. Magic can be any game that you want it to be, you want to outsmart your opponent? Magic is your game. Really like elves or goblins? You can make a deck based around those. Want to do something so silly you make all of the people at the table double over laughing? Magic has got you covered. All in all magic is a really great game.  

-Austin Row

Social Networking is Destroying Human Connection

Human connection is a really important thing but with today’s society it is lost, we add random people on Facebook and may talk to them but we don’t have conversations like we used to. Now it’s just

 “Hey what’s up?”

“Nothing much you?”

 “Nothing, how are you?”

“I’m good.”

            But in reality some people are going through a lot and want to talk about it but, are too scared to. We spend more time on Facebook than interacting with people. People express their emotions on Facebook but others don’t take it serious and try and talk to them in person. Without human connection people have more problems like depression, they get lonely because they feel like they have no one. they spend more time on the internet than socializing. Facebook is supposed to help you connect with people in your life, but it pushes those people away to connect with people half way across the world. Yes Facebook can be handy to connect with relatives from far away but what happened to writing letters there a lot longer and you have better conversations and more things to say. Kids rather hide in their rooms and go on Facebook than socialize with friends or family that are close. Social media and the other networks isolate kids, and also their families… it provides opportunities for people to think they’re connecting with the world and staying up to date with events when really they’re not, they are behind in every possible way, behind in connections friends and with their families.

“Today, yet another study emerged that proves Facebook causes depression, and the more someone uses it, the more depressed he or she becomes. This new study comes from the University of Michigan, where researchers observed 82 Facebook users during a two week period. They found that the more time a person spends on Facebook, the more his or her feelings of well-being decrease and feelings of depression increase.”

http://guardianlv.com/2013/08/facebook-causes-depression-new-study-says/

 “Recent research has shown that using social networking sites, mainly Facebook, can increase people’s stress levels, produce anxiety and negatively affect a person’s sense of self. Using these sites might even cause a person to develop a mental health disorder or exacerbate an existing one. Social media even has the power to quickly spread moods around the world.”

 http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-anxiety-of-facebook/00019448

 There is a lot more cyber bullying going on and it’s harder to control, no one reports it and when it is reported it gets worse especially if the kid tells their parents. They get made fun of more and hurt more and they get pushed till there at their braking point. Bullying on social networks happen a lot more than in person, I personally have been bullied before on Facebook, even threatened. I’ve been called many things and even been told to kill myself and it cuts deep, you try so hard not to listen to them. Some people say it’s not a big deal to get picked on and stuff on Facebook but to the people it happens too hurts a lot. Bulling on social networking and in person can cause someone to get depression which can lead to cutting and possible suicide. Parents don’t know what people are saying to their kids because they can’t see it and the kids will not talk to them because there not close like when there was no social medias. Parents rather give their kids their phones to play on than have to deal with them.

 Since I have got a phone and Facebook and all the jazz I haven’t been very connected with people. I never really hang out with people anymore. I used to be the most sociable girl and make friends so fast than everything changed. I texted all the time but I realize now I never really had conversations and I used to be on Facebook 24/7. I lost connection with my friends and family. I can’t talk in front of people anymore and I freak out when I’m around people I don’t know. I even went for my drivers and got way to nervous and scared because I can’t socialize with someone I just met let alone drive with them. My feet were shaking and my hands too. I messed up so much that I failed and I’m so scared to go back but my parents keep pushing me but they weren’t there when I took it they were not me and felt how I felt. Social networking and technology has ruined my human connection and im fighting so hard to get it back, but you know what I will never be the same person I was and feel the same way I used to because it killed that side of me. I will always be scared of people and always have the past I do. I will always feel like I don’t belong and feel like people are talking about me, my life will never be the same. But I will ALWAYS keep fighting.

-Amanda Scherger

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srLrOV_Kf6Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1in3mM0eS8