Portfolio Cover Letter

This class has been very different for me. I have never taken a class with all of this computer access and I am not sure if I like it. I think that it is benefitcial when you have things to do on the computer but I also think that it is a major distraction for some people. I feel like I have learned quite a bit from this class and that it was a good review for me. Although, with review classes it is hard to get motivation to go to and try your hardest when its not transferring to the college that you are planning on going to or anything. I also think that when you are planning on going to school for something completely opposite of the subjects you have to take in school it is hard to stay focused. This class, and you as a teacher have taught me a lot about how to write papers, different styles of writing and grammar. I want to thank you for everything you have taught me. You are a very good teacher!

Portfolio Paper 3

The New American Webster Dictionary defines happiness as a sense of joy, being positive, glad satisfied and pleased. I completely agree with this definition. Happiness is about giving as well as receiving and doing what makes yourself happy. An example of this would be at Christmas, you buy people gifts which makes them feel good which in turn makes yourself feel good. Why? Because like I mentioned happiness is about pleasing. When you do something that gives someone else joy or makes them put a smile on their face, it satisfies you in it’s own strange way. I define happiness as joy, excitement, fun and pleasurable. Happiness is something that I love and something that makes me feel good about myself. Happiness is also about helping others be happy. For example, say you have a person in one of your classes, a friend, a relative or something who always seems to be depressed, when you make that person feel good and smile it makes you feel very relieved and satisfied. It sends such a joyous feeling through your body and makes you feel like you did something right for a change. Giving some sort of happiness is one of the best feelings in the world and is something that is almost impossible to describe. Something simple like giving your old clothes away to charity think about how many people you are helping and how good it makes you feel. It makes you feel good because your doing something for someone else, you are providing for someone else, helping them. Happiness is the best feeling that there is. It can help you out so many ways and is something you can rub off on other people, such as when you have kids. If you stay happy it can help you become more confident about yourself and can help you in your career, school, and making friends. So many people look for happiness in others which is why I believe that happiness is the most important characteristic in someone. Who wants to be around someone who is always negative saying “God this sucks!” or “I HATE coming to school.” Regardless if you think those thoughts or not, by saying them out loud you are making everyone else feel negative or have negative thoughts in their head which is something you really don’t want. You always want to stay as positive as you can and if your happy and look at the good things in life you can do that. I believe that happiness is the key of life.

Portfolio Paper 2

Should people sit in a cell and receive their three meals a day after murdering, raping, abusing or assaulting someone? Or should they be sentenced to the death penalty and no longer be living? Is this right or is this wrong? Capital punishment is something that is accepted in some countries but in other countries it is not. Is this form of punishment constitutional or unconstitutional?
There is a lot of history behind capital punishment. It is used for the execution of criminals and political opponents to punish people for crime. The United States has mixed feelings about the death penalty. Most states do allow capital punishment except for 13 including: Wisconsin, Hawaii, Alaska, Main, Iowa, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Rhode Island. I think that all states should have capital punishment because it is not different if you commit murder in one state as to in another. Once convicted the convict then goes on to the second part of the trial, the punishment phase. Overtime, different states have used different forms of execution for punishment since the early 1900’s but have recently declared laws as to what forms can be used. The most common form of capital punishment is now lethal injections followed by electrocution. Each year there are more than 200 people that are put on death row, California being the state with the most convicts on death row (660 out of 3,500).
Capital punishment was once ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. It was ruled unconstitutional under the eighth amendment stating it was cruel and unusual punishment. There was a wait for execution which was typically seven to eight years. This was taken into congress and was ruled out when lethal injections were founded. There are still some confusions with the death penalty on whether it should be legal in all states or not. Some states say that they do not want the death penalty because some innocent people are placed on death row when not proven one hundred percent guilty. Another factor is the eighth amendment as some people do see it as cruel and unusual punishment. Obviously, there has to be evidence and guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in order for someone to be punished to death row. Although, in some cases people are convicted of a crime and it ends up after some time has passed it turns out that they didn’t do it. Should there be a wait to be convicted of a certain amount of years or should it be done instantly? There are groups of people that can not be sentenced to execution including: pregnant women, juveniles, anyone with mental retardation, and any girl who has convicted a crime as a minor. Why? Is this fair that if a 17 year old girl has murdered someone and there is cold hard evidence to this, why should they not be sentenced to death row? It is stated in Time magazine that people under the age of 18 are not fully developed and are not a legal adult so they can not be convicted as one. I don’t think that this is fair. I believe that no matter what age you are and no matter what state of mind you are in if you murder someone and there is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that it was you who did this crime then you should be sentenced to death row. This may seem a little harsh but think about how many murders we could avoid? If everyone was sentenced to death row and people knew there would be NO exceptions if you are convicted of this, do you think as many people would mess around with it? I believe that some people are convicted of this crime and think they will still sit in a cell and receive their meals that they need everyday and watch television. If people do not have the opportunity to do this I don’t think that they will do these crimes. In 1642 there were 364 juveniles offenders that were executed later this was signed and ratified by the United states and some other countries that this is unconstitutional for a juvenile to be sentenced to the death penalty. Time magazine also states that you can not be sentenced to death row if you are mentally handicapped. This is an exception to me, I think that people with mental retardation are in a whole different category then anyone else. Congress should come up with a law for people of mental retardation if they commit such a crime. They should not be let off free but also should not have such a harsh punishment.
Overall, Capital Punishment is a hard topic to discuss. There are many different circumstances to this. Some people believe that it is something that no one deserves, but how is anyone ever going to learn if they aren’t sentenced to a harsh punishment. When people sit around and watch other people getting off free or sitting in a cell, although it may not be fun, they are still receiving three meals a day and getting to watch television and doing some things that they enjoy. There are still some kinks in the system that I think need to be worked out but for the most part I think that capital punishment is a good punishment.

Portfolio Paper 1

The University of Illinois Chicago has been a university that I have always wanted to attend. Not only for the location but also for the ranking it has for the pharmacy program. University of Illinois Chicago is ranked in the top 15 pharmacy schools in the country out of more than 100 schools. This seems like a school that a lot of successful people have attended, really enjoyed and have had an overall great experience at this school. I am currently attending Waubonsee Community College in a suburb of Chicago. At this school I am taking all of my general education classes before I can apply to this college, I am going to be taking classes all three semesters (fall, spring, summer) so I can apply to UIC earlier. I have already received the course schedules of the University of Illinois Chicago as to what classes I will have to take at Waubonsee before I can apply to this school. Waubonsee has already helped prepare me for the college life, and I am glad I attended this school first rather than a university right away. I have looked into becoming a pharmacist for the past four years and I have not changed my mind since. I am very interested in science, mainly chemistry and it is something I am very good at. I love having a challenge that I can accomplish and I am very confident that I can do that in this field.
I believe that I would be a successful candidate for this school because I have wanted to be a pharmacist since I was young and it is a profession that I am going to have to work very hard at and I believe that this would be a great school for it after learning about all of the pharmacist that have become successful from this school. I am also a very hardworking, busy type of person. When I am involved in something that I enjoy, I set my mind to it and can not give up until I completely accomplish the task. I am also very used to this type of environment, I have always lived in a suburb of Chicago and have spent a lot of time in the city.

Outline - Capital Punishment

1. If you kill someone does that make it okay for you to be killed? Capital punishment is something that is going on in all countries. All countries have considered it and either abolished it or decided that it is constitutional. If someone rapes, murders, abuses or sexually abuses someone does that make it okay for them to be punished as well? Should they recieve the electric chair or should they recieve lethal injections? Is it constitutional or unconstitutional?
2. The History of Capital Punishment
A. The United States has mixed feelings about the death penalty
1. 13 states that don’t agree with capital punishment
A. all states agree with the death penalty except for Wisconsin, Hawaii, Alaska, Main, Iowa, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Vermont, West Virgina, Rhode Island
B. Once a jury has convicted a criminal offense they go to the second part of the trial, the punishment phase
1. The most common form of capital punishment is lethal injections
2. There is also the electric chair which is still used in some states today
C. Harshest form of punishment enforced in the United Sates today
D. Each year there are more than 200 people that are put on death row.
1. According to the Death Penalty Info Center 3, 350 people are currently on death row
2. California has the largest number with 660 people
E. capital punishment was once ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
1. cruel and unusual punishment under the eighth amendment.
2. This was voted against and voted out when lethal injections came
3. Instead of being executed there was a wait (seven to eight years)
II. The Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution
A. Problems that can occur with the death penalty
1. The person may not be proven guilty yet but is still placed on death row
III. Guards of Capital Punishment
A. Some people feel that innocent people will be wrongfully executed
1. Juveniles, pregnant women, girls who are minors will not be put on death row
2. The facts have to be there in order for someone to be put on death row
3. Can not inflict suffering on a person
IV. Juveniles and Capital Punishment
A. Juveniles under the age of 18 can not be sentenced to capital punishment
B. in 1642 there were 364 juvenile offenders that were executed. It has been signed and ratified by the United states and some other countries that this is unconstitutional for a juvenile to be sentenced to the death penalty.

Journal Entry #10

I think I have narrowed it down to 2 schools that I want to go to, either UIC (in chicago) or a school in California. I want to stay close to home though in case anything happens and I need to come back home or something. I am planning on getting my own apartment no matter what though because I really am not into the whole dorm scene. If I go to UIC too I can find people to move up to Chicago with me which would be nice. I really want to get away though and just see what it is like to be on my own. My boyfriend and I have a lot of friends that live in California so we could always move in with them. I don't know what I want to do yet, but I need to figure it out!

Journal Entry #9

All of my friends have been coming home for the holidays and I am so excited to see them! I havent seen some of them since the summer and it feels so good to have them back home. It is so weird to not be able to just go to their houses anytime or be able to hang out with them whenever. I couldn't imagine being them and being states away right now, I think it would be to hard my first year of school especially with all of the partying. Anyway, it was so good to see everyone and I can't wait for them to come home for winter break!

Journal Entry #8

My boyfriend is one of the luckiest people in the world. His career is flying around the country playing professional paintball and getting paid for it. I wish that I could do something that I love to do and get paid for it. I mean I think that everyone should get an education and go to school but when you have the opportunity to do something that you love like that, why not? I would do it in a heart beat.

Journal Entry #7

I cant believe how quickly time goes by. One day it is hot and humid and the next day its 32 degrees. I can't even believe thats it is almost Christmas which means time for maddness. My family always gets so crazy before Christmas because there is always so much going on it is ridiculous! I love the holidays it is just always a little crazy when that time comes.

Journal Entry #6

I recently went on vacation to Orlando, FL with a couple of my friends and my boyfriend. It was so nice to get away from school and work. It put me behind a little bit but I have caught back up in almost all of my classes. It is nice to travel now while I am young before I get into my four year university because then I dont think I will have much time to travel. My boyfriend plays professional paintball and that is what my friend and I went to watch. It was amazing, they did so good. They got first place and won $10,000. I couldn't imagine doing something such as that, it is almost like a hobby but you are still making money for it.

Journal Entry #5

My days are getting tougher, school full time and work full time is starting to get to me. I don't like to complain but it's hard. I work atleast 32 hours and week and then I have 5 classes. It sucks getting older basically. I have to work to pay off my car, gas, phone and stuff like that and have to go to school so I can get a good career to be able to pay off everything eventually. I have also been helping my sister out alot with my nephew, who just turned four. My sister has been working the night shift so she has been needing someone to watch him at nights, sounds like it would be easy but its not! He is one of those sleepers who sleeps the opposite way of anyone else, so he is sleeping horizontal and I am sleeping vertical, and I have to sleep in the same bed as him otherwise he doesn't think anyone is there when he knows his mom is going to work. So life is getting tough but I am going to keep on going and stay happy!

Journal Entry #4

The bears are my favorite NFL team. I am so glad that they are giving Brian Griese a chance as quarterback. Rex Grossman just can not play under pressure and he has to small of hands which is probably the reason as to why he drops the ball about 5 times every game. Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester are the most amazing football players in the world. Brian Urlacher almost holds the entire defense together by himself, he is there every single play and he is absolutley amazing. Devin Hester is another story, he is amazing. I can not even believe everytime he runs the ball back, especially the 92 yard run he did on Sunday, can you say unbelieveable? I love the bears and I can not wait to go see another game on December 30th!!

Journal Entry #3

One day I would like to visit the whole world. I love traveling more then anything and with anyone that I love. Jamaica is the only place that I have been out of the country but I am going to Mexico in 2008. I have been quite a few different states including Florida, California, Nevada, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Iowa, Wisconsin and South Carolina. Which have all been a lot of fun, but I want to see more. As soon as I get out of college and ready to start my career I think I want to take a tour of Europe. That is something I can not wait to do in my life time and I think will be one of the best experiences in the world. My boyfriend plays professional paintball and he gets to go everything and I just don't think it's fair, but I have been starting to go with him to some tournaments and I can't wait for the one in Europe. I am there for sure. I love, love, love to travel!!

Journal Entry #2

Technology is one of the hardest things to understand. For example, sometimes I really believe that computers are one of the worst inventions in the world. You can never count on these things, you never know when they are going to work or when they are not going to work. Maybe it's not so much the computer and sometimes it's just the internet connection but overall it is the computer. Also, have you noticed that everything now is done on computers? From buying a car to booking vacations, everything is now based on technology. Technology is one of the most confusing things in the world, if there was a class on technology I believe I would really fail. For the most part I know how to work phones, computers, ipods but when it comes to the technical stuff I have no idea, then you have to go spend money to get it fixed. I just really believe that technology is now the way of the world but it makes things very difficult.

Journal Entry #1

My classes have been pretty good so far. A couple of my teacher's arent so good though and have no idea what they are doing. One of my teacher comes in at least 15 minutes late everyday and then decides to not teach us anything and let us out early, which I am not complaining about, but I have not learned one thing and I would like to learn. She tells stories and then gets completely side tracked and goes on to another story and never finishes what she is talking about and we haven't even taken our chapter 2 test and we have chapter 5 homework. It just doesn't make sense. My other teacher I think is really smart but she has no idea how to teach. She will write things on the board and completely confuse herself and try to correct things and just make it worse. An example, one day she was writing on the board trying to explain something and turns around to the class and says "I don't think I am explaining this very well, can someone else explain it for me?" I just think this isn't something teacher's should be asking and I don't feel like I am learning anything. I just think that teachers should be a little more prepared and should be able to answer questions.

About ME

My name is Stephanie Casper and I graduated in January of 2007 from Yorkville High School. The most dangerous thing that I have ever done was when I went bungee jumping in the Wisconsin Dells. I was with my sister, her boyfriend, and my best friend at the time, and I thought I was going to die. My sister and I were to chicken at first to do it (you go two at a time) but my best friend and my sister's boyfriend were not afraid at all. So, they got up there and they went and said it wasn't too bad, even though the whole time I could tell my best friend was scared out of her mind, after they were done my sister and I finally decided to do it. So, they bring you up really high above all of these rocks and a huge highway in Wisconsin and I was definitly seeing my life flash before my eyes, my sister had to rub my arm the whole time we were up there because I was shaking and scared for my life. After it was all done it wasn't so bad, I am very glad now that I can say that I have done that and I now know I will never do it again in my life. But to me that was by far one of the scariest/dangerous/stupidist things that I have ever done.