Social Media Week

My social media week/ project was to join linkedin and follow ten people. Linkedin is a professional network where people and companies have online profiles. A personal profile is mostly a resume that you can update very easily and potential employers can see. Linkedin is also a big networking tool. You can connect with people that are in the same occupation as you. A few things I thought were interesting were the connections you have. When you look somebody up it might say they are a second or third degree connection. It really makes it seem like a small world. When you follow a company on linkedin they will have a list of any alumni from your college.
Linkedin is a very useful tool for the professional world. Employers have job listings posted and they can access your profile to see your resume. Networking is done on a professional level instead of a personal level like facebook. After reading the articles about facebook and twitter I think these can be very useful and fun if used in the right way. In Mexico it is used to alert people of dangerous situations, but it can also help cause dangerous situations if everyone goes into panic. Posting or tweeting all the time can annoy others or lead to jealousy. Overall I think all types of social media will continue to grow an be more involved in our lives.

Diversity event Norman Borlaug Lecture

The 2011 Norman Borlaug Lecture dedicates the life long efforts of Norman Borlaug. Dr. Pedro Sanchez presented the lecture to a large group of students and faculty members who were interested in world food problems. Dr. Sanchez discussed the major food related problems that are currently taking place in Africa. Approximately 90 percent of Africa’s population is suffering from malnutrition. Advances have been made in areas of Africa were the problems were the worst. Governments have begun to offer subsidies to farmers so they can afford fertilizer and better seed. With those improvements, yields have doubled or tripled in certain areas. Local farmers now have up to a 50 percent surplus of grain compared to a few years ago when they were 25 percent less then what was needed for proper nutrition. 

                 As an agronomy major I was pleased to see that very simple agronomic practices were making such big difference. This is a huge step in the right direction for the people of Africa and the people of the world. Growing good food will help raise people out of poverty and develop the less developed villages.

                 During my life time most areas of Africa have been in poverty. Much of the country still is in severe poverty but I was unaware of the practices that were being implemented to grow more food and lower the poverty. Applying simple agronomy to areas of Africa is a new idea for me. Africa isn’t all desert and there is good soil if it is fertilized properly.

What I learned about myself MBTI

After taking the assessment and going over it in class I learned alot about myself. My personality type is ISTJ. After reading some of the characteristics about my type I felt the the test was very accurate because it described me. Understanding the test makes me realize why and how I do things. A few of the characteristics of introversion are understanding then doing, concentration, and my focus on thoughts. The most important thing for me is to understand then do. I like to fully understand what I am going to do before I do it. This can help me at school and at home on the farm. If I know I need more information on a project, I will get help before I jump in.
  The next trait is sensing and this one also described me very well. I like to have facts and data to analysis rather then a theroy. I make decsions based on reality not possibilities. That leads into how I think. I like to analysis things and make decsions after a long time of thinking. Once again this leads into judging. I want to have a planned approach to life. I can still take a few unexpected things but I like when things go according to my plan.
  While writing this I realized that these are all connected to one another. How I like to take information leads into how I think about it and make decisions. I have a better understanding of how I function to get things done.