User:Mkanava1

I am Michelle Mae Kanaval, a twenty year old Binghamton University junior from Long Island, New York. I hate philosophy and self defining soul searching prophesies, but will do my best to provide a general synopsis of what I stand for. Taking the cultural route, I do greatly identify as an eastern European descendant. This, however, is not because my family was born there, but because of the countless months I spent oversees with distant relatives on minor adventures. Many summers, as young as eight, I boarded the 747’s on my own, with a mere tag hanging from my neck advising the flight attendants of my lone voyage. I believe these trips to have had the greatest impact on my life- teaching me independence, strength, and culture. I was raised experiencing various cultures and their differentiations, which has contributed to personal appreciations for different peoples, clothing and foods. However, I generally identify with the average college student- believing we are too young for any ‘real’ definitions- but I do think my personal experiences have made me a little bolder and a lot stronger. I firmly believe there is nothing I can’t accomplish. As far as technology changing my life, I appreciate the internet’s research and shopping. However, this “internet take over” happened while I was growing up; I incorporated it into my life as it became more and more popular. I can’t say it changed much or greatly affected me in any way, because to be honest, I don’t really know what life would be like without it. I get the occasional scares when the wireless goes out, but am usually back on track even before I even have to move. Despite my love for Instant Messaging, I believe my most effective form of communication to be face-to-face. Although this may not be what I am best at, in person communication allows for eye contact and body language- channels which can only be examined through this form. It is also the best method for providing truth (or if you’re good, forging it). Following this pattern, IM’s should be my least favorite form of communication. But the absence of awkwardness puts them second, allowing anyone to say anything with only minor embarrassment. This leaves the telephone last, my truly least favorite form of communication. The telephone forces small talk and discomfort with no body language. Voices can be masked and unreliable with no easy way to end a conversation. With better cellular phone technology, the fake static and lost call excuses are becoming less and less believable, making calls more and more unpleasant. As the internet obviously provides for the best context in communication, it also provides for the least social skills and character. Unless we want to hide behind our computers for the rest of our lives, we all need to learn how to verbalize our thoughts effectively through in person communication.