Reflection Question 2, Folk Group

In Chapter 2, of "Living Folklore," it defines Folk Groups not neccessarily groups by founders with particular rules and guidelines but rather by practices and expressions of their members.

Family Group: Being born a Smith often when I was a young girl I use to think there was nothing really great about my family. I thought of us as nothing more thanjust common every day people who do nothing but read, and complain about everything around them. Nothing more, Nothing less. But, honestly my family was anything but common.

The recent story I wrote about my dad who just passed away was also the same man that never allowed any of us to just settle for anything. Always fine ways to make it happen, never except one way and don't ever allow yourself to give up. It was instilled with all of us from day one.
He his self began his humble beginnings as a farm boy, made his way to working at NCR (National Cash Register, Co., service and parts on cash registers.) moving his family around the United States, started and owned his business for twenty years, was a millionaire at one point, lost his business to bankruptcy, went to work for another company after he lost his business and faught cancer for over four years before he finally pass away. Every step of the way, my father faught to live and enjoy his life no matter what anyone else said or thought.

Those values have been a big part of my life where "I don't want to just give up or feel I can't do this just because it's to hard." At times it's not always been easy to follow those values. But, the day dad actually died, I realized, "What will I miss the most from my dad? Is the strong will to live and survive.

Work Group: You can learn a lot from other co-workers and managers from work. The day I started working I seen for myself how these people can be not only co-workers but family as well.
Past jobs I worked at were anywhere from being a night manager for a shoe department to working for the license branch offices in southern indiana. But, my last job was at a place called "Squire Boone Village," that is basically a small candy factory which makes rock candy and sells items you would find at amusement parks and gift shops. I work there for seven years and it is the most memoriable job to me. Why? Because of a plant manager that seen more to me than just a factory worker.
I was at a very low point in my life when I began this plant and felt I was very dumb and unable to ever be as strong as my dad wanted me to be. I was so low and depression about myself I never thought I would amount to anything, in this world.

Then something happen that turned my life complete around. It was if this plant manager was sent to me, by incouraging and believing in myself again. Before I knew it, I was climbing up the company ladder and eventually decided to make the move to go to college at the age of 42. That factory helped me in many areas. But, it also helped me not to give up and believe in myself again.

Religion Groups: Faith has always been a big part of my life as well. I will admit there are times I'm not always the grestest at going to church every Sunday or reading the Bible more. But, having people of all walks of life be there to worship GOD is inspringing and helpful to anyone that wants to try and stay positive with not only themselves but every day life. There are so many groups that are involved in singing, teaching, cooking, crafts, studying as well as support groups that help those in need, contribute their own services, and many others. Each are usually on a voluteer bases and welcome everyone to partipate in their own way of the church. Folk Group is found everywhere in one's church, that can make you feel more complete to this world we live in. But, religion is not for everyone, as I'm not pushing anyone to go to church. It a part of who I am which I need and want to have.

School Groups: Honestly, when I first started going to college at IUSoutheast, there were more people close to my age I could relate to and talk about class in general than at IU. However, there are one's I do know and it is interesting the many topics and conversations I will have with them, that is not just about classes but life in genral.
I don't know if it's because IU is a bigger campus or the fact that there isn't many people my age going to college. Whatever it is the conversations are more meaningful than when I first began college.
When I do a group project with my fellow classmates it is interesting to see the many ways people think and commute their own age group, and their feelings and beliefs with certain topics.
I remember one class when I first began college, we had in our group a football player, a cheerleader, a computer wiz and myself. Our project was to find how many of today's ads feature more male and females, minorites and what was the main objective to these ads. I thought this would be a pretty easy assignment and one all of us could agree with. Boy, was I wrong.
The cheerleader expressed how the ads she seen today helped her realize just how much she kept up with fashion and style, while the football player felt the beer ads were fun and enjoyable to watch. The computer wiz seem to think there was to much sex in ads and not enough computer options for those wanting to know more about their computers. I thought there was to much shown towards female products, sex and not enough ads for those 35 and older. Eventually, we discussed our differences and recieved an 87% for our work. It was though amazing to see just how certain ads affect people in so many different ways.
The expereinces I have while going to college are more than just about the book learning and getting a degree. Its about the community, people and views we all seem to overlook from time to time.

I've expressed my views about Folk Groups through family, work, religion, and school. Between views my parents instilled in me, the work expereinces I've seen as friends and supporters, the beliefs God has gave and shared with me, to the school I challege myself to, Folk Groups have us process these views to becme the person we are today.

This post is my response to the Reflection Question of 2.