Mary Roach is a different person than what I saw from reading her book Spook. My impression was that she was all about research and getting her answers, but I was pleasantly shocked. Mary Roach definitely writes the way she speaks, with a small humorous banter and the slight tangent here and there, but she showed that she isn’t all about simply getting the research, and that she enjoyed getting the research and obtaining answers, and then making her own conclusions.
I learned about Mary Roach by first reading Spook, but then I attended the Spook Convocation on September 26th, and it offered insight on her latest book, Spook. I had the privilege of meeting Mary Roach before the Convocation even began, and she was incredibly sweet then! Then from when she set foot on stage to when she walked off, she was very open to a variety of questions from all the students in attendance. She talked about why she wrote Spook, and even her other books; her reason being her curiosity. Curiosity is her driving force into writing a book for others to read, but it is a way for her to explore what she is curious about. Roach became curious over the question of life after death, and what lies on the other side, so she decided to investigate for answers. And investigate she did. She told the audience about her experience with a ghost ship and she even told us that she wanted to go into the world of exorcism, but was denied by an expert in the field. What a shame that was; I would have quickly read that chapter of the book with a pressing interest. Roach ended her book Spook with a vague ending, and she said she wished that she could have changed it. Her answer to what she believes lies on the other side is, “I believe that when you die, you go to the place you were before you were born, and I don’t know what that is.” That is hard to take in; it certainly is very logical, but it can be hard to believe.
Regardless of how vague the ending was, Mary Roach was a delight to listen to. She was very warming and polite and answered all questions dutifully. Attending the Convocation allowed me to have a better insight in how I was going to finish my paper on Spook, certainly a better understanding of Mary Roach’s thoughts upon the afterlife. I was happy to have been in attendance at the Convocation because I was able to learn about the process Mary Roach goes through to find out what she wants to research and then how she actually goes out and gets the research. From the Convocation, I was able to learn more about curiosity, which was the most important thing she spoke about; “It’s a state of mind, being curious.” I will always hold this fact close when I think about going on in life and in my career, that it is okay to be curious and wonder, and then to go out and get the answer.

Wow. That’s all I can say. I feel like I have been transported back to my own freshman orientation from high school when I was taking part in the Get Involved Fair on September 17th and 18th. I remember being led around and being put in the gym to sign up for clubs and sports that would ultimately determine what I would be putting on my college resume. How frightening! Part of my college application is decided right there in the gym with other freshmen milling about and talking to all their friends. But this experience was different. There was no pressure to write my name down at various clubs, and there were no tempts of candy and false promises to have me write my name down. Not only did it not pressure me, there were many options for me to choose from. I walked passed a theatre club, equestrian club, fencing club, a quidditch club, and many more. Table after table had a different option that would appeal to many people. I was excited to see such a variety of activities; there really was much more offered than what I had expected to see. The Get Involved Fair here at Stockton is something special. It allows each student, residential or commuter, to be a part of something that he or she wants to be a part of in college. Joining clubs and activities can be a vital part of meeting new people in college, outside of classes, but it still allows students to have the power to choose what they want to do. Students can join one club, two clubs, three, four, or even none, and that is perfectly okay. When I walked past all the tables, I didn’t feel the pressure I felt four years ago, I felt free and in control of what I wanted to do. The Get Involved Fair is a great showcase of what Stockton has to offer in an abundance of clubs and activities. To anyone who feels lost, or is not really meeting people, I recommend attending the Get Involved Fair because it has so much to offer to all people, and I’m sure anyone can find a club that they will fit right into. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must go poke someone with a flexible metal and pointy object. En garde!

Unfortunately, many people live a sheltered life when it comes to health care, unknowing to what the government is doing. On November 12th, there was an Affordable Health Care forum going on as part of Health Professions week. The room was filled completely, with some stragglers standing off to the side just to hear what was going to be addressed. The people in attendance were elderly, young college students, professors, and other in between. This was something of great importance, to know what is occurring with ones healthcare under the government. For the two weeks before this forum, I was learning about the Affordable Health Care Act, or Obama Care, in my Intro to Health Sciences course, so many topics that had been addressed had just been discussed in class. No matter what way the information is presented, it is still shocking how much health care costs. I used to take for granted the health care my mother was provided and in turn provided for the rest of my family, and I never blinked an eye. I thought everyone had the same plan as me, and I could never understand why people complained to the pharmacist about the cost of their medicine. Now as a college student in the health sciences field, I know more about health care and the costs behind it. Each year, health care costs will increase for the individual and family plan, and there is no end in sight to the raise in cost. Currently there are over 48 million Americans who lack health care; this includes adults, children, and the elderly. Medicare, enacted in 1963, helps cover the elderly and their health insurance, but most of the time it does not cover the cost fully, and the elderly must pay what is known as a “medi-gap” and pay the difference. Medicaid, also enacted in 1963, is meant to cover the insurance of the lower economic sphere, but unfortunately many doctors offices do not accept Medicaid, and Medicaid will only cover so much of a patients visit. Medicaid is federally funded, but mandated by the state.
Health care is still expensive for many people, and Obama Care is aiming to help the uninsured get insurance so as to be able to take care of themselves and their family. Obama Care is costing 728 billion dollars to fund so as to help make a difference. As of November 12th, approximately only 100,000 people have signed up for Obama Care on the health care website, www.healthcare.gov.
Attending the health care forum helped better my knowledge of Obama Care and fully grasp the concepts that go along with it. It also helped me look at a financial perspective of how much this will cost when I eventually leave my mothers’ plan and obtain health care as an individual.