Week 3 Reading Reflection

1. For me, the biggest surprise in the reading was seeing that the field of entrepreneurship was shifting because of women becoming a part of it. As the author of the texbook writes, “As a result of the growing number of female entrepreneurs, companies are now examining the ethics of caring.” I didn’t realize that women were affecting the field in a way that kind of challenged the traditional, masculine field.

2. If I could ask the author a question, I’d ask: “In his experience with entrepreneurship, has he seen that following the ‘code of conduct’ has led to entrepreneurs having good business? Does it make a difference?” Because business people in suits have a bad reputation of being the 1 percent, so I wonder, how many of them are morally good people?

3. I disagree with the author about the Entrepreneurial Fear 101. I think anyone who is passionate about what they do can have a similar self-inflicted fear that has a lot to do with failure. As a journalist, I lost sleep over fact errors, and getting things right. I always wonder, when I turn in an article: did I spell that name right? Did I make sure to understand the meaning of the person’s words? As a journalist, I get the trust of people I talk to. It’s my job to get it right. And I think that goes for everyone who works in a field that they're very passionate about. 

The Alligator helps in identifying local opportunities

Here's a list of articles published by the Alligator that help identify issues in our community. 

1. "UF group petitions for SG online voting"

http://www.alligator.org/news/student_government/article_450d397a-7d31-11e5-af52-77a8732ab5d5.html 

Summary: The articles tackles the issue that off-campus students have in not having a vote in Student Government elections. There is a student organization that is hoping to help give off-campus students a voice.

Problem: Students, such as PaCE, who take online classes for two years before coming on campus, or Innovation Academy (who aren't here in the Fall), can't vote via online. 

Who is affected: Online students and off-campus students. 

2. "UF School of Music hanging by a note"

http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_d4668472-6b1c-11e5-a3fe-47d11b099eeb.html

Summary: The UF School of Music currentl suffers from a building that isn't made to house their instruments. Professors and students have to resort to other measures to make sure the instruments are safe.

Problem: The UF School of Music is facing funding issues, which results in a lack of renovations for the building. 

Who is affected: Professors, current and potential students of the music school.

3. "Danger Zone: Norman Hall is falling apart, in need of renovations"

http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_7de5dea2-8121-11e5-8a96-fb4cc26e4bd9.html

Summary: Reporter takes an in-depth look at the building, which was designed as a k-12 school, but is now used to teach educators of the future. The building is crumbling and lacking in funds. 

Problem: Students and faculty in the building face health risks with asbestos and crumbling walls in Norman Hall. 

Who is affected: Professors, faculty, current and potential students

4. "Students can't dance by stadium" 

http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_9481ae34-7df2-11e5-b91b-4f83d04671ad.html

Summary: Students were asked to leave during practices at the stadium. They're no longer able to practice there, despite it not being a problem before. 

Problem: Students must find a new place to practice.

Who is affected: Students who practiced at the stadium

5. "Group advocates for disabilities" 

http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_304b0652-844d-11e5-8e15-b79ab954d5dc.html

Summary: A student group organization, Gators for All Abilities, is working to help students with disabilities have a voice. 

Problem: Students with disabilities, both mental and physical, are often overlooked and underrepresented on campus.

Who is affected: Students with a physical or mental disability

Very Short Interview No. 1

Eloy Ochoa has been the owner of "Ochoa Underground Cable Inc.," for 12 years. They drill holes underground and they place PVC pipes to place fiber cables, which help provide cable and Internet to houses. Currently, he has a partnership with Verizon, and is looking to add Google.  

Eloy Ochoa, owner of “Ochoa Underground Cable Inc.”

1. How do you go about establishing your own business?

"We started working the family, his family. I had relatives in field. I started working with them. So I went to work with them."

2. How did you expand your help?

"We’ve done many other business; this was not our first business. The market is bigger, and that means more business. The more you can grow it. Amount of market determines expansion. Now, it’s big. Currently working with Verizon, and looking to add Google, Inc."

3. What does it mean to be an entrepreneur?

" I’ll be honest with you, sometimes you don’t make as much money as you would like to make. But the thing, is, you’re your own boss. You’re your own boss, you make your own hours, and I like it.” 

What I learned was, entrepreneurs take pride in working hard and creating a business. Mr. Ochoa was very kind, but he sounded driven. He's looking forward to increasing the market and working with global companies like Verizon and Google. I wasn't at all surprised by him saying he enjoys being his own boss; A lot of times, they go into their own business because they enjoy having control over their schedule, and not having to answer to someone else. He said he's able to schedule and manage his time, and even though the pay isn't always great, he said he enjoys the autonomy of owning his own business. 

My thoughts on the World's Biggest Problems

Below, I've shared what I think are the biggest problems the world faces in these modern days.

1. Climate change. Even if you think global warming is a hoax, there's no denying humans are negatively impacting the Earth by cutting down trees, using nonrenewable resources like fossil fuel and creating greenhouse gases. Countries like China are a prime example of how pollution is impacting our lives negatively (i.e. the smog in Beijing).
Solution: Look to other resources. Find a way to make oil useless and replace it with another source of energy. Stop taking more from this Earth than we can put back.

2. Lack of awareness. As a journalist, this is something I find to be subtle, but very, very dangerous. If my generation is less informed of what's going on in the world, the powerful people in suits will be able to get away with anything and everything.
Solution: Make it important to pay attention. Teach in schools the importance of understanding the governing body off a country or province. Understand how "the system" works.

3. Animal abuse. One of the biggest issues in the world, in my opinion, is the mistreatment of creatures who aren't humans. There's a lack of sympathy for these creatures who are alive and feel and love and can be happy. We shouldn't be stomping on them and treating them like scum.
Solution: Mandate that animals be treated better. Countries are making moves on this, but not a single creature deserves a miserable life.

4. Homeless population. They're people, too. During the colder seasons, we need to be compassionate and help when we can. As a journalist, I feel like part of my job is to inform the public of what they go through.
Solution: Make compassion a norm. If we can change the public view on homeless people, we can create a better world.

5. Lack of nature conservation. This issue ties into climate change, but this is specifically referring to plants and species going extinct because of humans. We've caused the extinction of animals like tortoises and plants like coral reefs through pollution and population increases.
Solution: Pay attention to the other creatures. Create and raise awareness.

6. Population expansion. There are 7.125 BILLION people on this Earth. And while I don't think we should do any kind of "ethnic cleansing" or mass genocide, we need to keep in mind that this Earth is a precious resource that we can't run into the ground.
Solution: Have people consider other options, like using birth control, or adoption (versus having a big family).

7. Healthcare. In some countries, it's a privilege. In others, it's a right. I think the U.S. is behind on healthcare. Currently, many Americans face the issue of not having health insurance or paying a lot of money for not-so-great insurance.
Solution: Create a system that benefits everyone, with the lowest possible cost. It can be done.

8. Body Image. In many countries, there's a standard of beauty for both men and women. Many times, those standards are very unrealistic. The media portray a certain type of beauty, and many adolescents are vulnerable to believing everything they see.
Solution: Limit the amount and type of enhancements that create a misrepresentation of people's bodies. Stop digitally enhancing everything, or at least limit it.

Here is a popular example of this. The model was given a pretty extreme "thigh gap."


9. World hunger. In many countries, families and kids and adults face the fear of dying from malnutrition. In others, people eat too much.
Solution: Find a way to spread it even.

10. Refugees. There's a fairly common idea that refugees are terrorists, refugees are here to take our benefits, steal our lives and family. They are people who lost their homes and have nowhere else to go.
Solution: Open our arms and embrace them into our lives. We need to be compassionate to each other, as human beings.