JOE.COM
FOR GOD SO LOVED
THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON
THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT
HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.
JOE'S WRITINGS
During Joe's High School years and his first year of college, he took English Composition classes. During these classes he did a series of reflective papers. They could write on whatever they wanted. We are so grateful for these papers because it gives us a look inside Joe's mind and personality. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
Autobiography
(1997)
Bonnie
September 11th
Chapter 1 Reflection Paper
Chapter 6 Reflection Paper
Chapter 7 Reflection Paper
These
thumbnails are scans of his actual turned in papers, but they are difficult to
read.
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Experience" Page 1 |
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Bonnie
WA #3
Joe Eckles
I didn’t exactly have lots of friends when I moved here from St. Louis. In fact I have never been more homesick in my life as I was when I first got here. One girl made me feel right at home she went out of her ways to get to know me and welcome me. I will never forget the first time I saw heron my first day at my new school. She was wearing a green sundress that matched here eyes perfectly. To me it was more than a dress it was an inspiration. I must have stared at her drooling for at least five minutes. Her name was Bonnie and from that moment on I knew she was the one for me.
I used to work for my father selling authentic Disney and Universal clothes. It got pretty lonely because he could only afford to pay one person per store. I spent a lot of time alone in a tent or in some mall. Bonnie would come home from her job to make me food and bring it to me. We spent hours talking, laughing and studying for tests. I’ll never forget how she rarely complained or gave it a second thought; she just rushed right up to see me.
I could never really figure out why she was interested in me, I wasn’t exactly the best looking guy. She must have felt sorry for me because I was never really good with the ladies either. Bonnie would constantly play games with me to keep me on my toes. One morning freshman year I was walking to class minding my own business when Bonnie came out of nowhere. Do you have a date to homecoming she blurts out, because some other boys asked me but I said no? I’m no genius but I knew what she was getting at so I asked her to the dance. And she said I’d think about it while she walked off. I felt a little awkward but she came back after classes to say yes which made me feel better.
We would get into the usual misunderstandings that all couples do. Certain things she would do that I couldn’t stand or things that I would do to drive her crazy. We always worked through it though and most of the time our relationship grew even stronger than before. One night we were up late studying at my house when I guess we both had had enough because we started up again over something stupid that I can’t even remember now. I got so mad I just walked up stairs and went to bed. I didn’t go to sleep though; I just laid in my bed shut my eyes and made my point. I heard her come in about two minutes later and felt her lay on me. When I opened my eyes I saw a huge bowl of my favorite ice cream (mint chocolate chip, her favorite as well) I looked up and she said peace offering with a huge grin. My heart melted and we ate the ice cream together. These are just some of the memories that I’ll hold close to my heart forever.
September 11th
Joe Eckles
September 2001
You know they say you learn the most from history. Last week I could have sworn that the United States of America the greatest nation in the world was untouchable. You know the feeling; it’s one of safety and contentment. A feeling that nothing can harm you, you’re safe under the protective arm of society. Well all that changed for me on Tuesday, September 11th, when terrorist attacked the United States. I would regretfully have to say that this single days act of war towards our nation was without a doubt my worst learning experience.
I used to love history learning about our ancestors and forefathers. It used to enlighten me and make me almost want to learn (almost). I loved hearing about how our country dominated other countries and how we were the highest world power. I took pride in that especially because my grandfather moved his family out here from Bolivia in the nineteen sixties and we flourished. Kind of like a land of opportunities thing, streets pathed with gold and all of that. My mother and her brother studied hard and got their degrees. They both got good jobs, married and started their families. Yes sir America has been good to my family.
The thing I liked most about the past was the fact that you could learn from other people’s mistakes. If you were smart about it and remembered your mistakes you never had to make them twice. If you remembered other people’s mistakes you never had to make them at all. For instance a mistake like not acting on Bin Laden threats towards the United States. I get sick every time I think about the people in Afghanistan celebrating in the streets because of what happened to us. The thought that people could hate our nation so much that they were willing to proudly give their lives to hurt us blew my mind.
I believe that what happened to us last Tuesday was a wake up call for our nation. We can’t just sit around thinking that everything is and always will be honky dory because it’s that attitude that catches us off guard and gets us killed. We have to be aware of the Bin Laddens and the Suddam Hussiens. We can’t just pretend that they don’t exist just because they are thousands of miles away and not at our door step. Does that really make them any less dangerous, I don’t think so.
You see everyone used to see this kind of stuff happen on the news to other countries and think what a tragedy. We never really think that it could in a million years happen to a nation as great and powerful as ours so we sleep a little better at night. Until you’re sitting in your office one morning sipping mochachino when you happen to glance out your window for a second and see a seven forty seven heading straight for you. I would imagine you don’t really know what to think at that point. I put myself in that position and I can feel my own heartbeat and I can see my eyes freezing on what I know can’t really be happening, right. I guess people take their basic freedoms for granted, like not fearing for your life in your own office on the ninetieth story.
Joe Eckles
Chapter one reflection paper
As soon as I stated reading about the different perspectives of psychology and came across the behavioral aspects I started thinking of my job. Trying to determine someone’s thoughts and feeling through their behavioral patterns is practically part of my job. I can’t tell you how many people blow you off for trying to help them if they don’t need it. However, it’s interesting to see that same customer ask for your assistance when he has a question he can’t answer.
I just started working at a clothing store called Structure in the Florida Mall. One of my responsibilities is helping the customers or trying to figure out which customers actually need help. This process is usually determined by the customers behavioral patterns. For example if a customer is searching through pants looking at the tags he probably needs help trying to find his size.
There are many different behavior patterns I look for in my job. If a customer is standing tall looking over racks chances are he is looking for some help with a question. When people stand next to the fitting rooms with clothes it means they are waiting to be let in. You may think that it seems rather elementary but its the simple patterns that help to figure out the complicated ones. For instance we are required to try and sell store credit cards, this is difficult because some people are offended by this and others are delighted to hear about new things. The trick is figuring out which people are open minded and which people just want to get their jeans and get out. The first thing I go by is the customers level of involvement if they are talkative and easygoing they will usually listen to your speel about the cards. However if a customer just wants to find their clothes on their own and not talk to anyone then they is really no point in asking them if they need help because my manager makes me ask them anyways.
I don’t mean to come off like I hat my job or that this paper is just me complaining about my life. In fact I find my job very rewarding I meet lots of new people and get my friends discounts on clothes. I see the relativity in the behavioral perspectives of psychology to my job as a sales associate and did my best to explain them.
Joe Eckles
Chapter 6 reaction paper
The problem with dreamers is that their not doers, so my fifth grade teacher used to tell me. I didn’t quite know if I was different or just plain stupid but I couldn’t pay attention to anything but girls and television. I would sit there in class or in church and just stair into space thinking about all the things I would never do and all the places I would love to see. I would dream about all the things I wanted to accomplish through out my life and all the things I have already done. I knew at that time that I had some sort of problem paying attention.
My parents sought out professional assistance (they sent me to a psychologist), which meant that I was put on heavy doses of Ritalin. The drugs helped a little, my teachers didn’t complain as much to my parents and my grades were improving. I would still have a tendency to wander off into Joe Land where anything was possible. My father used to tell me that dreams were the only thing that made life tolerable. I took that to heart and used my dreams to motivate me to try harder.
I began to realize that I had to take action on my own. I couldn’t rely on drugs to help me reach my goals. I discovered the trick to paying attention was to get involved, if the subject sparks my interest I can’t stop listening. So all I had to do was convince myself I was interested in what the speaker was saying. I stopped taking Ritalin and I did just fine. My grades were still improving and I did most of my daydreaming at home.
After studying chapter six in my psychology book I came to the conclusion that I had a fantasy-prone personality. Which meant that I had vivid fantasies that were real enough to change my mood. I could be having a conversation with some one and suddenly be sitting there with my eyes in a daze and my mind a million miles away. As I got older I learned to control it but I can’t change who I am. My instincts take over when I let my guard down, sometimes I just can’t help it.
The only thing I can do now is follow my heart and do my best. I have so much going through my head at one time, so many dreams. I am just going to have to set my goals and try my hardest to reach them. Hopefully they will lead me closer to my dreams.
Joe Eckles
Chapter seven reaction paper
Punishment according to the book is an event that decreases the behavior that it follows. That doesn’t mean that it is entirely necessary. My father hated the idea of punishment however it was my mother who made the decisions in my house. In my youth I can remember after I did something wrong my parents would have their usual quarrel about what to do but in the end my mother always won and my father carried out the sentence. It was usually a few lashes with his belt nothing severe. The thing that hurt the most was the fact that it was my own father causing me this pain.
Later in my life I guess they decided that they didn’t have to spank me to get results. So sometimes they would spank me and sometimes they wouldn’t. I guess my point is I never really knew what would happen when I did something wrong. Well this led to curiosity on my part, so I would continue to do bad things. The punishments were never that bad if they did decide to spank me it wasn’t very hard and was usually followed by an apology by my father. If I was grounded they never stuck to their guns and they would forget about it. So no matter what the punishment it wasn’t that bad. Naturally with that in mind I got in trouble all the time. Until I guess they figured it out and started giving me lengthy ridiculous restrictions they called it, which had quite an effect on me.
I determined later that it was because my parents loved me so much that it hurt them to see me suffer. That is why they never really punished me that severely. I also figured out that it was the same reason why they finally decided to stick to their punishments and make me suffer when I did something wrong. They would rather see me suffer when I was young and learn the lesson that if I did something wrong I suffer the consequences. I thank them for that now because if they would have gone on letting me get away with every thing I would have no fear of authority and would continue to do what ever I wanted through my adulthood.
So when I got my first puppy Rocky I was told when it goes to the bathroom inside you need to hit him on the butt and put him outside. At first it was hard because I loved Rocky but I realized that it was for his own good. He had to learn that outside was the place for that. So naturally he got the picture that every time he did his business inside he got spanked and put outside. Rocky never went to the bathroom inside again because he didn’t want to get spanked just like me and getting in trouble. That was one lesson I definitely learned the hard way.