The bleaching of coral reefs around the world has been a major concern for many scientists and coral enthusiasts for the past 2 decades. Even though this is a major problem for human race as well as the fate of the entire planet, not a lot of attention has been brought to it until recently. According to the news article by ScienceDaily, the number of new corals settling on the Great Barrier Reef  had declined by 89%. This statistic is important because if there is no reproduction of new coral occurring, then the already bleached or dead coral cannot be replaced, which will lead to an even greater reduction in size of this reef. Of course the Great Barrier Reef is not alone in this predicament. Coral reefs are dying all across the planet due to the change in ocean temperatures (even a few degrees destroys the environment in which the coral live in). Although this situation seems to be an inevitable problem due to climate change, scientists are hopefully that this phenomenon will decline eventually.

There is bias within this article because it is focuses on the scientists perspective, which of course, they want to get their point across about  global warming and climate change and how this is effecting our planet. This article is important because it is spreading awareness of a major problem that not only effects animal life within the ocean, but it affects our entire planet, and each and every one of the individuals that reside on it.

As for what I believe, although it seems like an impossible task, we must fight to try and resolve the issue that is causing our coral reefs to die, because the coral reefs provide use valuable resources like oxygen and many various sources of food. We need to combat the issue of  global warming. Whether that may be actually recognizing that this is a legitimate issue, or taking steps to reduce our carbon footprints on a global and individual level, some action needs to be taken very soon.  If we don’t do everything in our power to stop global warming at it’s roots, then the end of our planet and our race is near in our future.

Article Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190403135052.htm

Now into the second semester of my freshman year at The Ohio State University and all of the first semester grades have been published. Although it took a lot of hard work and copious amounts of studying, I was very pleased with the results of my first semester. Although I know that this is the first of many hard semesters here at OSU, this has given me hope that I will be successful in my future time here, and these first semester grades have given me well needed reassurance, because at times I really questioned myself. I am currently halfway through my second semester, and although I am still motivated to do well here, it  has definitely been a struggle because of the level of classes. The first semester has taught me to persevere through this and the end result will pay off, which is summer break and no school for a little while (definitely need a break for a while). I can feel myself getting distracted from school and I understand what I need to do to finish strong, but I am hoping for something good to happen to get me through this rough patch of school.

The fact that I already start to schedule for next semester in two weeks is actually crazy. Time goes by here so fast and its love/hate relationship. My third set of midterms is coming up when I return from spring break and hopefully the studying habits that I discovered last semester will help me get through these midterms and the last finals of my freshman year.

This semester at Ohio State has definitely changed me in many ways, in ways that I would like to think made me a better person overall.  After the first set of midterms, I was sure that I wasn’t going to be able to make it through the rest of the semester and had gotten very down on myself which inevitably made me doubt who I was, why I chose OSU, and what I was actually going to do with my life. Although my friends and family told me that it wasn’t as big of a deal as I was making it, I literally thought the world was ending. I decided in that moment that what I was doing before was not going to cut it here and if I wanted to succeed, I need to get my studying habits and work ethic in line. Which is exactly what I did, granted now I don’t have perfect grades, but I work very hard for each and every assignment and test to the point where I know that I put my best effort in, which gives me great satisfaction. This is a very drastic personal development change from the point I was at in high school, which was about putting in zero effort and still getting straight A’s. I think that because I decided to make this change, I will continue on to be a successful student here, even though I know I will not be the perfect student. Hopefully my work ethic and dedication will get me to reach all the goals and dreams I have placed in my mind one day. I have become a lot more happier with my grades, and a lot happier with the whole Ohio State University experience. Also, we just beat Michigan again so this will be a good omen for the rest of my freshman year. Go bucks!