Gotta give the Deaf Sherlock a big hand at his style of making Shrimp BBQ Kabob. As it turns out Jamie and I were at the local Costco picking up a few things, and I had to make a fast run to the seafood kiosk to pick up something there. Seems the guy was towing away the first of several pieces of large ice coolers with various seafoods to the freezer in back. I nailed down a bag of tiger prawns when he came back. I didn't realize how much it was til later on after we looked at the receipt back home.
$38.
...and then I looked at the bag itself...
*FOUR* pounds!
Can two people eat that much for dinner? Maybe if you're two or three hungry teens... Have you seen how *BIG* tiger prawns are?! Fortunately, Sherlock was to the rescue.
We got the usual thing of hamburgers, veggieburgers, and hotdogs, but didn't use up everything. That kabob was a hit. Now if I can remember everything he used... Olive oil, soy sauce, big dash of something, red wine, garlic, chopped onions, and a few other spices. Stir, marinate, and two prawns per skewer with onions, green pepper, mushroom, and carrots. Then a few veggie-only skewers. All the kabobs were eaten. Yummers.
But of course, it was a good time having a round table with discussions going back and forth, including back and forth between our time out there and the present time. I'm wondering why NTID still has their AAS programs while Gallaudet offers that including Bachelors and more. But personally, I like the idea of going to NTID for two years, and finish the last two at RIT. Thus the "2 + 2" program. Some of us back then tried to go on to RIT, but never went far due to various problems with RIT's courses and other things.
Then some of us went in and out for marshmallow roasting, after what looked like a big poof of flame after Sherlock and Daniel started another fire with a little more than enough starter fluid. Reminds me of years ago, when I was trying to light a grill at a park, I used way too much starter fluid on the charcoal. I lit the stuff, and *POOF*, was right in the middle of a brief fireball. My grandmother and her two grandkids nearby were looking at me with wide eyes. I was fine, though slightly singed, now holding onto a burned-out match.
Despite NTID's age, it still troubles me to know that even though they offer an AAS, they at least have the capability to offer more advanced degrees. It may be harder to find a job with an AAS, but it should at least get your foot in the door to start the job you want, then take classes over time to get your Bachelors. I went to a local community college and graduated with honors, but after around 500 resumes sent out and 12 interviews in a year's time, all I got was a volunteer job as a computer refurbisher. This can at least get me somewhere when I graduate from GMU.
The major reason why I'm going to GMU is that I needed something technical, plus it wasn't too expensive. Another plus is that it was close to home. The downsides is that it doesn't have the underground tunnels that some of RIT's class buildings do, and the food court is not an "all you can eat" kind of thing like Grace Watson or the Shumway Dining Commons.
Next time I'm back at RIT, I'll be taking pics, more than I did at the last reunion and when I was there for classes. I will again be taking shots of all the wall paintings in the tunnels below the dorms. Some of the best paintings they had back then are now gone. They can paint the ceiling as well. We did this with the ceiling tiles back in art class in middle school long ago.
Daniel Berke, may your time at NTID/RIT go smoothly.
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The reason why NTID continues to offer associate degree programs is to give the great opportunities to the deaf and hard-of-hearing students whose ACT scores are not high enough to satisfy the admission standards of RIT's bachelor programs. I feel that it is very noble and honorable of NTID to give these students the opportunity to get the top-notch education in spite of their low ACT scores.
The minimum ACT score for associate programs in NTID varies from 14 to 18. The admission standards for RIT's bachelor programs vary greatly from one college to other college. The lowest minimum SAT score is 1040 for Packaging Science in College of Applied Science and Technology. The equivalent ACT score is approximately 22 or 23. The highest minimum SAT score is 1270 for Film & Animation in College of Imaging Arts and Sciences. The equivalent ACT score is approximately 28 or 29. (All of these ACT scores are composite.)
As it can be observed, the admission standards for any RIT's bachelor program is much higher than NTID’s associate programs. So, rather than denying the deaf and hard-of-hearing students the opportunity to get good education, NTID is doing the right thing in offering associate programs. Also, NTID refuses to compromise the academic rigor that RIT maintains throughout the programs. This is unlike Gallaudet's academic rigor where it is very easy to get into a bachelor program. Gallaudet's minimum ACT scores for getting in a bachelor program are 13 in English or Reading and also 13 in Math. Based on the percentage comparison in the ACT's national report (http://www.act.org/news/data/06/pdf/National2006.pdf), these scores are approximately equivalent to ACT composite score of 13 or 14, much lower than the approximate ACT equivalent of RIT's lowest minimum SAT score for a bachelor program.
It is not necessary for NTID to have its own bachelor or higher programs. RIT's other colleges already offer the bachelor or higher programs and it will be a waste of resources for NTID to develop the similar programs.
It is great that NTID offers several RIT 2+2 associate degree transfer programs. This will give deaf and hard-of-hearing students more opportunities to earn a bachelor degree in a field of applied technology. However, it should be kept in mind that a field of applied technology covers a limited set of knowledge. Generally speaking, there are three sets of knowledge: science, engineering and applied technology. Science covers all foundational knowledge and it prepares students for very wide spectrum of jobs. Engineering, on the other hand, uses science and applies it to the actual problems that the engineers seek to solve. The fields of applied technology are limited to the technologies that the scientists and engineers provide. Each of the sets of knowledge has its own characteristics and it is important for prospective students to be aware of each of them.
Good luck to all deaf and hard-of-hearing students who enter colleges and universities! It is a very important milestone in their lives. If I may be permitted to do so, I would like to give an advice to them. Here is my advice: Whenever you are having problems with homework, class, course, or anything, ASK FOR HELP! See advisor, counselor, professor, or tutor. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. To the contrary, it is a sign of courage to acknowledge limitation and to seek ways to overcome it. Again, good luck!
Joseph Pietro Riolo
josephpietrojeungriolo@gmail.com
Public domain notice: I put all of my expressions in this post in the public domain.
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