Targét (pronounced: taR-jay)

Target is my favorite place to shop. I find myself there mulitple times a week, and I always seem to find something new. Target has a very welcoming environment. I enjoy walking through the door and seeing all the bright colors and inviting faces on the advertisements around the store.The store is colored bright red, to promote excitement and hapiness. Target goes through extensive measures to ensure that their patrons feel welcome.
For example, employees are trained to speak in “Target Talk”. Instead of using the word “customers” to describe their consumers, employees use the word “guests”, which entails that people are welcome to the store not just because of the things they will buy, but also because the store enjoys their presence. At the “top of the hour” (the beginning of the hour), every hour, each Target employee is to approach as many guests in their immediate area and ask them, “Can I help you find something?” This is used to make guests feel like there is always someone around to help them without feeling bombarded by workers on every corner they turn.
I appreciate all the techniques that Target uses to make their guests feel appreciated. Target provides a cart-disinfecting wipe at the door so that your shopping cart handle can remain germ-free. Their carts are also usually in good working order; I don’t have to worry about them falling apart as soon as I hit the parking lot. When I shop in the grocery department, I don’t have to worry about the food I buy being damaged or covered in dust because I regularly see Target employees working in the shelves, and cleaning as they go.
Large populations of people who shop at Target are women and mothers. Mothers enjoy going to Target because of the low prices, but also because it is considered a “one-stop shop”. A mom can go to Target and pick up a new sweater, laundry detergent, a toaster, paper clips, nail polish, and dinner all at the same place. For the most part, the items she is looking for are going to be reasonably priced, and have a quality she knows she can trust. Target is a well known store that many would choose over others because of its products, prices, and aesthetic. I love shopping at Target, even if I shop there a little too much.

FFN

Fast Food Nation was an eye-opening book for me. It may sound cliché, but I really wasn't aware of all of the badness that is behind your favorite Big Mac meal. When you hear about the injustices that go on behind the scenes, from cow cruelty to employee abuse, you think twice before you use your hard-earned money to support such behavior. Not to mention how UNhealthy most fast food "restaurants" are. That is why I applaud Fast Food Nation and documentaries such as Super-Size Me. It may be easy enough to say that "ignorance is bliss" and continue on with our day, but whether we acknowledge it or not, these acts will continue on a daily basis, until enough people stand up. Once enough people become aware of the evils of the fast food industry, there can be progress towards change, and making some healthier practices become the norm. Unfortunately, I cannot honestly state that I will NEVER go to another fast food restaurant, but I can say that I will avoid one whenever possible. I will also try to make healthier meals at home for me and my family. I hope that I will be able to educate my daughter so that she makes responsible choices for herself in the future as well.

too cool for school.

my truth from last week was #4. i met my father on facebook (shocking, iknow!)

This semester, truthfully, is going amazing. I have pretty much straight A's in my classes, and I'm very proud of myself. Last semester, however, is a different story. I failed 2 out of the 4 classes I took, and in the other 2 classes, I got C's. I am very disappointed in that semester because I know that I can do better. I allowed myself to become discouraged, and I basically gave up. Instead of taking care of assignments, I blew them off. I used excuses about being tired and spending time with my daughter, when I could have made better priorities. I pretended that I didn't care about my classes, when in reality, they are very important to me.  I wasted time and money on classes that I didn't put my all into, and there really is no excuse why.

So I vowed that this semester would be different for me. From the first day of each of my classes, I made a mental plan as to how I was going to succeed. Even though the semester isn't over yet, I am so surprised and pleased with myself because I didn't allow anything to stand in the way of my progress. I reminded myself of my main motivation, which is my daughter. I had to sit back and think about her and what type of example I was setting for her. When she grows up and goes to school, I have to be able to tell her from experience that hard work pays off, and slacking is unacceptable. She is really the most important person in my life, and time spent at school should be time spent bettering myself, so that I can raise her better. I can't allow myself to waste time away from her when I should really be focused on our futures!