Social Media Craze: Is this the Future?

For many young adults and teenagers, connecting with friends and family via Social Networking/Social Media, is a daily (if not constant) occurrence. Our lives are so immersed with what Johnny tweeted today, and what post Lisa shared last night. We are so concerned with how we appear to other people that our time spent in the presence of real people is often consumed with using our technological devices. What will our future generation be like? Is this good or is this bad?
Some effects of Social Media today

Social media sites like Twitter that impose a character limit force users to condense their thoughts. For many, this results in excessive use of textspeak. This type of shorthand involves a whole new language of abbreviations. Maybe it's not that our next generation is becoming dumb, but perhaps they are becoming more efficient in ways to communicate. How many people do you know that still write in Cursive? I can barely write legibly IN PRINT anymore because I type so much nowadays! Social media is obviously making strides in the world of communication.

Social Media Marketing for Professionals!

On a more positive note, Social Networking does have the benefit of staying instantaneously updated with industry developments,as well as news from multiple sources and connectivity with employers. A good social media user should be able to market themselves even from sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and stay in touch with all current events!

All in all, Social Networking/Social Media is changing people's daily lives all over the planet. There are pros to using them, and there will always be cons. Make use of the networking capabilities or avoid the internet because all it does is complicate your life.  It is up to you to decide what you should do with your time! 

This is who I am.

Hello and welcome to Sticks and Spirit! My name is Tyler Broadhurst, and I'm a little out of the ordinary when compared to the average College Senior.

Originally from Benton AR, I have been attending Henderson State University since I transferred here in 2012 from the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville. I'm a Music Education Major here at HSU, and I'm really looking forward to graduating this upcoming year to begin teaching students to love instrumental music!
I have a large passion for marching Drumlines (as you can see by the name of this blog), and currently serve as Captain of the Drumline here at HSU. My family enjoys coming down to see the Showband of Arkansas perform, and I enjoy being around them. My family is absolutely my life; everything I do is for my family and the future of my family.

As a teacher, I plan to strive to enrich students' lives by teaching them to play an instrument and read entertaining music.  I love to see the moment on a child's face when they are enjoying performing for their friends and family at band concerts. Soon, I hope to graduate and begin working with beginning students here in the state of Arkansas to better the community.

But why start a blog? I hope to begin logging in the activities I go through week to week as well as the crazy daily schedule of a Music Major here at Henderson State. I want to show how hard my department works to ensure the teachers leaving HSU are extremely well prepared to teach music in today's fast paced world.
I also want to give outsiders a peak into the life of the Henderson State Drumline; drumming for the Reddies every day!

Drumming for that ol' Reddie Spirit!