Opinions Matter During The Fourth of July

SUSI students had their first experience to celebrate the fourth of July in Minnetrista, Muncie. Beforehand, they were assigned to do some assignments during the celebration. They interviewed local citizens, shot pictures, and recorded videos for their assignments.

During the fireworks, everyone was focused on watching it. SUSI students were amazed but still they did not want to miss the moment. Some of them took pictures and some of them recorded videos.

I was one of the lucky ones to get a chance to celebrate the fourth of July. I asked local citizens' opinions towards the celebration and the answers vary.

Below is the link of my audio sound slide of the fourth of July celebration. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Fourth of July Celebration

Fourth of July Party in Minnetrista

Muncie citizens came to Minnetrista Cultural Centre to celebrate the Independence Day at the fourth of July. Many people came with family and friends to watch the yearly fireworks party.

Along with the celebration of Independence Day in Minnetrista, a few opinions towards the fireworks party popped up among the citizens.

“It’s boring. We sat around here for two hours. No joke, no joke,” said John Pierce, a young citizen from Muncie who was coming early with his friends to see the fireworks party.

  

On the contrary, some citizens found the celebration of the Independence Day in Minnetrista very interesting. Citizens began to fill up Minnetrista early before the fireworks started because they wanted to get a good spot to watch the fireworks. A lot of people were seen enjoying their time with family and friends together while waiting for the fireworks which began at 09.30 PM.

“It’s a lot of fun and it really represents how much fun and how much our country means to us.” Said Neil Rinky who came to Minnetrista with his friends and family.

Fourth of July Anticipation

What will I do to sufficiently prepare for my story at Minnetrista on July of 4th....

The question left me in silence for awhile. A whole new experience and lesson I got in Ball State University shapes me into a critical thinker. So I decided to make a list of what should I do for this upcoming programme:

Preparing myself mentally and physically

I am shy when it comes to talking to new people. It takes time for me to analyse the situation before I could mingle and get in the crowd. While this assignment forces us to communicate to strangers and or Americans who are celebrating the independence day, I am preparing myself to be confident and get ready to interview them.

Preparing the main theme

The theme of the story is the core thing I have to think and re-think before I get involved in the event. The theme is what determines the story whether it will turn out to be a good story or not.

Preparing the questions

In order to interview the people who are celebrating the Independence Day, I need to have some questions ready to help me produce a good story I will later post after the event and to avoid an awkward gesture which indicates I am not a pro interviewer.

After I get all these things tick and done, a pro interviewer is hopefully ready to get involved in the Independence Day.

A Day to Remember in Second Harvest Food Bank

MUNCIE, Indiana - It was 27th of June 2013. Eight out of fifteen grantees of SUSI New Media in Journalism went to Second Harvest Food Bank to volunteer. The journey from Ball State University to the Second Harvest Food Bank took approximately 20 minutes. The grantees were all excited about the idea of volunteering.

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "We must want for others, not ourselves alone." SUSI students found a visit to the Second Harvest Food Bank was very impactful and somehow gave them a better perspective and greater understanding about how there are still a lot of people, even in such a developed country like United States of America suffering to make ends meet.

SUSI students were given a chance to help pack apples and onions and label canned food before they  were distributed to the people who need them. They also got a chance to have a chit chat and exchange stories and experiences with other people who did volunteer in the food bank as well.

A little help SUSI students did in the food bank contributed a great will to serve and help more people in their home countries. "We should have this kind of food bank in Indonesia to free the poor from hunger," Adji, one of SUSI students, said while packing onions.