Robison Reflection #1-

After reviewing John Robisons experiences with empathy throughout his childhood, I

believe that he is on to something in regards to the dramatic reactions evoked by horrific yet

distant news. However, I disagree with labeling the culprits of these dramatic reactions as

hypocrites. When I think of a hypocrite, I picture the typical says, does relationship. In other

words, a hypocrite is someone that says or demonstrates one way of doing something, yet

willingly chooses to act in the opposite way. As a result, I believe the population Robison refers

to as hypocrites arent actually hypocrites but rather people who are confused, and therefore

uncomfortable when presented with a tragic situation. In general, feelings of sadness after

hearing about a tragic event are innate to human behavior. Therefore, a personal reaction to

these events is appropriate initially, but should not shadow the rest of someones day, as

Robinson states.

The first step in grasping the role of empathy in our daily interactions as well as

professional relationships is understanding the situation at hand. For instance, if a friend or

colleague comes to you with news about a tragic event that occurred to someone they know, it

is important to express concern about the situation, whether you know the individual(s)

involved or not. Simple actions, such as asking what you can do to help, provide

encouragement to your friend and can go a long way. However, we must recognize that too

much emotional involvement in these distant tragedies can also negatively affect us. If we

become too caught up in every story we hear on the news, we will begin to live worried lives;

Lives in which we lose sight of our passions and dreams and give way to unhappiness and

stress.
Robison Reflection #2-

Although some students will never struggle with conditions such as Aspergers or ADHD, the

adaption of classroom mechanics and activities plays a key role in all students learning ability.

Whether it be through the addition of more hands-on activities or even making

accommodations for a students seating preference, modifications within the classroom not

only affect students academic success, but also overall classroom behavior. In most cases, the

more interested students are on the topic at hand, the less likely they are to follow distractions.

As a result, accommodating to more students preferred learning styles can often lead to

increased participation and success in the classroom.

If I were Robisons, or a similar students, advisor, I would schedule weekly

appointments with the student. Not only would this help me form a trustworthy connection

with the student, but it would also allow me to create a schedule with a consistent routine.

Changes in routine can often increase stress among students like Robison; so by constructing a

specific daily schedule, the student would be able to focus on his workload rather than

adjusting to sudden changes. Another suggestion that could help someone like Robison succeed

in the classroom or workplace would be to incorporate visual cues to go along with abstract

exercises. For individuals with learning disabilities, visual aids serve as reminders as well as

another way of viewing the material. In all, work and classroom environments should migrate

towards a more diversified route of presenting material in order to propel success among many

levels of learning abilities.

Robison Reflection #3-

In Look Me in the Eye, John Robison examines his passion and keen sense of designing

lighting systems. His appreciation for the work stems from the ability to notice the hidden

aspects of the system that sometimes he can only relate to. Robison illustrates this intense

concentration by stating, Its like magic, how it all comes together, though you dont think of it

as magic because you understand how every single piece works and you know theres no magic

involved.

Within my life, I can relate to this sense of understanding what maybe others do not see

through baseball. Being a baseball player for as long as I can remember, I continue to

thoroughly analyze the game even as a spectator. As I watch the pitcher come set, I cannot help

but focus on what pitch I think he will throw, the location of that pitch, and ultimately why he

made that decision. Furthermore, while some people simply wait for the ball or strike call and

believe that the game moves too slowly, I undergo intense concentration in between each

pitch. I began to notice this habit a few years ago as I continued to invest more and more of my

time to pitching practice with aspirations to play baseball at the collegiate level. However, I

truly recognized this routine as a passion after playing my final game. The intense concentration

I experience while watching baseball at Great American Ball Park or inside my dorm room

serves as much of a satisfying replacement for playing the game as I can get. Robinson refers to

this sense of satisfaction when he writes, As long as you remain part of it, its alive. Although I

have given up playing baseball competitively, my passion for analyzing the game allows me to

keep baseball as an important aspect of my life.

Robison Reflection #4-

During the final chapters of Look Me in the Eye, John Robison reflects on his experience

undergoing a diagnosis late in his lifespan, which sheds light onto how his life could have

changed with an earlier diagnosis. Although there may not be a clear preference for Robison, or

anyone diagnosed, there are certainly advantages and disadvantages to both. One advantage of

an early diagnosis is an increased chance of successful treatment or therapy to cure or at least

limit negative effects. Furthermore, an early diagnosis supplies the individual with the

necessary information for decision-making and advanced planning. On the other hand,

knowledge of a disease or condition often leads to emotions, such as anger, depression, shock,

and fear, that end up controlling the individuals life.

Additionally, once someone becomes aware of their diagnosis, their friends and family

may treat them differently. While it is important to show concern, many diagnosed individuals

will not want to see their relationships and interactions with their loved ones change because

of their diagnosis. Personally, I try to avoid treating someone as if they are labeled by a

diagnosis because if I were in their shoes I would want to experience life as if I was not limited

by the condition. However, I will admit it is difficult not expressing additional sympathy towards

these individuals. In all, while some individuals must cope with unfortunate circumstances, we

are all humans and deserve the same right to happiness and success.