Freshman Composition
Critical and Argumentative Writing
Blogging in the Blogosphere
English 100 and 103
FORMAT:
When you blog, in the Title, write your first and last name as you would as if you are turning in a paper to me. Then you do not have to write my name because I know you are in my class. Write what English class you are in whether it is English 52, 60, 100 and what College.
For example, one would write:
Yue Hayes
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #1
Homelessness
Font size
In addition, for the title, pick the topic of discussion, grammar/organization, content, current events, pop culture or literature as a TITLE that we have discussed in class. Write the posts like this: write #1 Post or #2 Post or Post #50, so I can easily keep track of them and how many you write.
Of course, you are welcome to write more than several posts, and in doing so is another form of participation and does count in the participation grade. Perhaps, in class, you may not participate all that much but in the realm of the blogosphere, you can from the comfort of your own home,
* reflect on the day's class discussion or offer up an insight that you found particularly interesting, etc., etc.
*
* How does it change the way you think or thought before on the subject?
*
* What actions might you take in the future? Anything is open to interpretation.
Of course, I need not go on and on about being respectful towards your peers' opinions and beliefs. If you disagree with another student's views be discreet about it: Do not say so and so is completely wrong because of this and that. Instead, say, I disagree with so and so and here are the reasons why I do. Go after their evidence and support and do not, I repeat do not attack someone else personally. This is supposed to be a forum for everyone to share their ideas and views.
*I will enforce the blogosphere by either deleting your hard work, making an example out of you here in the realm of the blogosphere or in class* . . .
3,403 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 3001 – 3200 of 3403 Newer› Newest»Belinda Avila
English 110
Goldenwest College
Post #12
The Things They Carried
Readings based off of wartime always make me feel very bad for the characters. The things the characters physically carried were symbols of what they were really caring mentally, emotionally, and physically. For example, Ted Lavender is carrying Marijuana and tranquelizors, this represents to me a reality to escape to. He does not want to be present in his reality. I like that "Rat Kiley carried comic books"(2) because it made me think that he was holding onto his childhood and did not want to lose his innocence. Henry Dobbins carries his girlfriend's pantyhose around his neck. This represents to me that he seeks comfort and not to feel alone from the pantyhose. Although this story was very long I enjoyed seeing the symbolism more than the actual storyline.
Penelope Bwalya
English 110
GWC
November 22nd,2009
Poetry Reading
It was such an honor to be in the presence of such exquisite writers. Thanks again to Mr. Hsiao who made it possible. I really enjoyed myself. I enjoyed a couple of readings. The first reading was “THE DECANTER” by Mr. Bill Mohr. He reminiscent of his dead friend’s life of how fun their dinners were and what kind of a friend he was. Mr. Mohr brought the story to life. I felt as if I was there, in the story. The second poem was “Majestic Beneath Her Umbrella”, by Mr. Michael Estabrook. In this reading he compared the two women his mother and his wife and how their roles as women have changed with time. Instead of his wife staying home and doing house chores like his mother used to, she opted to reading a book at the beach under the umbrella. This shows how much freedom we women have. The third was “In the Summer We Eat Roses” by Mr. Michael Buckley. Warren is a young man being raised by his dad who works at a restaurant. He as a brother whom he feeds because of the accident that left him brain dead, and Sylvia the girl next door he can not stop thinking about. “We eat rose petals ‘til all that’s left is a hard green nugget and all else is night around us and I look at you and see me and you look at me and see you” (p.49). His father knows that his other son will eventually die so he tries to prepare Warren for the worst, “People like Virge die all the time” (p47) says his dad. After the readings I stayed to get autographs. My book is signed and I am happy.
Penelope Bwalya
English 110
GWC
November 24th, 2009
The Things They Carried
“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien is a story about a young First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross who was in charge of his troops and in-love with a young woman named Martha. Their struggles and how they wear a mask to their feeling thing The journey they went on, what they brought with them and how they used it. Every situation was different, sometimes they carried things by necessity, or by its use on the field, the assigned mission, sometimes they thought about superstition. They carried things like photos, radios, tranquilizer, disease, maps, M-79, M-16, AK 47s and the list goes on. These things expressed the burdens and stresses and the path each person took and how they dealt with their fears. It also shows what happens when one is distracted and, or is on drugs.
Penelope Bwalya
English 110
GWC
November 24th, 2009
The Things They Carried
“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien is a story about a young First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross who was in charge of his troops and in-love with a young woman named Martha. Their struggles and how they wear a mask to their feeling thing The journey they went on, what they brought with them and how they used it. Every situation was different, sometimes they carried things by necessity, or by its use on the field, the assigned mission, sometimes they thought about superstition. They carried things like photos, radios, tranquilizer, disease, maps, M-79, M-16, AK 47s and the list goes on. These things expressed the burdens and stresses and the path each person took and how they dealt with their fears. It also shows what happens when one is distracted and, or is on drugs.
3000?? yay!! :D
3001?? double YAY!!
Thuy-Anh Angela Nguyen
English 110
GWC
Post #13
The Getty Museum
Saturdays usually consists of stressful work at Medizen Advanced Imaging, but that wasn’t the case for me last weekend. We have been low on staff lately, and it had been impossible to take weekends off for almost an entire year. Being the supervisor, it has always been my responsibility to facilitate a decent amount of workers per shift. To make a long story short, I was able to train a new employee in time to cover for me. When it came to any patient complaints or any important matters, I had the girls at the office call me immediately.
I had arrived at Cerritos College early and got a chance to talk to a few of my classmates. Professor Hsiao had us freeze in the cold for over an hour until we were able to get some breakfast. Oscar had told some of us that Hsiao always takes his students out to Mexican food, and he turned out to be right! I ended up getting a huge coma and slept all the way through the trip to the museum. When we arrived, Professor Hsiao said he was going to put us into groups by our classes. The funny thing was, we all ended up separated from each other and got back together in the end.
After hearing about the Getty from so many people, I was excited to see what the museum had! I got to admit, I was a bit disappointed, because I was expecting more artwork. After having gone to the Lourve in Paris, the tour within the Vatican, and many other places in Europe, I had grown high expectations. On the bright side, I enjoyed Irving Penn’s photography Exhibition. There were many different rooms and each of them had a title such as “Worlds in a Small Room”, “New York Trades”, “Platinum/ Palladium Prints”, and “One Trade, Three Cities.” My favorite room was “One Trade, Three Cities”, because Penn displayed different images of the same occupation from London, Paris, and New York. There were firefighters, painters, butchers, police officers, and etc. It was amazing to show how some occupations are universal all around the world. Even though the dress attire was different, but there were distinct things about them that allowed anyone from a different city know what of job they had. I like the comparison and contrast that Irving Penn made with all the occupations from his travel to different cities. On the West building, I was able to see Vincent Van Gogh’s “Irises” painting, and as well as one of my favorite painters’ artwork, Monet. Since I was probably too mesmerized by these paintings, I lost both Belinda and Penelope for a tad bit.
After having seen almost all of the galleries, Belinda, Penelope and I decided to sit in the garden maze. It was nice to listen to Penelope’s sharing on the differences between living in Africa and here. She told me that the people over there were closer to their neighbors, unlike over here. Dating customs within tribes are different from the ones within the city. It was nice to be able to bond with these two girls, and I would love to do it again.
Ricky Castellanos
Eng 110
Professor Hsiao
November 24, 2009
Poetry Reading: November 22nd-
When I was introduced to the opportunity to attend poetry readings at a Borders bookstore in Long Beach, the idea did not strike me as being very exciting. I imagined a gloomy candlelit room filled with poets of wild styles reading writings that were too difficult to understand. Contrary to what I believed, the setting of the poetry readings was very relaxed and every poet looked extremely ordinary. At this event, passionate authors exposed their creativity to those who shared a common interest in poetry or exposed amateurs who had yet to experience such creativity. The readings were a new experience for me as I was among the amateurs in the crowd. I found it interesting that with a minor introduction and a reading from each poet, one could get a real sense of the poet’s personality. Though I will admit, some of the readings lost me completely for analyzing literature is not one of my strengths, but the readings I understood, were thought provoking and/or entertaining. Following the poetry session we were presented with yet another opportunity to interact with fellow classmates over dinner at Hof’s Hut. The food was good but the company was better. After dinner everyone that attended stood up, introduced himself or herself, and gave a mini-speech about “The Hsiao Experience,” a.k.a. “The Hsiaoshank Redemption,” I still laugh about that comment. Its was an entertaining night and a pleasant experience.
The Getty Experience-
Waking up at seven in the morning to attend a field trip after a night on Main St. was not an easy task. The smell of Jack Daniels seeped from my pores and the massive hangover was beginning to settle in but sleeping in was not an option. Fortunately, the “Super Big Gulp” size coffee I chugged as I drove to Cerritos College combined with ibuprofen tablet supplied by Mr. Hsiao, helped me pull through and carry on with the rest of the day. Regardless of the difficulty I experienced that morning, the field trip to the Getty Museum was an amazing experience, to say the least. All aspects of art have sparked my interest from a young age and being in a setting surrounded by masterpieces I had only heard of was quite the experience; the opportunity to see works of world renown artists at inches in proximity, was mind-blowing. All aspects of the museum were fascinating, ranging from the landscaping of the botanical garden to the panoramic view of the city of Los Angeles. In addition to the actual museum, the fact that we were able to spend quality time with the classmates that participated in the activity made the trip to the Getty more memorable than it already was. The opportunity to interact with my fellow classmates outside of the actual classroom was nice because I got to see sides of them that I would not have otherwise. Oscar in particular, had us laughing our heads off with tales of his rainy-day bicycle riding adventures as we marinated in the Botanical Garden. Although the time spent at the Getty was not sufficient enough to see all that it had to offer, the combination of the museum with the interaction between classmates made this trip an experience to remember.
Thuy-Anh Angela Nguyen
English 110
GWC
Post #14
Poetry Reading at Border’s
After enjoying the poetry reading held at Golden West College, I knew I wanted to attend another. The turnout was great! Once again, most of the people who attended were from Professor Hsiao’s’ english classes. Since I am horrible with names, I wasn’t able to remember most of the poets that were there. However, I did remember some of the poetry that appealed to me that night. The first one was “Go Go Girls.” It talked about how this well-known go go dancer was unhappy with her work, especially dancing to cheaters, liars, and perverted men. Her husband had talked her into doing it as well. Throughout the poem, she ended up leaving the job and overcame obstacles from her dying marriage. She began to travel and enjoy life with her two kids. There was one, which I believe was called “The Decanter”, which talks about the poet’s memory of coming over to a house of a poet who had just passed away. I don’t remember what he said, but I loved the way he expressed his words and his feelings during his reading. It helped me become engaged with what was going on. A UCLA professor came up and read a poem about a teenage love story about a boy taking care of his brother, that is in a coma, and his expression of his feelings to the girl he likes. Since it was quite long, he sort of lost me until I heard him read about the boy saying to the girl with something like this: “Even if I take my brother’s heart and roll it up with glitter in a pan, it won’t shine as much as mines would when I see you.” That was absolutely beautiful. I believe, there was a poem, written by someone by the name of Louise Penya, who spoke about her feelings of apathy. The lines from her poem that hit me were, “I lost the feeling, the lost meaning. I think about editing the past and the future. I think about the unconsciousness and the consciousness. The emptiness was not filled, just gone.” Her words of expression were so eloquent and deep. One of the funny poets read about his father’s belly lint, and how his father once let him and his brother pick on all his “intimate parts” while he was asleep. It wasn’t disgusting at all, because I found it to be an intimate bonding which a father shares with his sons. The poet now lets his own son do the same his belly lint. Last but not least, Gregory Moore read “Internal Affairs” which had three quotes in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, but only two of them were really by him. I wasn’t able to distinguish which was which because it has been years since I have read Hamlet.
After the poetry reading, we all walked to Hof’s Hut to bond! I think this was the most memorable part of the night. Once again, I was able to grow closer to my classmates, and have extended conversations about our lives. It’s amazing how well our classmates come together after just a couple weeks of this course. By the end up the night, each of us was able to have our own spotlight to share about what we had learned in the course. Everyone had something meaningful to share, and we all showed out gratitude to Professor’s Hsiao. It was, indeed, a memorable night.
Liza Heacox
Eng 110
GWC
Post # 11
Poetry Reading 11/22
Movie Stars and Machinists
Hearing poetry read is like walking through an art gallery. In an art gallery, the viewer moves from room to room as their eyes take in the many different works of art. One may stop to soak in a cubist painting by Picasso or pause to ponder a surrealist painting by Dali. Incredibly different in their approach, yet both are equally respected and enjoyed. On Sunday I attended my first poetry reading. The night began at a great Salvadorian restaurant in Long Beach with my mom. I fumbled through my Spanish and ordered some excellent pupusas and Salvadorian horchata. My mom and I discussed what we expected the poetry reading to be like. Neither of us had attended a poetry reading, and we were curious how the night was going to pan out. We arrived at the bookstore an hour early and made a beeline for the bargain books. After perusing the literature for a few minutes we noticed a handful of people were already headed upstairs. I was surprised to see so many people in attendance to this poetry reading. I never knew, rather the thought had never crossed my mind, that a poetry reading could draw such a crowd. As each poet began to read their works of art, I felt like I was walking from room to room in an art gallery. Of course I was stationary in the stuffy, crowded bookstore, but the movement came from the spoken words and the changing of the poets. Some of the poems made me laugh and others left me confused. The emotions conveyed were raw and real. While I heard the pieces read, my mind wondered more about the individuals. What provoked the girl to lie in bed and look for answers in her ceiling? Why was this woman wearing a hat and sunglasses in the evening, in a bookstore? Just why did that father allow his son to pull the lint from his belly button, and why did the son choose that topic to write about? I like to experience new environments and situations, and an evening listening to poetry was just that. Surrounded by many new faces, in a place not often frequented, I stood for an hour as people dumped their thoughts, hearts and emotions for me to scrutinize, appreciate and relate to. I am impressed by the courage that people possess to throw words on paper like paint on a canvas, and leave the ultimate interpretation to the reader. The only poem I can remember writing was a Haiku in fourth grade that probably could equate to a marginal finger painting. The literary community present appeared tight knit and offered a great web of support for the up and coming poet. Many ages and walks of life were represented and I believe that to be what I enjoyed the most. After the group photo my mom and I left. Happy to get some fresh air as we walked outside, I felt accomplished.
Heather Brown
GWC
Eng 110
Post # uugh
The Things They Carried
This story was very sad, yet very interesting because of the diverse characters. Tim O'Brien's story was based on the Vietnam War soldiers. He writes about the way the soldiers coped with death and their emotions.
While I was reading the story I noticed how every physical object they carried he gave a weight. He emphasized how much each thing weighed,and while he mentioned the emotional hurt they carried he didn't mention weight at all. I believe he was doing this to prove that emotions and damaged psyche have no measurement of how "heavy" they truly are. Each person in this story seemed to have Post Traumatic-Stress Disorder. The story also demonstrated how each person needs to find their own way to cope with the trauma they see and experience every day.
Besides the story being sad, it was especially hard for me to read because my father had PTSD. When I was 9 I remember him telling me stories from when he was in the Persian Gulf War. He told me his job was to guide oil tankers and other types of boats through the water, mainly helping to navigate ships around mines. One of the very few things he ever discussed with me was about a time where one ship his boat was guiding, had moved off course,hit a mine and went up in flames. The way he told the story was clear he still had felt guilty although years had passed.
Another story he told me was about goat carcasses that were thrown into the water as some sort of psychological warfare. Their throats were slashed, and as they were floating in the water, water snakes eating the carcasses. As he was telling me about the goats, what he detailed was the sound of the goat carcasses hitting his ships' hull.
Reading The Things They Carried makes me more thankful for all the soldiers and what they do, have done, and will do for others safety. PTSD is a very sad and real thing. Instead of turning a blind-eye to it and labeling it as some other psychological disorder, we should let the soldier talk, and HELP them, not forget them or ignore their psychological distress.
Thuy-Anh Angela Nguyen
English 110
GWC
Post #15
The Things They Carried
It took quite a long time to for me to finish this reading. I think I had to take several eye breaks from time to time. The story focuses on the protagonist, 1st Lieutenant Jimmy Cross and his platoon. Due to Ted Lavender's death by being shot, Jimmy Cross consumes himself with the blame and being the cause of it. The only thing he seems to anchor himself with to "escape" are his feelings and his yearnings for a girl named Martha. The rest of the story is focused on the tangible and intangible things that Jimmy Cross and his platoon carries with them on their missions. Though they are often lost on what to do and where to go, they were "...never be at loss for the things to carry" (11). Based on each character's experience, they seem to hold onto something tangible to help them endure with the war. These men have nothing else but these tangible objects to help them deal with these crazy intangible feelings from the horrific effects of war. There are distinct developments in the characters as I continued to read on. Throughout the story, the death of Ted Lavender was repeated over and over again. The style that Ted O'Brian writes with makes me think as if I'm reading about a bunch of memories all at once.
danh ta
english 110
gwc
post i have no idea
the things they carried
the things they carried by tim o brien was actually one of the first things i ever read on my own. i found it at my friends house and i picked it up and couldnt put it down. throughout this reading, tim does such a fantastic job at creating the mood. going so in depth as to count how many ounces they were carrying really made the reader feel the burden which these soldiers carried. in paragraph 16 tim begins speaking of reasons why they actually are a part of the war. they are in the war not for courage, or for honor or valor, rather they are in the war because of the fear of embarassment. this i completely agree with. its tough, and no one really wants to be there, but you gotta do what you gotta do you know? every man who would be placed into this position would feel and think the same things. carry love notes from women who dont love you, smoke dope, rely on religion. all these different things helped them cope with all of the pain. while reading this text, i tried to imagine if i had been in lieutenant cross's platoon and what i woulda done. i honestly thought and about it and i think i woulda gone crazy. the endless marching, the ever presence of death, the fear, killing people, and trench foot. TRENCH FOOT! people die from that! i can barely keep my sanity right now let alone being a soldier in those conditions. i also appreciated the fact that it was about the vietnam war. growing up vietnamese, ive been exposed to very different views of the vietnam war. angry vietnamese people, angry american people, thankful vietnamese people, havent really met any thankful american people and i completely understand why, but there are a lot of mixed feelings about this war. it was nice to understand from a soldiers perspective of what they had gone through...
danh ta
english 110
gwc
post i dont know!
poetry reading at borders
i lalalalaloved (i forgot her name) the ladies poem, "good wives dont drive". i thought it was funny and i loved her sense of humor. another one that i liked was the very long "short" story by the very handsome young man with the son. i found it very easy to follow along and focus on his story. i could hear and understand the thoughts of the kid in the story and what he has to be going through. and my most FAVORITE! BELLY BUTTON LINT! haha although the poem had a very funny topic, the poem was actually beautiful. "i will always remember him letting me pick out his most intimate of body parts"... hahhaa the dinner afterwards was great too. i ordered my first ever alcoholic beverages without being carded MUAHAHHAHAHA! of course, being a part of the hsiao experience, he had to somehow turn the nice dinner into an embarassing, "bond building", experience about his class. lol. all in all i had a very good time and i do not regret going at all. mr hsiao is showing me different things in life that i woulda never experienced if i had not met him. thank you sir :)
Oscar Padilla
English 110
GWC
The Things they carried
What an intense story; very emotional. The fact that these men are in war is not the only things they have to face. They also have to face inner emotions that follow them like shadows. Lieutenant Jimmy is in love with a girl named Martha, but she is not in love with him and when she responds to his letters she never mentions the war which means that she does not want to share his fear, feelings, emotions, etc. Throughout the story he always thinks about her and he loses sight of the war and of the rest of his men. I believe that what he is trying to say at the end of the story is that sometimes one forgets who we are because of love, we lose interest in other things and most of the times we are unfocused. Jimmy then realizes that he is not focused on what he has to do because of his love towards Martha and therefore he loses a man. So he gets rid of all the things that brought memories to him about Martha and realizes that she doesn’t love him and that she belongs to another world.
In conclusion, all this men are fighting for other things besides winning the war. Most of them are fighting against fear, emotions, and Lieutenant Jimmy is fighting for Martha’s love until he realizes that she is not meant for him.
Matt Wilkins
English 110
GWC
Post 9ish?
Heart of Darkness
Is anyone else getting seasick while reading this? It seems like it must be either the personal journal or perhaps even a log book from some riverboat captain on the Amazon in the late 1800’s. He is chronicling the journey back from the wilderness after rescuing one Mr. Kurtz who had been stranded among the savages and the beasts for an unknown period of time. It is apparent that Mr. Kurtz is not all there. While he may have full use of his faculties and still have his intelligence, Mr. Kurtz appears to have lost more of him in the wild jungles than he is capable of sharing with the narrating captain. Perhaps the good Mr. Kurtz was a captive of the savages. That would explain why they were so upset by the escape of the boat and its passengers. Joseph Conrad tells of how “the crowd, of whose presence behind the curtain of trees I had been acutely conscious all the time, flowed out of the woods again, filled the clearing, covered the slope with a mass of naked, breathing, quivering, bronze bodies” (4). They chase after the boat until the engines mixed with the downstream current had carried it out of any possible reach. The escape from his captors is not enough to ease the mind of Mr. Kurtz though, as he rests in the safety of the boat he shares with Mr. Conrad “the Horror! The Horror!” of what he had experienced in the custody of the natives without ever expressing the details. At last in the safety of a boat heading back to civilization Mr. Kurtz dies, and he takes his frightening tale with him.
Sarah Takeda
Eng G110
GWC
post #5
poetry reading
The poetry reading on November 21st was nice. It was the first poetry reading I have ever been to. Poetry really isn’t my “thing” so having to listen to a bunch of poems and short stories was different. I do not remember all of them or what they were all about. One of the ones I do remember was the one about Hawaii and how the author saw it through the eyes of a real Hawaiian, or something like that, the real Hawaiian being his wife. I cannot say that I really related to the poems or short stories, but I enjoyed them nonetheless. The other poem I remember was the go-go dancing one. My friend liked that one because he said he could relate to it. He likes to dance, me, not so much. The dinner after was nice too. I like the people that sat in front of my friend and I. they were fun to talk to. I really liked his camera, I want one like that. When we had to all get up and say stuff, I got nervous and I opted out of it. I don’t like talking in front of other people. I like to act on stage though, but I haven’t done it since the eighth grade.
Ricky Castellanos
Eng 110
G-Dub
POST ?
The Things They Carried-
In this story, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross led a platoon of 17 men who became 16 after one of his men was shot. Throughout the story the author describes necessities of survival that the soldiers have to carry while patrolling the fields of war. In some cases, soldiers would carry additional objects that made their loads heavier, whether they be for superstitious reasons, personal gratification, additional safety, or all of the above. Lt. Jimmy Cross carried the heaviest load of them all, love. His love for Martha put the lives of the platoon at risk, for this load manipulated his every action. He would find his thoughts wandering off when his concentration should have been on other things. More than a war story, this is a story of love, and how love can manipulate a person in every sense. One can lose track of priorities and lose all sense of responsibility when in love, or vice versa. Love is a powerful feeling that can bring a world together, or rip it apart. The saying that says, “it is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all,” I disagree with, because if the love is destroying a physiological world that inevitably controls the physical world, then it is a destructive emotion that should be avoided. Jimmy Cross saw himself being controlled by this emotion and let it free.
Katherine Nguyen
Eng 110
GWC
The Things They Carried
I enjoyed reading this because it gave me a sense of how these soldiers were. It was cute how Jimmy carried a pebble with him because it reminded him of a girl, Martha. Being in a war is difficult and sometimes we need something with them to keep them motivated and sane. Everything that they carried in the war had some meaning to them. Some had good luck charms, and others just had some things that reminded them of their loved ones. Its sad to see how all these people die in a war, and we don’t really get to see the soldiers as an individual, but them fighting as a whole. In this story, we got to explore their personalities and see what kind of person they are. They are very courageous. My grandfather fought in a war too. He can’t hear quite well because of all the explosives. He got blind in one eye. He’s been through a lot. Though he doesn’t tell me stories of it, I wish I could hear how it was like. Of course it wasn’t great at all, and I respect him for being courageous and risking his life for us.
Beatrice Fisher
English 110
GWC
Post 24
Poetry Reading
The Poetry Reading we went to was interesting. :) I enjoyed watching people read their own work, especially those who were very animated with their hands. I would have to say one of my favorites was the man who wore the red shirt and mentioned cheese quesadillas and onions in his poem. It was just sweet, a love poem in disguise. It was interesting to hear all the different poems and that these were all published works. It made me wonder what makes a good poem good? I mean, some of them were so random like the guy who wrote about his dad’s brain??? Like I said, interesting. My favorite part of the night was of course having dinner all together. I think we should plan one last dinner to end the semester. It was nice to just hang together. I sat near Kevin, Samantha, her boyfriend, Josh and John. We should have played a bit of musical chairs only to allow us to all hang. Anyway, I had a great time, it was sweet just hearing all the sappy things everyone had to say about Mr. Hsiao.
Beatrice Fisher
English 110
GWC
Post 25
Going to Meet the Man
Okay, talk about disturbing. When Mr. Hsiao described this reading as being very explicit I was thinking something more on the lines of X rated. I don’t know why I thought that, I should have known. But this? Seriously, I was hoping we might be able to come to an end of the semester with happier readings, not stories that leave you disturbed. What can I write? To say it is sad is an understatement. To say that it is sick and disgusting that people like this actually existed and probably still do in secret is also an understatement. I read it and thought how sad that there actually were people whose lives ended in a similar manner. It was awful to think that although this short story might not have been based on a true story, there probably are true stories that played out just like this. It made me think how powerful and influential parents are in their children’s thoughts and future. I don’t know what to write about this piece. Mr. Hsiao was right. It is graphic and makes you sick. It is even more sick that the guy gets off when thinking about these sick memories. I don’t have many other words to write. I may have more to say by discussion day but for now…I’m a bit lost for words.
Esmeralda Orozco
english100
cc
post???
LAST NIGHT
SO LAST NIGHT AFTER CLASS MY LIL BRO TEX ME SO WE CAN TALK I FOUND IT STRANG SINCE WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT IN A LONG TIME WE WENT TO THE STARBUCKS BY THE HOUSE WE TALKED ABOUT HIS LIFE AS A MAN LOL AND MINE AS A STUDENT IT WAS KUTE WE AGREED WE HAD TO DO IT ONCE A WEEK I STILL REAMEMER WELL HE KINDA REMINDED ME HOW WE USE TO FIGHT ABOUT ALL HE LITTLE THINGS THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR THE BAD NAMES I USE TO BE SOOO VIOLENT THROIN WAT EVER I COULD FIND AT HIM I THINK HE STILL HAS THE NAIL SCARS I LEFT HIM WEN HE DIDNT WANT TO GIVE ME THE CONTROL LOL THAT MON I FOUND OUT MY BRO WAS A MAN HE IS NOT THE LITTLE BOY WE I USE TO MAKE FUN OF OR TRY TO BEAT UP HE KNOWS WAT HE WANTS AND IM PROUD OF HIM HE IS A MAN OF HIS WORD IF HE SAYS SOMETHING IT IS CUZ HE WILL DO IT LOL HE TOLD ME IS PLAN WAS TO SPOIL ME IN THE FUTURE CUZ I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR HIM I HAVE TO SAY I WANTED TO CRY BUT I DOT WANT HIM TO DO THAT ALTHOUGH MY BRO CAN HAVE A TEMBER HE IS VERY LOVING AND SWEAT BUT WEN WE ARE TOTAL OPP HE IS MORE OR A REBEL DOES WAT HE WANTS TELLS U WAT HE FEELS AND DOES NOT GIVE A RATS BUTT IF HE IS MAD HE WILL NOT GET OVER IT GOR YEARS AND YEARS LOL BUT NO MATTTER HOW MEAN HE IS EVERYONE LOVES HIM AND RESPECTS HIM CUZ HE IS NOT A BAD KID WELL YOUNG MAN I LOVE MY BRO SOOO MUCH AND WHILE WE SAT THERE DRINKING I STARTED AT HIM BEHIND THE COMP (THAT HE WILL NEVER LET ME TOUCH LOL) AND SAW SOMEONE WHO I WAS PROUD TO CALL MY BRO I HAVE 2 BRO AND ALTHOUGH I LOVE BOTH OF THEM MY LITTLE BRO AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOGETHER AND UNLIKE THE OTHER ONE U CAN HAVE A LONG CONVERSATION WITH OUT ANY SCREAMS
katherine nguyen
english 110
gwc
holocaust speaker
ok so i drive down to cerritoes to hear the holocaust speaker. he's been through alot and i admire how he loves to share his experience with us. i enjoyed listening to what hes gone through because it makes him strong. some people have such bad memories from it, and sometimes expressing it really helps. it was all a very good experience, EXCEPT when i came bacck to my car at home depot and it WASNT there!!!!! it got towed, all the way down to WHITTIER.. oh man oh man.. 215 bucks down the drain.. i would say NEVER ever park there because that was the worst thing ever! my name wasnt even registered for the car, so it toook forever to even get it back. holymoly. what a day..
well now time to enjoy some turkey, and no money to spend for black friday -_- HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE
katherine nguyen
english 110
gwc
holocaust speaker
ok so i drive down to cerritoes to hear the holocaust speaker. he's been through alot and i admire how he loves to share his experience with us. i enjoyed listening to what hes gone through because it makes him strong. some people have such bad memories from it, and sometimes expressing it really helps. it was all a very good experience, EXCEPT when i came bacck to my car at home depot and it WASNT there!!!!! it got towed, all the way down to WHITTIER.. oh man oh man.. 215 bucks down the drain.. i would say NEVER ever park there because that was the worst thing ever! my name wasnt even registered for the car, so it toook forever to even get it back. holymoly. what a day..
well now time to enjoy some turkey, and no money to spend for black friday -_- HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE
katherine nguyen
english 110
gwc
holocaust speaker
ok so i drive down to cerritoes to hear the holocaust speaker. he's been through alot and i admire how he loves to share his experience with us. i enjoyed listening to what hes gone through because it makes him strong. some people have such bad memories from it, and sometimes expressing it really helps. it was all a very good experience, EXCEPT when i came bacck to my car at home depot and it WASNT there!!!!! it got towed, all the way down to WHITTIER.. oh man oh man.. 215 bucks down the drain.. i would say NEVER ever park there because that was the worst thing ever! my name wasnt even registered for the car, so it toook forever to even get it back. holymoly. what a day..
well now time to enjoy some turkey, and no money to spend for black friday -_- HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #74
Today’s class
Wow. I really enjoyed today’s class. Not only because of the food…yum btw; But because we got to listen to such a great speaker. His stories were very moving and he was really precise. He mapped out the whole scenario on the board and I thought that was cool. I did not get a chance to speak with him one on one; I would probably weep if I did though. But, I am glad we all got to take a picture with him. He has been through a lot and he still maintains a positive outlook on life and I admire that. I loved his accent too. Also, getting to see his birth certificate and the pictures were cool too. He is really deep into his research (as we should be with our papers…lol). I am really glad that Mr. Hsiao gave us all the opportunity to listen to such a great man. I will never forget it. Oh and whoever made the macaroni salad…thank you!
Yi-Hui Chiang
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #26
I'm sorry to hear that, Katherine! It was nice to see you again in Cerritos though.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! =)
Hope everyone is having a good time with families. And yeah, it's time to go shopping. Hope everyone can get a good deal on Black Friday!
Andrew Murphy
Eng103
Cerritos College
Post#28
Mr. Davies Speaking & "Facebook"
It was a real treat to hear history from a live perspective. I decided to post both these together because they sort of go hand-in-hand. Mr Davies kept reiterating how an important tool the internet plays on socities work bench. Many of us have taken advantage of the numerous social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter (never got into it). I thought about how hard it would be to find one's self, family, etc without any of todays resources. I wouldn't know where to start. It just shows how much character and determination Mr. Davies had even as a child. having to leave his home country at an early age and be in hiding, then to finally find somewhere that he could call "home" he would once more have to leave for his well-being. It is sad how history keeps repeating past mistakes. Within a couple years too many of the remaining survivors of WWII will be gone. The only way to tell history now is through black and white pages or the history channel (WWII in HD - so awesome). Our class was treated to hear these stories and be able to become 2nd hand historians. Being able to hear real accounts rather than phonie ones Hollywood gives us (Pearl Harbor Film in mind =/ ) I was lucky enough to hear WWII stories from my grandfathers who served in Europe (Navy & Marines) along with my friend's grandparents both from Poland and Norway while WWII was going on. (The grandfathers mom and sister were executed by the Bolchiviks too). I can go on and on about how much it means to hear real accounts of some of the most important world history.
Facebook.
I do not entirely agree with this article. Yes some people can get geniunely happy over facebook comments and posts, but is it real? I mean we have been brought up without these social networking sites for years; doing things the "old fashioned" way. Then mid way through our lives *BoOm* these come about. There has been a tremendous verbal alienation epidemic that has spread throughout the world. Remember when you actually used the house phone to call other house phones and ask if Jimmy is home and if he can play? There has been a significant cutback on calls. texting is the new way to speak to one another. If Darwin's evolution theories are correct then in later years humans might evolve to have no tongues seeing as we probbaly won't need them.
Yada yada yada - hope to discuss in class
Penelope Bwalya
English 110
GWC
November 28th, 2009.
Man’s Search for Meaning
In the story, “Man’s Search for Meaning”, by Viktor E. Frankl, the author emphasizes how to survive when faced with a tragedy. He also expressed that the human body can wither away due to starvation, but one’s conscience is mighty powerful, and it can pull one out of life’s turmoil’s. The mind is a very powerful thing. When the author became a prisoner he was stripped of his identity, and, his well being was reduced to nothing because of torture. How he endured and lived to tell this sad story about his life as an inmate during the holocaust is beyond belief. He suffered both physically and mentally. The only thing that kept him going was to mentally retreat and hold on to what he held dear; like memories of his wife and his daily routine at his house. He insists on listening to the subconscious and letting it guide one in difficult times and to never give up. He also talks about the human body, specifically his body, and what it went through and how it adapted to the new environment. His body withered due to hunger but the only thing that kept keep from drowning in pain was his subconscious. In “Man’s Search for Meaning”Viktor E. Frankl wrote “This intensification of inner life helped the prisoner find a refuge from the emptiness, desolation, and spiritual poverty of his existence, by letting him escape into the past”(10). Decisions are made every day to help one choose his path in life.
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 75
Going to Meet the Man
This reading was the most unusual and disturbing pieces I have read since I have been in this class. It starts off with the main character, Jesse trying to make love with his wife. He is clearly not focused in the consummating process. Something is on his mind. He tried thinking of something to get him into the spirit of the situation. He thought about a black girl pleasuring him. When I read this part, I thought that he an attraction for a black girl from his past, but as I read on I took back my opinion. I believe the hatred he felt for black people and being able to take control of the situation by picturing himself with a black woman was his way of speeding up the process. As, I kept reading I understand while he was a sheriff he has had sexual experiences with the black women he hated. He used their bodies just as much as he believed they used his own. He is torn between being a good husband and a sheriff who is prejudiced and cheats on his wife with random black women. As he tried to sleep thoughts of his past raced through his head. He thought about black people and his hatred for them grew. He once thought he killed a boy by severely beating him because the boys’ people would not stop their singing. This boy would not give up without a fight. Just when Jesse thought the boy was dead, the boy stated “We going to keep on singing until every one of you miserable white mothers go stark raving out of your minds” (6). I admire the young for doing so. He was speaking his mind and his voice was going to be heard no matter what. What Jesse noticed was that he had seen this young boy before. In their first meeting the boy had refused to let him speak to a woman known as Old Julia. This refusal added more heat to Jesse’s fire and made him want to hurt him some more, but he backed off. To me, hearing the black people sing made Jesse feel both guilt and resentment. More resentment than guilt though. He hated black people, but also he felt guilty because he knew their singing was for his mercy. Another memory from his past trickled through his mind. As a child he remembered going to a picnic that his father promised that he would never forget. And this much is true. They were to witness the execution of a black man who did a white person wrong. It was not discussed what exactly he had done, only knocked a woman named Miss Standish down. Whatever he did, the white people wanted him to suffer for it and he certainly did. He was hung, severely burned, beaten, humiliated and castrated for all to see. As a young child Jesse was both terrified of the situation but glad his father brought him to experience it. I cannot believe that these people would even consider this black man an animal. If he is such a horrible person, then what does the torture they gave him make them? Also, I think that it was so wrong for Jesse’s father to bring his son to witness it all. But, I am guessing the thought of the suffering of the black people in his past got some sort of a rise out of him. He proceeded with the love making and had no problem after that. All I can say is WOW! If that does not get your juices flowing than I do not know what will! : Sarcasm: This “man” is something else.
Brandon Hebert
Goldenwest
Eng110
Post:40ish
FACEBOOK
social networking is a good thing for society.
1.) it helps friends and family to keep connectd together in an instantaneous and fun way. This means that relationships that would normally stand neglected and deteriorate are kept alive.
2.) Im not sure where i heard this but the human social complex is only capable of handling about 150 friends/family/etc. after that it becomes almost impossible to maintain all the relationships. but with social networking it is possible to bridge the gap in 'in person meetings' and continue a relationship if only through social networking.
3.) Social networking enriches modern culture. Indeed myspace, facebook, and twitter have become part of the post-modern culture. There is all sorts of slang terms, jokes, puns, phrases etc. associated with social networking. Social networking promotes communication. That is the whole point of it. Although we don our own personas, there is still a sense of anonymity through the feeling of being 'untouchable' in a tangible real-world sense.
as far as evolving beyond the tongue. We use our tongues for more than speaking eh? for the record I mean singing notes, but i suppose it could be taken the other way as well.
Archie Kaaua
Professor Hsiao
English 110
Golden West College
November 29, 2009
Post 38
Poetry in Long Beach
This meeting was different than the one in H.B. It lacked the free cookies and coffee for starters and when I arrived early there was no place to sit. I talked Whitney into going and saw that she had gotten one of the last seats. I stood for a while listening to the poet who talked about Hawaii. After he mispronounced kanaka, the rest of it kind of had little appeal. I mean, how hard can it be? Ka-na-ka…. His description of the Hawaiian people was kind of accurate as they seem to have a belly and strong other features if they are in shape. The other poets continued to read but I faded fast and had to find a place to sit. I finally found it and was able to hear bits and pieces form the side where I found the seat toward the back. I appreciate the quality use of metaphors in the reading about one person visiting a dying friend. I did not get much past that as people (rude people) began to talk. After the reading a large part of the class went over to Hoff’s Hut for dinner. I had eaten too much before I came so I only had a coffee. After the food, Professor Hsiao made it a point to embarrass everyone by asking for individual impromptu speeches. Here is where it got interesting: First we had a speech from one of the top students who thanked Professor Hsiao for all of the teachings we received. Later one student after another would basically share their point of view with a similar end. It was my turn and I was asked to stand on a wall that was about a foot high. I did not want to make the climb, so I decided to just give my speech form there. I told how I was able to use my skills that I learned in Professor Hsiao’s class and have already used them in other classes to get As. I also told other students that they could expect the same results from the white book as the MLA format that is used with the given procedure was well liked by other professors at GWC. The last bunch of students form Cerritos College was the most interesting. A tall girl who forgot her meds told us that she thought professor Hsiao was an *******. I thought, “Did I hear that right”? Then she said something else about the long list of pet peeves that we all got and probably worried about. I can understand how she felt, but I think that I would have chosen a different set of words. Anyway, it was a good experience.
Macey Lindsay-Clinton
English 110
Golden West College
Post #25
Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin
I found this piece to contain a vast amount of religious allusions and symbolism. The story begins with the white man, Jesse, and his wife attempting to have sex. The thought of a black woman gives Jesse excitement and pain. As the story says, "instead of forcing him to act, it made action impossible." (Paragraph 1) There is obviously something holding Jesse back. In religion, sin holds you back from salvation. Thus, there is something blocking Jesse's salvation. As we learn, it is racism and the degeneration of his morals by society. The story goes on to state, "He wanted to let whatever was in him out; but it wouldn't come out... [He] turned again... away from Grace." (Paragraph 2) The religious symbolism in his wife's name Grace is very evident. He literally turns away from Grace, and figuratively turns away from good. In the bible, the fall from grace is when the original sin was created by Adam and Eve. It is very interesting that he turns away from Grace because in the same paragraph he is said to be a good man. A good, God-fearing man would never knowingly turn away from grace. Thus, he is not a good man. The racism he feels prohibits him from acting as the good man he wants to be. As well, in the last line of the paragraph, Jesse asks why the Lord Almighty created the "Niggers". It is not a normal act of a good believer to question the action of God. Jesse has let society shape him so drastically that his hatred for blacks has overcome his love for God. This is further instilled in the end of the story when he accepts his corruption and "fucks" his wife like a "nigger" woman.
I would also like to bring up the importance of singing in the story. Singing is first seen is his flashback to the boy in the jail cell. First, we must note that this is a boy and not a man. The singing of the boy enrages Jesse and he beats him up; the boy is on the brink of death. The reader must wonder what the boy was singing that made him so angry. In Paragraph 8 we read, "They were singing to God. They were singing for mercy and they hoped to go to heaven, and he sometimes felt... that they were singing for mercy for his soul, too." The fact that the Negroes are singing to God shows how Jesse is depraved and possibly jealous. He knows that he hates the singing, but he does not understand why. When they sing to God, they show an upper hand on Jesse. The black people are innocent and being wronged; the white man is being immoral and sining in the abuse of the black people. Jesse constantly blames the black people, but does not realize that he is at fault.
Veronica Vasquez
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #34?
Facebook
By Katie Dailey
I pretty much agree with this article completely. There is no denying the benefits of online relationships as an extra boost in each of our lives, but it does not qualify as a substitute. I won't deny I do spend a lot of my time doing online activities, whether playing video games with total strangers, or having private arguments with close friends I've met before. with that said, I have experienced the full benefit of having online friends, not to mention I am more likely to go up to a stranger in real life and befriend them in the same way I do online.
The big problems with these social networks is more times than not the people that engage in it are engulfed by it. If a shy person never gets any attention, and all of the sudden gets more attention than they would in real life, there is no doubt they would be hooked to the good feelings of the intertubes. The end result will be said person would have more friends "online" than in real life, and when the time comes that said person needs a friend nearby physically, there won't be anyone there. Not to mention it is a lot easier to fake a friendship over the internet than in real life, and people are more likely to say cruel things to people online as well.
Even though I will never touch Facebook, or Myspace, or Twitter, or any concoction of a social network (this blog doesn't count!), I can still see the small benefits from it, but I strongly believe they do not overweigh the bad.
Jaime Valadez
English 100
CC
November 29,2009
Going to meet the man by James Baldwin
This story goes to show how racist our country was and even though things are better racism still affects us. This by far has to be the story with the most violence. This story had me imagining every scene in my mind.This was a sad but good story.
audrey valdivia
english 100
CC
november 30, 2009
ohemm freakin GEE! so last semester this was my favorite story and i was right it still is my favorite. ugh yeah it is very graphic but i mean the story withing the story is just amazing.
just to think that america still has people like that out there is over whelming in itself. but i know i know, how trippy right that he fantasizes a black girl considering everything trip out..i love this story.
Holocaust speaker,
mr. daves
ok so no one really noticed but i got emotional a tad bit. i don't think i could go one in this world with that much wieght on my back. my hat is defo off to him because he puts up a fight and has a string will that is just so incredible to me he is seriously an example to everyone. i thank him alot for coming to speak.
p.s.
my fork broke..thanks for laughing janelle tess n perchilla!
Freddy Villalobos
English 103
Cerritos College
post#??
Facebook
well since i just had this account for a month. to me i just had the same feeling i had when i first created myspace. the only reason i like it itys just the apps. the one i go to the most is the Farmville app and the The cafe world app. those two are the most thisngs i do in facebook. other than that i just see it the same and act the same. to me one of two things come to mind. one is to cath up with old friends and two people have no life.
Janice Silva
English 103
Cerritos College
Post# 24? 25? in the 20's
Facebook
I was not sure if we had to find an article about facebook or our opinion on the social network. So i am going to post on both, regarding to the article.
Article: http://www.nais.org/resources/article.cfm?ItemNumber=151505
This article gave many cons about facebook, but giving insight information of what people do not even think about. I agree, kids under the age of 14 are using facebook more and more, and honestly, i am not very comfortable with it. Kids are still growing and tend to not think things through out, which causes problems for themself. I am a very open minded person, but the internet is very broad, and unfair. Some Kids are easlily influenced with other onlines users pages and ads causing discet that could get them introuble with their parents or their friends. When we think about it, we grow as a person in our teenage years; the teenage phase is the transition between a kid to an adult, where we fall and get up. When we add the internet to this transition phase, it causes the problems in our lifes to be broadcasted everywhere instead of by word of mouth. One thing i did not know about is that some universities look at thier applicants facebook page to see if they are willing the accept the possible student. The internet is not private, and facebook is definetly not. Honestly i do not like facebook, but i still have one. I use my facebook to communicate with friends that i do not have numbers too, and it is easier to get in touch with because i can just expain everything over an email and wait for thier response when they have the time. Another thing with social networks such as facebook, people of all ages are bound to it, addicted. They forget what is like to go and interact with another person. I like using the computer to communicate, but i want to hang out with the people i talk with, to have that "personal" communication. I'm not a facebook fan either way, it's to "nosy", when you post a comment to a person that is meant for them, then "everybody" on your friends list gets to see that comment. Yes, if one does not want others to read it then why post it? I post it because i want to or say something to cheeer them up, unlike myspace where you have to be curious about that person to read their comments istead of having the comment at hand. Myspace has more to it then just commincation, there is music, games, job oppertinities and many other uses to express yourself. It's just me, but facebook is boring in general, but heyy the main use of social networks is to communicate, and ALL networks do a great job.
I like myspace Better ;)
Ibeth Rodriguez
English 100
Cerritos College
Going to Meet the Man
By James Baldwin
This story was so powerful and very descriptive which made it much more interesting. Although it used very strong words to describe African Americans I really enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed reading this story because it scary to think that there are still people who are extremely racist today. I guess the story took place around the 1950's which in that time racism was very common in the South. Jesse had so much hate toward blacks to the point that he could no longer sleep or control his anger. No one is born with the thought of one being racist. Just like Jesse they are taught to be racist by the people who raise or by friends. Jesse was not born a racist he was taught to grow up with that idea by his parents. Children grow up with the same ideas as their parents and often they grow up teaching their children the same lessons. I guess that Jesse finally realized that maybe if his parents would not have taken him to the picnic to go meet the man his thoughts for African Americans would had been different. The moment that changed his life and view for blacks was when he went to the picnic to meet the man. He said he felt happy and that he had wished he was the man with the knife, being a young boy that was something that he should not have been thinking of. We are all taught by our parents to have the same beliefs as them even if those beliefs are bad. Later on when we grown up we think if we want to grow up with the same beliefs as them. That is why when we get older our views from our parents are different, but it takes a while to change our views and beliefs because we still are learning in life.
Yi-Hui Chiang
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #27
Facebook by Kate Dailey
Personally, I think Facebook is good channel to get connected with people. Especially for lazy people like me, who has got tired of social events physically and emotionally, go on Facebook and stay in touch with friends is way easier. I don’t have to dress nice. I don’t have to do my hair. I don’t have to drive. I don’t have to spend money. All I have to do is go on Facebook; this sounds nice with no doubt. With only a few clicks, I can keep myself updated with the latest news in my friend circle, even friends overseas. To be honest, one thing I like Facebook is that it also satisfies my curiosity of people by looking at their posts and pictures.
Some people might make new friends via Facebook as well. You can hide behind the screen, and no one will ever know who you really are if you do not want him/her to know, therefore they cannot judge you. I think that is why some people feel more comfortable chatting online because they don’t feel as confident when talking in person. I have seen some people being completely a different person online than in reality. For example, a very shy person can become very talkative and wild online. The virtual world, in a way, provides people an open space to release themselves.
However, it can never replace the interaction with people in the real world unquestionably. People cannot live alone with just computers; we still need real communication with other people. “The electronic communication where you don’t have to be in the same physical space is going to decrease feelings of isolations,” says Dr. Adams. I totally agree with what he says, but we just have to remind ourselves to use Internet to keep us less isolated, not to make us even more isolated from people and the society. Facebook can be good as long as we have the right mindset and attitude to utilize it.
Kevin Santamaria
english 110
GWC
post#22
Going to Meet the Man
First thought about the story is, I feel bad for this man. He witnessed so much hatred and such extreme atrocities when he was absorbing the world around him, that he implemented racism in his mind in a postive way. It’s interesting how the story starts; he can’t get it up haha. I think it’s kind of ironic how when he does get it up, it’s because the thought of black people. Well since he was exposed to such a f***ed up childhood he now has a f***ed up adult life, as you can tell from the reading. When he was little he witnessed several things that were implamented within him. He witnessed the love and care from his parents, and the joy that filled their eyes from witnessing a massacre of a black man. He witnessed the community that once was join together for a common purpose. He witnessed a man's genitals be chopped off, a black mans, as the community cheered and celebrated. He learned to be racist by witnessing his parents love and state of minds at the burning of a black man. As he witnessed his community come together to kill this black man, he later misses them. It seems as though racism it going away at this time in his adult life. His community is going away. He says people just don’t care. He blames this loss of community of course on black people, building a stronger hate. Then he witnesses the black man's genitals being chopped off. This is why he gets aroused. Not by the physical thought, but its implications and message. By witnessing this action, he learns that black people should not even exist. He then develops the idea as his penis being the dominant more sufficient one. It is what he owns that separates him. He can produce white children and he is white. He is dominant because of it. This extreme excitement and confidence causes him to get aroused when the thought of battering black people arises. He is dominant and he has the goods to prove it, he is proud. So the smell, the singing, the carelessness, the thought of a black people in general excites him because he knows what he can and will do to one. The thought of black people gives him power. And that’s when he has wild awesome sex with his wife. Kind of ironic that the element that arouses him, is what disgust him though.
Samantha Shepherd
Eng 103
Cerritos College
Facebook
Facebook, myspace, livejournal, xanga, etc., these are all different ways of communicating online instantly. It takes the idea of e-mail and instant messaging and makes it even more personal by allowing the person to include photos, music, and even paragraphs about themselves. Comments are shared and the information that is made available to the "public" or to your own friends is only what you want them to see, for the most part. If one really thinks about this, it is really sort of like life. Of course, I am not saying that a facebook account can take the place of an actual person and give the same sort of satisfaction, but it gives a sense of satisfaction nonetheless which is why people use it. Everywhere a person goes, they never really show their entire trueselves unless it is to someone that is really close to them. This happens on facebook as well. A person decides which pictures to put up, which statuses to post, and what kind of comments they would like to leave for a friend. One may be completely different online than in real life, such as a polite person from a rude person, however, this is the same thing that happens in real life. A person decides what kind of comments they want to say to another, what kind of facial expressions or body language they want to use in a social setting (for the most part) and the same action of hiding their true selves happens. However, I think that what can rarely happen in real life, such as writing about your deepest darkest thoughts or even just saying something to a person you never thought you could say face to face is much easier to do in an online context, so facebook shouldn't be completely condemned for not rising up to "face-face" standards. I know that at times when I'm hurting, or when I have a wild tangent to go about life, I can go to my livejournal and write about it all and not have to worry about what other people think because it is for me and the very few people that are posting as well. Of course, if they have some sort of issue with what it is that I am posting, it is not taken to heart because they have a problem with the screen name that they see, and not the true person that I am because what I write is not all of me. I only start to take it personal when people that are close to me get the opportunity to listen to sometihng that I have compiled that means something dear to me and they put me down as a person. There are catches to both sides, but this is where we should learn where to draw the lines about whether or not we should meet in person anymore to replace with a photo comment. Since we are some of the first in this Internet Generation, we don't have the fortune to be taught, but instead strive to teach others the benefits and the disadvantages. I do not want to live in a future where it is all video chatting and virtual reality. It may sound llike a cool idea to have a huge room that looks exactly like your friends and to almost communicate with avatars to them like you were there in real life, but would that really give us the love and satisfaction that we need? Would that little voice screaming in the back of our head saying, "It's all fake!" really sway our feelings or have we gotten so far in our society into believing that everything fake and unreal is okay that it will be more than socially acceptable, but socially enforced? Sigh, all I know is that I don't want that to be MY future.
Jonathan Aguilar
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #32
Facebook
This story was pretty good it showed how facebook was a cool network to be a part of in smart people language and with facts and quotes. I liked how the author started out with her experience with her friend that definitely caught my attention. And i could not agree more with what she said. It is just another way to stay connected to friends. To keep yourself updated with what is going on in their lives without even having to ask. I think it is a pretty cool thing to have because in our lives we do meet tons of people; and i honestly would like to keep in touch with at least half of them. And Facebook makes this possible. Of course i do not think it will ever measure up to speaking to someone face to face but i can do that with close friends. =)
Alyssa Wall
English 103
Cerritos
Post?
Facebook
I really liked this story. I liked that the author talked about how useful facebook can be. She talks about how it helps you keep connected with friends, and family. It can help keep you updated on peoples lives.
I like that the author makes it clear that facebook is just another social networking system. It is and can be used as another way to get in touch with friends, but like anyother website, it can be used in negative ways depending on who is on it. I enjoyed this article for the most part.
Michelle Pachas
English 103
Cerritos College
Friends with Benefits by Kate Dailey
I definitely agree with this Kate on her opinion that social networks do provide a great way to keep in touch with acquaintances who have falling off the radar. As far as being an outlet for some ones grief, I believe that opinion lies on the person. I’ve seen many facebook status’ that contain some sort of personal note. Depending on how close I am to the person I might give my condolences via facebook or give the a call. I am also surprise at how many people are open to posting on their personal lives, but I do see what Kate means by they just want to be heard. Social networks are the fastest way to spread news. As far as replacing or even imitating the relationships people create I don’t believe it comes close. I cannot imagine feeling close to my best friend if we only chatted online. Sharing experiences makes bonds and friendships that can’t just be turned on and off. Facebook makes people more accessible, and although I have regained a lot of friendships via the internet I have only stayed close to the ones who I tend to see.
Sarika Vaswani
English 103
CC
Post #idk
Guest Speaker
I feel priviledged for having the opportunity to listen to someone like Mr. Davies speak. His story seems like just that.. a story, make-believe. The whole thing is so surreal. I can't seem to wrap my mind around it. I suppose it's because I live in such an "untouched bubble" that it's hard to or accept the fact that these things (had) happen. I give him major props for being a curious cat and taking the initiative of finding out his past for himself, rather than taking everyone else's word for it. There are some who rather live in the dark, but then there are others like him.. where not knowing is not an option. All that he has endured and survived since he was only 5 years old.. and his journey for truth & teaching is truly inspiring.
Facebook
By Dailey
This article brings up some really good points about Facebook. I agree with the statement, which sums up the article, "Facebook works best as an amplification of a "real life" social life, not a replacement". Facebook, Myspace, texting.. are great forms for easy acessible communication with others. It's a great way of keeping in touch with friends or family that live far away or you hardly get to see. The downfall is that as time progresses, these social networks are becoming the only forms of communication used today. This is far from healthy. I'm a good example of this. I am a very shy person to begin with and these networks make socializing so much easier to do. The problem is that I become dependent on them. I interact with people on Facebook.. share music, ideas, feelings etc. I find a sense of comfort in knowing people can relate to me, and I am able to speak openly with people via text or internet. As much as I enjoy this, I don't feel like it's genuine. I feel like I am letting this replace any real life interaction with others. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I notice that I lack social skills with people in person. I have been called socially awkward and anti social by others. I can't be myself in public because I am uncomfortable. I blame myself and Facebook for this. I took the easy way out and made this my social life (as pathetic as it sounds). I let this feed into my shyness, and now I am suffering the consequences. Needless to say, the internet world is nice to have as a meas to an end, but it will never compare to the real world and I hope people never manage to let it replace the real life that exists.
Belinda Reed
English 100
Cerritos College
Post
Going to Meet the Man
Sounds like something from a movie that I once seen. I an not a critic on stories like this. I can think of others that leave a happier thought in my mind
So How was everyone's Thanksgiving? Mine was quite and restful. I just stayed home and cleand. I had to be to work at 3:30 am Friday morning Though I was alone, It was time well spent.
Samantha Navarro
English 103
Cerritos College
Post....
Do Facebook friends provide the same support as those in real life? - Kate Dailey
This was an interesting essay and a subject I have thought about before. What are the repercussions of the dependency we have on technological conversations we now rely on? I think there are two sides to this argument. I have a facebook, and I have a MySpace. But I don't tend to rely on just these mediums to socialize. I do believe that "too much time online keeps us from living satisfying lives in the real world" (14). There must be a balance between being technologically aware of how we can attain information and having real interactions with people. I think that anything we want to say comes out of us faster and with no filter when we type it into a computer or cellphone. At the same time, I agree with Dailey when she writes, "Having that diversity of opinion and experience available online increases the diversity of responses received when posting a question, which allows you to make a better-informed decision" (13). As Davids, the Holocaust speaker, said last week, the internet is a very useful tool and only wishes generations before us had this advantage to find out about their past and themselves. I do think that the internet has enabled us to widen our perspectives and virtually get different points of view from different types of people. At the same time, I believe in order to really be impacted by what we learn from around the world we must experience it first hand, friendships for example. It's great to be able to socialize with friends online, but I would not rely on some of these friends on my buddy lists to really be there for me if I were to need someone by my side, there's only so much a virtual smilie face can do :)
Gabriela Tovar
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #36???
Facebook...
I think Facebook is a great network to meet new peopl, catch up with old friends, and meet new acquantances... However, it is not a place to go blogging personal issues e.g. one time i posted something so personal that my boyfriend was pissed off at me because i had no business posting something so "cruel" and personal. I learned my lesson... On the contrary, i do believe that if one lost a significant other, had a problem and does not know a way out and needs advice, or blog a thought, then yes, facebook is the number one friend... Paragraph 9 was so captivated that i wrote a YES with a quotation mark because i thought that it was so true... When someone posts a positive comment, the other person will get that vibe and get happy too... I take it to be true because it does happen to me usually... But, when i post something sad or i get remarks that someone else had a similiar thing, i get that sad vibe... One just has to watch how one states what one really is trying to say... One does not want the other person misjudge and chaos to irrupt... Be careful!!! and add me... Gabriela Tovar... (look for me)... :)
JASMINE CANO
ENGLISH 103
CERRTIOS COLLEGE
POST #IDK
JURY DUTY!!!!=(
UGH!!!STILL STUCK IN JURY DUTY!!! THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED!!! COME AND SIT IN A ROOM FROM 8AM-5PM...WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE NEED YOU?UGH THIS IS SO DUMB YOU EITHER NEED ME OR YOU DO NOT!!!HELLO I HAVE A LIFE!!!I WILL NEVER LOOK FORWARD TO DOING JURY DUTY!!!
Michael Swisher
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#55
Going To Meet The Man
Wowee wee wow. James Baldwin, apparently, was not a fan of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This literature I’m sure served it’s purpose as a blatant crossfire insult to the racist oppression of the era, but has no bearing in the more modern society in which we live. Just as Malcolm X was a necessary evil that brought to light the atrocities of the common nature of the majority, and he was angry for the hatred and inequality, I guess this short story was of like mind. I was not offended by the words or depiction, for I am not that man nor anything like him, but I am amazed at how this depiction is accurate for many white males of that time. I am not saying all, I would never say so, but the crimes committed in hate over the last few centuries would never have come to fruition without that frame of mind. I find it difficult to understand that within the newer media and the post modern movement if a man of opposite race to an African American wrote such a short story about the negative nature of the minority of black males of today in the method chosen by James Baldwin, then Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton would own his house, car, and wife by the end of the month. Things have become very clouded and misguided concerning race relations and equality as of late. White people are not the majority anymore (population-wise) and I am sure the census of next year will show this, so notions such as affirmative action and “reparations” seem to be ill-fitting for the progress of equality. I am not sure if it is because of the quantity of literature concerning civil rights and racially motivated writing we have experienced in this class, but I am so done with it. I have no further opinion on the matter other than what I have expressed in exacerbation this semester. I would like to see the nation finally put this issue to bed, but I am certain we are generations away from true equality and true solution.
Jon Croft
English 110
Golden West College
Post #35
Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin
Jesse is a racist. Jesse is from a family of racists. Jesse does not enjoy the company of those who are pigmentally gifted. Jesse wants to be good to his wife, but also wants to commit incomprehensible horrors on those on the other side of the color spectrum.
Well, some stuff happens, he says "nigger" a few hundred times, and then he transforms into a revolting, hate-soaked cur of a man. The end.
Jessica Vasquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #: ??
Going To Meet The Man
First off, WOW!!! What a story. A man full of hate towards black people. Instead of feeling angry at the poor guy, I feel bad for him. He is so screwed up he cant even sleep at night. Its amazing to see how hate can have so many effects on this humans daily life. I can only say that this man was raised to be racist towards blacks. It seems that since he did not have a pleasant childhood, or even a pleasant life now, he has held all of this anger inside taking it out on innocent people. I do believe that his sleepless nights and other personal problems are the cause of being so concerned on making a misery out of blacks.
Jean Carlo Morales
English 100
Cerritos college
Going to meet the man
After having read the whole story I noticed how everything took place in the comfort of his own bed. I had not realized this the first time I read the story. From trying to be intimate with his wife all the way up to all the realizations he came upon. It all started with him not being able to have sex with his wife. That is when it got weird because that is when he started to become aroused from thinking of all the black women he befouled just go have some excitement in his life. His wife was not exciting enough. She didn't bring him that excitement like the black women did. Somehow all this lead to different flashbacks he had as a child. The most important being the "picnic that he will never forget". I think experiencing that as a child is what lead to the confusion he has in his head. I seriously believe like he wasn't meant to be racist. Just that specific experience really messed him up in the brain. He wasn't mad at the black guy, he didn't even know why he was getting killed for. He just knew it made his dad happy, it made his mom happy, and it made everybody else happy therefore he was happy not angry at the black guy. It's complicated but i think the happiness that seeing black people suffer is why he is so racist. To me it's like being so mean to black people is what makes him happy deep down inside. That is why he is racist.
Tess Elizondo
English 100
CC
Post 22
Going to Meet the Man
Wow, this story brought back so many memories. I remember reading this story last semester, and how every word was so vividly descriped. I found how it was so ironic that his wifes name was Grace. At the beginning of the story I felt disgusted with Jesse, and how he referred to blck women and his thoughts. The poor young boy was so scared, and I would have been too if I was beaten almost to death. Jesse did not know any better, but that does not make it right the way he treated the black community. I ask myself in what right mind will a parent think of taking their child to a hanging of another person. What ticked me off was that the parents were so nonchalant about this and referred to it as a picnic. I am so glad that I did not live through this time period. They made the hangning man suffer, and they held his life and were in control. This story really was really hard for me too read.
Martha Vazquez
English 100
CC
Post 31
Going to meet the Man
"He laid spread eagled with what had been a wound between what had been his legs"
A child saw a man be physically destroyed with knives, rocks and fire, in a field, while sitting atop the shoulders of his father. The sensation of brutalizing black people seemed to bring him a strange joy later in life. He remembers never loving his father more than right after he shared this experience with him. When I was reading what they were doing to this man, I cringed and was horrified. I cannot imagine taking a child to see a man die, especially seeing him burned and chopped up. Its extremely strange for me to think that these things went on not too long ago. So many children were taught to think that black people were no better than animals, and it was just fine to treat them as such. It was weird to have the main character compare himself sexually to what he considered to be subhuman. The thoughts of that day in that field brought him a strange excitement in his sleep years later.
Sarai Vazquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post...
Going to Meet the Man
By James Baldwin
We have read so much about racism and how it has changed. It is still crazy to me to read about the different kinds of racist things that would go on back in the day. When I think that there is still peolpe that think tis way is sad because we should be over that now. Racism was such a big thing backin the day and hopefuly one day it could come to an end.
Jessica Atthowe
English 110
GWC
post #?
Going to Meet the Man
This was a disturbing story to read. I read it out loud with my roommate, and had to pause throughout reading to take in what i had just read. Picturing the end scene in my mind was horrible. To think that this happened to people years ago makes me wonder how we let anyone get away with this. I dislike thinking that there was so much hatred between blacks and whites that white people walked away from that man's death and were happy about it. Thank God the majority of people today aren't as racist as people were back then. I know racism is still alive today and will never go away, but I'm glad most people can see past the color of someone's skin and like someone for who they are. This story makes me thankful that live in these years when people are more accepting, rather than back in the years of extreme racism.
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post 85
Going To Meet The Man
This story was wow. I feel as though this man had many transitions in life. His life was complicated. His parents were into seeing suffer. People of another race to be exact. As a boy I think he question why the suffering of black people made him happy. I think it was because of his environment. His parent had showed him that is was okay. I feel as though he is just ignorant to peoples races. A black person especially. If he did not grow up in this environment he would be a different person today.
Brian Jimenez
English 100
CC
POst# 52
Going to Meet the Man
What the hell was the matter with this guy named Mr. Jesse. I always wondered about someone could come to having so much hate for one person. Jesse hate was so bad that it affected him in everyday life. He hated everything about them. According to the short story, he stated, they were ugly! They had filthy, kinky, greasy hair under his hand which he never wanted to touch again. He worked as an officer back in these days. He even beat down a young boy at a jail cell where he worked almost to dead. But I believe that maybe all that hate affected his everyday life because he had to deal with blacks all the time. Mr. Jesse even had flashback when he was younger. When I read it, it was just gross at the details the author gave. For instance, when the white people I think were beating and cutting up the nigger. I hate using that term but yeah that off topic. I crowd seems to love this treatment off the poor black guy. They ended up cutting his man part which made me cry in pain for him. What pain must of he off gone through. I wish discrimination would just leave this world but I know it would never happen.
Brian Jimenez
English 100
CC
Post# 53
Jessicas Dinner/ My weekend
Pretty much my weekend was ok. It was a mixure of fun and bussiness. The fun was just going out with the friends and ended up watching a movie called ninja Assassin. It was pretty cool to my standards. If you like fighting and blood then maybe this is the movie for you. lol.......well now to Jessica dinner. I liked it even though not much of the class came but it was cool chilling with those you did come. I tired to get test's boyfriend drunk because if I can't drink then someone has to do the drinking for him haha. Martha and her sister came. Lulu,seli,her sister,and rocker chick Uhh....I forgot the others names......damnit I cant rememeber but I had fun though. Later I ended up going to the club with George aka Jessica boyfriend and a few other guys. That was cool as well. I got to drive their BMW lol.......another than that I did homework in between. Did reseach which I am still not done with.......peace out
Edilu Medina
English 100
CC
Post #40?
Goint To Meet the Man By James Baldwin
Like all my fellow class mates have said WOW! I want to major in psychology and this always takes my interest to know behind the views of why someone has a sense or hatred toward someone or something. Such as Jesse did he had this vision, thoughts influenced in him as he lay with his wife, thinking of tommorow. Why was this feeling such a drag to him? What were these hatred feelings that compelled him to say those words. I was befuddled, until the flash back of his "picnic" with his parents, especially a man who was to expose him to good nature and beauty of life. It didnt happen with jesses father he was exposed to a black man , bleeding and crying for his own life. As now present he carries on the torch to treat others the same way.
Janelle rodriguez
English 100
Cerritos collage
post #????
Going to meet the man
well I remember this story from last semester and this story still caught my attention the second time!!! It's amazing what kids learn and how they see he future thru thier parents eyes. But above all I think it is disgusting that how some people used to think about oher races back then also think that it is beyon sad that because of the emotions and actions of the parent the child notices the parets and DES exactley what it sees. Children see thiere parents as a roe model a hero and whatever the see them do the thnk isgood!!!!
esmeralda orozco
english 100
cc
post???
Going To Meet The Man
while i was reading the story i was at work and i couldnt really pay attention to what was going on. when work was slow i kept reading and i was kind of on track but i would get lost with the flashback and what not. what really got to me was the part were they cut the guys private now i am not a guy but i can only imagine how it must have been in that part i just wanted to cry i could not imagine someone to be so crul to someone no matter what that person did. the story really got to me but at the same time i was stuck and did not understand why he expressed himself so rude i kno he must have been tramatized or something but if he hated them so much why did he express like that to his wife.
Priscilla Daza
Cerritos College
English 100
Post #31
going to meet the man
Man. just off the first paragraph you instantly know that this couple has problems that leads to struggle in their marriage. its mostly the guy. you can tell that he has all this anger and hate built towards the africans that shows that he is a racist. like dang it straight up said that he couldnt get his wife to do anything any longer. on the other hand if it was a black girl he owuldnt have difficulty in getting what he wanted. in the second paragraph its trying to sort out what type of guy this character is. hes not old so hes healthy enough to continue his sheriff life and his sex life. it draws that the man is not faithful to his wife grace. the fact that grace is gracful lady if i may and not one to spice it up has led her husband to pick up on black girls to get the job done. this guy being the racist that he is beats up black women and rapes them. then laying next to grace keeping warm thinking how they're lower than animals. now im not saying that its graces fault im just saying that this dude has a problem. throughout the story it gradually flashesback scenes of his life that puts the pieces together to make sense of this jesse guy.
Heidi Martinez
gwc
english 110
Poetry reading
The poetry reading was very interesting. It was nice to see the age range in the people who shared their poems. Some of them were quite a bit older while some of them had to be around my age. I do not really understand poetry nor do I like it. I enjoyed going and I admired the courage that it took for the poets to read their work out loud. I liked how some of the poems were so simple and straight to the point. It was more like listening to a very descriptive story than poetry. I thought the star wars poem was funny. It was cool to see what other people actually choose to write about. I hate star wars, but I just thought it was funny and actually well written. It was really hard to pay attention because I made the mistake of wearing my new 7 in. Steve Madden high heels from New York and they were making my feet ache. One part I really liked was not even a poem. One of the women that was reading her poem with sunglasses on stopped about half way through her poem and said she was not wearing her good glasses. I laughed so hard on the inside because it would have definitely been rude if I did it out loud. It was ironic because we were inside and they were sunglasses and of course they were not helping her read. Over all it was fun I was sad I was not able to finish the evening by going to dinner with everyone, but it was nice to see how many students from class showed up.
Heidi Martinez
GWC
English 110
Post 13
I love a Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl it always makes me cry. Last semester our class was lucky enough to write an essay regarding the story. It is one of the saddest and most enlightening stories I have ever read. No matter how many times I have read the story I constantly am able to pick up on new things throughout the story. It is so sad to hear how horrible the Holocaust actually was for the people living through it. Viktor E. Frankl tells in the story many of the harsh realities of having to live through the Holocaust. The men were undernourished, treated like animals rather than human beings. While I was reading through the story in my opinion it almost seemed like the prisoners were happy when they were on the train being able to experience the scenery was like viewing a piece of hope for them. He talks about how harsh the camp really is and how hard it is to stay alive. But in order to stay alive the mental and spiritual strength a man has needs to outweigh the actually physical strength he obtains. While he was imprisoned he was able to find his meaning of life and what it meant to him. In Man Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl says, “It is spiritual freedom-which cannot be taken away-that makes life meaningful and purposeful” (15). I think the more grounded someone is in a faith the more spiritual and mental strength they are going to have allowing to be stronger. The guards in camp can beat a man down to the bone, but in the end that man still gets to control is spiritual mind and strength. We as individuals decide our own meaning of what our lives are going to be.
Whitney Young
Golden West College
English 110
Post #29
Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin
This is probably one of my favorite stories. This story is so sad yet intriguing. Even though it was so graphic, it was hard to put down. I can not believe that people can actually be that disrespectful against another race. Jesse is a corrupt police officer that dislikes African Americans because of the things that had happened to him as a child. As a child, his parents took him to a lynching of an African American. He associated the African American being lynched as his father while he was the executioner. In his mind, his father was keeping him away from his mother. That day is the day that completely changed his life. He was introduced to a form of sex and violence at a young age. It is so crazy to see how one incident can completely change the way you view things. I believe that is why it is so important to manage the things children see because they learn from everything. Their childhood shapes they way they become in the future.
Danielle St. Onge
English 110
GWC
Post #21???
Going to Meet the Man
Wow, okay I have to admit that I was going to doubt Mr. Hsiao when he said that "Going to Meet the Man", by James Baldwin, was the most distubing thing he has ever read. I'm sorry but I could have sworn "The Jungle" or "Catch-22" would have been worse, but I was wrong. Way wrong. I mean WHAT THE HELL is wrong with Mr. Jesse? How can he think that slaughtering a man like a piece of fresh farm raised meat is laughable, better yet enjoyable to watch? Now I really am confused on to when this story takes place (civil war era?), but I do know for a fact that these actions are not tolerable here anymore. After all we do have a black President now. Lady Gaga says "it's always wrong to hate, it's never wrong to love" and I wish people back then, and even quite a few people now, would accept that. We are equal, at least that is how God created us to be. . . . .
Heidi Martinez
GWC
English 110
post 14
In Perfectionism by Anne Lamott, I took from the story a multiple amount of meanings. I think that perfection is over-rated and cannot be done nor should it be done. If everyone was perfect then how would we learn from our mistakes? We would no longer have a reason to keep going back till we have chosen the correct way to do something and all that time we search for the right answer is a journey. It is a journey that we learn from and grow from as a person to help shape who we are. Without making mistakes we will not grow as an individual through life. In Perfectionism, Anne Lamott says, “So those wounds never have a chance to heal” (4). I think these quotes go hand and hand with each other. Writing is what one feels at that moment and what one wants to say. Writing is a form of expressing emotions. So many people do not go through the emotions of life when something traumatic or even hurtful happens to them, so in reality they leave it bottled up inside of them letting it eat them away. Being able to write about it is the healing process. It always someone to go through all their emotions on paper whether they are right or wrong. It is their time to be free and express anything they choose. It is a chance for one to be who they choose to be and what they choose to share.
Gina Huynh
English 110
Golden West College
Post #13
Perfectionism
Who has not experienced writer’s block every once in a while because of perfectionism? I agree with the author in that sometimes we are so caught up with writing a perfect paper that we tend to not go through with the “shitty first draft,” which is necessary
for writing any good paper. Perfectionism causes us as writers to fear mistakes and to push ourselves to come up with superb ideas when we should be patient with our thoughts. Writing that “perfect” paper does not happen right away, so we should let our ideas come at their own pace, and if they do not show up today, then rest, get some lunch, and continue again later. Aside from being held back by perfectionism, Anne Lamott also writes that “pain from our childhood, the losses and disappointments of adulthood, the humiliation suffered in both” tend to “keep us standing back or backing away from life” (5). Some people cannot deal with failures or rejections. When they are met with disappointments, they do not get back up again, for fear of humiliation. For instance, when I was in high school, I had a crush on this older guy who was just absolutely gorgeous (well, to me anyway). After stalking him for about a year or so at my work place, I finally had the courage to come talk to him and later asked him out to a movie (I was gutsy then). He agreed to go, and I thought our date was somewhat okay. Well, he never called me back after that. Rejection hurt, and of course I was disappointed. I then had a choice to make: to never go out on another date again or continue to date because how else was I going to land me a husband? I chose the latter because I did not want to grow old as a lonely spinster, but this reveals to me that in life, I will constantly face disappointments and not every goal will be achieved. Thus, we should not let fear of failures get in the way of us taking the necessary risk to gain what we desire in life, and if we do not fulfill that goal, then we set another goal. In addition, like writing, we need to make mistakes in order to learn from the errors of our way in order to become a better person. If we are constantly taught to lead perfect lives without learning it through our own mistakes, we would not really grasp the true lessons of life. Furthermore, I also agree with the statement that “clutter and mess show us that life is being lived” (2) I am not a clean freak, but I can appreciate a little tidiness. However, what I do not understand is seeing a house that is so perfectly neat and clean, it seems as if no one lives there at all. I watch a lot of MTV cribs, and sometimes these celebrities would reveal sparkling mansions that do not appear like homes. Despite the mansions’ grandiose and ultra clean interior, there is an air of coldness and emptiness about it, like it is devoid of life. Therefore, I am all for a messy house if it helps to reflect some sort of life. The same goes for physical appearances. Some people are so obsessed with looking perfect, with not even a loose hair falling out of place, that they seldom reveal their true selves to others, for fear of showing any vulnerability. It is hard to date people who hide behind a mask of perfection and rarely show any weakness or flaw, as if they came into this world in a neat little package without any history to them. It makes the other person feel as if he or she is not good enough for this perfect individual, all of which can really cause a rift in the relationship. Thus, like Anne Lamott’s message, don’t be afraid of messes in life or in writing, for there can be treasures hidden underneath them.
Audrey Valdivia
cc
english 100
you know when you have those days that are going so well and all of a sudden your ambushed by a storm. i hate this i hate it so much sometimes i wish i could drive just far away an start things over.
dude, cop killer is still on the loose. if hes is down to kill four officers, he must be down for anything. i have a feeling he is going to go out like rambo.
Greg Burns
Golden West college
I wanted to say thanks for the fun time a hoffs after the reading.thanks for all that were able to come and make the night fun.
Going to meet the man: still working on trting to grasp the deeper meaning than what is on the paper.
Jessica Lara
English 110
GWC
MSFM
I read this book a couple of years ago. A friend of mine, who recommends the majority of the books I read, went on and on about it so I had to read it. He wanted it back too but I haven’t seen him to give it to him. Besides, its one of those books that you don’t really expect to get back after you let someone borrow it. Part one blew me away. Part two, the Logo therapy part, (at least I think that’s what it was called) was a little difficult. I have a few favorite quotes but one of my favorites is when Frankl says,” Emotion, which is suffering, ceases to be suffering as soon as we form a clear and precise picture of it.” How great is that? I had never read something that was written almost like a psychology text that made me want to cry. It was the worst thing ever. It humanized the Nazis, it was nuts. What was interesting is what he says about the power of ones mind, how those who could see themselves outside of the camp and even beyond it, were more likely to survive. That’s amazing.
Jessica Lara
English 110
GWC
MSFM
I read this book a couple of years ago. A friend of mine, who recommends the majority of the books I read, went on and on about it so I had to read it. He wanted it back too but I haven’t seen him to give it to him. Besides, its one of those books that you don’t really expect to get back after you let someone borrow it. Part one blew me away. Part two, the Logo therapy part, (at least I think that’s what it was called) was a little difficult. I have a few favorite quotes but one of my favorites is when Frankl says,” Emotion, which is suffering, ceases to be suffering as soon as we form a clear and precise picture of it.” How great is that? I had never read something that was written almost like a psychology text that made me want to cry. It was the worst thing ever. It humanized the Nazis, it was nuts. What was interesting is what he says about the power of ones mind, how those who could see themselves outside of the camp and even beyond it, were more likely to survive. That’s amazing.
Brandon Hebert
Goldenwest
Eng110
Post: 42ish
Going to Meet the man
I hate this reading.
I read it 3 times to fully grasp it.
Jesse is racist. But is turned on by black women. rather, he likes the absolute control and exhiliration of rape. Basically. His soul is torn in half, between the upstanding married sheriff, cleaning up crime, and the lustful racist who wants to decapitate niggers and drown in debauchery.
I hate this story because there is no basis on the jesse. his outliers are so far beyond any spectrum.
The notable end, when there was heard a car on the gravel. they were coming for jesse. For the crimes he committed. He even said, that his crimes hung only on the balance of a loose tongue of anyone who decided to rat him out (paraphrase).
THis highlights what i think is the point of the story. He gives in to his lust at the end. by f|_|cking his wife like a nigger woman. and so his penance comes to bear. He was taught at a young age to hate niggers. Moral of the story: Sometimes what we are taught is not what ought to be. And in life there will be moments where we toss and turn, making a moral inventory of ourselves. and what fruit bears afterwards will be what you eat.
Kayla Marley
GWC
Going to Meet the Man.
As awful as this may sound this way by far my most favorite story. This made me feel so many different emotions when just reading four pages in a endless amount of paper. At the beginning of this story I could relate. I work early in the morning and I work so hard that I've been told I work too hard, thus causing me to be over tired. But then once I read how the man was talking to his wife I became upset. I see this kind of relationship between a husband and a wife all the time; that is talking with angst against towards a wife, and the wife just telling him to go to sleep. I was kind of disturbed when he was thinking of a young black girl in a way he should not have been. Then I felt hate, thinking why anyone could talk about another human being in such a degrogatory (sp?) way. Eventually as I read on and got to the lynching part I became sick. My stomach started to turn and as I read on I could not keep my eyes off. As hard as I wanted to stop, I just couldn't. I was amazed that a father would let his kid watch a grown man be murdered, nonetheless have his penis cut off by a family friend. I also liked this piece because of the foreshadows that I saw. This piece is one that makes me realize that no matter how low a person can go, turning on that person to where one burns another human being is just as worse as the devil himself. This paper also relates to my research paper. I'm doing a research paper on Nazi's and how this man describes everyone hate towards a black man, is how the Germans treated the Jews, yet the Jews there were mass murderers. Not that there were not large amount of murders against blacks either, but the one thing that my research paper and this story has in common is YOUTH. Both of these type of people, target their youth, thus bringing the child to the hanging, and thus group known as Hitler's Youth. People target the young because they know the are innocent and are easier to corrupt.
brandon hebert
Goldenwest
Eng110
Post:43ish
You know what, i thought about it. and im not even sure THAT is the point of the story.
"you're the only song i want to hear. A melody sofly soaring through my atmosphere."
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."
-C.S.Lewis
Joshua Greenroyd
English 110
GWC
Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin
Mr. Hsiao was right about this being a graphic piece. I believe that the author hit the nail on the head though. Without the graphic content of this piece the reader would not be able to understand what the character Jesse is feeling. He has a deep and complex problem happening at the beginning of the story. He doesnt know what really caused it. The story goes on and Jesse flashes back a few times to discover what happened to him. I believe this story is telling us how everyone is effected by their past, and they cannot get away from it. Jesse definitely wants to get away from it. It is keeping him up at night, and making him angry at his wife. He is the way that he is because of what has been done in his life. He laughs when the man in being burned alive. This is because Jesse is going through a change. he is seeing that anger and hate can be acceptable. This can also be seen in the present of the story. It is seen through how he treats his wife, and the various curses that he shouts. Going to meet the man changed Jesse forever.
macey great post on Going to meet the man, i'm sure mr. hsiao is going to say you nailed it. :)
Jasmyne Young
English 110
GWC
Post # 19?20?
Going to Meet the Man
This story was deep. The actions taken against the Blacks were unforgivable. This is exactly why I don't watch slave movies, it brings out hatred of whites that had nothing to do with the cruel acts done to my ancestors. It is sad, but vindictive that the guy couldn't get it up unless he is thinking of hurting the Blacks. I felt that was demented of him. Just reading about the degraadation and pure hatred whites had against Blacks is disheartening. I am glad I live in a time and place where acts of racism is openly prominent. I did not like this story, it got me very upset. Learning about the cruel, inhumane acts the whites did to the Blacks is too much for me to handle. Blacks are not animals, but they were treated as such. i cannot fathom how one race can see another human being as nothing, as a worthless piece of poop. It is what it is. The Blacks goit through it and it is an important part of our history. I just do not like reading, hearing,or experiencing that cruelty of our history.
(Andy) Nam Pham
English 110
GWC
Post ...?
Going to Meet the Man
This is such a gruesome story. I kind of regret reading it. When reading the story through the point of the view of the husband, Jesse, you obtain a sort of tone that hints misery. Beginning of the whole story, he already curses "goddamnit." Later, we find out that the troublesome character is being haunted by his terrible and violent past. The source of his anger all connects to his past, and how his mother and father shared the experience of the public torture. The whole setting was just off. Witnessing that would have screwed up anybody, if they were a child. In this case, the result was Jesse in the present, torturing a young African American. This night was special because I think he came to a realization. The young boy he tortured mentioned Julia, which was one of his mail-order customers. Someone significant enough to realize the very evil he was doing. This was keeping him up at night. The guilt haunted him. Eventually, after all the flash backs, he soon embraced such evils and started getting aroused. "...I'm going to do you like a nigger..." He hated African Americans, and that was no secret. Mentioning it while he was having sex was a sign of his embrace of all, what he considered, evil. He was bad, and he realized it.
Archie Kaaua
Professor Hsiao
English 110
Golden West College
November 27, 2009
Post 37
Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin
This story was written to illustrate the injustice of black Americans in the south during the civil rights movement. The ideology of sacred white womanhood is the subject that the story revolves around. Jesse, who is a white racist sheriff, finds himself reverting back to his childhood where he first became familiar with racism in his community. The perfect setting was in the South were a black man had just raped a white woman and the entire community was seeking justice. We can see the double standard of the treatment of the black man they had apprehended. If it had been a white man, it is clear the punishment would have been prison on a chain gang as was the punishment for rape in those days. This black man who had committed the crime in prior years to the civil rights movement had to be made an example of. The boy Jesse becomes a racists while he sits upon his father’s shoulders watching the black man being castrated and stoned to death by an angry mob of great size. Even more startling is that they served food after the event as if they were at some type of cheerful event. Jesse as a boy becomes aroused at the thought of all of the excitement and the nakedness of the man being tortured.
Later in life he finds himself cheating black people in the mail order business and using his power as a sheriff to “persuade” black women into offering him sex. He becomes impotent and has trouble with being able to maintain his relationship with his wife. He suffers from a psychological disorder that interferes with his ability to have a normal relationship. He wants to be that bad guy always. In his job he wants to become violent with black people and in his marital life he wants to be the bad guy who assaults the white woman. One can feel the author’s sentiment toward Jesse in his use of metaphors like when the cock crows as to signify that there will be a day of reckoning as there was when Christ was going to the cross. One can believe that Jesse’s day of reckoning will come as his judgment day. If one looks at the smell of smoke he mentions by the fire as one might smell the smoke at the time of their death on their way to hell.
Eric Torres
English 110
Golden West College
Post #27?
Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin
Wow! Mr. Hsiao was right about warning us by telling us it was one of the most graphic stories he has ever read. Just reading this story, especially the flashback scene where he witnesses the death of the black man up against the tree, I cannot help but feel some pain. I guess this is just how a good writer gets the reader's attention. Baldwin sure did get my attention. In reflecting about the story I cannot help but notice how that execution Jesse wittnessed changed his life forever. His father did say he would never forget this picnic. During the "picnic" Jesse had some odd feelings as to what he saw and observed of the people around him. Being an innocent boy, he was still set to conform to the other people's beliefs and it did not take him much time to conform. He look both at his mother and his father at the time of the execution and felt love for them. It seemed as though he loved them more now that they opened his eyes to this new experience in wittnessing the death of the black man. He looked at the man holding the knife and right away he wanted to be him. He was the center of attention and everyone was edging him on to do the horrible thing he did. It was a family "picnic". I know I remember my family picnics, but not for the same reason Jesse remembers. Any boy remembers a family picnic as being a happy memory and a joyful time. Well this is how Jesse remembers the execution, as a family "picnic".
Samantha Sullivan
English 110
GWC
Post #27?
Going to Meet the Man
I don’t know that I totally liked reading this story. It was really graphic like professor Hsiao said. Despite my thoughts to the described images, I believe that they were necessary to fully explain what Jesse was going through. In the beginning of the story Jesse is going through some problems and doesn’t know why he is acting or feeling the way he is. As the story continues on he has awful flashbacks of when he was a child. These flashbacks created a monster. They are what keeps him from moving forward. I feel that he is stuck because of the events that he saw when he was young. He continues to be crude and inhumane to African Americans. This is why we need to monitor what children are exposed to. It can mess them up psychologically and they will always have problems. His father did this to him (Jesse). It is very sad and disturbing.
Eric Torres
English 110
Golden West College
Post #28?
Facebook
Facebook friends count. The support we get from our online friends can be just as benefitual as real "flesh-and-blood" friends. In fact, I feel people are more open to discussion on personal topics online with people they normally do not talk to compared to "flesh-and-blood" people. People who are generally shy in public tend to feel more comfortable to connecting with friends they normally would not initiate a conversation with in real life. It is different because they can just hide behind a computer and talk to other people rather than feel anxiety in public when talking to people they normally do not talk to. In talking about shy people on facebook Craig Ross says, "because people don't have to interact fact-to-face, that's why we're seeing them having relationships: they can think more about what they have to say and how they want to say it (10).
However, I also feel talking to someone in person is benefitual because people react more intuitively rather than taking time to think and react. It makes the conversation more exciting, unless there is an awkward silence because of a loss of words. In that case, it is much easier to talk to people online. There is just a better connection and understanding of emotion (that is if you feel comfortable expressing your feeling) when talking to a person face-to-face rather than Instant Messaging them online.
Andrew Murphy
Cerritos College
English 103
12/1/09
Post # 29
Dr. Harry Edwards
It is always a favorite of mine to read articles and excerpts such as these that are a looking glass for those who were not alive. This event of Dr. Edwards movement was little known to me. I knew of the two runners who held their hands high to represent the unjustice throughout the world and also how the USOC head was Avery Brundage who allowed Hitler to host the 36' Olympics. I did not know of Dr. Edwards; him and how he sacrificed a life of glamor and a substantial monetary benefit if he played in the NFL to teach. What I am trying to lead to is that, with or without the issue that is presented, Dr. Edwards did what needed to be done. He showed much character and selflessness by choosing the harder of the two paths in his life. He chose his passion and what he felt needed to be done. A lesson many of us should ponder now before our academia career is concluded.
Markel Hathcock
GWC
English 110
Post..
Mans Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
When I started to read this, I for some reason started to see myself getting emotionally involved with this it. I think that the thesis of this story is that one has to be bigger than life and decide your own destiny. In the story, he talks about how he was working on the railroad track and when he got tired, he took a break. Instead of the guard saying something to him, he threw a rock. As if he were some kind of animal or beast. It was as if the guard was taunting him, trying to get a reaction out of him. I cant even fathom being treated in such a way. Also he talks about the undernourishment that all of them received. They almost had to play a game because of it. The story also talks about the lack of sex with all of the prisoners. I do not think that this was because it was an all man camp, but because of the lack of energy that each had. In another part of the story it is stated that some men give up their bread to others that are suffering more. This shows that one can be bigger than oneself; and that is what we shall all strive to do.
English 100
Cerritos College
Post HW
Facebook by Kim Dailey
I like this story because it is so true. I am a person that when I see someone at the special occasion I want to talk and get their information to keep in touch, but I am also lazy that I will not do it. I do mean well when I try to keep up with the friendship, but I was never that person that ask people to meet for lunch because they have a life too. I love facebook because it does keep my friends close to me without having to disrupt are daily lives. When one is feeling sad they post on it and people will send well wishes to make you feel better. You do not need that person next to you to feel better, to me that is being a friend whether it is a cyber friend or in real life. Of course cyber friends are not always going to fill a void of physical contact but it helps when we need to let off steam and ones are there to understand.
Liza Heacox
Eng 110
GWC
Post # 12
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
For three and a half years I was dating an incredible man. We were so good for each other in every way possible. Over the summer, he and I found it harder and harder to communicate and ultimately decided that we needed so separate to figure out what we desired as individuals. The first paragraph of Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl beautifully highlights what it was the both of us needed to work on. He states, “Success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself.” As a couple we constantly strived to make the other happy and stressed the importance of a successful relationship in everything we did. While this was not bad wanting the other to be happy and successful, it had the very opposite effect. Instead of so diligently focusing on how to make the other person happy, or how to make the relationship a success, we both should have stepped back and let things be. Frankl says, “You have to let it happen by not caring about it.” This does not mean that one should do whatever they want and expect the best, but rather do what is right and good while holding fast to your convictions and your attitude. If one is able to maintain this type of attitude and way of life than success and happiness will follow.
Thuy-Anh Angela Nguyen
English 110
GWC
Post #16
Perfectionism by Ann Lamott
This is passage speaks about how perfectionism puts restraints on a person's life. I do agree with with Anne Lamott when she stated that "...perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor." I could relate to this passage because I grew up as a perfectionist. Growing up, I've always had the mentality to be in control of things, and because I was in control of everything, I had to work in perfection. Nothing in this world is perfect. The basic biological rules of the universe is that the world is disorganized. Our lives are meant to be messy and that means that no matter how many times we've tried to keep our rooms clean, it will always go back to being dirty again. Think about it... it takes far much more energy to keeps things organized, as opposed to letting things fall all over the place. That was were I was, at a place where I was always working and always stressing over all the small intricate details in my life, especially my artwork. Being a perfecionist makes a person insatiable. It means that the person will NEVER be satisfied with his or her life. It's a pessimistic way of thinking, and it hinders one's ability to advance. Creativity to me is something frameles and also, continuous. It can change, improve, and diverge into something completely different. A perfectionist builds a wall around his or her ability to open themselves. Being scared to create something any less than "perfect" is just another way of running away from things that cannot go ones way. That is why many perfectionists are stuck on their first paragraphs or even a simple fragmented version of their thesis statement. They can't move on, because they can accept the fact that it just isn't right here and there. That is why free-writing is such a blessing for all writers. They don't have to worry about their writing making sense or not or if the sentence structures are grammatically correct. It's the freedom of self-expression. The one lesson I learned as an artist, is that I allow myself to work in the abstract messes or else I'll hinder my own capabilities and oppress my ability to express myself through my work. Let go of the situation, and just let things happen on their own.
Belinda Avila
English 110
Goldenwest College
Post #13
Man’s Search for Meaning
This reading was very touching. It makes one look over life and how one has chosen to view events passed. The closest I have ever been to a concentration camp is when I was put in the rehab for my cocaine addiction. When Viktor Frankl says, “Here lies the chance for a man either to make use of or to forgo the opportunities of attaining the moral values that a difficult situation may afford him,” (16) it made me look back on my experience in rehab and feel foolish with how I acted there. Yes, I could probably say I was off my rocker, but with sleep deprivation, lack of food, and being overworked, I think I can also say Viktor Frankl was not far from insanity. In rehab, I recall lying, spitting at a staff member, using obscene gestures towards a staff member, throwing a muffin (haha), and other thing when all these people wanted to do was help me. On the other hand, Viktor Frankl and the other victims were being tortured everyday and they kept their composure. They did not act as primitive towards each other as me and my rehab peers had. Keeping one’s morals, even in the worst of what life can throw at one, is one of the biggest steps to being happy and gliding through life with more ease. I really enjoy that this reading has given me something to think about for the future obstacles I move through in life.
Heather Brown
Eng 110 GWC
Post# yar!
Perfectionism
The story Perfectionism by Anne Lamott was an inspirational read for me. Anne Lamott writes how aiming to be perfect all the time is rarely useful. Many people feel the need to improve and make things perfect; despite all the evaluation, nothing is ever good enough. I know for a fact I am one of those people. I always get caught up in trying to make things perfect. It's difficult for me to allow my thoughts to flow because I constantly self-correct and doubt myself. Lemott writes of how one may attempt to fix and make things perfect, but one becomes too transfixed to see that the journey to the result is the true perfection. Reading this story gave me some courage to stop self-evaluating and stressing about what I may "do wrong", and enjoy the path of "being wrong".
Cathrina Afusia
English 100
Cerritos College
Kate Dailey
As big as Facebook, and Myspace have become this is actually the first interpretation I have read expressing someones thoughts. I want to start off by answering the question "Do Facebook friends provide the same support as those in real life?" No way! I have to admit I was never really big on Myspace, but when I checked out Facebook I was sort of hooked. I found it to be a little bit more settle than Myspace. I decided to make a Facebook page because at the time it was the trend to do so, and because I feel I was forced to do so. I was always asked "do you have a facebook page?" I started to notice it was no longer as simplistic as exchanging numbers. Now it has come to finding others by screen names and email addresses. Now, when it comes to people that I have not seen in a long time I am glad to have a way of knowing that they are doing well. I am more comfortable with sending a simple hello, and moving on. When it comes to my "real life" friends I would not feel comfortable with letting our source of connection being a computer. There are very few friends that I have, and that I cherish. I would like to keep our relationships just as personal as the info we share between one another. I feel talking through a computer can limit you. The emotion is taken away. When I think about it, the close real life friends I have are not even in my circle of friends that I have on facebook. I know that they are two different categories of friends, but I am okay with that. I think it is important to keep in contact with people you have met along in your pass, and what better way than the computer. Sometimes you really have nothing to say to someone, but you are still put at ease to know that they are doing okay!
Heather Brown
Eng 110
GWC
Poetry at Boarders
The poetry reading I attended to at the Boarder’s Bookstore provided me with a new, refreshed outlook on writing. I made sure I got there with plenty of time before the event to get a seat. After I sat down I looked around the crowd and saw a great diversity of people sitting around me in the audience section. There were elderly, younger people, and men and women from all social economic classes. Immediately I knew I was going to enjoy the poetry reading. The speakers at the poetry event were all very unique in their personalities, stature as well as their choice of clothing. Seeing each person walk up to the table to read their poetry allowed me to see how proud the authors were. I could easily see the authors had a sense of achievement and a desire to share their writings with others. As the speakers read their poems and stories aloud, I noticed each one put their emotions into every syllable. I felt their writings were a gateway or a glimpse into their lives and emotions. I learned a few tricks from hearing the variety of authors read. I learned that while reading poetry, it is important to pause for emphasis. This allows the readers to process what is being read. The pause also lets the audience know the subject is going to shift or change tones. My favorite poem of the night was the one about the children playing as if they were in a Star Trek show. The words flowed and painted a clear picture of each role the child had and how the role fit their personality. Although the poem itself was interesting, I believe if anyone else were to have presented it, the true meaning would have been lost. The way the author smiled and used her voice to express feelings, also helped strengthen the poem and give it life. The entire night was interesting and very inspirational for me. The diversity of the writings and the writers allowed me to see there is no standard creative writer.
Heather Brown
Eng 110
GWC
Poetry at Boarders
The poetry reading I attended to at the Boarder’s Bookstore provided me with a new, refreshed outlook on writing. I made sure I got there with plenty of time before the event to get a seat. After I sat down I looked around the crowd and saw a great diversity of people sitting around me in the audience section. There were elderly, younger people, and men and women from all social economic classes. Immediately I knew I was going to enjoy the poetry reading. The speakers at the poetry event were all very unique in their personalities, stature as well as their choice of clothing. Seeing each person walk up to the table to read their poetry allowed me to see how proud the authors were. I could easily see the authors had a sense of achievement and a desire to share their writings with others. As the speakers read their poems and stories aloud, I noticed each one put their emotions into every syllable. I felt their writings were a gateway or a glimpse into their lives and emotions. I learned a few tricks from hearing the variety of authors read. I learned that while reading poetry, it is important to pause for emphasis. This allows the readers to process what is being read. The pause also lets the audience know the subject is going to shift or change tones. My favorite poem of the night was the one about the children playing as if they were in a Star Trek show. The words flowed and painted a clear picture of each role the child had and how the role fit their personality. Although the poem itself was interesting, I believe if anyone else were to have presented it, the true meaning would have been lost. The way the author smiled and used her voice to express feelings, also helped strengthen the poem and give it life. The entire night was interesting and very inspirational for me. The diversity of the writings and the writers allowed me to see there is no standard creative writer.
Zachary Duke
Eng 103
CC
Post ???
Dr. Derry Edward
This guy is amazing to me. Not only did he fight for equal rights in 1967, but he is still fighting for equal rights threw others. unlike some people that fought for there rights. this man did not just barge in without a plan. this guy was tactical. He backed up any black athletes that needed him and more. he would be proud of how his fight has gone.
Now to everyone in the Eng 103 class and Mr. H.
I am sorry I have been less of a gentlemen. I am sorry for how i have acted for the past year or so. I know i might have said somthing along the line that has hurt or made some of you feel bad, for that i am sorry. I never meant to do that. in some way you all are like a part of my family. once again, i am sorry for my "bad ass" actions.
danh ta
english 110
gwc
post i still dont know
perfectionism
so reading perfectionism by anne lamott was a very fun read. i enjoyed it. i feel as though, from reading perfectionism, im finally reading something that is very honest and genuine. its like she is talking to me. she went on and on and on with not much structure and used examples and brought god in and dogs who smell and removing her tonsils. there were not any extremely difficult lines beyond belief, and it was refreshing. i found it very humorous while reading. i feel like she proved her point by not trying. when her students asked her "so why does our writing matter, again?" i laughed. because that is exactly how i felt while reading the text. i do agree with her last paragraph. #14 is very true. writing helps people connect with other peoples thoughts and true emotions. writing brings something that verbal conversation doesnt, and vice versa. i know when i talk to people about my thoughts and emotions, i can let a little out and they can understand a little, but when i write; i can let everything go. i can, well at least attempt, to organize all of my thoughts and put them into words which i meticulously place together to try to bring forth my view, emotions, and thoughts at that point and time. i have a feeling im going to keep writing for a while haha. its a good outlet for all the stress life has to offer. i might not be the best writer, but BY GOLLY, ITS ME :)
i dont know why heather posted on poetry at borders but mr hsiao i already did post on it! CHECK HISTORY!!!!!! :) just in case muhahaha
Eric Monreal
English 110
GWC
Post #12ish?
Man's Search for Meaning
This story for me was a bit hard to read. I can't imagine suffering as much as the people in the story. There was one part where he is standing on a railroad track working in a snowstorm also mending the track with gravel, when the guard thought he was loafing around (because he was leaning on his shovel to catch his breath) and instead of saying something to him, he instead threw a rock at him as if he were no more than a dog. I thought that was pretty low. The whole story was about people around him dying or being so malnourished that he would often daydream of having conversation with his wife who was killed. The things one has to do to keep himself somewhat sane while being in a concentration camp. There is one old man who comes into my work and I feel bad because he still has his number tattooed on his left forearm from when he was in a concentration camp. He was one of the few to survive. I never asked him about it, although I would have liked to, just out of respect for what he went through.
Sarah Takeda
Eng 110
GWC
post #5
Holocaust Speaker
I enjoyed listening to the Holocaust Speaker on Wednesday the 25th. I like how his research to try to fill in what happened is still on going. It shows how much he cares about his past. His South African accent was cool. My boyfriend is also South African and he said his grandfather has the same one. I was sad that we had to leave early because I had to go to work. The second half of what he was talking about is what I wanted to hear about. The part that I found interesting was when he was talking about how the family he stayed with did not want to give him up without a fight. It showed how attached they got, even though he said he cannot really recall living with them. The families that took children in during that time were really brave and inspiring. Another part that I really liked was how he went back and visited the family when he was grown up. I’m really glad I went to this one. Again, I wish I could have stayed until the end, but I work at a grocery store and it was the day before Thanksgiving. Sort of hard to go in really late and not get in trouble.
Oscar Padilla
English 110
CWC
MSFM by Viktor e. Frankl
I think this story really relates to most of us when it comes to expecting success from doing something that takes hard work, or simply put, we expect success after we work at something. The only difference is that the character from this story is a prisoner. What I think that the author of this story is trying to say is that we the people are always seeking success by doing something that’s time consuming. An example would be like when we go to college the main purpose that we go to is to earn much more money than most working class people. That isn’t my case. I go to college because I want to become a great artist and want to learn new techniques through art materials and computer skills. In a few words I want to become a professional at what I do. Sure money is fundamental and is a fundamental and one of the most important thing of our live, but it doesn’t always brings happiness. Most people have doubts about my career because they think I won’t make enough money to support a family. And I always answer by telling them that I don’t do it for the money but because this is what I want to do and this is what interests me. In conclusion, what the author is trying to do is that he is trying to teach us a new way to be successful by not caring about it. I think that what he means by this is that we shouldn’t be focusing on being successful in order to fulfill our selfish needs. Instead, we should pay more attention to the things that make us happy in our lives like going to the park, spending time with family and friends and doing what we enjoy to do the most. When he talks about the summits, he is reflection his true emotions that reflect the past. Before being a prisoner he didn’t realize that he was successful already by being free, but he couldn’t realize it. And now that he is a prisoner he’s beginning to realize those things. So he says “Emotion, which is suffering, ceases to be suffering as soon as we form a clear and precise picture of it.” (17) I think that what he means by this is that we need to find our suffering factor so that we can work at it and go along with it.
Matt Wilkins
English 110
GWC
Post 10ish
It is so simple for human beings to forget who they are. It is so easy for us to lose sight of our freedoms. I look around, and I see so much misery in life. People are not satisfied with their jobs, or they are not happy with their wife or kids. Maybe the car isn’t the right color, or the dog won’t stop pissing in the house. It is the way that we look at these things though, that makes them negative. So many spiritual belief systems were based on the simple premise that life is what one makes of it. The old adage says that if you get lemons, then you need to make lemonade. In American life though, the lemonade isn’t often even considered. The divorce rate is near fifty percent. Every time one reads the news the headlines are all about death. High school dropout rates are at an all time high, and middle-class suburban schools have to install metal detectors to make certain that the students that are attending don’t get killed for doing so. Viktor Frankl reminds us that it is all in the mind; he reminds us that “the last human freedoms-to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, [and] to choose one’s own way” are never lost (12). Even in the adversity that he and his fellow inmates had do put up with in the concentration camps some managed a positive light. I go on a tie raid for a week if my cable goes out. If something doesn’t change, then, perhaps, we are all lost.
Katherine Nguyen
Eng 110
GWC
Perfectionism by Anne Lamott
I enjoyed reading about her opinions on being perfect. I always try to be perfect and it is stressful. Especially while writing my first essay, I try to avoid run-ons and fragments and I wanted to write a great paper that I was so stressed out about it. Being perfect is absolutely hard. One cannot write such an outstanding paper, as we can see, Mr. Hsiao only gave out one A for our first essay. So even though I didn’t get an A on my first essay, I realize it’s not about being perfect; it’s about improving and learning from your mistakes. And agreeing with Anne Lamot, I do believe that “writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life”. Some people really do enjoy reading and writing because they feel that they can express their ideas. It’s funny because at work, a patient sent my doctor a long paragraph about how he is feeling and in that letter; he was like “sorry for sending you such long emails, it’s just that I can express myself easier when I write things out”. And this goes well with what Anne Lamott is saying.
Feross Khouraki
GWC
English 110
Post #10
Perfectionism
I really liked what Anne Lamott had to say in this passage for a lot reasons. I like how she is very frank and still retains some manner of vagueness and subtlety. She states the nature of writing as it is, but also uses plethora of metaphors that leaves the reader kind of inspired to write. For instance, in the beginning, she relates her experience of getting her tonsils out and the gum chewing. I feel like that’s a nice and unpretentious life lesson she’s throwing out there. I also enjoyed the way she broke things down for the reader to be able to interpret what she’s saying in their own way. The way she says God is less like Glinda the Good or Bob Dole and more like Mr. Rogers is a clever thing. She isn’t offensive or sacrilegious or anything; she’s trying to convey of God’s qualities in human terms, terms that we can comprehend. Between paragraphs 5 and 12, I really felt like she was talking about how the nature of writing is from her soul. She explains what kind of disciplines are necessary to write, and how those disciplines allow one to reap immortal rewards by comparing the pyramids of the ancient Egyptians. Although those who built and those who they were built for are all now dead, they’re still there, like mountains, monuments of their existence. I also felt that what she was saying really related to me. Writing for me takes time. Sometimes it takes me minutes just to write, like one sentence, just because I’m not sure how to best articulate my thought. Even with things like math, it bothers me when I write down the problem and the answer came out wrong. It’s a golden moment when I approach a mathematical problem and my work comes out to be correct. Lamott is reassuring that one should go ahead and write and write, even if it comes out wrong, which I can really appreciate.
Katherine Nguyen
Eng 110
GWC
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E Frankl
I agree with Viktor when he says that “happiness must happen, and the same holds for success, you have to let it happen by not caring about it”. Its kind of like gambling for me. If I care so much for winning, then I most likely will lose. I have to just be happy and let it happen naturally. If I keep worrying and aiming for more money, then I usually get bad luck and loose. Its almost like counting your money each time you play a hand. We must not “aim for success, because the more you aim and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it”.
Ricardo Castellanos
Eng 110
G Dub
Post 7?
Perfectionism-
I believe that Anne Lamott is comparing writing to life itself. She states that writing can be very difficult to those that try to perfect it when it shouldn’t be perfected. The idea of being a perfect writer blocks the not-so-perfect ideas that could be perfected later. Many people live life trying to portray an image of flawlessness on the outside, which inevitably causes a greater pain on the inside. Anne is trying to say that one should let go of this idea of perfectionism and make mistakes, because we are human and we can make mistakes. As humans we also learn from our blunders and tend to avoid them in the future, which would then make us perfect. I got a mixed message from this writing because I also understood that one could use writing to escape reality.
Kyle Umbarger
English 110
GW
Post #10
Perfectionism is about people that use the tool of writing throughout their lives. People constantly are struggling to find their way in life. Some of these people resort to writing as a way to find peace. Writing allows people to express themselves freely. For example, when I'm extremely angry I write my thoughts down to let the tension out. This helps me because no matter what I write down, I am never wrong. Nobody judges me because it is between me and my subconcous. In paragraph 4 of "The Last Class", Lamott talks about how people create images in their head, and can freely use their imagination to wander about them. She says that these people are lucky to have this trait. I don't agree with Lamott because I find myself somewhat a person of this type, and find it painful to relive all memories.
Diana Amezcua
English 103
Cerritos College
Post# ?????
Dr. Harry Edwards
This was a very educational story for me, because I had never heard from him before. Indeed, while reading his story I realized that he had been a great guy that did some major changes in the 60’s. By making the Black community recognize what they were doing to them, he made them realize that they were been treated unfairly. Like the story explains Blacks were seen as been only good for sports, “The basic wisdom was that Blacks were natural athletes so we could cut it in physical education. (7)” it is very sad to read that they were denied the choice of studying what they really wanted. On the other hand I am pleased to read that they were people like Dr. Edwards that gave up fame and fortune to follow his calling in this world. Dr. Edwards passion was teaching and making the Black community realize what they were really doing to them, which caused a historical effect by lead them to protest. I was really impressed when reading how Smith and Carlos took a stand in the Mexico City games. This was phenomenal because by their actions they let the whole world know the injustice they were forced to live with. Indeed, their stand showed the unity that surrounded the Black community.
Jaime Valadez
English 100
CC
December 1,2009
Facebook by Kate Dailey
This story was good because it got me to think more about online "friends". In my opinion online friends can be a great "friend" to have. This may be a person that will not judge you because they dont technically know you and they will tell you the truth when you have a question. Like she mentions about having friends that you would not normally talk to if it was not for the internet if you were to ever run into to them years later it will not be as a awkward. Even though i agreed with most of this story one think that i disagree about online "friends" the ones that you have never met might not be who you think they are.
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #76
Friends With Benefits: Do Facebook Friends Provide the Same Support as Those in Real Life?
By reading this compare and contrast essay it basically refreshed some things that I already knew. Networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace are great for keeping in contact with past and present friends. But, also I believe that we should all know our limitations when it comes to posting things that are just too personal. I admit that I do have a MySpace. At first I was skeptical about getting one, but my friend told me that it was fun and that I can find old friends. So, I gave it a shot. I have had my page for like 3 years now. I try not to go on MySpace every day, but it has become a bad habit. I do get a little bothered when I have no comments on my page. Sometimes I feel dumb getting bothered by something like that. Kate Dailey states that “Having a large group of “friends” eager to comment on your daily life could be good for you self-esteem” (7). I believe that this is a true statement. Contrary to what anybody believes, people do care what others think of them. It does feel good to get positive feedback on a cute picture that you posted on your page or even good news that you would like to share with everyone. There can also be negative things about getting a networking site. Someone can post some bad stuff about you and it would be all over MySpace like white on rice. I am not speaking from personal experience, but if anything like that would happen to me I would just freak out. If MySpace and/or Facebook were around when I was in high school, I wonder how my social network would be. I do prefer writing/blogging on networking sites rather than one on one conversation. Being the shy person that I am I tend to tense up and my mind draws a blank when it comes to speaking. I know that is something that I have to get over, because I am not a little girl anymore. The shy thing is not cute especially when you are pushing 30! So, in conclusion I think having a Facebook is alright, but do not be afraid to live outside of the networking world.
New Moon
I just got back from watching New Moon. I thought that it was alright. I felt bad for Jacob =(
Some parts were kind of cheesy, but hey it is a teen flick. It could also be that I like watching True Blood better. But, it was an okay movie.
Andy Tran
English 100
Cerritos
Facebook...
Hmmm where do I start? Well Facebook is such a useful and resourceful tool. Just like myspace or any other little things such as Aim messaging. They all are very helpful by reconnecting with old friends and connecting to new friends. The question "Do Facebook friends provide the same support as those in real life?" I believe they do. For the most part, the ones I know in actual reality do. But the ones I probably have never met or the ones I have probably met once, do provide somewhat of a support as a real friend would. Being friends over a virtual network allows us to have numerous friendships. There is an impossible number of friends you could make that are spread throughout the world. I personally like Facebook because it keeps me in touch with everyone just as a phone, but with a keyboard. It's a great way to invite people to an event such as a party or a kick back. Facebook opens doors for people to meet new people. I enjoy it very much! It is just as handy as a phone. Lucky me, I have Facebook App on my Iphone :P
Sarika Vaswani
English 103
CC
Post #infinity to forever and ever!
Dr. Harry Edwards
Prior to this reading, I had never heard of a Harry Edwards. I found this article to be very historically educational for me. We are told of a man who took the road less traveled, and that made ALL the difference. Rather than following the norm of becoming an athlete.. he gave up fortune, fame, and glamor to follow his heart's desire. Dr. Edwards pursued a Masters in sociology and became a scholar.. something that was not very common within the Black community. Not only did he set an example for others, but he was a leader for African Americans. He made well aware the fact that, they should not limit themselves. They are allowed to dream big. Dr. Edwards gave them a sight to see in hopes that they would "reach for the stars". It's incredible how one individual can make such a difference. It makes me wonder how many more inspiring people like Dr. Harry Edwards exist out there.. who just aren't getting the recognition they deserve. hmph
Freddy Villalobos
English 103
Cerritos College
post #?
Dr. Harry Edwards: Still a Rebel With a Cause
The movement to avvept the black to the Us was still being applied. however, even thou they were granted citennship, school, and almost all of the services that were given to the white, they were still being segregated. the school the went to were mix but there housing were surley poor. the school board did not pa atention to nether the students, the scholors, nor the athlethe. the athleate beibng the pride and jpy of the school were negelected this servises. hjowever due to protest, suopport of the OPHR as well as other atleths, change was brougth.
Alyssa Wall
Cerritos
English 103
Post?
Dr. Henry Edwards,
I liked this reading. I had never heard from him before, and it was a good first experience. I didnt realize how much he had done in the 1960's. I liked the message of not only change, but change for the better and improvement. That is the "theme" of my life right now, and it was nice to read about it. I liked what he said about African American rights, and what he stood for. Change for the better, i like that theme.
Tien Tran
English 110
GWC
Post #
Facebook
Never would I have imagined I’d be reading an article about Facebook friends. It’s such a kicker to your usual serious and deep article we tend to read.
So Facebook friends … I personally think its nice to have an account and a plethora of friends you usually would not see because lets face it, everyone has their own schedule, their own lives, and their own problems. Facebook is another outlet for us to know what is up with people around us, no matter how close or how distant. And even knowing the small stuff about their day gives you that little oomph in your cyber friend connection.
BUT, that does not necessarily mean Facebook friends are your core group of people. I know we all have that core group of friends that we tell everything to and are our other halves. So Facebook is kind of like the outer layer to the core of our apple. They are the acquaintances that we don’t reveal everything to, but can still be there when something sad/good happens, like commenting or “like-ing.”
So Facebook friends do provide support, but not the same support from your core group of friends.
Sidenote: Isn’t it funny how the social networks are kinda in a way … conceitedly us? Does that make sense? Ok … it’s like … we are our own paparazzi. We twitter where we are, what we’re doing, we post up pictures on Facebook … the names are also very geared toward us, with a superficial touch to it
Ipod → : I
Myspace → MY
Facebook → FACE
Do you get my drift? Just something that came across my mind about our on-the-go generation …
Veronica Vasquez
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #34 maybe 38
Dr. Harry Edwards
Along with many things I still don't know, Harry Edwards was a name I hadn't come across until now. This man did a lot for his community and for himself. It is a very sick idea to believe that if one allows a certain race to do one activity, let them be great at it, and only allow the same race to continue in that specific field is racial justice. Dr. Edwards saw how black people were discriminated against in colleges due to the board's best interest. They would not allow black people to live in dormitories in fear that it would chase off other students from the universities. To not allow a certain race to advance in other subjects other than athletics, criminology, and social welfare because of the belief that these are the only subjects they are good at, or will experience in, is a foul mentality, yet this is what Dr. Edwards had to go through. No one should have to petition for a specific major just because the color of their skin gives off the belief that it cannot be accomplished. This is the type of mentality that Dr. Edwards tried to break, and open the eyes of the public that just because a certain race was allowed to do certain activities, such as the Olympics with other races did not mean society could give themselves a good deed pat on the back. I'm glad I read this excerpt; the more I know!
Priscilla Daza
Cerritos College
English 100
post #32
facebook
when i started reading this i immediately disagreed with the wrtier. i feel that something tragic as a death in the family should not be introduced through the fad of facebook. i instantly thought, what ever happen to phone calls?? now-a-days we spread our personal news through text and via interent. my best friend from high school told me "guess what? im pregnant! you're going to be an auntie!" i responded to her "really!? i cant believe you told me through text" so she called me and started over. its like we forgot that once upon a time we would set an arrangment to meet for lunch and say the good news then face to face. my sister last week text me that she got engaged. what the heck. my own sister. i didnt reply back. anyway, as i continued reading the passage, i can make sense of the fact of how devastating it is to reviece those death phone calls. it does make sense to post it via internet that way it wouldnt be brought up on a random run in with an old friend and the unbearable memory returning again. i just still think its so incredibly impersonable and just idk not private information. then ir brings up the support fact from the random buddies one has on their facebook. anyones support is well needed then none i think. but i mean if they truely show interest only. i feel like im heads and tails with this story. okay so then it goes on with involuntary friendships due to school and age...okay i concur but it says that online chatting friends are not "rel life" friends...sooo are we talking to our fantasy friends online?? is there like no one on the other computer typing back at us...we're just making the entire chat conversation in our minds?? i might have missed the message there but that was my first thought on it. im open to be corrected. i understand that people on your network that you dont interact with in any way can be not real...they just add another number to your total netowrk of friends. umm...i realte to paragraph seven though in the sense that i have a myspace (not facebook i know) i hardly ever log on it but when i do i like to see what my best friend from high school is doing now that shes had her baby girl and is happily married. its nice to see pictures of the three of them that are known now as a family where as before it would be pictures of me and her and we were known as best friends. so in a way its like uncommunicated facts. more like visual updates. i get the idea of shy people having a better social life via facebook...im sure it helps them out personably...like it mentiond on paragraph 3 "...can help you be healthier in general" the last paragraph brought to my attention that they are people who do, if i may say, get addicted to myspace, facebaook, chattingo nline etc...this leads as mentioned to not living satisfying lives...in my opinion it will be living not a normal life...being at home all day and relaying on friends via interent to converse with you is just aweful...it may do harm to your health..."go outside. get some sun. get some fresh air" sayings come to mind.
Christina Arredondo
English 103
C.C
Post: ??
"Friends With Benefits: Do Facebook Friends Provide the Same Support as Those In Real Life? - Kate Dailey. In this article, the author states how social networking sites are helpful in some ways. She uses "Facebook" as an example. She explains, it is easier to open up to these sites and news travels fast with them. Also, a person is able to stay in touch or reconnect a friends, family members, etc easier. I agree with this, because I am to stay in touch with family members and friends who are (now)living in another state. I dont have to worry about a phone bill being highly charged. However, the argument is whether or not the support of friends on networking sites is the same as the ones in real life?.. In my opinion, I think that it depends on the friendship that a person has with them. I have a myspace but not a facebook nor a twitter and it is great. At times, people who have networking sites receive more support online than in real life and vice-versa. Also, the are those close friends or yours that happen to move or going to college far away and can't be there in person. However, in the meantime, they are able to keep in touch. Plus, you are able to control what you want to expose to the world or what not. The only thing that I kinda do not like is that many times on this things simply to be nosy...
Christina Arredondo
English 103
C.C
Post: ??
I liked reading the passage, "Dr. Harry Edwards: Still a Rebel With a Cause." Same as many others, this is the first time me hearing and readind about Dr. Harry Edwards. It shows, how much Dr. Edwards helped out and went through back in the 1960's. He did a lot for his community. It talks about many events that took place in that time and made impact. It is really sad disappointing to see how ignorant people can be. Discriminating, stereotyping, and not allowing individuals accomplish their educational goals simply because of their skin color.
Christina Arredondo
English 103
C.C
Post: ??
I liked reading the passage, "Dr. Harry Edwards: Still a Rebel With a Cause." Same as many others, this is the first time me hearing and readind about Dr. Harry Edwards. It shows, how much Dr. Edwards helped out and went through back in the 1960's. He did a lot for his community. It talks about many events that took place in that time and made impact. It is really sad disappointing to see how ignorant people can be. Discriminating, stereotyping, and not allowing individuals accomplish their educational goals simply because of their skin color.
Samantha Shepherd
English 103
CC
Dr. Harry Edwards: Still a Rebel With a Cause
So, I forgot my notebook in the car and I decided to come up and see if I could find the article online and I happened to come across the same article, but with pictures and stuff. It was really cool and I think it gave me a greater sense of what this story was about (here is the link if you want to check it out http://thestartingfive.wordpress.com/2007/11/14/dr-harry-edwards-still-a-rebel-with-a-cause/).
I have to say that first of all what stood out to me the most was the diction that the narrator had the whole time when talking about Edwards. They described Edwards as being someone who spoke his mind and had a very strong voice and expression, and I believe that the narrator did very well in encompassing a little taste of that in his own tone of writing. It really caught my attention when Ali was mentioned as saying "one of the greatest quotes of all time, 'No Viet Cong ever called me a nigger.'" Personally, I had never heard that quote, but it really stuck out to me. I had seen parts of the movie about the boxer, but I did not know the full story and I had absolutely no idea that he was stripped of his belt because of his stances. That to me was absolutely ridiculous! Also, there was another part in the story where there is a picture posted of Edwards and a couple others having won some sort of contest. It shows him standing without shoes to represent poverty, beads to protest lynching, and his fist in the air to demonstrate black power. I had heard of the first as being used as black power because some of my African American friends and I would joke about it in high school, but it is always interesting to find out the history of an action that actually stands for something.
Well, I'd love to stay and type some more, but I have to go and pick up some fruit salad and see if I can't find my charger for my camera. I seemed to have lost it :[.
Samantha Navarro
English 103
Cerritos College
Post.......
Dr. Harry Edwards
Although he was a sports lover, Dr. Edwards set out to do something much bigger than being a great athlete for the America of the '60s. For a black athlete of the time, it must have been hard to represent a country that does not give them equality. Dr. Edward's efforts to raise awareness on this subject went great lenghts not just for black athlethes but black people throughout America. Sending a black athlete to the Olympics and expect him to win for a segregated America must have been a difficult situation for the athletes. This move by the US was intended just as an illusion that America is giving black athletes a chance. Dr. Edwards shines light on the truth that these athletes struggle with inequality at home, and it's not fair to send them to represent a country that will not represent them.
Janice Silva
English 103
Cerritos College
Post# 24 or 25, in twentys
Dr. Harry Edwards: Still a Rebel With a cause
Harry Edwards was the person that organized the Olympic Project for Human Rights in the fall of 1967 that changed the perspective of black athlets. Back in the 1960's, there was alot segregation every where in america that included unfairness to the black athlete. Muhammad Ali title was taken away from him because he did not serve his county for the vietnam war because of religious reasons, he stated, "No Viet Cong ever called me a nigger". I can understand him because he would of been fighting for the white country that did not give him his complete rights. How funny, telling a black man in that time to serve his country, your home, when in fact that the country he is defending is hurting him, what kind of home is that? but it could go either way because he still lives in america. I thought it was rude and embarrassing(rude is a understatment) that in college the only subjects blacks could major in are physical education, social welfare and criminology. Reasons why they could only major in those subjects is because they are natural athletes, always a recipiant in welfare and that they will always be criminals. There is a differance in blacks today and blacks in the 1960's. Honestly i believe some blacks take advantage of what their ancestors gone through to gain something in return. Gaining power over every little thing. Again only some blacks do this, such as when one does not get what they want they call another a racist, causing heads to turn. Some take advantage, because everyone is afraid of being called a racist, but it's wrong on both sides. One should not get what they want by calling one a racist, when there are not, and the other side should give in for a rumor; that side is feeling sorry for the actions in the past, but they need to stand up knowing they are basing them on character not color. Dr. Harry Edwards made a differance for the black athlete, not by violence, but protest that made everyone listen.
Trini Ascencio
English 100
C.C
Facebook
I have to somewhat disagree with the author. Personally, I do not have a Facebook but I do have a My Space. I have heart that Facebook is more of a burn and that it is easier to find out gossip. On the other hand, My Space is more private. You can hide everything on your page if u desire. I think that these social networks are a great way to keep in touch with friends and family you have not seen in such a long time. Then again, I do not like the fact, like Priscilla mentions that now, things are spread through this site, rather than who ever has to tell u something, for them to tell you in person. Everything is through you socail site or texting. On these site you can make 'online friends' across the world, yet we will not know for sure if it is that person in reality. Facebook may provide support from your online friends, but it is not the same support your real freinds can give you. Online friends are temporary, maybe not all of them, but for the most part they will be. People should limit themselve when it comes to posting personal things. Someone you do not intend for it to get in the wrong hands, and within minutes, your story is all over Myspace. “Having a large group of “friends” eager to comment on your daily life could be good for you self-esteem” (7). I have almost 400 friends on My Space. I do talk to about 3/4 of them, and like getting positive comments and feedback from people. Sometimes i will be having a bad day and when I go on, it makes me feel better.
Well.. I need to start on the enchiladas =] I'm sure yall are eager to taste them by the comment on the people that tasted them lol. Professor Hsiao, I will make some separetly for you. I have a feeling they are going to go quick.
Adrian Moreira
Cerritos College
English 100
Post # 30 - something
Friends With Benefits: Do Facebook Friends Provide the Same Support as Those In Real Life? - Kate Dailey
I honestly cannot believe that we are reading something about Facebook.
I am going to have to agree with what Michael J. Bugea said in pargraph 14, "....how many of those [Facebook] friends will show up when you're really in trouble?" I never understood why people who have a Facebook or myspace account, have friends in the hundreds. Of all those hundreds of friends, how many would really respond if you posted something serious or needed help with a problem? I do not understand why one needs to keep in contact with so many people from high school via Facebook either. The way I see it, if one wanted to keep in contact with people from high school, one would have kept in contact with them since graduation day.
We are living in a world where being impersonal has become the norm. It is all about emails and text messages and status updates. Such things seem to be taking away the spontaneity of life. It is like when one has a fight with one's significant other. No longer are these fights face to face or over the phone even. They take place via text or email. One has a chance to edit one's response before sending it.
Gotta love technology.
Archie Kaaua
Professor Hsiao
English 110
Golden West College
December 2, 2009
Post 39
Facebook by Kate Dailey
This author is Explaining the pros and cons of Facebook. If one wants to easily understand the idea, one only has to view Facebook as a letter. Pictures are also optional, but for the most part it is like getting paper mail. One difference is that other people can see your “wall” so to speak. The writing to one person is actually being read by others so keep it PG. If you need emotional support this is a good place to get some. It like a letter, will not give you a hug if you need one. The fact that it services people over 35 in many cases shows that it is an effective tool to re-connect with some lost friends. It can offset loneliness but it will only function as an alternative if that is what is truly bothering you. Research show that bad habits are shared among friends; take it for what it is worth; I do not subscribe to this point of view. Too much time online keep us from living fulfilling lives some experts say, and I agree that there should be a limit of 40-50 hours a week spent surfing the internet. In closing I may add that you can accept almost anyone as a friend if they live far away.
Archie Kaaua
Professor Hsiao
English 110
Golden West College
December 2, 2009
Post 39
Facebook by Kate Dailey
This author is Explaining the pros and cons of Facebook. If one wants to easily understand the idea, one only has to view Facebook as a letter. Pictures are also optional, but for the most part it is like getting paper mail. One difference is that other people can see your “wall” so to speak. The writing to one person is actually being read by others so keep it PG. If you need emotional support this is a good place to get some. It like a letter, will not give you a hug if you need one. The fact that it services people over 35 in many cases shows that it is an effective tool to re-connect with some lost friends. It can offset loneliness but it will only function as an alternative if that is what is truly bothering you. Research show that bad habits are shared among friends; take it for what it is worth; I do not subscribe to this point of view. Too much time online keeps us from living fulfilling lives some experts say, and I agree that there should be a limit of 40-50 hours a week spent surfing the internet. In closing, I may add that you can accept almost anyone as a friend if they live far away.
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post
Friends With Benefits: Do Facebook Friends Provide the Same Support as Those In Real Life? - Kate Dailey
when reading this story of pros and cons on facebook I had two views. I believe that social networking does have it pros and cons. Some people are very private so there profiles are just away to keep in touch just like email. Then there are others who have their lives posted and are not ashamed of any part of their lives. I do believe that in a way this social networking has eliminated a form that we use to do called conversation and face to face interactions. I think that in away this new networking is a way to hide your to reactions. Facebook can be are great way to keep in contact of those who have moved. I believe that myspace and facebook can and can not be private it just depends on what you put. Myspace is way to show uniqueness and personality because you are creating yourself. Whereas facebook is just updates and being informed I would say. I feel as though Sue posted the daeth of her son to get he emotions out and I would respond whether or not I still do not talk to that person as much. I still believe in respect. I is not the things the people do it is the ends that mean more.
Antonio Acosta
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#?
Facebook
What I think about facebook is that it is a place where people meet. Yes it is a place where people can ask for a help from their friend when they need it. In the reading a son died and the person got comfort by talking in facebook. That happened to a friend of mine when his brother died. He found comfort talking in face book to. You could find comfort in the real world taking to your friend face to face, but like some people they do not want anyone to see them in pain. Not only can you talk of sad things but about fun things you done. Like in reading you can keep in touch with people you have not seen for a long time. The only problem is it takes a long time for someone read what you write. It actually depends on when your friends get online.
Edilu Medina
English 100
CC
Post # 45?
Friends With Benefits by Kate Dailey
Facebook
There are many things I agree and disagree with the author. I have my own view of facebook and friendships, sure we cant sometimes connect through telephone or actual person. Through years the communication of long lost friends have minimized it to email and now these networks of Face Book and my space. I believe that something so painful such as deaths or anything that has hurt a person should be kept to oneself. Shared with close friends not spread through others through a network. Except something that has brought ones happiness such as a baby, marriage, or a new house is something positive that you would like to share with a long lost friend. Face book can be good and bad at its points, just need to know the balance of it and your friends.
Trini- I am sooo looking forward to your enchiladas!! Prob steal Mr.Hsiaos.. jk or am I? lol
On other news I have an interview tommorow for the LA youth network to help in the outreach campaign For homeless shelters! I am sooo excited! Crossing fingers I get the job wish me luck!
Sarai Vazquez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post ??
Facebook
This reading is very interesting because it talks about what facebook is really all about. I think that it is a good outlet for some people to get out there feelings when they feel like they cannot express themselves in person or for people to get in touch with old friends. There is a lot of people that I know that have been out of high school or out of college and only use facebook to keep in touch with they people that they have not talked to in many years. I think it is also a godo way for families that live far from eachother to keep in touch. For example my cousin lives in Tulsa Oklahoma right now for her residensy and my aunt is here and my cousin and her will talk online when my cousin does not have the time to call or she is too busy. It is a erally good way to keep in touch with family and friends that you do not see very often. On the other hand I also think that sometimes it could be very inpersonal and you should say some things in person and not through facebook or any other kind of social networking site or anything like that. I think it is just up to the person that you are talking to and what they prefer.
Brian Jimenez
English 100
CC
POst# 54
Facebook
Well first I think facebook is a waste of time but I do not disgree that its a nice place to meet friends and thats great. I agree with the author in some parts like when he states, "the majority of times we reach out on Facebook, however, it's not about a tragedy, but a smaller problem for which we need advice. I think that is true because many people are shy to say the small little problems but when it comes to larger problem I feel those are emotions that should be shared with family and friends in person but everyone has their opinion. I used to have myspace and all it caused is drama. For example I had another ex girlfriend that would just used it to check up on me which was find |I did not care but when she saw a picture of me with my chick friends she would get mad and question me all the time. They were just friends!! lol but she did not get that......I believe that facebook is the same and everyone can view your life. Maybe talking in facebook can make you happyier but lazy. I have talked to people and many of them is all that they do. That's why I think its a waste of time. Maybe twice a week is not so bad but everyday! What about school, homework, chilling with your friends in person,bills, working out to better yourself which I think facebook only makes you procastinate these valuable things in life.............
Arcelia Swarr
English 100
Cerritos
Post #no clue
Facebook was an interesting read. I myself have both a facebook and a myspace, though I am more selective of who I add as a friend. To me myspace and facebook have been a way to keep in touch with high school friends that I lost touch with after graduation. Myspace is where my now fiancee found me and how we got back in direct contact with each other instead of just hearing about each other through our families. Facebook has helped my keep in touch with many family members that I don't get to see very often because they don't live near. When I am having a bad day I can post a quick little statement or mood on facebook or myspace and anyone can share anything, whether it be support, encouragement, or something silly to get a laugh. I have many friends who use facebook as a way of getting advice from other people in their situation. My friend just yesterday was asking for advice on how to get her daughter off formula. Friends post just about everything you can imagine on there. In some cases facebook and myspace can be negative, but I haven't personally seen the negative side.
Ibeth Rodriguez
English 100
Cerritos College
Facebook
It is amazing and at the same time ridiculous how facebook, myspace, twitter, and so on has become a part of our lives. As for myself I cannot go a single day without logging on into myspace and facebook. I sometimes feel that I am addicted to these things, and yes it is a little scary because I feel weird when I do not check MySpace or facebook. Even though sometimes I get annoyed at myself because I am such a facebook freak I do not regret ever starting a facebook because through facebook I met someone very special. I met a person who has changed my life and that I am very grateful for him being my friend. I talked to him for about 8 months until we finally decided to meet each other. I know many might think it is dangerous but I did not care. I felt very close to him and until this day we are very great friends. I have known him for 2 years now and all I have to say is that I am very happy that I got to know him because of facebook. He helped me out a lot during my most difficult times through facebook sometimes he even made me feel better than my closest friends, which I am sad to say but it is the truth. Yes I do agree that sometimes through facebook or myspace you can get the help that you are not receiving from the people who are around you.
Esmeralda Orozco
english 100
cc
post???
Facebook by Kate Dailey
when i was reading the story i agreeed and disagree with many things. i think facebook along with many other social networks have both its advantace and disadvantage. i know there are a lot of bad people out there who are up to no good but there are many other people who are fun to tak to. it is also a good way to keep in touch with out friends and old flings. it can also cause problems in relationships. i think if u can handle the way to communicate with others and do not trust evrything you hear then you will have no problem.
Stephanie Farano
GWC
English 110
Going to Meet the Man...I'm pretty sure that you told us to read this and be ready with four questions, but never said anything about posting on it. Yet, I get on here and everyone has posted. Well, at least a handful have posted. I tend to agree with Jon's short but sweet post. This man is sick...short and simple. He finds pleasure in beating people of another race and jumps at the opportunity to demean black American's any chance he gets, yet fantasizes and wants to be sexually intimate with the black women. What is his deal? He is so turned off by the mean and turns to violent in order to calm his strong emotions, I would assume to compensate for the uncontrollable desire he feels for the woman. Both feelings in which he probably knows to be wrong, not only because he is married, but because at the time it was not acceptable. I believe that this story shows a mans sick and twisted inner battle of feelings. I don't truly believe that he wanted to hurt the men that he brutally attacked, but his his mind it was his way of countering his inner feelings toward the woman. Sicko!!!
Macey Lindsay-Clinton
English 110
Golden West College
Post #26
Facebook (Or book face if you watch the Office)
First, this post is going to lack any sort of major academic insight, and it will probably sound like everyone else's posts. I agree very much with the piece on Facebook. I think that when it is used in the right way it can be very beneficial. I have had a Myspace since 7th grade, but I had been holding out from Facebook up until two or so months ago. The reason I joined Facebook was to keep in touch with my family. This may be shocking but both my Grandmother and Father had a Facebook before me. I am not close with a lot of my family besides the immediate part. Thus, Facebook helped me reconnect with cousins from Canada and the High Desert. Also, I was able to reconnect with people that I went to elementary school with. (Because I moved, I had lost contact with everyone.) I like to be able to see what people are up to with out calling them. Sometimes I like to know the drama without putting myself near it. Most things are very entertaining. It reminds you of people's birthdays and you can send and informal "Happy B-day" with out all the package of sending a text or calling. With Facebook, there is no requirement to respond. When you update your status you do not expect every one to send something back, but when someone does it is beneficial and stimulating. For some it is like blogging; you can get what ever is on your mind off and maybe get a response. What is really important is the fact that one must keep a healthy "real" life. If your entire life is based on social networking your going to loose a lot of what can be gained from real life interaction. Like anything, Facebook can be truly beneficial when it is used in the proper context.
Lastly, the whole thing will mothers being afraid of child predators... if you raise your child properly and do not shelter them, they will know to not add a stranger. When a parent does not make this known to their child and simply thinks that sheltering them will prevent an occurrence, they are setting themselves up for failure. Knowledge is power.
Jon Croft
English 110
Golden West College
Post #36
Facepalm by Kate Dailey
Some people have tried and true friends who help them in times of need. Some have a ginourmous group of e-friends on Facebook and MySpace to provide a collectively huger support base.
I, on the other hand, have a giant ego. So I win.
Tess Elizondo
English 100
CC
Post 23
First off, I want to thank all the amazing speakers on their stories and advice. You guys as well as girls are really inspirational.
Courtney, the way you presented your story with such enthusiasm reminded me of last semester of how you made everyone crack up. I am so glad that you are a smart young woman to realize you deserved better and moved foward. By the way when you sang it gave me goosebumbs. Pretty strong stuff! Hope your mom does not get sick and stays strong as well.
Karlo, you remind me of my young cousins who went to juvi and also got into a lot of trouble. I must say I am really glad you grew up and saw the importance of life and how valuable it is. I was curious to know what your tattoo was on your arm(haha)? Anyways moving foward I am sure your little baby will look up to you one day and say what an incredible father you are for changing for the better, and for your family as well.
Claudia, listening to your story made me apppreciate my family. I am really sorry that your family does not support you, but you are a strong smart woman as I can see. Im happy to know that you have got accepted to that private school. Do not let anyone break you down and I wish you nothing but the very best. Thank you for sharing your story. The only thing that matters is if you believe, and I believe in you. Good Luck in your Spring 09 semester.
Danielle, I literally broke down inside, and not because I felt sorry but because I felt a connection. Ive never told anyone in school or even Mr.Hsiao in my cave paper, but my stepfather is a cop and while my mom was at work he would strip search me. He would make me undress myself in front of him beacuse he thought I was hiding something, but he never found anything. This happened from the time I was about 9 years old until I was 17 and finally I had the courage to stop and move out. He treated me like an inmate. He threatend me and emotionally abused me. I know I could not compare, but I share your feelings. I found it funny when you said your father doesn't know because mine doesn't either. Thanks to you I shared my secret that I have been hiding as well.
Aaron, where can I even begin to explain how strong you are. I cannot even imagine how hard it must have been to go through all thoughs surgeries. I am really glad you are cancer free now. I need to applaud to you once more. I was so glad to know that you went back to school and graduated. Even if it meant to lie to your principle. I am going to keep you in my prayers so you will stay cancer free. Your story really inspried me to stay focused and not to take anything for granted. Thank you Aaron!
Orlando, I remember you from last year, and your story is unforgetable. You are right everything is possible. Even getting an A in Mr.Hsiao's class. I am so glad to hear that you did not let anything get in your way of going back to school. I am sure you proved the people you work with wrong. Is that not the best way to laugh back? I sure think so. Im sure your daughters look up to, and appreciate everything you have done to better yourself and your family.
Brittany Williams
English 110
GWC
Post 50
Facebook
Last winter I got sick. I had had a terrible soar throat and cough for over a month, and I needed a doctor. Unfortunately, I had only been in the Orange County area for a few months and had not known of any good doctors in the area. On a whim, I posted to facebook and asked if anyone knew of any good doctor. Immediately, I was flooded with Doctor's names and phone numbers. I even got a few phone calls from friends who wanted to pass along a good reference. Needless to say, by the end of the day I had an appointment. After reading Friends with Benefits, I have to agree with the author. When used for the right purposes, facebook can be incredibly helpful.
Ronald Cabiltes
English 110
GWC
Post #22
Facebook
Social networking seemed to become popular ever since myspace and facebook came out. I had a myspace in middle school and throughout high school and got a facebook once I got into college because it seemed to be easier to keep in touch with friends through it. I have like 200 friends on my facebook, but I only talk and see 20 or 30 of those friends on a regular basis. So that's about 10% of my whole friends list. That doesn't include a few cousins and uncles and aunts. I think facebook is good for reconnecting with friends to some extent. About posting personal statuses, I think its just a medium for people to vent. People use facebook for different reasons. I use it to procrastinate on my homework and zone out in lecture halls. But I'm still a good student, I swear.
Kim Luong
GWC
110
Facebook . by Katie Dailey
I don't have Facebook, but i absolutely agree with the author that Facebook/myspace/yim buddies are only acquaintances not friends. Internet is a good place to freely talk about our feeling without letting others to see face to face. This is the same as caliing,texting via the phone. it is easier to electronically text a "hello, h r u ?" message rather than to physically visit a friend's house. The more we get access to technologies, the more lazy we get. People just prefer to communicate by typing, texting instead of talking, hugging, doing eye-contact. Electronic devices should be our enemies when it comes to communicating. Imagine you are talking with a " long time no see" friend, you friend got a call from someone and began to get into that conversation and suddenly forgot about your presence. Wouldn't you get mad because of that phone call? You would feel so lonely because the call from some stranger has isolated you from your friend. That is one thing i hate about cellphone.
Kim Luong
GWC
110
Facebook . by Katie Dailey
I don't have Facebook, but i absolutely agree with the author that Facebook/myspace/yim buddies are only acquaintances not friends. Internet is a good place to freely talk about our feeling without letting others to see face to face. This is the same as caliing,texting via the phone. it is easier to electronically text a "hello, h r u ?" message rather than to physically visit a friend's house. The more we get access to technologies, the more lazy we get. People just prefer to communicate by typing, texting instead of talking, hugging, doing eye-contact. Electronic devices should be our enemies when it comes to communicating. Imagine you are talking with a " long time no see" friend, you friend got a call from someone and began to get into that conversation and suddenly forgot about your presence. Wouldn't you get mad because of that phone call? You would feel so lonely because the call from some stranger has isolated you from your friend. That is one thing i hate about cellphone.
Kayla Marley
English 110
Facebook.
I think that if one is responisble I think facebook is a good thing. Facebook is a great way to keep in contact with family, friends, and people from highschool. As long is one is able to moniter what they are saying and be responisble I think facebook is a great thing.
Danielle St. Onge
English 110
GWC
Post 22
FACEBOOK
While I was reading this, I was signed onto Facebook. I was talking to Eric from class, looking up and trying to find other classmates, and reading my other friends' statuses. Without Facebook I would have known that the UC system extended their application deadline until tonight at midnight. Nor would I know that my boyfriend posts annoying statuses saying that he misses me. Even though things like that are rather annoying Facebook still keeps me connected. I would have never kept in contact with my old St. Hedwig's elementary school mates, unless we randomly met up somewhere, with out Facebook. Nor would I have gotten the chance to see my newborn baby cousin, if it wasn't for the pictures my auntie posted. Kate Dailey was right in her article, I do think it is a positive social networking system. When I'm feeling down I look to help on facebook to bring some good cheer in my life; whether its through the live feed, chat, comments, whatever, it cheers me up.
oh and p.s. look me up on facebook!!! hahahaha just kidding.
p.p.s HI SARAH TAKEDA!!!!!
Stephanie Farano
GWC
English 110
Facebook
I love Facebook!! It is an amazing way to connect with friends and family that you don't normally get a chance to talk to on a regular basis. I love that you can be connected to people, that you would normally lose touch with. I have friends from preschool that I will still drop a comment to once in awhile. I have to agree with Brittany and the benefits of the social network, you can get very quick responses and help with almost any question. There are a lot of risks with becoming so socially available, but you can also choose the friends that you accept. I only accept requests from people that I know, because there are a lot of scary..nut nuts out there. Overall I give facebook an A!
Thomas Rios
GWC
English 110
Facebook
I think that facebook can be good or bad, depending on the individual. I think that as with most things, it can be good in moderation. Excessive use could lead to unhealthy habits I believe. I think that people do need face-to-face interaction. Typing something and saying it are two different things. I do have a facebook, and it is a quick and easy way to catch up even with current friends.
Stephanie Farano
GWC
English 110
Ps...thanks for the add Danielle!
Samantha Sullivan
English 110
GWC
Post#28
Facebook
By Kate Daily
I would just like to start off and say that I do not have a facebook and do not see the purpose too. I do not see how people have the time in their day to chit chat and continue all the keep up of a facebook. I just don’t get it :/ I mean I guess I see the net working side, but there is only so much time that one has in their “real” life that I don’t see how there is any time left to have a “cyber” life too. The blogging alone is hard enough to do and make time for. I know so many problems that arise from myspace and facebook. I know of so many breakups and cat fights and DRAMA!! There are negatives also involving child stalkers and pedophiles. Those issues, in few cases, fall on the responsibility of parents, but happen to many innocent children who get lost and caught up in their cyber world. I do agree that families and relationships can be found and reconnected on these networking sites, but I feel that they make relationships so distant and yet so close. There is no face to face contact and no “real” substance behind many relationships, thus creating acquaintances. I feel that the advancements of technology have taken over our lives and that they have influenced and has intervened our lives too much.
True story:
I went shopping (what’s new) and I knew that I had a relative that was looking for a job and this certain store had a “Now Hiring” sign. I asked one of the store employees for an application, so that I could give it to my cousin, and she looked at me oddly. She simply replied “oh, we don’t have applications. You are able to apply online and we give you a call from there”. I was shocked! Wow, I know I really never had a “real” interview, but I have always had to fill out an application in person. Hearing that one can apply online and the information that you submit about yourself is one of the only things that stores go off of when picking employees is crazy. Personal interviews and making face to face contact is what it was all about. I just feel that we are moving back instead of forward in this part of our lives.
Ana Cervantes
English 100
Cerritos College
Post#???
Well I want to start by saying that the food was delicious mmmm... everything!!Ohh Janelle my bf go mad at me cuz i didnt take him more of ur cake it was really good ^-^.Today was a really nice suprise to see Mr. Hisao's old students and to be able to hear their stories, and get to know them.First I'm going to start with:
Courtney Woolsey
WOW!! awesome voice i forgot to ask her for an autograph, cuz that girl is going to get famous with that singing voice.And I could not help to notice that she reminded me of Pricilla and omg i hope i get it right is it Samantha??? if not I'M sooo sorry.Not saying that she is not her own persona, but she brings out that same aura as them =]. Her story reminds me of what my mom tells me to look out on what a bad bf is and can turn out to me. Also to love one self and DON'T EVER let other ppl bring u down ever.
Karlo Soto-Castillo
This boy is unique by just looking at him and funny.His story to me is one of a guy that wants to have a purpose to be something great in life that he knows he can be. Yes he did not start good with doing drugs and stuff. But what i get from that is that one should never judge that person wrong beacuse they do drugs. Beacuse it does not make them stupid or less smarter than others as one might sometimes think. They might even be smarter than others and accomplish big things as he is doing. I wish him the best with his career and family.
Claudia Reynaga
Wow has this girl has it hard and goes through harsh things everything everyday. But I hope u dont get offeneded but that's all i'm going to say about that part of ur story cuz i don't think that she need ppl to feel pitty for her. She Is a strong girl, determine, and Raul is right passionate; well thats what i got from her. And i have a feeling that she is going to go to her dream school. Even though i have not seen her art i bet she's a dam good one =].
Danielle Kenedy
I admire this girl for her strenght to have kept quiet for so long about her horrible nightamre. My respects to her beacuse i do not wish what she went through to my worse enemy. And to see her that she is doing great after what she went through is amazing i dont think i would be able to do that.I just want to let her know if she reads this that I'm glad she is happy now with her bf =]
Aaron Sobolwew
I'm speechless on what i can say about his story. This boy has really gone through pain and through a lot. All i can say is that i'm happy he was with us telling his story and if he had not said he had suffer cancer i would have never guessed it. Why beacuse he looks so good now healthy which i'm really glad =]
Orlando Garcia
He was funny his sense of humor reminds me of Michale's. What class it would be having them together in the same room. What i got from his story is that it is never to late to go back to school. When someone really wants something all u have to do is to go get it no matter what even in sickness.Ohhh yes and also to stop being lazy.
Whitney Young
Golden West College
English 110
Post #30
Facebook by Katie Dailey
In my opinion, the whole social networking thing has its pros and its cons. The cons are meeting stalkers and creating drama and that type of stuff. There have been stories of cyber bullying that has caused a girl to commit suicide. It is so sad that people would waste their time trying to be someone else to hurt other people. Think of all those creepers trying to hit on young girls. It is so disgusting to think about all those old men are out there getting off on an innocent girls picture. Gross. Pros about social networking are getting to reconnect with old friends and family. The internet is a great way to talk to my cousins in France for free. There are so many great ways to use the internet like video chatting instead of racking up a huge long distance phone bill. Another cool thing about the internet is the whole youtube phenomenon. There have been many ordinary people that have used youtube to get noticed by huge stars like Justin Timberlake or Kanye West.
I think the best thing to do is to be aware of the things one does on the internet. There can be pros and cons, but it is all about making smart decisions.
Raufiel Matias
GWC
ENglish 110
Post #26?
Facebook
First off, I would like to say that I do not have a facebook account so I cannot really compare this reading to my self. While reading the piece I was looking at it as though I have an account. I guess that some of the things that the author said about facebook is true. Like being able to see some long time classmates or school mates from high that I haven't seen since graduation, also getting updates of what they've been up to now and stuff like that. Those kind of things about social networking can be good because it gives you the chance to talk to that person again even though you haven't seen each other in a long time it gives you a sense of communication with one another no matter what. A bad thing about this social networking stuff is that everything you post in there are visible to people that view your profile. So as a precaution, you must be careful with what you post in there such as pictures and etc... because the whole world can see it. Either way there is a good and bad side with facebook and other social networking sites. It just depends on the person using it and how they utilize it.
Andy Pham
English 110
GWC
Post ...doesn't matter.
Facebook
I like Facebook. For me, facebook is a good way of keeping certain not-so-close "friends" at a distance, and close enough to a certain degree in which you could say "hey, what's going on?" and have a topic to talk about whenever you would bump into them. Instead of having a long, gruesome and predictable awkward talk about what has been going on throughout the friend's, you could talk about specific things, like whatever they post on their status. It is enjoyable to see what is happening with their lives, at a distance. Also keeping in touch of old friends is also fun too. It kind of doesn't work when you have a sort of close group of friends, when you are constantly updated on what has been going on with each other. Sure, you post up pictures of each other, but really it is just for bitter, and/or vain reasons. I admit that I have done that a couple times, just to spite a couple people. I also think it is a good way of mass inviting people. It just seems easier instead of calling/texting a buttload of people.
Just last year, I had a reunion with my 8th grade AVID class. My teacher found us all through facebook and we all got in touch and had a good time. It is a good way of finding people and an easier start/spark to having a good time.
Celina Rivera
English 100
Cerritos College
Post# 87
Guest Speakers
Let me begin with saying Thank You for coming in today and being able to tell your stories. I think that each and every story was inspirational to at least on student. I glad to know that there are still people out there that can impact their peers and communities.
I want to start off a bit different this time. It starts off like this. When I was a kid there were many hardship that I dealt with day by day. The one thing that made me cry every night was death and I do not know why. I would sit awake and cry about why is life that why. Why can life continue? Why do our love ones leave? I hate the idea of this. Then it hit me one day when I actually had to deal with my aunt was in the hospital due to a medical surgery. I knew that in the pit of my stomach she was not going to make it. My stomach was a pit of knots, I was sick and I was not able to eat. I told my mom and she said she use to get this feeling too when she was younger. My aunt unfortunately passed away. I cried so much. I then took the thought of death even harder. As I begun to get older I could still not deal with the subject or even talk about it. I guess you could say it is my worse fear. Then in 2004 I found out that my dad was diagnosed with cancer. I think I cried till my eyes had no more tears. I did not want my dad to leave me. The ironic part was that he did not tell me until it was time for surgery. By that time I was moving to Arizona. I would visit my dad while he was going through key mo. I wish was there for him, but I was no able to. As of now my dad is recovered which I am happy about. I have a friend who's mother recovered from cancer and the all of a sudden the cancer came back and she passed. Then there is my grandma who also battled cancer and recovered too. I worry every time that my father goes for his visit that they will say it is back. That idea worries me because my grandpa passed away last year and he looked exactly like my dad lying in the bed. That scared me even more to think that my parents could go at anytime. My aunt also this year after battling brain cancer passed away as well. The word death is still a subject I stay up to and can not go to sleep if I think about it. I also can not talk about the subject continuous because it really bothers me. On Tuesday I had another aunt pass away after battling cancer too. She had recovered at one point, but it came back with a vengeance. Unfortunately on Tuesday as she laid peacefully she took her last breath. I guess now I know that i have to fears cancer and death, but at least I can try to make a big impression on others. I want to tell more stories about my life and make a big difference in teens lives.
Okay I can actually say that these guest speaker gave me hope to be open to my life issues. I want to thank you once again. I will now talk about each speaker and say what I got of each of them.
Celina Rivera
Cerritos College
English 100
Post #89
Guest Speakers Continued.....
Courtney:
You are a girl with so much hope and life. When I heard you talk I knew you were nervous, but that is normal when you telling such a big story about yourself. Even though you dad was not there and has spent time with drinks. I do think that with your music will inspire a bunch of people.
Karlo:
Your story just showed me that those who get into trouble do have a chance to change things. That new chance might have a baby or something else. I think your story will help a lot of troubled youth. I think that there are many teens who are stuck and do not know where to go after all is bad. They do not see the good in that bad. Keep passing your story around their is always some one to listen and change.
Claudia:
Listening to your story reminded me of the problems that deal with in my family. I have so many family problems. I loved being an Arizona and sometimes I wish I was still there not to deal with the family drama. It was so much easier to stay way the come home. Now that I am home have just can back and have to encounter my family problems day by day. I now have so many problems with my family especially my brother. I do not think that relationship will ever be back to normal. I praise you because at least your able to face that family drama everyday.
Danielle:
Your story was amazing. I know there are many people that are just like you who hide their stories and can never come out of their cave. I am happy to hear that with your story there is people that can finally let it out. I know that there was a person in my family who was sexually abused by their family members. It was not just one, and her father beat her everyday. I can say that when they told me their story they still fought to do what they wanted to do in life and succeed and that will be you.
Aaron:
Your story hit me hard because of my resent death in my family from cancer. I do not think that I could not fight as hard as you did and do everyday. I believe that your story did help me, but at the same time it worries me to know that my fathers cancer will come back. I guess I can say that you showed me that your you know that is a possibility, but you still live your life without stopping. I also believe you show people to strive in things you want.
Orland:
You showed me that perseverance will get you far. I am happy to know that wanted to fight to get a degree because you did not want people to hold that over you. I can say that I have been there before. I can say that I really fighting for my grades and put my social life on hold. Thanks for showing me I am doing the right thing.
Thank you once again to all the speakers.
Leydi Espnoza
English 110
GWC
post:?
Facebook
As most people said, Facebook can be a beneficial network that may help one stay in touch with their acquaintances. Since my very close friends go to different schools, we barely see each other. Sometimes a month will go by and we would not be in touch. However, facebook allow us to stay together by letting each other know how are we doing, by our posts. Also, facebook is a great way to keep people inform about social issues. Some people use this network to aware their friends about events that took place. In the other, when just needs to find something to do to kill time, facebook has something to offer.
Jessica Atthowe
English 110
GWC
post #?
Facebook
I have to agree with everyone and say facebook has it's pros and cons. I think there are more pros than cons. Facebook allows you to stay connected with old friends far and near. I had a group of 11 girl friends from high school. We all went to different colleges all over the country. Facebook is how we all keep in touch. We have a continuous message going still today which started over a year ago. Facebook has also made me believe even more that we live in such a small world. The roommate of two of the girls on my volleyball team moved here from Reno, she plays softball and is a year younger than me. I became friends with her on facebook and to my surprise we had friends in common. Interested in who these mutual friends could be i looked into it. Turns out she is friends with my twin cousins who live and Reno and she had played softball with them for many years. Small world for sure. All in all, Facebook is a good thing, as everyone is saying, if used in the right way.
Dalene Kolb
English 110
Golden West College
Post # (too many to count)
Facebook:
You get your life out there fast, and don't have to repeat it. That is so true about Facebook. I did not want a Facebook at first, but it does make life easier when you have family/ friends out of state. What the author says about Facebook friends making you happy is so true. I have friends that I hardly see, but Facebook you can talk with people who don't know every detail of your life. "The idea showing your not alone." When you post something people say how happy/ sad they are for you. But people never seem to ask what is wrong in person. Why is that? I think people are scared of the emotions you might have. Crying. "Living satisfying live in the real world." I live a normal life. I do not spend so much time on the internet that I forget about that. But for some the real world is to hard to endure. Facebook makes it easier for them to have a semi-normal life. I really enjoyed this story! There are a lot of people who use Facebook/ MySpace/ and even Blogger! It does help to get your point across fast.
~Dalene
Pot-Luck today! Yum!
Yue Hayes
English 110
Golden West College
Article on Facebook/social networking
I think for the most part, I agree with the author that social networking sites like Facebook have benefits. So many times I would find a friend that I have not talked to in years, or find a friend whom I've fallen out of contact with. Sometimes it is difficult or awkward to immediately see each other in person, so I think that it's great that site like these exist so that we may choose to meet up at any time after the initial contact is made.
Also, through a Japanese networking site called mixi, I've became friends with a classmate of mine from 3rd grade. I left Japan in 3rd grade to live in the United States. Although I did not remember him, I remembered his name. He fully remembered me, and we just got to talking. We're e-mail buddies now, but it's great to stay in touch with someone who lives in my hometown. We share the happenings in the places we live in.
Because of becoming friends with him, I've talked to numerous friends who remembered me from japan. It was definitely difficult to keep in touch with them through letters, but networking sites like facebook and mixi makes it possible for us, who live far, far away from each other to easily stay in touch.
Yue Hayes
English 110
Golden West College
Oh my gosh. All the guest speakers were so amazing and inspiring. I really admire people who can talk about their experience and encourage others. It's just awesome to be able to hear the personal lives of some of these people. Everyone's so young but they've already gone through so much. I related to Agnes and Samir's stories a lot in some ways, and have been inspired from what they have been able to accomplish and what they hope to accomplish. It gives me a little bit of direction, I think.
They were ALL so different in character but GREAT people with GREAT hearts! Time went by way too quickly, I think.
I remember seeing Mikey at the Getty last year, and just as Mr. Hsiao said, he did have a posse following him around. He was leading the way. I envy him, because he makes the best out of what he has. Even with the huge disadvantages, he tackles everything with a can-do attitude which I think is wonderful. I could learn a lot from that. (I can barely keep my balance on a skateboard, it blows my mind that he just does it.)
Burger is like a lot of people that I'm around. My step dad started out as a trouble-child, hung out with the loud crowd, that sort of a thing. Got in to a lot of trouble at an early age and learned a lot from it. His friend is the same way, and it scared me how alike Burger was with my dad's friend Chad. It's pretty cool to come out on top, after growing up in an unhealthy condition. Breaking the habit is the hardest thing to do, but I'm glad that some are able to accomplish that.
Nic was just hilarious. It is so amazing that he is standing there joking around with us, when he has seen the worst. I can't have enough respect for him!! He brought a very bright light to what he did, even joked around about them, which I know is not very easy to do. I couldn't stop smiling/laughing. It was fun.
And then Brian. He's a great speaker!! I liked what he brought to the table, which was the issue of how bringing yourself to others' levels, and personally helping people out, are the most caring gestures. I think it's true. It's the hardest thing to walk in someone else's shoes, especially if those people are far less fortunate than we are.
Anyways, I wanted to say something specific about one person and look at what happened... I posted on everyone. Hah. They were all so inspiring though, I couldn't resist!
Thank you to the guest speakers for taking their time to come talk to us... And waking up super early to do it, too.
Macey Lindsay-Clinton
English 110
Golden West College
Post #27
Speaker Reflection
First off, I wanted to thank all of the people who brought food and drinks. I would have never thought fried rice, cup cakes, fruit, and hot chocolate would be such an amazing breakfast. Now on to the speakers..
I think that I would like to talk about all of them, but I forgot to write their names down. The first speaker was Mikey (I think that is his name). I liked how he was so open and accepting of his state. I feel like some disabled are afraid or weary to talk about their situation. What I found shocking is that he is 19. I am going to be 19 soon, and I do not think I am nearly as mature as him. For someone so young to be able to comfortably speak to peers about themselves is amazing. I also found his will to succeed in life as a normal person very admirable. Also, I was very happy to hear that he had not grown up being ridiculed. I think it is because of his strong personality and yearning to be looked at as an equal. The second speaker was Agnes from Lithuania. Her story was sad; alcoholic parents and growing up with abuse is never a good thing. I liked seeing that she was able to overcome her situation. I also liked her attitude she retains for her father; you can tell that she really does care about him but not so much that it will hold her back. This is a sign of a very strong person. The third speaker was Sumer (spell check). He was from Pakistan. My initial observation was that he was wearing an Alpha Gamma Sigma sweat shirt. This was sort of a foreshadow to what he talked about. His great dedication to academics and Golden West were very admirable. After him came Burger, I think. Interesting name; I have a friend with that last name as well. What I liked about him was the "reality" (for lack of better words) that he brought to the table. His story was very personal and blunt. He had an unbalanced childhood which lead him to rebellion. It is very good that he is able to understand his actions and how they relate to his past. I thought he sort of looked like Johnny Depp. Haha. The next speaker was... I can not remember his name. Well anyways, he seemed very dedicated to helping others which was really nice. Then after him was the military guy, whose name has left the building as well. He was very funny, but yet he brought a seriousness which I enjoyed. I can only imagine the horrific things one may see in the military. I am really happy that he was the last speaker because his humor was a good note to end on.
Jasmyne Young
English 110
GWC
Post #20?21?22? idk
Reflection of Speakers
The two that made the biggest impression on me was, of course, Mikey, but Burger as well. Mikeymade an impression by the fact that he has never allowed his handicap to stop him from doing what he loves to do. If he puts his mind to it, he does it, and he excels at it. He is just a normal 19 year old boy that just happens to have no limbs. His strength and perseverence is very inspirational to me.
When it comes to Burger, he may be lost, but has chosen to walk a right path instead of a wrong. At first, he was an "outcast", then he gained friends, lost those friends, and has now gained lifelong friends. Just like, he was sheltered, then experimented, and now is focused. The fact that he has lived his life going down the "wrong" path and has decided to still live life, but in a "better" way, is awesome!
With both Mikey and Burger, through their experiences, they are continually growing stronger. They have never let anything or anyone deter them from doing what they want to do. I applaud them for that. Thank you Mr.Hsiao for such an enlightening surprise!:)
audrey valdivia
english 100
cc
i feel like theres a house that toppled over me. i am wearing my heart on my sleeve for everyone to see, yet it ironically it is not noticeable. i get 2 stories from each side and yet there both hard to believe, i am strong mentally but it is the emional tie to my family that makes me weak. my sister is 100 miles away and hurting and yet i feel like i am helpless when it comes to helping her.if my borther knew why she was in her state a grieve he would become aggrivated. in a sense he is a sleeping giant you know the quote in the movie PEARL HARBOR "i fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant" thats what we fear. not so much for ourselves but for the harm others put onto our family the ones who have to come face to face with him.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Michael Swisher
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #55
Loud Speakers (Metaphorically speaking)
We were asked to write a reflection upon the content of the volunteer speakers that attended class on Wednesday and I personally could not identify with many of them. The younger speakers seemed to elaborate far too much upon past loves, and trivial dilemmas that they will very soon find were trivial to begin with, and I believe that Mr. Hsaio knows and did this purposefully ;-) I did, however, closely identify with the final speaker. I have not really suffered any debilitating disease or injury as he described, but I sympathize quit exquisitely with his plight concerning his occupation and family management. I, myself, have over-burdened my strenuous existence with many responsibilities and duties. I am enrolled in 16 units for the next semester, and I am certain they will be a drastic change from the 7 units I am currently taking. I have noticed, especially due to the fact that I am simply older and more experienced, that school work and test taking is much more simple for me now, as opposed to when I was younger. I more than sympathize with the speaker’s (I am terribly sorry I have forgotten his name, my apologies my good sir) desire to attain the accreditation and certification an education provides, and we deserve far above most of our coworkers. I am glad I have such a wonderful, peaceful, and plainly perfect family to rely upon, encourage, and nurture for they are the bed rock of my establishment, but I am overwhelmed at times by the pure quantity of attention I have to delineate to multiple areas of my life, and of course, my family is leading priority. The burdens of weighed options, and the hindsight of decisions come to fruition are heavy at times. If I had waited to begin my family, I would have ample time to finish my education, but I was much younger with very little determination and I withdrew from many classes. I am not certain that with the mindset I instated when I was younger and without my babies, I would have completed at all. I have my family now, and they are my reasons, and they are my altar upon which I have set my goals. I excel in all I do for my wife and children, and not solely for myself. When I formulate this equation, it would seem obvious that the path I have chosen has bequest upon me the better of outcomes, but that does not remove the difficulty of my choices. I enjoy learning, working, and most things occurring in my life, and I am supremely glad I am walking a nobler road than the roads I have left behind. So thank you speaker, whichever the name, for letting me know I am not alone in my struggles, and that there are others seeking the same prize, and for showing me (pardon the blunt remark) that some people deal with far more difficult issues than I have been dealt.
Jon Croft
English 110
Golden West College
Post #37
Guest Speakers
Burger wins. Why, exactly? Well try this on for size:
Bruce Lee knows Kung Fu
Bruce Lee is awesome
Burger knows Kung Fu
Therefore
Burger is Bruce Lee.
Monique Gutierrez
English 100
Cerritos College
Post # 77
Speakers
Claudia- I really enjoyed listening to your stories. You are very mature for your age. Also, you have a beautiful voice. I only sing that well when I am in the shower and if people are tone deaf! I am sorry to hear about you and your father. Keep your head up girl! Congratulations on your record deal. I can see that you are definitely going places. Thank you for your time and your great advice for the class. I really need to stay away from all the negative people in my life. They are definitely not worth it!
Karlo- I thought your stories were great. You had such great charisma. I loved hearing how you met your wife. I enjoy listening to how couples meet. It was very romantic. I also thought it was very big of you to talk about how you used to treat her. Most men do not like to admit when they are in the wrong and you did, so I thought that was very cool. I love your hair and your tattoo! I also admire how you never gave up when the going got tough. You inspire me. Thank you!
Claudia- I am sorry to hear about you and your family. We all deal with family issues on a day to day basis and you are very strong to talk about it. It must hurt you to say that you hate your own mother. I know it would hurt me. You seem very down to earth and wish nothing but the best for you. Good luck with your schooling. Never give up!
Danielle- Out of all the speakers your story had the most impact on me. I wanted to go up there and hug you with all of my might. It pains me to hear stories like yours because I know people who were molested when they were children. I wish I could have been there to protect my loved ones but I was a young girl myself. I get all motherly and I feel that I am a protector much like your brother. When you said he rescued you I almost burst into tears. I am glad that you have found someone who loves you and I am grateful to know you.
Aaron- First of all I am glad to hear that you are cancer free. You have been through a lot in your young life and I am glad to see that you are doing better. I am sorry for all the pain you went through. I think the whole class could feel your pain, especially when you went into detail about your surgery. I admire how you can keep a great appreciation for life. Even though you had days where you felt like giving up, you still kept going. Thank you for your motivation and your time.
Orlando- I thought you were funny. I could also relate to your situation. I am a 28 year old freshman in college. Yes, it is true that it is never too late to go back to school and I am not giving up without a fight. Even though Mr. Hsiao’s class is my most challenging class of all! I love it! I have my lazy days where when I get off my 9-5 job and be too tired do homework. But, you’re right! I should not be lazy and get it done asap! I thought you were very humorous and that you proved the naysayers wrong! Thank you for your words. I needed that kick in the butt!
Pot Luck- I loved the enchiladas! MMM! MMM! MMM! I wish I could have tried the cerviche (sp*) but I am allergic to seafood. If I ate it I probably would have died! I hope everyone enjoyed the hostess cupcakes! Thank you everyone for the comida, it was a great turn out. What a beautiful night! And if it doesn’t seem like it I really am going to miss this class! I wish I could have attended more than one field trip, but I have one of those jobs where you have to request a day off 3 weeks in advance. Boo!
Archie Kaaua
Professor Hsiao
English 110
Golden West College
December 6, 2009
Post 39
Interesting Speakers
Well the food and drinks were a good start as long as we had coffee to wake me up. One never knows what to expect in Professor Hsiao’s class. I was thinking we were going to eat and get a quiz on grammar, but in this class I tend to hold off all bets. Sure enough I suspected something different when I saw Mikey. I recognized him from last semester. If we ever feel like we are being left out, or not being treated fair, all we need to do for inspiration is listen to Mike and what he has to do in ordinary life that we all take for granted. After his speech one can see how fortunate we all are. Though it was hard for him to talk to us, I found his speech to be the one that will stay with me the forever. The next speaker was Agnes. She was from Lithuania, a place where Russian is spoken but not the main language. It seems that she has had a difficult time with an alcoholic father and several languages she has had to learn. She moved to the US with her brother and mother and has been working and attending school. It seems that the languages have served her well as she is a good speaker who likes to talk. I enjoyed listening to her complain about things that she had to deal with. I wonder what it must like on the other side of the world. I enjoy asking people about where they used to live. It is a cheap way to find out about other countries without having to sit on a plane for fifteen hours. If she is working in a law office, she may be a famous lawyer some day. She has been through so much, one wonders where she will be when she graduates.
Archie Kaaua
Professor Hsiao
English 110
Golden West College
December 6, 2009
Post 40
Interesting Speakers
The next speaker was Sumair. He is a 4.0 student who was elected home coming king. He was accepted at Chapman University and is a tutor in economics and math. I would use a good tutor in those subjects. He mentioned that there was a difference in British grammar and American grammar. Who knew? He seems to have adjusted well and has a bright future. The next speaker was Burger. He was in a class that I had with Professor Hsiao last semester. He has tattoos and a look that one would remember. He seems to be the classic bad boy when one looks at him but after knowing him one finds that looks can be deceiving. He has been in school, dropped out, got involved with speed, and found himself sleeping in a car. This is a sad reality that hits a number of college students across the nation. One thing or another takes them away form their studies and hence a fewer number of students graduate. He got off of speed and is now looking for a direction. I spoke with him briefly about a counseling 104 class that helps students find what they will be successful at. I wish that I had taken it long ago. I can identify with him, Tony, and other students who are struggling. I seem to have to struggle for everything that I learn. One can appreciate professors who help us and are honest. It seems that some try to make college a living nightmare. I know that what comes around goes around, but in the mean time we work for hundreds of hours and our grade point average suffers. Hang in there; you have good things around the corner. The next speaker was Brian. He was involved in rescue missions and outreach programs. One place he mentioned was kid works. He likes to help out the underprivileged. He mentioned that he experienced living without a TV or cell phone for a while. It must have been difficult. One time we went camping and the battery in my cell phone died, so I know how he feels. There was no TV or cell phone for a week in a campground that was boring at best. He likes to be a mentor for in underprivileged kids, and I find that very commendable. The last speaker was Nick. He was a veteran army guy with a lot of experience in Iraq and he was at ground zero of Hurricane Katrina. He told us of the fact that there was no law at the time of the devastation. He mentioned that there were rapes and murders that took place in the superdome. I called a relative who lives there, and he confirmed that the situation was scary. He said that there were only about 10-15,000 people in the superdome. Nick seemed to be a very funny speaker but I was having trouble understanding the humor. Then it hit me; some of the groups in college like drama and potty language. I remember when I was taking a gym class that everyone seemed to like Jerry Springer. I watched time and again a person change the channel to something that was full of potty language and drama. The girls in the gym would cheer as the people on TV would yell and swing at each other. Nick told us of his experience of jumping out of an airplane and parachuting to the ground. One needs to understand that we are at war before one offers to enlist. Pick something else until we are at peace; one cannot go to school if one is not alive. If one does need to enlist, try to find a branch that will keep one out of harms way. If one needs to jump out of airplanes, one should find one with a restroom on board or a window that opens.
Heather Brown
English 110
GWC
Post # rabble rabble rabble!
Moving sucks. ALOT. Always make sure your lease is done AFTER school's over, not right before finals. Also, make sure you have as little...stuff..as possible (as well as all the other people you're having to move)! Moving dressers and what not, up and down flights of stairs = NOT FUN. Having to make about two trips to Pasadena from Costa Mesa per day, even AFTER a 5 hour long class on Saturday; THEN move furniture up MORE stairs = kjngjdgnrdkgn! =D!
kjngjdgnrdkgn! = frustration and forgotten assignment deadlines. When you DO do them, you forget HOW and WHERE you saved them.
kjngjdgnrdkgn! = fantastical and redunculous weeks! -.-
Could be worse though, WAY worse. I feel better now =)
Jessica Atthowe
English 110
GWC
post ?
Guest Speakers
First off i would like to say that i never would have imagined myself eating fried rice for breakfast, but it sure was good.
My favorite presentation was Nick's story. He is in the army and had served over in Iraq. Also, another tragedy he took part in helping was, Hurricane Katrina relief. He started off his story with humorous jokes that put a smile on everyones' faces. Once he started talking about his experiences, he became serious. At first i didn't take him seriously because i thought he would turn it in to a joke, but, he was definitely not joking. He told of his experience walking into the superdome for the first time after it had been evacuated. He saw things no one would ever imagine. When he told us he walked in and saw a lady sitting in one of the seats, dead, and a dog eating at her, i was a taken aback. He also said that there had been murders in the superdome, which is outrageous to think about. Usually when people experience a hard time they all come together and try and overcome the difficulty, this didn't seem to be the case, because Nick said numerous murders had occurred.
All the speakers had unique stories and I was happy to see that all of them have overcome and/or are overcoming the things in life that have caused them great difficulty and struggle.
Gina Huynh
English 110
Golden West College
Post #14
Going to Meet the Man
This very graphic story reveals some disturbing aspects of life. It shows how racism is created. The main character Jesse had his once innocent childhood altered when his own racist parents glorified the lynching and castration of an African American man who had supposedly “knocked down old Miss Standish,” a reference perhaps to the raping of a white woman. The father called this murder a “picnic,” thus making light of the situation and dehumanizing the lynched man. The parents’ nonchalance allowed the son to believe that this killing was okay and fun to watch because it was like going hunting and later witnessing the skinning of a live animal. African Americans, then, according to the father, were nothing less than animals. Jesse consequently grew up and adopted his parents’ viewpoints. He began to associate African Americans with everything negative in life and saw Black females as nothing more than sexual objects. Thus, they existed with the sole purpose to serve his needs and nothing more. Aside from the parents’ contributions to the son’s racist viewpoints in life, we also see another abnormal side to Jesse’s life. Jesse, it seemed, had a sexual lust for his own mother. During one of the flashback scenes, he was sitting in the car between his mother and his father and had his “head in his mother’s lap, sleepy, and yet full of excitement” (11). Later, at the picnic and before the castration of the victim, he “watched his mother’s face” with her “very bright” eyes and opened mouth. He thought that she was “more beautiful than he had ever seen her” and “began to feel a joy he had never felt before” (17). This erotic feeling appeared right before the violent act done on the man, and it showed how it influenced Jesse’s dependence on violence for sexual fulfillment. Right after he recalled this childhood scene, he immediately felt the urge to “do” his wife. It showed that the thought of his mother standing next to violence excited him sexually. Jesse could also be a gay man because while at the picnic, when he saw the man with the knife, he began to wish “right then that he had been that man” since he would be able to touch that Black man’s privates (17). Furthermore, Jesse’s life revealed a number of hypocrisies. His parents were supposed to teach him love for others and to shield his life against violence and evilness, and yet they were the ones who exposed him to it. He later became a sheriff deputy whose job was to serve and protect human beings, and yet he chose to commit rape and violence to the race he deemed inferior. This story reminded me of how there are all kinds of sick people in this world. There was the case of that serial killer who visited gay bars for men and later got aroused just by seeing himself choke his victims. Then there was serial killer Jeffery Dahmer who ate parts of his victims’ bodies for his own sexual gratifications. The recent capture of the Green River Killer brought to light the sometimes dark reality of our world. Serial Killer Gary Ridgeway sometimes used the presence of his five-year-old son to lure prostitutes to his truck where, after using their services, he strangled them in isolated places in the woods with his son still in the truck. He would later tell detectives that he often times revisited these hidden corpses in the woods and have sex with the dead bodies; one can only imagine the consequences it would later have on his son. People kill for their own sexual selfishness. “Going to Meet the Man” shows how oftentimes racism is the product of one’s environment and that the injustices in this world have never ceased to end.
Adrian Moreira
Cerritos College
English 100
Post# 30 Something +1
Wednesday Night Smackdown
I am little late on sending my reflection on our time with Prof. Hsiao's current/previous students but I am nonetheless here.
The life stories we heard on Wednesday night were something else. From the first to the last student, I was at the edge of my seat. I really could have sat there and listened for another hour. I did not know what to expect at first. I felt I could in one way or another relate to each of the speakers. We all have our struggles and skeletons. It is nice to know that we are not alone in trying to make our lives better for ourselves and those in our lives who are important to us. I felt inspired by these students and feel that it is now our duty to inspire others around us.
Veronica Vasquez
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #39
Guest Speakers
Unfortunately, I was unable to stay to listen to all of our wonderful speakers. I can honestly say that those that I did hear touched my heart and soul deeply. The stories of triumph and overcoming the worst atrocities we encounter in life were inspirational.
Our first speaker Danielle was shocking and scary. By just looking at her, I would have never guessed the horrific events she had to encounter as a child. She seems like a very peaceful person, and extremely mature for her age. After hearing her story, I even wanted to open up to her, but my life experiences are incomparable to hers. I had so many questions, but only asked her one as to not make her feel uncomfortable with details on the incident. It is mind-boggling to think someone is capable of doing what they did to her.
Aaron is probably the first person I have ever met in the flesh with (that I knew of) cancer. I realized that day that anyone with cancer is just another person. I always had the mentality that someone with cancer is an old person in a retirement home with different goals. Aaron proved to me that this can happen to just about anyone, and if anything, can make you a stronger person and appreciate the time you have on this planet. I wish I could have heard more from this speaker as for emotional and physical responses towards the medication, and finding out when he was cured.
I would like to thank all of the speakers that spoke for the time I was there to listen, and apologize to those that I was unable to hear. I hope to repeat this experience again in the near future, as it was very inspiring for me.
Penelope Bwalya
Eng 110
GWC
December 4, 2009
Going to meet the man
The story “Going to meet the man”, by James Baldwin is about the civil war between the Northern and the Southern. It was time to end slavery, and black people marched to the court house to demand freedom and respect, but their freedom did not come easily. Jesse was a white male deputy sheriff in the South. He used his powers as an authority figure to rape black women, flog men, young and old. Even though he despised black people he still had sex with black women. It bothered him that black people seemed happy, even if they lived in unpardonable conditions. He mocked their ignorance. All day they took orders from their masters. When Jesse was young his father took him to a “picnic”. This picnic was no ordinary picnic; Jesse was going to be watching a black man die. The black man was accused of raping a white woman. So, they cut off his privates, and burnt him to death. That is how racism was passed on from the father to the son. “At that moment, Jesse loved his father more than he had loved him. He felt that his father had carried him through a mighty test, had revealed to him a great secret which would be the key to his life forever”(18).
esPenelope Bwalya
Eng 110
GWC
Bolsa Chica Wetlands
It was a beautiful day. Not too sunny nor cloudy,but perfect for taking a walk. This walk was no ordinally walk, it was a tour of the Wetlands; very educational. Our tour guide was very honest about the facts of the wetlands. He pointed to a lot of different kinds of birds like the pelican. From the fast to the slow. He also talked about sage(spice), the spiders,why some part of the wetland is closed off, for bird nesting. In side the building, several fish tanks stood tall. Each tank contained a variety of sea creatures,like the Octupus,Sting ray, star fish, Sea bass and crabs.
I enjoyed myself.
Jaime Valadez
English 100
CC
Post #?
Guest Speakers:
All the guest speakers were great. It takes a lot of courage to go in front of strangers and tell your story. What i learned most from this experience is that the old saying is true "you cant judge a book by its cover". Many of these people seemed to have had a normal life but as we learn there is so much more beneath the surface. many of us think that we have had a rough life but when i hear people tell their stories and what they have gone through it makes me feel lucky of the way my life has turned out. yes in my life i have had my downs but i cant compare it to Aaron's life and his battle with cancer. Like i said this has been a great life lesson that i will take with me everywhere for the rest of my life.
Jaime Valadez
English 100
CC
Post #?
Guest Speakers:
All the guest speakers were great. It takes a lot of courage to go in front of strangers and tell your story. What i learned most from this experience is that the old saying is true "you cant judge a book by its cover". Many of these people seemed to have had a normal life but as we learn there is so much more beneath the surface. many of us think that we have had a rough life but when i hear people tell their stories and what they have gone through it makes me feel lucky of the way my life has turned out. yes in my life i have had my downs but i cant compare it to Aaron's life and his battle with cancer. Like i said this has been a great life lesson that i will take with me everywhere for the rest of my life.
Priscilla Daza
Cerritos College
English 100
post #33??
To all the speakers: When each and every one of you stood up from your seat to walk to the front the class and share your story with strangers proves how strong of a person you are. All six of you have shared the weakness you once had that is now the strength that you have shown to our class.
It is incredible how the different lifestyles and how different our experiences are, yet we all happen to gather in this English class to share it through our descriptive writing.
Courtney: It was a joy to hear Courtney speak again. She was and still shows that she is an unique individual. As she was speaking, Samantha and I were exchanging thoughts on how much she resembles us. It was like we were checking off a list:
Have a boyfriend-check
Most of her friends are boys-check
Talented-check
Courtney mentioned last semester how she loves to sing. This semester she actually sang At Last by Etta James and it was just amazing! Out of her killer personality she has a bonus. The bonus is her soulful singing.
Karlo: That dimple on the right side of your face was the first thing I noticed. I am not trying to call you out, I have two of my own, but your is killer! Man, what an eye catcher! I think its refreshing to hear a story that a kid from a religious family rebels yet in the end finds his rightful path. Can I say, despite the rebellious teenager, how good of a person you turned out to be. I may not know you, but I heard the honest person you are through your speech. I am so glad to hear that you made things right by your lady and now going to a private school! Congratulations! How exciting! I hope all goes well with you and your family!
Claudia: Okay, this might sound weird, but a couple of nights ago I dreamed that I saw you at that college you wanted to go to. Thank you for speaking. In a way, I related to you the most the fact that I do not get any support from my family. They do not support what I want to pursue as my career, Theatre Major. Its mostly from my mom where I get no support. She reminds me how she does not think it will be good enough as a career. Yet, knowing how she disapproves of it, its always her I look at for a satisfying nod or comment when it comes to my work. You seem to have your priorities and dreams in the right place. You also have that drive to get what you want so do not lose that. Good luck!
Aaron: I spoke to you briefly after class was over. Your life story was intriguing. I noticed how describing your experience was intense for you. Thank you for keeping your strength and informing us of your inspiring experience. Even though you overcame the extreme agony of cancer, its just...I'm afraid to write more because it might come out wrong. Smile! I have a thing with making people smile, and I just hope that someone will make you smile. Not inside like you told me but express it facially. Its okay! Sorry if I sound pushy :/
I hope all goes well with you.
Orlando: Thank you for being a speaker in our class. You were humorous and kept the casual jokes. I personally enjoy a speaker with a few punch lines here and there. I remember your story from last semester. You were inspiring to get my paper done then and even now. Take it easy and hope to hear you speak again soon! Who knows...I might a speaker like you too! eh eh Mister Hsiao ahahaha
Danielle: I also had the chance to speak with you shortly after class. Thank you so much for having the strength in telling us your story to the class. I am glad to hear that you are doing well with your boyfriend or your angel as you describe to Karlo. It must be great to have an angel for yourself. You deserve it though Danielle and nothing less. May your angel continue giving you strength when you need it.
Jonathan Aguilar
English 103
Cerritos College
Post #33
Guest Speakers
I wish i could've posted this sooner but i've been really sick all weekend. So, you guys take care of yourselves because i think there is a stomach flu going around.
Anyways, the speakers were...WOW!!! I cannot even explain how great they were. To have the guts to share their personal lives and feelings with complete strangers is great. But if i have to talk about one specific one; it would have to be Aaron. I cannot imagine dealing with something like that. However, I do know how he felt when he was around the other Kemo patients. I had treatment done for my condition as well with the Kemo patients. It is just very sad and cold vibe you get in that room. Everyone is in the same office and only seperated by a curtain. You sit in a chair for about 6 to 8 hours and do nothing. I can deifinitely relate to that part of the story. I'm glad he talked about his story and i know it must have been hard for him, but i want him to know it does help others. He inspired me to stop thinking about all of the b.s. and handle what i have to handle.
All of the speakers open my eyes to my world. I am sure lots of people can get bits and pieces of every story and relate it to their lives. Well, at least i can. I appreciate all of the speakers and i am glad i stayed to listen to them all. I want to say thanks to all of the speakers and thank you Mr. Hsiao for organizing it. It is an experience in my life that i will never forget.
Janice Silva
English 103
Cerritos College
Post#26?
Speakers
Wow, all i can say is wow. All the speakers hit me in a certain way that i cannot describe. There are 2 certain speakers that hit me in a certain place that made me cry because I am going through alot. The Two that stood out were Karlo and Courtney.
Karlo grew up with a loving family, but decided to go in his own direction. Reality came crushing down to a moment where he gave himself to god, because it was killing him. I know you are going to read this Karlo.. soo.. thank you for giving that testimonial, there is alot that is going on in my life that i know that will crush me eventually. You gave me hope. I understand not everything will go the way we might want it, but having enough to be greatful; which is any improvement from what is going on now. My reality with school, family and my relationship is pulling me in all directions, there is soo much, but i know from hearing you speak that i will make it through..thank you.
First of all, Your an amazing singer courtney :D. i am a choir girl also, so i've heard many singing voices, but yours stands out and makes one smile from just hearing your voice; brightning up anyones day, which you did for me :]..I have a certain person in my life i do not want to lose..and what you said about telling yourself negative things about yourself, eventually believing..well i tend to do that.. and it really does get to me.. gosh there is so much going on, but i do have that one person that will never leave my side and supports me through every little thing, loving me for me. Thank you for giving me strength..to realize how much i really love my one and only. Thank you for giving me that light, thank you :')
Kevin Santamaria
English 110
GWC
Post 23
Wetlands
Well, I wasn’t able to make it on Thursday to class and I was disappointed. I had locked my keys in the car with the engine on right before I was to leave to class. By the time I got help, class was almost and I still was at home. I was able to make it to the Bolsa Chica wet lands field trip though. The weather was really nice. Well I got there and I didn’t see a bus, I was hoping it wasn’t the wrong day. When I started walking to the parking lot I saw John. Then we both started heading over and everyone else suddenly appeared. We did not know where the bus was or Mr. Hsiao for that matter. Eventually a packed bus with people showed up with Mr. Hsiao in it. Then we loaded up and headed up, we thought. The best park was when we were leaving on the bus to head to The Wetlands, Eric gets up and says wait, we left Tien and two other girls. So we make a U turn, Mr. Hsiao walks all the way across the street to get them only to realize they were just three random Asian girls. haha. Good looking out though Eric. Well we eventually headed down and arrived at the wetlands. We had a chill guide who took us on our hike, he was a volunteer there. The hike was more like very slow walking btw. It was nice, though everything was really dead because of the season. We eventually got towards the back. It was beautiful. I have never been anywhere like this in so cal. The water was unlike any other. It reminded me of the waters in Austria and Switzerland, two of my most favorite places in the world. Just the way the water sits in the land, so calm and serene, it’s unlike any other. It definitely took me back, though it was a bit more gloomy and creepy looking. Then we walked a bit more, as people watched Makayla more than any birds flying about. We eventually got back and had time to grab some food. I had some vegan food from the secret spot; it was right across the street. It was my first time there and it was really good. I know I will be back there for sure. It was a good morning, oh and I hope John got his tacos he had being craving for literally months.
Janelle Rodriguez
English 100!:)
post ????
Our present from HSIAO
Well I can honestly say that last Wednesday was a fun day to be in class. Mr. Hsiao surprised us with 6 amzing student speakers. It's amazing to me how so many students are ok with discussing their entire, but very personal lives with us. Well throught all the speakers we had my favorite was Karlo's story. It was amazing to me how many ups and downs his life had. I liked how he ended marrying his high school sweetheart. In that part I can relate to him I am going to marry my high school sweetheart and I can honestly say that he way he described the first time he saw his wife was the way I was feeling when I saw my bf!!:) from this being the first time seeing him and hearing his story from my eyes I see that he has gone through alot but now i see that his ups and downs were worth it. He still is making something out of him and is now blessed with a great wife and I'm sure an adorable little girl!:) thanks alot Karlo for sharing your story I enjoyed it very much and just keep pushing your almost there!:)
Brenda Flores
English 100
Cerritos College
Post #?
OMG class on Wednesday was so interesting. Hearing all these people's cave made mine seem meaningless. Why am i complaining about little things such as my beliefs when people are battling being molested, horrible parents, and cancer. I was laughing with Andy because he was relating so much to Karlo. I saw my brother in him, only Karlo was smart enough to get himself out of that situation. Courtney had such an amazing voice. I am going to search for her on youtube. I can see why Claudia was in the AP group, Raul was right she is passionate and a positive thinker regardless of all the negativity surrounding her. Danielle is still very young and its refreshing to see someone so inocent in love. I'm glad she found a connection at such a young age. Aaron and Oralando's stories brought me to tears. I have nothing to complain about.
Eric Torres
English 110
Golden West College
post #29?
Reflection on Speakers
When Mr. Hsiao said he was going to have a suprise waiting for us on thursday, I had a feeling he was going to bring someone. Well he brought quite a few speakers to our class. I just want to say that that class period was my most favorite so far this semester. We got the chance to listen to some great stories while eating. The guest speakers were great but the eating part just concluded my opinion that that was the best class period this semester. There was so much food! Ok well enough about the food. I would have to say that all the speakers were great and told really interesting stories. From the moment I walked into that class at 7:30am I saw Mikey. I thought in my head WOW! I could not wait to hear the story he was prepared to tell us. It was also kind of shocking to see him. I thought his story was very interesting especially when he said he played little league baseball and he wresteled in High School. It is a miracle how he is able to do these activities. I learned that no matter what the sircumstances can be in life, you learn to adjust and make the best of what you were given.
Another speaker I liked was Nic Root. From the look of him I thought he looked a little familiar. Well it turns out that he is my ex-girlfriend's best friend's older brother (If you can picture that in your head). Well besides that fact, I thought he was really funny and I can see how Mr. Hsiao would say he would make a good stand up comedian. I am sure by the end of the class period he had everyone in the classroom laughing. I thought it was really funny when he talked about the "pee shivers". I knew what he was talking about but that was the first time I have ever heard of it being called that. His speech went from being funny to being serious and emotional, then back to funny. I am glad I was able to hear about his experiences in the military. He talked about his experience helping out the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He said, "The first thing I saw when I walked into the stadium was an old lady sitting on a chair. She was dead, and her dog was eating out of her". I thought, "oh my gosh". I cannot even imagine how he felt at that point in seing the way people react under certain conditions. He described it as being in a horror movie watching out for zombies to come and jump out. I am doing my research paper on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Veterans. I wish I had the time to talk with him after that class period to ask him some questions about adjusting to life at home after experiencing so much. I remember in his speech he had said, "I have seen more than enough for 2 lifetimes". After going through my research, I believe it. It is great how he finds a way to deal with his past experiences through comedy and making people laugh. However, we really do not know what exactly is going on in his head. But for the sake of it being a short class period, I would have to say it was very rewarding to listen to the stories of other people's lives and hear what other people have experienced and gone through. Thank you Mr. Hsiao for that suprise.
Brittany Williams
English 110
GWC
Post 51
Speakers
I was so grateful for the surprise on Thursday! I had a great time listening to each person’s story.
There were two people that stuck out to me on Thursday, and the dynamic between the two (which I believe was not intentional) was interesting. Those two people were Brian and Nic. When Brian spoke, I could see innocents and hope in his eyes. He truly had an inspiring story to tell, and the way in which he spoke of it portrayed the pure love that he saw in other people. Interestingly enough, directly following his inspiring talk, Nic began his disheartening tale of loss and heartache. Although EXTREMELY funny, his story was a sad one to be told. Often times, it is the experiences in our lives that shape our outlook. In Nic’s case, this was clearly evident. Through seeing his friends killed and the disaster in New Orleans, his outlook was quite dispiriting. My heart went out to him because of this.
Through these two speakers, the contrast between the two worlds was clearly evident. I believe that we all tend to fall somewhere in between these two extremes, and my prayers go to Nic who seemed to fall on the lower end of the line. May he find joy in life’s true delight.
Michelle Pachas
English 103
Cerritos College
Like always I want to start off by thanking Mr Hsaio for giving this class yet another source for inspiration. As for guest speakers; each one of you made a solid impression of how perseverance always brings you to your goals. It made me remember to keep myself grounded and to always try having an optimistic outlook on life. It reminded me that there will always be obstacles to overcome but the way you handle yourself says a lot about your character. I want to be able to remember a hardship in the past and be able to say I conquered it and I am the person I am today because of it. From fighting cancer to dealing with a deep secret, each story showed how courages and strong these people are. Thanks so much danielle, aljen, karlo, aaron, claudia, courtney, and orlando!
Kayla Marley
English 110
Golden West
I absolutely loved listening to the guest speakers. I really enjoyed listening to each and everyone's stories. I loved listening to Mikey, although he was a little scattered during his speech. I really enjoyed listening to his story of how even though he is disabled he can do almost everything non-disabled people can do. I also enjoyed listening to the soldiers story. After class I had asked him how he felt with people at home, in the United States, always complaining about the war. When I heard his answer I was agreed 100%. People at home do not realize how much complaining and rallies against war, and ect. take a toll on the soldiers. People here at home complain and complain I just think why are you complaining you are not the one who is over seas, and serving for this country that gives you all the freedoms you have. I get very frusturated about this subject because war is such a touchy subject. I am happy we were given this opportunity to listen to these fellow students talk about their journey of life.
Alyssa Wall
English103
Cerritos
Post?
Guest speakers.
I really enjoyed all of the speakers that I go to hear. I loved hearing their stories, and how they over came the trials that they had to go through in their lives. Karlo's story really hit home for me. Growing up in a very religious family, I understand exactly where he is coming from with the whole "wanting to taste the other side" thing. I am so happy that I got to be listen to all of them. Thank you to all of you. I am so grateful that you took time out of your busy schedule to come and talk to our class, and to share your life experiences with us! :)
Andy Tran
English 100
Cerritos
Speakers
Each and every individual story told, was special. The one individual that caught my attention was Karlo Soto - Castillo's story. Karlo and I are not so much different. Everything he has been through, I have been through in some sort of way or form. Smoking marijuana and writing graffiti are two of the biggest things we have in common. It was as if my story was being narrated by another person. Karlo had finally found out that all the problems he has been through were caused by making bad decisions. He finally figured out that he needed to stay away from all the bad things in life. Just like him, I have recently given up almost all the negative things in my life to rise up and to create a better future for myself.
Aaron Sobolew's story was such an extraordinary one. Beating cancer is quite remarkable! Being told that he is in stage 4 of the progression of cancer can cause a melt down to one's spirit. Having to go through treatments after treatments sounds extremely painful. Aaron is such a brave individual by not giving up in the battle against cancer. So much can be done with a positive mind and strong will!
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