Developing the Journey

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of wisdom.”
- Aristotle

Who am I? How do we define ourselves? What makes a person different from others? Questions we ask about ourselves to find our identity. Identity is defined by an individual characteristics by which a person or thing is recognized. A person’s identity revolves around family, ethnicity, culture, beliefs, environment, and language.

“Culture is that which binds people together.”
- Kluckhohn

We carry our identities where ever we go in life for example work and school. Struggles in school, family motivation, and opportunity in life are what influenced me to become a college student.
Stairs to Success

It starts in middle school until now when I see myself as an average student. Grades I was getting where Bs, Cs, and Ds. School has been exciting for me because I learned new things everyday. I have always started school off with a focused mind and eager to learn attitude. I had goals to get through the school year for example doing my homework and turning it in on time. Mid-point of the quarter I would slowly faded and loses focus on doing assignments. Due to other things that were going on outside of school I felt at times to just want to give up. I would then come back up because I did not want to fall behind. From the studying and help of friends, classmates, and teachers that is how I got through school. I had a feeling of ashamed if I did not accomplish what I needed to do. Although my life in school and outside of school goes up and down I never gave up. The choices I have seen in my life was either to gain a higher education and live life to the fullest with great accomplishments of be lazy and miserable.

Inspiration Starts within the Home

Family is what motivated and shaped me to be the college student I am. As a teenager and till this day, I have a mindset of attaining a higher education because my parents attended college and I wanted to hold a job that will support me in the future. Through my parents and siblings going to college I felt that it should be a tradition for me and my future family. Both, my parents had attended Brigham Young University. Only my father graduated with a Bachelor in Business Administration and Information Technology. My mother did not finish because she started to have kids. My brothers attended Hawaii Community College. They both gotten degrees. I always felt that one day I would be like them especially following the footsteps of my parents by getting a degree and then have a family. Family is very important to me especially my dad because they push and support me to continue my education so I will be successful and have a stable future wherever I go.

“All right, querida,” said her Colonel, “I must go now, and I want you to know how proud I am of you for doing so well in school. For without education, a person can’t go very far in life.”
- Victor Villasenor

It has been a year since I have been back to school. I have taken a year off because I had an offer on a job that has fulfilled part of my goal. Working there has been an experience for me but my family pushed me to go back and continue school. They have told me that right now economy is not doing well if you continue and get that degree you will become a leader someday. Hearing that one day I can be a leader was exciting and honored because I felt that I will make a difference in lives of others.

Life’s Expectancy

Attending school and listen to different conversations of struggles has opened up my chance as a student in college. I remember how students share about their family’s obstacle and even though with the struggle in their live they kept on top their education.

“Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.”
- President Obama

I have always pictured myself in their place. Being fascinated of the things they go through to get to this point of gaining a higher education. This made me feel encouraged to do well in school. I also like to have the voice of my father telling me “to continue your education, as long as you get a degree you will be successful in life.”

College is a key to a better and successful future. No matter the situation you come from realize that most people come from or share the same things as you for instance struggling in school try to pass, family support, or effects that come in life whether it’s the struggle to get to your education. I have learned that these elements have helped build my identity as a college student and will keep build for the rest of my life.

Thinking about the text. The men we carry in our minds

1. Sanders acknowledge men who labored worked very. Their physical conditions were bad. Men had injuries inside and outside of their body for instance some lost their fingers, hands are scared up, weak in the knees and ankle, and some had lost of hearing.

2. Sanders characterize soldiers as not doing anything compared to the labored men on the farm. He see soldier to be waiting to be called for work to come for example waiting for wars, transfers, and promotions.

3. Sanders couldn’t imagine his self to become successful man because he see him self in a lower class where he see men to be labored.

4. Sander’s father’s fate seem to a partial escape because he went from being a labored work form the red dirt farm to going in an office position wearing a white shirt and tie.

5. Sanders thought that college men would leave wealthy lives because their father or family is wealthy. He thought that women lives seemed easy before going to college and they didn’t have to work.

7. The women in college and the author of this essay want to be equal in what they do and also the right to choose.

Summary Evaluation

Overall, I thought that writing this summary was some what challenging because I have a difficulty in writing things in my own words. I also had the thesis as a challenge for me because I can't seem to get the overall main idea but I would understand what the essay is about. Based upon the comments from this summary I think that my strength was some what following the rubric and have most of the main points or ideas out. I thought the my weakness was that i don't go further and elaborating on my main points.

The grade that i got for this writing was not what I expected because i see my self as not a good writer. Usually, when i write have to do essay writing my grade would be low and our teacher would let us revise so we can improve our writing. But when I seen my grade I felt happy and thought to my self that I can improve in my writing the next summaries. For my next summary I am going to detail my main points more, have stronger transition and "authorial action."

Feminist Shouldn't Be a Dirty Word

1. Do the author’s survey results indicate that feminist is, by and large, a dirty word for her fellow students? What in the essay make you agree or disagree?

No, because some people agree feminism is women’s equal right and other people agreed feminist are radical women that hate men. Many male didn’t care because they believed it wasn’t their concern since they are male and not female. People also didn’t care of the controversial issue on feminism. I agree that people deny feminism because they believe it to not exist in society.

2. What reasons does Libby offer why there are not more self-identified feminist?

Some reasons she offers is that people believed that feminist does not exist in society and it is a negative connotation. Also in her survey when she talked with male they believed that feminist is only pertain to women and not themselves.

3. Why does she think more people should identify themselves as feminist?

People should identify more of themselves as feminist because men and women should have equal rights and the right to choose.

Motivational Conference

I felt that the transfer Motivational Conference was interesting because there were different things that were shared about colleges and seeing many of the Chicanos who is first from their family to be going to college and further their education. I also felt the strong support from the leaders to hold this conference to motivate the Hispanic and other students to see what’s ahead for their future. I thought that our guest speaker Cruz Reynoso was great key speaker. I enjoyed how he emphasizes that they should bring back the traditional school where you don’t have to pay for college tuition. I have enjoyed my workshop which was Money Management given by Ana Cabezas & David Pereira. They have talked about the theory of money, saving money, and decision to be a full-time or part-time student. I have learned that the theory of money is on you meaning you need to know or change the way you spend your money and also don’t be blame others for you money mistakes. They also presented good and bad habits on credit cards and avoid different problems that will put you in debt. They also emphasized on being a full-time student will get you to your degree you want faster and looking at money scale comparing a full and part-time student. I also like their experiences they have shared which makes you realize that you need to make right choices when it comes to money during college. Overall, I have enjoyed this Motivational Conference

Anzaldua #2

Anzaldua structure for this essay is different from the other essay we have read because she begins her essay with a metaphor where she is getting the reader to think what this metaphor have to do with the essay. Then she brings in her introduction. Another difference of how she writes is that her writing is in both the English and Spanish language. This text makes it somewhat an academic and anti-academic essay. The way it’s an academic essay because it is composed of an introduction, body, conclusion, and at the end it show footnotes where it tells us that she did some research. This writing makes it an “anti-academic essay because she uses her opinions to what she is writing as to an academic essay uses other writers response, examples, and claims. I feel that Anzaldua writes her essay this way because she wants to give the reader a more clear aspect but at the same time make it difficult for others (non Spanish) to understand what she is saying. She is trying to get the reader to understand that different culture with more than on dialect should not be treated differently. I chosen “A language which they connect their identity to, one capable of communicating the realities and values true to themselves-a language with terms that are neither eespanol ni ingles, but both.” (10)

VARK Activity

What you have learned about yourself as a result of reading this chapter?
As a result, from reading Chapter 3 Learning about Learning, I have come to find out what the different mechanism that helps me to understand as a learner and how I can use these tools to become a more efficient and effective learner. From doing the self-assessments in this chapter I have learned that the type of intelligence I developed are bodily-kinesthetic and interpersonal which make me a visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic. I felt that the assessments is true because when I think about the learning styles, I have to use it in order for me to understand what I learned and how I can gain more knowledge.

What would people be willing to sacri...

 

What would people be willing to sacrifice in times of hardship?

 

In times of hardship, people tend to give up valuable things in order to survive. Coming from different culture, ethnicity, belief, and environment affects a person’s judgment in sacrifices. Going through times of struggle such as living style and survival of family, people are willing to give up themselves, identity, and family. In the book Rain of Gold, Juan as a young boy working at the Copper Queen Mining Company is desperately looking for more work to help support his family because one shift was not helping. He ends up changing his name to get jobs. He then decides to join his co-worker, not knowing what the job is. They ended up getting in to trouble because of “stealing” from the company. Put into prison, and taking a blame that was not pertain to him, Juan took this sacrifice so is family won’t struggle in living.  I feel that when we go through different trials we tend to give up people, place, or things to better ourselves, family, or friends.  This sacrifice can or will affect our future in a good or bad way.

College Success

Literature Circle Blog 1

 Literature Circle Blog 1

 

The first scene I have chosen that I have felt important in part two was when Don Pio and his brother are searching for a place that  they and their families can settle.  This scene is on page 96 and 97.  I have drawn Don Pio sitting on grassy hill thinking and then a light appear which he is seeing god.

The second scene I have chosen that I also felt was important was when Juan and his family are getting together for prayer right before getting into bed.  Juan thinking god is coming.  Then they went to bed, as Juan woken up from a dream being feared.   This scene is on page 106 and 107.  I have drawn Juan and his family knelt down in prayer, Juan looking up in the sky.  I have also have drawn them sleeping and Juan waking up in fear.

 I felt that both scenes are important because with the hands of god in their lives it seems that they felt confidence, had faith in god, and was not feared.  In the first scene it explains that Don Pio is trying to find the right place to settle and then doing a lot of pondering god came down and speak with him.  The second scene shows Juan waking up from sleep have a bad dream having faith in god know their home was not safe.  I feel that I have learned no matter what obstacle come into your life keep on going.  

FAITH

Leave Your Cell Phone at the Classroo...

 
Leave Your Cell Phone at the Classroom Door

 

There could be many reasons why technology is divided.  Some reason why digital is divide could pretain to finances and feelings.  I chose finances as one of the reason digital is divided because people who has technology has the money to buy things like such as cell phones, computers, TV, and more.  People who don't have technology don't have the money to afford it.  I have also chosen feelings for the cause of digital divide.  I feel some people who have technology enjoys it because they look forward to the application for example cell phones having it to be a touch screen or hold a lot of music.  I also feel people who don't have technology might be fear to accept it or don't know how to work technology.

My Digital Life

What is Technology? According to The National Academy of Engineering “Technology is the process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants.”

To me when I think of technology, I automatically think of just the computers and some kind of electronic device. After doing some research on the internet and reading the Focus book to help me understand and do this blog, I have come more to realizing that technology is not just computers but it’s a man-made object that is modernize almost every time to make it suitable for everyone. There are many ways technology is use in my life for example at home the stove and microwave are different methods of cook and heat up food. Other technologies I use at home are a heater, lamp, camera, radio/alarm clock, TV, and more. At school, I use the computer to help me with my research, taking online classes, and communicating with my teachers through email. I also say using a calculator for math so it will be easier to calculate and graph without using your fingers, paper, and pencil.


I believe starting in middle school (seventh and eighth grade), technology has grown slowly in my life and now I depend on it. I have accepted technology in my life because it makes things easier and convenient in school, at home, and anywhere else. I think that technology is also faster because things go by very quick. I also sometime feel that technology can also make you lazy which then make you depend on it a lot. In addition to laziness and dependence, I feel that we should not depend a lot on technology because some day it would just go away.

My motivation to attend college

Why college? Is it because you have nothing to do, the force or influence of parents, or wanting to succeed in life? The reasons I have chosen to go college is from the influence of my family, to be well educated, and be successful in life.
Looking into college during my junior year in high school as well as talking with my dad about college made be excited and wanting to go college already. I can recall my dad telling me to “continue your education, as long as you get a degree in college you will be successful in life.” Seeing that my parents and brothers getting a degree in college makes me realize that if they can get a degree in college I can too. Since I made the decision to attend college my family and everyone around me are proud and happy because they tell me while you are young gain as much knowledge as you can and attain that degree.
Another reason I am motivated to attend college is to do well in my general courses like English, Math, and Science. In high school, I would say that I am an average B, C student and that I try my very best to get good grades especially in English. Then going to college for three quarters I was an on and off student. During my college experience, I did good in my first quarter of school which was excited. Then came to the second quarter I seen myself struggling, which did. I had know idea what came to me that time, but I felt that it was that time I have needed a break. Then came to third quarter of school I came back up. Its now been a year since I have taken a break from school and I am looking forward to starting fresh again.
Last of all, being successful in life is why I want to attend college. Now days, it is hard to get jobs. In order to hold a stable job, employer’s usually look for people that has a degree and some experience. Attending college and getting a degree will help you get in the doors of the career you want.
Finally, the motivation to attend college from family members to myself gaining as much knowledge and being successful in life is what I want for my future. I feel that by being in this Puente program it will help me excel in English as well as my college success.