Very early every Saturday morning I wake up around 8am. I struggle to tear the sheets away from my body and wake up for the day. I hop in the shower and meet a group of volunteers at around 9:15am. We speed down the highway and end at Broadway street. From 10am until 12pm I volunteer at Hispanic Apostolate. It is a division of Catholic Charities. I along with a few other Loyola students teach English to adult Hispanic men and women. However, anyone struggling with English can attend and get help. The center also offers free legal help as well as health services. The center really is an asset to the community, and the people who utilize the facility really are dependent on it. Students can attend classes as they please, you never know who is going to be there. They may come everyday of the week for a month and then not come back for several months. Most have built going to classes into their daily or weekly routine.
Volunteers arrive and wait for the students to be placed in their learning level. There are beginners, moderate and advanced learning levels. Some volunteers get different students every week. This past Saturday as the volunteers were waiting around to get students the volunteer coordinator called me first and said that I had a request. One of the students who I usually work with had requested me to be his teacher. Daniel, a middle aged man had requested me again to work with him. This made me feel so good because it means that I am in some way making an impact on his life. It makes me feel like I am not just waking up on Saturday as a requirement for my Spanish class but I am making a difference beyond Loyola. Two other students joined us and we worked on pronunciation, past and present differentiation. We read looked things up in the dictionary etc. It was a great class and I don't even speak Spanish well at all. The experience just further solidified my realization that I should be a teacher. I am so busy all the time, but for some reason I enjoy going to teach. The Jesuit ideal teaches that we should bring our whole self to everything we do. Although I never feel like waking up early on the one day I don't have to I do. Not only that, but I also am able to function well enough that student request me to teach them. When something is your vocation, you don't have to make as much as an effort than if you really didn't like it as much. I am able to bring my whole self to teaching no matter how tired I am. I feel so blessed.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Last Blog Event-Jesuit Dinner
Olivia Silvestri
Whether it’s students or faculty, every member of the Loyola College community has a story or reason why they chose Loyola. On October 30, 2007, I attended a Jesuit dinner led by Father Jack in the fourth floor programming room. The theme of the dinner was “Becoming Who You Are.” In addition to Father Jack, three other members of the Loyola community shared their life journey with us that landed them here at Loyola College.
After hearing Father Jack, a female freshman, a male sophomore, and a French professor tell their individual stories, I realized mine was less interesting and troublesome. Out of the four stories two struck me the most—the sophomore’s and the French professors.
The sophomore came from a bad and violent area in Washington D.C.; Loyola gave him the opportunity to change and make something of his life. In the beginning, his transition was not easy. He even contemplated transferring to the University of Maryland at College Park, but after realizing his progress at Loyola he knew it was where he had to be right now.
The French professor vowed she would never be a French professor because it was her mother’s profession and was not something she was interested in becoming. After coming to the United States and marrying her husband, she had several jobs, but none that made her happy. One day she came across that Loyola needed a French instructor, and decided if hired to give it a try. Although she never wanted to be a French professor, it is the job that makes her happy and is the reason why she is part of the Loyola Community.
My story is simple. I visited Loyola and loved the beautiful and small campus, but it was not my first choice. Northeastern University in Boston was the college I had my hopes set on; however, I was not accepted. Even though I was extremely disappointed, I looked forward to attending Loyola because it was my second choice. After being here for almost a full semester I could not be happier. Loyola has been great to me so far. I am pleased with mostly everything around campus, and I am thankful for my dorm room, which I could consider luxurious after seeing some of my friends dorm rooms at their colleges. Loyola is one stop on my life’s journey and I hope it will lead me to success in the future.
Attending Loyola College, we are lucky to receive a Jesuit Education. A Jesuit Education strives to make its students well-rounded individuals, who can grow to serve and teach others. They do this by focusing not only on academics, but also on the body and soul. In addition, a Jesuit Education incorporates diversity, service, and justice into the classroom. This is an important aspect, known as the Magis. The Magis means, “doing more for Christ” and by making the classroom more than just a learning place, the Jesuits provide their students with this opportunity.
No matter what reason you are at Loyola, it is one stop on your journey of “Becoming Who You Are.” Hopefully, your experience here will be benefiting, providing you with success for the future. I believe that the members of the Loyola College community will make the most of their experience by taking what they learn at Loyola, and using it on their life journey.
Whether it’s students or faculty, every member of the Loyola College community has a story or reason why they chose Loyola. On October 30, 2007, I attended a Jesuit dinner led by Father Jack in the fourth floor programming room. The theme of the dinner was “Becoming Who You Are.” In addition to Father Jack, three other members of the Loyola community shared their life journey with us that landed them here at Loyola College.
After hearing Father Jack, a female freshman, a male sophomore, and a French professor tell their individual stories, I realized mine was less interesting and troublesome. Out of the four stories two struck me the most—the sophomore’s and the French professors.
The sophomore came from a bad and violent area in Washington D.C.; Loyola gave him the opportunity to change and make something of his life. In the beginning, his transition was not easy. He even contemplated transferring to the University of Maryland at College Park, but after realizing his progress at Loyola he knew it was where he had to be right now.
The French professor vowed she would never be a French professor because it was her mother’s profession and was not something she was interested in becoming. After coming to the United States and marrying her husband, she had several jobs, but none that made her happy. One day she came across that Loyola needed a French instructor, and decided if hired to give it a try. Although she never wanted to be a French professor, it is the job that makes her happy and is the reason why she is part of the Loyola Community.
My story is simple. I visited Loyola and loved the beautiful and small campus, but it was not my first choice. Northeastern University in Boston was the college I had my hopes set on; however, I was not accepted. Even though I was extremely disappointed, I looked forward to attending Loyola because it was my second choice. After being here for almost a full semester I could not be happier. Loyola has been great to me so far. I am pleased with mostly everything around campus, and I am thankful for my dorm room, which I could consider luxurious after seeing some of my friends dorm rooms at their colleges. Loyola is one stop on my life’s journey and I hope it will lead me to success in the future.
Attending Loyola College, we are lucky to receive a Jesuit Education. A Jesuit Education strives to make its students well-rounded individuals, who can grow to serve and teach others. They do this by focusing not only on academics, but also on the body and soul. In addition, a Jesuit Education incorporates diversity, service, and justice into the classroom. This is an important aspect, known as the Magis. The Magis means, “doing more for Christ” and by making the classroom more than just a learning place, the Jesuits provide their students with this opportunity.
No matter what reason you are at Loyola, it is one stop on your journey of “Becoming Who You Are.” Hopefully, your experience here will be benefiting, providing you with success for the future. I believe that the members of the Loyola College community will make the most of their experience by taking what they learn at Loyola, and using it on their life journey.
Peter Leuthold Leuthold 1
Dr. Ellis
12/02/07
Event Analysis
Pro-life Lecture by Bishop Aquila
On November 15th, I attended a lecture by Bishop Aquila held by Loyola’s Alive club. The main issues discussed were the connections between being pro-life incorporated in our Catholic faith along with similar topics such as the death penalty, stem-cell research, and genocide.
This was a very interesting lecture to attend for me because the night before I had to research information on abortions, and therefore, it was relevant and fresh in my memory. As a Catholic, I am strictly against abortions (pro-life), and believe that they are morally wrong. Bishop Aquila spoke about how important our lives are because we have been sacrificed by God and so we must never think about harming ourselves or the lives of anyone else. Bishop Aquila depicted abortions, one of the most controversial topics in the United States, as a threat to our society. While listening to Bishop Aquila I immediately thought about the principle of Double Effect regarding abortions, something which all Catholics are required to follow. For example, the action of the agent must be a good one. The pregnant woman must also have the right intention and the evil effect cannot be the means to the good occurring. These two statements indicate that in order to avoid abortions we must reduce un-wanted pregnancies.
Another important issue which Bishop Aquila felt was necessary to mention was the death penalty. He claimed that the death penalty was created by the government in order to punish those who have themselves committed murders in their lives, but that he still feels that they are against what God would have wanted. Those people who deserve to be killed should simply remain behind bars until their death. Along with the death penalty, stem-cell research
Leuthold 2
and genocide were also touched upon regarding our Catholic faith. Bishop Aquila stated that like abortions, the death penalty, stem-cell research, and genocide are all morally unacceptable for Christians revealing that they must be avoided, and should not be accepted in our communities throughout the United States. I agreed with many of the points which Bishop Aquila was lecturing about because I have been raised in a very Catholic family. Attending a private Jesuit high school, and now Loyola College, my Jesuit values have been shaping me to be who I am today. Without the influence from my family and friends, I feel as if my views on controversial topics such as abortions could be different, but as of now I will always be against the killing of an embryo.
When I attended Bishop Aquila’s lecture on November 15th, I was able to reflect on my life as a Roman Catholic in a Jesuit Institution. Knowing that Bishop Aquila was connecting the idea of being a pro-life activist with our Catholic faith made me feel that my Jesuit values have been helping me to become closer with God, and have had an influence on my peers. When I was a sophomore in high school I participated in a pro-life activity with our pro-life club where we traveled from New Rochelle, New York to Washington D.C. in order to promote the ideas of not having abortions, making them illegal. This event had an enormous impact on all the people driving past us.
Thus, at Bishop Aquila’s lecture on November 15th, I learned many different things regarding abortions, genocide, stem-cell research, and the death penalty. From a Catholic perspective, they are all morally unacceptable in our society. Being pro-life is something which has had a big impact on my life because of the issue of killing an embryo which I consider murder. I feel as if the death penalty is wrong; however, it may never fade out in the judicial
Leuthold 3
system. Bishop Aquila was very successful in his argument that as Catholics, we must continue to strive in becoming closer to God, and continue to remain against controversial issues such as abortions.
Dr. Ellis
12/02/07
Event Analysis
Pro-life Lecture by Bishop Aquila
On November 15th, I attended a lecture by Bishop Aquila held by Loyola’s Alive club. The main issues discussed were the connections between being pro-life incorporated in our Catholic faith along with similar topics such as the death penalty, stem-cell research, and genocide.
This was a very interesting lecture to attend for me because the night before I had to research information on abortions, and therefore, it was relevant and fresh in my memory. As a Catholic, I am strictly against abortions (pro-life), and believe that they are morally wrong. Bishop Aquila spoke about how important our lives are because we have been sacrificed by God and so we must never think about harming ourselves or the lives of anyone else. Bishop Aquila depicted abortions, one of the most controversial topics in the United States, as a threat to our society. While listening to Bishop Aquila I immediately thought about the principle of Double Effect regarding abortions, something which all Catholics are required to follow. For example, the action of the agent must be a good one. The pregnant woman must also have the right intention and the evil effect cannot be the means to the good occurring. These two statements indicate that in order to avoid abortions we must reduce un-wanted pregnancies.
Another important issue which Bishop Aquila felt was necessary to mention was the death penalty. He claimed that the death penalty was created by the government in order to punish those who have themselves committed murders in their lives, but that he still feels that they are against what God would have wanted. Those people who deserve to be killed should simply remain behind bars until their death. Along with the death penalty, stem-cell research
Leuthold 2
and genocide were also touched upon regarding our Catholic faith. Bishop Aquila stated that like abortions, the death penalty, stem-cell research, and genocide are all morally unacceptable for Christians revealing that they must be avoided, and should not be accepted in our communities throughout the United States. I agreed with many of the points which Bishop Aquila was lecturing about because I have been raised in a very Catholic family. Attending a private Jesuit high school, and now Loyola College, my Jesuit values have been shaping me to be who I am today. Without the influence from my family and friends, I feel as if my views on controversial topics such as abortions could be different, but as of now I will always be against the killing of an embryo.
When I attended Bishop Aquila’s lecture on November 15th, I was able to reflect on my life as a Roman Catholic in a Jesuit Institution. Knowing that Bishop Aquila was connecting the idea of being a pro-life activist with our Catholic faith made me feel that my Jesuit values have been helping me to become closer with God, and have had an influence on my peers. When I was a sophomore in high school I participated in a pro-life activity with our pro-life club where we traveled from New Rochelle, New York to Washington D.C. in order to promote the ideas of not having abortions, making them illegal. This event had an enormous impact on all the people driving past us.
Thus, at Bishop Aquila’s lecture on November 15th, I learned many different things regarding abortions, genocide, stem-cell research, and the death penalty. From a Catholic perspective, they are all morally unacceptable in our society. Being pro-life is something which has had a big impact on my life because of the issue of killing an embryo which I consider murder. I feel as if the death penalty is wrong; however, it may never fade out in the judicial
Leuthold 3
system. Bishop Aquila was very successful in his argument that as Catholics, we must continue to strive in becoming closer to God, and continue to remain against controversial issues such as abortions.
Friday, November 30, 2007
A Jesuit Thanksgiving
Over Thanksgiving break, I took part in a college-aged volunteer group in my area, REACH. This group is designated to offer college students with volunteer opportunities over their college breaks and make them ‘reach’ out to the less privileged. Some events include trips to the nursing homes on Valentines Day, and visiting orphanages and hospitals around Christmas time. The group units the community through celebrating the holidays, some people might say that the holidays are the loneliest times of the year, but REACH bridges the community together to act as a family as we celebrate together.
This year for Thanksgiving we helped out at a soup kitchen for the homeless. The soup kitchen offered families a place to go and enjoy a meal with friends and family.
The soup kitchen allowed me to see how the people were satisfied in celebrating Thanksgiving in a local high school cafeteria. It made me appreciate what I have, and let me evaluate that holidays are special because of the people you celebrate it with, not where or when you celebrate it. REACH holds a place in my heart, because we formed a family within the community, and allowed everyone the opportunity to celebrate the holidays in a special way no matter where we are and the amount of money we use to decorate and spend on food.
I really enjoy taking part in the group because it allows me to feel more connected to my community. Not only do the students form a close bond, but we learn a lot about the community we grew up in. Loyola has allowed me to become more interested in the lifestyles around me. Although I have lived in Oakland my whole life, being a part of the Jesuit lifestyle has showed me what is out there, and this volunteer group has opened my eyes to the different realities that have been present in my life, but I never saw until I became a part of the Jesuit tradition.
The Jesuit tradition has left a life long imprint on my life, and allowed me to pass the tradition of service to those around me. The Jesuit lifestyle impacts everyone around you and is contagious. Considering that two of my three sisters decided to join the group, made me feel that I had a Jesuit impact on their life because now they look at the world and question what they can do to assist in the unification of all people. This goes to show that service as an experience has an impact on ones life, not only in the sense of helping the community, but recognizing that we are all alike.
This domino effect of service, made me come to realization that service shouldn’t be like pulling teeth, it should be an experience that you want to take part in. Service is the cycle of life, and by helping others, you help yourself in the understanding of life as a whole. The specific experiences hold a place in your heart forever, and each have an effect on your life, no matter the amount of time you put in, but more importantly the amount of effort and heart you contribute to the experience.
This year for Thanksgiving we helped out at a soup kitchen for the homeless. The soup kitchen offered families a place to go and enjoy a meal with friends and family.
The soup kitchen allowed me to see how the people were satisfied in celebrating Thanksgiving in a local high school cafeteria. It made me appreciate what I have, and let me evaluate that holidays are special because of the people you celebrate it with, not where or when you celebrate it. REACH holds a place in my heart, because we formed a family within the community, and allowed everyone the opportunity to celebrate the holidays in a special way no matter where we are and the amount of money we use to decorate and spend on food.
I really enjoy taking part in the group because it allows me to feel more connected to my community. Not only do the students form a close bond, but we learn a lot about the community we grew up in. Loyola has allowed me to become more interested in the lifestyles around me. Although I have lived in Oakland my whole life, being a part of the Jesuit lifestyle has showed me what is out there, and this volunteer group has opened my eyes to the different realities that have been present in my life, but I never saw until I became a part of the Jesuit tradition.
The Jesuit tradition has left a life long imprint on my life, and allowed me to pass the tradition of service to those around me. The Jesuit lifestyle impacts everyone around you and is contagious. Considering that two of my three sisters decided to join the group, made me feel that I had a Jesuit impact on their life because now they look at the world and question what they can do to assist in the unification of all people. This goes to show that service as an experience has an impact on ones life, not only in the sense of helping the community, but recognizing that we are all alike.
This domino effect of service, made me come to realization that service shouldn’t be like pulling teeth, it should be an experience that you want to take part in. Service is the cycle of life, and by helping others, you help yourself in the understanding of life as a whole. The specific experiences hold a place in your heart forever, and each have an effect on your life, no matter the amount of time you put in, but more importantly the amount of effort and heart you contribute to the experience.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
last event blog
For my final event blog I attended a lecture on November 15th, by Bishop Aquila held by Loyola’s club ALIVE. The basis of this lecture was the issue of pro-life and its relationship to our Catholic faith. I decided to go to this particular lecture because this is an extremely important issue in our society today regarding politics and religion.
Bishop Aquila was very firm in his strong beliefs against pro-choice, declaring himself as unconditionally pro-life. He explained that we, as Catholics, are called to a constant ethic of life, and that things such as abortion, stem cell research, and genocide are all evil and morally unacceptable. He went on to say that dignity of human life is determined by God and thus is always to be protected; dignity is bestowed by God in creation and not by government.
I personally struggled with many of the opinions expressed by Bishop Aquila, specifically those in reference to abortion and the death penalty. I have been, and probably always will be, fully against the death penalty. When I was a senior in high school I visited Rahway State Prison on a field trip for a psychology class and we were given the opportunity to talk with the men known as “lifers” because they were in jail for life because of murder. These men run famous programs like scared straight to help troubled kids, and are only submitted into the program because they have shown true repentance for their sins. As I sat five feet from convicted murders, talking with these men in an open room, I truly saw them as just fellow human beings. This visit boosted my stand against the practice of capital punishment, and I truly agreed with Bishop Aquila on this point as he said that there is no revenge in the heart of Christ, so there should be no revenge in the heart of a Christian. However, I have been pro-choice for quite some time now, as I have learned more about our government and society. Bishop Aquila even stated my views exactly in his lecture when he touched on people who are pro-choice for abortion but oppose other issues, such as the death penalty, and asked where the logic was. He also added that many people may not want to impose their morality on others in some areas, which also pertained to me. Bishop Aquila did not change my views, although he did truly make me confront my conscience.
Bishop Aquila touched on the issues of conscience in today’s society, explaining that conscience is now understood as opinion. He added that there is great confusion with conscience as to what is good and evil. He believes that this can lead to a culture of death and that a culture of life would have a good understanding of conscience. The Bishop explained that conscience is not a person opinion; rather it is the inner voice of a human being that moves a person to do good and avoid evil. I truly agreed with him on this standpoint of conscience because I do believe it is separate from issues of difference in opinions.
The issue of freedom versus truth was also discussed in Bishop Aquila’s lecture. He explained that society has formed a false idea of freedom that has become separate from truth. He believes that, for Catholics, there is a clear relationship between truth and freedom, proclaiming “the truth will set you free.” I, too, believe there is a distinct difference and significant relationship between the concepts of truth and freedom.
As a final event blog for this semester of understanding literature, this was the only event that truly made me consider how my political views effect my religious beliefs. Again, although I did not fully change my standpoint on abortion and pro-choice, I have fully come to understand both sides. I continue to stand against the death penalty, however cannot be fully pro-life when it comes to abortion.
Bishop Aquila was very firm in his strong beliefs against pro-choice, declaring himself as unconditionally pro-life. He explained that we, as Catholics, are called to a constant ethic of life, and that things such as abortion, stem cell research, and genocide are all evil and morally unacceptable. He went on to say that dignity of human life is determined by God and thus is always to be protected; dignity is bestowed by God in creation and not by government.
I personally struggled with many of the opinions expressed by Bishop Aquila, specifically those in reference to abortion and the death penalty. I have been, and probably always will be, fully against the death penalty. When I was a senior in high school I visited Rahway State Prison on a field trip for a psychology class and we were given the opportunity to talk with the men known as “lifers” because they were in jail for life because of murder. These men run famous programs like scared straight to help troubled kids, and are only submitted into the program because they have shown true repentance for their sins. As I sat five feet from convicted murders, talking with these men in an open room, I truly saw them as just fellow human beings. This visit boosted my stand against the practice of capital punishment, and I truly agreed with Bishop Aquila on this point as he said that there is no revenge in the heart of Christ, so there should be no revenge in the heart of a Christian. However, I have been pro-choice for quite some time now, as I have learned more about our government and society. Bishop Aquila even stated my views exactly in his lecture when he touched on people who are pro-choice for abortion but oppose other issues, such as the death penalty, and asked where the logic was. He also added that many people may not want to impose their morality on others in some areas, which also pertained to me. Bishop Aquila did not change my views, although he did truly make me confront my conscience.
Bishop Aquila touched on the issues of conscience in today’s society, explaining that conscience is now understood as opinion. He added that there is great confusion with conscience as to what is good and evil. He believes that this can lead to a culture of death and that a culture of life would have a good understanding of conscience. The Bishop explained that conscience is not a person opinion; rather it is the inner voice of a human being that moves a person to do good and avoid evil. I truly agreed with him on this standpoint of conscience because I do believe it is separate from issues of difference in opinions.
The issue of freedom versus truth was also discussed in Bishop Aquila’s lecture. He explained that society has formed a false idea of freedom that has become separate from truth. He believes that, for Catholics, there is a clear relationship between truth and freedom, proclaiming “the truth will set you free.” I, too, believe there is a distinct difference and significant relationship between the concepts of truth and freedom.
As a final event blog for this semester of understanding literature, this was the only event that truly made me consider how my political views effect my religious beliefs. Again, although I did not fully change my standpoint on abortion and pro-choice, I have fully come to understand both sides. I continue to stand against the death penalty, however cannot be fully pro-life when it comes to abortion.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Who has the right to dictate our lives with such conformity?
Lately, I've been feeling the intense crunch of figuring out my life. I second guess the importance of my major in my life until I can be absolutely sure, if only for a few weeks, that what I am doing at this moment is cohesive with the things that I value and the way I see my life working. In actuality, it shouldn't really matter. My mother majored in history, and yet, she ended up being a technology manager. My mother and my brother are pushing for me to get an internship next summer when I've actually never held a paying job and really don't have any motivation to get one.
So I ask again, Who has the right to dictate our lives with such conformity? The careers that I'd actually be motivated to do would either pay next to nothing or pay millions. Who has the money and the time to travel around the world photographing different cultures? I feel as though my choices are not as easy as others. They do not fall into the categories of regular jobs. Instead, I have to create these careers to live off of, both in physical monetary values and inner spiritual values, with no framework.
I'd rather tell my mother these things. I'd rather tell society these things. That happiness cannot fit into a 9-5 work day. That it's better to live a happy, simple life in my eyes than to live a complicated but fulfilling life in theirs. But like Lisa Parker's "Snapping Beans", I am the girl that cannot tell the great mysteries and conflicts of my mind to my mother, even when we're close, picking green beans in the summertime and drowning the japanese beatles in soapy water by the pool in our backyard.
I'd rather not be telling lies about my ideas of my life to strangers in order to keep things simple. I'd rather not be the girl sitting in the guidance counselor's office in sixth grade telling this strange woman the first career that comes into my mind because I had no idea. After a while I have to wonder what lines become blurred, and what I actually have a passion for and what I've told myself I have a passion for.
The things that I love to do cannot easily be manuvered into careers. I have a high creativity complex that seems to dictate my life. I love to have conversations with people, one on one, with hardly any barriers separating our thoughts and words. "It was what I was born for- to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world." I am an observer, mostly. I view the world through my unique eye. To use all of these things together is, by far, my most challenging adventure because I have to create this life for myself from stratch. There is no framework to go by, no already created careers that fall almost perfectly in place. I am the playtpus that clearly mammal, yet distinctly different, and in order to be happy, I have to be in the water instead of on land.
So I ask again, Who has the right to dictate our lives with such conformity? The careers that I'd actually be motivated to do would either pay next to nothing or pay millions. Who has the money and the time to travel around the world photographing different cultures? I feel as though my choices are not as easy as others. They do not fall into the categories of regular jobs. Instead, I have to create these careers to live off of, both in physical monetary values and inner spiritual values, with no framework.
I'd rather tell my mother these things. I'd rather tell society these things. That happiness cannot fit into a 9-5 work day. That it's better to live a happy, simple life in my eyes than to live a complicated but fulfilling life in theirs. But like Lisa Parker's "Snapping Beans", I am the girl that cannot tell the great mysteries and conflicts of my mind to my mother, even when we're close, picking green beans in the summertime and drowning the japanese beatles in soapy water by the pool in our backyard.
I'd rather not be telling lies about my ideas of my life to strangers in order to keep things simple. I'd rather not be the girl sitting in the guidance counselor's office in sixth grade telling this strange woman the first career that comes into my mind because I had no idea. After a while I have to wonder what lines become blurred, and what I actually have a passion for and what I've told myself I have a passion for.
The things that I love to do cannot easily be manuvered into careers. I have a high creativity complex that seems to dictate my life. I love to have conversations with people, one on one, with hardly any barriers separating our thoughts and words. "It was what I was born for- to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world." I am an observer, mostly. I view the world through my unique eye. To use all of these things together is, by far, my most challenging adventure because I have to create this life for myself from stratch. There is no framework to go by, no already created careers that fall almost perfectly in place. I am the playtpus that clearly mammal, yet distinctly different, and in order to be happy, I have to be in the water instead of on land.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Janine Harouni
Event Analysis
This week at Choice was especially meaningful because I was in charge of putting together the educational material we were to work on for the evening. As fate would have it our area of study for this week was History, a subject I have dreaded since the third grade. Personally, I have never truly understood the importance of History. This mentality is aptly reflected by the fact that I, a soon to be second semester sophomore, have yet to take my Introduction to History course, (a class commonly taken first semester freshman year).
As I looked at the face of my youth who struggled to piece together the parts of a historical illustration I found on the internet I could tell she was less than amused with the assignment. I encouraged her to verbally identify all that she saw in the picture and then interpret what she thought each part meant in the context of the historical time period. My suggestion was greeted by a blank stare.
“Why do I have to learn this” she asked. I was dumbfounded. “I will never use any of this in the real world.” She was right. I was looking into a mirror. How could I tell her that I whole heartedly agreed with her when I had created the assignment myself? I paused for a moment to collect my thoughts. What could I say?
“Why do you think you need to learn this?” She frowned from across the table and folded her arms. This girl wanted answers. The situation reminded me of the two poems we read for class “The Path to the Milky Way Leads through Los Angeles” and “A Bedtime Story.”
In “The Path to the Milky Way Leads through Los Angeles” the speaker realizes that her path in life is wherever she is at the present moment. Although there is so much in Los Angeles that she hates, she must find the beauty that exists and grow stronger from her experience. At my youth’s present moment she needs to graduate high school and her less than satisfactory History grade will prevent her from doing so. Just like the speaker, my youth must experience her present moment to its fullest. She must take all of the good with all of the bad and all of the easy with all of the difficult. This is what makes you who you are. And, this sometimes means working extra hard on a subject that troubles you. In the end you might find that not only do you succeed with the class but that you are more confident in your abilities as a student.
In “A Bedtime Story” the young girl must figure the answer out for herself. Just as it was not easy for the old woman to realize that her misfortune was a blessing in disguise, the young girl must open herself up and be willing to find the answers. The things that give us the most fulfillment in life are usually the things that are not easy. If you truly work hard and allow yourself to be open to all of the possibilities life holds in store, then you will find real happiness and fulfillment. If the old women hadn’t faced neglect and rejection she would have never experienced the beauty of the night so fully. If my youth does not go through the struggles of a difficult History class she may never feel the joy of accomplishing something that you never imagined you could. Happiness comes only to those who search for it.
“Learning a subject that is challenging for you teaches you to think. You may not apply what you learn in History to your everyday life but you will certainly apply what you have learned from learning History in every endeavor. You will not only be a stronger person for persevering you will be a wiser person for finding the answers yourself.” And with that response she picked up her pen and continued her work.
Event Analysis
This week at Choice was especially meaningful because I was in charge of putting together the educational material we were to work on for the evening. As fate would have it our area of study for this week was History, a subject I have dreaded since the third grade. Personally, I have never truly understood the importance of History. This mentality is aptly reflected by the fact that I, a soon to be second semester sophomore, have yet to take my Introduction to History course, (a class commonly taken first semester freshman year).
As I looked at the face of my youth who struggled to piece together the parts of a historical illustration I found on the internet I could tell she was less than amused with the assignment. I encouraged her to verbally identify all that she saw in the picture and then interpret what she thought each part meant in the context of the historical time period. My suggestion was greeted by a blank stare.
“Why do I have to learn this” she asked. I was dumbfounded. “I will never use any of this in the real world.” She was right. I was looking into a mirror. How could I tell her that I whole heartedly agreed with her when I had created the assignment myself? I paused for a moment to collect my thoughts. What could I say?
“Why do you think you need to learn this?” She frowned from across the table and folded her arms. This girl wanted answers. The situation reminded me of the two poems we read for class “The Path to the Milky Way Leads through Los Angeles” and “A Bedtime Story.”
In “The Path to the Milky Way Leads through Los Angeles” the speaker realizes that her path in life is wherever she is at the present moment. Although there is so much in Los Angeles that she hates, she must find the beauty that exists and grow stronger from her experience. At my youth’s present moment she needs to graduate high school and her less than satisfactory History grade will prevent her from doing so. Just like the speaker, my youth must experience her present moment to its fullest. She must take all of the good with all of the bad and all of the easy with all of the difficult. This is what makes you who you are. And, this sometimes means working extra hard on a subject that troubles you. In the end you might find that not only do you succeed with the class but that you are more confident in your abilities as a student.
In “A Bedtime Story” the young girl must figure the answer out for herself. Just as it was not easy for the old woman to realize that her misfortune was a blessing in disguise, the young girl must open herself up and be willing to find the answers. The things that give us the most fulfillment in life are usually the things that are not easy. If you truly work hard and allow yourself to be open to all of the possibilities life holds in store, then you will find real happiness and fulfillment. If the old women hadn’t faced neglect and rejection she would have never experienced the beauty of the night so fully. If my youth does not go through the struggles of a difficult History class she may never feel the joy of accomplishing something that you never imagined you could. Happiness comes only to those who search for it.
“Learning a subject that is challenging for you teaches you to think. You may not apply what you learn in History to your everyday life but you will certainly apply what you have learned from learning History in every endeavor. You will not only be a stronger person for persevering you will be a wiser person for finding the answers yourself.” And with that response she picked up her pen and continued her work.
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