I've always wanted more out of life...

I’ve always wanted more out of life…
I expect more out of life the minute I knew how men treated women. I was able to see this with my parents. They would fight and get upset over the littlest things which were: food, bills, clothes, work, money, and even my sisters and me. Growing up in a house with anger and disrespect was hard. I always knew that they didn’t have love or respect, but a continuous fight. As I grew up and learned to make my own decisions, I decided to never argue in future relationships.

However I couldn’t help it; I argued with my boyfriend all of the time. The reason was because I felt I needed a genuine man that could take care of me, support me, and love me. The minute I felt I did not receive that, I felt unwanted. As simple and as honest as I can be I felt that fit wasn’t my way, he would hit the highway. If a man it’s not ready for me, I would let him try to change and if he doesn’t tell him to get out of my life.

I’ve always wanted more out of life because I was always pushed down. Therefore, I want a perfect man for me, even if that means that feel I’ll be single the rest of my life. I really feel that I deserve the best out of life, and never letting a man put me down. This is my choice, I want to be happy with myself and with a man that deserves me. I really want to make a huge difference in the world. Choosing a good husband would not make a huge difference in the world, but having the strength to know that you deserve better can encourage women to appreciate themselves.

Hood Terms/Englishes

English is not my strong point, especially in school. Growing up in Watts California, the schools I attend was not the best in the world. Learning proper English was hard for me, because I had a controlled childhood. My father never let me and my sister speak without being told to do so. Around family and friends my father would not let us, even speak with are cousins, and the rest of are family members. My father felt that his children should behave around people period. He felt that people he knows would judge him and talk about his family that his little girls are “bad ass kids” and he did it want that. As his children he wanted us to understand that speaking is only for adults to do so.

My father is a controlled freak, but over the past years in prison, he’s a cool person then before. All the visits going to go see him, it does seem like he changed a lot. I guess that’s just the prison walls talking for him. Growing up with my father was hard life to live but know seeing change is crazy. I just can’t believe how far I become. To look back on the life I lived as a child it’s funny now, because now I’m paying for it. What I mean by that is, not to be able to speak with pride, and with my head up high is ridiculous. In all this years of going to school, I never let my voice be heard. I was always shy to read out aloud or even get involve because of my lack of words I used to try to speak out. Sometimes I never know what the teacher was asking in a form of a question. Just looking back I feel responsible for not knowing the basic skills of English that is required in a four year college.

Now that I’m in college, from left to right I hear professors, and others telling me that I need help with my writing and even in math as will. Do I feel bad, and responsible? Yeah, but life goes on. I just know now that I have to work extra hard to be successful in college.

Life Style

Identifying with Brent Staples was not because he’s African American, in view of the fact that I can relate to him. The beginning of the essay started off with him getting mad at people because they felt that they are doing the right thing by thinking that he’s a criminal. Towards the end he realizes that he cannot be mad at people for thinking the way they do about his race, therefore he forgives them and moves on with his life. I identify with Staples, in that you cannot be upset about what people say about you, because you will always be depressed, and mad at yourself for nothing.

Relating to the story was not complicated in a way, for the reason that people seem to assume you’re a party of a stereotype they have in their mind. The only reasons why people think that way are because of the media and people were raised to hate other races or even their own race. However, we all do it and I believe we can stop it or even help it. The only thing I can think about is that people should be more open minded about others cultures and backgrounds. I believe that if I become more aware that every individual is not identical to one another, then I am helping to reject stereotyping. For example, while walking down the street to school; most men look at me and say I’m a hoe, slut and other pigeonhole terms. I feel that men should be more respectful and careful about what comes out their mouths.

Reading the story made me relate to the examples of tribulations as well as Staples did in his essay. Just by reading about the challenges that he went though was eye-opening. Knowing that everyone would be judged by the color of their skin and of their culture is a problem in society as lived today.

My first grown-up job, the first one...

My first grown-up job, the first one...
My first job I remember it like it was yesterday, in the hot sizzling summer waiting for my Regional Occupational Program teacher to show up for our class. In this class my teacher was a cool teacher, she told us about everything to know about getting a job and keeping one. She showed us the real goals of getting a good job.She showed us how to dress, how to write a resume, how to find a good job, and even had us act out an interview for a job. She even told us how to speak and shake hands with the boss or manager. She basically taught us everything to know about getting a job.

My first job at Footlocker was the best experience I went though as a sixteen year old. That job showed me the real meaning of hard work and the skills I needed to know. I learned how to fold shirts, how to find a section type of shoe and time management was the hardest to handle. The bus did not run on the same time I need to be at work. But working at Footlocker was a great experience. I thank Ms. Wilson for that great experience.