The IVC Borderline Literary Journal

The Sun is Black and the Earth is Blue - Complete Visual Analysis Tattoo Essay - by Michael Hunt - English 110

Michael Hunt

Mr. Lewenstein 

English 110

18 September 2019

The Sun is Black and the Earth is Blue

It’s plastered on walls, hung in houses and maybe even tattooed on your friends body. It’s a common tattoo we’ve seen millions of times in our life and it holds a special value in Chinese culture. Originating from ancient times to modern day, the yin yang symbol still has maintained its same appearance through thousands of years. Many people customize their yin yang tattoos to their own liking to represent what the two sides mean to them. There is no better way to represent peace and balance than the yin yang.

The iconic symbol we all know and love had a humble beginning, originating before the 3rd century B.C. However, for the most part, the real origins of the yin yang are unknown to historians. In philosophical origins, the yin yang made its first appearance in the Han Dynasty. It really began to get discovered around the Zhou dynasty with ancient scrolls showing the symbol in all its glory. Well known philosophers such as Confucious and Loa Tzu were the first to start interpreting the symbol. These interpretations sparked a number of other philosophers to have a crack at their own meaning of the symbol. This is how the interpretation of meanings for the symbol began. Now, people all over the world are rocking the yin yang symbol! 

In the image, the yin yang symbol is located on this person's shoulder. The symbol isn't just a typical yin yang, but it's personalized to show the vast galaxy on one side and a beautiful nature scene on the other. The yin side shows a vast galaxy with planet Saturn, several stars and the milky way. On the yang side we can see the sea, mountains and the shining sun. We get two polar opposite sides fused into each other to create one entity. Each of the sides share a little bit of their counterpart: The sun in the yang and the milky way in the yin. The yin side shows a more colder side than the yang. It portrays a vast and lonely galaxy that you could easily get lost in. It's foreign and unknown to us. The yang side brings out a warm and fuzzy feeling hiding inside of us. It almost screams, "Summer is here!" It puts you in a place we'd feel more welcomed to explore.

Each side shows a little piece of each other. The Sun and the Milky Way are colored in as they're own counterparts. The Sun in the yang is black. It's ironic because both belong to each other in a way. The Sun belongs to the galaxy shown in the yin, while inside the milky way in the yang, the Earth lives.

I’ve grown a liking to the idea of getting a tattoo of the same sort on my ankle. Growing up, I’ve never been a huge fan of tattoos and I’ve never considered getting one. If I had my own custom yin yang tattoo I’d have the yin side filled up with a vast galaxy and for the yang side I’d have it filled up with a campsite. I loved the galaxy idea that was on my example, but I would change the yang side into a campfire scene because I enjoy camping. This tattoo would represent a personal side to me that I’d have a lot of fun explaining to people. After putting myself in the shoes of the people with these tattoos I can finally see why they’d get it. Tattoos hold a meaning, they represent art and freedom that lasts a lifetime.  

 

Illegal Immigration: Inferior Treatment, but Superior Contribution - Complete Essay - by Veronica Angulo - English 110

Veronica Angulo

Professor Lewenstein

English 110

13 Dec. 2019

Illegal Immigration: Inferior Treatment but Superior Contribution

Maria is my aunt, my mom’s oldest sister. She has been the aunt most closest to my family since she is the only one out of the rest of her siblings to  live in the United States. Growing up in Mexico was not the easiest for her. As she got to the United States she realized how life is much more easy and not as complex as in Mexico. My aunt had studied to become a teacher in Mexico.

It was a great accomplishment of hers to go to school and get a degree in teaching. She was very dedicated to her studies. She was very ambitious, always seeking what was better for her future. She wanted to attempt getting her license valid in the United States to be able to teach. She always had the motivation to keep going no matter what the circumstances were.

She never gave up. When she started to say that she just wanted the best for her baby’s future is when it got a little sentimental. All a mother wants for her children is the best for them. A mother will do everything in her power to be able to give the best to their kids. Now she can say she did her best to give everything her kids needed. She and her husband raised two kids: one girl, and one boy. They both became very successful in life and are extremely happy for her goal in life to have her kids happy. We are all still so close and it makes my aunt super happy when we all get together and do something small like have dinners or when we all go shopping together. Every time I see her she says something along these lines: “Do your best in life and give it your all.”

Maria is a strong believer that everything happens for a reason. She struggles with her English most of the time. In more than half of the jobs here in the United States require you know English and Spanish. So in order for her to have a stable good position in her job and in order to be able to communicate with others, she needs to know the language. When she was younger she had to make a big decision for herself including her future and her new coming baby. She had to make a life-changing decision to hope for a better future. Maria had to put her kid’s future before anything. She did not want them to struggle as she did. When Maria saw how things were getting harder and harder in Mexico she felt the need to finally just come across as soon as she could. Maria did everything for her family’s future. So that they could have what she did not have. A life that was way less complicated than hers. She wanted her kids to be happy with their lives instead of having a life like hers. Maria has always tried to see the best out of every situation no matter how tough it has been. She always does her best to make sure she does the right thing. Sometimes things get tough and one becomes discouraged as if they can't make it another step further. As life goes on you always have to act as there is a greater picture. Sometimes things may get tough nut you have to see the greater picture. Everything is worth it after you struggle through the process. Not everything in life is easy good things to take time. But you have to keep going and not give up always think about the bigger picture in the end. 

How can we make the illegal immigrants issue less of a problem? Illegal immigrants feeling like an outsider to the world. If something is done to about this issue change can be brought upon it making these lives easier. I did not know that illegal immigrants go through certain life-changing situations and unfairness as they do. It has been said that these illegal immigrants are afraid to be thrown out of their homes and thrown back to Mexico. U.S. citizens have to accept that everyone across the world is just as equal to them. We are all humans and should be treated the same as they would want to be treated. Change can be brought up so that these people aren’t feeling inferior to the ones living in the U.S.

The article, “What should be the U.S. policy regarding immigration and illegal immigrants? Immigration is positive, lawlessness is not,” talks about how the illegal immigrants are feeling less or as if they do no meet a certain level of social standards, therefore, they are looked down upon. No matter what these immigrants do good or bad they are still judged or pushed to the side treated like aliens. I do not think it is okay for these people to get treated the way they do. No one should be made felt this type of way it is so unfair. Many people from the upper-class look at the lower class or for example the “illegal immigrants” as if they were nothing on this earth. These immigrants just want to come to the U.S. for good reasons not to do any harm, yet they are misjudged and pushed like outsiders. It is very sad to see something like this happen to people. Every human on this earth is equal and many fail to realize that. “Regardless, in each case, most immigrants were made to feel inferior and have less worth until their differences no longer stood out. Over time, the superficial differences that mark the immigrant from the “native” population(i.e. Descendants of former immigrants) mostly disappear into the “melting pot.” (Giese, Tim) No matter what skin color you are or what race we are all the same and everyone should be treated the same. Everyone’s purpose in life is to be someone in life and people should respect that and mind their own business without judging. 

I met Maria on a Saturday evening at her home. She works at a hospital currently, Pioneers Memorial Hospital. Maria is my aunt, my mom’s sister. She has had an eventful life experience that is so interesting to share. She works almost every day of the week and she also does most of the things at home since there are only so many people to help in her home now. Not only does she worry about work but she also stresses about things at home making sure there is food ready and that the house is clean the majority of the time. She says, “You have to take it day by day.” Every day is a different day sometimes some days are better than the others but you have to just live day by day and live in the now rather than stressing about the next day. Maria has had multiple hardships and life-changing decisions she has had to make for herself. When Maria was around the early twenties she found out she was pregnant. So her finding out she was pregnant pushed her more to want and pursue a better life which was in the United States. Her life in Mexico was way tougher than she expected it to be. She had gone to school to become a teacher in Mexico but she knew it would be much harder to pursue that dream of hers in Mexico especially while she was pregnant. Maria remembered how much she would contemplate if she should just go to the other side of the world and hope for a better life. This was one of Maria’s most difficult decisions she has to make. “I did not know what was the right thing to do.” I was able to see by the way she was expressing herself that it was more than a difficult decision it was something that could either turn out bad or good. I asked her if she regretted coming to the United States. She never once said she regretted it. Coming to the United States was a life-changing experience for her and she felt that that was the right thing to do at the moment for her and her child’s future. She doesn't feel as if there could have been a better option at the time that felt like her only option. Staying in Mexico would have been harder for her as she was already struggling and she did not want her child to go through the things she went through as a kid nor to struggle the way she did in Mexico. She says how all she wanted was a hope for a better life that was better than the life she had in Mexico. She would not have wanted it any other way. But the one thing she repeated that she worried and stressed about the most about crossing the border as if she would get caught and get in trouble or if she did not get caught. It was all a 50/ 50 chance with that situation and all she had to do, she said, was “hope for the best.” Finally, she said that the struggle was all worth it and that she does not regret any of it. She is in a better place right now financially and mentally and her kids are living a good life and that is all she ever wanted. She also said that if you want the best in life you have to seek the best and stay determined. 

As a soon to be mom Maria had to face various challenges. Maria had to make sure every day was worth it and to make the best out of every day. She wakes up every day to a new challenge. Every day is a different day and she has to be ready and set for the day. No day can be thrown to waste you have to make the best out of it. The decisions she had to make whether or not to come to the U.S. or not. Not knowing if this would be the right thing to do. She had to make sure that she was doing was the best for her and her new coming child. The way Maria described certain situations really are life shocking. Some days you might think life is going really bad and then the next day is a better day. You always have to look at the bigger picture in everything it is that you are doing. It may seem like there is no more hope in anything but you can not give up you have to keep pushing it until you get to your goal or wherever it is that you want to be. Some days will be together than others but you have to remember what your purpose is and why it is that you are doing what you are doing. You have to believe in yourself and not think negatively because that will only bring your dreams down and slow down the process of you reaching your dreams. According to Maria, she is a way better place in life right now. She is proud of how far she has came and believed every step she took was worth it. Every challenge she faced herself with was one step closer to her being where hse is now. Everything she would do she would think of the life of her kids. How she can give them what they deserve. She always told herself she did not want her kids to have the life she did. Maria did not want them to struggle the way she did either. So everything she did was to benefit the lives of her kids. She is very happy for doing what she did and does not regret it one bit. 


                                                     Works Cited

Giese, Jim “What should be the U.S. policy regarding immigration and illegal immigrants? Immigration is positive, lawlessness is not”

Keefe, Bob “Should We Go To The Wall?”

The New York Times “Migrant Teen Lay for Hours in His Cell Before He Was Found Dead”

Zu, Chelsea “False Meme about California’s ‘Illegal Aliens”

 

 

 

Dropout: The Raging College Epidemic - The Complete Essay - by Ariana Mardigal - English 110

Ariana Madrigal

Professor Jay Lewenstein

English 110

15 November 2019

Dropout:  The Raging College Epidemic

Ricardo and I were really good friends all throughout our years of school even if he was two years older than me. He always knew what he wanted to be at a young age. Ricardo would tell me “ When I become a doctor you’ll only have to come to me and I might just give you a discount since you’re my friend.” He is such an intelligent guy who always had such great determination to make his dream a reality. But that’s not always the case when it comes to achieving your dreams. When Ricardo got into his dream school USD he was ecstatic. He was a step closer to become a doctor. Yet that year became one of the darkest times of his life. It was the first time he was on his own away from family. It was stressful not only having to be placed into a whole different setting but also figuring out how to manage so much stuff on your own.

Figure 1: Shows on of the main reasons why students tend to drop out of college students (tomsirois.com).

It’s no secret that there is a problem in America’s college dropout rates. Throughout the years we have seen a growth of college dropout rates and it does not seem like they are coming down any time soon. I want to understand why this nation has such a high dropout rate.We can pretty easily understand financial struggles is one of the main reasons for dropouts. But it seems that colleges do not have enough programs to help students or they may have programs but there is not enough room to be able to help a big portion of these students.

In “The College Dropout Problem”, we learn about whether students who make it to campus are graduating with a useful credential. The sad reality is that a big chunk of students invest scare time and money pursuing a degree they never finish. “48% of first-time full time students in a four year college do not finish their degree in six years and just 28% of students complete a bachelor’s degree in the time the program is expected to take.”(Hess par.2) we learn about whether students who make it to campus are graduating with a useful credential. The sad reality is that a big chunk of students invest scare time and money pursuing a degree they never finish. “48% of first-time full time students in a four year college do not finish their degree in six years and just 28% of students complete a bachelor’s degree in the time the program is expected to take”(Hess, par.2). Many students end up burdened by debt and wasted time and their earnings are reduced. In some colleges that try to improve their student’s chance of success by working with their students by providing appropriate support. Colleges who have this support system for students have a 14% chance more likely to remain enrolled in college a year after being enrolled in the system. Even though there seems to be many programs opened for students it really depends on the students the majority of the time. Just as Hess states “Students who are willing and able to do the work should reasonably expect to attend colleges where they’ll earn a degree.” One of the main questions we do not ask is “whether students who make it to campus are graduating with a useful credential” (Hess, par. 1).

Many students who go to community college are usually transfer students. Transfer students do tend to stress over the question if they meet all the requirements. A peer of mine named Lita has the same question she explains “I'm afraid that the classes my counselor advised me to take won’t be the classes required to be able to transfer.” It is always a worry that the counselor you trust to help you in your journey to success will actually cause you to fall behind in your already long career path. “I’m afraid that I’ll be missing certain classes and I will have to stay longer than I wanted to.” Being a transfer student in a community college there is always a fear that you believe that you are so close to going on the next step to finishing your career. Until you are told by an official or an admissions director of the school that you do not meet the requirements to transfer which can cause a lot of stress and lead a student to feel hopeless and eventually give up in transferring. 

While we are on the topic of college students transfering let’s look into the statistics of how many dropouts there actually are. In “The Catch-22 of Community College Graduation Rates” Grace Chen takes a deep dive into figuring out what make a student an actual “college dropout”. Upon her research Chen found out that there is a lot of flaws when it comes to the numbers we are shown are not all reliable. There is actually a lot of grey area when it comes to categorizing a studnet to be a dropout. Chen explians that “community college ‘dropouts’ include students who transfer to a four-year institution.” (Chen par.3) We also find out that “dropouts” also consist of students who begin their education but leave and end up finishing their degree these are considered part of the grey area. So we know that there is room for improvement in the statistics may be misleading.

Author Carl Campanille from The New York Post gives readers statistical information about the percentage of college students actually graduating. Campanille states that at “Boricua College has only a 13% of freshmen who enrolled ended up getting their bachelor's degree in six years.” (Campanille, par.13). While another 14% earned their two year associate's degree. Campanille continues to express their concern for such low rates of students being able to successfully obtain a career they want.

 CUNY’s four year college may have the answer to higher success rates. That is to make the college admission be tougher and stricter which will “milk out” the weak students who are not ready for college. But to me this only solves the problem for the college in order for them to have a higher success rate but it doesn’t help the other unprepared students in any way so they too can have a successful career.

Anne C Lewis from Tech Directions wants two understand two things. First, what does post secondary education add to a young person’s chances in the labor force. Secondly, why is the dropout rates so high? Well, she is able to figure out the answers to these questions with the help of Columbia University. She’s able to find out that “the major reason for such a large dropout rate is because of financial reasons.” (Lewis par.2). Although schools do give opportunity for students to get jobs with benefits there are a lot of requirements and very few stops available. Lewis was also able I understand to need for post secondary education. This education is able to reduce the rate of a student ending up in an unskilled job and instead increase the probability of a student getting a more professional job that gives better pay.

I met with Ricardo at my house so we can both be in a comfortable setting. The interview would not feel as a business meeting but as a casual conversation between friends.  He is an enrolled student at Cetys University and is also volunteering at the El Centro Regional Hospital.  He is definitely very passionate about his career in becoming a doctor. That he makes sure to take  time out of his busy schedule in school to get some experience in the medical field, even if it is just working the front desk. But Ricardo always says, " Any experience is good experience. Because it makes for better knowledge of how the world works."

After his first semester of college Ricardo was living off of energy drinks and granola bars. He not only had the worry of passing all his classes with flying colors in order to get into medical school but also figuring out how he was going to pay for all of it. Ricardo came from a higher middle class family so they wouldn’t be able to receive financial aid. He already had requested for loans, scholarships, and was working two part-time jobs, all the while being a full-time student. Yet, it wasn’t enough and after a year of being a student in USD he dropped out and returned to the valley ashamed at himself that the stress got to him. However, he is now enrolled in Cetys University and is in the medical program. We talk occasionally and he explains to me that he has never been happier. He now knows that you don’t need to go to a fancy school to be a great doctor. But he understands how lucky he is to be able to continue his education since many college dropouts can’t afford to finish their careers.

Ricardo had told me that the only reason why he wanted to go to USD was not to be a step closer to being a doctor. But, that he wanted the “college experience” as in going out to parties, being away from your parents, and finally feeling like an adult. He said that is the worst mentality that someone can have going into college. Ricardo says that it is not bad to want to experience the college life but it should not be the only or the main thing you should be looking forward to about college. Knowing this it does correlate with a lot of the articles I have read about why students tend to drop out of university.     

When it comes to college it is a very difficult part of life that a young adult may have to go through. After hearing Ricardo’s story and reading many more articles I have noticed a correlation. 1) Students apply most of the time with just wanting to party, 2) Most students do not have a solid financial plan, 3) Students tend to feel discouraged that they will be successful since so many colleagues seem to be on the top of their game,and lastly 4) They have no preparation of being independent and learning how to care for oneself. But, despite all these problems I would like to emphasize that everyone is going to struggle when they are growing to be independent. No one has a plan that will work 100% for them everyone is just learning from their experience.    

 

Work Cited

Campanille, Carl. “College Dropouts Cost State $300M”, New York Post, Apr. 5, 2004. Web., Sep. 30, 2019.

Chen, Grace. “The Catch-22 of Community College Graduation Rates”, Community College Review, Jun. 7, 2018. Web., Sep. 27, 2019.

Hess, Federick. “The College Dropout Problem.” Forbes., Jun. 6, 2018. Web., Sep. 27, 2019.

Lewis, C. Anne. “Community College Dropout.” Tech Directions, Tech Directions, Feb. 7, 2019. Web, Sep. 30, 2019  

She Flies with Her Own Wings - Complete Visual Analysis Essay - Lynette De Leon - English 110

Lynette De Leon

English 110

Professor Lewenstein

Final Draft

17 September 2019

She Flies by Her Own Wings

A tattoo is an artistic form of self-expression that may reflect heroism, love, loss and individuality. This form of expression has been around for centuries and it has significantly evolved through generations becoming more popular every time. The in-vogue craze of body tattoos is not just your cliché’ individuals, inmates, and gang members; In fact, now it may be your doctor, mother or even grandparent, and it does not choose gender, race, or culture. While some people choose to get tattoos to identify who they are and where they came from, others get tattoos in honor of their loved ones and to mark a significant moment in their life. I got my first tattoo at the age of 21. To this day, I can still smell the rubbing alcohol, faintly hear the intertwined Bob Marley music and the unnerving buzzing sound from the tattoo gun. My eyes were tightly shut, and Jaw strongly clenched from the continuous punctures on my upper right torso. It was a bittersweet moment. This tattoo means a lot to me and it holds a deep sentimental value, for it became a recreation from my tragic loss into beautiful art in memory of my unborn baby.

I have been pregnant three times and have two children. Yes, one of those times resulted in a miscarriage and it turned my world upside down. At the age of 21 my ex-husband and I were pregnant with our first child. We were both extremely excited and ready to enter the next steppingstone in our relationship with our new little blessing on the way. Unfortunately, like many other parents, we did not get to meet, see, or hold our baby. Seven weeks into our pregnancy, I miscarried in our bathroom floor. I hit the lowest of my life for the first time that day. The pain was unbearable. Physically it was traumatic, but emotionally it was worse. I felt broken. It was very difficult to overcome this traumatic event; In fact, I never did. Instead, I chose to artistically set it free. I look at it now as a beautiful memory, for it made me a stronger person and gifted me in return with two beautiful daughters. In order to outgrow its pain and bravely continue my journey in life, just like this moment forever marked my soul, I chose to mark my skin with divine art in honor of my little angel forever as well.

In memory of my first unborn baby, I had a professional artist tattoo my right shoulder blade. Now, a Latin phrase in cursive font with a monarch butterfly attached at the end are permanently engraved on my skin. The monarch butterfly was drawn to appear to be flying off the tip of my shoulder, for its soul continued to fly towards the heavens above. The colors on my tattoo are black and grey because my intention was to express respect in honor of my little angel by keeping monochromatic. Did you know that a monarch butterfly’s life span consists of only six to seven weeks? Yes, their transformation is swift, divine, yet concise. The Latin phrase "Alis volat propriis" translates in English to, “She flies with her own wings.” Although the Latin language is now known as the dead or ghostly language, it will forever be referred to as the “language of heaven.” Also, I specifically chose the word “she” instead of “he” or “it” because from the very beginning, intuitionally, I knew that if I would have gone full term, at the end, I would have held a baby girl in my arms. Many refer to this feeling as a mother’s instinct. This feeling came to me again with my other two babies and sure enough my mother’s instinct has yet to prove me wrong. The moment I turned my tragic experience into beautiful art, I felt a sense of relief. She was free. I was free. People get tattoos for many reasons. It could be a form of self-expression, artistic freedom, rebellion, or a visual display of a personal narrative. To me, this tattoo represents love, beauty, freedom and growth. It is a visual display of a beautiful child I once conceived, but then had to set free before we could meet.

The words “Alis volat propriis” and the image of the monarch butterfly on my back holds a substantial amount of sentimental value and infinite love. I got this tattoo seven years ago in honor of my little angel after losing her in a miscarriage. The phrase “Alis volat propriis” translates in English to “She flies with her own wings.” People who see this tattoo will miss the meaning of the phrase because it is written in a foreign language. Although Latin has been dead for many centuries, it is still known for its nobility, beauty and holiness. On the other hand, a monarch butterfly might be defined much easier. Visually, many people might conclude that it is representation of freedom, change, growth, sensitivity, and love. However, society, as hypercritical as they are, will always have an opinion, thought, or remark of what is visually exposed to them and it may not always be positive. To me, any negative comment or nasty eye made towards my tattoos hurts no more than when a leaf lands on top of my head. My tattoos were not made to impress or satisfy others, and I proudly show them with honor.

These colors, pictures, and phrases that we apply to our skin communicate our values and aspirations as well as our hopes and personal histories. This is a great way to honor loss, share meaningful accomplishments, and artistically express one’s love. I don’t regret any of my tattoos; In fact, I am grateful because they are my daily motivation. Whether you choose to express yourself through art, writing, painting, or tattoos, keep doing it regardless of what others may think or say. As humans, everyone needs an outlet every now and then. Find yours and embrace it.

 

The Color of Love - Complete Visual Analysis Tattoo Essay - by Ivy Pulido - English 110

Ivy Pulido

English 110

Mr. Lewenstein

5 October 2019

 

The Color of Love

 

A rose represents love, beauty, courage and loyalty. Roses are given to significant others, family and or friends. As a child I was mainly drawn to the rose due to my father buying my mother a couple of roses each week on his way home from work. I fell in love with the colors, the fresh smell of the petals, and the way the rose looks. When my mother passed away my life went downhill, I entered the foster care system and I lost myself. The rose was my mother's favorite flower and every time I see them in stores or in a picture I instantly think of her. This tattoo will represent her on me s a part of her will always be with me. On the bottom right corning are roman numerals, which I’m going to change. The person who got this tattoo used the rose as a symbol of a loved one that unfortunately passed away as well. I believe this is a meaningful gesture and is going to be my first tattoo.

This tattoo is placed on the girls left ankle pointed outwards. Personally I want my tattoo to be on the bottom right of my rib cage. The first thing I noticed about this rose was the detail in shading which makes it not only look more realistic but special as well. What I like most about this rose is the thorns; it not only shows that the most beautiful flower, yet it has that. It shows that nothing is perfect and that's what my mom always told me. The roman numerals on the side which I think will sum up the idea of a shrine on the body. I believe when getting a tattoo, there should be something meaningful behind it. I don't think people who just get designs on their body to look cool is a good reason to get a permanent markings on your body. I personally don't like the idea of a lot of tattoos, for example sleeve tattoos are just not something I would consider getting, EVER. Tattoos are sometimes used  to show individuality to express themselves or just as a statement of fashion and or a cause. 

 I plan to get this tattoo this year on the bottom right side of my rib cage. I want it to be a symbol of her so I know she will always be with me no matter what. On the side of the rose instead of the roman numerals tattooed on the young girls ankle I will get, “February 17th, 1974- April 13th, 2013.” I believe this rose would look better on my body if it were colored, so I would like to get it red as well. Over all as soon as I saw this tattoo online I instantly knew my mom would have approved of this

The rose  symbolizes my mother. This tattoo is for me to remember that she is always with me even if she may not be here physically, she will always be with me spiritually. I believe when my family will see it they will not agree with it as some of them think that getting a tattoo is a meaningless gesture to seek attention from others. The first thing they would see is the rose itself, since the rose will be incredibly detailed, it will catch their eye first. They may miss the date to the side of it since it won't be as big as the rose which will raise many questions as to why. When my family will see this tattoo they will assume I’m insane and question my state of mind at the time but after explaining to them this tattoo is not only a representation of my mother’s being, but the fact that I will always remember her and what she did for me.

 

 

A Double Life: My Father’s Family and His Gang - Complete Essay - by Laneesah James - English 110

Laneesah James

Professor Lewenstein

English 110

13 Dec. 2019

A Double Life: My Father’s Family and His Gang

From Luis J Rodriguez's  Always Running (LA. Times)

When I was twelve years old, my family went to visit my grandmother, aunts, and uncle in Los Angeles. It was Christmas eve and we were all extremely excited to see our family, because we don’t get to see them everyday. It was a beautiful day outside, the sun was out, the weather was perfect, and the Christmas spirit was in the air, until we got into areas of Los Angeles that weren’t very high end. As we were driving into Los Angeles, passing by run down buildings and houses that had people outside playing cards,  you could already see people that looked suspicious, and young gang members hanging out on the corners of the streets.Shoes covered telephone wires at almost every corner of the streets. We arrived at my grandmother's well taken care of the apartment and right as we were about to get out of the car we heard gunshots. These gunshots were heard from all over, my family rushed outside like the world was ending to get us and hurry us back inside of the house. It was a normal day in Los Angeles, after all everyone that lives in lower areas of Los Angeles county already know what to do when they hear gunshots. Gangs are heavily known in many areas of Los Angeles, and everyone knows that when they hear gunshots it’s most likely gang inflicted. As we ran inside, we didn’t know where the gunshots were coming from but that we needed to get to safety. When we were safely inside my father had memories come back to him, as he was in a gang before.

My father, Lloyd, was introduced to the gang world at a very young age. He always knew they weren’t good but he still continued to join gangs. He always tried to keep his gang life and family separated, because he didn’t want to disrespect his mother. His biggest fear was introducing the gangs to his younger siblings.He felt that a gang would be a brotherhood, and he would have people that he can count on. Gangs are supposed to be considered family, but they don’t always seem how they appear. Gang members don’t truly have your back, they will steal from you, lie about you, and even try to harm you. My father had to do things he may have never wanted to do, but the shot caller made him. He had to choose between getting possibly harmed or do the stupid things he did. My father had been shot at multiple times, and been in rumbles, and even felt the need to protect himself even at school. Making decisions on protecting yourself or getting killed is the fastest decision someone will ever have to make.Seeing that there is a chance of getting out really pushes people to mature faster. People may say that gangs make a person's mentality weak, but my father is very strong minded. Gangs have taught him not to just trust everyone, because not everyone is on your side. My father is extremely street smart, he knows what to do and what not to do. It’s easy to give into the gang world and stay there forever, but realizing that being in a gang is wrong will be the turning point in a person’s life. The gang world was a wake up call.

How can we keep people off the streets and out of gangs? Gangs cause thousands of deaths a year. If something is not done the society in poverty areas will always be at an all time low. People don’t get a true shot at life, because they are brought into gangs at such a young age. Gangs aren’t don’t affect people physically but also mentally. Most gang members have mental illnesses, and they never get checked up on. Post traumatic stress disorder lives with people for the rest of their lives; you see and do too much to just forget about it. Us, as a society, need to keep people out of gangs. Gangs have taken over the streets the world; they don’t only affect gang members, but they also affect society. We need to invest more in programs to help people retract from joining gangs. 

Gang life in Los Angeles (proektor.livejournal.com).

Gangs have been taking over the streets for centuries now. Gangs are extremely dangerous and at any location, after gangs became global you can find gangs in any street or block all over the world. From drugs to violence, gangs are not the safest to be involved in. Claiming a gang can easily get you killed by a rival game. Gangs are not fun and games; people seriously get hurt from them.

In the article "Turf Wars, Gang Violence," from The Economist Intelligence Unit, it says, “Deterring adolescents and young adults from joining gangs seems like the best way to keep them alive.” People have been trying to keep kids from picking the world, so they have made programs to help keep them off the streets. Programs have helped kids get their career started, sent kids to college, and help them stay involved with their community. No one wants to see their family or friends being killed by gang violence. If keeping kids off the street is what people as a community have to do then so be it, we would rather see them alive and well then hanging out with the wrong crowd. 

     In Gang World, we learn how gangs went global. Gang members may have never heard of globalization, but it is making them stronger. As gangs try to make ends meet for their family they may have to do some illegal things. Drug dealing is one of the main things gang members do to provide for their family. Some gangs have a global reach to commit terrorist acts. Jeff Fort, the leader of the gang El Rukns, got together with twenty-one smaller gangs and created a powerful organization. This organization went global, and ended up making a deal with Libya to commit terrorist acts on U.S. soil in exchange for money. Jeff Fort and five other gang members were convicted of committing terrorist acts, and their story shows that small street gangs can turn into something far more dangerous. The U.S. immigration policy deported thousands of immigrants with criminal records, which boosted the gang rates in other parts of the world. The internet shows the rest of the world what gangs are all about, which causes copycats in other parts of the world. The cyberworld helps build egos and reputations pretending to be something they are not.  The writer is educating us on how some street gangs can become bigger and more powerful than we know, but not all gangs are terrorists. We also learn in this article how gangs spread throughout the world. 

     I could say I met my father when I was born, but I was never introduced to the gang world. My father was involved in gangs since he was twelve years old. He followed in a lot of his family members' footsteps. In the late afternoon, my father and I had a sit down talk at our kitchen table. I saw his tattoo of a black panther. That black panther tattoo covered up his old gang tattoos. He said “Covering up my tattoos is like finally moving on from my past mistakes.” When my father got kicked out of his house when he realized that he had done wrong. All throughout his teens he was in gangs. He recalls being in fights, shootouts, and lots of funerals. My father has seen people close to him get killed, he even saw people he hardly knew get killed. My father would remember all the drugs that gangs would sell, and how many families that broke up. He would always remember telling his younger sisters and brothers, “I never want to see any of you guys near gangs, or even thinking of joining them.” He was always protective of his siblings, and guarding them from the streets of Los Angeles. He knew that being in gangs wasn’t the best thing to do, but it was a lesson he had to learn on his own.As we talked, I could see him grimacing at all the memories of the gangs. We kept going on about how he truly felt after every memory he brought up. He would always say, “If I didn’t go through what I went through, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.” Even though gangs took over a big piece of his life, he did his best to keep gangs and family apart from each other. He told me that his father was in a gang before and I was shocked, because I always thought my father just decided to do it one day. “I know this took over my life at one point, but we all have to experience things to learn.” My father said, “but not everything is always how it seems, and people will turn their backs on you.” My father was reminiscing about the time where his best friend, that he knew since he was little, tried to shoot him because he was trying to leave the gang. Leaving the gang was one of the hardest things, because most people don’t make it out of the gangs. Most of the people that my father was in gangs with are either dead or in prison for the rest of their lives. My father expressed that after his experience he would recommend people not to join gangs. It’s hard for people to see other people’s perspectives, but that is how we learn lessons, without having to actually live them.

      I wrote about gangs for my community profile, because not many people know the ins and outs of gangs. Most people find gangs interesting and they are extremely intrigued by them. My community profile subject made my research paper more interesting to me, because he is my father, and he was heavily involved in gangs at a young age. While writing this paper I really learned how to take quotes and interpret them to how I understood them, it really takes readers into your own mind. As an ex-gang member, my father will always remember the hardships of gangs. Memories can come back from simple things, such as just being in Los Angeles. Gunshots have the biggest impact on him, because he’s heard them plenty of times. My father knows that people he loves are around gangs and he can’t do much about it and doesn't set well with him. He is a protector for the family and has gained so much street mentality from gangs. Finally getting out of the gang world is the biggest turning point in my father's life.

Not everyone has the courage to leave a brotherhood, or what people think is a brotherhood, they need help.Young teens or even adults should not be involved in gangs and violence. The globalization of gangs has made kids think it is the cool thing to be apart of. People will not get rid of gangs by themselves, programs and other people like my father need to step in. Famous people who have made it out of gangs such as Nipsey Hussle have contributed to their community. Keeping young people off the streets with music and sports is one of the main keys on how to prevent young kids from joining in the first place. All it takes is to help one person at a time and then we can help groups at a time. Showing communities that it is better to not join that environment will help society as a whole. The gang world is not made for everyone, and only some survive. It may not be easy to prevent people from joining gangs, but it is something we can do to keep communities all over the world safe. 

 

Work Cited

Papachristos, Andrew. “Gang World.”  Apr. 2005.

“Turf Wars; Gang Violence.” The Economist; London Vol. 402. Iss 8770. 4 Feb. 2012.

Brown, Gregory. “The Ghettoization of Blacks in Los Angeles: The Emergence of Street Gangs.” 1 Apr. 2012.

Cosh, Jackie. “Gang Mentality.” Mental Health Today.

“Gang violence: Too High a Price to Pay.”  Trustee. Health Forum. Integris Health, Oklahoma City. March 2005.

Mycek, Shari. “Gang Violence.” Trustee. Mar97, Vol 50 Issue 3. 

 

Aftermath of A Tragedy: Effects of Strokes on Physical and Mental Health - Complete Essay - Ulises Aguirre - English 110

 

Ulises Aguirre

Professor Lewenstein

English 110

13 December 2019

 

Aftermath of A Tragedy: Effects of Strokes on Physical and Mental Health

Figure 1: The thalamus controls a big part of how our bodies function and respond to the world around us (chiariproject.org).

My father was always a very active and hard working person. After his 4 a.m. shifts at work, he would come home and repair anything that needed repair at our house. He worked as a handyman as a side job. He would sometimes wake up very early to go for runs on his days off. Everything changed one day when he came home complaining about some leg pains. He had never left work early before, especially not because he wasn’t feeling well. He had to be taken to the emergency room not much time after that. There, they informed him that it was a stroke. A spinal stroke to be specific; a very rare type of stroke. He was immediately transferred to another hospital in Palm Springs. There, the doctors told my mom he had to have surgery, otherwise he might never walk again. Things were never the same after the surgery. Besides the fact that both my parents stayed in Palm Springs for an entire month, my home now had to be accommodated for my father’s new condition. Our household had also lost a source of income and stress to pay the bills on time rose.

At first he was in a wheelchair for what felt like forever. He was, and still is, especially frustrated by the new adjustments. We have had conversations in which he has shared his anger and frustration toward his situation. He must now depend on others just to get by. He went from being an active person to one who constantly needs rest. It feels as though he has become an entirely different person.

Ruben Aguirre had always been a very active man. He was always working to care for his family in more ways than just economics. If there was something broken at home he would repair it. If his kids needed help with something he would assist them. He strived to give his family the best life he could possibly give them. When he suffered from his spinal stroke, everything changed. He could no longer work to sustain his family. In addition, he could no longer fully care for himself anymore, let alone his entire family. This led to many other mental health issues. After surgery, he was hospitalized for a month, where he began his physical therapy. He continued his physical therapy when he returned home. He knew that it would be a hard and emotional process but he charged forward with the support of his family. Although he knew the process would be very extraneous, he was motivated.  He wanted to show his children that even though he was faced with a very difficult challenge, he would not stop. He would keep working through the adversity and, therefore, show them that they needed to be strong. Throughout the pain-staking process, Ruben always kept his positivity up. It was the only way to get through it. Everyday he would exercise his legs trying to better his condition. He would always crack jokes to his family about his condition so they would not worry too much about him. “Whenever I felt the lowest was when I would try my hardest to assure my family that they had nothing to worry about.” Some days. However, he would let the frustration and depression get the best of him. He would lash out at his family by being rude and starting arguments. He transitioned from being an individual who did not really need to depend on anyone, to being someone who needed to fully depend on others for even his basic needs.

Figure 2: There is one area in which healthcare is failing and that is recognizing and treating the psychological and emotional impact of stroke (2020health's Blog).

What are the effects of strokes on a person’s daily life and is there a treatment? Many don’t know what a stroke is or its effects, much less treatment. People may be more prepared for treating a stroke and knowledgeable about how to help prevent it if they were informed on how to do so. People’s ignorance towards stroke treatment makes the effects worse. It is often believed that strokes are not preventable and those who suffer from them do not survive. Mental illnesses are an effect of strokes and they can be prevented by leading an overall healthy lifestyle. Informing the public about the topic and how it affects the sufferer; as well as treatment is the only way something can be done to remedy the situation.

The article “The Daily Impact of Stroke” explains the effects a stroke has on daily living for both the patient and those around them. These patients’ cognitive and physical functions are not the only things affected; it extends further than just that. As a result of a stroke, patients become dependent on others for daily activities, even self-care. This includes grooming, dressing and many other activities. Besides the physical difficulties, patients also have to deal with the burden of dealing with a messed up mental and emotional state. This is because they can’t fathom why this would happen to them. Recovery is an extensive process and everyone heals at their own pace. Stroke patients must deal with much more than surviving the stroke. There is a lot in the aftermath of a stroke that no one really knows about. No one finds out what the patient is feeling or how they are inside.  Strokes not only affect a person’s day-to-day activities, but also their mental and emotional states. It also affects those around them. Patients aren’t the only ones who must deal with the aftermath of the situation. Friends and family who help them must also face the reality that their loved one has now become dependent. In a way, it is almost as if they had gained a child to care for: “They may be very fearful or angry and have no control over their emotions, which leads to inappropriate behavior.” Patients must deal with the emotional trauma of a stroke, as well as those who care for them. They will never really understand what happened to them.

My dad usually spends his evenings in the living room watching TV. This particular evening, I asked him if he could answer some questions for me about his stroke. We got some coffee and turned the TV down. I sat on the couch next to him and we got to talking. He had his medicine bag on the coffee table in between us, as he always does. “I think the most shocking thing has been the lack of independence,” he stated. He has gone from doing his own laundry, making his own food, and cleaning his own room to everything being done for him. “The most difficult thing I have experienced after the stroke is boredom,” he chuckled, “but in all seriousness, it is very frustrating not having the same mobility as before.” Since his mobility had been limited, this meant that he could no longer participate in the same activities as he could before. He could no longer carry out the activities he enjoyed doing. He could no longer work and, as a result, could not provide much for his family. Although there have been many negative contributors to this situation, Ruben says, “There has been one good thing to come out of this unfortunate situation: I have learned to appreciate those around me a lot more.” Before the ailment, he would take advantage of everything he had. He would take advantage, not only of the support and love of those closest to him, but also the mobility to do whatever he needed and wanted to do at whatever time he wanted. The stroke has also taken its toll on his mental and emotional states of mind. He explains that it is difficult to not fall back down into depression when you can’t really leave the house or do anything. All he can think about is all the things he could be doing if he were well. He is grieving the life he knew so well. Along with these feelings of sadness and grief, of course, came anger, confusion, and, most of all, frustration. When something like this happens to someone, it is difficult to understand why this has happened to them. Out of the billions of people it could have happened to, it happened to them. This often times is very confusing and angering for most. They cannot wrap their head around the sudden and abrupt changes occuring in their lives. Everything is suddenly different. “Be patient and surround yourself with those who love you.” That would be Ruben’s advice for others going through similar situations as his. He believes that this is not a time for stroke survivors to be isolated. It should be a time where they work hard to spread love and positivity to everyone. If someone decides to go through adversity alone, they will most likely not advance very much. They need to gain strength from those around them. They will discover a strength inside them they never knew they had before.

 

Our household was now also lost all sources of income. My mom also had to quit her job so she could care for my dad. We fully depended on what the government gave my dad. My dad and I have had conversations in which he has shared his anger and frustration toward his situation. He must now depend on others. He went from being an active person to one who constantly needs rest. It feels as though he has become an entirely different person.  Although I did have some notion of what my father lived through, I did learn some new things.  At first I thought that all stroke survivors lived. However after some research, I learned that not all do. My dad has told me of the emotional toll that this whole experience has taken on him. It correlates with what many articles say: strokes affect mental health, not just physical. There are thousands of people who suffer from this every year. There might be another person in the room that might have gone through that as well. Next time I encounter someone who has experienced something similar to my father, I know how difficult life was and might still be for them. I know to be considerate of them for what they have undergone. They are survivors and warriors.

Works Cited

Brasier, Catherine, and Chantal Ski. “Stroke Survivors and Their Carers Often Have Poor Mental Health.” Medical Xpress - Medical Research Advances and Health News. Medical Xpress. Web. 28 July 2017.

Caswell, Jon. “Something's Different: Personality Changes After Stroke.” Stroke Connection Magazine. Stroke Association. Web.

“Common Side Effects of Stroke Medications.” Stroke Connection Magazine. Stroke Association. Web.

Ellin, Simone. "IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH." Baltimore Jewish Times. Mar 21 2014: 24-7. Web. 2 Nov. 2019.

Jyothi, B. "Treating a Stroke in Time Saves Nine Million Neurons." BioSpectrum. Oct 29 2018 Web. 2 Nov. 2019.

Smith, Ryan. "Healthy Teen Alastair Hit by Spinal Stroke on Hols: Brave Boy, 13, Woke Paralysed Ulster Region]." The Daily Mirror. Jul 11 2016: 21. Web. 2 Nov. 2019.

Secret Energy Tattoo - Complete Visual Analysis Essay by Mildred Renteria - English 110

 

Mildred Renteria

Professor Lewenstein

ENG 110

5 October 2019

 

Secret Energy Tattoo

Have you ever walked into a public place and notice anybody that doesn’t have at least one tattoo showing?  I even see this on employees who work at cash registers. I thought tattoos were unprofessional?  Times have really changed. Especially in the professional/ business field. I see important businessmen/women with so many tattoos on their body; it even makes me question how did they got the job? But, what matters is what goes on inside a person? Right? Anyway, tattoos have become so common now, even old people don’t mind them anymore. They have been and still are considered an art form. Every tattoo becomes a story and an interpretation of a person’t life.

On this tattoo, the first thing I see is how soft the female’s skin looks with the tattoo placed on the left side of her torso next to her left breast. It must have been painful getting that tattoo there. Although there are many meanings behind a flower tattoo, I believe this young lady got it because flowers can symbolize love, desire, and secrecy or confidentiality. For instance, the skin around a female’s chest is sensitive and delicate. This automatically catches the attention of a person who is always checking out ladies. I automatically see soft pastel colors. A few of the flowers are pastel pink, while the middle of the flower is yellow mixed with dandelion and pastel yellow. There are also a few green leaves that guide the viewer’s eye to the soft flowers.  From  the colors that were chosen, I suspect this person didn’t want to bring a lot of attention to her side boob.   I think this person chose flowers as her main focus because flowers represent growth. Maybe she was going through a difficult time in her life and overcame her problems, so she got that tattoo to be reminded of how strong and brave she is. It is also located in a place where it is covered most of the time unless she would be hanging out by the beach or at a party where she would wear something more revealing. 

I believe the message the tattoo is trying to send is that by getting a flower tattoo on areas of your body parts that are private are seen as delicate as a flower petal. The target audience is for people who are closest to the person wearing it. Including a romantic partner who sees it all. This creates a small circle of people who she considers trustworthy, maybe it’s the same people who she confesses her problems and deepest thoughts to. This creates mysterious yet secretive energy for the people who don’t get to see it until you build a relationship with the person. 

 

 

Cancer In Young Patients: What Goes On Behind The Curtain - Complete Essay - by Fernanda GomezLlanos - English 110

 

Fernanda Gomezllanos

English 110

Professor Jay Lewenstein

11 December 2019

Cancer In Young Patients: What Goes On Behind The Curtain

When I was sick, I had little days to be at home between hospital stays, but were mostly interrupted every three days. Doctor’s order was that every three days I had to go to a laboratory and get my blood drawn. The laboratory would send my result to my doctor and then he would give me a call and tell me if I came out fine or if there was a detail and needed to get fast to the hospital. So it became a routine; I still have scars on my arm from all the times I was pinched with a needle. Going to the laboratory was pretty boring. I had to get up early, which was a big buzz to me because all I wanted to do was rest. Once I got there, even though it was early, the waiting room was almost full every time. I never saw the same people. Most of them were old people. But one time I saw a little boy, he is two years old and his name is Iker. Iker was accompanied by his mom. I was so intrigued by him because I love kids and he was bald. I remember him just staring at me because I was doing faces so he would laugh. He was eating spaghetti with his hands. Weeks later my mom and Iker’s dad were talking outside the laboratory. My mom told me that Iker’s dad explained that he recognized her from the hospital and that Iker was a patient on the same floor as me. He told my mom that even though he is going through a very tough disease, Iker is a very happy little boy and loves eating. That is something that I want to highlight because whenever I was in treatment I couldn’t eat. About a month later, I was having lunch with my mom and grandma at Olive Garden. My mom went to the restroom and when she came back she told me that she saw Iker with her mom eating spaghetti. I think spaghetti is Iker’s favorite food. I have not seen him since then because I’m not a patient at the hospital anymore, but I hope that pretty kid is feeling good and healthy.

I have the pleasure to know someone who knows cancer very closely. Not herself, but someone very close to her suffered from it. Diana is the oldest child of four. Since she was a little girl, she had the most responsibilities in her home. Her parents were often out of the house. So she had to learn to cook and do other things around the house to take care of herself and her siblings. Diana is now a mother. Her daughter was diagnosed with cancer. So she and her husband reacted rapidly to what they can do to save their child's life. But her daughter is not their only child. She had to find a way to take care of her sick daughter, taking her to doctor's appointments, driving her to the hospital to get treatment, and staying with her while her husband worked. And at the same time, she had to take care of her other two kids, who are young. After all she does Diana is tired. But she had to keep going for the sake of her family. And after all she has done, finally, her daughter is fine and sickness free. I think because Diana was taught a great responsibility since she was a young girl, she is used to taking care of others in her family and the happiness of those others is her battery and strength to keep going. Her most positive qualities are that she can take anything. She can make something bad workout at the end of the product. No matter how tired she is, she will keep going. But her weaknesses are a reflection of her strengths. Because of all that she does, she is constantly tired and can get mad pretty easy. She is sensitive to comments about how she runs her unstoppable life. People tell her to calm, to slow down, but she cannot do that. Her family is everything to her. Diana is one of the many mothers who are so strong, fierce, and brave against the great battle of cancer.

Along this research, I always find myself wondering this question. Why do so many children suffer from cancer? For starters cancer is already a really bad and painful thing to go through, but as a child must be worse. Treatment is very expensive and families whose children have cancer can't afford treatment. I want to understand the process from diagnosis to end of treatment. I sympathize with what those young children are going through and what their parents are feeling. I found that there are many different types of treatment, from chemotherapy, radiation, to surgery. Children who suffer from cancer and their parents can be subject to depression or anxiety (Jie Chen 1). Cancer can be transmitted by genes or just happen out of the blue. In some cases, doctors and experts do not know why a child who all his life has been healthy can come up with cancer. If cancer genes run in your family there is no way to prevent cancer, but you can detect it on time. By detecting on time it can be less aggressive. But if cancer does not run in your family, it is important to get yearly check-ups.

The article "Music Relevance for Pediatric Cancer Patients”, by Jie Chen, Yang Liu, and many other authors. Conveys the importance of music in most children’s lives. To the advance of pediatric supportive care, it is helpful to understand those young cancer patients with cancer thoughts on music (par 3). Music therapy can be associated to alleviate children’s distress. Many positive effects can be seen from music and carry over into children’s homes to help support their families. I agree with this article. Music does help you battle whatever you are going through. I find music to be therapeutic. Music is vital in children's life. It is important to understand what those kids think about music. It is known that music therapy can help young children with what they are going through. Music has very positive effects on children's lives. The fact that music can help young kids stay away from depression or anxiety while going through a hard thing like cancer is amazing. "Broader family, social, and electronic musical interactions also promote children's resilience and "normal" development” (par 28). No matter who you are, no matter where you are. If you have music with you, you can be anything you want. I think that normalcy this article talks about is the comfort and peace music can give.

I have a close experience with cancer when I was younger. So I wanted to interview someone that I met during that time. I met Kelsey on the very first day of my treatment at the hospital. I remember how I felt like I was not supposed to be there; everything around me was new images to my brain. Before that, I have never been to a hospital, except when I was born of course. But really, never had I been a patient. Yes, I had visited family and friends, but being a patient and doing everything in a hospital room is very different. It is a different environment from what I was used to. I had to sleep in a hard not so comfortable bed, eat (only sometimes) food I didn’t like from the hospital kitchen, had to shower in the plain floor and just a curtain separating me from the toilet, but sometimes I would get a different room that did have a normal shower. The point is, I felt like a tourist in a country I did not want to be.

I had met a couple of nurses from the night before, but when I met Kelsey I knew our relationship was going to be different. It was like an instant friendship. I felt I could tell her everything. She would tell me stories about her life, and we would talk about movies longer than she was supposed to stay in my room. Every day the hospital nurses have different patients to take care of. But Kelsey changed her schedule with the other nurses so she could have me for the most days she possibly could. Every time I look back and remember Kelsey, I see her black glasses and her daily slick ponytail. She also always wore some funny big shoes that look like they are for dancing. “They are called Dansko shoes actually, and they are very very comfortable, even though they look tough and big.” Kelsey commented when I asked her about the funny shoes she wears. I did my research on them. If I had to describe them I would say they seem heavy, oddly shaped, and are not very aesthetically charming. I found that nursing professionals have a higher chance of developing musculoskeletal disorders due to daily activities. And the Dansko shoes are produced with comfort materials and supportive features that help reduce pressure points when nurses are working on their feet all day.

Kelsey has seen many patients come and go, it is part of her ritual now, but something that stands out to her is the strength the kids have. “You would not believe the things these kids go through, it is rough.” She commented. “I don’t know where they get all that. If it were me in their place, I do not know how to handle it as they do.” She said about her experience in working with kids. “Sometimes I have to wake them up after 12 to draw some blood and give them their pills, and they wake up, even though they are tired.” Kelsey added. “I don’t believe, for one second, that I made a wrong choice career. I love what I do. Coming here (hospital) every day and get the chance of changing someone’s life is extraordinary. I wouldn’t change it for the world.” She told me while talking about her career and if she would have liked being another thing other than a nurse. “It is hard getting here I’m not going to lie, but everything is worth it at the end of the day” Kelsey expressed. Every day she and other nurses go and help is a blessing. When a kid finally gets to go home, that is their purpose.

Figure 2 Child Life Playroom. Taken from (https://www.brennerchildrens.org/)

A young kid with cancer can mentally be affected by the events and experiences he is facing. They can be traumatized, and they can even block some of the things that made them suffer during their treatment. Families can suffer a big depression as well. It is important to stay positive around the child. But being sick does not mean they are sad all the time. There is little happiness everywhere around. Like Iker, the boy I met. He is so small and young, and the thing that he enjoys the most is eating. He found his little happiness in that. Other young patients experience happiness and joy by playing board games or solving puzzles. Hospitals specialized for kids usually have playrooms were they can go and enjoy some time. A volunteer can help bring them what they want if for some reason they are not feeling well. I was always one of the persons who when paying something in a store and asked about if I wanted to donate a dollar to a children's cancer foundation I said no. Because you do not know what really is to be in that position, so you do not care. You do not know anyone who is in that position, so why not save some bucks. That mentality has to change now. Kids are dying all around the world because there is not enough help. It is time to open our eyes to reality and see what is going on, even in our country. Families struggle every day. Maybe because the insurance company did not accept them, or because it does not cover certain things. Cancer is expensive. We need to start putting our little grain of sand in the world. There are many ways to help, you just need to find the right one.

Works Cited

"Cancer; Investigators from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Release New Data on Cancer (Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Neurocognitive, Emotional, and Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report from the Childhood Cancer ...)." Pediatrics Week, Aug 24, 2019, pp. 273. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/2277101988? accountid=38876.

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Slab City: The Last Free Place in America - by Lemec Torres - English 110

In our reading of The Tortilla Curtain in English 110, we follow the plight of two desperate Mexican immigrants who seek a better life for themselves in the Topanga Canyon area of Los Angeles. From the beginning of the novel, it’s abundantly clear whatever these two envisioned coming north isn’t going to happen.  Because of their race and/or level of poverty, it will be difficult for them to ever get ahead.  In fact, things only get worse.  They don’t have the money to pay for a roof over their heads. They suffer from hunger, violence.  Fire!   We all ask ourselves, how are they able to keep going forward.  Why don’t they ever give up?

For her community profile, Lemec chose to write about another resilient group.  She went north to Slab City to find a community with its own American Dream.  The residents there are the homeless, broken, and unfortunate.  They live with what they need.  Little more.  In her essay, she examines Man’s belief and faith.  She subscribes to the theory, “God is Love.”

To read Lemec's complete essay, please CLICK on the following link:

https://www.ivcborderline.org/2018/07/slab-city-the-last-free-place-in-america-complete-essay-by-lemec-torres-english-110.html

To learn more about the "real" Slab City, please CLICK on the following video: