vc voices 2012 - Ventura College

Transcription

VC
V OICES
2012
AN ANTHOLOGY
STUDENT WORK
| VENTURA
COLLEGEWORK
1
AN ANTHOLOGY
OFOF
VENTURA
COLLEGE
STUDENT
PREFACE
The 2011-2012 school year has been a dramatic one at Ventura College. Amidst
budget cuts, enrollment limitations, returning veterans, general economic stresses,
and important new television shows like The Cupcake Wars, VC English students wrote
diligently, and this issue of VC Voices is the result.
Each year, we invite students from all classes and levels of our English curriculum to
submit their best writing for possible publication in VC Voices. A panel of English faculty
reads each submission, from which all names have been removed, and votes are tallied
to select the winners. We think you will find this issue of VC Voices, the eleventh since
its inception, to represent many talented voices.
Each year, this publication is used in numerous English classes as a supplementary
textbook, and we invite instructors from other disciplines to use it as well to provide
models of good research, solid reasoning, and consistent style. Students enjoy seeing
the success and creativity of their peers and will be inspired to see what they, too, can
achieve in writing.
We would like to thank students of the Ventura College art department for creating
the artwork featured throughout this anthology. Also, special thanks Dina Pielaet for
artwork photography and publication design. Appreciation is also due to Professor Amy
Madsen for her generous editing assistance. We are grateful to student Patricia Keller,
who kindly helped with the organization of the submissions. Finally, we would like to
thank all the instructors who encouraged their students to submit work and to the
family and friends who supported their efforts.
As Erasmus, Renaissance humanist and scholar, famously declared, “Literature makes
us human.” VC Voices and the VC English department faculty heartily concur. Keep
reading, keep thinking, and keep writing!.
Sharon Beynon
Amanda Enfield
Jenna Garcia
Kelly Peinado
Editors
AN ANTHOLOGY OF STUDENT WORK | VENTURA COLLEGE
3
JUDGES
WRITERS T.O .C.
Heather Aguailar
Gabriel Arquilevich
Sharon Beynon
Amanda Enfield
Jenna Garcia
Sumita Lall
Henny Kim
Sheryl Leonard
Eric Martinson
Kelly Peinado
Jaclyn Walker
Ann Wolfe
ARTISTS
English 1A
Brian Byman
Texas Redemption
English 2
Ashley Nichols
Diminished Capacity Defense
4
Marlo Gaston
Love Portrayed in the Media
Martin Fagin
How to See a Chicana Role Model
1
Kat Lisowska
A Bespectacled Blonde in Pink: From Cultural
Confusion to a Media Sterotype 1
Briana Figlio
Indiscriminate Welcome Mat
1
Tatianna Warwick
Education: Privilege, Right,
or Incomparable Opportunity
1
Jaime Asperin
The Situation 1
VC Voices would like to thank Bob Moscowitz and the Ventura College student
artists whose work appears throughout this publication. All student artists were
selected to participate in the Annual Student Art Competition and Exhibition.
Adan Jonathan Olid
The Blame Game 1
English 1B
Daniel Okonek
Kurtz as the “Ubermensch”
2012 VC Voices
Joel Ceja
Strawberry in the Sand
1
Gabriela Olivares
I Told you So 1
1
Amanda Sandez
Why the Fuss over Reality TV:
Truth Is... 1
Giovani Bautista
An Unforgettable Memory 1
Nature’s Law, Not Men’s Decision
Starr Madrid
Walking on the Beach
Shaza Aldaoud
Tranquil Mountains
1
Kevin Keebler
Walking with Memories
4
1
1
1
Jonathan Sixtos
Diversity in Rap 1
1
Jacquelin Arroyo
Uglypuss the Great
Sirvontré Ingram
Two Historical Leaders
1
English 3 & 4
Matthew Casas
The Metamorphosed Metaphor
of the Phoenix 1
Hanna Mitchell
First Confessions
Sara Edwards
How Dance is Part of Me
1
Esteban Sanchez
Hype it Up! 1
When the Bubble Pops, Education
Drops 1
Cassie Lundgren
Examining the Appearance of Love through
Feminine Silence in “The Story of an Hour,” A
Doll’s House, and Trifles 1
Cubic Sculpture by Ermelinda Bendy
1
1
1
5
ENGLISH 1A
Brian Byman
Texas Redemption
v
In the summer of 2008 I was employed by a couple of wealthy businessmen as
their project manager for a landscape installation company. The two owners of LIG
(Landscape Installation Group) went by the names of Mike and Lenny. Mike, a retired
NHL player, was very hard to communicate with. He was a short, mean, spray tan
wearing, Danny Devito look-alike. His hair looked as if he’d lost a long battle with a
pair of dull clippers, not to mention his sideburns were scalped to the skull. I would
rather French kiss a rattlesnake than spend more than five minutes with Mike. Lenny,
however, was the complete opposite of Mike: funny, easy going and a really cool boss.
He was the type of guy that would invite you to a concert and pay for everything. Lenny
was tall, round and childlike in appearance; you wouldn’t be far off to call him Shrek.
Little did I know how a shot-in-the-dark proposal and the consent of these two men
would impact my life and those of two very lucky strangers.
I was working on a colossal three-month waterfall project for LIG worth 2.4 million
dollars. This project consisted of ground cover, planting three hundred Red Oaks and
Eastern Red Cedars, digging two retention ponds with an 80ft wide waterfall that
connected the two ponds, and more boulder work than any of us cared to handle. My
crew of forty-four hard working laborers worked at a pace that even the Romans would
have noticed. Everyone on the job site from general contractors to crew foremen
took notice of our efficient methods and unflagging work ethic. After two long Texas
summer months my crew managed to get a week or two ahead of schedule, which
delighted Mike. So I approached him with a brilliant idea: that I and the other two
project managers should take a weekend trip to a south Texas river for waterfall and
rock formation designs. I was standing there drenched in sweat from the day’s work
expecting a very swift and harsh refusal from Mr. Oompa Loompa himself. Much to
my astonishment, he thought it was a splendid idea. The magnanimous donkey even
offered to pay for the adventure. We were river bound and down!
The following Friday Big Casey, Lil Casey, and I were on our way to the Guadalupe River.
Big Casey or B.C. as I liked to call him, was a grizzly bear of a man who stood around
6’4” and was built like a freight train. His voice was deeper than rolling thunder in
the Hill country. Looking at B.C. you would never fathom how gentle, calm, and just
how nice he really was. “Never judge a book by its cover,” I always try to tell myself.
6
2012 VC Voices
Lil Casey or L.C, on the other hand, was a tall, wiry and very quiet individual who kept
to himself for the most part and I assumed that’s why Mike insisted he come along.
I didn’t care much for L.C. when I first met him but that was short-lived. As we started
our journey down south I started to tell past river stories and it really set the tone for
an entertaining three-hour drive.
Now, the Guadalupe River has been a huge part of my life. Ever since I was old enough
to get the hell out of town, I would retreat to this glorious bikini-filled river. Once or
twice a year my friends and I pile into Camp Huaco where unspoken debauchery and
mortality-testing events unfold nightly. But aside from all the sinfulness, Camp Waco is
a beautiful natural sight with enormous Cypress trees that reach to the sky, wonderful
wading pools that are always full of laughing campers and tall bat-filled canyon walls.
And of course there’s my personal favorite lounging spot, Party Rock, a boulder in the
middle of the river, large enough to hold ten to fifteen people, surrounded by hundreds
of passing tubers bejeweled with bikini-wearing beauties-- it’s sheer greatness!
All the way in the back of the camp is a peninsula that reaches out into the river where
a beautiful 5ft waterfall turns into 200 yards of rapids. At that spot a couple of crazy
buddies and I honed the art of rapid swimming. Rapid swimming is when you strap
yourself in a good life vest, dive in, and let the power of the water have its way with
you. We would usually pop out a half mile down river, hike back, and do it again.
This extremely foolish event took place each year on my birthday for some not so
strange reason.
We weren’t thirty minutes on the road when the beautiful baby blue Texas sky started
to swirl and morph into an angry grey and black beast. The wind turned cold and blew
with enough force to push the full size white Silverado all over the lane. The sky with
its wrathful antics, enraged at the dry flat countryside, let out a thunderous boom.
Almost instantly Mother Nature and all her ferocity exploded on us. The torrential
down pour was so extreme that we contemplated turning around and ending our
expedition. With the thoughts of abandonment looming around the cab of the truck, I
enlightened my fellow Texan driver about the possibility of just partying at a local bar
off the river. Everyone was totally on board with the idea, especially L.C., who at first
glance appeared never to have participated in a party in his entire life.
As we drove south on Hwy 35 just past Austin the clouds began to retire their swirling
grayish-black colors. The wind became obsolete and as quickly as the storm had
manifested, the storm vanished. I couldn’t help thinking to myself how the weather
might have affected the river; I knew it wouldn’t be good. But with the change in the
weather came a change in our attitude. When we finally made it to town we promptly
checked into our hotel and made an executive decision to skip work and go to my
7
ENGLISH 1A
of an enraged river. The river tossed, pulled, and swallowed the man several times. He
didn’t have much time, if any at all. I imagine he knew he was in trouble the moment
the river claimed him.
The Ice House is a local spot where on any given night Willy Nelson or Wu Tang could be
jamming on the huge Texas flag stage. This bar is a hot spot for bikers, college students,
river rats, and cowgirls, with no dress code enforced. No shirt, no shoes, no worries.
After a full night of drinking, dancing, and debauchery, we were forced to leave our
watering hole and retire.
All I remember is B.C. yelling, “Brian, get’em!” At the river’s edge, I made a tough
judgment call to go after the father first. He had only seconds left-with no flotation
device he was drowning in front of our eyes. However, the child, with the help of his arm
floaties, seemed to stay on top of the water. I stood at the river edge waiting for them
to get a bit closer and with a well-executed dive, I, too, was in the dark, cold, raging
rapids. My only thought was, “Damn, I’m going to drown with these poor strangers.”
But that only fueled a fire that no water could extinguish. With a few powerful strokes
and the awesome power of the water, I reached the panic-stricken man in no time at
all. I knew from the life saving classes that I took as a young man that if he took hold of
me we would drown for sure. So with a deep breath I dove with the current underneath
the helpless rag doll and grabbed him by the swim trunks. About the same time I took
hold of him I twisted my body and came in contact with a submerged boulder. With all
my strength and the help of a guardian angel that was a rock, I was able to push off the
boulder and launch the half dead man to calmer water where my two comrades pulled
him safely from the cypress roots he desperately clung to.
{Brian Byman ~ Texas Redemption con’t}
favorite bar right up the street from the river.
The next morning, after Gatorade, Advil, coffee and a long goodbye to my acquired
guest, we were river bound. We were a few blocks away from the area where I wanted
to shoot my pictures when we noticed flooding on the street. Not a hopeful start. It
was no surprise when we came to the first bridge and it was underwater. B.C pulled
over to a tube rental stand and the striking young lady working there told us that the
river was closed, even for guided river trips. Not even the kayakers were partaking in
the powerful violence of the water. At that moment I knew we weren’t getting the
photos; there were no falls to shoot, just high raging water.
Now most folks may have packed up and high- tailed it home. But not us! We waited
for the appropriate alcohol buying time, stocked up, and headed for my beloved
campgrounds. I again thought to myself, “Man, I hope it’s not underwater.”
When we arrived at the campgrounds it was completely deserted, mud covered, and the
river had a violent unforgiving nature. The Texas clay was so bad B.C. had to use four-wheel
drive just to make it through the entrance. The truck slipped and slid all over the small
campground road. I took one look around and almost didn’t recognize my camp of old.
The water level looked as if it rose over ten feet high, Party Rock was totally submerged,
the mountain peak-like roots of the Cypress trees were completely underwater, and the
river front campsites were 2-3feet deep. When we made it to our drinking spot, B.C.
dropped the tailgate and we started doing what we Texans do on rivers.
We were roughly two hours into our river binge with “Simple Man” jamming on the
radio when I heard the words that changed my life. B.C. yelled, “Brian, is that a fucking
tube in the water?!” I no sooner turned to the river when I saw a pink capsized tube
traveling fast through the water. My first thought was that it probably had washed
out of some campsite up river. But before I could comment I saw a child no older than
eight wearing the classic bright orange arm floaties; the floaties seemed to be the
only reason he was still alive. The child was moving extremely fast through the white
water towards the falls and a certain cold death. That wasn’t the worst part of it. His
father, with no flotation device, wasn’t very far from his son, completely at the mercy
8
2012 VC Voices
With the drunkards helping the water logged man on the safety of the river bank, my
concentration was completely focused on the child who was traveling swiftly towards
what I call “the bad shit.” I knew that if I didn’t reach him he was turtle food for sure.
Flirting with death, I came to the conclusion I was not leaving the water without the
kid. Hell, I could think of worse ways to die. The river did most of the work for me but
I almost swam past the boy and into the jaws of the monster. The boy was in severe
shock and unable to hold on to me which made it impossible to swim in this sadistic
area of my beloved river. So I tried the same approach that worked on his pops. But
there were no boulders or river bottom to assist us, nothing but deep, mad water. With
time running out and death ever so close, the river gods offered me one last chance to
escape a watery demise. I felt the boulder slam into my legs and was able to spring off
it and toss the boy the same way I would throw my nephews in the pool. The child flew
through the air and landed in the root system of a cypress. It had to hurt but I know he
was relieved to be out of those rapids. I swam to the safety of the cypress tree not ten
yards from the point of no return and pulled the kid to shore.
Once on the shore a feeling of anger came over me. I wanted to yell at the man, “How
could you let this happen!? You should be ashamed of yourself!” But as he stumbled
up, spent and completely wiped out, he hugged his son. The man was ghost white and
his eyes were looking through me. All he could say was, “Thank you, God! Thank you
God! Thank you, God.” His exhausted son, still in shock, just gave me what I interpreted
9
{Brian Byman ~ Texas Redemption con’t}
ENGLISH 1A
as a “Thanks for saving our life” look. They didn’t ask my name. The two of them just
embraced, turned, and walked off, more than likely returning to a freaked-out mom.
With victory ours, Big Casey, Lil Casey and I decided sheer debauchery was the method
in which we would celebrate. Back to The Ice House… After all, it’s all on Mike.
Ariana Mendoza
Mediterranean Hills, ceramics
Marlo Gaston
Love Portrayed in the Media
ENGLISH 1A
Most Americans today tend to believe that reality television is similar to an average
person’s reality. Common sense seems to dictate that a lot of what we see in reality
television is a cartoon version of a normal life. In discussions of how love is portrayed
in the media, one controversial issue has been if the love we see is genuine, or another
acting performance up for a wannabe academy award. On the one hand, some argue
that many of the problems seen on reality television can be related to normal people.
On the other hand, others maintain that it is all scripted and edited to appeal for
viewers. My own view is that each individual lives a different lifestyle than another,
and the portrayal of love in the media should not be held liable or relevant for normal
people in everyday situations. Many love to watch love stories unfold, and just like
a best-selling box office movie, there are always twists and turns until the princess
finds love and lives happily ever after. However, in reality shows, the story doesn’t
just end, we see life after happily ever after, and it’s not always a happy ending. The
hot topics of love stories in the media are love stories in reality television and the
dating shows for singles looking for love. So how is love being portrayed in the media?
When it comes to reality television, the first topic that is steadily in the public eye
is the recent marriage and divorce controversy between Kim Kardashian and Kris
Humphries. Celebrities, such as Kim and Kris, seem to live the fabulous life full of
glam, luxury, yet with a fast-paced schedule. It was fairly recent and quick that the
two had become an item in the public eye, given the fact that just less than a year
before “Kim and football player, Reggie Bush, ended their 3 year on and off again
relationship” (Serpe). According to E! Online news, “Kris popped the question on
May 18, 2011, to Kim, girlfriend of roughly six months” (Serpe). Being that younger
sister Khloe Kardashian married basketball player Lamar Odom 9 days after their
engagement, it was no shocker on the timing when Kris proposed, and Kim to plan
an extravagant wedding just a few months after their engagement. Even though
there were clear red flags between the couple when they had not dated for that
long, haven’t lived together yet, conflict within in-laws, planning the wedding, etc.,
but the engagement pressed forward as planned. The glamorous wedding took
place on August 20, 2011, less than a year of first dating. This Cinderella wedding
left viewers in awe of the gorgeous decorations, the princess wedding gown, and the
beautiful reception; one would easily agree that these two appeared to be in love.
Timing of how a relationship plays out should be kept in mind when it comes to
spending costs. This is usually true for “normal” or “average” people. Yet, in the case
of the Kardashian and Humphries wedding, money didn’t seem like an issue. For only
10
2012 VC Voices
11
{MARLO GASTON ~ LOVE PORTRAYED IN THE MEDIA con’t}
ENGLISH 1A
having dated for a short amount of time, and marriage only lasting for 3 months, Kim
and Kris’ wedding costs would seem like they loved each other forever (or at least for
more than 3 months). What people don’t realize is that the couple actually made
more money that spent. Even though Kris’ “20.5 carats engagement ring to Kim was
$2 million he allegedly got at a steep discount. By comparison, her wedding band
cost a modest $200,000. $17.9 million was the amount Kardashian and Humphries
reportedly earned from the wedding, including a $2.5 million photo deal with People
magazine and the $12 million to $15 million the four-hour, two-part wedding special
pulled in for the Kardashian clan” (Kaufman). With these numbers, one could ask,
“Was this just another gig to make profit?”
In a personal survey (“How do you see love being portrayed in the media?”) with
Ventura locals, 10 out of 10 said that the media does not portray love in a positive
form. Businesswoman, a recent eligible bachelorette, Megan Frisbie, stated, “I think
it’s commercializing the idea of love. People still like a good love story with a happy
ending but now you need help finding love - hence the websites and shows. As for
the Kardashian wedding, that’s just completely mocking love. I believe true love still
exists but it’s harder to find because so many have values that have been corrupted
by society. People’s hearts shouldn’t be treated like a used car - can’t just trade them
in” (Frisbie). Frisbie surely is right about her analogy of divorce as trading in a used
car because, as she may not be aware, recent studies have shown that “for the past
decade, the overall American divorce rate has remained stable, at around 50% for first
marriages. The statistics become more depressing for each successive marriage, with
65% of second marriages ending in divorce and even higher rates for third marriages
and beyond” (“Divorce Statistics”). As stated before, these statistics prove to be very
depressing and leave little hope for a successful marriage.
At this point I would like to raise some objections that have been inspired by the skeptic
in me. My own view is that what Frisbie insists is a genuine concern how people perceive
commitment as having little value. Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be
interested to know that it basically boils down to a couple sincerely making a decision
to spend their lives together because they love each other. I agree that a lot of reality
shows, such as Keeping up with the Kardashian’s, gives false portrayals of actual love
and reality, because my experience of watching breaking news of an immediate break
up confirms it. I feel that barely living together after their marriage is one implication
of Kris and Kim’s divorce. Another implication as to why the marriage ended was the
lack of the “second stage in a romantic relationship. There are two distinct stages of a
romantic relationship. The first is the “falling in love,” or the infatuation phase... that
intense euphoria of attraction. The second phase is the “attachment” phase that is
12
2012 VC Voices
often less intense but much more comfortable and satisfying” (Jones). It was obvious
that the couple had an explosive start but consequently did not allow the spark to
grow. My discussion of the Kardashian wedding and divorce is in fact addressing the
larger matter of where can young viewers find guidance for love?
When reality television does not satisfy the needs of its viewers, one can simply
change the channel to any dating shows such as Tough Love, Why Am I Still Single?, The
Bachelor, Millionaire Matchmaker, etc. These shows are designed to address dating
issues as to why people (they have hand-picked) are still single. Basically, it’s to help fix
these “dating-challenged” individuals to become more successful in the dating world.
In the recent season of Tough Love Miami, love guru Steve Ward introduces a selective
group of women, which he has each given nicknames on the show for their individual
problems: “Miss Delusional, Miss Desperate, Miss Body Issues” (“About Tough”), etc.
Through series of blind dates and the promise of 1 out of so and so eligible suitors is
the one for you. As the season progresses, issues are being brought up and resolved in
a matter of an hour episode. But are all of these issues relevant to everyday people?
Can all the issues be presented and resolved within that hour on the air? This shows
no REAL representation of REAL relationships.
In the same survey as mentioned before (“How do you see love being portrayed in
the media?”), high school friend Vita Sonders, asserted her thoughts, “I think there
is especially a lot of pressure put on women to feel they need to be married by a
certain age, have kids by a certain age, etc. There’s a stigma surrounded by a woman
who is single and let’s say 40, regardless of how successful/happy she is, there is still
a pressure from society that she SHOULD be married or at least have a kid. I think all
of the things you listed are some way tied to that idea (especially Tough Love) that
for both men and women, it’s not ok to be single and that EVERYONE wants to get
married eventually. I don’t think that’s true, I think that it’s just a traditionally view that
people are still trying to hold on to despite what they actually want and what works
best for their lifestyle” (Sonders). I agree that there is a pressure from society that
everyone should be married or at least have a kid, a point that needs emphasizing since
so many people believe that if one does not obtain a family then they have failed in
their life. Sonders theory of a stigma for women (and men) to eventually get married
is extremely useful because it sheds insight on the difficult problem how “love” in the
media is shedding influence of commercialism in society.
If the claims that Frisbie and Sonders are right that the media portrays love in a negative
fashion, as I think they are, then we need to reassess the popular assumption that we can
rely on reality shows or dating shows for guidance. Sonders probably overlooked what
I consider an important point about these dating shows, and that’s the authenticity of
the show itself. Many of the people on these shows are too dramatic, superficial, and
13
{MARLO GASTON ~ LOVE PORTRAYED IN THE MEDIA con’t}
ENGLISH 1A
overall dysfunctional. One would safely ask if these individuals are genuine or putting
up a front because the camera is right in their face. The idea is to find hopelessly single
individuals who appear to be desperate, being that they have put themselves on a
television show to solve their problems, and put their issues on blast for everyone to
see. This leaves little room for privacy to develop a desired relationship. What would
appear to be normal dating situations on these dating shows are actually hyped up for
the sake of increase viewer ratings.
Ultimately, what is at stake here is holding value to reality and dating shows advice to
dating. My discussion of how love is portrayed in the media is in fact addressing the
larger matter of how to find love in our society. The portrayal of love in the media
should not be held accountable to assist in everyday situations with the average John
or Jane. Recent studies like these shed new light on the dating world, which previous
studies had not addressed. Although the influence of how love is seen in the media
may seem of concern to only a small group people who fantasize in these shows, it
should in fact concern anyone who cares about finding a loving and long lasting
relationship. Although none of them ever said so directly, my parents have often given
me the impression what love means. They have shown me that love is meant to be
shared between the pair, in the privacy of their own development, without comparison
to others, and blossom into prospering relationship. As stated before, everyone lives a
different way of life than the next person, so who are we to compare.
Works Cited
“About Tough Love Miami.” n.p. n.d. Web. 7 December 2011 www.vh1.com.
“Divorce Statistics in the USA.” n.d. Web. 1 December 2011www.divorceguide.com.
Frisbie, Megan. “How do you see love being portrayed in the media?”
Marlo Gaston. 6 December 2011. Interview.
Jones, Jennifer. “The Stages of Love: Infatuation and Attachment.” 17 January 2007. Web.
6 December 2011 www.theartofloveandintimacy.com.
Kaufman, Gil. “Kim Kardashian And Kris Humphries: By The Numbers.” 1 November 2011. Web.
1 December 2011 www.mtv.com.
Serpe, Gina. “Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries: Anatomy of an Engagement.” 25 May 2011.
Web.5 December 2011 www.eonline.com.
Sonders, Vita. “How do you see love is being portrayed in the media?“ Marlo Gaston. 6 December
2011. Interview.
14
2012 VC Voices
Linda Kennon
Quit While Your’e Ahead
Pencil Drawing
15
Katarzyna Lisowska
ENGLISH
A Bespectacled Blonde in Pink:
From Cultural Confusion to a Media Stereotype
1A
A popular children song claims that “It’s a small world after all” and indeed the world we
live in gets smaller and smaller every day. Latest technology innovations bring people
from different parts of the globe closer and closer. Although it seems that Internet,
television and satellites help us to get to understand each other better, Judith Ortiz
Cofer’s essay “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl called Maria” accurately
demonstrates that mixed cultural signals propagate numerous stereotypes of women,
often based on insignificant external traits.
Ortiz Cofer, Puerto Rico born author and poet, describes how popular and shallow
stereotypes of Latina woman affected her in her real life. She makes it painfully clear
that the way people, especially men, perceive women is based on first glimpse,
superficial judgment, and the ideas they were trained to believe in. Although Ortiz
Cofer and I were raised in two cultures worlds apart from each other, the examples
she brings to the table strike a familiar note. I am convinced that, in my life, I have
witnessed or even experienced the situation comparable to those depicted by the
author. First, Ortiz Cofer observe how often minor and meaningless accessories as
“jingling bracelets” are misinterpreted as an encouragement for sexual advances (5).
The same adornment exposed in a store window would have never instigated thoughts
of this kind. Hung on a slim wrist, against brown, fresh skin, bracelets get confused as
a “come-on” (5). According to Ortiz Cofer, clothes seem to set off equally confusing
message. The author herself states:
When a Puerto Rican girl dressed in her idea of what is attractive meets a man from
the mainstream culture who has been trained to react to certain types of clothing as a
sexual signal, a clash is likely to take place (8).
Basically, Cofer Ortiz is saying that Puerto Rican and American cultures carry totally
conflicting image of the way a proper seniorita (or a decent girl) should dress, which
is one of the reasons Latin women get pigeonholed as “hot tamales” or “sexual
firebrands”(6). Later, the author makes the point that by promoting one dimensional
image of the Latin women media are responsible for perpetuating stereotypes that
Ortiz Cofer finds so unfair and superficial. Finally, the writer goes to explain the reasons
why Latinas image is so biased by claiming:
It is custom, however, not chromosomes that lead us to choose scarlet over pale pink.
As young girls, it was our mothers who influenced our decisions about clothes and
16
2012 VC Voices
colors – mothers who had grown up on a tropical island where the natural environment
was a riot of primary colors, where showing your skin was one way to keep cool as
well as look sexy. Most important of all, on the island, women (…) were protected by
traditions, mores, and laws of a Spanish/Catholic system of morality and machismo
whose main rule was: You may look at my sister, but if you touch her I will kill you (7).
In other words, the author believes that the Puerto Rican traditions might have worked
for her parents back on the island. However, transplanted to the new country, these
traditions complicate lives of the next generation born in the US. As a result, Ortiz Cofer
concludes with a sigh that “if you are a Latina (…), the island travels with you” (1).
Although “jingling bracelets” are completely out of my style, I try to compensate my
desire to accessorize by wearing well-framed eyeglasses. Though glasses seem to repel
men rather than attract them, I can wholeheartedly confirm that the stereotype of a
bespectacled woman is running as strong as its Latin equivalent. In popular perception,
women with glasses are supposed to be plain ugly. Reaching for an example from
mass media, Ugly Betty comes to mind. In this popular TV show, the main character
played by beautiful America Ferreira is made unattractive simply by putting a pair of
black framed, slightly oversized glasses. Other common practice in movies is showing
a character’s makeover from an ugly duckling to a beauty, by simply taking a pair
of horrible glasses off actress’s nose. In the classic 1995 version of fairy-tale classic
Sabrina, the main character played by Julia Ormond evolves from a shy, unattractive,
bespectacled chauffeur’s daughter to a confident, contacts wearing beauty who wins
Harrison Ford’s heart in the concluding scene. Quite popular is belief that women
wearing glasses are smarter than the ones who are blessed with perfect vision. Take
the case of Vilma Dinkley, a Scooby-Doo character who is a brain behind any action
but she wears tacky sweat shirts, has nerdy habits and shows the tendency of being
socially awkward. Summarizing, the image of bespectacled, nerdy and shy woman lives
in our brains has fruitful relationship with Hollywood. Most of the stories using this
stereotype seem to be based on the implication that glasses are just a hideous optical
device, maybe a notch better than a prosthetic leg and a glass eye, but just like them
shameful and stigmatizing. I simply hate this stereotype with all my heart and I refuse
being muscle by it. Glasses went a long way from being revolting and uncomfortable
to being hip and comfy. In these days, every major designer has his own frame line.
Moreover, thanks to the progress in technology, lenses became lighter and thinner.
There is no reason to be ashamed of glasses; everybody can wear a pair of really cool
– I mean “Prada” cool – glasses. All it takes is some guts and attitude, as the glorious
examples of Tina Fey and Janeane Garafalo teach us.
Clothing is even more prolific with female stereotypes. No matter what culture one
considers, clothes have always been used as a statement expressing position and power
or just a message. As Ortiz Cofer demonstrates in her essay, the perception of the
17
{Katarzyna Lisowska ~ A Bespectacled Blonde in Pink con’t}
ENGLISH 1A
message can be quite different than what is planned. From all the feminine garments I
can think about, the burqa - a Muslin head cover - illustrates this trend the best. Caryle
Murphy, a correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor in Saudi Arabia defines the
burqa stereotype in one simple statement, ”It liberates. It represses. It is a prayer. It
is a prison. It protects. It obliterates.” Its perception is totally subjective. According
to Murphy, the non-Muslims consider the burqa to be the most recognized symbol
of Islam. Thanks its image in the public media, they often associate it with terrorism,
oppression and men’s control over women’s freedom. The Muslim women, however,
have different opinions on the role of the burqa. Those who are the most observant
wear it for religious reasons; others use it to protest against the global spread of the
Western culture. Some Muslim women, especially in developing countries, wear the
burqa to avoid harassment and stares from men. Finally, Murphy goes to say that “the
most commonly, there is family pressure from fathers, husbands, or brothers who want
their female relatives to be seen by society as a “good girl” or “good woman.” This
statement reminds me of Ortiz Cofer’s parents’ definition of “a proper seniorita.” Also,
like the example of the stereotype of the Latin woman presented by Ortiz Cofer, the
clash between reality of the burqa and its Western stereotype leads up to havoc. Truly,
although there is a difference in the cut and color, the Muslim burqa and the tight,
scarlet Puerto Rican skirt brings up the similar kind of cultural confusion.
very desirable and it is considered to attract men. Although hair color depends on the
genetics rather than the tradition, the example of a dumb blonde proves that some
stereotypes are indeed, as Cofer Ortiz claims, one dimensional and easy to promote or
even overused in media.
Having read Ortiz Cofer’s essay, I realized that no matter what our skin’s color, accent,
clothes or even an education might be, we women will be always at risk of being
unfairly labeled. As long as mass media keep promoting an easy to digest, shallow and
extremely visual vision of woman, I cannot imagine any change for better. After all, as
Antoine Saint-Exupery said, “what is essential is invisible to the eye,“ which means that
true values can be recognized by one’s heart and soul rather than eyes. Unfortunately,
media seem to choose show and glorify simplified and unjust stereotypes, instead of
promoting in depth discussion and dialog between opposites, like women and men,
young and old or East and West. I wish one day mass media were able to recognize
their immense potential in promoting respect, peace and understanding between
people of different backgrounds.
Works Cited
Murphy, Caryle. “Embraced or Banned, a Prayer or a Prison, the Muslim Veil Is Spreading:
Who Wears It – and Why?” The Christian Science Monitor. 12 Dec. 2009. Web. 1 Oct. 2011.
Ortiz Cofer, Judith. “The Myth of the Latin Women: I Just met a Girl Called Maria.”
Class reading material.
Finally, in her essay Ortiz Cofer argues that the reason of cultural misconception
concerning women lays in tradition rather than gens. I think she contradicts herself. On
one hand, by describing herself as a person who “so obviously belongs to Rita Morano’s
gene pool”, the author claim that physical traits can generate reactions based on
stereotypes (1). On the other hand, she also says that “it is custom, not chromosomes”
that make women convey such a confusing message. In saying so, Ortiz Cofer overlooks
many stereotypes based on inbred physical traits like, for example, hair color. This
particular trait perpetuated a massive avalanche of stereotypes. It looks like no matter
what hair color a woman has, she is doomed anyway. Red heads and brunettes get
their share of shame, but no other hair color initiates such universally recognized and
grounded in pop culture stereotype as a dumb blond. First, blondes are perceived as
women who do not make the best use of their brains. This aspect of the stereotype
produced hundreds of blonde jokes. Although we agree that blonde jokes are sexist
and politically incorrect, everyone sinned with laughing at them and sending them out
by email. Next, the popular opinion holds that dumb blondes rely on their beauty more
than on their intelligence. Marilyn Monroe, in 1953 musical comedy Gentlemen Likes
Blondes, incarnates a classic, dizzy, not so smart blonde. The other way of emphasizing
the blonde’s dumbness in this movie is juxtaposing her with a smarter, more serious
minded brunette. The final piece of the puzzle is the fact that blond as a hair color is
18
2012 VC Voices
19
Briana Figlio
Indiscriminate Welcome Mat
ENGLISH 1A
Forever schools have expected students to accommodate them. Think back to high
school. In English we were assigned to read and understand pages of Shakespeare’s
Old English plays and interpret layers of vague poetry. Know this and we’re labeled
educated and intelligent. Smart. Perhaps it’s time for schools to accommodate the
students. They’ve been too focused on the correct way to for students to learn when
really they need to learn the best way to teach. The reality is the school system isn’t
perfect, but imperfection isn’t a bad label. Imperfection means there’s always room
for improvement and it’s never too late to change this system that we’ve grown so
accustomed to. By first forming a welcome mat embracing all students, will they more
eagerly cross the threshold into the educated world of analytical and critical thinking.
In his essay “Rethinking the Student-Centered Classroom,” Tim R. McDonald, an
associate with Education|Evolving, asserts a more student-centered teaching method
and emphasizes that motivation is key to the student’s, and the teacher’s, ability in
the classroom. It all boils down to the fact that motivation is what drives any person
to accomplish any task. The want to do something. McDonald argues that the typical
classroom setting is “artificially limited; confined within an authoritarian structure of
batch processing, centralized authority, and standardization” (McDonald). I disagree
with the extremity of this negative characterization of the education system in that we
do need a standard and most students are comfortable with the authoritarian style of
being told what to do. It seems a number of students are with comfortable having a
teacher who gives the sense of control and knowing what they are doing. They trust
the system. At the same time, however, I cannot ignore the fact that a stale, restricted
environment is not the best way to learn. In order to encourage motivation, we need
to incorporate the interests of those doing the learning: the students.
In line with McDonald, in his essay “Hidden Intellectualism,” professor of English
and education Gerald Graff argues that schools are too limiting on the domains they
deem intellectual for its students. There is literary merit in, say, sports and fashion
as long as the student thinks critically and in an intellectual way. His purpose may be
to encourage schools to incorporate such interests in their curriculum and to assure
students like himself that their “preference of (i.e.)sports over schoolwork was not
anti-intellectualism so much as intellectualism by others means” (Graff 199, 200).
According to Graff, you can learn just as much from the world of sports as in the world
of school. He supports his argument through his own personal experience growing
up as teenager in the “hood” where being openly book-smart wasn’t smart. Instead
he unknowingly exercised his intelligence in “seemingly philistine debates” in the
“analysis of sports teams, movies, and toughness” (Graff 201). He explains that the
20
2012 VC Voices
world beyond school contained numerous topics that connected one to people and
the community, unlike the isolation of school work. Similarly, McDonald observes that
“outside of school we have the most creative, resourceful, energetic citizenry of any
civilization in history” (McDonald). Why not take advantage of the world around us
in order to engage students? If Graff is right that the interesting topics have the same
potential to teach us the same literary mind frame, as I think he is, then we need to
reassess the popular assumption that only weighty academic topics can teach one to
think analytically.
Graff’s effective use of personal experiences and accessible language allows the reader
to connect and relate to him with his conflict in “the need to prove [he] was smart
and the fear of a beating if [he] proved it too well” (Graff 200). In order to survive his
environment, he turned away from school. Instead he delved into the world of sports
where he not only grew as a person, but as an intellectual. Although his essay is highly
personal, he keeps it on a professional level and doesn’t come across as just an “antiintellectual” going against the education system. Instead he uses his experience as to
urge one to see the value in relevant topics such as sports and its potential to ignite
“hidden intellect.” I agree on his point that once a student can realize the possibility of
analyzing the very topics that interest them, they will more easily make the transition
as a true intellect.
Though in no way does he suggest that all work such as Plato, Shakespeare, and nuclear
fission be entirely replaced by “more interesting subjects.” In fact he says one “[needs]
to read models of intellectually challenging writing… if they are to become intellectuals
themselves” (Graff 199). He merely suggests it as more of a stepping stone and a
learning opportunity schools should incorporate. I completely agree with the idea that
a school shouldn’t decline any source of knowledge. By first learning to view topics of
interest “through academic eyes,” one can more easily make that same connection
to the “weighty” academic topics. Not only should students see this connection, but
schools as well.
In perspective, Graff seems to paint a very attractive world: one in which books smarts
incorporates the world of street smarts. But this is getting ahead ourselves. What
exactly defines these two worlds?
I believe, for the most part, book smart is universal. It’s the facts and information. The
know. It’s learning from the experiences and knowledge of others. There is, however,
a very big difference in knowing something on paper, and applying this knowledge.
As they say, “It’s easier said than done.” That’s where street smart comes in. Street
smart isn’t something you can learn in a book; it’s more common sense. I believe it
comes from real life experiences and knowing how to act in certain situations like say
21
{BRIANA FIGLIO ~ Indiscriminate Welcome Mat con’t}
ENGLISH 1A
the football community and knowing the lingo. The more experience you have with
these different communities, the easier it becomes to connect with a variety of people
and adapt to different situations. It’s our primal instinct to adapt and trust our “guts.”
A book smart person would think or “know” how to get out of a bad situation while a
street smart person would be able to, say… talk their way out of it.
Works Cited
Graff, Gerald . “Hidden Intellectualism.” They Say, I Say. 2nd ed. Ed. Gerald Graff and Kathy
Birkenstein. New York: W.W. Norton, 2009. 198-203. Print.
McDonald, Tim R. “Rethinking the Student-Centered Classroom.” Engage Learners. Engage
Learners, 12 Aug. 2008. Web. 17 Sept. 2011.
The catch is, having just one or the other can only get you so far. You can have the
knowledge, but not know how to use it. Let’s say your job was to advertise a certain
product in Korea. First you would need book smart, being well informed about your
product and fully knowing it. You also need to know their culture and the best way to
sell it to them versus selling this product in the US. Then how you sell your product and
your stage presence is where street smart comes in. Your audience needs to feel they
can trust you. You need to be able to personify this confidence so you can convince
them you know your product and know it’s the best for them, which of course comes
with experience. Ideally, one would want to be the master of both worlds, but usually
people tend to lean to one side or the other. There’s nothing wrong with that. The
world would be a boring place if everyone were the same.
For me, however, I just happened to be one of those kids where school was my domain.
Call me a nerd, but I honestly enjoyed going to school, learning, and the feeling of being
“smart.” I was the lazy nerd that didn’t like homework, detested essays, and found that
school came easy to me. I was book smart. That being said, it wasn’t enough to be book
smart. In the crowd I found I wasn’t smart at all. I was uncomfortable and awkward in
the realm outside books. When it came to connecting to people, or even just giving a
presentation, I was a mouse facing a lion. It was a challenge and lucky for me, I had the
courage to stumble my way through and successfully enter the community.
My experience shows street smarts aren’t better than book smarts nor vice versa. You
can have the experience of adapting to your environment, but not have the ability or
knowledge to leave that environment. Though there is value in street smarts, I agree
with Graff’s point that “street smarts are not enough” (Graff 204). What our education
system needs to do is to free the distinct line between street and book smart and allow
the interests, the student’s interests, to be looked at in a new light. “But even if they
don’t [become engaged in more intellectual topics],” as least they’ll learn to become
“more literate and reflective than they would be otherwise” (Graff 204). After all’s said
and done, it’s not about the diploma or the grade; it’s about the actual journey and
gains of personal growth. Though seeing a complete mesh of the two worlds may be
too naïve a thought with street and book smarts being so different, the least we can do
is make the realm of education a welcome mat indiscriminate to smarts of all varieties.
22
2012 VC Voices
Paola Ramirez
Jack
23
Tatianna Warwick
Education: Privilege, Right,
or Incomparable Opportunity
ENGLISH 1A
Education is something many of us may take for granted when we are younger. Many
never realize the blessing; others never have the chance. For most students; the
fundamentals like reading, writing, and simple arithmetic come almost effortlessly.
But, it isn’t this way for all, because for those like my younger brother Taner, these
basics of early education were a daily struggle. No matter how desperately he wanted
to learn and be like everyone else, he couldn’t. At least not in the same ways that
others could. It required an exceptional effort on his part. This would become a facet
of who he is and would hang before him like a proverbial hoop he must jump through
or a persistent hurdle that always stands between him and his ability to acquire and
process information; brightly colored and there for the whole world to see.
At the onset, my family noticed that Taner was much slower in reaching his milestones.
He had always taken a little bit longer to master things than most other infants. As a
toddler, the basics like talking, crawling, and walking didn’t come as early for him;
as my mom remembers they did for me. This consistently worried her, enough to
where she actually took him to his pediatrician to find out if something could be
wrong. She just couldn’t understand how there was such a stark difference between
her two kids. She recalls that she could have full conversations with me at the age of
two, but here he was at almost three and still struggling to form simple words and
sentences. The doctor just told her that boys were typically slower than girls, and that
it was completely normal because they tend to be lazier. She strived to accept this and
not worry so much. She was mindful to be more patient and encouraging with him.
But, I often observed her lost in thought with her forehead wrinkled. It was as if she
was quietly contemplating how she would complete this impossible puzzle of white
clouds placed before her. For so long throughout that time, she wore her fear like
an unwelcomed wet coat, heavy and burdensome. My dad would provide her with a
glimmer of hope, through his recollections of his own struggles in school; reassuring
her that he turned out just fine. But it never provided her any recompense from the
unrelenting fact that something was not right. It wouldn’t be until Taner started school
that others would start to take notice and address the weaknesses that were becoming
more noticeable. Still, it wasn’t until the second or third grade that we would find out
exactly what it was that was causing him to be more delayed than others. It turned out
that Taner had dyslexia.
Not until after a series of assessments were completed by a neuropsychologist were
his weaknesses pin-pointed more precisely. Memories of going to that appointment
24
2012 VC Voices
still play through my mind. Being so young and unaware of the seriousness of the
situation, I felt a sense of jealousy of all the attention he was receiving. Suddenly, he
became the “it” topic around the house; this teacher said this about Taner and so
and so said that. On the day of the appointment, my mom asked me if I would go
with her for support. I remember that the reception area was small and there were
little games and things around the room to keep kids occupied as they waited. It
was a beautiful summer day; the sun was at its peak and a million fun things I would
prefer to be doing raced through my mind. There was no one else there except for
the neuropsychologist and her husband, who was also the receptionist, and their big
beautiful golden retriever who laid there in complete tranquility just wagging his tail.
He wasn’t fazed by our intrusion at all. For the first three hours I did what I could
to entertain myself. I looked at magazines filled with articles and pictures of lavish
gardens, fancy models, and tasty recipes. At one point, I even began playing with what
would be considered baby games in the corner of the room. My mom fidgeted and
drank tea made from a tea bag shaped like a triangle that was filled with what looked
to be tiny flowers and nuts and other strange herbs. I could tell that Taner was nervous;
he had never done anything like this before. The entire process took about six hours
of him sitting in a closed room with the neuropsychologist, with only a thirty minute
break for lunch. Starving, the three of us walked over to a Wendy’s across the parking
lot to get something to eat. The fries were hot and salty, the bright colors and animated
noises in the fast food restaurant were very welcoming after being in that silent boring
waiting room for all those hours. Imagining how Taner was feeling having to take all
those tests only occupied my thoughts for an ever so brief moment. He looked strained
and exhausted, but relieved to finally get something in his growling belly. Encouraging
him or acknowledging his discomfort in exposing his most profound weaknesses did
not play into the equation that day. The importance of this process was outweighed
by my discomfort and the imposition this was having on my own life. The memory of
sitting in that office, in that small building filled with different specialists of sorts feels
so recent, that I could reach out and feel the doorknob as if I were just walking inside
for the first time. The reality that I ever suspected the need to waste our day or that it
could ever be a way of him wanting to be the center of attention; shows my immaturity
and weighs heavy on my heart today.
At the time, I had just entered middle school; this was a huge difference from my
elementary experience. The predominant issue for me was being the little fish in a
big pond. Because of this, there was a sort of oblivion as to what was going on with
Taner. The major change I noticed was that my mom was attending a lot of meetings at
his elementary school and having a lot of conversations with his school district about
things like “IEP’s” and special assessments. It was also difficult because she was crying
a lot and not being her normal self. All these things were foreign and intrusive like an
annoying jester in your face at all times. Of course, kids in special education were a part
25
{Tatianna Warwick ~ Education: Privilege, Right, con’t}
ENGLISH 1A
of the school experience, but what that meant never interested me nor crossed that
proverbial line in the sand that separated the general education students from those in
special education. I am ashamed to say that I went along with the assumption that they
were the school mutants, defective in some way. The correlation of the considerable
struggles they faced or the fact that they were kids just like me was still unfamiliar.
Like my brother, they too, anticipated their birthdays and Christmas in the same ways
we all do. They had feelings that got hurt when someone said something mean and
wanted to have friends and happy experiences at school just like everyone else did.
Looking back with the understanding that special education is a place they need to go
to learn and not a definition of who they are is overwhelmingly humbling. I’ll never
look at those students in the same way that I used too. This experience has educated
me in a very profound way. The lesson that our differences make us unique and that
together we all make up the vivid and diverse fabric of the society we live in together
would eventually lead me in the direction of my career choice, which will be in child
psychology.
As things played out at home, I began to be more cognizant that it took Taner a lot of
time to do his homework every night, even with my mom’s help. I remember thinking
to myself, “How long could it possibly take to do simple spelling homework consisting
of four letter words?” Yet, even though the task was simple, he would take hours and
hours to complete one assignment, and this was night after night. Eventually he would
get so flustered and worn-out from not being able to complete the assignment that
he would give up altogether. Only to face the fact that he would have to get up extra
early the next morning to complete the work before school. A few times my mom
would ask me to take over for her and help him while she made dinner. One time in
particular, I remember that his task was to write twenty spelling words five times each.
“No big deal, this won’t take very long,” I thought. Well, almost forty five minutes later,
dinner was ready and we eventually would have to stop. He kept encountering the
same problems over and over again. Even though the words were spelt out correctly
right in front of him, he kept switching letters or adding ones that weren’t even there
to begin with. It got so bad that I just didn’t have the patience to sit there and help
him anymore. The tick tock of the clock seemed to be getting louder and louder. I felt
as if the hands were moving round and round like a scene out of Alice in Wonderland.
Eventually, I would pass the task back over to my mom. The lack of understanding of
what his struggles meant caused me to fail to take notice that the simple act of holding
his pencil was taxing. His fine motor skills were delayed and this actually caused him
pain. But with time, I begin to realize what a privilege it was to get an assignment
and be able to work independently, complete the task in a reasonable timeframe, and
without any considerable effort.
26
2012 VC Voices
I wasn’t exactly gifted academically, but I got by pretty well without really struggling.
Looking back, there are many regrets for not being more patient and understanding
with him; for just assuming that he wasn’t trying hard enough. Today, I see Taner in a
different way. He is my only sibling. Being five years younger than me, most wouldn’t
expect us to be so close, but we are. In fact, we probably spend more time together
than most other siblings do. I would do anything for him and I know he would do
the same for me. Taner is smart, patient, and understanding and he possesses all
the skills that he needs for himself through his learning process. He is very aware of
his weaknesses and he has an incredible endurance when it comes to accessing his
education. I have always been able to pick up a book and be transported into another
world of mysterious ancient cities or beautiful love stories. I can research any subject
and acquire information on any given topic without incidence. The information is
processed as it is accessed, simple as that. So, whether for pleasure or education, I
have the freedom to enjoy the skill to delve into the world of print with ease. I can
express my thoughts clearly and concisely. As the thoughts form in my mind, my hand
translates them onto paper. For Taner, this is impossible.
The difficulties that he has, as a result of his learning disabilities, makes all these things
a prolonged and arduous effort. The hard realization reached is that he encounters
a brutal barrier each and every time a new subject, skill or task is presented. Often,
he is confronted by callous and compassionless indifference. Either people cannot
understand why it is so hard for him or they automatically assume he cannot acquire
it because his abilities are limited. It is commonly thought that his education should
be commensurate to his ability; thus, removing the challenge for higher or even grade
level education. The question often tossed around these past years is, is education
a right? While there are laws in place, there is also a glass ceiling for many students
with learning disabilities. Their right to education comes with conditions. It isn’t about
maximizing their opportunities. It is about providing access. Yet, access alone often
lacks what is necessarily appropriate for mastery of the subject or skill. As an individual
devoid of any learning disability, I have learned that there are two extremes to the
right to an education. One being the limitations associated with learning disabilities,
and the other, having the right or ability and overlooking the endless opportunities
and responsibilities those of us without any hindrances have in seeking and obtaining
a higher education.
Taner’s challenges were apparent for many years before I came to the realization of the
incomparable opportunities that I had and discounted. It wasn’t until graduating from
high school, standing at that fork in the road, and looking down the extensive journey
I was about to embark on, that I realized what I had so easily brushed aside. My ability
to learn and grow academically can and will create vast prospects that I could not attain
otherwise. My little brother, who struggles to learn, taught me a crucial and powerful
27
{Tatianna Warwick ~ Education: Privilege, Right, con’t}
ENGLISH 1A
lesson that I didn’t really put into effect until now. He taught me to appreciate, not just
school, but learning in general. Everyone is capable of excellence as long as they try
and put the time and effort into it. So there is no need to make excuses.
Whether one looks at education as a privilege, right, or an incomparable opportunity
it is something that merits considerable and deliberate contemplation. Whether like
Taner, who will live with lifelong struggles in attaining and processing information, or
those who do not, the value of an education is significant. Most notably, our responses
to those who struggle need to be thoughtful and respectful. I have learned that we
only do a disservice to ourselves when foolishly self-appointing any sort of superiority
over others. There are many considerations often disregarded that cause the academic
separation between special and general education. But, I have learned that these
students have so much more to offer. This self-reflection has resulted in the fortitude
to overcome any preexisting assumptions about others. Recognizing and appreciating
all that an education offers has eliminated the chance of overlooking opportunities and
taking my skills for granted. For all of this, I will forever be grateful for having Taner in
my life, for the lessons learned, and the realizations made; all of which have taught me
to be a better person.
Pat Kuhn
12 Fans
Painting
28
2012 VC Voices
Jaime Asperin
The Situation
ENGLISH 1A
Stepping foot into the southern Oxnard/Port Hueneme area, one may not feel as
though they are in the greatest and safest place on earth. I recall a ride home after
a dance from my friend’s father when he mentioned that this was one of the most
dangerous places to be in Oxnard and that I was in a difficult situation. “Obviously”
was the first word that came up in my head. I mean, at the time I have been living in
the area for thirteen years of my life. I have already heard, the gunshots and sirens,
seen the ambulances and cop cars, and witnessed once occupied households turn into
empty and run-down buildings after the “owner” was nowhere to be found. So yes, I
knew what my “situation” was, but was it really a situation? Was it even difficult? A lot
of people would say yes with very few people saying no; even I felt sorry for myself at
the time. But after years of living and experiencing life in the “hood”, it obviously was
not a difficult situation, it was a gift that gave me the opportunity to meet some of the
most incredible people in my life that forever changed everything about me.
Since both of my parents were born and raised in the Philippines, they brought me up
the same way that they were brought up as children, or how they would have wanted
to be brought up. Anything less than an A+ and you get the slipper or the broom, listen
to me because I know everything that’s right, become a doctor or a nurse when you
grow up, play the piano every day for three hours, and so on. My family never really
had a lot of money, but they wanted to make sure that I had the best, and that I was
in a good and safe learning environment. Since my mom is a hardcore Catholic (my
dad not so much), my parents decided to send me to private schools for fifteen years
of my life. The elementary and middle school I attended was a private Baptist school
in Port Hueneme where parents pay for tuition and students wear uniforms consisting
of navy blue polos and khaki pants. We would go to Chapel every Wednesday with the
people in our grade range and sing songs about God, praise God, read about God, and
pray to God. Grade sizes were only about twenty five-thirty five students per grade, so
everyone knew each other their whole life. Life at that school seemed normal, same
people, same place, nothing to worry about. Entering high school, puberty hits and
people mature. Friends change, people change. The once happy-go-lucky talks about
irrelevant things that did not matter now turned into “intelligent” and “sophisticated”
conversations. At my new high school, it was all new face I have never seen before.
The thirty kids that I knew my whole life dwindled down to five people, with the rest
of them fresh new faces.
On one bright and beautiful day while I was walking to class, I spot a helicopter circling
the area. Thinking that it was just one of those weather helicopters videoing Oxnard,
29
{Jaime Asperin ~ The Situation con’t}
ENGLISH 1A
I later learned that the police were searching for a young teenager who shot his gay
classmate in the head at a nearby school. Upon hearing this news, our whole school
went on lockdown. Talking about it with my classmates days later, it was just talk about
how dangerous it was in the general area around our school since we were located
in the ghetto. I thought to myself that it wasn’t so bad because I’ve lived here my
whole life, but when you’ve lived in gated communities with big two story houses your
whole life, I can see where they were coming from. But the things they were saying
were just pure ignorance. “You would probably have to have a knife or a gun with you
all the time if you walked around there.” Sometimes talks what get racial and bring
up how everyone there is Mexican and that they were all gang-bangers. First of all,
not everyone there is Mexican. They could be from another Latin American country,
not just Mexico, so it’s completely wrong to generalize people from what you see.
Hey, I mean I can say that some of the people that were in Camarillo or Thousand
Oaks are Chinese, when they really are Vietnamese, but that’s a wrong thing to do.
Conversations would revolve around so and so’s new television, or so and so’s new car,
material things that I would never get to talk about because my family is struggling to
barely put me through this school that I was starting to dread so much. That’s the main
problem I had with the people at the private high school I went to, just because they
were all such ignorant and stuck up people.
Then came the year where I transferred out due to financial issues. My sister was in
college now so my parents had to pay for that, so I decided to transfer out to our local
high school near our house to lighten up the financial burden, Hueneme High School.
Port Hueneme and Oxnard have a pretty bad reputation among the surrounding cities;
I would read stories on the Ventura County Star about a shooting in Oxnard, and people
would be commenting on the articles about how it’s nothing new to have shooting in
Oxnard. While I was in New York the summer I was transferring, I got a call from my
dad saying that the athletic director at Hueneme High School had been shot in his own
backyard, prompting an immediate worrisome face from my mom. I reassured her that
I was going to be fine and not to worry. So then came the day I transferred into the
school I would be spending the next two years of my life at. I remember stepping foot
into the school and not knowing anyone. The first thing that I saw was all the people.
My old high school had only about five hundred people in total, and to see double
that many people was really cool. The common stereotypes that were given to them
were present as well, baggy clothes, tough guy look, people staring you down to scare
you, that sort of thing. The school was bathed in the school colors of red and white.
There was a memorial for the athletic director that was killed, with signs for counseling
decorating the exterior of the library. The classes were given to you during first period
where you would find out your whole schedule, and you would also be able to change
30
2012 VC Voices
it as well, something completely new to me since I just came from a school where they
did everything for you. If only they would set up friends for you, since those are hard
to come by as the new kid. During every break, I would just walk around the school
since I did not know anyone, every class, I would sit in the back ignoring the joyous
conversations between well established friends, something I hoped I would have as
well. I would talk with some classmates about myself and who I was, which was nice,
but I didn’t have that solidified group of friends that I would be able to identify myself
with, the ones that I would hang out with every day and meet up at the same spot.
As I walked around the school one day, a guy wearing Dickies shorts with a baggy
shirt came up to me. He introduced himself to me as Danny, and me being heavily
judgmental at the time, I was scared, but my mind at that point was everywhere. I was
happy that someone came up and talked to me, I was nervous on what I should say,
and I was worried about what he was going to tell me. He turned out to be a really
cool guy, completely different from the stereotypical things that were talked about at
my old school. He introduced me to some of his friends as well, all of them completely
looking fly and gangster, but all really cool and easy going people to talk to. We weren’t
talking about our nice cars and televisions, we were talking about everything that
wasn’t about us. It felt good, to have a normal conversation about sports, about news
in the world, and about life.
It was sort of a confidence booster meeting those guys. They helped me open up
and be able to talk easily with other, a problem I have always had before since I was
always afraid as to what the other person would say. It spoke to me because everyone
is a human being no matter what he or she may look like, on the inside is someone
that anyone would be able to have a conversation with. Don’t get me wrong, my
experiences were not all happy and good. There would always be fights every week,
some extremely nasty ones as well, even between women. There was one that will
never get out of my head because it happened right in front of me where I saw and
heard as a handful of hair was ripped out of a girls head. The sound of the hair ripping
out was like Velcro coming off, a sound and scene that will never escape me. There
were gang fights that would go on as well between rival gang members in the school,
mostly around the general area, but like a snake, stay out of their territory and you will
be fine.
Such a great gift was given to me that gave me the opportunity to look at life in
multiple ways due to amazing people that changed how I perceive others around
me. It was a situation that I am happy I was placed in because if I wasn’t, I would not
be who I am today.
31
Adan Jonathan Olid
The Blame Game
ENGLISH 1A
For as long as I can remember, there has only been one thing in my life that I always
wanted to have, which was the approval of my parents. Being the youngest of three
children, I often saw the anger and discontent that my brother and sister laid upon
them. My sister would always yell at my parents and was often rebellious by staying
out later than she was supposed to. My brother on the other hand, really did not care
about anything. If my mom asked him to take out the trash, he would just pretend like
he did not hear anything and continue watching his regularly scheduled cartoons. At
school he would usually be getting into some kind of trouble, from bullying the geeky
kids to never doing his homework. Seeing the feelings of frustration grow on the faces
of my parents, I knew that I should not emulate my siblings so that I can help make life
a little less painful for them.
At one point in high school, I gave up on those feelings. It all started my sophomore
year. My biology teacher sent home a report card testifying that I was being loud and
disruptive in class, when it was not true because I was a new kid and I did not know
anybody. I began to question the judgment of my parents. How could a child who grew
up getting good grades and received the Student of the Month honor numerous times,
all of a sudden have the desire to be disorderly? Regardless of my status, my parents
believed the teacher and I was grounded from visiting my old friends from my previous
home. I was penalized for a crime I did not commit, and I was not pleased with it. I
confronted my teacher about the situation and she refused to talk to me about it, so
I did what any teenage boy would do. I rebelled, lost my focus, and school was the
last thing I cared about. While I lay in the bed of my prison cell I called my room, I
was paying the price, and in my thoughts I came to the realization that I might as well
commit the crime, since I’ve done the time. So I made life difficult for that teacher the
rest of the semester, and the semester following that. The bad report cards continued
coming in and I noticed those same feelings of resentment and dissatisfaction my
parents had toward my siblings had now fallen on me as well. I remember feeling the
wrathful staring eyes of my parents drill a hole through my head during dinner. None of
that mattered however, because I did not care. After all, it was their fault.
A year later, as I was walking down the hall to get to class, I noticed a flyer for the Armed
Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. The flyer would go on to mention
that it would get me out of my first through fourth period classes, and that was enough
to convince me to sign up. After I finished the test, the monitor informed us of a career
fair at the convention center in Oxnard the following week. Once she said that we
would get out of class all I day, I was sold and signed up for that as well. The day of the
career fair, I woke up not knowing that I would end up meeting somebody that would
32
2012 VC Voices
transform my life completely. Once I arrived to the convention center, I disembarked the bus and walked in to the
building that was being overrun with chaos from other students my age walking
around and glancing through all of the potential careers. Nothing in the front intrigued
me, and as if somebody grabbed me by the shirt, I went straight to the back. It was
there that I noticed the Marines, looking sharp in their dress blues and walked straight
towards them. The recruiter gave me his card and gave me my first order of my military
life. He said “call me if you’re serious.”
When I came home that day, I approached my mother and notified her of what had
happened. As we continued to discuss my potential opportunity in the service, my
father came home and joined the conversation. The more I talked about it, the more
they seemed to like it. That was until my mom realized that I was talking about the
Marines, and not the Navy whom she thought I was referring to at the beginning. She
began to argue and disagree with my decision and I pleaded to her to change her mind
but she would not budge. Finally, I told her “mom, if this is something that I want to
do, I’m going to do it regardless if you sign the papers or not. Next year, I’ll be 18 and
I won’t need your signature, so either you support me now or not, I’m still going to do
it.” Surprisingly enough, that worked, and my mother opened up to the idea. I called
the recruiter and he asked me if I could come in that evening, and with the permission
of my father, I said yes.
After dinner, my dad drove me to the recruiters’ office where I formally met Staff
Sergeant Mario Medina. My father and I sat down on a pair of chairs one side of his
desk as he sat on his and we began to discuss what the Marines had to offer me. I was
engaged and excited of what I could hypothetically do, if only I could pass the initial
requirements. As the year went by, I passed my physical, mental, and any other tests
that the department of defense threw at my direction. Finally, the only thing that
was required was the signature of my parents. SSgt Medina came over and talked
everything over with my parents and me, and then slid the paperwork towards my
parents’ direction. My dad signed the papers with no question, and my mom put the
pen on top of the paper work and began to thank my recruiter. She told him that she
was always proud of me and that she knew that I had different characteristics than
my older siblings since I was a toddler. She continued by saying that she knew that
I was going to do something special with my life, and was pleased to see that it was
happening so early in my life. As she went on, she stated that she had given up on
me and at one point even gave up and believed that I was going to end up the worst
out of her children which left her distraught. She declared that the Marines had done
so much to change her little boy in less than a year even before he went off to boot
camp, and she could not wait to see what they could do for me in the future. So she
33
{Adan Jonathan Olid ~ The Blame Game con’t}
ENGLISH 1A
nonchalantly picked up the pen, thanked the recruiter again, and placed her signature
on the corresponding places. This was the moment I realized that I had a lot to live up
to. I realized that my parents were always watching me, and had held me on a higher
pedestal than my older siblings. I knew that I could not let them down, and I was not
going to.
A few weeks later, I had a ship date to boot camp, and I had a year to finish high
school. The year before had set me back because I had failed so many classes in my
10th year of school. I worked hard before, during, and after school. Suddenly I realized
that my parents were not looking at me in anger or discontent anymore. My parents
saw the toil I had put myself through and were proud that I was so focused on finishing
school so that I can join the Marines. looked around to hide my shame and I realized other guys from my platoon crying as
well. I looked at my parents, and they too were crying. This was when I realized my
accomplishments, and how much my parents influenced me to finish something many
people are afraid to even think of beginning. Finally after all this time and hard work,
blood, sweat and tears, I knew how proud they were of me. I earned a title that could
never be stripped away, and I finally got the approval of my parents.
As I drove home that night in the foggy San Diego weather, I realized that as long as I
work hard, put everything I have in to something that leads to a major accomplishment
for me, I will have that approval from my parents. After all, it was their fault.
After what was probably one of the most stressful years of my life, I did what most
people told me I would not. I graduated high school. I was the first of my parents’
three children to accomplish this, and I knew how proud they were of me. But I had
bigger dreams, and I was not done yet.
A week after graduation, I shipped out to boot camp to become a U.S. Marine. In those
13 grueling weeks, all I could think about was how it was going to feel like to see my
mom and dad again, but transformed from boy to man. That was my drive and that is
what prevented me from giving up, and I never did. One particular event that happened came a few weeks before I finished recruit
training. Our company began an eight mile hike early one morning. We traveled
for what seemed an eternity. We walked up hills that eventually transitioned into
mountains. Sometimes, we walked up mountains so high that it was difficult to
breathe. As we found ourselves in mile number five, some of the recruits began to
pass out from heat exhaustion. It was getting difficult and it was time to separate the
men from the boys. I remember several times how much I just wanted to fall over and
give up. How my legs, and especially my back begged me to tears for a break. But I
never listened. Instead, I pictured going home. I just wanted to get it over with so I
can prove to myself that I can do it. Somewhere in my thought process, I knew my
mom and dad were waiting for me to come home. I had to finish, and somehow I did.
Weeks later on graduation day, I walked out of my barracks, and the first thing I saw was
my fathers’ van parked in the distance. I knew they were there to see me and I suddenly
became nervous. Once the graduation was over, I ran to my family and gave them the
biggest hug ever, and I did something you will probably never see a Marine do. I cried. I
34
2012 VC Voices
Kaitlyn Perez
Self Portrait
35
ENGLISH 1B
Daniel Okonek
Kurtz as the “Ubermensch”
P
The image of Kurtz in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is one of gargantuan
proportions. Kurtz is described as a superman, someone who crosses the threshold
between myth and man. Conrad’s work serves as a commentary on the classic
Nietzchean idea of the Ubermensch, as his novella provides an expository vision
of the horrible realities that the Ubermensch can create. A person unbound by the
restrictions of society has the opportunity to develop themselves past the normal limits
of humanity. However, this freedom, much like any Faustian bargain, bears a price--the
price of self-control, moderation, and the ability to control one’s own passion. All of
this becomes Kurtz, a man free of the artificial limits once placed upon him, a man
who becomes a legend among “civilized society” at once feared and admired, and a
man who becomes physically torn apart--his own body unable to continue feeding the
hunger of his obsession. His horror: the realization that while he may have been able to
take control over the heart of Africa, he could not control the darkness within himself.
The most obvious way in which Kurtz becomes a vessel for Nietzche’s Ubermensch is
the glorification and praise he receives from the other members of his former culture.
Ivory is the sole reason for the company’s continued expeditions into Africa. Because
of this situation, one character describes Kurtz as “a very remarkable person... [he]
sends in as much ivory as all the other [trading-posts] put together” (Conrad 19). Here
we have our first glimpse of Kurtz as a larger than life figure, a man who is able to
create more wealth than any other individual in the Congo. Kurtz’ monumental stature
is continually magnified until the point when Marlow meets him: “[Kurtz] is a prodigy…
He is an emissary of pity, and science, and progress, and devil knows what else… a
special being, as you ought to know” (Conrad 25-26). We then find the unabashed
worship of Kurtz, by Europeans in the Congo, stems from the belief that he brings
something long overdue to Africa--namely science, progress, and morality. He is a
white Prometheus with a higher purpose than harvesting ivory. The reality of Kurtz’
effect on the heart of Africa is quite different.
A stated goal of white imperialists was to bring “civilization” to “primitive” peoples:
“Westerners began to claim a clearer mission to bring civilization to the peoples of
the world--civilization, of course, being as the West defined it” (Stearns 402). This goal
36
2012 VC Voices
became the rationale for continued expansion of Western imperialism throughout the
world. Combining this ideal with the Nietzchean concept of unrestrained personality
and strength, we can see why Kurtz may have been so glorified and idolized by
Europeans in Heart of Darkness. However, Conrad effectively illustrates the irony of
these goals and ideals.
The paradox of the Dutch company’s glorification is that Kurtz throws away “civilization”
in order to instill values of “civilization” among the natives of Africa. Furthermore, the
Ubermensch is one who refuses to let the rules and limitations of civilization stop him
from attaining what they desire or attempt to accomplish. In fact, it is the contradictory
nature of this unnatural dualism, spreading “civilization” and being an Ubermensch,
that accounts for Kurtz’ horror at the end of his life. By becoming the embodiment
of the Ubermensch, someone who does away with the artificial shackles of society
in order to live into his fullest potential, Kurtz is able to attain absolute control in the
Congo at the cost of losing control of himself:
I saw on that ivory face the expression of sombre pride, of ruthless power, of craven
terror--of an intense and hopeless desire. Did he live his life again in every detail
of desire, temptation, and surrender during that supreme moment of complete
knowledge? [Kurtz] cried out in a whisper at some image, at some vision--he cried out
twice, a cry that was no more than a breath: “The horror! The horror!” (Conrad 71)
Kurtz’ horror is his despair that the darkness that pervades the world can never be
conquered or exterminated. It exists in any crack or orifice created by a lack of control,
a lack of rationality, or a lack of “civilization.” The cost of taking absolute control of
external darkness is that cracks are left unfilled within the soul of man. It is through
these cracks that darkness permeates his being. This is Kurtz’ realization on his
deathbed--there is no hope of extinguishing darkness. By its nature, “Darkness is the
unfathomable and the impenetrable; the savage, prehistoric past; the center of Africa,
of Earth itself, even of man’s consciousness, echoing, from time to time passages
from Dante’s Inferno or Vergil’s description of the underworld in the sixth book of the
Aenid” (Wilcox 189). This conclusion also fits in quite nicely with Frederich Nietzche’s
philosophical concepts of the Ubermensch and Nihilism.
Juxtaposed ideas of “civilized society” and the realities of “civilizing” natives contribute
to the reoccurring absurdity of Heart of Darkness. We see this theme even in modern
times. Efforts to “modernize,” “civilize,” or progress technologically are often sanitized
by Western culture to hide the realities that these pretty words mask. Too often
“modernizing” means forced conversion to capitalism, free trade, or other inherently
Western modes of economic and social structures. Too often “progress” means using
the power and wealth of the West to enslave other nations into economic servitude
37
{Daniel Okonek ~ Kurtz as the “Ubermensch” con’t}
ENGLISH 1B
by forcing less powerful countries to supply the West with cheap natural resources
and labor. Too often “Democracy” is used as a method of instituting leaders and
tyrants favorable to Western desires in foreign countries, at the cost of the welfare
of the people who live there. These are the realities of the world and of European
imperialism, the darkness hidden by sanitized media and lofty idealism. These are
the realities that Kurtz comes to know, and the environment in which an Ubermensch
can thrive. At what cost, though? Apparently for Kurtz, the cost for his brilliance, his
obsession, and his ability was the loss of innocence and ignorance. For all his greatness
and achievement, his reality was simply horror.
Works Cited
Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1971. Print
Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm., and Thomas Common. Thus Spake Zarathustra. New York: Modern
Library Publ., 1905. Print.
Stearns, Peter. World History In Brief. 7th edition. Vol. 2. Pearson Education, Inc., 2010. Print.
Wilcox, Stewart. “Conrad’s ‘Complicated Presentations’ of Symbolic Imagery.” Heart of
Darkness. Ed. Robert Kimbrough. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1971. 189-195. Print.
Cassie Lundgren
ENGLISH
Examining the Appearance of Love through
Feminine Silence in The Story of An Hour,
A Doll’s House, and Trifles
1B
It’s always the quiet ones people wonder about. In the three pieces “The Story of an
Hour,” A Doll’s House, and Trifles from the outside looking in, each couple appears to
have a good or perfect relationship; however, the wives all have feelings that they never
express: they are not happy with their lives and are suffering in silence. In “The Story of
an Hour,” wife Louise receives heart-breaking news of her husband’s death. She talks
herself through it and comes to the realization that the approaching freedom is what
she really wanted all along. In A Doll’s House, wife Nora and her husband Torvald have
a father- child relationship in which Torvald thinks everything is perfect and spoils her
until she has her way. However, Nora ends up leaving him due to her unmentioned
feelings. Lastly, in the play Trifle,s Mr. Wright is found dead and Mrs. Wright is under
high suspicion. They have the body, yet they have no motive. According to friends and
neighbors, Mr. Wright seemed like a good man, so why would Mrs. Wright want to kill
him? With these three pieces including wives whose voices are figuratively not heard
until the end, I believe feminine silence to be one of the most over looked aspects of love.
Louise Mallard in Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” turns out to feel a sense of joy
about her husband’s recent death. This is not for the fact that he is now dead and she
is abandoned, but for the freedom that she is about to obtain. No one ever suspected
Louise of being unhappy, but “It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder
that life might be long” (Chopin 68), too long to endure. Louise never had told anyone
about her feelings, but the way she and her husband were living was not the way she
had planned: “And yet she had loved him-sometimes. Often she had not. What did it
matter!” (82). As she is talking herself through her stirred-up emotions, she has an
epiphany and realizes that now that her husband is gone and never coming back, she
can allow herself to live, to move on. She finally speaks the word she has held silent
for so long: “Free, free, free!” (82). Now with nothing to tie her down, Louise can live
her life the way she wants. Unfortunately, the shock of seeing her husband alive and
walking in through the front door is too much for her weak heart, which tragically
silences her voice forever.
Sarah Flesher
Baptism by Liar
38
2012 VC Voices
In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House everyone thinks of Nora Helmer and her husband
Torvald as being a perfectly happy couple because this is how they appear, but at the
end of the play Nora thinks differently. She brags to her friend Kristine about Torvald,
how “…he’s getting a big salary and lots of commission. From now on we’ll be able
to live quite differently…we’ll do just what we want…I must say it’s lovely to have
39
{Cassie Lundgren ~ Examining the Appearance of con’t}
ENGLISH 1B
plenty of money and not have to worry. Isn’t it?” (Ibsen 1017). According to what
Nora is telling her friend it seems as though she is quite happy with her life, but at
the end of the play she ends up leaving her husband. This couple never has serious
conversations within their marriage and Nora realizes that she has never had a chance
to grow up and experience things on her own. She went from getting what she wants
from a father- child relationship with her Daddy, to continuing the same relationship
with her husband Torvald; now the father figure to Nora’s on-going child. Nora explains
to Torvald, “Daddy used to tell me what he thought, then I thought the same. And
if I thought differently, I kept quiet about it, because he wouldn’t have liked it…you
arranged everything to your tastes, and I acquired the same tastes. Or I pretended
to…” (1074). As Nora explains to her husband why she’s leaving, she breaks the silence
she has been living with for many years from childhood through marriage.
thread that ties these three women together, even though the silence is different
in each work. The women are not satisfied with the way they are living, and after
being pushed around or not having a say, they finally find their voice in some manner
that results in some sort of action. Whether it is accepting one’s true feelings, doing
something about a problem and leaving, or snapping and putting an ending to one’s
suffering completely, these women are all the same, and sadly not too different from
all other silenced women.
Works Cited
Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” Literature, A Pocket Anthology. Ed. R.S. Gwynn. Boston,
2010. 79-82. Print.
Glaspell, Susan. Trifles. Inside Literature: Reading, Responding, Arguing. Ed. Gwynn R. S., and
Steven Zani. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. 234-243. Print. Isben, Henrik. A Doll’s House. Inside Literature: Reading, Responding, Arguing. Ed. Gwynn R. S.,
and Steven Zani. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. 1010-1079. Print.
People who profess to know John Wright in Susan Glaspell’s Trifles believe him to be
a good man: “He didn’t drink, and kept his word as well as most…and paid his debts”
(Glaspell 239). Because of this perception, most people didn’t see why Mrs. Wright
would want to murder him. This play is different from “Story of an Hour” and “A Doll’s
House” because Mrs. Wright doesn’t speak, yet she is talked about by the other two
female characters in their attempt to figure out if she killed her husband and, if so,
what her motive would have been. When neighbors Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters begin
grabbing some things to take to Mrs. Wright in jail, they soon discover in her sewing
box her dead canary whose neck appears to be wrung. The two ladies come to the
conclusion that Mr. Wright strangled the bird; “No, Wright wouldn’t like the bird – a
thing that sang. She used to sing. He killed that, too” (240). According to Mrs. Hale and
Mrs. Peters, Mr. Wright was a cold and hard man. He most likely was controlling in the
relationship and wanted everything his way or it wasn’t going to happen. Even Mr. Hale
remarks, “I didn’t know as what his wife wanted made much difference to John” (231).
It appears Mrs. Wright kept silent and let everything slide by without speaking any
words of protest, or standing up for her elf during their marriage. Yet as a seamstress
who had been silently knotting quilts for a while, she became proficient at tying knots.
While working with her hands she let all of her anger and resentment build up in her
heart and mind, and was thus silent about her suffering. The day Mr. Wright killed her
bird, because he couldn’t get some peace and quiet, is the day she starts to unravel.
Finally undone, she ties a nice tight knot of “rope around his neck that choked the life
out of him” (241). She ends her streak of silence by quietly tying one last strong knot
that forever silences Mr. Wright.
Sin Ying Ma
Portarit Type
Multi Media
The appearance of love can be a puzzling situation. Things go on behind closed doors
that no one ever imagines. Here we have seen how feminine silence is a common
40
2012 VC Voices
41
Matthew Casas
ENGLISH
The Metamorphosed Metaphor of the Phoenix:
Death and Rebirth Within the Samsa Family
1B
Creation arises from destruction; one is a continuum of the other. This idea of death
and rebirth is very prominent in certain mythologies and religions. This notion of the
decline of one substance giving rise to the development of another is also present in
Franz Kafka’s, “The Metamorphosis.” Similar to the legendary Phoenix of mythology
who “ends its life” in a fiery combustion which results in “a little Phoenix [being] born
anew from the father’s body,” the Samsa family also follows a cycle of death and
rebirth (Weiss 66).
The fabled Phoenix is an animal that has been alluded to by many different traditions
and cultures. This mythological bird is a representation of a cycle of regeneration:
The Phoenix follows a circular course, increasing and decreasing, with birth, death
and rebirth following a cycle that passes from an aromatic bird closer to the sun than
the eagle flying at great heights, to the state of a worm in rotting matter…. From the
bird’s ashes, consumed at the end of its long existence in a blazing aromatic nest,
is born a small earthworm, nourished by humidity, which shall in turn become a
Phoenix (Weiss 66).
This concept of life following a cyclical course is an archetype formed by the human
psyche, “which is essentially the same in all human beings,” causing similar symbolism
to be found throughout different cultures (Campbell 60). The symbolism of the Phoenix
is reminiscent of the Hindu deity Shiva: “When the universe must be destroyed it is
Shiva who does it with his dance of destruction, which reduces everything to ashes
so a new universe can arise” (Breuilly 93). Shiva symbolizes “the eternal movement of
the universe… [and] the notion of life as a cycle and dance, which ends in the flames
of destruction only to rise again,” which is exactly the course followed by the Samsa
family (Breuilly 104).
Without the decline and death of Gregor, his family would have never received the
opportunity to excel in the ways it did. In nature, “extinction is springboard to other
life,” in the same way that Gregor’s decline is the springboard for the new lives of his
family members (“Evolution”). The metamorphosis of the Samsa family takes them
on a course that begins with Gregor as the primary source of income for the family,
and ends with each of the other family members employed into jobs that “were all
exceedingly advantageous and also promising” (Kafka 2030). From the ashes of Gregor
Samsa arises the newly re-birthed Samsa family who has progressed towards a more
self-sufficient lifestyle, as opposed to their old life of dependence upon Gregor, under
42
2012 VC Voices
their new sets of circumstances.
On the surface, the most obvious transformation is Gregor’s. His is not only a
physical transformation into “a monstrous vermin,” but also a very significant mental
transformation (Kafka 1999). He starts off giving much consideration towards his
obligations to the director and towards the welfare of his family, and even “felt a certain
pride that he had managed to provide his parents and his sister with such a life” (Kafka
2010). But by the end, becomes so resentful of his family’s negligence towards him
that he tries “to devise ways of getting into the pantry” even though he is not hungry
(Kafka 2022). This is indicative of just how much Gregor’s focus shifts from the welfare
of his family towards a more personal and selfish interest. However, this deterioration
and eventual demise of Gregor leads to the blossoming of the Samsa Family. Gregor
provides a “restoration of the family” and a reversal to “the erosion of duty within [his]
family” (Ryan 147).
Gregor’s mother transforms in a very noticeable way. At the beginning of the story, she
establishes herself as not overly affectionate of Gregor, but concerned for him; but by
the end, when she points “toward Gregor’s room” and says, “’Close that door, Grete.’”
She not only closes the door literally, but figuratively as well (Kafka 2021). As a result,
she becomes more productive, and the woman who had once “spent every other
day on the sofa, gasping for air” is now responsible for the maid’s duties and “sewing
fine lingerie for a fashion boutique” (Kafka 2014, 2020). This movement towards selfsufficiency is evident in the other characters as well.
The father goes through a profound change. In the past, he had run a business that
collapsed, and had since then become a fat and clumsy man that “had not done a lick of
work in five years” (Kafka 2014). Prompted by the inconveniences of Gregor’s situation,
he gets a job as a bank attendant. He begins to take charge of the household again
almost immediately, and “in the course of the very first day, the father laid out their
overall financial circumstances and prospects to both the mother and sister” (Kafka
2012). The father, “the same man who used to lie buried in bed, exhausted,” reaffirms
his position as an organizer in the family (Kafka 2019). This rapid restoration of the
father’s household duty is brought about by Gregor’s metamorphosis, exemplifying
how the cyclical course of life unfolds.
If Gregor is the Phoenix that has been consumed by flames and turned to ashes, then
Grete is the earthworm “which shall in turn become a Phoenix” (Weiss 66). Before
Gregor’s metamorphosis, the mother and father view Grete as “a somewhat useless
girl” (Kafka 2015). While the parents are unaware of Gregor’s condition, Grete is not
even referred to by name. But as soon as they apprehend the seriousness of the
situation, responsibility is placed upon Grete to fetch a doctor and her name is used
43
{Matthew Casas ~ The Metamorphosed con’t}
ENGLISH 1B
for the first time, highlighting the beginning of her evolution towards womanhood and
individualism.
Works Cited
Breuilly, Elizabeth, Joanne O'Brien, and Martin Palmer. "Hinduism." Religions of the World: The
Illustrated Guide to Origins, Beliefs, Traditions, & Festivals. Ed. Martin E. Marty. New York:
Facts on File, 1997. Print.
Campbell, Joseph, and Bill D. Moyers. "The Journey Inward." The Power of Myth. New York:
She begins as a rather unproductive girl. Besides playing the violin, she spends most
of her time loafing about. But after Gregor’s metamorphosis, she asserts herself
as his primary caretaker, showing a great deal of consideration and responsibility.
She is at first very attentive of Gregor, but after she “found a job as salesgirl,” she
starts “studying shorthand and French every evening in hopes of perhaps eventually
obtaining a better position,” and gradually becomes more neglectful of him (Kafka
2020). An ironic shift in her feelings toward Gregor also occurs. When Gregor was
the primary source of income, his sister was the only family member close to him, but
after his metamorphosis, her repulsion becomes so great that she suggests getting rid
of him. This is further evidence of Grete’s evolution towards individualism. So Grete,
who in the beginning “was still a child at seventeen,” now “had blossomed into a lovely
and shapely girl…despite all the sorrows” (Kafka 2014, 2030). Grete’s metamorphosis
into a young woman was intertwined with Gregor’s metamorphosis into a vermin. The
upward mobility of Grete is directly related to Gregor’s demise.
Gregor not only “held on long enough to glimpse the start of the overall brightening
outside the window,” but he also held on long enough to glimpse the start of the
brightening within his home (Kafka 2028). The fact that Gregor’s death coincides with
the sunrise is symbolic of the dawn of a new day for the Samsa family. The new lives
of the surviving members of the Samsa family are different, but whether or not they
were better is debatable. They are more self-sufficient, they take it upon themselves
to take in boarders, and are no longer leeching off Gregor, but they also fall into the
same predicament as Gregor. They are consumed by their work: “The father fetched
breakfast for the minor bank tellers, the mother sacrificed herself to underwear for
strangers, the sister, ordered around by customers, ran back and forth behind the
counter” (Kafka 2021). They seem to be heading in the same direction as Gregor, who
abandons his personal life to devote more effort to his job. But it is not completely
grim for the Samsa family; after all, “their future prospects… were anything but bad”
and their jobs were promising (Kafka 2030). From the ashes of Gregor Samsa arises
a newly re-birthed Grete, along with her mother and father. A sense of responsibility
is not present in the other family members before Gregor’s metamorphosis, but as
a result of it, the stagnation within the family is done away with, and their lives are
rejuvenated by Gregor’s eventual death. The fall of one leads to the rise of the rest of
the Samsa family.
44
2012 VC Voices
Doubleday, 1988. 60. Print.
"Evolution: Change: Deep Time." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 21 Nov. 2011.
Kafka, Franz. "The Metamorphosis." 1915. The Norton Anthology of World Literature: The
Twentieth Century. Ed. Sarah N. Lawall and Maynard Mack. Vol. F. New York: Norton, 2002. Print.
Ryan, Michael P. "Samsa and Samsara: Suffering, Death, and Rebirth in "The Metamorphosis""
The German Quarterly 72.2 (1999): 147. JSTOR. Web. 13 Nov. 2011.
Weiss, Allen S. "Is the Phoenix Kosher?" Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture 8.2
(2008): 66. JSTOR. Web. 13 Nov. 2011.
Chloe Rahimzadeh
Black Birds
ceramics
45
Hanna Mitchell
First Confessions
ENGLISH 1B
“All the trouble began when my grandfather died and my grandmother---my father’s
mother--- came to live with us” (263). So begins the epic of young Jackie, a wee Irish
Catholic boy who is faced with the “ordeal by fire” of making his “First Confession”
in Frank O’Connor’s story of the same name. Jackie is not a bad boy, but he is faced
with some great problems in his young life and has no one to turn to for advice. The
episode which brings matters to a head is the arrival of grandmother. As a little boy,
Jackie’s image of God has been shaped by the nominal “religious” people in his life.
Ironically, the parish priest, the religious figure Jackie fears the most, is the one who
finally sets the boy free from his misconceptions.
“Relations in the one house are a strain at the best of times…” (263) Jackie informs us,
but the arrival of Gran brings Jackie into conflict with his Da, a place where the lad is
loath to be. For most boys an image of God as father comes from their own father,
but Jackie’s “Da” is a model to strike terror in the heart of any God-fearing boy. When
Nora goes tale telling about Jackie’s “attempted murder,” Da doesn’t even bother to
hear Jackie’s side of the story. Although it seems to be known in the family that Nora
bends the truth, and “she knew Mother saw through her…” (263), “Father gave me
[Jackie] a flaking…and for days after that he didn’t speak to me….God knows, I was
heart scalded” (264). If this is the image of God that Jackie has been brought up with,
there is no wonder that the prospect of laying all his sins out before such a one would
convince him that making a bad Confession was not so bad after all.
While Da leads by example, the “Christian” with whom Jackie lives his life in constant
conflict, presents another side of things. Nora, when left to her own devices, becomes
“the raging malicious devil she really was” (266). Jackie solemnly states that “that
girl had ways of tormenting me that Mother never knew of” (265) and does things
that he would never think of since “I was too honest…” (263). She sucks up to their
grandmother for money (263), tattletales to Da about Jackie’s doings (263), physically
abuses him (268), and causes him to almost commit the sin of murder by trying to drag
him out from under the table where he is hiding from Gran’s dinner (263). Luckily,
the clever boy is possessed of forethought, so he “took the bread knife with me for
protection.” (263). Thus Jackie sees in Nora’s God someone who blesses those who
suck up to Him, makes sure your sins will find you out, deals out justice swiftly and
sometimes for no apparent reason, and pushes a boy beyond what he is able to bear.
The truly distressing thing about Nora is that, although Jackie knows what a vixen she
is at home, she knows just the right way to “make points” at the parish. The lad listens
46
2012 VC Voices
in ever-growing consternation to “her voice, as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth”
(266). Then he watches her as she exits. “God, The hypocrisy of women,” the young
philosopher exclaims. He continues: “Her eyes were lowered, her head was bowed,
and her hands were joined very low down on her stomach and she walked up the aisle
to the side alter looking like a saint. You never saw such an exhibition of devotion”
(267). Jackie is concerned at these acts of devotion since he knows what she is like
with no one looking. What must other religious people be like with a God like that?
“Then, to crown my misfortunes, I had to make my first confession and communion”
(264). As if matters weren’t bad enough with Gran bringing out the worst in Da and
Nora at home, Jackie is forced to go and meet this God head-on in confession. The
woman whose solemn task it is to prepare him for this occasion, Ryan, is “well-to-do,
lived in a big house…and came every day to school…and talked to us of hell” (264)
Jackie informs us. What bothers him the most about her is that she is so stingy with
the money she uses during lesson: “It was a great disappointment; a religious woman
like that, you wouldn’t think she’d bother about a thing like a half crown.” (264). She
also terrifies him greatly with her stories of a man who makes a bad Confession and is
doomed forever to wander around “burning people’s furniture.”
“With the fear of damnation in my soul I went in, and the confessional door closed
of itself behind me,” Jackie quails. “It was pitch dark and I couldn’t see the priest or
anything else. Then I began to be really frightened. In the darkness it was a matter
between God and me, and he had all the odds….I had no chance” (267). All alone in the
dark confessions box, Jackie is faced with the prospect of laying out the sins of his life to
the God he knows from contact with “religious folk.” He knows that his prospects are
bad with such a mercurial and vicious deity, and when he receives no response to his
introduction, the poor boy knows that “He had me spotted all right” (267).
Imagine then, if you will, the surprise of the boy when he meets the priest, special
emissary of God sent directly to deal with Jackie. After an awkward introduction puts
him on the receiving end of the priest’s “angry voice” and “terrible looks” (268) Jackie
is sure that the worst of his fears regarding this God and his people are true. However,
when the priest sends Nora packing --“’How dare you hit the child like that, you little
vixen?’”-- (268) Jackie sees that he has found a man who can see through Nora’s
devices of holiness. Jackie discovers him to be “intelligent above the ordinary” (269),
a religious person who actually practices what he preaches. This is a man to whom he
is able to bare his soul, quite unlike his Da. “’Father,’ I said, ‘I had it all arranged to kill
my grandmother.’” (269). Although the priest is “a bit shaken” by this news, he helps
Jackie to work through the issue, not tattling on him, or thrashing him for it. In fact,
the good man helps him come to the conclusion that killing Gran really is not worth
it by regaling him with stories of those who hung for killing their grandmothers, to
47
{hannah mitchell ~ first confessions con’t}
ENGLISH 1B
Jackie’s great delight. Jackie feels him “the most entertaining figure I’d ever met in the
religious line” (270).
Through all of his interactions with “religious folk” Jackie had been exposed to a God
he perceived to be controlling, dictatorial and not above a good thrashing every once
in a while. In the priest, the most frightening religious image of them all to his young
mind, he finds a kind ear willing to listen to his troubles and commiserate with his
woes: “He had me there for a full ten minutes talking, and then walked out the chapel
yard with me. I was genuinely sorry to part with him…” (270). Jackie has found a friend
who shows him a much more friendly vision of God through his actions. As he exits
the church yard enjoying his farewell gift of “bullseyes” from the priest (271) the boy
philosopher is assailed by his “religious sister” who tries once again to gain control over
him. This time, however, young Jackie is able to brush her comments off, prompting
Nora to exclaim in frustration at his new friendship, “’Tis no advantage to anybody
trying to be good. I might as well be a sinner like you’” (271).
Works Cited
O'Connor, Frank. "First Confession." Points of View: An Anthology of Short Stories.
Eds. James Moffett and Kenneth R. McElheny. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Mentor,
1995. 263-71. Print.
Jacquelin Arroyo
Uglypuss the Great
ENGLISH 1B
If only Uglypuss could talk, she would probably have some friendly advice to share with
Joel and Becka to save their relationship…or at least their sanity. In Margret Atwood’s
“Uglypuss,” Atwood depicts the breakup between Joel and Becka. However, had either
Joel or Becka picked up some hints from the most unlikely of characters, Uglypuss, they
could have, perhaps, come out with quite a different ending. Uglypuss is a symbolic
character because she carries the traits that both Joel and Becka would have liked to
see in each other through their tumultuous relationship.
Uglypuss never demands much. As long as she has the love and affection from her
caretakers, she will be hospitable and even provide her unending affection. Literally,
Uglypuss likes whatever feels good: “Uglypuss brushes against [Joel’s] legs, purring. He
scratches her between the ears and pulls her up slowly by the tail, which he’s convinced
cats like”(492). Joel is right in assuming that Uglypuss likes the way he handles her,
otherwise Uglypuss would have scratched Joel’s arm and run out of the room with a
wail. However, it is actually Becka that interferes and frequently tells Joel, “‘Cut that
out, you’ll break its spine,’…But Uglypuss was his goddamn cat, to begin with” (492).
If Uglypuss could talk she would probably have said something to the effect of, Chill
Becka. I like to feel like I’m flying. And yet, Becka’s reaction is a sign of jealousy since
at this point Joel is already beginning to show more affection to the cat than to her.
Perhaps, if Becka wasn’t thinking so much, Joel would scratch her behind the ears
every once in a while, too. As the relationship approaches its pitiful end, Becka is more
and more concerned about Joel’s reaction rather than following her own gut instinct;
even immediately after she is destroying Joel’s furniture, Becka is antagonized by what
Joel’s reaction might be: “…You mean you really can’t think of anything more important
to do?” (503). This is why Joel loves Uglypuss more, and probably wishes that Becka
(or any woman for that matter) would be more like his furry little gal than to act like a
crazy lunatic.
Uglypuss never fights back. She does not have to create havoc in order to be on Joel’s
intellectual level, as though it was some type of competition, and Joel appreciates that:
He hopes he was right, he hopes she’s not too political. Becka wasn’t political when he
first met her. In those days she was doing art therapy…She’s had a calmness, a patience
that he’s since realized was only a professional veneer…He’d enjoyed trying to educate
her, and she’s gotten into it to parrot him or please him. What a mistake (495).
At the beginning of the relationship Becka, too, had that sense of being in the moment.
48
2012 VC Voices
49
{Jacquelin Arroyo ~ Uglypuss the Great con’t}
ENGLISH 1B
It was that “calmness” she once carried that reminded Joel of Uglypuss and is what
attracted him in the first place. But the more Becka feels that uneasiness of insecurity,
the more she tries to be someone she is not. Her efforts to become more like Joel and
be more involved in his interests are what inevitably drive Joel away.
After all, who wants to spend their time with someone who is always fighting? That
takes a lot of energy, and Uglypuss, like most cats, do not like to waste their time in
unnecessary exertions of energy: “[Joel] prefers women who are soft-spoken and
who don’t live all the time in their heads, who don’t take everything with deadly
seriousness…someone who won’t argue” (495). Joel’s refined preference in what he
wants in other women is a clear indication of what he is not getting from Becka.
Around Uglypuss, Joel demonstrates a protective-like quality that he never displays for
Becka, another reason their relationship begins to deteriorate. Joel loves Uglypuss and
wants to make sure she is all right: “She meows, but he doesn’t want her going out,
not at night. Even though she’s spayed, she wanders, and sometimes gets into fights”
(492). Joel’s need to protect Uglypuss is because she does not demand much from Joel,
but accepts him as he is---as opposed to Becka, who constantly pokes fun at his flaws
to be funny but ends up irritating him:
lying with her eyes closed and her mouth slack and open” (504). If only Uglypuss could
talk, she would place a reassuring paw on Becka’s shoulder and let her know that loving
yourself is the most important thing. Uglypuss would say: Do what feels good for you,
and if this isn’t I,t tell him to “hit the road, Jack.” But unfortunately, Uglypuss can’t talk,
and lesser-minded creatures such as Joel and Becka have to fend for themselves.
Uglypuss is always there through the ups and downs of the relationship. No matter
what Joel or Becka did to each other Uglypuss was there and willing to give her undying
affection without judgment or criticism. Perhaps everyone could take a lesson from
Uglypuss and remember to go after what feels good. Life is too short, especially for
a cat. There is no reason anyone needs to be someone he or she is not, like Joel who
attempted to be the “relationship guy” when all he could think about was the next piece
of tail or cream puff, or Becka who thought she needed to portray a more intellectuallysavvy side even though she was never that interested in politics to begin with. Instead,
be like Uglypuss, who left her judgment and criticism aside. Be like Uglypuss and just
live in the moment. After all, that is the only thing this life guarantees.
It was right after this that Becka caught him in the bathroom, standing with his back to
the mirror, looking at his head from behind with a plastic violet-framed hand mirror,
hers. She wouldn’t let up on that for weeks. ‘Checked out your manly beauty this
morning?’ ‘Thought about Hair-Weave?’ ‘You’d look cute as a blond. It would go with
the skull.’ ‘Chest wigs yet?’ (484)
This type of humor could be not only an attempt to point out Joel’s flaws but also to
cover up hers. In addition, Joel’s irritation in her comments also displays the insecurities
he is experiencing. Had Uglypuss been in this situation she would have not felt the
need to fight fire with fire, but instead, to just chill.
Becka, like Uglypuss, loves Joel, but Joel does not love her: “He’d always thought more
of the cat than he did of her. It used to make her sick, to watch the way he’d pick it up
by the tail and run it through his hands, like sand, and the cat loved it…It was the kind
of cat that drooled when you stroked it. It fawned all over him” (504). In the end, Becka
realizes that she is more like Uglypuss than she cares to admit. And it is this realization
that finally pushes Becka over the edge: “Maybe the real reason she couldn’t stand it
was that it was a grotesque and stunted furry little parody of herself. Maybe this was
what she looked like, to other people when she was with him. She thinks of herself
50
2012 VC Voices
Adrian Carnejo
A Face
51
Kevin Keebler
Walking With Memories
ENGLISH 1B
Our lives are defined by transitions. I was graduating from high school, and I remember
the night my parents sat me down and gave me two options: stay in Oregon with onethousand dollars, or move with them to California, where I would have a bed to sleep
in, food to eat, and college for twenty-six dollars a credit in one of the most beautiful
areas I’ve ever been in. Which would you have chosen? Even though the choice was
made easily, the pain of leaving everything and everyone I had known had already
began to burn me with the tears I knew would come. Memories, and the ones you
share them with, wrap you up like a blanket, becoming this thing that shields you from
loneliness and despair. Now it was time to shed my well-forged comfort and feel the
cold of sunny California: new faces, no memories, just potential—for good or bad.
Before I left, however, I decided to make one final memory. I bought some plain white
Vans and a handful of colored Sharpies, and, during a school event, anyone who wished
to do so could make his or her mark upon those canvas shoes. Some simply signed their
names, whether it was because I didn’t know them too well (acquaintances I wish I
could have known better), or because it was their way (my best friend signed his name
and baseball-jersey number, telling me that it’d be worth millions someday). Others
offered one-liners that are really secrets, phrases that fill my head with adventures,
jokes, or trouble avoided. A select few tried fitting a novel onto a size 13 shoe, and I
love them for that. I remember how they were the ones who could talk and talk, and I
remember listening.
I successfully transformed those shoes into something more. What had once cost forty
dollars was now priceless. They are empowered by memories. I look at them and I see
smiling faces; I see laughter. I see love. They are buried away somewhere in my closet
because I never wear them. Instead I pull them out and examine them in reverent
respect, as one looks at gravestone. I bask in the nostalgia as it pulses from them. One
needs to take great care with memories. I plan to take these laced memories wherever
I go, and to those who ask I will reply, “Why? Because they are a physical testament
that wherever you walk in life your memories will walk with you, stained and inked in
multiple colors upon your shoes.”
“Your shoe may stink, but your heart doesn’t.” – Miranda
52
2012 VC Voices
Nancy Beswick
Fagan Canyan, Barranca Vista
53
ENGLISH 2
Ashley Nichols
Diminished Capacity Defense
The insanity defense is based on the theory that people can choose to follow the law,
but a few (the mentally ill) cannot be held accountable for the crime because their
mental disease or disability deprives them of the ability to make rational choices. These
individuals need treatment, as opposed to sentencing in prison. Was it a good decision
for California to abolish the “diminished capacity defense” in 2002? Diminished capacity
or diminished responsibility is a potential defense where defendants will argue that
even though they broke the law, they should not be held criminally liable for doing
so, as their mental functions were “diminished” or impaired. The law was established
to balance the need to be fair to an individual wrongdoer, but offer protection to
society from an individual who may not have complete control (that is, mens rea ) over
their behavior due to a mental illness. Therefore, the U.S. Congress needs to create a
defense to protect the mentally ill as opposed to imprisonment. One example that led
to the abolishment of the Diminished Capacity Defense is the trial of Dan White.
In 1979 the trial of Dan White, a former San Francisco police officer and fire fighter
who assassinated both San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey
Milk on November 27, 1978, was the deciding factor that led to California’s decision
to abolish the defense. White’s psychiatrist Martin Blinder convinced the jury that
White suffered from depression, causing White to abuse junk food. Elements of a poor
diet are known to worsen existing mood swings. White was charged with involuntary
manslaughter opposed to first degree murder because White suffered from a mental
disorder-- “depression.” In White’s defense, White was struggling with depression
resulting from loss of employment and problems with his marriage. White’s depression
was said to lead to an increased consumption of sugary foods and sugar-laden soft
drinks, causing White to “explode” neurologically and was on “auto pilot” at the time of
the killings. This proves that White had no knowledge of the two lives he ended or the
law he just violated. The jury found Dan White incapable of the premeditation required
for a murder conviction and instead convicted White of involuntary manslaughter.
The ruling in Dan White’s murder trial had a staggering effect on the way the criminal
justice system handles pleas of insanity. This absurd “junk food coma,” now known as
the “Twinkie defense,” led states throughout the U.S, including California, to abolish
the diminished capacity defense (Pogash).
54
2012 VC Voices
As mentioned, in 2002 California abolished the diminished capacity defense with PC§25:
Diminished Capacity Defense Abolished: In criminal action as well as any juvenile court
proceeding, evidence concerning an accused person’s intoxication, trauma, mental
illness, disease or defect shall not be admissible to show or negate capacity to form the
particular purpose, intent, motive, malice aforethought, knowledge, or other mental
state required for the commission of the crime charged…. (State).
The effect of the defense varies among jurisdictions and states, resulting in a full
psychological evaluation done by a licensed psychiatrist and therefore a verdict of “not
guilty” equaling a lesser offense. As stated in California PC§28: “Evidence of mental
disease, mental defect, or mental disorder is admissible solely on the issue of whether or
not the accused actually formed a required specific intent, premeditated, deliberated,
or harbored malice aforethought when a specific intent crime is charged”(State). The
abolishment of the diminished capacity defense in PC§25 leaves mentally ill individuals
with no defense against crimes they had no knowledge of committing or that the act
they performed was in fact breaking the law.
Individuals whose cases are decided on this basis should be hospitalized and provided
appropriate recovery-based treatment rather than treated as if they have been found
guilty and sentenced to years behind bars. There have been several incidences where
Iraqi veterans have come home to their awaiting families and are suffering from life
threatening Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). One example proving PTSD to be
a mental illness is the story of Matthew Sepi, a twenty year old Iraq veteran returned
home from war, who now struggles to do daily activities and separate the life he has
now from the life he once lived in a war zone. In 2005, Sepi headed out one night
to a liquor store to buy alcohol to help him sleep. Nights of bombs blasting and cries
from the Iraqi civilians and his fellow brothers forced Sepi to abuse alcohol to cope
with the nightmares. Carrying his loaded AK-47 for protection, Sepi reached the store,
bought his liquor, and returned to his path home. While Sepi walked back home two
gang members came out of the darkness and confronted him; Sepi got a glimpse of
a gun one of the gang members was carrying. Sepi claims he heard a loud bang and
just snapped, shooting rounds from his AK-47 at the two gang members leaving one
dead and one badly wounded. Sepi fled the scene trying to escape the enemy until
police caught up with him. Matthew Sepi, in his mind, was back in Iraq, completing
a mission and taking down his targets, as he explained to the police. Sepi was later
booked and was traumatized after the realization that he had not killed the enemy Iraqi
extremists; instead, it was two civilians on the street in his neighborhood (Sontag). The
New York Times found one hundred and twenty-one cases in which veterans of Iraq
and Afghanistan committed a killing in the U.S or were charged with one after returning
from war. In many of these cases, combat traumas and stresses of deployment--along
with alcohol abuse, family discord and other attendant problems-- appear to have set
55
{Ashley Nichols ~ Diminished Capacity DefensE con’t}
ENGLISH 2
the stage for a tragedy that was part destruction and part self-destruction (Sontag).
In my interview with First class Sergeant Lee Lewis, a military police officer in the U.S
Army, Lewis states that after doing two tours to Iraq in 2003 and 2005, the effects of
post-traumatic stress disorder have made him suffer from anxiety attacks. Lewis was a
body guard for the 4th Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major (one of the highest
enlisted soldiers in the division), and he currently struggles in daily activities. Lewis is
always looking over his shoulder, on edge from protecting the Sergeant Major from
any suspected attacks. Lewis has problems sleeping because his mind is constantly
racing back to the mental images he witnessed in Iraq, He confesses to alcohol use
in coping with his insomnia. Sgt. Lewis in fact admits carrying his licensed hand gun
around with him stating, “After going through what I went through, two tours in some
of the un-safest locations, I’m not going to get killed by some civilian who tries to
take advantage of me in any situation”(Lewis). It is unfair while these young men and
woman get treated medically during their tours in some of the worst conditions known
to man, they are coming home to their families and civilian lives with mental illness and
disabilities that they have no psychological cognition on how to cope or treat.
The criminal justice system needs to balance both the individuals’ rights of the mentally
ill and society’s rights to be free and protected from the risks that living and socializing
with the criminally insane might bring. In Southwest Denver there is a community where
the criminally ill are able to live and work in society. Mental Health Center of Denver
allows some inmates to live in a neighboring apartment complex like Briggs Terrace,
which is run by Doug Cominskey, a former convict that killed two priests because a
werewolf told him to. Briggs Terrace apartment complex shadows a school, a ball park,
and neighboring residential homes. Residents of the neighborhood near Briggs Terrace
are worried about the potential crimes the criminally insane residents next door could
commit against them and their children (Brenckle). Mental Health America (MHA)
urges that an independent review board be empowered to make release decisions
based on the individual’s recovery and consequent lack of danger to the public (MHA).
Recovery through medical treatments must lead to a release back in to society for the
mentally ill opposed to no treatment and jail cell confinement.
birth” (Qtd. in Gaines 22-23). Today at the University of Arizona, Geneticist David C.
Rowe believes, “All behavior is represented in the brain, in its biochemistry, electrical
activity, structure and growth and decline (Qtd. in Gaines 22-23).”Ancestral traits are
passed down from generation to generation. As stated by Ceasare Lombroso, “You
have no choice; you are born with these traits, passed down to you by your ancestors”
(Qtd. in Gaines 33). It is the individual’s decision if he/she is going to let these family
traits-- addictive, criminal, good traits or not--to affect their lives and decision making
when it comes to breaking the law. People choose to break the law every day; the
desire may be a trait you are born with but you control your own actions and are able
to identify right from wrong.
Mental illness is real, serious, and needs to be treated. Failure to recognize it results in
unnecessary circumstances like criminalization of the person with the mental illness.
Recognizing the insanity defense is essential for the judicial system to address these
issues. It would be far more life threatening to society to put the mentally disabled
individual behind bars for crimes he/she has no recollection of ever committing nor
knowledge that the law the individual violated was in fact a crime. Not being given
proper medical treatment or psychological therapy can damage society because,
given the chance, these criminally insane individuals might be reinstated back to the
community to relieve overcrowding in our jails that leads to future crimes committed
by the criminally insane. If these individuals are mentally ill and they violate our laws,
they need to be medically treated and after recovery given the chance to thrive in their
community as “normal” functioning citizens.
Works Cited
Brenckle, Laura. “Killing Hits Too Close for Comfort.” The Patriot - News: A.1. ProQuest
Newsstand. Jun 26 2010. Web.10 Apr. 2012 .
Gaines, Larry K, and Roger Leroy Miller. The Core Criminal Justice in Action. Belmont:
Wadsworth, 2010. Print.
Lewis, Lee: Personal Interview. 16 Oct. 2011
“MHA.org.go.position-statement 57.” San Francisco. n.d. Web.14 Oct. 2011.
Pogash, Carol. “Myths of the Twinkie Defense.” San Francisco Chronicle. SFC.com, Nov. 2003.
Web. 16 Oct. 2011
Sontag, Deborah and Lizette Alvarez. “America: Iraq veterans leave a trail of death and
heartbreak in U.S” The New York Times, 10 Jan. 2008. Web. Oct. 2011.
Hundreds of years ago medical professions began studying biological and psychological
traits for mentally ill individuals that could lead them to some criminal behavior if given
certain circumstances. Different trait theories by Italian Physician Ceasare Lombroso
(1865-1909), show that “criminals were throwbacks to the early humankind and could
therefore be identified by certain physical characteristics. These individuals have no
free choice when it comes to wrong doing, their criminality has been determined at
56
2012 VC Voices
State Legislative Counsel. The California Penal Codes. USA: State Legislative Counsel,
est. 1872. Print.
57
Martin Fagin
How to See a Chicana Role Model
ENGLISH 2
People see with their eyes every day, but fewer and fewer people today try to see with
their minds. Reading a book used to be a very popular activity of leisure, but now the
average interest in reading a story is waning. Could it be that books and stories have
come to feel too linear to their readers? Perhaps an interest in reading could be rebuilt
if there were more stories out there that were purposefully left incomplete; leaving
readers to fill in the blank details and heighten their own appreciation of the story
through their involvement. How to Be a Chicana Role Model by Michele Serros is an
illuminating example of how a written story can be made more interesting and even
involving by allowing the reader a limited amount of imaginative freedom.
How to Be a Chicana Role Model often gives the reader a chance to envision the
overall looks of the people mentioned in the story for him or herself, rather than being
instructed on exactly what these people look like. When Serros shares that, “When
I take my graduation pictures, my nose will look just like Terri’s,” the reader is left to
imagine what Terri must look like, based on Serros’ jealousy and an earlier-implied
loathing of her own nose (Serros 14). Plenty of other people mentioned throughout
this book, such as Serros’ family members and her eventual roommate Angela, are not
described in the slightest beyond how the reader would interpret their looks through
their actions and what they say. Because the story never really focuses on any one
person (besides the author herself) for any significant length of time, the reader is free
to envision the others however he or she wants to. This adds to the people’s value and
level of interest because they are given a personal touch by the reader.
An author who can show a reader both a person and his/her lifestyle without ever
writing a word about either ought to be commended and recognized, and Serros
makes this kind of difficult writing seem like a walk in the park. There is not a single
sentence in How to Be a Chicana Role Model in which Serros describes anything visual
about her roommate Angela, and when Serros enters Angela’s room repeatedly to take
nervous glances at her diary, the room itself is never detailed to the reader in a way
that would paint a clear picture of how it looked (87-92). Instead of being told what
Angela looks like or being walked through her room from floor to ceiling, the reader
is left to “create” Angela based on her interactions with Serros. Angela states that she
wants Serros’ boxes of books out of the living room in time for the holidays, yet the
boxes stay, giving the reader freedom to imagine how a passive, possibly irresponsible
person such as Angela might look and sound (35-37). Allowing readers this interpretive
freedom only pulls them further into the story, gripping and holding them until they’ve
finished just one more chapter. If a reader gets to create the people in the story just
as the author does, then it can feel like his or her story, too. Of course, the reader’s
58
2012 VC Voices
imagination is reigned in when necessary, but never to the point of cutting the reader
off from his/her involvement.
Serros’ writing style clearly shows that she understands which descriptions matter in
a story, which ones don’t, and which ones should be left up to interpretation by the
reader. Serros tells her readers about an experience she had while working at a place
called Annie’s Art Emporium, yet the store itself is never detailed to the reader (75).
The only informing details the are the orange smocks and name tags the employees
wear, and the fact that Serros was behind a cash register with a phone nearby (75-77).
However, when customer Sheila Emmerson entered the store (and the story) for the
first time, her clothing, jewelry, and especially her haircut were explained to the reader
in such a way that much of her character was quickly and clearly defined (76-78). This
probably was intended to give a lasting impression of this lady to the readerbecause
she gave Serros a lasting impression of her own through the experience Serros had
with her. Serros chose to have the reader experience this lady the same way she saw
her, making this woman worth describing instead of providing visual details of the
store they were in. This was an obvious writing decision to keep readers focused on
what matters while allowing their imagination to fill in the background, a clever way to
let readers’ imaginations stay at work while still involving them with the story details.
Books that don’t offer interpretive freedom can be good or even great in their own
right, but they can also become boring as they are stacked upon each other. If the
average person knew that there were books out there, such as How to Be a Chicana
Role Model, that involve his/her own personal input and thoughts, leisurely reading
might see the rise in popularity that it deserves. The author is always the one to write
the story, but part of the experience of reading it should lie in what the reader may
create.
Works Cited
Serros, Michele. How to Be a Chicana Role Model. New York: Berkley Publishing Group, 2000.
Print.
59
Sara Edwards
How Dance is a Part of Me
ENGLISH 2
What makes me who I am? Am I special or am I just another person in the crowd?
When I was little, I always wanted to do something beautiful, like dancing. Dancing
just seems so happy and fun. I have always admired people who can dance beautifully,
but when I was thirteen, I was diagnosed with Scoliosis. My doctor told me that I had
to have surgery, but I did not want it. I was told to be nice to the doctors because they
“knew” what was best for me, and surgery was the best solution. I did not want to be
cut open and have something placed into my back. I knew that there were better ways
to help me without smashing my hopes and only I could find it. I just didn’t know that
once I found the solution, I would find something more than what I expected. I didn’t
know I would find my solution in my dream.
I was thirteen years old when my mother and I found out that I had scoliosis. I have a
double curve spine that is slightly rotated. One curve was at 42 degrees and the other
was at 37 degrees, which is bad enough to qualify for surgery. At first I was angry and
wondered why this horrible curse was handed down to me. I was so mad because I
found out that it is hereditary; I am the only one in my family, except for my great-aunt,
who has scoliosis. I remember saying, “What did I do to deserve this?” I knew that if I
had surgery then I would never dance well because I would be in too much pain. I was
terrified by the thought of being cut open. I also knew that if I had the surgery, I would
have a rod placed into my back to support my spine. I had been frightened by stories
of surgery survivors who ended up with even more pain than they had had before the
surgery.
Paige Kilborn
Water Ballet
Photo
My doctor thought a hard back brace would help, but he was far from right. Once I
got the brace, which was when all the problems started to happen, I was told that I
had to wear it for 22 hours a day. At night, I would sometimes wake up not breathing. My mother realized that I also stopped eating and growing. The brace wasn’t doing
anything good; unfortunately, it was making things worse. My doctors and my mother
told me that exercise with the brace on would help my back, but it hurt too much to
exercise with it on. I was talking to my mother one day about exercise. She wanted
me to find something that would be good for my back while wearing the brace, but
everything that I tried caused too much pain. My mother and I made a deal that I
would exercise more, but with my brace off. At that moment, exercise was my only
solution.
When I was fifteen, going to the gym wasn’t very fun, and doing exercises at home did
not work. At this age, I also became rather rebellious. One day, I was talking to some
60
2012 VC Voices
61
{sara edwards ~ how dance is part of me con’t}
ENGLISH 2
friends. They mentioned that they were thinking about signing up to take Ballroom
Dance class and told me that I should take the class as well. I was really nervous about
taking a dance class, since I hadn’t danced before. I was afraid of looking dumb or
ridiculous in front of people, but I didn’t. I did rather well! My teacher invited me a few
weeks later to take Swing Dancing. The dancing helped me with my posture. I became
good enough that my teacher asked me to assist him with demonstrating moves to
the whole class for both Ballroom and Swing on the days when his wife was too tired.
A few months later, I went to the doctor again and he noticed the difference in my
posture, but it was still not enough. I still needed the brace and I needed even more
surgery. I became really annoyed with my brace and with my doctors. I then stopped
wearing the brace altogether and refused to go to the doctor. I still had to go to the
doctor, but I was scolded several times about how foolish I was by my doctors, as well
as my mother. I didn’t want the surgery, so I knew that I didn’t have that much more
time to find my solution. I was looking through a Ventura community recreational
catalog and saw a different dance style: Belly Dance. I thought that it looked interesting
and that it might help me even more than the Ballroom and Swing classes. My mother
agreed that that dance style might help me even more than the others because Belly
Dancing focuses a lot on the core and back. I took Belly Dancing for a little over six
months and I gradually noticed how much better I felt physically! I had to get an X-ray
done on my back, so the doctors could make the final decision on if I needed the
surgery or not. My doctors realized that my back had improved by enough degrees
that I would be fine without the surgery.
So now at the age of eighteen, with no surgeries ever done on me, I feel great. I dance
every day now and I want to be in more dance classes. Currently, my favorite styles are
Ballet and Modern, which I am studying at the moment. Thanks to dance, my body
is more flexible and I am happier than I was a few years back; being in dance is an
amazing feeling. Each dance style is so different and unique. There is a type of freedom
and creativity that I experience while dancing, something that I haven’t felt since I was
a kid. Even the strict dance styles have the creativity and freedom built in, whether
you can find them and make the best of them, or not. For the future, I hope I can be
a performer and a dance teacher. I love working with people, especially children. I
understand that performers don’t have long careers, but I hope I can perform at least
a few times. I also would like to try as many different styles of dance as I can while I
am still alive. I want to show people what dance is to me and how it has changed me. I
love dancing. I feel free and I feel less pain than what I had to deal with in my younger
years. I would like to show and encourage people that any obstacle can be overcome if
you continue to do your best without giving up, especially if your dreams are at stake. 62
2012 VC Voices
63
Sirvontré Ingram
Two Historical Leaders:
A Comparison and Contrast between
Martin Luther King, Jr and César Chávez
ENGLISH 2
In recognition of these historical leaders of America, how much do you appreciate
the way you are able to walk into any place of business without a sign in the window
that states “Whites Only”? Well, thanks to the many historical leaders that made this
possible for our society as we know it, this does not happen as it once did. Of those
many leaders, there are two that stand out for being lifelong advocates of equality.
In comparing Luther King, Jr. and Cesar Chavez, these two unique leaders have some
differences; however, they both fought for rights for everyone.
Rowe states that King’s background was unusual. He grew up in a time of segregation
in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was born on January 15, 1929. In Auburn, Georgia, where
King grew up, there were many successful African-American businesses, and it was also
where some professional men made their homes. Needless to say, King Sr. and his wife
made sure King, Jr. and his two siblings had a good upbringing; they surrounded them
with nothing but positive influences. King’s academic quest was one that reflected his
upbringing with King surpassing the ninth and twelfth grades. It would be safe to say
that he was ahead of many youth his age. This gained him admittance to Morehouse
College in Atlanta, Georgia at the early age of fifteen. King later transferred to Crozer
Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania in 1948. King would finish his academic
quest in 1955 at Boston University where he earned his doctorate in religious studies.
In 1953, during his studies at Boston University, King met his wife, Coretta Scott. Thus,
the poverty that so many other families were dealing with in this time was not the case
in the King household. His background was a solid and positive one that molded King
into the man that he became (Rowe 4-5).
In contrast to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s solid and positive background, Cesar Chavez was
born into a poor background. Chavez was born March 31, 1927, to Librodo Chavez
and Juana Estrada on a family farm in Yuma, Arizona during the time of segregation,
like King. His academic quest was nothing like King’s. Although Chavez only got what
is equivalent to a fourth grade education, he learned a lot from his parents in the
household and in the fields. In 1944, when Chavez was only seventeen, he joined the
U.S. Navy to fight in World War II. After two years of service, he returned to Delano,
California to work the fields with his family. Chavez found his wife at the early age of
twenty-one. Shortly after that, he and his wife Helen Fabela moved into a one-room
shack in Delano (Gonzales 5-19). Even though King and Chavez came from two totally
different backgrounds, their philosophies are almost identical.
64
2012 VC Voices
According to Patterson, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s philosophies of equality and
nonviolence went hand and hand. He also studied and believed in the methods of
Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolence. So his fight for equality was done in a nonviolent
manner even if violence was done to him or his followers. King led movements such as
boycotting the busses due to the fact that Ms. Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up
her seat on the bus for a white man. He also led marches in Montgomery, Alabama, and
Albany, Georgia, as well as in several other cities and states-- all in a stand for equality
for all. With King being such an advocate of equality and nonviolence, he inspired and
eventually partnered with other civil rights groups that were in the same fight, such
as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), The
Freedom Riders, and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), as well as several others.
Although King’s leadership was greatly appreciated by many, he also was resented by
many, as well. However, King never let any of the negativity stop him from his main
goal of eventually living in a perfect world with no racism and with equality for all
(Patterson 1-159). These were the philosophies of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Chavez’s
philosophies were almost exactly the same.
Chavez followed in the footsteps of Martin Luther King, Jr. and adopted his philosophies
of equality and nonviolence. Chavez, much like King, studied the life and teachings
of Ghandi. He exemplified these philosophies while he led laborers and even when
he became the founder of the United Farm Workers. He also was greatly concerned
with solving the problems of migrant farm workers nationwide. So Chavez started
seeking help from Fred Ross, the founder of an organization called Community Service
Organization (CSO). Chavez became the director of CSO in California and Arizona in
1958. However, he resigned from CSO in 1962 after several years of being shut down
about starting a special farm labor union. This gave him the motivation to form the
union himself, so he did. It was called The National Farm Worker’s Association (NFWA).
In 1965, the NFWA got national attention due to the fact that his union joined forces
with the United Auto Workers and the AFL-CIO to form the largest union in America. It
was called the United Farm Worker Organization Committee (UFWOC) and after 1972
was only known as the UFW, or the United Farm Workers (Ribera 53-57). Much like
King, Chavez wanted equality for all farm workers nationwide, so he rose above the
racism and uncivil working conditions and made a nonviolent protest against it. The
philosophies of those two historical leaders will be remembered and recognized in
households and classrooms nationwide forever.
According to Patterson and Rowe, Martin Luther King, Jr. has many accomplishments,
but he is remembered for a few in particular. One of them is King’s “I Have a Dream”
speech, which he gave at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963.
King is also a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. On December 10, 1964, he was awarded
65
{Sirvontré Ingram ~ Two Historical Leaders con’t}
ENGLISH 2
this prestigious prize for his life-long fight for equality. King’s final “accomplishment”
was his assassination. This made a martyr of him. Due to his assassination, people
will never forget him, as opposed to if he had died any other way. The assassination
brought people together, no matter the color of their skin, as equals. Lastly, we
celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday in commemoration of all he did for America
with his fight to accomplish equality for all Americans. These are some of Martin Luther
King, Jr.’s accomplishments while he was on earth; most people could never match his
accomplishments for America (Patterson 1-123, Rowe).
Similar to King, Chavez has several accomplishments from his lifelong fight for
equality. The first one is that he encouraged several migrant workers to become
citizens in the United States. He also insured equality for all farm working migrants,
and formed The United Farm Workers. One of his latest accomplishments was in
August, 1994, when President Clinton presented Helen Chavez, the wife of Chavez,
with the Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor. Lastly, we have been
celebrating Cesar Chavez Day on March 31 every year since August 18, 2000, when the
governor of California passed legislation making Cesar Chavez Day official in America.
Celebrating Cesar Chavez Day is one of the ways we acknowledge one of the many
accomplishments he has made on America’s behalf (Gonzales 35-104).
In conclusion, according to some scholars, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cesar Chavez are
two of the most remembered historical leaders today. These two men helped make
a better society for everyone. In this long journey of equality that we humans still
struggle with in the world today, people like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cesar Chavez
are much needed. In commemoration of these two unique leaders, we will never forget
the accomplishments and impact which they have had on America.
Works Cited
Gonzales, Consuelo. Cesar Chavez. New York: Chelsea House, 1991. Print.
Patterson, Lillie. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Freedom Movement. New York:
Facts on File, 1989. Print.
Ribera, Feliciano, and Matt S. Meier. The Chicanos: A History of Mexican Americans.
Jesusu Rivers
Untitled
New York: Hill and Wang, 1972. Print.
Rowe, Jeanne A. An Album of Martin Luther King, Jr.,. New York: F. Watts, 1970. Print.
66
2012 VC Voices
67
Joel Ceja
Strawberry in the Sand
ENGLISH 2
Good experiences and bad experiences are what await a new soldier in today’s
military. Those bad experiences can be difficult ,and, for some, impossible to
overcome. Out of all my experiences, good and bad, while in the U.S. Army, one
stands out in my mind that influenced me so much it has made me look at the world
positively. Either glass half full or half empty is the best way to describe how people
choose to understand the world. I chose half full. My experience while deployed in
Iraq solidified a future I did not even know I wanted.
It was a warm July night just south of Baghdad. The weather was so warm and perfect
during the night that one could close his eyes and imagine burying his toes on a white
sand beach on a tropical island. I was riding as a gunner in the turret of a Humvee
military truck. The warm, dusty, desert wind gently brushed against my cheeks as the
truck moved speedily through the dark city. After seven months of deployment, the fear
of being exposed outside of the safety of the truck’s armor had subsided, not because I
was used to it, but because I had made peace with the fact that we all are going to die
eventually. The hope is that one meets the Grim Reaper as an old, well-traveled man in
a warm bed surrounded by his loved ones, not alone in this dirty desert.
As our convoy drove down the worn Iraqi highway, I could see under the moonlight the
side of the road full of uneven charred potholes from detonated improvised explosive
devices (IED). Our unit was given the order to escort a group of Iraqi policemen from
a safe house to their home station. After meeting with the Iraqi police officers, it was
decided to take a dirt path along the edge of town to avoid enemy contact because of
the unarmored Nissan trucks the Iraqis drove. We all knew dirt roads were a bad idea
because of land mines and artillery shells buried along those roads, but because it was
night time and there was no way to landmark passing vehicles on open dirt roads, they
were deemed safe by command.
As our convoy neared the Iraqi police station, the faint lights on in the lower level
became visible. The two story building was on the outskirts of town along a polluted,
human feces-filled canal. Standing in the turret, I could look down at the water in the
canal. I could clearly see the reflection of the moon against the dark water as if it were
a painting hanging on a wall. Then, like flash of lightning, I was blinded by a hot bright
flash and at the same time deafened by a loud boom. I instantly knew it was an IED!
In a panic, I checked to make sure I was in one piece. When I realized I was okay, I
looked out to see if our truck was the one that was hit. From the gentle orange glow
emanating from the burning wreckage, I saw it was one of the Iraqi police trucks that
68
2012 VC Voices
received the full blast. It tore the now unrecognizable vehicle completely apart, like a
fuzzy chew toy mauled by a pitbull. As our medic ran past my truck, he looked up at
me and asked, “Are you good?” As I replied, “Yeah,” my voice sounded funny, like I had
my ears plugged. I jumped out of the top of my truck into a disorientating dust cloud
kicked up from the blast, small particles of dirt falling gently on and around me like
snowflakes.
Still slightly confused, I quickly moved closer to the smoldering vehicle. I could hear the
muffled sound of my breath in my head, mixed with a man’s panicked screams. I had
never heard a cry from a grown man like that before, almost animal-like in its intensity.
As I made my way around the back of the truck I saw what looked like a strawberry in
the sand. It was a piece of human flesh, glossy from the fresh blood that covered it and
speckled with bits of dirt. I chuckled and thought, that is strange, why am I smiling?
The screaming was coming from one of the Iraqi policemen. The blast had ripped his
pants clean off, along with his right leg. His intestines were spilling out of his body like
sloppy spaghetti spilled from a bowl. His eyes were wide open and looking around
wildly, searching for somebody to help. So much blood flowed from his wounds that
I knew he would die for sure. We all knew. It was apparent to all of us that this man
would die a horrible, agony-consumed, dirty death, all but the medic. Sergeant Hill,
our troop medic, worked on this Iraqi man with an urgency that seemed unnecessary
for a lost cause. I later asked him why he tried so hard for a guy who was going to die
anyway. He replied “If it was you, would you just want me to watch you die?” His words
stuck in my mind. His words and compassion made me think, what if it was my child,
wife, friend, or anybody who means something to me?
I have many lingering memories of my time in the service, some good, and some
not so good. The memory of that warm summer night plays in my mind like an
old broken record, never entirely fading away. The words Sergeant Hill spoke to
me also never faded. I chose to see the positive that resulted from that horrible
event. After leaving the Army I found myself searching for a new role in society,
a way to fit my cog into the machine that is civilian America. When deciding
what career I wished to pursue, I chose to follow my heart. I want to help
others heal from their sicknesses and injuries. I wish to be the caring person that others
look to when in need. Sergeant Hill’s dedication to his fellow man inspired me to follow
his lead, and to become someone who makes a positive difference in the world.
69
Gabriela Olivares
“I Told You So”
ENGLISH 2
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve never been a big fan of school. Since I spent my
childhood in a small town in Mexico, the customs were that the female was to be a
stay-at-home mom and not go further than completing elementary school, and if she
were lucky, maybe middle school. When I came to the United States at the age of
nine, I was in culture shock. There were new foods, new language, new friends, new
everything. This was a very important period, yet a very difficult time in my life.
Since my father lived most of his life here in California, his desire to bring my mom, my
brother, and me to California came true. I hated him so much for making that decision;
who was he to decide where I should live my life? When I asked for an answer, all I
could remember him saying was, “Es por tu propio bien,” meaning it’s for your own
good. For my own good, I thought? What about our relatives, my school, my friends,
and my horse?
“You’ll see them soon,” he mumbled.
It was difficult for me to assimilate because after spending nine years of my life in a
small town, the city was overwhelming and stressful. The days of running wild on
nothing but pure nature were over. No more folktales told by grandpa for me. No
more fishing at the lagoon, feeding the chickens, hunting at night, no more fun for me.
But what I was going to miss the most was my horse “Arcoiris.” I love riding horses,
so my grandpa, who owned a ranch, gave me Arcoiris for my eighth birthday. It was
really difficult and moving to say goodbye to Arcoiris. He was my best friend. Every day
I went back home running from school to my house to feed and ride Arcoiris. When I
was saying goodbye to him, it was like he understood everything that was happening.
“You be good to grandpa,” I cried. “He will take care of you until I come back.” As I left
the stable, his humming became more and more sullen.
When I got to California, it was obviously not the same. Even the weather was different;
this weather was cold and humid compared to where I was from. In California, I would
actually count all the stars; back in Guanajuato the night was clear and hundreds of
shiny, endless stars glimmered in the sky.
Pamela Vladyka Venegas
White Horse Luck Series #2
70
2012 VC Voices
There were signs everywhere here in the U.S, which didn’t really matter because I
didn’t understand one single word of them. And then there was school. It was an
average size school, but to me it was prodigious because back in Guanajuato my school
had only 12 classrooms, one restroom, and a principal’s office. AN ANTHOLOGY OF STUDENT WORK | VENTURA COLLEGE
71
{gabriela olivares ~ i told you so con’t}
ENGLISH 2
I hated my first day of school because I didn’t know anybody nor understand anything. At the beginning of class everybody stood up to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I
wanted to run outside so badly to sing the national anthem of Mexico just like we used
to do every Monday in my old school, but I knew I couldn’t. By lunch time, I had already
made a friend whom I felt comfortable with, but this didn’t last a long time because,
due to her parent’s job, she had to move out of state.
I managed to learn English through fourth and fifth grade. It turns out it wasn’t as bad
as I thought. I was able to communicate in English with my teacher and classmates by
the time I got to sixth grade. I made new friends with whom I still keep in touch and
who are some of my closest friends. In sixth grade, my life took a flip. I remember
going with my class to a field trip to Channel Islands University. I fell in love with it,
and ever since then I knew that I did not want to be a stay-at-home mom. I wanted to
explore the world and enjoy my life in this marvelous new world that I had found, filled
with opportunities, but I had to commit to school if I wanted to become more than
what I had thought I wanted. For the first time in my life, I had a clear vision of what
I wanted to do when I grew up. I had to be realistic with myself because I knew that
my parents were not going to be able to afford the tuition, so I took it upon myself to
achieve my goal no matter what. I promised myself that nothing was going to stop me
from pursuing my dreams and reaching my goal. The desire to succeed has kept me alert and optimistic all these years. Every now and
then I get a little sad because I miss the way that I used to live in my childhood, and
then I remember my father’s words before I departed from Mexico, of how it was
going to be the best for me. I now know that he was right: it was all leading to this. He
did not want his little girl to get married at an early age. He wanted a better future for
me and my family. Over the years my parents divorced, and even though I am not as close to my dad as I
used to be, and I hate to admit it, he can now proudly say, “I told you so.”
Alejandro G. Paz
Rooster Mask
3D design
72
2012 VC Voices
73
Esteban Sanchez
Hype It Up!
ENGLISH 2
Imagine a bus full of kids screaming the lyrics to an intense song being played over a
megaphone. To most this seems strange, but anybody who has ever been in a marching
band knows that these adrenaline-filled kids are just getting hyped up for their show. If
you have ever done something amazing or cool that you had to brag about, then you
can begin to understand what hype means. The word hype is used by most people to
talk about excessive advertising, promotion, or just plain hoopla. To a person who has
been a member of a band or a drum corps, hype means excitement, attitude, and the
feeling of being part of a badass team.
When a people get excited or hyped up, their heart rate increases and the adrenaline
starts flowing. This can help more than just band kids getting ready for a competition.
Many people have a workout playlist on their iPod that is full of music they put together
to pump themselves up. This is the same idea behind the megaphone blasting and
belting out songs on the bus. When band members sing an intense song along with
the rest of their band mates, they are not only building a strong brotherhood, they
are also building excitement and getting ready to give their performance all that they
have to give.
An additional effect of getting hyped up is it puts band members in the proper attitude
to perform. When they are performing a show, one of the most important things each
member of the group must do is display the right attitude. Hyping up is the best way
to get into that attitude of confidence and strength. Another effective way of getting
hyped is to behave as professionally as possible. When band members walk to their
warm-up area or to the stadium in perfect silence and form, as opposed to chatting
with friends and walking in mobs, they put themselves in a professional mindset. Band
members feel like everything they are doing is strictly business, and their upcoming
performance therefore deserves their full focus. All this put together gets them in the
best mindset to perform their show.
There is one other use of hype. Hyping can also be something that you do alone. When
I had a solo in our show my instructor told me to “hype the solo,” which basically means
to get into it. Hyping can be anything from head motions that accentuate parts of the
solo to grooving with the solo and expressing it with your whole body. What this does
is make the solo stand out more, but it also looks and sounds better to the judges’ eyes
and ears.
When someone dedicates hours of their life to perfecting their skills at something they
love, it is very easy to get intimidated by others. Performing in front of people who are
74
2012 VC Voices
watching and judging you is scary. It’s easy to think that maybe you aren’t as good as
you think you are. The worst thing you can do is freeze up and make a mistake. This
is one of the main reasons people choose to get hyped up before performances or
games. The attitude and confidence you gain when you are hyped up helps to prevent
choking up.
Football teams are another group who use hype to get ready to perform. High schools
and colleges spend thousands of dollars on their sports teams, most of which usually
goes to the football team. Three years ago, in the midst of state budget cuts, my high
school managed to find over one thousand dollars to spend on an inflatable tunnel
for our football team to enter the stadium through. The administration approved
spending over one thousand dollars on something the team would use only six times
per school year. The benefits of this tunnel were great, though. When the tunnel was
filled with fog and the band erupted with the school’s fight song, the players became
consumed by energy, excitement, and an awesome feeling of power. The amount of
money spent by my high school is miniscule compared to what professional and even
college football teams spend.
The UCLA athletic program spends thousands of dollars on their teams and events. If
you have ever been to a football game, then you know that it is like an entirely new
world. They have firework displays, four hundred piece bands, cheerleaders, and on
special occasion, military jet flyovers. All of these expenses are geared towards getting
the football team and the crowd hyped up. It’s not only up to the school to get the
team hyped up. The crowd’s participation and support is often more effective than
anything the school could pay for. There is no better feeling for a football player than
turning to the stadium seats and seeing a wall of fans painted in your school’s colors.
It is not only the spectated who delve into hyping; spectators also love getting hyped
up before games and performances. From air horns and noisemakers to face painting
and body painting, spectators love to immerse themselves into the show. For as long
as people have had something to cheer for, there has been hyping. The only thing you
need to hype yourself up is a reason to get excited and maybe some friends. Getting
hyped up can be so fun that people actually devote entire days to getting excited
about something. The perfect example is the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl is the most
watched sports program in America. People even have Super Bowl parties with all of
their friends. Hyping is something that anybody can do, from the elderly to children
who barely know how to speak.
Hyping can be done alone when getting ready for a solo performance; however, it
is typically better when it is a group activity. Tailgating is a perfect example of just
how fun hyping up can be when you have others to do it with you. The sound coming
from the stadium and the cheers and yells scattered throughout the parking lot create
75
{estaban sanchez ~ hype it up con’t}
ENGLISH 2
an intoxicating effect that fills everyone around. Cheering in the stands has its own
benefits. The sheer sound is enough to rattle your soul and send you on an adrenalinefilled adventure. Those are just two examples of how hyping with a group of friends, big
or small, can help get you even more hyped up.
Some people think hyping isn’t necessary and just plain weird. Those people, I’d
imagine, have never really gotten pumped up enough to have a great performance.
When people get in the right mindset and block out everything else going on in their
lives for just a day, they feel like they are in an entire new world where all of their other
problems do not exist. They are free to give themselves entirely to their performance.
This is what getting hyped up means.
Esteban Sanchez
When the Bubble Pops, Education Drops
ENGLISH 2
When the housing market bubble popped in late 2007 we saw the backlash in many
parts of the economy, affecting nearly every person in America. Many realized that
with the down-turn in the economy many things would have to change. Millions of
people now had to change their way of life until they emerged from the recession.
Now that the recession has been officially over for over two years, its effects are still
being felt by many. One group of newly independent adults who felt this downturn
more than others is college students. The current crippled economy has forced college
tuition rates to increase. Along with the cost of living, these ever-rising prices are
putting college students in a vise, forcing them to change majors, incur debt, seek
employment, or, in some extreme situations, drop out of school.
When the economy takes a turn for the worse and the government is already in debt,
several spending cuts need to be made. Of these spending cuts, cuts to education are
both common and controversial. Two systems that often receive large cuts to their
budgets are the UC and CSU systems in California. Every year the California government
gives about 18 percent less money than the previous year to the UC system. This drop in
funding is then passed on to the students who must make up the difference. Currently,
there is a proposal that will be voted on that could create a recurring 16 percent tuition
increase each year over the next four years. (Gordon).
According to a report published by the United States Department of Education,
California universities are not the only ones seeing a rise in tuition rates. Across
the nation, there has been a steady increase in the average price of attendance in
universities. At the turn of the millennium the average tuition for undergraduate
public universities was under $7,000. Now, only ten years later, the average tuition
rate for undergraduate students rose by nearly 50 percent! It is not only in four-year
universities that the skyrocketing tuition rates are being seen. The average tuition cost
for a two-year, public institution rose over one thousand dollars; this is about a 20
percent increase. Intuitively, we know that this inflation is not only taking place within
the education world (United States, Postsecondary).
Thomas Widick
Black & White Puzzle
76
2012 VC Voices
Everyday commodities such as gas, food, and even shelter have seen record high prices
since the Great Recession began. In 2008, at the height of the Great Recession, we saw
the highest national average gas price at $4.114 per gallon (AAA’s Daily). While we are
not at that level anymore, we can still view this as a powerful effect of the recession.
With gas prices at this level, the average commuter student who drives a truck twenty
minutes to and from school spends around sixty dollars in gas each week. Additionally,
the cost of maintaining a vehicle has also gone up. Tires, motor oil, and other essential
77
{estaban sanchez ~ when the bubble pops con’t}
ENGLISH 2
lubricants that are made out of oil are rising in price, too. The risk of not regularly
maintaining these could potentially lead to expensive repairs or even dangerous
accidents. This, when added to the rising price of food, gas, and tuition, makes paying
for college more daunting than many can handle.
One of the effects of these heightened costs is that many students are being forced to
change their educational goals. For example, I began my college endeavors striving to
enter the field of cosmology in order to be able to better understand our universe and
how it works. When I began applying to schools I realized that not many schools offer
study in cosmology, and I knew why. The fact is, cosmology is one of those dead-end
paths that will not likely lead to a lucrative career. As soon as I saw the unpopularity
of cosmology, I began re-evaluating. I then reluctantly settled into engineering. I
knew that if I obtained a degree in mechanical engineering I would have many more
opportunities for employment. Sadly, I am not the only college student who has had to
sacrifice their personal interests in order to survive in our crippled economy. There are
many people who struggle with the decision of which major to pursue. Education is a
huge investment, and nobody wants to make the investment without a good chance of
landing a decent job afterwards.
The largest program of study during the 2009-2010 school year was Business
Administration and Management. That year all across the United States, that field of
study graduated 136,926 students. That is nearly 10% of all Bachelor’s degrees earned
that year (United States. Dept. of Labor). Clearly, many students are seeking degrees
that they believe will lead them to more lucrative career paths and perhaps abandoning
their personal interests.
Another reason why students are forced to change their educational goals is because
their chosen institution has the ability to cut funding to any program they have.
Recently, Moorpark College actually removed Computer Science from the list of
subjects offered. Moorpark is not the only College to drop courses. A friend of mine
who attends Moorpark College was pursuing this computer science major before the
school did away with it. Just like anybody who is put in this situation, he had to decide
whether to change his major despite being very committed to Computer Science, or
to transfer schools. Because he did not learn about the college’s decision to cut the
program until it was his time to register for classes, he had no choice but to take other
classes and pursue a slightly different field of programming. Luckily for my friend, his
school offered a similar course of study that he was interested in. For many others this
isn’t the case. For these unfortunate individuals the problem usually leads them to
switch schools, which will disrupt their journey to graduation and add more time and
78
2012 VC Voices
money between them and a diploma.
With tuition rates at an all-time high across the nation, most students are resorting to
student loans to pay for their education. In addition to the number of student loans
being taken, these loans are becoming more and more risky. Many people are beginning
to question the value of a college degree. Some people, such as Charles Murray, are
criticizing what a degree really tells employers about an applicant: “Even a degree in
a vocational major like business administration can mean anything from a solid base
of knowledge to four years of barely remembered gut courses” (Murray 705). The risk
of investing in an education often goes overlooked based on the common belief that
if you go to college, you will be successful. This is not always true. In an interview with
NPR, Michelle Kurtwright gave her story: “I graduated from the University of Central
Missouri in May 2010 with a BFA in English. I'm a high school teacher at a low income
district and I make less per year than all of my family members who didn't even go to
college” (“What A College Major”).
A report by the United States Department of Education study entitled Baccalaureate
and Beyond Longitudinal Study found that over half of all first-time Bachelor’s Degree
recipients had accumulated a nearly $25,000 debt . The current amount of outstanding
student loans in America is nearly one billion dollars! Mark Kantrowitz states that “[t]
otal student loan debt is increasing at a rate of about $2,853.88 per second.” Michelle
Singletary compares student loan debt to credit debt in her article “Hint for studentloan debt: Avoid it.” “In the third quarter [2011], total student-loan debt was $865
billion. These figures dwarf credit card debt, which was $694 billion in the second
quarter and $693 billion in the third.”
In addition to massive student loans, many students are resorting to taking up jobs.
For example, I actually held two part-time jobs during the majority of this fall semester.
One of the reasons I was able to do so while still maintaining an ‘A’ average is because
I was only a part-time student. Had I been a full-time student, my grades would
definitely have suffered significantly. It is no secret that if a student is trying to earn a
living and acquire an education, one of the two will suffer. Unfortunately, fear of being
terminated typically forces education to suffer, and in a society as competitive as ours,
even a small drop in GPA can mean the difference between getting the job of one’s
dreams and unemployment.
The federal government recognizes the pressure on students to afford college and has
created the “Federal Work-Study Program.” This program provides qualifying students
with federally funded jobs. This is perhaps the most common employment sought by
college students. A student enrolled in the Federal Work-Study Program will earn on
average, “about $2,000 per school year” (United States. Dept. of Labor). When you
79
{estaban sanchez ~ when the bubble pops con’t}
ENGLISH 2
consider the fact that the median annual income for first time college graduates,
according to Baccalaureate and Beyond, is $36,000, it is easy to see that this income
is essentially nothing for a student who is paying around $20,000 a year. The only
thing making these meager earnings worthwhile is that, unlike loans with rising interest
rates, the money you earn in this program does not have to be paid back.
For the students who, despite all the possible financial aid, cannot afford college, the
only option left is to drop out of school. Dropping out of college carries with it a heavy
burden of shame and a sense of failure. Thankfully, the majority of students do not
have to endure this pain. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National
Center for Education Statistics, during the Fall Semester of 2009, two-year institutions
saw an overall retention rate of 61%, and four-year institutions saw a 77% retention
rate. This rate is much lower for part-time students who are undoubtedly juggling parttime jobs as well. In 4-year institutions only 48% of part-time students returned. This
number dwarfs the retention rate of part-time students at two-year institutions, which
was only 40% (United States, Digest).
If the government does not become more proactive with repairing our broken economy,
the crippling effects will only deepen into the lives of college students. Schools will be
very limited in what they will offer to students. The cost of attending college will become
so high that student loans will take decades to repay. Most importantly, attendance will
dwindle down to devastatingly low levels. Competition for jobs that require a college
education will drop, and nearly every adult will be fighting for the same low-paying
jobs that are already scarce. America needs to realize that in order to have a successful
future, we need to be preparing the college students of today who will run the nation
in the future. If the current system remains where only the fortunate can afford a good
postsecondary education, unemployment rates will skyrocket, the division of wealth
will widen, and poverty will run rampant in America. The “Great Recession” may be
over, but its effects will remain with us for years. That is, unless we decide to take
the necessary steps to make college degrees more attainable. We must provide more
financial aid to students with very limited income and less well-off families. We must
also lower the cost of attendance dramatically instead of following this trend of hiking
up tuitions. I believe that with these changes we can repair the effects of the recession
on college students and provide a better prepared workforce for the future.
Fear it Will Lead Legislators Not to Boost Funding." The Los Angeles Times 15 Sept. 2011. AA.1.
ProQuest. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
Kantrowitz, Mark. “Student Loan Debt Clock.” FinAid. FinAid Page, LLC, 2011. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
Murray, Charles. “For Most People, College is a Waste of Time.” Focus on Writing: Paragraphs
and Essays. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. 704-07. Print.
Singletary, Michelle. “Hint for Student-Loan Debt: Avoid it.” The Washington Post 30 Nov. 2011.
A.19. ProQuest. Web. 1 Dec. 2011.
United States. Dept. of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. 2008–09
Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:08/09). Emily Forrest Cataldi, et al. July
2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
Dept. of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. Digest of Educational
Statistics, 2010. Thomas D. Snyder and Sally A. Dillow. Apr. 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
Dept. of Education. National Center for Educational Statistics. Postsecondary Institutions and
Price of Attendance in the United States: 2010–11, Degrees and Other Awards Conferred:
2009–10, and 12-Month Enrollment: 2009–10. Laura G. Knapp, Janice E. Kelly-Reid, and Scott A.
Ginder. Sept. 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2011.
Dept. of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011 ed. 2011.
Web. 18 Nov. 2011.
“What A College Major Is Really Worth.” NPR News. NPR, 6 June 2011. Web. 14 Nov. 2011.
Works Cited
AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. AAA, 10 Nov. 2011. Web. 10 Nov. 2011.
Gordon, Larry. "UC Tuition may Rise Up to 16% a Year; Plan is Called just a Guideline. Critics
80
2012 VC Voices
Paige Kilbourn
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Photography
81
ENGLISH 3 & 4
Amanda Sandez
Why the Fuss over Reality TV: Truth is...
In this day and age it seems as though there is a reality television show for every possible
life situation. Whether it is about addictions, relationships, parenting or cooking,
there’s bound to be one that catches your interest and time. It is said that there are
some shows that are inappropriate for television and should not be aired because of
the misunderstanding of what it is teaching the viewers. Critics think that it encourages
young adults, more specifically girls, to have bad morals in future relationships and real
life situations. Despite the criticism of reality television, at the end of the day it benefits
people because it entertains the viewers, and it also teaches people the dos and don’ts
of different lifestyles.
According to critics, one major flaw of reality television is that viewers mainly benefit
only with a laugh or two by watching people make a mockery of themselves. In his
article “TV Contestants: Tired, Tipsy and Pushed to Brink,” author Edward Wyatt writes
about the limited sleep and the pressure contestants feel toward alcohol consumption
before and during the recordings of reality shows. “When we arrived, there was liquor
in the refrigerator, before we even put food in,” said Zulema Griffin, from the 20056 Project Runway. “I felt like it was a passive-aggressive way of encouraging alcohol
consumption”(Qtd. in Wyatt). The contestants feel that the only way to be a success on
the show is by drinking excessively. While Griffin states a good point, it is necessary to
understand that prior to auditioning, contestants research these shows. I doubt that
producers randomly draw names out of a hat and force people to do these shows, and
it’s ultimately the contestants that freely sign up. As for the alcohol consumption, the
liquor is there for contestants to drink at their own risk; it is not forced on them.
Likewise to the issue with alcohol on the shows, it is said by critics that teens learn
immoral behavior from certain shows. At one point a friend told me that young girls
idolized the teens on 16 and Pregnant and even wanted to get pregnant at a young
age in hopes of getting a spot on the show. Although it is a great point towards the
concerns with teen pregnancy, critics must understand that the teens on these shows
have minimal positive parental guidance. The parents of the teens on 16 and Pregnant
have rarely had a stable life themselves. Quite a few mothers of the teens have been
in a similar situation as the young girls and pleaded with their daughters not to follow
82
2012 VC Voices
in their footsteps. Although they pleaded with their children to go down the right
path, the parents give the teenagers limited rules such as curfew or knowing their
whereabouts. When young teens are given too much freedom from parents, it can lead
them to follow in their parents’ footsteps.
Despite the negative feedback received regarding reality television, at the end of the
day it benefits its viewers by entertaining them. In his article “Reality TV at 10: How
It’s Changed Television- and Us,” James Poniewozitz points out that regardless of the
criticism of the shows, normal people like me and you can be entertained by watching
reality television rather than an overly paid famous celebrity show that we know for
sure is fake and scripted. It is each viewer’s decision to watch these reality shows as
well as make his or her own perception about it (Poniewozitz). Additionally, another
great thing about watching reality shows is the time you spend at home rather doing
something away from family. I once had a family member make a comment about how
his wife was so attached to watching these shows. I responded simply, “It’s better her
being home than out shopping.” His eyes lit up and with a big smile he replied, “You’re
right! I would rather have her safe at home than out on the streets.” This can also relate
to young teens. Instead of them wanting to be out at dinner with friends or at the
movies, they can sit and watch real life situations on TV and learn a thing or two about
the thing we call life. Now that is less stressful for parents than wondering where their
child is at 10 pm on a school night.
Comparable to the advantage of entertainment with reality television, it also benefits
the viewers by showing people the good and bad lifestyles. Steve Buldini, a contributor
for Yahoo Lifestyle implies in his article “The Benefits of Reality TV Outweigh the Costs”
that because of certain reality shows, issues such as AIDS, gay culture, physical or
mental disorders and many more issues have been addressed on the shows and have
given viewers with similar issues the comfort to expressing them. Reality television
shows are popular because they bring the community together. With so many different
kinds of shows, there is at least one that many relate to and can talk to each other
about (Buldini). Furthermore, a viewer can get great feedback from the situations on
the shows. Fans have the ability to see how a beautiful cake is made or what it is really
like behind the doors of a labor and delivery room. Perhaps viewers have never known
how repossessing a vehicle can put an employee in a near life situation. There is a lot
a person can learn from these reality television shows. Yes, there are quite a few that
seem ridiculous and a waste of time; however, there are a nice handful that have given
positive feedback and that gave people the courage to speak up about their related
situations.
In spite of the criticism towards reality television, it truly can benefit people by
entertaining them as well as teaching the viewers about the dos and don’ts of different
83
{Amanda Sandez ~ Why the Fuss con’t}
ENGLISH 3 & 4
lifestyles. At the end of the day, reality television has positive attributes. The viewers
are the ones that have the choice to watch these shows as well as to decide their
own perceptions on them. The new generations have many more benefits because of
these reality shows. Thanks to the producers, viewers can see real people go through
the same issues they might be going through. In the end, viewers may have comfort
in knowing what the real world is like through the good and bad lifestyles shown on
reality television shows.
Works Cited
Buldini, Steve. “The Benefits of Reality TV Outweigh the Costs.” Yahoo Lifestyle. Yahoo! Inc.,
12 Sept. 2005. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
Poniewozitz, James. “Reality TV @ 10: How It’s Changed Television- and Us.” TIME. Time Inc.,
22 Feb. 2011. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.
Wyatt, Edward. “TV Contestants: Tired, Tipsy and Pushed to the Brink.” New York Times.
The New York Times Company. 01 Aug. 2009. Web. 15 Nov. 2011.
Giovani Bautista
An Unforgettable Memory
ENGLISH 3 & 4
I remember my mom and I spending time together in the kitchen, which back in 1999
was the only place where we could spend time due to the fact that she was a really
busy woman. She cooked as she sang. Her lyrical voice was relevant and expressed
happiness and joy that transformed a boring old kitchen into a magical place. I would
watch my mother be a perfectionist who put a touch of love in everything she touched,
making the best Mexican dishes I have ever tasted. My mother has always found joy in
the kitchen, and the two of us have created many wonderful memories together there.
There are a few things I must explain about my mother, Maria. She is the most
responsible and caring person I know, and she always puts her family before herself.
She is also a great cook. From what I understand, her generosity and cooking skills have
been carried on for many generations. Every person who tastes her food has never
had any negative comments. Anywhere she goes, people recognize her -- either for
being a great cook or just for standing out with her gregarious personality. Her eyes are
amazingly beautiful, and as she smiles, her big brown eyes shine like the stars. There is
just a fascinating companionship about her that is transmitted like oxygen through the
air. The round shape of her face complements her personality, and in my opinion, it is
one of her best physical features. Every time I interact with my mother she has a new
inspirational phrase to tell me. Whenever I feel like giving up, she declares, “Never tell
me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon!” This always cheers me
up and makes me remember that everything in this life is possible.
Now to understand my mother Maria, one needs to know about the place where she
spent her childhood and learned to cook with her heart: the kitchen. At my mother’s
house in México, my mother and I have experienced hundreds of scenes, smells, and
sounds of happiness in the kitchen. This place was created right after my parents
married. Back then, there were not many resources to create a regular kitchen like
we see nowadays. However, every cabinet and piece of furniture around the kitchen
was made out of light wood freshly cut out of a tree and designed by my dad. Right
by the entrance there was a cabinet that contained all the condiments that were used
for my mother’s yummy dishes. Next to it was a medium-sized green refrigerator that
contained mostly meats and vegetables that father grew in the field. On the other side
was a big cabinet that contained mother’s various cooking utensils. There was a big
table in the middle of the kitchen where my family enjoyed the meals.
Jaime Bailon
El Corazon
photo
84
2012 VC Voices
In order to better understand what mother is like in her kitchen, I should explain the
unwritten, unspoken rules that exist there. Since she is such a nice person, she does not have
any rules more important than to be safe while in the kitchen. However, I am convinced that
85
{Giovani Bautista ~ An Unforgettable Memory con’t}
ENGLISH 3 & 4
if she had any they would be: 1) Do not run. 2) Stay away from the stove. 3) Wash your hands.
4) Eat without complaining. 5) Do not break anything. 6) No bad words. 7) No chewing
with your mouth open. 8) Clean your spot after eating.
One memorable event that occurred in the kitchen was when my mother was heating
the tortillas for dinner and accidently burned her finger. I remember that day my mom
and I were home alone trying to deal with one of the hottest days of the summer. My
mother was finishing one of México’s most popular dishes called mole, which is a thick,
rich, chocolate-tinged sauce that is also known as the “national dish” of México. The
place was as quiet as a church where one could only hear the priest, but in this case the
only sound was the noise of the boiling pot in the old stove. We were both complaining
about the hot weather. “Ay, ay, ay, mijo. I am so frustrated,” mother murmured. We sat
on the table as she announced that the food was ready. She placed four tortillas in the
black flat iron that is used specifically to heat tortillas, which is also known as a comal
in México. Breaking the silence she asked with a big smile, “So how are you doing in
school?”
“I am doing excellent. I got an A on my math exam, and since I got one of the highest
scores, my teacher told me that I was guaranteed to pass his class.”
“I am so proud of you. You must have gotten your intelligence from me because I don’t
think you got it from your dad!” she laughed sarcastically.
As we talked about school, the smell of something burning interrupted our conversation.
We turned and realized that the tortillas were burning on the comal. My mother had
totally forgotten about them. She tried to take them off the comal and burned her
finger. She screamed so loud as she threw the tortillas up in the air before they finally
ended up on the floor. Everything happened so quickly that after realizing how weird
and unusual this was, my mother and I started cracking up. This is something that we
never forgot.
When I taste my mother’s food, all I can do is enjoy and smile. There is just something
special about her food. She is really important to me because she has taught me many
things in life, and she has also taught me some of the family recipes. After all, she is my
mother and like any other son, I love her. She keeps our family united and happy, and
she is our main ingredient to keep a successful family. It is one of my goals in life to pass
these experiences and recipes on to the next generation.
86
2012 VC Voices
Rita McBride
Contemplative Priest
87
Giovani Bautista
Nature’s Law, Not Men’s Decision
ENGLISH 3 & 4
Empty your mind and imagine a world where only good looking people exist. As you
come back to reality, you will start to realize that by the laws of nature it is not possible.
No laws of nature have ever been broken; nevertheless, today’s society is now on a
mission to do so by trying to portray a world of perfectly good-looking people that
obviously does not exist. In the article, “Going for the Look, but Risking Discrimination”
by Steven Greenhouse, senior industry analyst, Marshall Cohen is interviewed. Cohen
is a contributor to the concept of using good-looking people to represent industries and
portray a world of perfection. He supports industries such as Abercrombie and Fitch,
Gap, and L’Oreal, which hire people based on their physical appearance supposedly
to increase the sales and create a clean environment for the community. While hiring
people based on looks is somewhat tolerable because it gives the store a better image,
it is ultimately unacceptable because it is immoral and absolutely illegal.
It is true and has been proven that beautiful people give stores a better representation.
Greenhouse confirms, “Businesses are openly seeking workers who are sexy, sleek or
simply good-looking.” Basically, Greenhouse is emphasizing the clever method that big
companies are using to increase sales. Essentially, this example shows that companies
such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Gap, and L’Oreal are following what seems to be one
of the most creative ways to give themselves an impeccable image. Additionally,
nowadays the general public seems to be more interested in a person’s look rather
than their personality and skills. Due to this circumstance, companies seem to be
benefitting economically by taking advantage of the situation and offering what people
want, which is to see pretty people.
While it can be economically beneficial, hiring people based on their looks contributes
to inequality, and it is completely immoral. Unfortunately, in today’s society inequality
has dramatically increased, and it is not getting any better due to the fact that good
physical appearance is becoming one of the main requirements to get hired, or even
worse, have a successful life. This is definitely morally wrong because nobody can
really be a judge of beauty and award people for it. This world is becoming severely
judgmental to the point where many people have started to feel uncomfortable and
lose their self-esteem. Another example that adds up to this monstrous problem is
L’Oreal, which expects every single one of their employees to be incredibly skinny
and have a magazine look. Melissa Milkie, a sociology professor, comments on the
situation by inquiring “whether that’s morally proper is a different question.” The
company never responded to the request for comments on this problem, which once
again proves all of the immorality that is being created and that no company can argue
88
2012 VC Voices
against. This new technique that most companies seem to be using does not only break
morality, but it also breaks the law.
A punishment for violating the law should be equal to every individual and company;
in this case, hiring according to looks is completely illegal and should immediately
be brought to an end. Director of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,
Olophius Perry declares, “If you’re hiring by looks, then you can run into problems
of race discrimination, national origin discrimination, gender discrimination, age
discrimination and even disability discrimination.” The essence of Perry’s argument
is basically summarizing the numerous problems that companies can get into by
implementing the idea of hiring by looks as a prerequisite. Let’s not forget that nobody
in this life is born perfect. Furthermore, as if this was not enough, now unappealing
people have to deal with the fact that they will most likely not be successful in this
life no matter how hard they study or how well prepared they are because at the end
of the day they don’t possess the look. This is the main reason why it has become
illegal to hire based on physical appearance, but as we all know, this idea is dramatically
expanding through companies without anybody putting a stop to it. Breaking the law in
this country always has serious consequences. It is time to put an end to this brainless
idea of discrimination by appropriately reinforcing the law.
Somehow the idea of hiring based on looks is understandable because of the
judgmental society that we live in. However, this does not mean that we have to
make our society of inferior quality by implementing such ideas; no matter what this
is still immoral and has no justification towards that law. We should be well aware
that physical appearance is not everything in this life. Let’s not forget the fact that we
evolved from the well known Homo sapiens; nobody evolved from a model-looking
ape. Whether or not this affects our judge mental society is a different question.
Nathan Britton
Still Life 3
89
Starr Madrid
Walking on the Beach
ENGLISH 3 & 4
It was a nice day, and I decided to take a walk on the beach with a good friend of mine
and his dog. My friend’s name is Cliff. His dog’s name is Deuce. As we walked, our toes
squished into the warm sand. The water glimmered with the reflected setting sun, and
the ocean seemed to be the color of turquoise. Pink, yellow, red and orange clouds
filled the sky, which looked like it had been painted with the brightest watercolors. The
air was warm and blew in a gentle breeze that tickled our skin.
The dog barked and chased the warm, gentle waves that broke on the shore. Cliff and
I just walked along, enjoying the water lapping at our feet and laughing at Deuce as
he tore along the beach. We talked about our lives and how great they were. Cliff
explained how happy he was with his job at Sprint. I told him about the success I was
achieving at school. I expressed how happy I feel as I reach my goals.
Finally, the sun sank below the horizon, and the sky grew dark. Deuce came and walked
by our side. He was panting and in need of a drink of water. Our legs, weary from
walking, told us it was time to go. We climbed the long wave-worn staircase to the
parking lot, got into my car, and then we drove home.
Julienne Case
Ashland Beauties
Painting
90
2012 VC Voices
Chris Hammersley
Channel Island Landing
Painting
91
Jonathan Sixtos
Diversity in Rap
ENGLISH 3 & 4
A toast to the dead for rap legends and pioneers
Your legacy won’t be forsaken as long as I am here
Knowledge of the past, and wisdom of the present
I’ll teach and leave in the hands of a worthy lieutenant
These underground lyrics by Immortal Technique signify the difference between
mainstream and underground music. The underground is considered the home of
genuine rap, while the mainstream houses the fabricated rap. The two sub-genres
deliver a different sound and overall experience to the audience; the lyrics, the
production, and the overall performance of these artists are different. Generally,
underground rap is considered the most genuine because it presents a message over
rough beats, while mainstream artists deliver materialistic lyrics over soft-sounding
beats. Regardless of the differences, inexperienced listeners may mistakenly identify
them as the same when they actually have very few similarities.
Underground rappers like Immortal Technique make lyrics their primary concern; the
intelligent lyrics he raps come before everything else. In the song “Toast to the Dead,”
he aggressively rap:
But some of you won’t survive the changes the Earth makes
Swallowed by tsunamis, hurricanes, and earthquakes
And that’s just the first stage of ‘you-can-not-reverse-ways’
And realize that we are one, regardless of our birthplace.
The lyrics flow well together and hold a significant message, even if it’s something the
audience doesn’t want to hear. Immortal Technique delivers raw, realistic lyrics with a
very aggressive tone, even if it doesn’t appeal to the sensitive fan base. Meanwhile, a
mainstream rapper like Lil Wayne is mainly concerned with rhyming words in the most
creative ways, and, most of the time, they don’t make sense. For example, on the very
popular song “6 Foot 7 Foot,” Lil Wayne raps:
Paper chasing, tell that paper, ‘Look, I’m right behind ya’
Bitch, real G’s move in silence like lasagna
People say I’m borderline crazy, sorta kinda
Woman of my dreams, I don’t sleep so I can’t find her.
If Lil Wayne did not change the pronunciation of the words, the lyrics would not rhyme
and would just be words. Also, the lyrics in this track are not relatable and jump from
92
2012 VC Voices
subject to subject with no meaning. The lyrics in mainstream rap are very common
and repetitive; most mainstream rap artist use the same boring rhyme scheme and rap
about the same subjects. If that wasn’t bad enough, mainstream artists usually have
soft, squeaky voices that are often digitally modified. Underground and mainstream
rappers are very different when it comes to lyricism; underground artists rap about
their true feelings, politics, and life in general, while mainstream artists stick to
materialistic lyricism, like rapping about money, clubs, and cars.
Production is important and varies within the genre depending on the artist and
producer. Listening to the beat in the background should make your head nod, like a
bobblehead, when you play the track. When you listen to Immortal Technique’s “Toast
to the Dead,” you’ll hear a very simple beat that compliments his deep voice. Generally,
underground beats give off a dark, gritty sound with a few exceptions. Some beats
maybe give off a softer, more relaxing sound to deliver a message of inspiration or
hope. There are plenty of underground producers that add variety to the large library of
underground songs, so you usually hear something new. Also, the underground sound
is stunningly genuine since some producers often use real instruments to compose the
beat instead of computer-generated sounds. On the other hand, Lil Wayne’s “6 Foot 7
Foot” delivers a very different sound. The beat is loud and obnoxious, which is generic
for the genre it’s placed in. This track is clearly over-produced since it’s filled with
computer-generated sounds and samples that clash together to make an even louder
sound. Also, most modern mainstream rap uses very light, pop-sounding beats mainly
to appeal to a larger audience. Mainstream rap has very little variety when it comes to
production; the next song played on the radio will sound the same as the song that just
ended. Both genres are very different with underground delivering a variety of beats
and mainstream bringing very catchy and pop-like production.
An underground rapper like Immortal Technique doesn’t take appearance seriously and
will go on stage in casual clothing. He has a rough, rugged appearance; although he has
no visible tattoos, he usually wears loose, dark clothing and won’t be caught wearing
skinny jeans. Underground rappers are very comfortable with their appearance and
prove it on stage. The performance of an underground track is amazing and stunning.
Immortal Technique gives his heart and soul to his fans when he performs; he viciously
recites his lyrics with emotion and no background vocals or help from friends. These
performances are done in small but packed clubs or in music festivals. Conversely, a
mainstream rapper like Lil Wayne is mainly concerned with appearance. Lil Wayne
needs the bright, blinding spotlight on him, and needs to set trends in order to be
successful, even if it means wearing leopard print jeans made for women and other
tight clothing. Tattoos are also part of the mainstream rap culture; Lil Wayne has dark,
bold tattoos all over his body and even on his face. (One mainstream rapper even has
a ridiculous ice cream cone tattoo on his face.) And when mainstream rappers get on
93
{jonathAn sixtos ~ diversity in rap con’t}
ENGLISH 3 & 4
stage, they have additional vocals from friends and the song plays in the background,
since some artists don’t have confidence in their lyrics.
Clearly, underground rap is as genuine as it gets and mainstream rap is purely a source
of materialistic lyrics. Listen to Lil Wayne perform “6 Foot 7 Foot” and you’ll experience
lyrics like, “Young Money militia, and I am the commissioner/ you don’t want start
Weezy, ‘cause the F is for Finisher.” The lyrics flow well when mispronounced, but
are still poorly constructed lines and sound ridiculous when pronounced correctly.
On the other hand, Immortal Technique, an underground legend, delivers perfectly
constructed songs with amazing lyrics that can be discussed and pronounced easily. As
a final example of genuine rap, listen to the haunting final toast Immortal Technique
performs in “Toast to the Dead” as he raps:
My last toast to the dead is for the listener
Human being or extraterrestrial visitor
Remember us for more than our primitive ways
When you study us long after the end of our days.
Works Cited
Immortal Technique. “Toast to the Dead.” The Martyr. Viper Records. 2011. MP3.
Lil Wayne. “6 Foot 7 Foot.” Tha Carter IV. Universal Republic Records. 2011. MP3.
Tomoko Y. Murphy
Hole is not a hole when
there is an artist around
Abstract
Brad Austin
Mourning Intrusion
Painting
94
2012 VC Voices
95
Shaza Aldaoud
Tranquil Mountains
ENGLISH 3 & 4
School is over and summer is here. It’s time to pack things up and stay at my
grandparents’ house in the mountains for a week or two. Their spacious, beautiful yard
gives a warm, comforting feeling that easily takes my mind off of all my worries.
The house was built long ago by my great grandfather. Back then, the yard was a huge
garden where he grew some fruits and vegetables to feed his family. He built a fence
around it out of the old black volcanic rocks that area is known for to keep thieves
away. As of today, most of the yard is an enormous cement field. It’s a great place for
family gatherings, and a big playground for the kids.
Sitting back on a chair after the long ride, I slowly drift out of the real world and get
lost in my senses. I watch a trail of ants working hard to gather food and take it to their
underground home. A lizard running on the fence catches my attention and my eyes
land on the few remaining old trees as they’re done chasing it. A wild cat carrying a bird
sneaks between the bushes where she has found a shelter for her and her kittens. On
the opposite side are some jasmine and rose bushes and a lemon tree.
The gentle wind tackles the lemon tree leaves, and the bright noon sun casts their
dancing shadows on the wall. The chilly breeze twirls my hair and I slowly close my
eyes in relief. Taking a deep breath, I fill my lungs with the fresh mountain air. The smell
of the wet soil after watering the trees reminds me of all the fun I had with my friends
playing under the rain and jumping into water puddles.
A bee buzzes by me as it flies to the bushes nearby, and I snap out of my daydreaming.
A wide smile draws across my grandfather’s face as he watches his grandchildren
bouncing the ball and cheering. The joyful noise invites me to join them, and the
playing continues till the sun is about to set. We all gaze in wonder as it hides behind
the Krak des Chevaliers Castle that’s on the top of an opposite mountain. The stars start
to shine one after the other as the clear sky grows darker, then the playing resumes.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee my mom just made invites the rest of the grownups
to the yard. Agreeing or disagreeing, the men’s voices rise as they talk politics, making
the whispers of the women even harder to hear. My grandfather tears up with joy as
he watches all of his family gathered in his yard, while my grandmother frowns at the
mess and noise the kids are making.
After a long stressful school year, it’s nice to finally be able to stop worrying about finals
and just have fun with family in the best place to relax and escape the summer heat.
96
2012 VC Voices
Jayson Pugh
Killer Commute
Photography
97
Maria L. Hendrix
In Between
Print
VC
V OIC ES
2012
is a compilation of
Ventura College
student art and
writing from
the 2011-2012
school year.
100
© 2012/ ventura college liberal arts department
2012 VC Voices
www.venturacollege.edu

vc voices 2012 - Ventura College

Transcription

Similar documents

For more than 30 years, the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling

LGC Ahwanee presentation - March 2012

Ventura Entertainment`s creation press release

Helter Skelter In 1968 convicted serial killer Charles Manson(b

garage sales - City Of Ventura

community calendar - Tri County Sentry

hcr August 12**.indd

what is impact ii? how does it work?

September 23, 2015 - Ventura Park Elementary

you can help end homelessness