Reflection on Blogging

I had never had an online class before, so I wasn’t sure of what to expect. When I first found out we would have create a blog as one of our assignments, I must admit I was a bit intimidated. My main concern about blogging was that other people would be reading what I wrote. This thought alone made me very nervous. It made me anxious to know what others feedback would be about my blog entries. As time went on and I became more familiar with the idea of blogging, I actually began to enjoy it. It was nice to share with other people my thoughts and stories and I enjoyed reading others as well. The class blogs were very well written, entertaining, and detailed. It was very interesting reading them, as it helped me to get to know my class mates better. Overall this was a great experience and I’m actually considering keeping my blog going. I would like to say I enjoyed having this writing class, even if it was stressful at times. I’m also happy to have met and made such great friends, as a result of taking this class.

A Great Time

A time when I had an amazing time was when my high school had Grad Night at Disneyland. I was extremely excited and looking forward to visiting Disneyland since it was surprisingly my very first time going there. As a child I had always dreamed of visiting the happiest place on earth but had never had the opportunity of going. After many years I was finally going to experience the magic world of Disneyland. All of my closest friends were also going so I couldn’t be happier. I knew this night was definitely was going to be unforgettable.

When the bus finally arrived at the park everyone seemed to be thrilled of excitement. I couldn’t believe I was finally there. Once the doors opened people rushed their way out and ran towards the park. My best friend and I looked for our group of friends and rushed towards the entrance as well. The first thing we did was walk towards the Disneyland castle where they had entertainment welcoming us in with banners that read “Welcome Class of 2009 Grads”. There were lights, music, and Disney characters surrounding us. After this we rushed to the rides we planned to get on before the night was over. We went on rides such as Indiana Jones, The Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, and other popular rides. Perhaps the most unforgettable memory I have from this night was when we went on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. I ended up soaking wet when the boat I was riding in suddenly made a sharp turn, although I was incredibly wet I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Being wet was worth it, I was having so much fun. After experiencing some rides my friends and I decided to move on to dancing. We danced the rest of the night off at some mini clubs. Before we knew it, it was already time to go home.

This is one of the events in my life when I had a great time. Not only did I visit Disneyland for the very first time, but I also had an amazing time with my friends. The experience, memories, and events that took place that night were unforgettable. Disneyland did in fact proved to be the happiest place on Earth.

Three Important People In My Life

One person I look up to is my mother. She is a hard working woman that always works restlessly for the well-being of her family. At a very young age she started working in the fields in order to help support her family. Events such as this along with other life struggles had made her a strong independent person. Her strong will and spirit has made her a true fighter, allowing her to overcome any obstacle she faces. My mother is a very caring person who often puts others needs before her own without any hesitation. She loves me unconditionally regardless of my actions or choices. I know that I could always count on her to support me mentally when I feel I am at my lowest. Even though she is very stubborn and easily becomes upset when things don’t go her way, she is the best mother I could have ever possibly asked for.

                My brother is a kind-hearted person. He is blessed with extraordinary talents, which I believe will take him far in life someday. He is an amazing artist who can transmit many different emotions through a single painting or drawing. My brother is one the strongest individuals I know. He has been able to overcome incredible tough life situations. In his quest of finding himself he faced emotional distress but has managed to leave it all behind in the past. My brother has taught me to be myself regardless of others opinion, because otherwise I will never be truly happy. I admire his strong will and unbreakable courage.

                 Another important person in my life is my best friend. She has not only motivated to become a better person but most importantly she has taught me the true meaning of unconditional and true friendship. Time and time again she has proven to be a trustworthy and loyal friend. She has supported me through all my struggles in life. She knows me so well she can tell something is wrong without me saying a single word. Even though we have somewhat grown apart and have become distant she will always have a special place in my heart. I would not change a single thing if I could. Meeting her has been one of the greatest events in my life.

Review

Grocery shopping is not always an easy task, but if you find a supermarket that can make this task easier than it simply makes your shopping experience more enjoyable. Food 4 Less is one of these supermarket stores. With its excellent customer service, variety of services, quality of products, and its low prices Food 4 Less has proven to be great and highly convenient grocery store.

 Food 4 Less encourages the motto customer first. Utility clerks are always willing to answer any questions customers might have related to helping them find the location of certain items they need.  Cashiers greet customers with a smile when they are done with their grocery shopping and are ready to check out. The store also provides its customers with fast an easy check out. Food 4less offers a variety of different services for the convenience of its customers. They are able to purchase postage stamps without having to make a trip to the post office. Manufactures coupons are also accepted at Food 4 Less. Customers can use them to further their savings.  Cashing payroll checks and the selling or exchange of propane tanks are also services that can be performed in the store. The variety and quality of products found at Food 4 less is incredible. The produce selection is great. Their fruits and vegetables are always very fresh and in great condition. They are hardly bruised or in deteriorated condition. Customers have great selection to choose from. Since Food 4 Less does not provide baggers, the money it saves helps it to keep the prices low. This is the reason why they can afford to have great deals and products at very low prices. Their prices definitely attract large amounts of customers from different places. Everyone is trying to save as much as they can specially during these economic tough times, so if they can save by bagging their own groceries then they definitely don’t mind

Fast Food Nation

I personally truly enjoyed reading the book Fast Food Nation. I think it’s a great book with a lot of interesting, as well as eye- opening information. The information I learned has definitely changed my perspective/view on fast food. I was extremely shocked by all the information and details that the fast food industry tries to remain hidden from the general public. While reading the book I could not believe all the chemicals fast food restaurants use in order to make their products tasty and maintain a fresh look. The amount of additives, preservatives, and artificial flavors that are in just one simple fast food meal left me speechless. I always knew fast food was unhealthy, but I wasn’t aware until what extent until I read this book. It me realize the true dangerous harm fast food can impose to our eating habits, society, and culture.

                The information I have gained from reading this book has motivated me to make some changes in my life. Being aware of the horrible cruelty innocent animals are subjects to, have changed the way I look at food. Now when I’m about to eat something I think about the animal and the way they had to be killed in order to make that meal possible. Rather than seeing the food itself I see a dead animal. As a result, I have decided to reduce my meat intake as much as possible. I also plan to avoid eating fast food by opting for healthier food choices.

The truth is that I am very shy.

My current semester is very manageable, I couldn’t be happier. I am only taking 7 units this semester. The classes which I am enrolled in are Health and English. I enjoy being in these classes mainly because my teachers are funny. I like the way they always make class interesting. The work-load for these two classes seems to be very reasonable, so I can’t complain at all about that area. Although my work load is not excessive, I have a problem managing my time. I tend to find myself procrastinating a lot. Speaking from personal experience, procrastination is not something you should opt for. I always wait till the last minute to work on my assignments and homework.  Since I work, the amount of time I have to work on my homework is limited. So when I keep on putting off and delaying my assignments and then realize their due the next day and on top of that I have to work, I begin to stress. Regardless of all that stress on my shoulders, I always manage to complete all my work even if it means missing out on a couple of hours of sleep. I convince myself time and time again that I will try my best and avoid procrastinating, but somehow I end up falling into my old habits once again.

Even though I find school to be stressful at times, I always remind myself that all this hard work will be paid off at the end when I have a brighter future. Nothing great comes easily in life. This mentality keeps me motivated in my daily struggle to become a better educated person. I know that if I work hard enough and do not give up easily I can and will achieve anything I set my mind to. Determination is the key in achieving any dream, with it I know that someday I will fulfill my long life dream of becoming a nurse.

5 lies & 1 truth

1)      I’ve traveled all over the world

2)      My natural hair color is blonde

3)      I have 9 cats

4)      I’m shy

5)      I can do the splits

6)      I love to drink

Unconditional Love

These are my babies Elmo and Sparky. There are no words that can describe how much I love them. They have taught me the true meaning of unconditional love. They don’t judge me and their love towards me remains the same regardless of my imperfection. I consider them to be my rock and my strength to help me become a better person. The feeling of coming home after a long day of work and having them wag their tail of happiness at the sight of me is incredible.  Although, Sparky is no longer with me since he passed away, I will never forget him because he will always have a special place in my heart. All the special moments we shared, I will cherish forever.

Elmo

Sparky

This song reminds me of them..

 

Pursuit of Happiness

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. These words were written by our founding fathers in the constitution in order to create a more fair and justice world for all of mankind. The intended purpose of this entry in this significant document was to ensure equality and provide individuals with the opportunity of achieving happiness. However, honoring this statement has been controversial when it comes to the legalization of same-sex marriages. I for one have changed my opinion on this subject and now believe that everyone should have the right to love and marry whoever they wish to.

Although Homosexuality is now more acceptable, many still remain against it. When I was younger I never really gave any thought to this issue. Maybe this was because I didn’t have much exposure to the gay community. Until one day I found out my cousin and my brother were gay. This was a complete shock to me. I must admit my first reaction was to cry, not of disappointment but of fear. I feared they would not be approved by my family and society. At that time a million of things crossed my mind, but the only thing I knew for sure was that I would love and support them no matter what. The only thing that I cared for was their happiness and well-being.

I’ve come to realize sexual preference is not a choice but something you’re inevitably born with. No one can help who they fall in love. Why deny someone the right to marry the person they love? We are all equal and therefore, should be given the same rights. The incredibly amazing gay people in my life have completely changed my view on same-sex marriage and have allowed me to become more open minded. I believe everyone should have the right to the pursuit of happiness. A person should not be defined by their sexuality, but rather by their character.

Family

One of life’s greatest blessings is family. I can certainly say that my family is very important to me. My family consists of five family members. This includes my parents, my two younger brothers, and myself. My family’s unconditional support encourages me to always aspire to become the best I can be. By providing me with their love and care they have shaped me into the person I am today. I could always count on them to help me with their advice and guidance during my times of struggle. There are not enough words in the world that can describe how much love I have for each and every member in my family. 

            My parents brought me into this world and for that I will always be eternally grateful. They have raised me with exceptional morals and values. One of the most amazing things they have taught me is to help others. I admire them for their kind heart. They have worked hard all of their lives to provide my brothers and I with all we need. My parents encourage us to take advantage of the opportunities we have to have a better future. They push us to pursue a career that we are passionate about. Keeping our family close together has been their priority. When possible, my parents arrange for us all to have dinner together so we can make use of that time to catch up. My parents can also be difficult to understand. I often argue with them when I disagree with some of the decisions they make. Even though we have our differences, my parents are incredible human beings.

            What can I say about my younger brothers, they are like my babies. I look after them and have seen them grow up so fast. I can’t grasp the idea that they are getting older, nonetheless the fact that they are getting taller than me. I take them to school every day and I often take them to their doctors’ appointments as well. Therefore, I can’t help but to feel like they were my own sometimes. They are extremely humorous. They make me laugh up until the point where my stomach hurts from laughing so hard. When I’m sad they definitely know how to turn my frown upside down. I love them to death and I could not picture my life without them. Regardless of their age, they will always be my little brothers.

Classmate Interview

I had the pleasure to interview my fellow classmate Ana Mena. Her parents were born and raised in Yucatan, Mexico. Ana’s father originally came to the United States to work. Eventually he brought Ana’s mother along with him when they got married. Ana is currently twenty- two years old and has an older brother who is twenty- four. She lives in the city of Oxnard with her parents, brother, and aunt. Ana attended Oxnard High school and graduated from there in 2009. She worked in a public library for seven years and has recently quit her job in order to complete her school. Her career goal in life is to major in art and study art therapy. She is an outgoing, funny, friendly, and passionate person.

            Ana is motivated to attend college because she wishes to break away from the traditional role of women in her culture. In the culture she was raised in it is expected for women to become traditional housewives. If they decide to receive a higher education they are frowned upon by their society. Ana is currently taking two art classes, English, and math. All of her classes are in the morning and this is her first semester enrolled as a full-time student. Since she has a busy schedule its hard for her to balance school and family at times. She often finds herself giving more attention to one and neglecting the other. She doesn’t have anyone in particular she looks up to because unfortunately all the individuals she has ever admired as role models have failed her one way or another. Ana has been some sort of role model to some teenagers she looked after from church. These boys looked up to her as an artist so she tried to set a good example for them.

            Ana describes herself as being a bubbly, bold, and funny person.  In five to ten years she sees herself completing school and getting a job in her career field. In the future she maybe sees herself having a family of her own. Her future life plan also involves moving into a big city and leaving her hometown of Oxnard behind. The motto that Ana goes by in order to be successful in school is “Don’t procrastinate!” .During her time as a student in Oxnard College she has met many interesting people, especially in her art classes. Before she met these people she thought she was weird, but now she realizes that people just like her do exist. Something that Ana believes Oxnard College could improve on is emphasizing more on counselor involvement with students. Ana’s culture encourages her to not become a conformist who will settle for less than what she deserves. The biggest surprise Ana has encountered in her college experience was when a stranger told her she was beautiful. She then realized college students are more bold and daring. Rather than being part of a clique or social group, they are individuals.

Loss of a Loved One

I was overwhelmed by sadness and could not hold back my tears.  My eyes were bright red and somewhat swollen from crying continuously. My body trembled as I hugged my father very tightly. I could not grasp the idea that my grandfather had passed away.

            I was eight years old.  My parents, my little brother, my grandfather, and I lived in a very small home. It was painted a light shade of pink and was located in a small neighborhood. My parents at the time worked a lot and did not spend much time at home. Therefore, my grandpa cared for my brother and I.  I was very close to my grandpa since we spent a lot of time together. My grandpa was about average height, dark complexion, and had hazel eyes. He had a bit of a belly and a habit of smoking. Every time I would hug him I could smell the scent of cigarette within his clothes. He would always were a hat when he went out because he did not feel comfortable showing his bald head.  He was very funny and always made me laugh with his silly jokes. He always seemed to be in a good mood with a smile on his face. My grandfather was incredibly patient, so he rarely was mad. He took me and picked me up from school every day because he feared I would get lost walking by myself.  Our home was small so I spent most of my time outside running and playing. My grandfather took me out to play whenever he had the opportunity to do so. Every night he would tuck me in at night and would tell me stories about his childhood, until eventually I would fall asleep.

One day my grandfather decided to fly out to Mexico with one of my aunts for vacation.  Everything seemed to be going perfectly fine on his trip until one day my parents received a mysterious phone call from my aunt in Mexico. My father answered the phone. He looked very serious like I had never seen him before. His face turned a pale white color as he struggled to hold the phone steady in his hands. He finally hanged up the phone and turned to my mom with intense sadness in his eyes. As he begins to speak to her, my mother bursts into tears. Even though I didn’t know what was happening, I knew something was wrong by the expressions in their faces.  I became worried and I asked what was wrong, they simply stood quiet. When I asked again, they said there was nothing to worry about and that everything was fine but I didn’t believe them.  A few days later my mother and brother flew to Mexico; I stayed behind with my father. That same night my dad was acting a little out of the ordinary. When he looked at me it seemed as if he wanted to tell me something, but he just wasn’t able to. He finally ended the silence and he said, “I have something very important to tell u mija, I just don’t know how to”.

“What’s wrong?” I said. My heart pumped at a very fast pace as I braced myself for a bad news.

 “Your grandfather died. I want you to be strong” he replied.

“No, that can’t be!” I cried.

At that moment my world fell apart, I was devastated. I could not believe what he was saying.  Immediately after this, I began to cry and I reached out to hug my father very tightly. He continued on talking and he told me my grandpa had suffered from a stroke and he unfortunately had not made it. He said that after he suffered from a stroke, half of his body was paralyzed and after that, everything took a toll for the worst. He also told me that this was the reason why my mother had left to Mexico. He said they didn’t tell me sooner because they knew I would be very upset. They were afraid I was only going to feel worse since they would not allow me to go to Mexico due to school. To make matters worse, my father told me that most of my relatives had flown to Mexico for my grandfather’s funeral.

            I was overwhelmed by a mix of anger and sadness. Such emotions dwelled within me because I wasn’t able see my grandfather for one last time or attend his funeral. He left this world before I even had an opportunity to tell him how much he meant to me and how much I loved him. It seemed unbelievable that my mother didn’t take me with her to say good bye to my grandpa. During this time, I was a little too young to fully grasp the idea that I would never get to see him again. This was all very new to me since it was the very first time I came across death. It was very hard for me to understand why this had happened and why my grandfather was gone.  Every night I cried myself to sleep, thinking about the moments I shared with my grandpa. There was not a day that I wouldn’t miss him. With time, my sadness slowly faded away and my pain grew easier to manage. I finally was ready to continue on with my life.

            After my grandfather’s death I learned that loss is an emotion that can really break down even the strongest individual. Loss can bring about sadness, disappointment, and even pain.  It is an inevitable sensation that each person must undergo at a least at one point in their life.  Loss can come into someone’s life in many ways, but the feeling remains the same.  In my case, it came about as a result of my grandpa’s death. The death of a loved one can truly change you forever. My grandfather’s unexpected death made me a stronger person. I learned not to give up hope regardless of how complicated a situation might seem. Most importantly, his death taught me the meaning of life and death. It made me realize that we don’t live forever and that while we are blessed with life we need to cherish everyday as if it was our last.