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How We Get By: Life Lessons From a Grief Counselor

Posted by Kathryn Kopf in English 3 · Block/Franz/Taylor-Baranik · C Band on

​Introduction:
I interviewed my neighbor, Heath Williams, a grief counselor to learn more about her workplace and her world. Through the interview, I learned about her childhood and how she came into the job. I learned about how she connects with her clients and the amazing times she's had. However, she also disclosed the difficulties of counseling and toll it can take on her physically and mentally. Through her experiences, Heath has learned a lot about death and life, through her, we can do the same. 

Reflection:
Throughout the process, It was hard to narrow my focus. I wasn't sure who I wanted ot interview or what about. Even after I chose Heath, I wasn't sure what I wanted to learn or what my larger idea was. It turned out, that was the best thing. It allowed me to learn from what I had and build on that instead of trying to force preconceived notions onto the interview. After listening through and spending a long time editing and refining I feel like I learned about podcasts, myself, and life.

Italian traditions

Posted by Mackenzie Harrington in English 3 · Block/Franz/Taylor-Baranik · C Band on

I looked forward to hearing what my mom had to say about her childhood and our older generation family. I learned new things felt a closer connection with my heritage and feel closer with my mom. It was also nice to see my mom excited to talk about her childhood and go back to the good things she misses when she was a kid. I was sad to hear that a lot of traditions died down because the people died off and the people that lived didn't care enough to carry tradition over. But the struggle for me with this project was trying to edit my audio. Soundtrap lost my work half way through and I finally found Wevideo to edit.It took me two days to get my editing done which was stressful but I completed it. I am grateful to learn about family I didn't met, and learn more about my mother and my grandparents. 

Interview: William Figueiredo

Posted by William Dos Santos Figueiredo in English 3 · Block/Franz/Taylor-Baranik · C Band on

​Intro:


When I first began doing this I was a little confused on what the bigger idea was. However, after interviewing my grandmother I was able to come up with a bigger Idea. Throughout this project, I have learned many things about my grandmother and myself. In a way, I was enlightened about many things as this interview went along. This was a great experience for me and my grandmother, and something that I wish to do again in the future.




Advanced Essay #3

Posted by Ijustice Avery in English 3 · Block/Franz/Taylor-Baranik · C Band on

When speaking about race or ethnic background in any conversation, the room always seems to sit still. It is as if an imaginary piece of tape forces lips to shut and ones’ task is to find the strength and courage to break the seal. Race is one of those topics that holds back another's’ thoughts and opinions, filling the room with an uptight vibe. In most cases when specifically speaking about black and white races, they are their own quantity. It seems as though people with biracial backgrounds that origin from African American and Caucasian parents are forced to choose to be identify as either an African American or Caucasian individual and such being that there is no in between.

A prime example comes from the forty-fourth President of the United States, Barack Obama. Obama’s parents comes from array of ethnic backgrounds. Being that his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, is an Irish-American and his father, Barack Obama Sr., born African, that makes President Obama equally half Irish-American and African. Though, society says otherwise. Barack Obama is not identified as “the first biracial President of the United States” he is said to be “the first black President of the United States”.  

Coming from a biracial home myself with a black father and white mother, I was told that when you have a black father and white mother then the children are considered black, so with that being said I am an African American. Growing up I would always struggle telling people my race. It is not that I did not feel comfortable, it was that their reaction would shock me in a way.  If a person asked what race do I identify as, I would simply say, “I am black,” with no hesitation. And in an instant, that person’s expression would change.  They would either respond with, “No you are not, you are a white boy. ” or “...if you are black why is  your skin so white?” Yet hearing their responses, I come to my senses to automatically compare myself to someone who is known with the same struggle. Steph Curry, for instance. With Steph Curry having both his parents African American, he just has light skin. Therefore, it is possible for African Americans to have very light skin.

So growing up and being biracial I would not say it was hard for me but I definitely felt different.  My neighborhood is mixed with black and white people.  I went to a mostly black school, there were maybe eight or nine white kids in the entire school that I went to.  So coming from a biracial family I feel like that set me apart from the other kids I went to school with.  My physical appearance has stood out as well.  Going to a mostly black school and having light skin and reddish hair immediately set me apart.  Difference doesn’t bother me its something that i have gotten use to through my life, I just wish society could embrace different the same way I do.


Advanced Essay #3 - Education Has Failed Us

Posted by Tia Roberts in English 3 · Block/Franz/Taylor-Baranik · C Band on

Introduction:
In this essay, I will be exploring the concepts and situations of how education does not fit all types of children from different backgrounds. Also, it explores how once a child is considered a ¨problem¨ we no longer help and/or try to make a difference in their education. It allows kids who are apart of these situations to realize there is a way out and you are not confined to a failed education.  

¨You should know this already¨

I hear it everyday, we hear it everyday. We are not here to be successful; the world of education is not made for us. By us I mean, kids in situations that not everybody faces. Kids who haven't had the advantages most kids are enabled to have. The kids who are deprived a rightful education from this current education system. We are enrolled in these classes but not much learning happens in these classrooms. D’s dramatically placed down upon a paper every marking period. Teachers passing along the river of trouble to the next available teacher. No knowledge, no chance to succeed;but it continues until it's too late. You hit high school and realize, high school is made for children who already know the material. There is only a slight chance of achievement for those who lack that subject of knowledge.

Growing up in a charter school, many people believed I had a wonderful educational experience. The big classrooms filled with  white walls and a gorgeous interior. The big staff and crowds of smiles as you would tour through the halls. Everything about the school would make you think it offered students the very best education.. But as you dig deeper into each classroom you realize, “To be educated… mostly meant always packing an extra number 2 pencil and working quietly.” As long as you complied with adults and acted remotely focused, you will pass. Kids who knew the information but remained silent throughout the school day averaged A’s; the quiet students with no knowledge of the material averaged B’s; the ones who never listened or learned passed with C’s. The likelihood of passing was always in your favor. It was more difficult  to fail than to pass. A school built on the foundation that, “no child gets left behind” became a reality. Teachers become more interested in getting the problem out of their hands than solving the problem. Lack of control became, lack of knowledge which leads to a lack of success. In the end you always leave wondering, ¨Who is successful here?¨


Meeting others with unique backgrounds in education, you tend to learn which kids had a valid education and which ones were deprived of that privilege. All the kids who more privileged in education were more involved in class as a whole, while many who weren’t too familiar stayed back in silence. But once you hit high school, being quiet was no longer a passing grade. You needed to know the material, every last attribution was essential. Once you allow people to know your disadvantages you are now labeled as lower than the rest. “I have a ‘zero tolerance approach’ to grammar mistakes that make people look stupid.” Yet you can not get to a higher level with no help. You are stuck and the society of education allows it. They batter you down and restrain you from succeeding yet preach and teach you about how they want you to succeed. Kids are expected to know things as a first nature kind of thing but are never introduced to these topics. Our brains do not form and confine information it is never introduced to. Yet education standard judge you as if they do.


As life goes on you begin to wonder, “are there anyways for these type of  kids to succeed?” With a lot of studying and preparing for these subjects, kids may be able to succeed. But in the reality of it, not all kids have these advantages or tools to prepare correctly. They all may not be able to absorb and maintain the information in a short period of time needed to succeed. Kids who succeed have encountered these subjects for a long time through their life, so it may be familiar and easier to keep knowledge of. Whereas through, kids who are not familiar don’t have these simple understandings and are not given the effort and/or attention to learn these basics. Most often, kids who lack certain abilities are thrown into these smallers classes, which is supposed to be an efficient way to keeping them up to date with the rest of the class. When in reality they are just, “a place for those who are just not making it, a

dumping ground for the disaffected.” There is no time given to actually teach these kids. Our education becomes lazy and we are no longer effective to be affected by the information we are supposed to endure. There is only way around this. Schools need to add classes which teach the bases of every subject and it is a place that allows kids to keep a hold on their education. A chance that was once taken from them is now given back.


Yes, I should already know this, but being stuck in an education system where educators only seem interested in when their next paycheck will come, instead of the learning of their students motivates me to reach my full potential. I refuse to be a victim of a failed education, I will strive and get the education I rightfully deserve.  Not giving up like education has done to me, their is always a way around it. I must continue on and so should the education of our world; we as students of this education system deserve a chance at a life of fulfillment and success. Although a fair chance might not be granted to everyone, we have to fight and change this system that only aids the privileged, and give the less fortunate a chance for prospering.  


Cited Work:


  • Sarikas, Christine. "The Complete List of High School Classes." The Complete List of High School Classes. Web. 19 Jan. 2017.

  • "I Just Want to Be Average Mike Rose." Google Docs. Web. 19 Jan. 2017.

  • "I Won't Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar. Here's Why." Harvard Business Review. 23 July 2014. Web. 19 Jan. 2017.

  • Duckworth, Angela Lee. "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance." Angela Lee Duckworth: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance | TED Talk | TED.com. Web. 19 Jan. 2017.

  • Coates, Ta-Nehisi. Between the World and Me. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2015. Print.

Advanced Essay #3: Nothing We Know is Real

Posted by Lyle Seitz in English 3 · Block/Franz/Taylor-Baranik · C Band on

Introduction:

It took me a while to find a topic relating to identity that I was really passionate about until I came across an article online that talked about how people were using ‘fake news’ to confuse and manipulate people. I thought this was interesting because it talked a lot about how our society is changing since the time when the internet was not as much of an asset to our everyday lives.


No one is real, an almost infinite number of fake people climbing through a tangled web. They give a feeling of worth to some insignificant person that lives on another side of the planet. This lets us hide from ourselves, the people that we want to become can now be who we really are, just by hiding behind a screen. Now we can be defined by what a number of pixels and some piece of hardware says about us.

Now that the internet has become a piece of everyday life, people are allowed to live through the persona they create for themselves. It has become a part of life, that we must look at a person we meet through the internet and have to wonder whether they are real or not. Though some have different reasons for lying about who they are, some just want to create the person they wish they were in real life, others use it to manipulate. There is still one thing all of these people have in common--they can hide from the rest of the world without having to get out of bed. You can do anything, be anyone.

Along with the fact that you can no longer trust people you meet on the internet, your activity is also constantly being tracked. Advertising companies can learn anything about you, take your search history and create a completely personalized viewing experience for each person based on what information they are able to dig up about you. It is almost something out of George Orwell’s 1984, which illustrates a dystopian world in which none of your actions are private.

Journalist Curtis Wallen from The Atlantic writes a fascinating article dating back to July in 2014 about his experience creating a fake identity online, in which he talks about the way anyone can access information about you. In his writing he says “It’s not an exaggeration to say everything you do online is being followed. And the more precisely a company can tailor your online experience, the more money it can make from advertisers.” This tells us how almost everything that you see on the internet everyday is an effort for an advertising company somewhere to make money off you.

The depressing truth about what happens today is that identities are created or stolen, and it is becoming harder and harder to weed your way through and find real people. There are websites that are used for dating all over the internet that help match people up, hopefully leading to a relationship. A big fear between people that use these dating sites is that someone is lying about who they actually are in order to attract people to them. They might do this by using a picture of a model instead of themselves, or by speaking in a way that might attract a certain type of person, instead of speaking as you might in real life. This has been a dangerous game for people to play for a long time, though it is becoming easier and easier to get away with. Anyone can sit and hide behind a screen and pretend to be anyone they want, and usually without any repercussions.

Another recent issue that connects to false identity is fake news. People who claim to be high power officials spread news that has been completely made up in order to make a point of their own. Through social media sites like Facebook we are handed a lot of information about what is happening in the world, and it turns out that most of it is not true, but because we see it there and hear it from something we trust, we automatically believe that it is the truth. Pui-Wing Tam a journalist for The New York Times writes in a recent article from early January 2017, “The phenomenon of fake news is reinforced by powerful figures who cite the false information and help spread it. That includes Mr. Trump himself, who has invoked fake news when it has suited his needs.” Now we are faced with the issue of not knowing what is real or not online, are the people real, is what we see and hear actually accurate?

This leaves us as a population with the question: How has the use of the internet and the ability to have access to the largest portion of the world we have ever had, changed the way we think of our own identity, and the way we perceive others? This is a question that should be explored deeper throughout the next coming years because it has led to issues like cyberbullying, which has allowed people the right to act like monsters towards one another online because they have the protection of the screen between them. The little monitoring that goes on is also staggering, there are little to no consequences for people who commit these types of crimes over the internet.

Throughout the coming years I hope that we are able to find a way of solving this problem, this issue that leading us into the world that George Orwell foretold, where we can trust no one. Identity means nothing anymore because through the internet we are able to be whomever we want to be.



Wallen, Curtis. "How to Invent a Person Online." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 23 July 2014. Web. 20 Jan. 2017. http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/07/how-to-invent-a-person-online/374837/

Tam, Pui-Wing. "The Continued Creation and Dissemination of Fake News." The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/technology/daily-report-the-continued-creation-and-dissemination-of-fake-news.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share


Advanced Essay #3: The Leaders and the Followers

Posted by Jessica Guarino in English 3 · Block/Franz/Taylor-Baranik · C Band on

Intro: 
For my essay, I wrote about how people's actions can affect others' individuality. My goals for this essay were to show how people can grow up and not getting a chance to express and explore their individuality for themselves. I also showed this through my personal experiences that I have dealt with. When I first started to write this, I was unsure how to get my larger idea across without making the essay sound bland. I decided to write some ideas down that popped into my head that had some relation to my larger idea. Once I started to type them up, everything flowed smoothly. I think that people will be able to relate to my essay because of some experiences that they have also had.
Essay: 

In every group, there are people who have roles, the leaders and followers. There are people who are the followers, that do whatever the leader tells them and rely on the leader to make all of their decisions for them. This affects the followers negatively because they just rely on the leader which affects their individuality, and essentially making the decision about who they are. It doesn’t affect the leaders because they are the ones affecting the followers and telling them who to be, what to do and how to become what the leader wants them to be.

When I was younger, this happened to me a few times. In each of these situations, I was the same person. Even though I experienced this several times, I still didn’t know when to recognize the signs. “When an individual plays a part he implicitly requests his observers to take seriously the impression that is fostered before them. They are asked to believe that the character they see actually possesses the attributes he appears to possess, that the task he performs will have the consequences that are implicitly claimed for it, and that, in general, matters are what they appear to be.”

In elementary school, I had a best friend and her name was Anya. I had known her since we were babies and we had been best friends ever since then, at the time. We loved to do everything together and we were both young and impressionable. Whenever our class took trips or we went out for water ice on a hot day, I always got what she ordered because I couldn’t decide on what to get. This started to happen more often and with other things besides these, and it became harder for me to make decisions for myself. I guess she noticed this happening to me, and started to use this against me for her own benefit. We continued our elementary years like this, she would tell me what to do and I would do it for her. The only time I noticed what she was doing was when my mom told me, because I was so oblivious to it.

It was my first day back to school and I was finally in middle school. I noticed the new students that were going to be in my class and one of the new kids I recognized, it was a girl from my old elementary school. She recognized me too and as the weeks and months went by, we did almost everything together. One day she came up to me, pointed out that I always had my hair up, and told me to take it out. I told her that I really didn’t want to because it made me slightly uncomfortable, but she ignored that and forcefully grabbed my hair tie and pulled it out. She said she wouldn’t give it back unless I wore my hair down for the rest of the day, and I kept my hair down for the rest of the day. Every since that day, she saw how I reacted to her actions and kept doing things like that, but it started to become too much to the point where I would do something she didn’t like and she would tell me that she wasn’t my friend any more. After I would react to her statement, she would always claim that she was “just kidding” and that I should always take things so literally. From Flowers for Algernon, Charlie was in a similar situation. “I think it’s a good thing about finding out how everybody laughs at me. I thought about it a lot. It’s because I’m so dumb and I don’t even know when I’m doing something dumb. People think it’s funny when a dumb person can’t do things the same way they can.”

Freshman year of high school I wanted to be my own person and do things for myself, but it didn’t end up being like that. At first, I only knew a few people, but over time, they became friends and we stuck together. We would always hang out and go to the same place after school. After a while, I would just hang out with them because they would always ask if I could somewhere with them. But when I said no, they would just comment that I was no fun, as if they were almost stating those things on purpose so that I would change my mind. Of course because I wanted them to stop, I went with them, even though I really didn’t want to. We used to share things about ourselves and they would always make me go first, even though they knew I didn’t like to. After I said something, they would completely change the subject and not say anything. “Professional sports offer a big tent. It has room for racists, homophobes and misogynists as well as the people they hate. And hate or judgment would seem to represent a wall that the self-identified don’t want to hit. In the case of, say, a job application or a census report, reluctance can become principled refusal: My sexuality is none of my boss’s business.”

Morris, Wesley. "Why 'Self-Identifying' Is Different Than Coming Out." NY Times. N.p., 29 Dec. 2015. Web. 10 Jan. 2017. <https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/magazine/why-self-identifying-is-different-from-coming-out.html>.

Keyes, Daniel. Flowers for Algernon. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1966. 293. Print.

NBA v WNBA (The Fight For The Winning Lay-Up)

Posted by Madison Harris in English 3 · Block/Franz/Taylor-Baranik · C Band on

Intro: For my essay, I explored the topic of basketball and the gender identities. It is hard for women to create an identity for themselves in sports especially very popular sports like basketball. Basketball is an identity that is most seen to be with men and not particularly women. I wanted to express the facts and I how I feel about this situation. If I could change anything about this paper, I would probably add more of my opinion in the paper and more of it makes me feel even though I explain some of it but probably more.   


NBA v. WNBA


The sports industry is something that was always branded by the face of men for a long period of time. It was hard for women to come into this industry without issues pertaining to gender roles and the segregation between men and women. From this the WNBA was created which is the Women’s National Basketball Association. The identity of basketball has always been attached to the specimen of a male. The NBA was originally founded in the 1946 and 50 years later in 1996 the WNBA was founded. This means that the NBA is way older than the WNBA which made the sport of basketball molded in the image of just being a male’s sport. Women are trying to gain their own identity in the basketball industry which is very hard due to them using a male’s face of sport to boost their identity and wanting everyone to be supportive and acceptable to this.

The WNBA are still fighting to be viable in the society of sports. In areas like attendance of fans. The WNBA averages 7,318 fans in attendance to games whereas to the NBA, they average 17,319 in game attendance. New York Times explored the viewing WNBA games and have made observation stating: “But as its 20th season gets underway, the W.N.B.A.’s modest attendance and television viewership (just below 200,000 on ESPN’s networks last season) illuminate a stubborn imbalance between men’s and women’s professional leagues, adding to the expanding debate about the place of women’s sports in society.” The emphasis of gender identity is something that is still being put into place by woman in sports and also the players in the WNBA. One of the founders Adam Silver, which is now the NBA's commissioner quotes: “As much as we’ve done in lending the league our name,” he said, “the people who have been in the sports business for a long time, and I’m one of them, historically underestimated the marketing it takes to launch a new property.” This quote gave much insight on the understanding of how the WNBA are underestimated and they are not holding the fans attention into helping them create the identity of basketball.  Even down to the salaries there is a major gap between the NBA and WNBA. The average NBA salary is $4.9 million whereas to the WNBA their salary averages to $72,000. That is no way near how much NBA players make. They would make over $1.5 million dollars overseas which is 15 times as much as they make now. WNBA players like Maya Moore, Skylar Diggins, and Swin Cash gain more money due to the endorsement they receive with many sports brands like nike, under armour, etc. The endorsements do not endorse all WNBA players which has many WNBA players questioned on to who they are and others not even knowing who they are. I asked several people in the SLA community, my family, and my friends if they could at least name three WNBA players off of the top of their head and same for the NBA. There was much hesitation to even name at least three WNBA players but when it came to the NBA, that was very natural off of the tongue. This ensures me off the identity of basketball and how us as a society are very informative with the NBA and knew players immediately when asked, but as for the WNBA it is very hard to even name at least one player or one team.

The identity of a woman is seen mostly with dance, the fashion industry, and also makeup and beauty. At a young age, I was not very interested in those things while growing up. I was like the tomboy/ a little girly type of girl. I was very sporty and involved with sports. In the fifth grade, I found my passion for basketball. I started out just learning how to even make one lay-up to now starting for my high school's basketball team. My inspiration to play has came from the WNBA and watching my favorite players like: Skylar Diggins, Maya Moore, and Elena Delle Donne. I became very attracted to watching the WNBA , but I found myself like society attending to watching more NBA than WNBA. I really don’t why it have dawned on me to do this especially because I am female that plays basketball. “Nobody discusses the WNBA. Nobody seems especially interested in the WNBA. If a basketball league falls in the summer and nobody cares, is it still a basketball league?”... Jeff Pearlman.


Bibliography:

Sandomir, Richard. "After Two Decades, WNBA Still Struggling For Relevance." The New York Times, 28 May 2016. Web. 19 Jan. 2017.

<https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/28/sports/basketball/after-two-decades-wnba-still-struggling-for-relevance.html?_r=0>.

Pearlman, Jeff. "Why the WNBA Isn't -- and Will Never Be -- a Popular League." SI.com. Sports Illustrated, 16 June 2010. Web. 19 Jan. 2017. <http://www.si.com/nba/2010/06/16/wnba>.

Walters, John. "A Lawsuit from the U.S. Women's Soccer Team Reveals Deeper Issues with Gender Equity in Sports." Newsweek. Newsweek LLC, 02 June 2016. Web. 19 Jan. 2017. <http://www.newsweek.com/womens-soccer-suit-underscores-sports-gender-pay-gap-443137>.

Advanced Essay #3 Opportunities

Posted by Jonathan Saldivar in English 3 · Block/Franz/Taylor-Baranik · C Band on

Introduction:

For my essay I wanted to talk about how cultural background affects on how you are viewed in society. My goal is for my classmates to understand how us different skin color different backgrounds are viewed and what opportunities we get. I enjoyed making this piece. The process was way different than I expected. I did not think

Essay:

Who would to say being born from 2 undocumented immigrants would be such a hassle. So much pressure on my shoulders, looking for opportunities they missed out on. Learning the dominant language in the country, english. Parents don’t even want to teach me about our culture-I mean their culture. Americanization is what decided my name, my mother and father thought Jonathan was a perfect name for a non-white kid could have to fit in in order meet their expectations. However they gave me their last name to also show I’m latino. Saldivar not pronounced saldvador or saldevar, etc. Jonathan or Johnny that’s what I go by now. Preferably Johnny. Your name is a white boy’s name, however your last name fits you well it has that spanish tone. Make up your mind, am I a latino or a wannabe white boy. At some point I would wear the same clothes everyday or at least pants and sweater. Everyone would questionly ask me “

Johnny why do you wear those clothes everyday?” That’s looking down on me, making me feel like more at a disadvantage. I remember reading an article talking about social standing in america and it asserts that “Many American immigrants imagine their new country to be a land of opportunity, but those opportunities, it seems, are not available to everyone equally.” I agree with the quote. I felt at a disadvantage because I’m not white, second where I am placed on the ladder of society. Mexicans, we are seen as immigrants, as minority's. The first phrase when people find out I’m mexican. “You’re an illegal immigrant! You’re latino? You must be mexican. You jumped the border?”


That’s only the beginning. My self esteem crumbled before my very eyes. Self esteem- confidence in one’s own worth or ability; self respect. I lost the respect I once had for myself. I eventually started making jokes about my culture, dressing in ridiculous clothing. I’m great at math, however I didn’t bother trying anymore. One of my teachers noticed a difference in me while being in the class. The teacher eventually came to me and pulled me to the side. “Johnny?” worriedly asked my teacher. “What? Is there something wrong?” I asked quietly. “Do you notice a difference in you?” I asked my teacher. “No not really.” I responded. “Johnny!” (Silence roamed the room.) “I can’t believe you don’t realize what’s wrong with you?” my teacher exclaimed. I raised my voice as I said a word within my sentence. “Why should I try in this class if I’m settled for a job as a gardener, or selling drugs. Better yet why am I even learning this language for christ sake, can I just speak like my parents. Also I’m sorry that I am not whi(te)-” I left the room before finishing my sentence. A sense of deja vu appeared. I once read the story of  and some random kid quoted a sentence in the story. “Only I feel sorry because hes all alone and has no frends.” This quote reminded that some people are not offered the same education, some teachers may care to help everyone, however there are some that only helps those who they think will succeed. The kid didn’t have the best pronunciation, I don’t blame him since he’s also a minority.” This was the opportunity he got, he didn’t care about getting the best education like the rich kids got and take it for granted. There has been many definitions of the american dream. The most common one is everyone gets an equal opportunity to achieve success from hard, determination. This dream is false, hard work can lead to being stress, burning yourself out. He just wanted to learn even if it was a bad school, education will lead to better future. The american dream is not what it’s meant to be. I walked up to him because he clearly was talking about me. “Hey dude.” “Wat?” “I wanted to know if you wanted to hangout sometime” I asked shyly. “Shore” he responded.  After that day I somewhat see myself becoming the guy who I once was. My friend was from the black community living in a beat up house. I felt bad for him. One day I was walking up to pay see him and these kids were talking badly about my friend so I decided to join the conversation that was happening between them. “This kid can barely speak english haha. No wonder your dad left when you were born. Now you’re stuck here being a nobody.” “Hey why are you talking to him like that? What's does it matter to you, you lowlife immigrant.” I wanted to help but I couldn't I was frozen. Staring at my friend getting tortured. I didn't have the confidence to step up.  

Advanced Essay Bibliography Add when I get time

Advanced Essay #3: Who and what are we really?

Posted by Yafang Wu in English 3 · Block/Franz/Taylor-Baranik · C Band on

Introduction:

My goal for this essay is to explore who and what we are from a scientific and philosophical perspective, and make the reader think. For this essay, I think I had asked too much questions, but I couldn’t figure out another way to express these ideas and still make the readers think.



The real thing:

When someone is ask who they are as a person, they most likely respond with something like “My name is …...”, or it may be more specific. The answers are most likely along the line of race, gender, and whatever is special or different about them. But who we are is far more complex than what most people think.The question of who we are is far more than just the things that appeared on the surface.


Who are we really? Are we residing in our own body?

Our bodies are made of tens of trillions of cells, and many times more microbes live inside our body, organisms that aren’t us, that is. Our cells die at different rates, and when new cells are created, mutations can sometimes occur.

If the cells are mutated, are they still a part of us anymore? Are we still considered “us” with all these microbes living inside of us? Did that previous “us” die when our cells died?

When people have seizure, parts, even half of their brain with seizure can be removed, as a way to treat it. If people are able to live with half of their brain, so imagine this scenario: person A’s brain was taken out, each half of it was putted into person B and person C, two brainless bodies. Person A no longer exist, person B and person C are now both alive. Which one of them is person A now? Who owns everything person A used to own? If person A was married and have kids, who is person A’s spouse’s spouse, and who is person A’s children’s parent?

If a scientist were to make a clone of you, or change every single cell in you, which one is you?


Or maybe, we are not our physical body, but rather our DNA, we survive as our DNA survive. But what happens when mutations occur in our DNA, are we still us? Since our DNA passes down to our biological children, so are our children a part of us? But can multiple quantity of you exist at the same time?


Maybe, we are our consciousness. Consciousness is basically our awareness to our surroundings and what is going on around us. But who and what are we when we don’t have our consciousness? Are we something that is considered “unknown”? Do we still exist if we lose our consciousness? When we fall asleep, or how about before we have any consciousness, like when we are small babies; did we exist back then?


Are we what we remember ourselves as, our memories? But what if we don’t, what if we lost all our memories due to Amnesia, are we still us? How about when we don’t have any memory, like when we were little babies, who and what are we? If you remember yourself as, say a god, are you really a god then?


Are we still the same person as who we were yesterday? Are we going to be the same person as who we will be tomorrow? Have we died every night when we went to bed and reborned when we wake up the next day?


Or maybe, we are just bodies of thoughts that think we exist, but we don’t actually exist, and we are not real. Who knows.

But one thing we do know is, who and what we are is far more complex than what we thinks. As scientists and philosophers are still trying to figure out who and what we really are, here is one thing to be certain: you are you, whatever you think you are, your physical body, DNA, memories, consciousness, belief……. Whatever it might be, you are just you, doing your best to survive in this cold and cruel world.


More sources to watch + reference:

Crashcourse. "Personal Identity: Crash Course Philosophy #19." YouTube. YouTube, 27 June 2016. Web. 19 Jan. 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trqDnLNRuSc>.


WirelessPhilosophy. "PHILOSOPHY - Mind: Personal Identity (The Narrative Self) [HD]." YouTube. YouTube, 05 Feb. 2016. Web. 19 Jan. 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcIqoN9oRgo>.


Vsauce. "What Is Consciousness?" YouTube. YouTube, 06 Jan. 2012. Web. 19 Jan. 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjfaoe847qQ>.


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