success

                                       How do you define success?

          Success is when you have achieved your goals and you are able to fulfill your needs and dreams. I see my responsibilities that I owe and for me to take care of those responsibilities, I have to succeed toward my goals to become successful person in life. I have to work really hard months and perhaps a few more years to achieve my goals. I want to be able to sit with my family at end of the day and not to worry about paying my bills. There are different aspects in life that help you succeed 
 in life like family support, money and being positive.
.                                      

          Family support is very important when you are working hard toward your success daily. It really eases your day and mind when you know someone has helped you do some of the household chores. Family is always there for you when you need that care and support to stand on feet again the next day of being so tired the day before. You need the encouragement when you feel overwhelmed. According to Tamir Jha, “The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing.”  This is exactly how I feel when I have this happening around me. I am able to concentrate toward my success goal without thinking about my family. I come home and I see my kids are fed and cleaned.
                                           

          Money is the second important thing that plays the role toward being successful. I can’t imagine my life without having money. I would not have been able to go to school and college without having money in my account. I appreciate my husband working so hard for me to continue going to college that helps me in so many aspects. I can buy my books and other necessities that are mandatory for my school and not worry about the bills. According to Dr.Sharma, “ Market sells everything for money.” This is true because life is hard if one doesn’t have enough money for living. You need money for every turn in your life. I am blessed to have a good husband that helps me afford my needs.
 

          Third important thing that helps me achieve my success in life is my own positive attitude. I have learned to ignore negative things around me that used to control my mind from moving forward. I still see and hear some of the people whom I should be calling my family members putting me down talking about materialistic things or instigating my family and breaking my peaceful life. But with my inner strength I have learned to survive. I know people who don’t want to see you happy and try to take your happiness away can never be your own or family. According to Ashley Smith, “Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” After I got over the negativity in recent chapter of my life, I have become more aware of my coming future. I am able to concentrate on my success. I see my life full of beauty and everything feels and looks good.
 

          Where I see so many aspects that helps me succeed, I also see aspects that prevent me from being successful. These aspects are lack of money, personnel issues and economy.

          I have been working at my job for 8 years and now I have to cut down hours to continue with my school. This means I am making less money now and have to control some of my future expenses. I have to think twice before I buy anything for my house and family.

          Second thing that prevents me from being successful in life is my personal issues. I have seen and endured so much in my life, It has been so hard for me to stand for my self again and work toward my success in life. My personal issues were taking toll on me at one point when I realized I had to be successful toward something I was passionate about. That will help me live happier because I will not be depending on others with so many things that I depend on now. 
 

          Third thing that prevents me from being successful in life is economy crisis. Everything is so expensive now a days that you have to think twice before buying. Most of the things I do or anywhere I go it involves money. Gas prices have gone up and I have to pay for parking at school as well. Life’s getting harder and harder everyday to live and achieve for better so I have to work harder toward my success.

High school student stands up for himself/video.

It takes one person to stand and spread the awareness. That's what Jeff, a high school student at Duncanville, Texas had to do when he felt like he was not learning in class. Jeff was in his history class when he got up and told the teacher how he felt about the way she was teaching the class. Yet the teacher ignored what he had to say and told him to leave the classroom. He told her that she's coming to class to collect her pay check as she had mentioned to the student perhaps earlier. How she is never interacting with students face to face. She is never engaging with any part of the classwork/homework she is giving to the students.

She gives out the assignment but never explains or observes the students. A teacher is supposed to be engaging the students by discussing details. The teacher is suppose to be touching students heart with all the knowledge she has. Not by sitting in the corner of the class; but by standing up and going around in the class. This is exactly now I felt in a lot of my classes I have taken at College. Teachers don't like to interact with students anymore. Either we are taught on the computers or we are given a take home assignment and asssumed we should know everything our own. Jeff did not only spread the awareness of education in class, but he is now on the web, and the news spreading

awareness.

Why are we going to school if we already have all the knowledge we need for our future?

video embed # 1

 

                          

Jeff Duncan-Andrade is a teacher at a high school in Oakland. Jeff feels the pain of these innocent and young student that are going to school but facing violence, racism and traumas everyday. Jeff feels like there is so much going on in Oakland but yet no solutions. All these problems are effecting our younger generation's mind and body. Jeff says he has seen people getting killed right infront of his place. Jeff is educated, and has the knowledge of all this can still feel how after knowing all this is effecting him still. He can't concentrate, trauma stops him from doing his daily routines. He says imagine what these young minds would be going through, who are not educated properly and straight facing all the violence, racism and so much more in their daily life. These young people are suppose to be at schools, learning something important about their future.

These children need better guidence. 

 

Teachers can't teach unless they are prepared from the inside out. They have to design their curriculum to where they can feel their students mind and their pain as human being. Schools and teachers have become like a buisness. They come to class but are not teaching in a proper way, yet collecting their paycheck. They come to class, hand out their work to student without engaging with them. Teachers are suppose to be like a candle, enlightening their path, their future. They have to show how their passion toward teaching can passionate someone else's life toward their future. Jeff says these teachers have to set a relationship to teach better. Jeff says poor  kids can never be tought because they don't have political, social or economical power to support them. According to Mahatama Gandhi, " Poverty is the worst form of violence." There is so much violence in the community that no one will tolerate it if they had a support. These kids have so much knowledge hidden within them, that needs to come out and be used for a better future. These kids need all types of help weather it's financial or metal help.  Only Jeff can't do this by himself. Someone else has to stand strong with the right resources to save Oakland and the people living in Oakland.

..

Into the wild

                            

  Into the wild

          Chris McCandless was born into a rich and materialistic family. Chris was different than all his family members and friends. He was neither materialistic nor proud of his parent's money. He was a loner because of his parent's egoistic behavior toward their materialistic life. Chris could have lived happily, spending money like the other rich people around him but he chose to define his own life. He wanted to be alone. Chris wanted to explore the nature's beauty by living off the land, and by leaving everything behind. He did not care about the relationships he had in normal society.
 

          Chris McCandless had passsion toward nature and wanted to go away from the materialistic life and discover for his peace of mind. He wanted to leave everything behind, his parents, his sister Carine whom he was very close to, his friends and all the possession that was given to him by his parents. He had a luxurious life if he hadn't chose to go away from all this.Chris even changed his name to Alex when he left the house. He wanted to explore the nature so he hitchicked. While on his journey he made new friends. When he reached his into the wild. He depended himself on wild food, fruit and other meat resources. According to Harriet Tubman, " Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.". That is exactly what Chris did. He enjoyed his bitter and sweet moments. He wanted to prove to himself that he was not living off his parents possession because he felt his parents never gave him any importance in life.

         Chris McCandless was a very smart and hardworking person, he got good grades at Emory University in Atlanta and got his degree. He loved reading and always used big words to explain things. Even Wayne Westerberg noticed when Chris was in Carthage for a while " he was the hardest worker I have ever seen. Didn't matter what it was, he will do it: hard physical labor, mucking rotten grain and dead rats out of the bottom of the hole." (page 18). He also learned God has provided everything on this earth for us, all we need to do is to explore a little.

          Chris McCandless had forgotten his responsibilities toward his family. His parents raised him even though he didn't like his parents. We have responsibilities toward our family and friends while we are exploring ourselves. For example, our parents raise us, feed us and meet all our living requirements. When they grow older or at the age where they need our help, we should respect them and fulfill life requirements. All they need sometimes is love, care and a good listener to share the moments with. Unlike Chris McCandless, He ruined his life just because his parents made a mistake when he was growing up and felt like he was a bastard child. Chris's father was still married to another woman when he was with Chris's mother and Chris was born. Chris forgot all the hard work his parents did for him to give him a better life whether he wanted to live that way or not.

         

Roses in concrete by "Jeff Duncan Andrade."

Jeff Duncan Andrade makes a good point talking about the Oakland area population and it's negativity in the areas around it. Jeff talks about how crimes such as homicide, robberies and gang activities are increasing day by day. These crimes are affecting the innocent people living in that area. Jeff called these people Roses in concrete because all these people have a valuable life and if these people are directed in the right direction of life with love and support, they can be out shinning stars of future. Most of the people living there have constant stress and destruction to their lives where they can't think straight or focus on a good future unless someone tries to help them. These people need someone strong in their life that can nurture and care for them like they are babies for better future. People living there need to realize their responsibilities toward each other. They have to consider everything  instead of  the mentality that "it's mine" and "it's all about me".

Maybe if people or resources realize how messed up Oakland is and try to help then things can turn out to be hopeful for better future.  I do understand that Jeff has opened our eyes to see how there are so many problems going on in Oakland, but I would like to know the following:

1. Why is the government not giving additional security to Oakland city even after knowing there are so many crimes  happening everyday?

2. Why and when did Piedmont decide that they wanted a secure community?

3. Why are outside resources not helping Oakland community to get better?

Family

Family is my first priority. Being a wife and with two kids, it takes a lot for me to take care of my family, especially since I am in school. With my hectic schedule. I am missing so many precious family moments just so I can provide a better and  more secure future for my family.

I hardly spend time with my family. I get up before dawn and clean the house. Then I finish cooking meals for the day and get ready for my full time job. After working 8-10hrs five days a week, I go to school at night. After doing so much and dealing with so many tasks, I am looking forward to have my nursing license and be part of my family in long run. I have not taken any vacations in the past 5 years just so I can focus on my school, before I face more budget cuts and have less options for classes that I need. I know as the times are passing, nothing is going to be same. There are times when there is a family party going on but I can't make it because of my school. My kids are growing up but I know if I am not educated, it will not help them. They will look up to me and will do better in their future. I cannot wait for the day when I will have my degree in my hands and I will look back at all the sacrificing and say it was totally worth doing what I have done for my family.

I Love my job but...

 It takes a lot for a Medical Assistant to get their daily job done. I know this because I am a Medical Assistant who works really hard on a daily basis. I have to assist my MD's everyday with procedures, taking vitals on patients, giving injection and documenting every little thing that has to do with my patient.

 

When I sit down at lunch time, It's not because I want to eat and relax. It gives me a chance to catch up on my school homework. It's really difficult to go to school when you have a full time job and a dependent family. My job requires a lot physically and mentally, so I have to push myself everyday. I tell myself I have to aim for my degree so one day I be with my family for long run, and when I  am there with them I have secured all of our futures. Sometimes at end of the day I am so tired from working all day, but I have to remind myself that I cannot give up now. I have to get more and more stronger and finish my school. I still feel very fortunate because I work with a very hardworking and nice group of people that help me through out the day.

MONEY TALKS

 Since our economy is not doing so well and everything is getting expensive,  money is one of the major issues I have to face and it is making thriving in college difficult.The amount of money I earn, I use it for my family expenses plus to pay the bills. Most of the things I do or anywhere I go it involves money, especially paying for college education.

Each unit is so expensive that I cannot think of taking more than one class each semester. I have to take one class at a time to make sure I can afford my family expenses and continue to get higher education to live better future. Gas prices have gone up and I have to pay for parking at school as well as. Books and other required materials for each class I take. Overall, It's getting more expensive since I am working less hours now because of my school. Life's only getting harder and harder everyday to live and achieve for better so I have to finish my school within time.

movie passionate

MOVIE PASSIONATE

This movie speaks to us by telling us that we need to discover what we are passionate about. Passion has been forgotten since we are so busy in our world. Most of the people follow what their families have to say and they follow. but never give themselves a chance to truly find out who they truly are and what they want in life. Movie Passion tells is about exploring our selves inside out. It talks about how we have to face some sort of failure in life to see success. To find out what you are ambitious about, and to find right teacher, who walks with and explains you well to have deep understanding. Passion is something that drives you and makes you happy.

I have learned something that I never thought I was doing most of the time and that was pleasing others around me and never thought of myself. I have started focusing on my self because if I am not happy with what I do, I will not be happy for long time. I have started trusting myself instead of listening to others opinion all the time. I know I have to be the

change to change something within me.. I see life beautiful and bloomed because things are more clear and meaningful now. I have waken my passion toward helping others in need by becoming a nurse. This is something makes me happy when I am helping as a medical assistant but it's not enough. My passion is growing stronger and stronger so am I.

CONNECTIONS BETWEEN POVERTY AND PASSION.

People living in poverty knows their limits in their life. They work hard to earn. They are happy with what they have.

 

They are not greedy.  They have polite attitude toward others. Because there is no distractions, they can focus on what they want and what they need in their life. Lack of money gives you more passion. More struggles you face , more you focus in life.There is not so much going on in their life that they will get distracted. Poor person is only concern about bringing food to the table where rich will be thinking about only achieving materialistic things.

 

This is so true since most of us have become selfish. Most of the humans don't bother to think of others. I am sure we human can get rid of the poverty, if we try hard enough by feeling others pain.