How does any of this relate to your life at all? Find one theme that we have discussed this quarter...this week, this book, that book, this video, that video, anything. Find one historical issue that is somehow related to you and your life.
I'm going to go with one of the quotes I found in the Fredrick Douglas book that I love."I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and incur my own abhorrence"(p.46). This quote relates to my life and everybody else's at some point. Humans love attention from other humans, its natural. I went through a time where I was searching for attention from other people, wanting to be popular and cool. It didn't take me long to figure out that the only person I need to be cool for is God and myself. So when I read this quote about being yourself even if people make fun of you or don't like it I fell in love! I rather be happy being myself than miserable pleasing other people.
It is not only the attention that people seek for but, like you mentioned it is more like being yourself to be happy than to be someone you are not to please others and being miserable. The good thing is that you caught the problem right on time because if you didn't then it would be one lie after the other just to be someone who you are not by pleasing the others. Sometimes we need to stop and thing about ourselves first rather than others. It is okay to be selfish sometimes.
Wow Melissa! After reading your quote and reading your response you made me feel a connection with you. I feel the same exact way! Humans do love attention but most of the time in order to impress others they forget about their happiness. Its important to remember that we must make ourselves happy before someone else's.
Melissa, I agree and like the quote you chose, as you said it’s better to be happy with yourself than miserable trying to please other people. We, humans, like to be the center of attention because it is in our nature. However, when doing so we forget about what it’s really important, that is to be happy with ourselves and not to be miserable trying to impress people. It’s like that saying “ I’d rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not”.
I agree with Janai, Wow!!! I absolutely could relate to your quote, I myself am like that. I agree that humans do want all attention instead of just being happy with themselves. I also agree with Antonio that it is really important to love oneself, rather than trying to impress others!. You did an amazing job Melissa!
wow! This quote is amazing and is true. Humans do want all the attention and spend more time trying to make others happy rather than focusing on themselves. We should be happy of who we are rather than trying to be like others and focus more on our person. I believe that hypocrisy exsists very much today because everyone is trying to be like everyone else rather than discovering who they really are. As hard as it is to accept, we live in a world where a book is judged by its cover.
Melissa, I couldn't agree more with than you. I think that a lot of times we are constantly trying to fit in with people who quite actually could care less about you. I def think that we should be true to God and yourself. To be happy you need to be happy with the person that you are. Other people that truly do mater will be happy for you no matter what you do.
I love this! I couldn't relate to you and this quote anymore. Very often people tend to forget their self value and pursuit to please others by the eye when in deep their actions of pleasing goes far beyond what they are feeling inside. I'm glad that you caught on sooner than later because subjects like that tend to destroy who we are, happened to me too! But like you, caught on and i learned to worry more about myself than the thought of others!
I agree; too many times people try to be people pleasers. They try to form their own personal being around what others might deem as popular or trendy. I believe people need to stay true to their selves and form their own personal being around themselves.
This quote by Federick Douglass is something I think relates to me in some ways. "If there is no struggle, there is no progress." It relates to what I have been through in my life and I am sure every one else. At some point every one struggles to get to where they want to be in life or to become the person they want to be. Me being an athlete or just a becoming a better person emotionally, physically and mentally can be a struggle. I have had four acl surgeries for four years and now I am retired but before I believe I progressed in becoming a stronger person mentally by not giving up and trying to keep going with playing the sport that I loved. But when it came to for me to retire, It was heart breaking but it didn't break me down because I was mentally prepared for it. I was proud to accept the fact that I have given my best and was able to not have any regrets about anything. At the end of the day you can become a better person no matter what you go through as long as you progressing each day, it will make a stronger person in the end no matter what the circumstances may be.
Hi Tyler, the quote you chose describes the kind of person you are and like you said you have gone though a lot. But if there is no struggle in life with anything then we will not learn how to keep going forward right. Sometimes, we need to give ourselves that push we need to keep going and it is us who can do an effort to motivate ourselves. And you are right if we progress, we can become a better person than we were yesterday. if we learn how to get through hardship situations, we will only learn how to get stronger and overcome obstacles.
Hi Tyler. I also loved this quote since it described my life in many ways! I also agree that everyone has to struggle to get to where they want. It definitely changes a person significantly. I also liked that you accepted the facts about your situation and not run away from them. Not running away from the obstacles will certainly make a person stronger than before!
Tyler, I like this quote and I believed that most of us feel connected to this quote because at some point in our lives be face struggles to get what we want. Also, struggles are good because they help us to become stronger and to be more prepare in our lives and in difficult times. Like you said it prepared us mentally for bad news and for new challenges.
Tyler I really enjoyed your quote that you just mentioned above. If there is no struggle then there isn't progress. Struggle is what shows us our weaknesses, its something that helps us realize when we need help. when we do ask for help it helps us become better people. These struggles helps us improve us as people and leaders. if you do not go through struggles in life then perhaps you have the easy way of things and not working hard enough.
Hi Tyler, I like this quote because it reaffirms something I learned when I was young. If someone gives you an answer and you don't how the answer was found then you have nothing. Now if you struggle to find the answer it seals it into your mind not being easily forgotten.
Someone once said, "If you can't make a mistake, you can't make anything." People need to struggle for their outcome to be worth it. Nothing in this life that's worth having comes easy. Struggles are a part of life that everyone must go through to come out a stronger person.
My favorite part of this quarter was learning about slavery through reading Fredrick Douglass book. My life was not like Douglass, but I can relate to him and his eagerness to learn how to read and write. When I was younger I enjoyed reading different books. Any chance I would get I would open up my book and start reading and this was the same thing Douglass did. Except Douglass would hide the book because if he was caught reading he would get in trouble. In my case if I did not read, I would get in trouble by my parents because they expected a lot form me. In elementary I would read the most words per minute than many other students and it made me feel proud that I would strive for my best when I read. Like Douglass when he learned to read and write, he took any chance he had to practice more and more because he enjoyed it. There was no one to stop me from learning because learning would only make me go higher. But learning for slaves was bad, because it wouldn’t make them look good. Up to this point I am still continuing my education and I thank my parents for always being with me when I need them and my teachers for teaching me what I know. Without them there would be no one guiding me. Even though Douglass life was different than mine, his dedication to learning how to read and write was similar to my life and gave us education.
Yessica, its interesting hearing your story when you were younger. My life was not like Douglas either but I understand the part in where he was so interesting in reading and writing. As an elementary student I too was recognized for reading multiple words in a minute, and for reading the most books within a month.
Yessica, It was nice to hear about some similarities that you had with him like the passion of learning. I do think that education is what you make out of it. if your willing to push yourself to be number one in all that you do then you will succeed. its great to see that at such young age you were able to strive so quickly that's great!
A theme that we discussed during this quarter that I can relate the most with was the enlightenment. During the enlightenment people realized the importance of education and gained appreciation for great inventions. During my life time I’ve been surrounded by people who didn’t put much effort in progressing educationally. For a while, I felt the same way. Being from a place where success isn’t expected as much, I never envisioned myself becoming successful. It bothered me to see my friends settling for less and being content with a rugged lifestyle, just waiting on a hand out. Just as the people who lived during the time of the enlightenment, I also felt that it was time for a change. Although I surrounded myself with people who didn’t strive for success, I had been provided the opportunity to enroll in a public university which is something that none of my friends had been provided. The enlightenment granted many people opportunities that weren’t accessible before. This was a time period of common sense which was also called the age of reasoning. As the ideas of enlightenment spread from England to America people obtained the skill of rational thinking and deductive reasoning. John Locke stated in his essay of human understanding that the mind is a blank slate formed and shaped by its environment and experiences. This proves that the people who live in my community may also qualify to better themselves educationally, but they allowed the environment to take a toll on them. I believe that rational thinking is a part of aging. I’ve learned that hard work allows a person to have more leisure.
Hi Edwin. I also went through the same way as you. A lot of people around me at a young age had no intention for school. I didn't see myself become successful as well until I had an inspiration from my family. This is where I decided to change too! I also liked your description of the Enlightenment. Nice!
Hey Edwin, I agree, sometimes being around those people rubs off. As long as you are able to motivate yourself to do better, and want more things. You are your own motivation, and if you believe you can achieve it, you will.
I too can relate to the Enlightenment theme because I also saw the importance of education. And I agree, just like what Anna said, sometimes being around people that aren't as inspired or as motivated rubs off, but you just need to find some type of inspiration or motivation to make you realize that education is important.
I also believe that education is the a key to keep moving forward, but more importantly combining education with a hunger for success can take anyone as far as they want. As you mention, the spreading of the enlightenment was crucial for this country's success, without it we would still probably be hanging witches.
It is a great thing that even though you may not of grown up in the best environment for education you are able to overcome that and do what you feel will help you in the future.
wow Edwin, its crazy to see how so many of us can relate with this situatuion. I also went through that like yeah I knew my parents wanted me and my brothers to go to college and become a professional with a degree but I never really thought that I would actually be in college and doing all these great things, there are so many opportunities that many of us don't really take the time to see. its great to see that your doing what you like.
As I was reading Frederick Douglass' book, there were so many things that matched my life. One of the quotes which is "If there is no struggle, there is no progress" completely matches my life. As a child, I grew up in extreme poverty in the Philippines. I had to start picking up garbage and trash in order to eat at a very young age since my parents made less than $50 a month. I wore the same clothes even if they were damaged. I thought I was going to remain miserable for the rest of my life since I saw my family's struggle. It was extremely painful to watch them cry since they couldn't provide me things a normal child had. I witness many children getting sick and even death at a young age just because of funds and it really hurts inside to watch all of this happen. My parents graduated in the Philippines and I managed to have a better life but of course it was not going to remain the same. This changed when my mother and father received a blessing to start an opportunity of obtaining a better life in the United States. We also had to earn our opportunities since we arrived in the US with nothing. Both my parents went to school once again since they could not transfer their education. They took a huge risk and moved to the United States to start a new beginning. We were back in extreme poverty once more in the US. I can still remember all the struggles we went through in the US. I can remember my mom crying because she couldn't buy me milk. When I have turned 14, that is where we saw lots of changes in our lives. All the miserable past just faded away slowly. Both my mother and father graduated and found a job. My family is now living the American Dream when I turned 16. All the risks they have taken have paid off and our lives changed much better than before. Because my parents worked so hard, took risks, and used my sister and I as inspiration of obtaining an amazing life, my life had dramatically changed. Just because we had no opportunities in the beginning does not mean life was over. Like Douglass, we sought to improve our lives. We were tired of suffering. We wanted our freedom from this suffering and things needed to change. My parents was willing to give up everything to start a new life in the US. This means giving up all the education that was earned in the Philippines and they were willing to start again. Our struggles made us hard working and opened our eyes in this world. Even though our lives have completely changed, parts of the past still remain in us just like Douglass. For example, I have a strange addiction of abusing coupons well I consider myself as a semi extreme couponer. This rough beginning made my family even stronger than before. My family's determination of education is completely similar to Douglas in my opinion. Today, I am going through over 10 years of school in order to become a doctor since I want to help others and I don't want my children to suffer the same fate as I have. Yes, my family and Douglass' life are different but the goals and dream are similar. There is always hope and you can completely change your life around with hard work. I will use this story to inspire my children in the future to work hard.
Speechless! Your comment touched my heart Harmon, I am so sorry about your childhood. You suffered and you did what was best for yourself and your family. I am so happy that your family got better and are now living the American Dream. You did such an amazing job explain your personal life and using FD as an example. You literary gave me the chills reading your post. Congrats on your family and your success, and I am very happy that you took what memories you had suffering as a child and put your whole heart into your studies and having a dream of becoming a doctor. I agree you and FD do not have the same lives but like you said your goals and achievements are. You did an amazing job! It really opened up my eyes.
Harmon, I am incredibly sorry for all you have gone through. Everyone goes through a struggle, and even if it is not the same it's a struggle after all. Your story and your motivation is truly an inspiration. I have no doubt that everything you went through will definitely motivate you to become so much more. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and if you believe you will become a doctor you will be. Good luck to you!
Harmon, as Jisel stated what you shared with us has touched my heart. i don't know another way to say it then in those words. The way you compared your dreams and goals to Douglass was very interesting to read! I agree completely with the comparison, in that Douglass wanted a better life, as did your parents and your family and Douglass were not going to settle for what you had. I wish you the best of luck in your career!
Harmon, like Jisel said I’m speechless too; I like how you connect your life experiences to FD. Also, I’m happy that you and your family are living the American dream and wish you become a doctor.
Oh My Goodness!! Harmon you actually touched my cold little heart!! although I am your friend and know what you have gone through, I was still touched in so many ways. Harmon, I am speechless. I can't find the words to express what you have gone through. You are the exact example of a successful individual. Your story can inspire so many people.Your struggled but you fought through and became the person you are today. I am happy and grateful to call you my best friend Harmon :). Always fight for what you want Harmon. Fighting!^^
WOW! I was left speechless after reading your comment. I really liked the connection you gave and how you related it to Douglass's life. Everything is possible as long as you strive for it. Sure, there are going to be many obstacles through the path but overcoming them is what matters. Never give up on your dreams and always keep dreaming because without goals life has no meaning. There should always be something that we want to reach in order to maintain a life full of goals and aspirations.
Harmon, you truly are an inspiration its crazy to even think that students around you have this great life stories, I am very happy to see that you were able to share your story. I think that when we go through struggles there is a time for happiness and success. we all have the opportunities to succeed in life but its up to us to take risks like when your parents did. I am so very happy to see that you and your family are living the american dream!!!
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle.”
Frederick Douglass words and motivation are something that I really admire and relate to. Although his struggle was much stronger, I can definitely relate. Being a nursing a major, the pressure is ridiculously intense. Keeping a 3.8 GPA, having a social life, a job, and being away from my family is incredibly difficult. There is so much work and time put into this career that sometimes I feel is just too much for me, but then just as Frederick Douglass states there’s no rain without thunder. There’s is no possible way for me to be a nurse without going throughout all these obstacles. Being away from home has also been difficult, not only for me but for them as well. Due to school and finals I missed my grandmother’s funeral, my nephew’s birth, my mother’s birthday and other various events, and to be honest I have broken down and cried various times, but everything I have gone through is my motivation. I know that in the long run being a nurse will pay off. The struggle to get where I went to be will only be harder but it is something that I am looking forward to. Everything I have gone through will in the end make me a better person and a better nurse. As Frederick Douglass states there’s no ocean without its awful roar of the waters, but the roars are what make the ocean. Without the struggle, at least for me personally, there is no success.
Well said Anna , without struggle, there is no success. You're almost to the end of the tunnel, keep pushing. Keep being persistent until you reach your goal!
Great use of quotes! I can certainly relate to the quote as well, but I look at it and just think to myself that everything that is being done right now will all be worth it in the future. So the struggles we encounter now, will only make success taste that much sweeter plus we will be that much smarter too!!
Nicely Done Anna. I agree with you in many ways because it's true, without any struggle where is the satisfaction of having to work for what you fought for. (if that makes sense). any who, it was nicely written.
Hello Anna, i have some friends in the nursing program, and its very intense! So props to you for maintaining a high GPA!! You may be struggling right now, but in a few years, it will all be worth it once you become a nurse,
Anna, I absolutely love that quote as well and i totally agree with what mirka has to say even though right now you may be tired and see this going no where, progress takes step by step and that's what your doing. I'm sure that in a few years or so you will be at the top of your game. Props to you and I hope you the best in your nursing career.
One theme we discuss this quarter that can relate to my life would be the Enlightenment. I can relate to the Enlightenment because I, too, saw the importance of education. My parents, growing up in the Philippines, weren’t able to finish their education because unlike the United States, you had to pay to go to school whether it’s public or private school. Both of my parents weren’t able to afford to go, and when we got the opportunity to come in the U.S, my parents constantly emphasized how important education was. My parents constantly told my siblings and I that we should always take advantage of education because it’s free, but never take it for granted because it’s free. My parents always said education is the greatest achievement anyone can accomplish so always aim high. My parents kept saying how education can “get us a better life” and how “we won’t struggle anymore.” And I couldn’t agree more. Watching my parents struggle, working hard in the fields, all because they could not finish high school really “enlighten” me on how important education was. The Enlightenment gave opportunities like the ability of rational thinking and deductive reasoning basically educating their people, and U.S did that for me. It gave me the opportunity to obtain education. It gave me the opportunity of obtaining a higher education which I am very thankful for.
I agree with your parents, education is a great opportunity to act on. We have the chance to change the future for ourselves rather than waiting for someone to change it for us. The enlightenment was a great example to use for education. Great job
I like how you related the Enlightenment with education. I think that was a great idea and I can also relate to this. I think that many students can relate to this when being the first to have the opportunity of having an education in their family and understanding how important and enlightening an education can be.
I can really understand what you went through growing up. I did not come from the Philippines I came from Mexico and my parents also stressed the importance of an education. My parents saw education as the best tool to help me have a great life. They made sure I got the best education I can get and pushed me to be the best I could be. I believe this has instilled many great values in me that will help in the future just like how parents did to you.
Mary, I can also relate with you as a first generation student my parents also would tell us to take every opportunity that we get because we are so blessed to live in a country where we do have all this great chances to succeed. Education is the key to become a better person!
Throughout this quarter there has been many things that have surprised me and that have been somewhat related to me, one theme that I really feel connected to was the Enlightenment. Throughout my life there has been many people, friends and family that have encourage me to continue my education and to become a professional. My parents worked in the agriculture and they have always advised me to continue my education to get a better job and life. They have worked very hard to send me and my siblings to school and become professionals. Like The Enlightenment, my parents have opened my eyes to understand that education is crucial to succeed in life and to become better every day. My parents are like my Benjamin Franklin, trying to show me and understand the power of education. Like Franklin said, “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today”, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve ma and I learn”, “Well done is better than well said” and “Genius without education is like silver in the mine”. In a way all these quote were connected to me because in order to succeed and become better you have to your work hard every single day and not leave anything for tomorrow. Furthermore, I really like the last quote because education is a powerful tool than when its used right it can be very beneficial.
Antonio I thought it was great that you had chosen the enlightenment and I especially love how you incorporated those quotes from Benjamin Franklin. All of it flows nicely and it makes perfect sense.
I like how you set your example for the Enlightenment area. Another thing that is great about your response is that you have mention a quote by Benjamin Franklin "never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today" I feel that this quote just motives students to reach for a higher education and become better .
I love how you tied the quotes of Franklin into the enlightenment ideas you relate to. I think it is great to have the mindset that education is crucial. And education can mean all different kinds and extents. Not all of us will graduate college with doctorates and be at the top of the business world but we can all be educated in the field we love and want to succeed in. Working your hardest is always going to give you the best outcomes because when your heart and mind are set, you will accomplish your goals.
One theme that has been played throughout the readings we have done this quarter has been the theme of suppression, specifically in our most recent read on Frederick Douglass. The act of suppressing is present in life today, maybe not be as extreme as slavery but it is present. One quote from the narrative fits perfectly into the type of suppression I have encountered, “they suppress the truth rather than take the consequences of telling it, and in so doing prove themselves as a part of the human family.” My interpretation of this quote is that people tend to lie or restrict the truth from being told because they’re afraid of what might be said or done to them. Accepting someone else’s opinion just so that one can avoid expressing the truth of what they personally believe in, makes one feel as though they fit in. I know I have done this before. I will sit there and listen to my parents, friends, whoever it may be and when they say something that I know for a fact is wrong, I will sometimes censor what I have to say or I won’t correct them at all. The only reason I do this is because I want to avoid causing a problem or having a heated discussion with these people. I suppress the truth rather than dealing with the consequences that may or may not come with that truth. At some point or another, I think everyone is guilty of doing this. Suppression does not only have to deal with physical means, it can also deal with suppressing oneself mentally.
Great Job Lisandra. I feel that this was a great example to use because I a lot of people do feel this way, even I can be that way too. And it can definitely be hard to over come but at some point no matter what the situation is there will come a time to confront the problem and speak the truth and grow from the situation to be a stronger person.
Lisandra, I totally agree and am guilty of suppression as well. It takes a lot to stand for what you believe is right and its even harder when those around you disagree with you. What I have learned over years of holding my tongue on controversial topics around certain friends of mine is that even though they may disagree, it is better to kindly let them know your side. Not so much starting a fight but starting a thought in their mind to dwell on. We suppress so much of what we say and it can bring more consequences then if we say it with strength. Great job!
I too have experienced your situation and this quote quite a few times. However, there have been many times that I cannot hold it in and I tell someone they are wrong. It takes so much patience and courage for me to keep quiet when someone says something that I know for a fact is wrong. I would say one of the things I currently struggle with most in my life right now is keeping quiet. I am the type of person that usually points out a flaw in an argument or corrects someone, but it always ends up in a disagreement and sometimes an argument. Sometimes, no matter what you say to people, they will always think they are right and there is nothing you can do to change their fundamentalist views. It takes a lot for me to stay quiet, if I don’t say something. It bugs me for a long time knowing that this person has wrong information and what bugs me even more is that despite the surmounting evidence I provide, they reject it.
Lisandra I tend to do the same thing you do quite often. When people are discussing a certain topic or expressing their ideas; I dont express mine to prevent any unnecessary confrontation. I have been in many situations where i would try to voice my opinions that opposed someone else's and was immediately i was attacked by them as if to make me seem stupid and inferior simply because I didn't agree with them. It irritates me to no extent when people refuse to hear others opinions.
From the interesting videos and the readings what seems to be somehow just a little related to me is the book called Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. The book by Frederick Douglass talks about slaves and the tough condition they faced once. The book also explains that the slaves were seen as ignorant, dumb and they could not understand anything. In the book also explains the slaves did not have an education like white people so Slaves were seen as less. Well What I am going to relate this book is with racism. I am half Hispanic and I have seen people treat other races differently from their own race unfair. What I mean when I say unfair is for example if a Hispanic person does not know English sometimes another person that does know English feels like they are somehow better than that person and will take advantage of them. The advantages that might be taken from people that do not know English is they might be going against their rights because some people do not feel it is important to explain to people that do not speak or understand English because they might feel it is unnecessary sense they do not understand English than they would not understand something else. I know it might sound confusing but what I am trying to say in a few words is that the unfairness that Frederick Douglass talks about in his book is still going on but sometimes it is hidden around us.
Martin, I agree with you that this world still contains unfairness all around of racism. Its not just one race but many. With all of the stereotypes made and the jokes that follow can be damaging and very hurtful. It is sad to know how many people beat, curse, or even just have mean thoughts about their neighbors still to this day. We are all here to live life. Life's too short for us to dwell of the differences of others and harbor this racism. Why cant we all just get along and learn to live with one another despite the color of our skin, the language we speak, or anything else separating us. Good job!
I, too, agree with you Martin because up until today racism is still being seen. It may not be obvious or a big issue today, but believe it or not it is still being practiced. And yes just because some speak a certain language, does not mean that they know less than other people. Everyone needs to set their differences aside and be merry!
Martin, It is horrible how quick people are to judge. I belief our differences are what make us so extraordinary. Everybody has their own backgrounds and lifestyles and I believe it is ridiculous to put one culture or race above the other. We should learn to appreciate these differences and learn from each other. Ridiculing each other is not going to help us better ourselves it only slows our progress
Out of all the topics that we discussed during this quarter, the topic that relates to me the most would mostly be the quotes from Fredrick Douglas book. “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” As I mentioned before, this quote relates to many undergraduate students within our university and it can relate to graduate students as well. They way this quote intertwines with my life in many ways because I am obviously a current student at CSUB and I am learning how to develope my thinking skills critically and learning how to absorb all the information that has been given for me to learn. However, the quote may not seem to powerful right now because many of the laws have changed since the 1800's but in many ways, this quote can inspire others to learn how to be free within their own mind. For instance, students may not know nothing about a sepcific subject and may feel trapped because they don't know the concept or details within it but once the students learns and reads materials for that subject, then they will fill "free" in discussing the subject. As well as my lifestyle, I am a free caring individual who is ready to learn more information on any subject and allowing my mind to become free in every subject I have been taught and then I can teach others what I have learned and help them be free as well.
Great Job Virginia Gonzalez! I liked that quote a lot when I was going through the autobiography of Fredrick Douglas; i find this quote really inspiring and proper. As you mentioned in your response, many of us students frustrate easily when we don't understand something, because sometimes we don't read instructions or information correctly, but if we learn how to read and think critically we will learn not only to keep learning but also we will learn something that is going to help us not only in school but also in our personal lives. Beautiful response, I enjoyed reading it. Take care.
I completely agree with you that Frederick Douglas quote “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free”, has played an important part of our lives as college students. It is amazing that an individual who lived a harsh life was able to acquire such knowledge. We all know that when we can read, we can understand something that is taught to us. For instance, when we go home and attempt to read a book that has been assigned to us by a class, we sometimes struggle with difficult words, but once we learn them, we get a better understanding of what our professor is trying to teach us and in turn we will get a better grade and hopefully a good career. The things we can accomplish are endless when we know how to read. Frederick Douglas was an intelligent man for having realized this despite the suffering he experienced.
There is one quote I really liked from Fredrick Douglas, and it says “Without a struggle, there can be no progress”. This quote really relates to my personal life because sometimes I think everything I’m doing has to be easy, and then after failing and learning, I realize that if I want success in everything I do I have to struggle and try my best to get it. My mom told me once, that nothing comes easy, and is true comparing my mom’s words with this quote. For example, as all of you can relate, school is one of the most challenging situation I have in my life; school is my present, and to make it a good future from it, I have to try my best and struggle through all the hard classes to get my degree and become what I want to become. But first the hard part has to come and that is the struggle that everybody is going through.
Yes, the real world is a struggle. And I agree with you and your mom that nothing in life will come easy. We must work hard in everything that we do to be successful. And if we continue to work hard, everything will become easier.
The Enlightenment was one of the significant topic for me this quarter. During this time is where people wanted to gain more wisdom and knowledge. In other words, they never wanted to stop learning. They wanted to continue advancing their knowledge about everything. I found this topic very significant because it relates to how I feel about education and even after my studies. Because coming from humble beginnings, I had the need to become better. Since my parents didn't finish their education in the Philippines, all they dream for me is to finish my education. Therefore, growing up I continued to appreciate education and also because I want a better life than my parents and provide a better life to my parents. During the enlightenment, people's ideas, opinions, suggestions were rejected constantly, but it never came to them to give up on an invention or proposition. I, too, can't imagine myself giving up on education. Even though it becomes a real challenge, it motivates me to be even better and to continue to generate more ideas. Everyone deserves a successful future, however, it's up to the person whether they want to achieve it or not. Also, people and things will be an obstacle, but giving up should never be the option. It's during the enlightenment that education became very important. It's during the enlightenment that people were not afraid of inventing new things to benefit themselves and also others. And it's during the enlightenment that people really appreciated the importance of education.
One of the themes that I found relevant to my life is the constitution. The constitution has played a major role in every Americans life. Especially, the fact that we have 10 guaranteed rights that cannot be taken away by government. This is the beauty to the constitution because it protects our rights from government. Government has changed from back in the days to what it is now. Before, government did not exist because it was thought as a dictatorship. One person who ruled and the people had to follow what that king said because that king was law. Now, the government is regulated by the constitution because they cannot abuse of their power. Everyone is limited to a specific task and this helps for government to not overtake their power. It also keeps us safe from the abuse of government. Us citizens have rights and play a major role. We have the right to vote and the right to speak up for what we want and be heard for that. Thanks to the constitution we are taken into consideration and in some way we are respected because our opinion matters and if we have an issue we have a right to express our concerns. We also have the right to question anything we feel is wrong with government. Thanks to social media and the internet we are updated at a daily basis with what government is doing. Government, now, is more like our protection rather than a dictatorship as it was before. We look upon government for our protection. Thanks to how the world has evolved we live in a much better place and I believe that is a major factor of importance in today’s society. Imagine if we still lived the way people lived back then?
Jennifer, I agree with you on that the Constitution plays a major role in our life. If not for the bill of rights people would take advantage of us. And even though we have this bill to protect our rights there still is people whose rights are being taken away. We must never stop fighting to protect these rights or they will be stolen from us.
One of the themes that relate to my life is the way this nation was influence by the Enlightenment movement. This relates to my life since like this country I come from a country were primitive ideas are practice and were education is not easily access or obtain nor is education consider important. When I see how important are the ideas that the Enlightenment contributed not only to the United States but to the whole world, I remember how important was for me to be introduce to the beauty of education. The Enlightenment contributed with key ingredients that allowed the United States to throw primitive ideas (not all) and replace them with ideas that secure and promoted a successful future. Similarly, education has introduced new and life changing ideas that have allow me to keep moving forward towards my goal and keeping away from slavery system of ignorance. Frederick Douglass too makes many remarks how the importance of education. This was what practically made him a fully free man. I can’t imagine how different my life would have been without education. I would certainly be a slave of my own ignorance.
One of the themes that best fits with my life are the ideas of the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment encouraged rational thinking and reasoning. Over the course of my years as a college student, I have developed some of these ideas and skills encouraged by the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment has encouraged this idea of understanding the world through observations and reason, which is something that I as a scientist use in my every day life. Everything that I have learned in my science classes is based on observations and reasoning from other scientists that have contributed to the knowledge of how life works and evolves. Everything from the laws of gravity to the theory of natural selection, evolution, endosymbiosis, etc. have gave me a sense of how the world works. Scientists are able to treat diseases, synthesize medications and vaccines based on the theory of evolution. Evolution is the reason why we need vaccines every year and although not many people might agree, it is the reason why I exist. After learning and discovering about the ancestry of life on Earth, I view life differently and much more beautifully than how I did before I learned about it. The Enlightenment has changed my life because it embraced ideas and observations requiring reasoning. These ideas are taught in school so that people can become educated about the subjects of their choices and hopefully make a career related to the education they received. Everyday that I learn, I embrace the ideas of the Enlightenment and thus, have shaped me into the person I am today.
I feel like I can relate the most to the immigrants that were leaving there homes and coming to America. Those immigrants were looking for a better life and saw a great opportunity for that in America. They left their home, family and friends behind to try their chances in this new world. This in some ways is what my family went through when we emigrated from Mexico to the United States. My parents didn't see much of a future in Mexico so they decided to bring me and my brothers to the United States in search for a better life. I was eight years old when we moved to the United States and I left behind pretty much everything I had known and grown up with. A lot like the immigrants who first moved to America from Europe we faced many difficulties and issues during the first couple of years but we managed to overcome them and thrive. Now my family is very happy here in the United States and we are a lot better of than many of the people we left behind in Mexico. This is why I can relate most with this theme, I feel like even though it might be in different ways my family and the early immigrants went through a lot of the same issues.
Mauricio I too can relate to the immigrants in America through the life of my parents. They too had come from poverty in Mexico and had left everything behind to find a better life here in the states. They went through many hardships in the beginning, but eventually overcame them leaving them living the american dream.
Mauricio, I can also relate with what you said. My parents didn't have the opportunity to further their education, and is why they stress the importance of education.
One quote that I feel relates to my life, is a Frederick Douglass quote "I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." To me this quote means be you and be proud of it, don't change for anyone even if you think your changing to fit in. Another quote i found inspiring was "No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck." These two quote tie in together for me. I translate this quote as you cant put someone else down with out insulting yourself in the first place. I think of the chain around the ankle as not as dangerous but a chain around ones own neck life threatening and that is why I think of it as damaging yourself, if you wish to damage others. This relates to my life because it reminds me of my sister who would always put her self in front of anyone. Think about other people before your own selfish needs.
Over the course of the quarter, there have been various pieces of this class that I can relate to. One of them is the ideas of the enlightenment. I was raised as a kid with the importance of education instilled in me. I was taught to not only listen and learn from the teacher and those around me but to explore and experiment and test what I was taught to make it my own knowledge. It was not enough to just believe whatever I was told but to believe it myself and know why I do is so much more. I can also relate to the words of Frederick Douglass when he says that there is no progress without the struggle. You have to work hard to achieve and climb the ladder in this world. The slaves had to work their life’s away and even more when they tried to escape or obtain freedom. Even after they were free, they still struggled but when they fought through they were able to move forward little by little.
A theme that I found that related to me was The Age of Enlightenment. Before this time people were so set in their beliefs that they had no room to think of anything else. And when they began to think of the world as balanced and ordered more individual thinking was accepted. This relates to me because I have always found myself striving for knowledge and not bothering with trivial things like what was the hottest fashion trend or what show was popular. I sought after knowledge and would spend my days reading books that afforded a lesson. I found myself so interested in learning about how the world around me worked and what my purpose was. As I am moving forward in my studies I find that with everything I learn I feel myself becoming a better-rounded person. I may not know exactly what I want in life, but I am working towards it. And I feel that if I was not able to gain the knowledge I can today that my life would not be as satisfying. If we weren’t allowed to express our individual thoughts and ideas then how could we hope to live a fulfilling life? College and high school have helped me define myself with my own interpretations of the world around me and I feel that is part of our rights as human beings. The Enlightenment Era definitely paved the way for a lot more individual thoughts and ideas and I am glad to be a part of it.
One historical issue that I found to be related to my life that was discussed this quarter is the development of the Constitution of the United States. I choose to relate my life to this because it contains amendments which grant me the privilege of many things and most importantly my freedom. My main reason is that without these amendments my rights would be limited. First of all, I am a first generation child, and I am a female. Where would I be if fairness was not included in the constitution? I probably would not even be in school right now. The amendments grant me the right to freedom of speech, freedom to practice my religion, my right to protest against unfairness, protects me against suffrage due to my race, color, and sex. It is an amazing document and it is a big part of my life. Without its existence myself and many others would be held back in society due to prejudices. I am very thankful for the founders not giving up on the whole putting together of the constitution and adding in the amendments. This is why I find this historical issue to be related to me because it is very important to my life.
A theme that really stood out to me was the age of Enlightenment. This was a time of great awakening with new ways of thinking, and the broadening acceptance of ideologies. This seemed similar to my life in particular. Growing up, I had always thought that whatever I did or believed was the correct way, and that any other method or idea wasn’t worth my time. If it was something I liked, or had grown up accustomed too, then it was ok in my mind. I had a growing intensity of tunnel vision with the way I lived my life, and I completely disregarded the fact that there are millions of other people on earth, each varying between their ideas and beliefs. Around sophomore year of high school I began a journey to put myself in other people’s positions and see exactly why they believed in what they did. By doing so, it opened my mind to so many different views of the world and helped me realize there is no selective way to do or think of something. The world is full of infinite variations of beliefs and traditions that I now cannot claim that any certain thing is absolutely right. I believe every opinion has some amount of truth in it, no matter how bizarre it sounds. It was that time during high school, which forever changed my way of thinking, just as it had done to the colonists.
I definitely agree with you Michael, the Enlightenment was a theme I loved as well. I like the change in perspective it gave you because as Albert Einstein said "Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish". Ideas are as stupid as we perceive them to be, if we think everyone's ideas are stupid but our own that makes us extremely selfish.
Over the course I have learned many interesting historical moments. Many historical events interested me more than others. What really interested me the most was how people were moving to America to have a better life. The quote from Fredrick Douglas stating, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress,” I could relate to that because my parents emigrated from Mexico to come to the US to make my family have a better life and opportunities that they did not have. My parents were really poor when they were growing up. My father was a farmer and a trucker before he came to California. My mother and her family sold fruit around town to have bread on the table. Once my parents got married, they both decided it was best to immigrate to the US. In 1992, and they moved to Hanford, CA. Once they were there, they started their new lives as a married couple and a baby on the way. When my parents moved to California, all they had was a spoon and the clothes they had on their backs. They lived with my aunt, who had 6 girls and they all lived in a 3 bedroom house. My parents suffered because the only income they had was my fathers, which was a milker at their local dairy. Once they saved up some money they moved to Tulare, which was the town I was raised in. My mother gave birth to me in 1993, and was alone at home all night due to the fact that my father would work at the dairy at night. So I grew up my mother saw that I could take care of myself and got a job at a local Mexican restaurant. I always remembered that I rarely would see my parents, but I knew that they always had to work to put food on the table and clothes on my back. After that my parents had two more kids and move into a big nice house. Since then, my parents had made myself and my siblings have a job to help out with any bills and learn what the value of money is. Fredrick Douglas is right when he states “If there is no struggle, there is no progress. “I completely agree because if my parents wouldn’t have suffered, then my family wouldn’t have the things we have now. Another example using that quote would be myself. Knowing what my parents had to go through by making the choice to immigrate to the US made me realize what it is to value ones things. Coming to CSUB has really opened up my eyes on the fact that education is what is best for oneself. Realizing that by me getting a higher education it would make my life better, rather than reliving the life my parents had to go through when they were my age. My parents are my number one supporters, only because they push me when I need that push and by me going through the struggle of getting a higher education, then I will progress in the future and better myself and my parents later on in life.
Jisel, i can relate to your post a lot! My family and i went through the same situation. My parents would also work hard and i would hardly see them which made me sad and i didnt understand why they would work so hard back then when i was smaller. Now, they are able to give their children a wonderful life and now i understand why they did it. It motivated me to keep struggling because once you overcome your struggles, thats when you'll see progress. I really enjoyed reading your post.
A theme that was discussed throughout this quarter and that impacted me greatly was the Enlightenment. This era in history revolutionized the mindset of society. It gave education a new outlook, one that represented importance and value. I can compare this to my own life personally because education has served a huge purpose in my life. As a child I was abused and had never reported to the authorities what was going on in my home. Until one day I decided to take matters into my own hands and let education deem my new home. I decided to venture out of my horrible lifestyle at home and choose a new place in where I could achieve a better future and live safely. No longer fearing my old home I decided to attend CSUB. My education gave me a reason to escape my problems at home and honestly for that I am glad the Enlightenment occurred. If it had not I would not have a university to be able to attend and escape my problems. I love my school and I am very thankful that I have the opportunity to go somewhere far and pursue a career I never imagined on having at home. As a high school student my father always put me down and told me I had to stay home and not go to school and just work. Even though I knew that was not my purpose in life I knew I was not going to follow his footsteps. I decided to choose my own future and thanks to the Enlightenment I was able to leave my abusive home and find an education that would free of the troubled life I led at home.
Janai, this was beautiful! Im glad that you didnt keep quite and continued to stay in that horrible situation you were in. Im glad you decided to spread your wings and take your own decision. Education is key. Im also glad that the Enlightment happened and it allowed us to view Education differently, because education is everything. Once you are educated, no one and/or anything can stop you.
Janai, I admire your resilience in hard times fighting mental oppression is tough. You did it like a "boss" (pardon my slang). You're admiration for education is wonderful and the Enlightenment definitely allowed for it to thrive. I as you value education and believe is the basis for success. I am sure you will go far in what ever you choose to do because the hardest step has been made. The enlightenment gave way for progress and as progress bloomed I argue so did society.
Thank you for sharing your personal progression, your progress has made my day.
That's a very positive way to look at your horrible situation, and how brave of you to be so open and share with us your personal experiences. I can see the importance of the enlightenment for you and your life and I am happy that you were able to use that in your favor to help you get ahead. Never give up and keep up the positive attitude and motivation because that's the only way you can succeed: believing in yourself.
Paul, thank you for sharing this article! I related the slavery of the past to bullying today, but I guess you would never realize unless you looked really closely that slavery IS still prevalent to today's society. This is very upsetting to think about because many people would love to be able to say that slavery is just a thing of the past, not a worry anymore in society. Also, some might not see some of those examples as being considered as slavery, but in actuality, they really are. There's no way that they shouldn't be considered slavery.
One theme that I can relate to my life would be reading about Benjamin Franklin. He asserted to "Never confuse motion with action". As a college student, I am guilty of getting distracted while initially trying to look for credible resources online for my research paper. I might spend 30 minutes to an hour of researching, and telling my self I have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to write about, but in reality I haven't even started one sentence. Instead, after an hour of researching, I'm stuck watching YouTube videos. That's were I got the two confused. Me researching doesn't mean I'm getting closer to finishing my paper. I have to physically start writing my paper. Another thing about Benjamin Franklin that i can relate to, is his focus to achieve goals. Whatever he set his mind to he followed through with his actions until he accomplished them. Right now my focus is on my education, and becoming the first in my family to graduate from a university. Like Benjamin franklin, I believe education is an extremely important step for becoming successful. Benjamin Franklin asserts that, "Reading was the only amusement i allow'd myself. No time in taverns, games, or frolicks of any kind; and in my industry in business continu'd as indefatigable as it was necessary." This quote shows how BF would focus his attention on learning new things on a daily basis. The drive Benjamin Franklin had to help others, and succeed is influential. As I was reading about him all I can think was that he was an average individual making something happen, and didn't let anything stop him from making his dream become a reality. There's a lot to learn in this world, and in today's society we have an abundant amount of resources and opportunities available to the public.
One historical event that relates to my life is the creation of the Constitution because it is a document that has an influence over my life every day. Without the Constitution I wouldn’t have a life, because I wouldn’t have the freedom that I know today. It protects my freedom, my rights, and keeps our government in line to do what they need to do without overstepping boundaries. The Constitution gives and limits powers to the three branches of the government. It allows me to have my freedom to practice any religion, gives me the right to vote, and to give my opinion. The founding fathers may have taken their time to create this document, but without patience the United States would not be the country it is to this day. They were brilliant men that also obtained independence from Britain. They made the Constitution flexible enough to allow for changes that would occur over the years such as women’s suffrage and the civil rights movement. From the theme this week, the Constitution later enabled slaves to be free and vote. People may not think of the Constitution every day, but it affects them every single moment. It should be something to be thankful for every day. This document is so influential that other countries have modeled their documents after it. It also allows for immigrants to be able to obtain freedom if they gain citizenship. This is a huge issue today because many people are coming over here illegally and are granted some freedoms. But should they obtain citizenship first?
Hi Heather, I think that people should not have to obtain citizenship to be treated a certain way. I think that if what they are seeking is not from their own pocket the service can be refused, but if it is just being treated equally then I believe everyone should be. As for things such as voting I believe it is not a basic human right. So, the person would need to prove they know how our system works and be able to accurately understand what they are voting on before they can cast their vote.
What I enjoyed the most about this quarter was reading Fredrick Douglass book. His life was very challenging and I can relate to many of his words but the one I can relate the most is “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” I can relate to this through my parents. They’ve been working so hard to give their children a better life. When I was smaller, I hardly saw my parents because they would be working almost all day so we wouldn’t have time to be together as a family. I hated the fact they worked a lot because they wouldn’t give me any attention. Little did I know they were doing it for a reason. We we’re living in a two bedroom apartment in downtown Los Angeles. After living there 13 years, my parents finally had the money to move away from Los Angeles and buy a house. Now we are here in Bakersfield living in an amazing house. Now that I look back, I see how hard my parents have worked to have a better life, not only for them, but for their children. If they didn’t work hard back then, then we wouldn’t be where we are now. This is what motivates me to keep moving forward. They have proved to me that when life is hard and you are struggling, if you work hard and not give up, better days will come. In order to reach your goals, you have to struggle. That’s what makes it meaningful and special. If everything in life was easy to do, then what’s so special about that? Someone who can overcome their struggles is someone to look up to. Sometimes I feel like giving up because I’m stressed with work and school, but at the end of the day I know that right now I’m struggling, but in a few years I will see the progress and it will all be worth it!
Mirka, such a great story! I was actually just thinking about something very similar last night when I was talking to my aunt. She was telling me about one of her math classes that she is teaching about consumer math, she is giving them "bills" to pay and "paychecks" every week, she will teach them how to do their "taxes" and will deduct "money" from them if they arrive to class late or get in trouble. I told her that I wish I had had the opportunity to take a class like that because I am now having to teach myself how to do all of those things. Some people don't realize that what they are going through right now is actually shaping their future, in a good way or bad way. Crazy how that works!
This quarter, I found the issue of slavery to be the most interesting topic we have discussed so far. Although I don’t have a direct relationship with this issue, I think it is appropriate to relate the topic to bullying that is so prevalent today in society. Since the formation of this nation, violence and hatred has been seen as acceptable to a certain degree. Slaves were considered only three-fifths of a person, were beaten with terrible brutality, and were not treated as equal human beings for a very long time. Today in society, the issue of bullying is somewhat similar. Bullies don’t treat those they are bullying as equal to them or their friends and in some instances, can become very violent towards others, causing lots of physical and emotional pain and torment. I know this to be true because my brother just began a new school this year and opened up to his class that he was adopted, not thinking anything of it other than he was a very special boy for being adopted. However, his fellow classmates, teased him, asked him insensitive questions about being adopted, and even hit him a couple of times. While reading Frederick Douglas, listening to the lectures online, and hearing my brother’s stories from school, I am continuously astonished that people can be so heartless and malicious to others. Although the way people are bullied has changed over the centuries, whether it be slavery in the 1800’s or cyberbullying today, this issue still remains in our everyday lives.
Wow Kayleigh, that's an amazing point you bring up. I hadn't stopped to think of it that way but you are completely right in comparing the treatment of slaves to modern day bullying. Both contain psychological as well as physical abuse (albeit, different levels) and both can greatly affect society and the individual. It is unfortunate that these types of things are still prevalent in our modern society, but the fact remains that it is and it need to be eradicated as soon as possible.
When I first enrolled in this class I knew a few dates and events but as this class progressed my knowledge base kept progressing as well. The more I read the better I became as a historical thinker. I would say the better I get at thinking historically the better I can relate these events to my life. Would you agree with this idea based on your experience in this class?
Many themes in this class relate to my life. The theme that I will discuss in this blog entry was inspired by the "Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass" by Fredrick Douglass. It is my firm belief that mental oppression played a larger role in slavery than physical abuse. The use of our minds to formulate our identity, goals, views, and many more of our characteristics are what allows us to grow as a society.
I love the "Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass" it has inspired me to read of other historically important figures and I find myself reading all the time. The single most important theme I received from this book was introduced in one line (pg.66) "You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made man". After I read this line I understood the power of the mind and how the mental chains of slavery put on the slaves played a huge role in the administration of slavery. Everything up to that moment showed the mental abuse the slaves were subjected to and that was what made a man a slave. Everything following this quote depicts how Frederick broke the mental chains of slavery and became a free man even before he was still a "slave"(physically).
Through out pages 70-74, he depicts a fight he had with Mr. Covey the "n---er breaker" (I abhor that term with tremendous passion) which rekindled a sense of humanity he describes it as "it recalled the departed self-confidence...revived within me a sense of my manhood, and inspired me again with a determination to be free". Here he describes the cruel mental chains of slavery and how they made him forget that he was man. I began to recall the series of events in the lives of slaves such as disassociation between family members, being evaluated as property, not having the right voice their opinions, deprivation of food and sleep these are all techniques for breaking a persons psyche. Slaves saw themselves as slaves and property so they were Frederick Douglass saw himself as a free man so he was in mind and later in body.
This relates to my life because this notion that we have the ability to break mental barriers with our mind fuels me to do so. It gives me the motivation to break mental barriers placed in my life as well.
I know we do not live in times of slavery but at times we experience mental barriers our selves. Do not let these obstacles hinder your pathway for as Frederick Douglass has become a free man, what can stand in our path in becoming what we want to become.
“This is the penalty of telling the truth, of telling the simple truth, in answer to a series of plain questions.”
Excerpt From: Frederick Douglass. “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/rXvWy.l
I chose this quote from the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass because I feel like it can pertain to a variety of different situations and people, me included. In my situation I feel that it is pertinent to the area of business in which I am currently employed. I work in the retail industry and have done so since 2010, and what I have noticed is that you cannot be truthful and get ahead. I have not really progressed much in the industry because I feel that it is highly undignified to be untruthful in order to get a better position. I am constantly around higher authorities that I have to pretend to like and get along with simply to keep my job. I have seen countless people lose their jobs simply because they would not lie to the higher authorities about what they thought about them and the way in which they lead. It is unfortunate that this should still be the case in this day and age when we have been able to progress in so many other areas of society, but it's the honest truth. Now I also don't want to say that our situation is the same as it was for the slaves since for them it was their physical well-being at stake, and also they did not choose to be slaves-they were quite forced into it. I still see many ways in which these two situations are similar, however, because many times these days when we simply have "jobs" we feel like we are slaves to them because we depend on them for the paychecks that we receive, in order to eat and pay bills and sustain our everyday lives.
Professor Schmoll, I am very happy to see that you assigned this topic this week. I am so very happy that we are all very open to talk about how certain topics learned throughout the quarter we can relate with in life. There are actually two things that I think that go hand in hand that I can relate to my life. The first one was the enlightenment period, I think that education was something that was booming during that time and that many people were being inspired to go out there. This I can relate with because I am a student that goes to college because I want to hopefully become a successful person. My parents also came from a different country who migrated to the United States hoping that they would have a better life. I like to think that they have done so much progress they are home owners with four great children two of which are in college, their oldest is close to graduating as an engineer. I think as their kids its up to us to make our parents proud. Their dream is what we accomplish in life. Our triumphs is their triumphs. They gave up a lot to come to a country that they faced many struggles but little by little they are progressing. Then something else that I think that goes well with this is the quote is from Fredrick Douglass "If there is no struggle, there is no progress." I think this can relate to everyone, but I think when your involved in a club or organization sometimes you take on a task that your not sure that you can do it or not but you are taking a risk. Life is all about taking risks someone has one told me and I firmly believe in it. Everyday we are faced with a struggle whether it is big or small, but at times those struggles makes us a better person because they help us understand our own strengths and weaknesses. struggles is what makes us keep going even if we feel like it not worth our time or strength. we simply can't expect over night to become this great leader it takes step by step. as I mentioned above I said if you aren't struggling then you are probably aren't doing right. we keep thinking that we are doing it all right then we are probably being close minded. I think that it is important to have struggles in life because it does help us become better people. This week I faced some struggles, but I just understand to cope with them and I think talking about those struggles with people it helps you to feel better about what goes on in life. I know my strengths, weakness, and my struggles but I know that they will help me become a better person.
I can relate to Immigration. My family comes from a small poor barrio in Mexico. My dad, at the age of 7, started working to help provide for the family. There weren't many jobs available at the time and the pay was very little which gave my dad and grandparents not many food options. When my dad was 17 years old he came to the U.S undocumented, at the time, where he found a job that paid him well. After saving a few thousands, he returned back to Mexico, where he met my mom. The same barrio my dad was from, my mom was raised. They met young, my mom was 15 and my dad was 20, two years later they married and my mom got pregnant. They wanted what was best for my now older brother and decided to move to a place where they can raise him to be a well educated & taken care of kid. That is when my parents decided to move to America. It was not easy for them, considering they passed the border illegally. My dad having little education, was blessed with outstanding knowledge that got him and my mom where they are today.
Hi, Daniela. My dad was also an immigrant from Mexico. At a young age, he too, worked to help provide. I feel like immigration is a topic that can hit close to home for everyone in the United States because we all came from somewhere. If our lineage didn't come in recently, we know of someone who did. It is amazing how we are still a country of immigrants starting out the same as we did on day one. Working hard, never prepared enough for a foreign land, and with a goal in mind.
A direct connection for me would be the Bill of Rights and the Enlightenment era. The enlightenment era gave way to organized schooling, and allowed people to think of the world as balanced and ordered. Possibly helping our founders come up with the Bill of Rights. I am thankful that I was born in America where we are protected by the laws we have. I'm also thankful that we have mandatory schooling (at least through high school). I can attribute the way I process information in a direct link to the Enlightenment. When I was young I used to think schooling was a waste of time. As I got a little bit older I began thinking in a new way. This way was to understand something and why is a certain piece needed for it to work. This led to taking apart a hair dryer and looking at all the parts to try and figure out why it made heat. Well from there I couldn't understand how it worked without it in use... so i plugged it in. As soon as i did the metal coils in the back hair dryer caught the carpet on fire. I knew from there that the coils were heated from electricity and the fan blew to make the heat from the coils come out. When more experiments like these occurred I began using things I had learned from school. I began to really like going to school and learning all that was taught to me. So when I first read the prompt this was one of the first things to pop in my head. I changed by using observations I made from my experiments to understand how the thing worked.
I definitely agree with you about having a direct connection with the Enlightenment Era! :) I believe that education is so important in life and the key to moving forward and moving up in rank in a society. I believe that the spread of enlightenment was very crucial and without it life would be VERY different.
A quote that I believe is relatable comes from the US history video lesson number 25 -King Cotton, section titled Conditions of Slaves in which a former slave known to be William Wells Brown discusses the hardships slaves had to endure and one such event that he had dealt with. He goes by stating “experience has taught me that nothing can be more heart-rending than for one to see a dear and beloved mother or sister tortured, and to hear their cries, and not to be able to render them assistance”. I feel that this quote sets an example not only for me but for many people who do undergo stressful and traumatic situations; although this quote refers to the issues of slavery which is something I cannot truly relate to. But the physical and psychological traumas are one that many still unfortunately deal with in today’s society such as those who undergo human trafficking, physical and emotional abuse from loved ones, bullying. The feeling of being helpless, alone, and unaware of how to handle the situation can be difficult. That is why we are fortunate to have many organizations that provide guidance to the community in order to properly hand a situation, how to overcome and move on in order to live life to the fullest.
I really like the assignment this week Professor Schmoll assigned. All quarter I have been relating the topics our class has learned to our lives in the world today. One topic that stood out to me this quarter in this class was the enlightenment era. I love how people back then knew how important getting an education was and their appreciation to all the new inventions and advancements that were occurring. Since I was little my parents have always told me how important getting an education is and how hard work and effort pays off. Growing up I’ve learned that as long as you are able to motivate yourself to do better, and always be your own motivation, and if you believe and work hard, you’ll succeed. I’ve learned that hard work and perseverance allows a person to have more leisure in their life. I’ve really enjoyed all the topics we’ve learned about in this History class. The enlightenment was my definitely my favorite to learn about in this class though. I loved the idea of the enlightenment providing so many people with opportunities that they didn’t have before. The age of reasoning was during the time period of common sense. I found it really interesting how beliefs and ideas of enlightenment spread everywhere. I loved how many people from not only England but America also got the skill of deductive and rational thinking. I believe that as we grow as a person and with age we all definitely obtain rational thinking. I believe that education is the key to moving forward and moving up in rank in a society. I believe that the spread of enlightenment was very crucial and without it life would be very different.
One quote I found very interesting was from the Narrative Life of Frederick Douglas. On pg. 52 he states, “The singing of a man cast away upon a desolate island might be as appropriately considered as evidence of contentment and happiness, as the singing of a slave; the songs of the one and of the other are prompted by the same emotion.” When he was a slave he “did not understand the deep meaning of those rude and apparently incoherent songs”. When he worked in the fields, he would hear others sing songs which “told a tale of woe”. At first he did not understand the meaning behind these songs but came to realize that “slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart and he is relieved by them”. I learned in music that slaves would sing to communicate with each other. During those unfortunate times, slaves would sing to relieve their pain and gain a sense of peace in their life at that moment. Douglas recalls that at first, he did not understand the full meaning behind the songs. He later learned that the songs brought a sense of peace and calmness. The songs were often filled with sadness and at times brought tears to Douglas’s eyes as he worked. The songs later came to be significant to the slaves because it was their own way of communicating and gaining peace at that moment in time. In my own experience, during tough times I often find myself singing to a favorite song to relieve the stress. The slave songs are a reminder that during those harsh times, the slaves still had a sense of relief when they sang. Even though they were treated like animals, they often found comfort in the songs they sang. During tough times, everyone has their own way of coping with the stress. The salves had their songs as they worked in the fields. The songs they sang were important to them because they felt it relieved them of their everyday struggle.
“[...] allowing only ordinary ability and opportunity, we may explain success mainly by one word and that word is WORK! WORK!! WORK!!! WORK!!!! Not transient and fitful effort, but patient, enduring, honest, unremitting and indefatigable work into which the whole heart is put[...] There is no royal road to perfection.” -Frederick Douglass
I feel that this quote resonates with complete and unavoidable truth. I cannot fathom the amount of struggle that Frederick Douglass endured throughout his life as a slave, but I do believe that perseverance is the only path to success. Personally, I have had to overcome obstacles that seemed impossible. In my second year of high school I was sent away to an “emotional growth” boarding school due to a rebellious attitude and constant conflict with my parents. I was unknowingly plucked by two large men in the middle of the night and driven directly to an airport where I was put on a plane and checked into a facility for at risk youth. I was unable to say goodbye to anyone, see my parents, or even communicate with anyone outside of the program for 18 months. It was a very difficult reality that I had to accept and although at times it seemed unfeasible that I would come out on the other side, it is amazing what hard work and self discipline can do for the mind, body, and spirit. Although I did not agree with being there (as a minor I had no choice) the level of personal growth I was able to achieve through hard work and structured thought has forever changed my life and the way I approach challenges. In no way would I ever suggest the hardship I experienced relates or compares to actual enslavement, but I do see and agree with the point Douglass is alluding to. Life is a journey, often a hard one and many times mental toughness, along with educated and rational thinking can be as crucial as the relentless effort it takes to carry out, complete, finish, or achieve your dreams. Persistence is sometimes the true measure of strength and I believe that effort and hard work are the only sure fire way to be at peace with what you set out to accomplish. Individual success is a perception, different for everyone, but I can guarantee one thing and that is that no one has ever risen to their highest echelon without unforgiving exertion, struggle, and the strength to carry on when it got tough. Fulfillment does not come without power, and power without drive and the willingness to endure.
Something that hits very close to home would be the first weeks blog entry on immigration. My dad was an immigrant who came into the states at age 15. He has told me countless stories of how hard it was and how unprepared he was for such a drastically different place. He didn't speak a work of English, nor did his family. He was never great in school, let alone learned well in a foreign language. He had to start completely from scratch. My dad quickly learned the language and the ways of the states. Like the early colonists, success didn't come quickly. It was a long journey that took a lot of hard work and manual labor. My dad made shoes before leaving to the Unites States and eventually got a visa and worked in the fields to pay for further education after high school. As time went on my dad became very well established and earned his citizenship. The early settlers, like my dad, work tremendously hard to gain their own property and success. When I did that weeks reading, I was proud and thought of my dad.
I'm going to go with one of the quotes I found in the Fredrick Douglas book that I love."I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and incur my own abhorrence"(p.46). This quote relates to my life and everybody else's at some point. Humans love attention from other humans, its natural. I went through a time where I was searching for attention from other people, wanting to be popular and cool. It didn't take me long to figure out that the only person I need to be cool for is God and myself. So when I read this quote about being yourself even if people make fun of you or don't like it I fell in love! I rather be happy being myself than miserable pleasing other people.
ReplyDeleteIt is not only the attention that people seek for but, like you mentioned it is more like being yourself to be happy than to be someone you are not to please others and being miserable. The good thing is that you caught the problem right on time because if you didn't then it would be one lie after the other just to be someone who you are not by pleasing the others. Sometimes we need to stop and thing about ourselves first rather than others. It is okay to be selfish sometimes.
DeleteWow Melissa! After reading your quote and reading your response you made me feel a connection with you. I feel the same exact way! Humans do love attention but most of the time in order to impress others they forget about their happiness. Its important to remember that we must make ourselves happy before someone else's.
DeleteMelissa, I agree and like the quote you chose, as you said it’s better to be happy with yourself than miserable trying to please other people. We, humans, like to be the center of attention because it is in our nature. However, when doing so we forget about what it’s really important, that is to be happy with ourselves and not to be miserable trying to impress people. It’s like that saying “ I’d rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not”.
DeleteI agree with Janai, Wow!!! I absolutely could relate to your quote, I myself am like that. I agree that humans do want all attention instead of just being happy with themselves. I also agree with Antonio that it is really important to love oneself, rather than trying to impress others!. You did an amazing job Melissa!
Deletewow! This quote is amazing and is true. Humans do want all the attention and spend more time trying to make others happy rather than focusing on themselves. We should be happy of who we are rather than trying to be like others and focus more on our person. I believe that hypocrisy exsists very much today because everyone is trying to be like everyone else rather than discovering who they really are. As hard as it is to accept, we live in a world where a book is judged by its cover.
DeleteMelissa, I couldn't agree more with than you. I think that a lot of times we are constantly trying to fit in with people who quite actually could care less about you. I def think that we should be true to God and yourself. To be happy you need to be happy with the person that you are. Other people that truly do mater will be happy for you no matter what you do.
DeleteI love this! I couldn't relate to you and this quote anymore. Very often people tend to forget their self value and pursuit to please others by the eye when in deep their actions of pleasing goes far beyond what they are feeling inside. I'm glad that you caught on sooner than later because subjects like that tend to destroy who we are, happened to me too! But like you, caught on and i learned to worry more about myself than the thought of others!
DeleteI agree; too many times people try to be people pleasers. They try to form their own personal being around what others might deem as popular or trendy. I believe people need to stay true to their selves and form their own personal being around themselves.
DeleteThis quote by Federick Douglass is something I think relates to me in some ways. "If there is no struggle, there is no progress." It relates to what I have been through in my life and I am sure every one else. At some point every one struggles to get to where they want to be in life or to become the person they want to be. Me being an athlete or just a becoming a better person emotionally, physically and mentally can be a struggle. I have had four acl surgeries for four years and now I am retired but before I believe I progressed in becoming a stronger person mentally by not giving up and trying to keep going with playing the sport that I loved. But when it came to for me to retire, It was heart breaking but it didn't break me down because I was mentally prepared for it. I was proud to accept the fact that I have given my best and was able to not have any regrets about anything. At the end of the day you can become a better person no matter what you go through as long as you progressing each day, it will make a stronger person in the end no matter what the circumstances may be.
ReplyDeleteHi Tyler, the quote you chose describes the kind of person you are and like you said you have gone though a lot. But if there is no struggle in life with anything then we will not learn how to keep going forward right. Sometimes, we need to give ourselves that push we need to keep going and it is us who can do an effort to motivate ourselves. And you are right if we progress, we can become a better person than we were yesterday. if we learn how to get through hardship situations, we will only learn how to get stronger and overcome obstacles.
DeleteHi Tyler. I also loved this quote since it described my life in many ways! I also agree that everyone has to struggle to get to where they want. It definitely changes a person significantly. I also liked that you accepted the facts about your situation and not run away from them. Not running away from the obstacles will certainly make a person stronger than before!
DeleteTyler, I like this quote and I believed that most of us feel connected to this quote because at some point in our lives be face struggles to get what we want. Also, struggles are good because they help us to become stronger and to be more prepare in our lives and in difficult times. Like you said it prepared us mentally for bad news and for new challenges.
DeleteTyler I really enjoyed your quote that you just mentioned above. If there is no struggle then there isn't progress. Struggle is what shows us our weaknesses, its something that helps us realize when we need help. when we do ask for help it helps us become better people. These struggles helps us improve us as people and leaders. if you do not go through struggles in life then perhaps you have the easy way of things and not working hard enough.
DeleteHi Tyler, I like this quote because it reaffirms something I learned when I was young. If someone gives you an answer and you don't how the answer was found then you have nothing. Now if you struggle to find the answer it seals it into your mind not being easily forgotten.
DeleteSomeone once said, "If you can't make a mistake, you can't make anything." People need to struggle for their outcome to be worth it. Nothing in this life that's worth having comes easy. Struggles are a part of life that everyone must go through to come out a stronger person.
DeleteMy favorite part of this quarter was learning about slavery through reading Fredrick Douglass book. My life was not like Douglass, but I can relate to him and his eagerness to learn how to read and write. When I was younger I enjoyed reading different books. Any chance I would get I would open up my book and start reading and this was the same thing Douglass did. Except Douglass would hide the book because if he was caught reading he would get in trouble. In my case if I did not read, I would get in trouble by my parents because they expected a lot form me. In elementary I would read the most words per minute than many other students and it made me feel proud that I would strive for my best when I read. Like Douglass when he learned to read and write, he took any chance he had to practice more and more because he enjoyed it. There was no one to stop me from learning because learning would only make me go higher. But learning for slaves was bad, because it wouldn’t make them look good. Up to this point I am still continuing my education and I thank my parents for always being with me when I need them and my teachers for teaching me what I know. Without them there would be no one guiding me. Even though Douglass life was different than mine, his dedication to learning how to read and write was similar to my life and gave us education.
ReplyDeleteYessica, its interesting hearing your story when you were younger. My life was not like Douglas either but I understand the part in where he was so interesting in reading and writing. As an elementary student I too was recognized for reading multiple words in a minute, and for reading the most books within a month.
DeleteYessica, It was nice to hear about some similarities that you had with him like the passion of learning. I do think that education is what you make out of it. if your willing to push yourself to be number one in all that you do then you will succeed. its great to see that at such young age you were able to strive so quickly that's great!
DeleteA theme that we discussed during this quarter that I can relate the most with was the enlightenment. During the enlightenment people realized the importance of education and gained appreciation for great inventions. During my life time I’ve been surrounded by people who didn’t put much effort in progressing educationally. For a while, I felt the same way. Being from a place where success isn’t expected as much, I never envisioned myself becoming successful. It bothered me to see my friends settling for less and being content with a rugged lifestyle, just waiting on a hand out. Just as the people who lived during the time of the enlightenment, I also felt that it was time for a change. Although I surrounded myself with people who didn’t strive for success, I had been provided the opportunity to enroll in a public university which is something that none of my friends had been provided. The enlightenment granted many people opportunities that weren’t accessible before. This was a time period of common sense which was also called the age of reasoning. As the ideas of enlightenment spread from England to America people obtained the skill of rational thinking and deductive reasoning. John Locke stated in his essay of human understanding that the mind is a blank slate formed and shaped by its environment and experiences. This proves that the people who live in my community may also qualify to better themselves educationally, but they allowed the environment to take a toll on them. I believe that rational thinking is a part of aging. I’ve learned that hard work allows a person to have more leisure.
ReplyDeleteHi Edwin. I also went through the same way as you. A lot of people around me at a young age had no intention for school. I didn't see myself become successful as well until I had an inspiration from my family. This is where I decided to change too!
DeleteI also liked your description of the Enlightenment. Nice!
Hey Edwin,
DeleteI agree, sometimes being around those people rubs off. As long as you are able to motivate yourself to do better, and want more things. You are your own motivation, and if you believe you can achieve it, you will.
I too can relate to the Enlightenment theme because I also saw the importance of education. And I agree, just like what Anna said, sometimes being around people that aren't as inspired or as motivated rubs off, but you just need to find some type of inspiration or motivation to make you realize that education is important.
DeleteI also believe that education is the a key to keep moving forward, but more importantly combining education with a hunger for success can take anyone as far as they want. As you mention, the spreading of the enlightenment was crucial for this country's success, without it we would still probably be hanging witches.
DeleteIt is a great thing that even though you may not of grown up in the best environment for education you are able to overcome that and do what you feel will help you in the future.
Deletewow Edwin, its crazy to see how so many of us can relate with this situatuion. I also went through that like yeah I knew my parents wanted me and my brothers to go to college and become a professional with a degree but I never really thought that I would actually be in college and doing all these great things, there are so many opportunities that many of us don't really take the time to see. its great to see that your doing what you like.
DeleteAs I was reading Frederick Douglass' book, there were so many things that matched my life. One of the quotes which is "If there is no struggle, there is no progress" completely matches my life.
ReplyDeleteAs a child, I grew up in extreme poverty in the Philippines. I had to start picking up garbage and trash in order to eat at a very young age since my parents made less than $50 a month. I wore the same clothes even if they were damaged. I thought I was going to remain miserable for the rest of my life since I saw my family's struggle. It was extremely painful to watch them cry since they couldn't provide me things a normal child had. I witness many children getting sick and even death at a young age just because of funds and it really hurts inside to watch all of this happen. My parents graduated in the Philippines and I managed to have a better life but of course it was not going to remain the same. This changed when my mother and father received a blessing to start an opportunity of obtaining a better life in the United States. We also had to earn our opportunities since we arrived in the US with nothing. Both my parents went to school once again since they could not transfer their education. They took a huge risk and moved to the United States to start a new beginning. We were back in extreme poverty once more in the US. I can still remember all the struggles we went through in the US. I can remember my mom crying because she couldn't buy me milk.
When I have turned 14, that is where we saw lots of changes in our lives. All the miserable past just faded away slowly. Both my mother and father graduated and found a job. My family is now living the American Dream when I turned 16. All the risks they have taken have paid off and our lives changed much better than before. Because my parents worked so hard, took risks, and used my sister and I as inspiration of obtaining an amazing life, my life had dramatically changed. Just because we had no opportunities in the beginning does not mean life was over. Like Douglass, we sought to improve our lives. We were tired of suffering. We wanted our freedom from this suffering and things needed to change. My parents was willing to give up everything to start a new life in the US. This means giving up all the education that was earned in the Philippines and they were willing to start again. Our struggles made us hard working and opened our eyes in this world. Even though our lives have completely changed, parts of the past still remain in us just like Douglass. For example, I have a strange addiction of abusing coupons well I consider myself as a semi extreme couponer. This rough beginning made my family even stronger than before. My family's determination of education is completely similar to Douglas in my opinion. Today, I am going through over 10 years of school in order to become a doctor since I want to help others and I don't want my children to suffer the same fate as I have. Yes, my family and Douglass' life are different but the goals and dream are similar. There is always hope and you can completely change your life around with hard work. I will use this story to inspire my children in the future to work hard.
Speechless! Your comment touched my heart Harmon, I am so sorry about your childhood. You suffered and you did what was best for yourself and your family. I am so happy that your family got better and are now living the American Dream. You did such an amazing job explain your personal life and using FD as an example. You literary gave me the chills reading your post. Congrats on your family and your success, and I am very happy that you took what memories you had suffering as a child and put your whole heart into your studies and having a dream of becoming a doctor. I agree you and FD do not have the same lives but like you said your goals and achievements are. You did an amazing job! It really opened up my eyes.
DeleteHarmon, I am incredibly sorry for all you have gone through. Everyone goes through a struggle, and even if it is not the same it's a struggle after all. Your story and your motivation is truly an inspiration. I have no doubt that everything you went through will definitely motivate you to become so much more. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and if you believe you will become a doctor you will be. Good luck to you!
DeleteHarmon, as Jisel stated what you shared with us has touched my heart. i don't know another way to say it then in those words. The way you compared your dreams and goals to Douglass was very interesting to read! I agree completely with the comparison, in that Douglass wanted a better life, as did your parents and your family and Douglass were not going to settle for what you had. I wish you the best of luck in your career!
DeleteHarmon, like Jisel said I’m speechless too; I like how you connect your life experiences to FD. Also, I’m happy that you and your family are living the American dream and wish you become a doctor.
DeleteOh My Goodness!! Harmon you actually touched my cold little heart!! although I am your friend and know what you have gone through, I was still touched in so many ways. Harmon, I am speechless. I can't find the words to express what you have gone through. You are the exact example of a successful individual. Your story can inspire so many people.Your struggled but you fought through and became the person you are today. I am happy and grateful to call you my best friend Harmon :). Always fight for what you want Harmon. Fighting!^^
DeleteWOW! I was left speechless after reading your comment. I really liked the connection you gave and how you related it to Douglass's life. Everything is possible as long as you strive for it. Sure, there are going to be many obstacles through the path but overcoming them is what matters. Never give up on your dreams and always keep dreaming because without goals life has no meaning. There should always be something that we want to reach in order to maintain a life full of goals and aspirations.
DeleteHarmon, you truly are an inspiration its crazy to even think that students around you have this great life stories, I am very happy to see that you were able to share your story. I think that when we go through struggles there is a time for happiness and success. we all have the opportunities to succeed in life but its up to us to take risks like when your parents did. I am so very happy to see that you and your family are living the american dream!!!
Delete“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle.”
ReplyDeleteFrederick Douglass words and motivation are something that I really admire and relate to. Although his struggle was much stronger, I can definitely relate. Being a nursing a major, the pressure is ridiculously intense. Keeping a 3.8 GPA, having a social life, a job, and being away from my family is incredibly difficult. There is so much work and time put into this career that sometimes I feel is just too much for me, but then just as Frederick Douglass states there’s no rain without thunder. There’s is no possible way for me to be a nurse without going throughout all these obstacles. Being away from home has also been difficult, not only for me but for them as well. Due to school and finals I missed my grandmother’s funeral, my nephew’s birth, my mother’s birthday and other various events, and to be honest I have broken down and cried various times, but everything I have gone through is my motivation. I know that in the long run being a nurse will pay off. The struggle to get where I went to be will only be harder but it is something that I am looking forward to. Everything I have gone through will in the end make me a better person and a better nurse. As Frederick Douglass states there’s no ocean without its awful roar of the waters, but the roars are what make the ocean. Without the struggle, at least for me personally, there is no success.
Well said Anna , without struggle, there is no success. You're almost to the end of the tunnel, keep pushing. Keep being persistent until you reach your goal!
DeleteGreat use of quotes! I can certainly relate to the quote as well, but I look at it and just think to myself that everything that is being done right now will all be worth it in the future. So the struggles we encounter now, will only make success taste that much sweeter plus we will be that much smarter too!!
DeleteNicely Done Anna. I agree with you in many ways because it's true, without any struggle where is the satisfaction of having to work for what you fought for. (if that makes sense). any who, it was nicely written.
DeleteHello Anna, i have some friends in the nursing program, and its very intense! So props to you for maintaining a high GPA!! You may be struggling right now, but in a few years, it will all be worth it once you become a nurse,
DeleteAnna, I absolutely love that quote as well and i totally agree with what mirka has to say even though right now you may be tired and see this going no where, progress takes step by step and that's what your doing. I'm sure that in a few years or so you will be at the top of your game. Props to you and I hope you the best in your nursing career.
DeleteOne theme we discuss this quarter that can relate to my life would be the Enlightenment. I can relate to the Enlightenment because I, too, saw the importance of education. My parents, growing up in the Philippines, weren’t able to finish their education because unlike the United States, you had to pay to go to school whether it’s public or private school. Both of my parents weren’t able to afford to go, and when we got the opportunity to come in the U.S, my parents constantly emphasized how important education was. My parents constantly told my siblings and I that we should always take advantage of education because it’s free, but never take it for granted because it’s free. My parents always said education is the greatest achievement anyone can accomplish so always aim high. My parents kept saying how education can “get us a better life” and how “we won’t struggle anymore.” And I couldn’t agree more. Watching my parents struggle, working hard in the fields, all because they could not finish high school really “enlighten” me on how important education was. The Enlightenment gave opportunities like the ability of rational thinking and deductive reasoning basically educating their people, and U.S did that for me. It gave me the opportunity to obtain education. It gave me the opportunity of obtaining a higher education which I am very thankful for.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your parents, education is a great opportunity to act on. We have the chance to change the future for ourselves rather than waiting for someone to change it for us. The enlightenment was a great example to use for education. Great job
DeleteI like how you related the Enlightenment with education. I think that was a great idea and I can also relate to this. I think that many students can relate to this when being the first to have the opportunity of having an education in their family and understanding how important and enlightening an education can be.
DeleteI can really understand what you went through growing up. I did not come from the Philippines I came from Mexico and my parents also stressed the importance of an education. My parents saw education as the best tool to help me have a great life. They made sure I got the best education I can get and pushed me to be the best I could be. I believe this has instilled many great values in me that will help in the future just like how parents did to you.
DeleteMary, I can also relate with you as a first generation student my parents also would tell us to take every opportunity that we get because we are so blessed to live in a country where we do have all this great chances to succeed. Education is the key to become a better person!
DeleteThroughout this quarter there has been many things that have surprised me and that have been somewhat related to me, one theme that I really feel connected to was the Enlightenment. Throughout my life there has been many people, friends and family that have encourage me to continue my education and to become a professional. My parents worked in the agriculture and they have always advised me to continue my education to get a better job and life. They have worked very hard to send me and my siblings to school and become professionals. Like The Enlightenment, my parents have opened my eyes to understand that education is crucial to succeed in life and to become better every day. My parents are like my Benjamin Franklin, trying to show me and understand the power of education. Like Franklin said, “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today”, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve ma and I learn”, “Well done is better than well said” and “Genius without education is like silver in the mine”. In a way all these quote were connected to me because in order to succeed and become better you have to your work hard every single day and not leave anything for tomorrow. Furthermore, I really like the last quote because education is a powerful tool than when its used right it can be very beneficial.
ReplyDeleteAntonio I thought it was great that you had chosen the enlightenment and I especially love how you incorporated those quotes from Benjamin Franklin. All of it flows nicely and it makes perfect sense.
DeleteI like how you set your example for the Enlightenment area. Another thing that is great about your response is that you have mention a quote by Benjamin Franklin "never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today" I feel that this quote just motives students to reach for a higher education and become better .
DeleteI love how you tied the quotes of Franklin into the enlightenment ideas you relate to. I think it is great to have the mindset that education is crucial. And education can mean all different kinds and extents. Not all of us will graduate college with doctorates and be at the top of the business world but we can all be educated in the field we love and want to succeed in. Working your hardest is always going to give you the best outcomes because when your heart and mind are set, you will accomplish your goals.
DeleteOne theme that has been played throughout the readings we have done this quarter has been the theme of suppression, specifically in our most recent read on Frederick Douglass. The act of suppressing is present in life today, maybe not be as extreme as slavery but it is present. One quote from the narrative fits perfectly into the type of suppression I have encountered, “they suppress the truth rather than take the consequences of telling it, and in so doing prove themselves as a part of the human family.” My interpretation of this quote is that people tend to lie or restrict the truth from being told because they’re afraid of what might be said or done to them. Accepting someone else’s opinion just so that one can avoid expressing the truth of what they personally believe in, makes one feel as though they fit in. I know I have done this before. I will sit there and listen to my parents, friends, whoever it may be and when they say something that I know for a fact is wrong, I will sometimes censor what I have to say or I won’t correct them at all. The only reason I do this is because I want to avoid causing a problem or having a heated discussion with these people. I suppress the truth rather than dealing with the consequences that may or may not come with that truth. At some point or another, I think everyone is guilty of doing this. Suppression does not only have to deal with physical means, it can also deal with suppressing oneself mentally.
ReplyDeleteGreat Job Lisandra. I feel that this was a great example to use because I a lot of people do feel this way, even I can be that way too. And it can definitely be hard to over come but at some point no matter what the situation is there will come a time to confront the problem and speak the truth and grow from the situation to be a stronger person.
DeleteLisandra, I totally agree and am guilty of suppression as well. It takes a lot to stand for what you believe is right and its even harder when those around you disagree with you. What I have learned over years of holding my tongue on controversial topics around certain friends of mine is that even though they may disagree, it is better to kindly let them know your side. Not so much starting a fight but starting a thought in their mind to dwell on. We suppress so much of what we say and it can bring more consequences then if we say it with strength. Great job!
DeleteHello Lisandra,
DeleteI too have experienced your situation and this quote quite a few times. However, there have been many times that I cannot hold it in and I tell someone they are wrong. It takes so much patience and courage for me to keep quiet when someone says something that I know for a fact is wrong. I would say one of the things I currently struggle with most in my life right now is keeping quiet. I am the type of person that usually points out a flaw in an argument or corrects someone, but it always ends up in a disagreement and sometimes an argument. Sometimes, no matter what you say to people, they will always think they are right and there is nothing you can do to change their fundamentalist views. It takes a lot for me to stay quiet, if I don’t say something. It bugs me for a long time knowing that this person has wrong information and what bugs me even more is that despite the surmounting evidence I provide, they reject it.
Lisandra I tend to do the same thing you do quite often. When people are discussing a certain topic or expressing their ideas; I dont express mine to prevent any unnecessary confrontation. I have been in many situations where i would try to voice my opinions that opposed someone else's and was immediately i was attacked by them as if to make me seem stupid and inferior simply because I didn't agree with them. It irritates me to no extent when people refuse to hear others opinions.
DeleteFrom the interesting videos and the readings what seems to be somehow just a little related to me is the book called Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. The book by Frederick Douglass talks about slaves and the tough condition they faced once. The book also explains that the slaves were seen as ignorant, dumb and they could not understand anything. In the book also explains the slaves did not have an education like white people so Slaves were seen as less. Well What I am going to relate this book is with racism. I am half Hispanic and I have seen people treat other races differently from their own race unfair. What I mean when I say unfair is for example if a Hispanic person does not know English sometimes another person that does know English feels like they are somehow better than that person and will take advantage of them. The advantages that might be taken from people that do not know English is they might be going against their rights because some people do not feel it is important to explain to people that do not speak or understand English because they might feel it is unnecessary sense they do not understand English than they would not understand something else. I know it might sound confusing but what I am trying to say in a few words is that the unfairness that Frederick Douglass talks about in his book is still going on but sometimes it is hidden around us.
ReplyDeleteMartin, I agree with you that this world still contains unfairness all around of racism. Its not just one race but many. With all of the stereotypes made and the jokes that follow can be damaging and very hurtful. It is sad to know how many people beat, curse, or even just have mean thoughts about their neighbors still to this day. We are all here to live life. Life's too short for us to dwell of the differences of others and harbor this racism. Why cant we all just get along and learn to live with one another despite the color of our skin, the language we speak, or anything else separating us. Good job!
DeleteI, too, agree with you Martin because up until today racism is still being seen. It may not be obvious or a big issue today, but believe it or not it is still being practiced. And yes just because some speak a certain language, does not mean that they know less than other people. Everyone needs to set their differences aside and be merry!
DeleteMartin, It is horrible how quick people are to judge. I belief our differences are what make us so extraordinary. Everybody has their own backgrounds and lifestyles and I believe it is ridiculous to put one culture or race above the other. We should learn to appreciate these differences and learn from each other. Ridiculing each other is not going to help us better ourselves it only slows our progress
DeleteOut of all the topics that we discussed during this quarter, the topic that relates to me the most would mostly be the quotes from Fredrick Douglas book. “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” As I mentioned before, this quote relates to many undergraduate students within our university and it can relate to graduate students as well. They way this quote intertwines with my life in many ways because I am obviously a current student at CSUB and I am learning how to develope my thinking skills critically and learning how to absorb all the information that has been given for me to learn. However, the quote may not seem to powerful right now because many of the laws have changed since the 1800's but in many ways, this quote can inspire others to learn how to be free within their own mind. For instance, students may not know nothing about a sepcific subject and may feel trapped because they don't know the concept or details within it but once the students learns and reads materials for that subject, then they will fill "free" in discussing the subject. As well as my lifestyle, I am a free caring individual who is ready to learn more information on any subject and allowing my mind to become free in every subject I have been taught and then I can teach others what I have learned and help them be free as well.
ReplyDeleteGreat Job Virginia Gonzalez! I liked that quote a lot when I was going through the autobiography of Fredrick Douglas; i find this quote really inspiring and proper. As you mentioned in your response, many of us students frustrate easily when we don't understand something, because sometimes we don't read instructions or information correctly, but if we learn how to read and think critically we will learn not only to keep learning but also we will learn something that is going to help us not only in school but also in our personal lives. Beautiful response, I enjoyed reading it. Take care.
DeleteI completely agree with you that Frederick Douglas quote “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free”, has played an important part of our lives as college students. It is amazing that an individual who lived a harsh life was able to acquire such knowledge. We all know that when we can read, we can understand something that is taught to us. For instance, when we go home and attempt to read a book that has been assigned to us by a class, we sometimes struggle with difficult words, but once we learn them, we get a better understanding of what our professor is trying to teach us and in turn we will get a better grade and hopefully a good career. The things we can accomplish are endless when we know how to read. Frederick Douglas was an intelligent man for having realized this despite the suffering he experienced.
DeleteThere is one quote I really liked from Fredrick Douglas, and it says “Without a struggle, there can be no progress”. This quote really relates to my personal life because sometimes I think everything I’m doing has to be easy, and then after failing and learning, I realize that if I want success in everything I do I have to struggle and try my best to get it. My mom told me once, that nothing comes easy, and is true comparing my mom’s words with this quote. For example, as all of you can relate, school is one of the most challenging situation I have in my life; school is my present, and to make it a good future from it, I have to try my best and struggle through all the hard classes to get my degree and become what I want to become. But first the hard part has to come and that is the struggle that everybody is going through.
ReplyDeleteYes, the real world is a struggle. And I agree with you and your mom that nothing in life will come easy. We must work hard in everything that we do to be successful. And if we continue to work hard, everything will become easier.
DeleteThe Enlightenment was one of the significant topic for me this quarter. During this time is where people wanted to gain more wisdom and knowledge. In other words, they never wanted to stop learning. They wanted to continue advancing their knowledge about everything. I found this topic very significant because it relates to how I feel about education and even after my studies. Because coming from humble beginnings, I had the need to become better. Since my parents didn't finish their education in the Philippines, all they dream for me is to finish my education. Therefore, growing up I continued to appreciate education and also because I want a better life than my parents and provide a better life to my parents. During the enlightenment, people's ideas, opinions, suggestions were rejected constantly, but it never came to them to give up on an invention or proposition. I, too, can't imagine myself giving up on education. Even though it becomes a real challenge, it motivates me to be even better and to continue to generate more ideas. Everyone deserves a successful future, however, it's up to the person whether they want to achieve it or not. Also, people and things will be an obstacle, but giving up should never be the option. It's during the enlightenment that education became very important. It's during the enlightenment that people were not afraid of inventing new things to benefit themselves and also others. And it's during the enlightenment that people really appreciated the importance of education.
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DeleteOne of the themes that I found relevant to my life is the constitution. The constitution has played a major role in every Americans life. Especially, the fact that we have 10 guaranteed rights that cannot be taken away by government. This is the beauty to the constitution because it protects our rights from government. Government has changed from back in the days to what it is now. Before, government did not exist because it was thought as a dictatorship. One person who ruled and the people had to follow what that king said because that king was law. Now, the government is regulated by the constitution because they cannot abuse of their power. Everyone is limited to a specific task and this helps for government to not overtake their power. It also keeps us safe from the abuse of government. Us citizens have rights and play a major role. We have the right to vote and the right to speak up for what we want and be heard for that. Thanks to the constitution we are taken into consideration and in some way we are respected because our opinion matters and if we have an issue we have a right to express our concerns. We also have the right to question anything we feel is wrong with government. Thanks to social media and the internet we are updated at a daily basis with what government is doing. Government, now, is more like our protection rather than a dictatorship as it was before. We look upon government for our protection. Thanks to how the world has evolved we live in a much better place and I believe that is a major factor of importance in today’s society. Imagine if we still lived the way people lived back then?
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I agree with you on that the Constitution plays a major role in our life. If not for the bill of rights people would take advantage of us. And even though we have this bill to protect our rights there still is people whose rights are being taken away. We must never stop fighting to protect these rights or they will be stolen from us.
DeleteOne of the themes that relate to my life is the way this nation was influence by the Enlightenment movement. This relates to my life since like this country I come from a country were primitive ideas are practice and were education is not easily access or obtain nor is education consider important. When I see how important are the ideas that the Enlightenment contributed not only to the United States but to the whole world, I remember how important was for me to be introduce to the beauty of education. The Enlightenment contributed with key ingredients that allowed the United States to throw primitive ideas (not all) and replace them with ideas that secure and promoted a successful future. Similarly, education has introduced new and life changing ideas that have allow me to keep moving forward towards my goal and keeping away from slavery system of ignorance. Frederick Douglass too makes many remarks how the importance of education. This was what practically made him a fully free man. I can’t imagine how different my life would have been without education. I would certainly be a slave of my own ignorance.
ReplyDeleteOne of the themes that best fits with my life are the ideas of the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment encouraged rational thinking and reasoning. Over the course of my years as a college student, I have developed some of these ideas and skills encouraged by the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment has encouraged this idea of understanding the world through observations and reason, which is something that I as a scientist use in my every day life. Everything that I have learned in my science classes is based on observations and reasoning from other scientists that have contributed to the knowledge of how life works and evolves. Everything from the laws of gravity to the theory of natural selection, evolution, endosymbiosis, etc. have gave me a sense of how the world works. Scientists are able to treat diseases, synthesize medications and vaccines based on the theory of evolution. Evolution is the reason why we need vaccines every year and although not many people might agree, it is the reason why I exist. After learning and discovering about the ancestry of life on Earth, I view life differently and much more beautifully than how I did before I learned about it. The Enlightenment has changed my life because it embraced ideas and observations requiring reasoning. These ideas are taught in school so that people can become educated about the subjects of their choices and hopefully make a career related to the education they received. Everyday that I learn, I embrace the ideas of the Enlightenment and thus, have shaped me into the person I am today.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I can relate the most to the immigrants that were leaving there homes and coming to America. Those immigrants were looking for a better life and saw a great opportunity for that in America. They left their home, family and friends behind to try their chances in this new world. This in some ways is what my family went through when we emigrated from Mexico to the United States. My parents didn't see much of a future in Mexico so they decided to bring me and my brothers to the United States in search for a better life. I was eight years old when we moved to the United States and I left behind pretty much everything I had known and grown up with. A lot like the immigrants who first moved to America from Europe we faced many difficulties and issues during the first couple of years but we managed to overcome them and thrive. Now my family is very happy here in the United States and we are a lot better of than many of the people we left behind in Mexico. This is why I can relate most with this theme, I feel like even though it might be in different ways my family and the early immigrants went through a lot of the same issues.
ReplyDeleteMauricio I too can relate to the immigrants in America through the life of my parents. They too had come from poverty in Mexico and had left everything behind to find a better life here in the states. They went through many hardships in the beginning, but eventually overcame them leaving them living the american dream.
DeleteMauricio, I can also relate with what you said. My parents didn't have the opportunity to further their education, and is why they stress the importance of education.
DeleteOne quote that I feel relates to my life, is a Frederick Douglass quote "I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." To me this quote means be you and be proud of it, don't change for anyone even if you think your changing to fit in. Another quote i found inspiring was "No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck." These two quote tie in together for me. I translate this quote as you cant put someone else down with out insulting yourself in the first place. I think of the chain around the ankle as not as dangerous but a chain around ones own neck life threatening and that is why I think of it as damaging yourself, if you wish to damage others. This relates to my life because it reminds me of my sister who would always put her self in front of anyone. Think about other people before your own selfish needs.
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DeleteOver the course of the quarter, there have been various pieces of this class that I can relate to. One of them is the ideas of the enlightenment. I was raised as a kid with the importance of education instilled in me. I was taught to not only listen and learn from the teacher and those around me but to explore and experiment and test what I was taught to make it my own knowledge. It was not enough to just believe whatever I was told but to believe it myself and know why I do is so much more. I can also relate to the words of Frederick Douglass when he says that there is no progress without the struggle. You have to work hard to achieve and climb the ladder in this world. The slaves had to work their life’s away and even more when they tried to escape or obtain freedom. Even after they were free, they still struggled but when they fought through they were able to move forward little by little.
ReplyDeleteI agree that education is very important and that it is sad that many slaves were not granted the opportunity.
DeleteA theme that I found that related to me was The Age of Enlightenment. Before this time people were so set in their beliefs that they had no room to think of anything else. And when they began to think of the world as balanced and ordered more individual thinking was accepted. This relates to me because I have always found myself striving for knowledge and not bothering with trivial things like what was the hottest fashion trend or what show was popular. I sought after knowledge and would spend my days reading books that afforded a lesson. I found myself so interested in learning about how the world around me worked and what my purpose was. As I am moving forward in my studies I find that with everything I learn I feel myself becoming a better-rounded person. I may not know exactly what I want in life, but I am working towards it. And I feel that if I was not able to gain the knowledge I can today that my life would not be as satisfying. If we weren’t allowed to express our individual thoughts and ideas then how could we hope to live a fulfilling life? College and high school have helped me define myself with my own interpretations of the world around me and I feel that is part of our rights as human beings. The Enlightenment Era definitely paved the way for a lot more individual thoughts and ideas and I am glad to be a part of it.
ReplyDeletegreat idea. we are very lucky to live in the U.S. to be able to go out and achieve our dreams.
DeleteOne historical issue that I found to be related to my life that was discussed this quarter is the development of the Constitution of the United States. I choose to relate my life to this because it contains amendments which grant me the privilege of many things and most importantly my freedom. My main reason is that without these amendments my rights would be limited. First of all, I am a first generation child, and I am a female. Where would I be if fairness was not included in the constitution? I probably would not even be in school right now. The amendments grant me the right to freedom of speech, freedom to practice my religion, my right to protest against unfairness, protects me against suffrage due to my race, color, and sex. It is an amazing document and it is a big part of my life. Without its existence myself and many others would be held back in society due to prejudices. I am very thankful for the founders not giving up on the whole putting together of the constitution and adding in the amendments. This is why I find this historical issue to be related to me because it is very important to my life.
ReplyDeleteA theme that really stood out to me was the age of Enlightenment. This was a time of great awakening with new ways of thinking, and the broadening acceptance of ideologies. This seemed similar to my life in particular. Growing up, I had always thought that whatever I did or believed was the correct way, and that any other method or idea wasn’t worth my time. If it was something I liked, or had grown up accustomed too, then it was ok in my mind. I had a growing intensity of tunnel vision with the way I lived my life, and I completely disregarded the fact that there are millions of other people on earth, each varying between their ideas and beliefs. Around sophomore year of high school I began a journey to put myself in other people’s positions and see exactly why they believed in what they did. By doing so, it opened my mind to so many different views of the world and helped me realize there is no selective way to do or think of something. The world is full of infinite variations of beliefs and traditions that I now cannot claim that any certain thing is absolutely right. I believe every opinion has some amount of truth in it, no matter how bizarre it sounds. It was that time during high school, which forever changed my way of thinking, just as it had done to the colonists.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you Michael, the Enlightenment was a theme I loved as well. I like the change in perspective it gave you because as Albert Einstein said "Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish". Ideas are as stupid as we perceive them to be, if we think everyone's ideas are stupid but our own that makes us extremely selfish.
DeleteOver the course I have learned many interesting historical moments. Many historical events interested me more than others. What really interested me the most was how people were moving to America to have a better life. The quote from Fredrick Douglas stating, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress,” I could relate to that because my parents emigrated from Mexico to come to the US to make my family have a better life and opportunities that they did not have. My parents were really poor when they were growing up. My father was a farmer and a trucker before he came to California. My mother and her family sold fruit around town to have bread on the table. Once my parents got married, they both decided it was best to immigrate to the US. In 1992, and they moved to Hanford, CA. Once they were there, they started their new lives as a married couple and a baby on the way. When my parents moved to California, all they had was a spoon and the clothes they had on their backs. They lived with my aunt, who had 6 girls and they all lived in a 3 bedroom house. My parents suffered because the only income they had was my fathers, which was a milker at their local dairy. Once they saved up some money they moved to Tulare, which was the town I was raised in. My mother gave birth to me in 1993, and was alone at home all night due to the fact that my father would work at the dairy at night. So I grew up my mother saw that I could take care of myself and got a job at a local Mexican restaurant. I always remembered that I rarely would see my parents, but I knew that they always had to work to put food on the table and clothes on my back. After that my parents had two more kids and move into a big nice house. Since then, my parents had made myself and my siblings have a job to help out with any bills and learn what the value of money is. Fredrick Douglas is right when he states “If there is no struggle, there is no progress. “I completely agree because if my parents wouldn’t have suffered, then my family wouldn’t have the things we have now. Another example using that quote would be myself. Knowing what my parents had to go through by making the choice to immigrate to the US made me realize what it is to value ones things. Coming to CSUB has really opened up my eyes on the fact that education is what is best for oneself. Realizing that by me getting a higher education it would make my life better, rather than reliving the life my parents had to go through when they were my age. My parents are my number one supporters, only because they push me when I need that push and by me going through the struggle of getting a higher education, then I will progress in the future and better myself and my parents later on in life.
ReplyDeleteJisel, i can relate to your post a lot! My family and i went through the same situation. My parents would also work hard and i would hardly see them which made me sad and i didnt understand why they would work so hard back then when i was smaller. Now, they are able to give their children a wonderful life and now i understand why they did it. It motivated me to keep struggling because once you overcome your struggles, thats when you'll see progress. I really enjoyed reading your post.
DeleteA theme that was discussed throughout this quarter and that impacted me greatly was the Enlightenment. This era in history revolutionized the mindset of society. It gave education a new outlook, one that represented importance and value. I can compare this to my own life personally because education has served a huge purpose in my life. As a child I was abused and had never reported to the authorities what was going on in my home. Until one day I decided to take matters into my own hands and let education deem my new home. I decided to venture out of my horrible lifestyle at home and choose a new place in where I could achieve a better future and live safely. No longer fearing my old home I decided to attend CSUB. My education gave me a reason to escape my problems at home and honestly for that I am glad the Enlightenment occurred. If it had not I would not have a university to be able to attend and escape my problems. I love my school and I am very thankful that I have the opportunity to go somewhere far and pursue a career I never imagined on having at home. As a high school student my father always put me down and told me I had to stay home and not go to school and just work. Even though I knew that was not my purpose in life I knew I was not going to follow his footsteps. I decided to choose my own future and thanks to the Enlightenment I was able to leave my abusive home and find an education that would free of the troubled life I led at home.
ReplyDeleteJanai, this was beautiful! Im glad that you didnt keep quite and continued to stay in that horrible situation you were in. Im glad you decided to spread your wings and take your own decision. Education is key. Im also glad that the Enlightment happened and it allowed us to view Education differently, because education is everything. Once you are educated, no one and/or anything can stop you.
DeleteJanai, I admire your resilience in hard times fighting mental oppression is tough. You did it like a "boss" (pardon my slang). You're admiration for education is wonderful and the Enlightenment definitely allowed for it to thrive. I as you value education and believe is the basis for success. I am sure you will go far in what ever you choose to do because the hardest step has been made. The enlightenment gave way for progress and as progress bloomed I argue so did society.
DeleteThank you for sharing your personal progression, your progress has made my day.
That's a very positive way to look at your horrible situation, and how brave of you to be so open and share with us your personal experiences. I can see the importance of the enlightenment for you and your life and I am happy that you were able to use that in your favor to help you get ahead. Never give up and keep up the positive attitude and motivation because that's the only way you can succeed: believing in yourself.
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ReplyDeletePaul, thank you for sharing this article! I related the slavery of the past to bullying today, but I guess you would never realize unless you looked really closely that slavery IS still prevalent to today's society. This is very upsetting to think about because many people would love to be able to say that slavery is just a thing of the past, not a worry anymore in society. Also, some might not see some of those examples as being considered as slavery, but in actuality, they really are. There's no way that they shouldn't be considered slavery.
DeleteOne theme that I can relate to my life would be reading about Benjamin Franklin. He asserted to "Never confuse motion with action". As a college student, I am guilty of getting distracted while initially trying to look for credible resources online for my research paper. I might spend 30 minutes to an hour of researching, and telling my self I have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to write about, but in reality I haven't even started one sentence. Instead, after an hour of researching, I'm stuck watching YouTube videos. That's were I got the two confused. Me researching doesn't mean I'm getting closer to finishing my paper. I have to physically start writing my paper. Another thing about Benjamin Franklin that i can relate to, is his focus to achieve goals. Whatever he set his mind to he followed through with his actions until he accomplished them. Right now my focus is on my education, and becoming the first in my family to graduate from a university. Like Benjamin franklin, I believe education is an extremely important step for becoming successful. Benjamin Franklin asserts that, "Reading was the only amusement i allow'd myself. No time in taverns, games, or frolicks of any kind; and in my industry in business continu'd as indefatigable as it was necessary." This quote shows how BF would focus his attention on learning new things on a daily basis. The drive Benjamin Franklin had to help others, and succeed is influential. As I was reading about him all I can think was that he was an average individual making something happen, and didn't let anything stop him from making his dream become a reality. There's a lot to learn in this world, and in today's society we have an abundant amount of resources and opportunities available to the public.
ReplyDeleteHe is a very good role model for anyone to follow. I wish I had his drive to do every thing he did
DeleteOne historical event that relates to my life is the creation of the Constitution because it is a document that has an influence over my life every day. Without the Constitution I wouldn’t have a life, because I wouldn’t have the freedom that I know today. It protects my freedom, my rights, and keeps our government in line to do what they need to do without overstepping boundaries. The Constitution gives and limits powers to the three branches of the government. It allows me to have my freedom to practice any religion, gives me the right to vote, and to give my opinion. The founding fathers may have taken their time to create this document, but without patience the United States would not be the country it is to this day. They were brilliant men that also obtained independence from Britain. They made the Constitution flexible enough to allow for changes that would occur over the years such as women’s suffrage and the civil rights movement. From the theme this week, the Constitution later enabled slaves to be free and vote. People may not think of the Constitution every day, but it affects them every single moment. It should be something to be thankful for every day. This document is so influential that other countries have modeled their documents after it. It also allows for immigrants to be able to obtain freedom if they gain citizenship. This is a huge issue today because many people are coming over here illegally and are granted some freedoms. But should they obtain citizenship first?
ReplyDeleteHi Heather, I think that people should not have to obtain citizenship to be treated a certain way. I think that if what they are seeking is not from their own pocket the service can be refused, but if it is just being treated equally then I believe everyone should be. As for things such as voting I believe it is not a basic human right. So, the person would need to prove they know how our system works and be able to accurately understand what they are voting on before they can cast their vote.
DeleteWhat I enjoyed the most about this quarter was reading Fredrick Douglass book. His life was very challenging and I can relate to many of his words but the one I can relate the most is “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” I can relate to this through my parents. They’ve been working so hard to give their children a better life. When I was smaller, I hardly saw my parents because they would be working almost all day so we wouldn’t have time to be together as a family. I hated the fact they worked a lot because they wouldn’t give me any attention. Little did I know they were doing it for a reason. We we’re living in a two bedroom apartment in downtown Los Angeles. After living there 13 years, my parents finally had the money to move away from Los Angeles and buy a house. Now we are here in Bakersfield living in an amazing house. Now that I look back, I see how hard my parents have worked to have a better life, not only for them, but for their children. If they didn’t work hard back then, then we wouldn’t be where we are now. This is what motivates me to keep moving forward. They have proved to me that when life is hard and you are struggling, if you work hard and not give up, better days will come. In order to reach your goals, you have to struggle. That’s what makes it meaningful and special. If everything in life was easy to do, then what’s so special about that? Someone who can overcome their struggles is someone to look up to. Sometimes I feel like giving up because I’m stressed with work and school, but at the end of the day I know that right now I’m struggling, but in a few years I will see the progress and it will all be worth it!
ReplyDeleteMirka, such a great story! I was actually just thinking about something very similar last night when I was talking to my aunt. She was telling me about one of her math classes that she is teaching about consumer math, she is giving them "bills" to pay and "paychecks" every week, she will teach them how to do their "taxes" and will deduct "money" from them if they arrive to class late or get in trouble. I told her that I wish I had had the opportunity to take a class like that because I am now having to teach myself how to do all of those things. Some people don't realize that what they are going through right now is actually shaping their future, in a good way or bad way. Crazy how that works!
DeleteThis quarter, I found the issue of slavery to be the most interesting topic we have discussed so far. Although I don’t have a direct relationship with this issue, I think it is appropriate to relate the topic to bullying that is so prevalent today in society. Since the formation of this nation, violence and hatred has been seen as acceptable to a certain degree. Slaves were considered only three-fifths of a person, were beaten with terrible brutality, and were not treated as equal human beings for a very long time. Today in society, the issue of bullying is somewhat similar. Bullies don’t treat those they are bullying as equal to them or their friends and in some instances, can become very violent towards others, causing lots of physical and emotional pain and torment. I know this to be true because my brother just began a new school this year and opened up to his class that he was adopted, not thinking anything of it other than he was a very special boy for being adopted. However, his fellow classmates, teased him, asked him insensitive questions about being adopted, and even hit him a couple of times. While reading Frederick Douglas, listening to the lectures online, and hearing my brother’s stories from school, I am continuously astonished that people can be so heartless and malicious to others. Although the way people are bullied has changed over the centuries, whether it be slavery in the 1800’s or cyberbullying today, this issue still remains in our everyday lives.
ReplyDeleteWow Kayleigh, that's an amazing point you bring up. I hadn't stopped to think of it that way but you are completely right in comparing the treatment of slaves to modern day bullying. Both contain psychological as well as physical abuse (albeit, different levels) and both can greatly affect society and the individual. It is unfortunate that these types of things are still prevalent in our modern society, but the fact remains that it is and it need to be eradicated as soon as possible.
DeleteWhen I first enrolled in this class I knew a few dates and events but as this class progressed my knowledge base kept progressing as well. The more I read the better I became as a historical thinker. I would say the better I get at thinking historically the better I can relate these events to my life. Would you agree with this idea based on your experience in this class?
ReplyDeleteMany themes in this class relate to my life. The theme that I will discuss in this blog entry was inspired by the "Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass" by Fredrick Douglass. It is my firm belief that mental oppression played a larger role in slavery than physical abuse. The use of our minds to formulate our identity, goals, views, and many more of our characteristics are what allows us to grow as a society.
I love the "Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass" it has inspired me to read of other historically important figures and I find myself reading all the time. The single most important theme I received from this book was introduced in one line (pg.66) "You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made man". After I read this line I understood the power of the mind and how the mental chains of slavery put on the slaves played a huge role in the administration of slavery. Everything up to that moment showed the mental abuse the slaves were subjected to and that was what made a man a slave. Everything following this quote depicts how Frederick broke the mental chains of slavery and became a free man even before he was still a "slave"(physically).
Through out pages 70-74, he depicts a fight he had with Mr. Covey the "n---er breaker" (I abhor that term with tremendous passion) which rekindled a sense of humanity he describes it as "it recalled the departed self-confidence...revived within me a sense of my manhood, and inspired me again with a determination to be free". Here he describes the cruel mental chains of slavery and how they made him forget that he was man. I began to recall the series of events in the lives of slaves such as disassociation between family members, being evaluated as property, not having the right voice their opinions, deprivation of food and sleep these are all techniques for breaking a persons psyche. Slaves saw themselves as slaves and property so they were Frederick Douglass saw himself as a free man so he was in mind and later in body.
This relates to my life because this notion that we have the ability to break mental barriers with our mind fuels me to do so. It gives me the motivation to break mental barriers placed in my life as well.
I know we do not live in times of slavery but at times we experience mental barriers our selves. Do not let these obstacles hinder your pathway for as Frederick Douglass has become a free man, what can stand in our path in becoming what we want to become.
“This is the penalty of telling the truth, of telling the simple truth, in answer to a series of plain questions.”
ReplyDeleteExcerpt From: Frederick Douglass. “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/rXvWy.l
I chose this quote from the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass because I feel like it can pertain to a variety of different situations and people, me included. In my situation I feel that it is pertinent to the area of business in which I am currently employed. I work in the retail industry and have done so since 2010, and what I have noticed is that you cannot be truthful and get ahead. I have not really progressed much in the industry because I feel that it is highly undignified to be untruthful in order to get a better position. I am constantly around higher authorities that I have to pretend to like and get along with simply to keep my job. I have seen countless people lose their jobs simply because they would not lie to the higher authorities about what they thought about them and the way in which they lead. It is unfortunate that this should still be the case in this day and age when we have been able to progress in so many other areas of society, but it's the honest truth. Now I also don't want to say that our situation is the same as it was for the slaves since for them it was their physical well-being at stake, and also they did not choose to be slaves-they were quite forced into it. I still see many ways in which these two situations are similar, however, because many times these days when we simply have "jobs" we feel like we are slaves to them because we depend on them for the paychecks that we receive, in order to eat and pay bills and sustain our everyday lives.
Professor Schmoll, I am very happy to see that you assigned this topic this week. I am so very happy that we are all very open to talk about how certain topics learned throughout the quarter we can relate with in life. There are actually two things that I think that go hand in hand that I can relate to my life. The first one was the enlightenment period, I think that education was something that was booming during that time and that many people were being inspired to go out there. This I can relate with because I am a student that goes to college because I want to hopefully become a successful person. My parents also came from a different country who migrated to the United States hoping that they would have a better life. I like to think that they have done so much progress they are home owners with four great children two of which are in college, their oldest is close to graduating as an engineer. I think as their kids its up to us to make our parents proud. Their dream is what we accomplish in life. Our triumphs is their triumphs. They gave up a lot to come to a country that they faced many struggles but little by little they are progressing. Then something else that I think that goes well with this is the quote is from Fredrick Douglass "If there is no struggle, there is no progress." I think this can relate to everyone, but I think when your involved in a club or organization sometimes you take on a task that your not sure that you can do it or not but you are taking a risk. Life is all about taking risks someone has one told me and I firmly believe in it. Everyday we are faced with a struggle whether it is big or small, but at times those struggles makes us a better person because they help us understand our own strengths and weaknesses. struggles is what makes us keep going even if we feel like it not worth our time or strength. we simply can't expect over night to become this great leader it takes step by step. as I mentioned above I said if you aren't struggling then you are probably aren't doing right. we keep thinking that we are doing it all right then we are probably being close minded. I think that it is important to have struggles in life because it does help us become better people. This week I faced some struggles, but I just understand to cope with them and I think talking about those struggles with people it helps you to feel better about what goes on in life. I know my strengths, weakness, and my struggles but I know that they will help me become a better person.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to Immigration. My family comes from a small poor barrio in Mexico. My dad, at the age of 7, started working to help provide for the family. There weren't many jobs available at the time and the pay was very little which gave my dad and grandparents not many food options. When my dad was 17 years old he came to the U.S undocumented, at the time, where he found a job that paid him well. After saving a few thousands, he returned back to Mexico, where he met my mom. The same barrio my dad was from, my mom was raised. They met young, my mom was 15 and my dad was 20, two years later they married and my mom got pregnant. They wanted what was best for my now older brother and decided to move to a place where they can raise him to be a well educated & taken care of kid. That is when my parents decided to move to America. It was not easy for them, considering they passed the border illegally. My dad having little education, was blessed with outstanding knowledge that got him and my mom where they are today.
ReplyDeleteHi, Daniela. My dad was also an immigrant from Mexico. At a young age, he too, worked to help provide. I feel like immigration is a topic that can hit close to home for everyone in the United States because we all came from somewhere. If our lineage didn't come in recently, we know of someone who did. It is amazing how we are still a country of immigrants starting out the same as we did on day one. Working hard, never prepared enough for a foreign land, and with a goal in mind.
DeleteA direct connection for me would be the Bill of Rights and the Enlightenment era. The enlightenment era gave way to organized schooling, and allowed people to think of the world as balanced and ordered. Possibly helping our founders come up with the Bill of Rights. I am thankful that I was born in America where we are protected by the laws we have. I'm also thankful that we have mandatory schooling (at least through high school). I can attribute the way I process information in a direct link to the Enlightenment. When I was young I used to think schooling was a waste of time. As I got a little bit older I began thinking in a new way. This way was to understand something and why is a certain piece needed for it to work. This led to taking apart a hair dryer and looking at all the parts to try and figure out why it made heat. Well from there I couldn't understand how it worked without it in use... so i plugged it in. As soon as i did the metal coils in the back hair dryer caught the carpet on fire. I knew from there that the coils were heated from electricity and the fan blew to make the heat from the coils come out. When more experiments like these occurred I began using things I had learned from school. I began to really like going to school and learning all that was taught to me. So when I first read the prompt this was one of the first things to pop in my head. I changed by using observations I made from my experiments to understand how the thing worked.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you about having a direct connection with the Enlightenment Era! :) I believe that education is so important in life and the key to moving forward and moving up in rank in a society. I believe that the spread of enlightenment was very crucial and without it life would be VERY different.
DeleteA quote that I believe is relatable comes from the US history video lesson number 25 -King Cotton, section titled Conditions of Slaves in which a former slave known to be William Wells Brown discusses the hardships slaves had to endure and one such event that he had dealt with. He goes by stating “experience has taught me that nothing can be more heart-rending than for one to see a dear and beloved mother or sister tortured, and to hear their cries, and not to be able to render them assistance”. I feel that this quote sets an example not only for me but for many people who do undergo stressful and traumatic situations; although this quote refers to the issues of slavery which is something I cannot truly relate to. But the physical and psychological traumas are one that many still unfortunately deal with in today’s society such as those who undergo human trafficking, physical and emotional abuse from loved ones, bullying. The feeling of being helpless, alone, and unaware of how to handle the situation can be difficult. That is why we are fortunate to have many organizations that provide guidance to the community in order to properly hand a situation, how to overcome and move on in order to live life to the fullest.
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ReplyDeleteI really like the assignment this week Professor Schmoll assigned. All quarter I have been relating the topics our class has learned to our lives in the world today. One topic that stood out to me this quarter in this class was the enlightenment era. I love how people back then knew how important getting an education was and their appreciation to all the new inventions and advancements that were occurring. Since I was little my parents have always told me how important getting an education is and how hard work and effort pays off. Growing up I’ve learned that as long as you are able to motivate yourself to do better, and always be your own motivation, and if you believe and work hard, you’ll succeed. I’ve learned that hard work and perseverance allows a person to have more leisure in their life. I’ve really enjoyed all the topics we’ve learned about in this History class. The enlightenment was my definitely my favorite to learn about in this class though. I loved the idea of the enlightenment providing so many people with opportunities that they didn’t have before. The age of reasoning was during the time period of common sense. I found it really interesting how beliefs and ideas of enlightenment spread everywhere. I loved how many people from not only England but America also got the skill of deductive and rational thinking. I believe that as we grow as a person and with age we all definitely obtain rational thinking. I believe that education is the key to moving forward and moving up in rank in a society. I believe that the spread of enlightenment was very crucial and without it life would be very different.
ReplyDeleteOne quote I found very interesting was from the Narrative Life of Frederick Douglas. On pg. 52 he states, “The singing of a man cast away upon a desolate island might be as appropriately considered as evidence of contentment and happiness, as the singing of a slave; the songs of the one and of the other are prompted by the same emotion.” When he was a slave he “did not understand the deep meaning of those rude and apparently incoherent songs”. When he worked in the fields, he would hear others sing songs which “told a tale of woe”. At first he did not understand the meaning behind these songs but came to realize that “slaves sing most when they are most unhappy. The songs of the slave represent the sorrows of his heart and he is relieved by them”. I learned in music that slaves would sing to communicate with each other. During those unfortunate times, slaves would sing to relieve their pain and gain a sense of peace in their life at that moment. Douglas recalls that at first, he did not understand the full meaning behind the songs. He later learned that the songs brought a sense of peace and calmness. The songs were often filled with sadness and at times brought tears to Douglas’s eyes as he worked. The songs later came to be significant to the slaves because it was their own way of communicating and gaining peace at that moment in time. In my own experience, during tough times I often find myself singing to a favorite song to relieve the stress. The slave songs are a reminder that during those harsh times, the slaves still had a sense of relief when they sang. Even though they were treated like animals, they often found comfort in the songs they sang. During tough times, everyone has their own way of coping with the stress. The salves had their songs as they worked in the fields. The songs they sang were important to them because they felt it relieved them of their everyday struggle.
ReplyDelete“[...] allowing only ordinary ability and opportunity, we may explain success mainly by one word and that word is WORK! WORK!! WORK!!! WORK!!!! Not transient and fitful effort, but patient, enduring, honest, unremitting and indefatigable work into which the whole heart is put[...]
ReplyDeleteThere is no royal road to perfection.”
-Frederick Douglass
I feel that this quote resonates with complete and unavoidable truth. I cannot fathom the amount of struggle that Frederick Douglass endured throughout his life as a slave, but I do believe that perseverance is the only path to success. Personally, I have had to overcome obstacles that seemed impossible. In my second year of high school I was sent away to an “emotional growth” boarding school due to a rebellious attitude and constant conflict with my parents. I was unknowingly plucked by two large men in the middle of the night and driven directly to an airport where I was put on a plane and checked into a facility for at risk youth. I was unable to say goodbye to anyone, see my parents, or even communicate with anyone outside of the program for 18 months. It was a very difficult reality that I had to accept and although at times it seemed unfeasible that I would come out on the other side, it is amazing what hard work and self discipline can do for the mind, body, and spirit. Although I did not agree with being there (as a minor I had no choice) the level of personal growth I was able to achieve through hard work and structured thought has forever changed my life and the way I approach challenges. In no way would I ever suggest the hardship I experienced relates or compares to actual enslavement, but I do see and agree with the point Douglass is alluding to. Life is a journey, often a hard one and many times mental toughness, along with educated and rational thinking can be as crucial as the relentless effort it takes to carry out, complete, finish, or achieve your dreams. Persistence is sometimes the true measure of strength and I believe that effort and hard work are the only sure fire way to be at peace with what you set out to accomplish. Individual success is a perception, different for everyone, but I can guarantee one thing and that is that no one has ever risen to their highest echelon without unforgiving exertion, struggle, and the strength to carry on when it got tough. Fulfillment does not come without power, and power without drive and the willingness to endure.
Something that hits very close to home would be the first weeks blog entry on immigration. My dad was an immigrant who came into the states at age 15. He has told me countless stories of how hard it was and how unprepared he was for such a drastically different place. He didn't speak a work of English, nor did his family. He was never great in school, let alone learned well in a foreign language. He had to start completely from scratch. My dad quickly learned the language and the ways of the states. Like the early colonists, success didn't come quickly. It was a long journey that took a lot of hard work and manual labor. My dad made shoes before leaving to the Unites States and eventually got a visa and worked in the fields to pay for further education after high school. As time went on my dad became very well established and earned his citizenship. The early settlers, like my dad, work tremendously hard to gain their own property and success. When I did that weeks reading, I was proud and thought of my dad.
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