Final Blog

I decided to do a final blog because this class was one of the ones that made a huge difference in my life. For starters, I actually learned a lot. That's probably the most overused line, but in my case it's true. I didn't even know about sociology or what it 's about until I took this class. I remember the first day Sal sat in the back of the room completely silent. Different people would try talking to break the silence and I just remember thinking, "isn't he supposed to be in front giving lecture of some sort?" But Sal was different - that was one of the many things I liked about him. From that day on, the phrase, "silence is golden" or "actions speak louder than words" stuck to my mind. I've learned that people don't have to be loud, or they don't have to talk in order for others to hear them. You can just be silent and [hopefully] people will get the message. One of the other things that I remember in this class was the activities. One activity that I enjoyed the most was "abandon ship". A cluster of people were chosen to be put in a mini-boat made from tape. In my case, I was the observer - I got to see how others acted and who was voted off or kept on. This, along with the many other activities in class has made me realize that not everything [or everyone] is what they seem. Like for example, I remember one of the first people kicked off was the writer. Just because they wrote, people thought she wasn't much of a use. This activity reminded me of my own life - to not judge others based on what you see on the outside. I'll admit that when I was growing up, I've run into people I wasn't necessarily fond of. Whenever someone would say something about them, I would automatically go off in a random rant saying how I didn't like them. But one of the many things this class has taught me was to be sociologically mindful. I've learned to accept people for their differences no matter what. We would watch movies or little video clips sometimes and I could relate to most of them. "Tuesdays with Morrie", for example, really hit home for me because I've lost someone close to my heart. That movie has shown me that life goes on - not everyone lives forever; so the best you can do is just move on and remember they'll always have a special place in your heart. One of the things I liked most about sociology was learning and experiencing different things. I remember when we first started the culture unit, I instantly thought of how people would consider me Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. It wouldn't necessarily make me mad, but more so amused because I wasn't those things. The average Filipino has very dark, dark, or somewhat dark skin. However, my dad was born with light skin, so I myself was blessed to have that too. There were times when I kept telling my friends, "I wish I was darker". and I would find myself comparing me to other people. However, the lesson on femininity really opened my eyes.  When we watched a little movie on how girls didn't think they were accepted in their society because of how dark or light they looked, it made me realize that I should be happy with my appearance. So what if I'm not wearing the latest clothes or makeup? So what if I'm not 'fake' like all the other guys I've met want me to be? So what if I'm not popular? It really doesn't matter - and it shouldn't matter to anyone else. I've learned that you should just be happy. I remember moping around sometimes complaining how I don't look like that celebrity in the magazine, but then it hit me: I'm not them. I don't have lots of money or any of the fancy things they've got, and you know what? I'm perfectly fine with that.  Another thing I've also learned to be more sociologically mindful; especially when it comes to high school. These 4 years have gone by so quickly. Although there are some things Id like to fast forward, like for example getting in unnecessary fights with people I never thought I would, I've learned to accept it. During my four years here I wasn't exactly the person to go to when it came to friends. As many of you have read in the previous posts, I wasn't becoming friends with the right people. Others would judge me and not get the chance to see what i was really like. But as time went on, I decided to talk to them on my own and as it turns out, I got them to befriend me. So this is why I like this class - partly because it has made a huge difference in my life and also because it was a class about me. I got the chance to find myself and who I really am. The whole atmosphere and just the people in the class have made me want to strive and become a better person. I will never forget Sociology and what it did for me.

Crash

For the past few days in class, we have been watching a movie called "Crash". It was a movie about different races and how different people were racist towards one another. The first time Sal told us about this movie, he said it wasn't just about blacks and whites which really made me feel relieved because it seems like all movies that have to do with racism always have to be "black vs. white". This movie, however, had all different kinds of races - black, white, Asian, Hispanic, etc. While watching this movie, I was fascinated at how the different groups were so vulgar towards one another. I never knew Asians could be racist towards whites because it never occurs anymore. Although this movie had some graphic parts, it hit home for me because it was depressing to watch. It showed the different stereotypes that we expect to have in life. I remember during parts of the movie, people would threaten to shoot one another and at some points, it actually happened. What really struck me, though, was when the guy who owned the shop got the little girl. It brought me back to a memory that is almost too painful to remember. My dad told me before I was born he used to live in Chicago (the 'bad' part). and he would tell me how badly he wanted to leave because of all the shootings that were going on. One of his best friends died because someone shot him on his way home. I hate seeing people get hurt - especially if they mean something to me because everyone deserves a chance to live. Even those who were incredibly racist in the movie - like that one guy who was feeling up the one woman on their way home I know exactly how she felt when that man was doing what he was doing because it's happened to me before. When I was a freshman, I wasn't exactly friends with the 'smartest' people around. I became close to two guys - one who I've known since the first grade, and they turned out to be total jerks. I was especially shocked with the guy I've known since first grade because I never expected him to be so explicit with me. I understand that when you grow up, you develop hormones and sometimes they're difficult to control. But for my situation, it got to the point where he would start stalking me and asking for nude pictures of myself. This other guy wanted me to strip down on school grounds and he would start feeling me thighs and rubbing areas that only I should know about. So I knew exactly how that girl felt; it's not a pleasant feeling. Girls are not 'trophy wives' or 'toys' that boys should mess with. We have feelings and when you mess them, we don't take it very well. I really enjoyed this movie. It was something I could relate to (in a way) and even though there were parts I wanted to black out, it was still interesting to watch. I think there are still some racist people out there, but those people could learn to overcome it. I remember in the movie there was one guy who tried so hard not to be racist, but it ended up getting the best of him. And sometimes, this still does occur in life today, but when you're raised in a certain way, where your mom or dad doesn't like certain people because of their skin color or how they do things, you tend to develop the same feelings. It's hard to do, but as I said before, it can be done. Everyone is created equal in my eyes. It doesn't matter what color you are - you are who you are and nothing/nobody can change that.

A Girl Like Me

If you're not white you're not pretty; if you're hair is too curly it's considered "kinky"; if you're black everyone looks down on you. Last week in class Sal showed us a video made by a high school girl called "A Girl Like Me". It was about how black girls wanted to be accepted into the world - they want nothing more than to be treated like those lighter than them. While watching this little movie, I couldn't help but think of how each girl kept on repeating the word "bleach". All of those girls wanted or knew someone who was the same race as them, but put on bleach to make them lighter. I remember this one girl in particular who had an aunt that started using bleach at the age of twenty-five while she made her daughter start using it at age eleven. For all I know, people could start using bleach as young as six years old. In one part of the movie, the girl decided to do a mini-experiment on which doll girls would choose. Realistically, most girls would choose a white doll just because it looks prettier and that's what most girls want to look like; to have flawless skin, have the prettiest makeup, and so on. It turns out that I was right - most of the people chose the white doll. However, what really caught my attention was the fact that one girl chose the white doll and when the girl asked her, "Which doll looks the most like you?" she was debating on whether to chose the white or black doll. Her mind was telling her to pick the white doll because that's what she thinks she is; that's what she wants to look like, but then she went back to reality and thought, "oh, that's not what I look like". After the movie was over, I couldn't help but think back to our femininity and masculinity unit - how girls wanted nothing more than to be thought of as flawless or beautiful, and how they wanted to be just like the girls on the Seventeen Magazine cover. That's how it is for the darker girls - they want to be thought of as beautiful; they want to be accepted into the world of beauty. Because most people don't find dark skin beautiful; it's not the ideal skin tone for most girls. They want to be lighter and they want to be pretty. It's hard to watch because I personally don't see it that way; I think that any skin color is beautiful - even if you're orange like Snooki from Jersey Shore. In a way, she's kind of a role model to some girls. Sure, she drinks a lot and wears extremely short clothing, but for those who have watched the show, you'd notice that she doesn't care what other people think. Who cares if my clothes are too short? Who cares if boys stare at me? Who cares if they only use me because they feel aroused? - it doesn't matter to her because she's her own person. There may be times where she'd want to change her appearance because a guy doesn't think she's good enough, but she doesn't. She's content with how she is and it doesn't matter to her what people think. That's how I think everyone should be - how the girls in the video should be. You are your own person and if people can't accept you for who you are, then you're not worth their time. In my eyes, everyone is beautiful - including those girls in the video. I try to think positive most of the time and I think those girls should've too. You can't change who you are, so just be happy with what you have.

This is a video I found on YouTube - it's a song from Glee. (for those who watch the show, you probably know what I'm talking about). But I think this song captures what we were talking about before:

Race

Remember when 'race' meant who could run the fastest? That perspective has changed a lot over the years; now 'race' means the different kinds of people in this world. Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Indian - you name it, there's a ton of people like that around the world. A few days ago in class, Sal asked us to categorize different types of balls and put them in whatever category we wanted. I, (being the traditional boring person I am), decided to categorize them based on size - smallest to largest. While putting the balls in their right place, I heard Sal say something about how each ball could be used differently in other countries. For example, in America most people use a baseball to play baseball. But in some other countries, it could be used as a softball. Hearing this made me think about how each country isn't the same. When I was younger, I thought each country was the same and everyone had the same customs as the U.S. However, I was proven wrong. I thought it was really interesting when Sal showed us an article about different races and how each person could have more than one ethnicity. Talking from personal experience, I have a friend who's half Norwegian and half Irish. The first time I met her, I thought she was Polish. We became very close as the year progressed and I was glad to have a friend who isn't only Caucasian, Asian, etc. The first time you meet someone, you automatically think, "they're white", or some other ethnicity - I know I was like that, and sometimes I still am; I just assume that a person a general ethnicity. When we played a game based on people's race, it was really interesting and entertaining to see what one person could be. I know for some of them I never expected. For example, (talking from personal experience), the first time people see me or meet me for the first time, they assume I'm either: Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. Truth is, I'm actually a full Filipino. Now, seeing as my skin is so light for the average Filipino, people would think I was lying. A regular Filipino would be very very tan. When I was younger, me and my family would go on vacation every summer and I would go swimming whenever I got the chance. I was really satisfied with myself because I'd look so tan! But as I grew older, I became lighter and lighter. It kind of amuses me how people assume that I'm a certain race when I'm not. A wise friend told me to never assume things; they could prove you wrong. This unit opened my eyes, because now I know not to judge people based on how they look on the outside.

Poverty

My parents have always taught me never give money to the poor. Food is okay, but not money. And I remember growing up thinking that it was unfair. It wasn't until later that I discovered the bad things that people could do with money when they don't have enough of their own. In class today, we watched another one of Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days. This time he was given the challenge of living in poverty with his fiance, Alex. While watching this episode, it made me think back to the stories my parents used to tell me about when they were my age. Since they're from the Philippines, not everything was "candies and roses". For those who don't know, the Philippines can be a both poor and rich county, it just depends on where you grow up. In my parent's case, they both grew up on the poorer side of town; my dad in Manilla (the capital), and my mom in Quezon City. When I was young, they would always tell me to be thankful for what you have because when they were growing up, they had nothing compared to what I have today. Houses were poorly built and showers had to be taken outside. My dad grew up in a very big family - six sisters and six brothers, so everything had to be shared. It was hard for him because he was one of the oldest kids, but he had to respect what his parents and siblings wanted. My mom was in the same situation; her family was big and they had a limited supply of everything. Hearing these stories made me realize how thankful I am to live in such a country that offers so much. When my parents came here, they hardly knew any English - both about in their early 20's or 30's. Looking back on this episode, I thought of how hard people have it. I remember Morgan said, "it's like they're living on the edge of a knife everyday." and it's true, because to not have a job, or to have a job that pays very low is just really depressing. I know if I were in that situation, I wouldn't know what to do with myself. When you live a life as hard as the people on the streets, or the people in that episode, you never really pay attention to how lucky you are until you've seen what they have. It's hard, especially if you were raised that way. But life is life, and whether you like it or not, you have to accept it for what it is.

Last Community Service

Over the weekend, I volunteered at my mom's hospital from 6 am to 4:30 pm. I told everyone that I played bingo with that it was my last day and they were sad to see me go. I myself was also sad because I never realized how much of an eye opener it can be to work with the elderly. I've worked with the elderly before, but not on a personal level like this. For my last day, I got to meet someone new who had the same disability as me. However, his was more severe than mine - he was in a wheelchair and could barely talk. His name was Tom. Playing bingo with him was a lot of fun. Looking back, I remember I would get scared of those types of people because of personal experiences. Anyway, this guy changed my whole view on people like us. He was a little temper mental at first, but soon enough he was willing to open up to me. I got to help him move his bingo pieces and see how his computer worked. Most people I've met who have cerebral palsy that badly hardly ever use their computer to communicate, but he used his every time someone talked to him. I loved spending time with Tom because he was different from the other people I normally worked with. He would always laugh and make jokes whenever I fed him during break time and my mom was happy to see that I made a new friend. This won't be the last time I see them; I want to volunteer there again over the summer and grow stronger bonds with each of the people. Everyone says that doing community service is very rewarding, but in my case it's true. I love working with people - especially those I can empathize with because then we would have something to talk about. I'll be sad to leave such a loving, caring group of people - people who have grown to be like family to me.

Social Class

"Bad stuff does happen sometimes; always remember that. But remember you'll have to move on. Somehow, you'll just pick up your head and stare at something beautiful like the sky or the ocean and you'll move on."

Upper, Middle, and Lower class; Blue collar and White collar. Whether we realize it or not, we see these types of people everywhere. Our first instinct is to judge them based on their appearance. "They're too ugly", or "they're too skinny" could be some of the many phrases that people hear every now and then. Or maybe we'll see them at work and judge them based on their jobs. Like this one girl Tammy, for example. She's a (somewhat) old lady who lives in a very small town in Virginia with two kids. She has no car, a trailer for a house, and a horrible job. While watching her, I couldn't help but feel sorry because her kids were always so deprived of love, clothes, etc. One of her kids pretended to act like he was from the upper-middle class just to impress his friends. It's a shame that he was embarrassed to introduce his mom to his friends because he was afraid of what they might think. For the past week our class has been learning about social class and the different types there are; as well as who's in them and their norms. I was really interested in this movie because it opened my eyes as to what our society was really like. I remember back in fourth grade I had just moved here. I knew no one and missed my old friends like crazy. On my first day of school, I walked around like a lost puppy. Although I had some people (who quickly became my friends) show me around, I still felt like an outsider. I was shy and self - conscious of others' opinions. Soon enough, I began to come out of my shell and talk to different types of people. My first friend was one I will never forget. She showed me around and gave me advice on who to stay away from and befriend. Our friendship didn't last long though. In middle school we drifted apart, and even though I was new in fourth grade, people in fifth grade still treated me as if I were still new. The populars and jocks would come up and talk to me; I felt so wanted and cool because no one has ever done that to me before. Up until eighth grade, I began to notice the different cliques. You had your jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, band geeks, and so on. Even though I was young at the time, I still knew about the different groups of friends each middle school or high school had. In most, you wouldn't see a nerd coming to the popular table, but not in mine. Sometimes I would see different people going to lunch tables you normally wouldn't expect them to be at. I was shocked. At my old school you would've never predicted that, but I guess that's how things work. It's during high school when things start to take off; people go into even more different groups and some just fall appart. When you're in a certain clique or raised a certain way, it's hard to get out of, but I think you can change it.

Social Class System

In America, we see people getting richer and poorer everyday. The rich gain more money and the poor get less money. In other countries like the Philippines, it may be considered a norm, but not in America. Both my parents were born and raised in the Philippines in the middle-class area. They have told me stories about how their country is like a social class system - you have the poor, middle-class, and the rich. In today's society, we're not used to that. In fact, most people don't even notice or care. People are just people and it doesn't matter how much or how little money they have. While in class today, we were having a discussion on America's social class. Sal told us how the Americans "kicked the Britain's out". Back in England, they have lots of norms that we Americans don't have. Their social class is so much different than ours. When I was growing up, my mom would tell me stories about how she traveled to London before I was born and even before she met my dad. I don't remember most of the stories, but I do know it was interesting to hear because when I grow up, I want to travel the world like my mom did. It was a complete eye-opener for her to see all these different people with their heads held high and their English accents. In the U.S., we don't have that; people just see what they think is rich and what they think is poor. Many people want to be rich and have lots of cool things to show off to their friends, but I think we should all appreciate what we have. I remember moving from house to house when I was younger because my parents wanted to give me a stable house to grow up in. I went from apartment, to condo, and now a house that i can move freely around. Sure, living in those places before the house was hard, but I learned to be grateful for what I had at the time. Some people don't even have a home. But more than anything I wanted to be rich like those people on MTV or like those singers I used to look up to when I was younger. "My Super Sweet 16" was the first show I thought of when talking about social class.

In this show, teens with giants amounts of money get to spend it on a party they'll only have once in their life. I remember watching this show thinking I wanted nothing more to be just like them. But judging on the show, they looked like spoiled brats. Social class in America is just divided; I wouldn't label anyone "poor" or "rich", they're just people. 

30 Days

Dealing drugs, escaping - we've all done it in or seen someone do it during some point in our lives. Whether it be TV or real life, there are lots of bad people out there. Some we may consider "the good person" may even turn bad. Today in class we watched a show called '30 days' with Morgan Spurlock from 'Super size Me'. In this show, different people are experimenting with different places or things to see what it feels like. This episode with Morgan showed him seeing what it's like to be in prison for a month. While watching this, I was shocked and heartbroken. There were many different people in the jail cell who got busted for different things. One got busted for distribution of cocaine and the other for reckless driving. It was hard for me to watch, but at the same time I was interested in how different things were and how people acted. I remember one statistic that he said, "16% of Americans are in jail because of mental disabilities", or something along those lines. Being locked up for a decade or more can do that to a person. America is supposed to be "the land of the free", but nowadays it seems like we're resorting to jail instead of getting actual help because we don't have enough money. There was one guy in particular that I found rather interesting; his name was Randy and he had skitsofrenia.When he saw a camera in front of his face, he flipped because he wasn't used to that kind of thing. I wasn't surprised when Morgan mentioned that people who have been in and out of jail develop some sort of mental illness, because like I said before, it can happen when you're in a certain place for so long. In jail, you're restricted to all freedom. When Morgan had his parents visit, there wasn't even a table they could sit at, just a big plastic wall with a phone attached to the side. I could tell that he was on the verge of tears after his parents left because he couldn't show any physical affection. If it were me in that situation, I would feel lonely. All I would want is attention; to be loved and to be held. It's really sad that some people have to go through this kind of thing because I know everyone has some sort of good in them, they just have a hard time showing it. Sometimes, they're scared and the only way to show they care is by doing bad things. From personal experience, I remember watching a show on MTV called "Juvies". It was a show about teens from the Lake County or Indiana area who have been sent to jail. Drugs, alcohol, stealing - you name it. It was basically like 30 days, just for teenagers. While watching 30 days, I thought of this show. It reminded me of how bad things can get and how desperate people can be when they have absolutely nothing and families just give up on you. When a person does something repeatitivley, they're bound to get kicked out at some point. When "Juvies" came out in 2007, I was a freshman or sophomore in high school. I remember watching this show hoping that I wouldn't grow up that way an I still hope to this day that I don't. Jail is a scary place; to think that people would want to spend up till 50 years old in that jail - maybe even more, is just scary. I believe everyone deserves to live their life freely.

Masculinity & Femininty

It starts at the age of eight or nine, maybe even younger when both boys and girls are told to be "tough" or "feminine". We're suppose to wear certain clothes or act a certain way in order for people to like us. A "tough guy" or a "girly girl"? And if we don't act that way, we're considered stupid, gay, or any other type of nasty name that comes to mind. But is that how we genuinely are? More than likely, most people aren't as tough or as feminine as they seem. It's just how the world sees us. Some people want to act a certain way to keep their reputation. Like in high school, there's a variety of groups that each person is in. When we see those people, we think of them as glamorous or someone we highly look up to. In reality, they're nothing different. People are people. They just tend to hang with a group(s) that have the same interests as them. In Disney movies like the little mermaid, Ariel finds a prince who she thinks is the guy of her dreams. The only major difference between the two is how one is on water and the other is on land. Even if they're forbidden to be together, they end up doing so anyway. Although I think this movie is an all time classic, it sets an example which boys tend to follow - that they're supposed to be some big masculine tough guy who's so good looking and all the girls look up to him.

There are no guys in this world (that I know of) who are actually like that. It's only portrayed in movies or books. I find it rather disturbing how Disney or any other movies portrays the "ideal guy". No guy is ever so masculine that their shirts rip off, and girls as young as seven or eight expect in their future that a guy will do that. I'm sure it will happen, but I believe every girl will find their prince charming sooner or later.

Another topic that was discussed was femininity. In class we watched a video on how the "ideal woman" is supposed to be portrayed: Skinny. Every model is seen as a beautiful figure or someone every girl dreams of being. I know when I was about 12-13 years old, I thought I was the ugliest person on Earth. In middle school there were a few people who teased me because of how I looked. There was one person in particular who said I looked horrible in my 5th grade school picture and even though I was young at the time, I remember it destroying my self esteem. I tried everything to get rid of my acne and find the cutest clothes. There were times where I'd look in magazines and I would dream of being that flawless celebrity on the cover. It wasn't until later that I discovered those girls we see on the covers of magazines are nothing but fake. It was then I decided I didn't want to be like them because in life, people will tell us to look a certain way or act a certain way. Girls to be skinny and beautiful, guys to be masculine and violent. I've learned we don't have to be that way -everyone is human and if they don't like how people are, then they shouldn't associate themselves with those kinds of people. Because you are you and you shouldn't change for anybody - regardless of what they think.

Media Influence

Lollipops turn into cigarettes. The innocent ones turn bad. Homework goes in the trash. Mobile phones are being used in class. Detention becomes suspension. Soda becomes vodka. Bikes become cars. Kisses turn into sex. Remember when getting high meant swinging on the playground? When protection meant wearing a bandaid? When the worst thing you could get from boys was cooties? Dad's shoulders were the highest place on Earth and mom was your hero? Your worst enemies were your siblings and race was about who was the fastest. War was only a card game and the only thing you knew about was cough medicine. When wearing a suit didn't make you trashy ad the only pain you felt was when you skinned your knee. And goodbye only meant until tomorrow? And we couldn't wait to grow up.

That is one quote I remember day by day. Now that I'm a month away from being an adult, I look at this quote and think how sad it is how not only me, but other people are growing up so quickly. Today in class Sal showed us a video about how the media is influencing children as young as sixteen months. They showed clips of commercials  with well-known celebrities or action figures like Spongebob or Spider Man and famous electronic games like Baby Einstein or Hooked on Phonix. This huge influence on media is honestly taking a toll on kids at such a young age. When I watched kids playing with cool products, it made me think of my own childhood and I almost felt guilty because the children there were so addicted or enthralled with their Leap Frog or whatever they had in front of them that was electronically entertaining. When I was younger, my parents never bought me anything that would suposidly "help" me in becoming smarter. They thought it was a better idea to get in touch with the outside world and actually do things in real life like swim or hang out with people that mean the most. Now, kids as young as four are so obsessed with staying inside playingtheir Xbox or Wii. I remember when people would go outside and play, and actually stay active. It's totally different now - things change and technology is growing more and more each day. Remember when the coolest thing you had was a CD player? Or you had the latest Barbie or G.I. Joe toy and every guy and girl on the block thought you were the greatest kid alive? That's al changed. If you don't have the latest cell phone or iPod, people will consider you a lower class. It's almost sickening to see what the world has come to. I can't even comprehend how sad and upset it makes me feel. I always try to encourrage my friends to go outside when it's nice out instead of staying inside, but they either want to stay and play a video game, text on their iPones, or video chat on Skype or ooVoo. (another version of Skype). So at times, I'll be alone. Whenever it's nice out, I try to go outside and enjoy the fresh air. I think the media has a big effect on children nowadays - without a doubt. Being inside feels like a requirement for them, and if their not they'll go outside and have some sort of technology with them. I wish people weren't like that, because sooner or later our generation is going to become weaker and weaker due to our strong dependancy on technology, as well as our obesity rates. If kids see something they think is good on T.V., they'll demand for their parents to get it, and if they don't have it, they'll go crazy. When a reporter said that 94% of our population has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or ADHD, it didn't really shock me, more so disappointed me. I used to have a friend who was bipolar because she had family problems and she was so attached to her iTouch. I got so tired of her and I'm glad to say we're not friends anymore, because she's someone I don't need in my life. The media can be both a good thing and a bad thing. Having nice things is great, but when a person becomes so dependant to it, then it becomes a problem.

Neglect

A few days ago in class, we had a discussion on kids/animals being neglected. While having this discussion, it made me think of one of my best friends who I've known since I was born. Her parents are divorced and barely talk to each other because the mother never found it in her heart to forgive him for what he did. My friend, on the other hand, doesn't even live with her parents because her mom pays more attention to her boyfriend than her own daughter. She lives with her best friend who goes to a different school. I feel so bad for her because she keeps telling me that all she wants is to be a family again. All she has is her best friend, me, and her older brother.  I try to help her to the best of my ability, and it seems like she's a lot happier when she's around people who care about her. When Sal showed us clips of children being neglected, it broke my heart. I was in shock seeing kids like that being taken for granted. No child should go through what two of the girls had to when they were younger. I was very upset knowing that the biological parents of the children were okay with treating their kid like this. I remember one mother said, "I'm doing the best I can", when an FBI member came to their house. Truth be told, her best wasn't good enough. I believe that all children should be loved and cared for. The more they're payed attention to, the more they'll grow a social life and become familiar with people. My friend, whose parents don't pay attention to, does have many friends, but she feels such anger and pain towards  both her biological parents and step parents, because they do nothing but act like she doesn't exists. There have been times where she would experiment with drugs, but before she was actually going to do them, I (thankfully) talked her out of it. Being neglected isn't something to be proud of. Parent's should love a child/children unconditionally. Speaking from a teenagers point of veiw, teenagers may mess things up which cause their parents to get mad at them, but we're not perfect. I hope that someday there will be enough children in the world who will recieve the love and respect they deserve.

Do Nothing

Last week, Sal assigned the class to do nothing Literally, do nothing. Weird, isn't it? Lots of people in this world are instructed to do something - especially if they're bored. I know when I'm at school in study hall and our teacher catches us not doing anything, he gets upset. He tells us to either read or do other homework. When I did my 'do nothing' assignment, I decided to go to Regal, a movie theater close to my area. I wanted to go see the Justin Bieber movie, "Never Say Never" (I know, I'm just another crazy fan girl). I had no time to see it back in February because of all the things that have been going on in my life. I was ten minutes early, so I decided to do the assignment then and there. I was inside just standing there, not really paying attention to what people thought of me. I didn't really care, anyway. I felt weird because I could feel people's eyes on me. One old couple came up to me asking me what I was doing. I replied, "nothing". and they looked at me like I was a crazy person. Satisfied with my answer, they walked away. The smell of popcorn and candy mixed together in one place really tempted me to get some food, but I had to remember about this assignment. It was so hard for me! I wasn't used to doing anything, but it gave me time to think. When the ten minutes was up, no one was paying attention to me. I bought my ticket and went to see the movie. (which by the way was very inspirational. :P)

Tuesday's with Morrie

Over the summer, my junior English teacher told my class to read a book called Tuesdays with Morrie (as displayed on the left). At first, I wasn't the least bit interested in this book, but when I got bored one day, I decided to read it. About halfway through the book, I was hooked. It was so touching. Personally, I like going outside and online, so reading this book as a first was great. For the past two or three days in class, we've been watching Tuesdays with Morrie, the movie. I thought it was heartbreaking to watch the first few scenes of the movie because I don't like watching the elderly get hurt, but as the movie progressed, I began to develop more of an interest to it. Morrie, one of the main characters, has a disease that (according to him), "melts me like a candle.  When he's diagnosed with his disease, one of his favorite college students comes and visits. His visits become more frequent. The two of them had a bond that no one can compare to. Morrie is such a special person. Even though this is just a movie, I feel like I've never met anyone like him. He doesn't care what other people think and he's not afraid to think outside the box. Throughout the movie, there are parts where he loses breath, cries, or can barely speak. It breaks Mitch's heart - more so everyone he's become close to. While watching this movie, I began thinking about my friend's mom. Me and my friend have known each other since I was seven years old and our family is very close - like family, basically. In fact, my friend's dad (and mom), were my dad's best friends. Their youngest son and I have also become very close throughout our childhood. He's one of my best friends. When I was about eight or nine, my dad told me that she was diagnosed with brain cancer. At the time, I didn't know much about this disease. All I knew is that it could severely damage your brain. That's all there was to it, I guess. The minute my family heard about this, we began spending more and more and more time with their family. Our bond with them became stronger than ever and I got to know the mom on an even more personal level. She was losing her voice and even sat in a wheelchair for about a year or two. It broke my heart to see someone so close to me be in..a cage, almost. I could see in her eyes how badly she'd want to walk, but she couldn't because the doctor said it wouldn't do her any good. At the same time, I also admired her for being so strong. She went out of her way for people and she had the most optimism out of every person I knew/became friends with. Finally, on my dad's birthday, his best friend called and said that his wife died. I was in shock. This woman was basically like a second mother to me whenever my mom wasn't around. All three kids she had were like big brothers to me. I couldn't believe she was gone. Seeing Morrie be such a strong, cheerful person reminded me of my dad's best friend because she was the exact same. I think that people fear death to a certain extent; if they're healthy, it doesn't really matter to them, but if they have a disease or get sick, then it becomes a concern. However, I don't think people need to fear death. It's a common topic discussed through life and everyone goes through it. We cry, morn, or have flashbacks about people/things we lost, but we should remember that things happen for a reason and when someone passes away, it was for the better because now they'll be able to rest in peace.

Community Service

Yesterday was another day of community service. Like always, I had a lot of fun. However, it was a special day as well. Yesterday was the last day of work for my mom's co-worker and friend, Vanessa. She was promoted to a higher floor and since the hospital was so big,me, my mom, and other co-workers wouldn't be able to see her. To celebrate, the staff had informed me there will be no bingo that evening. Instead, my mom decided to throw a going away party for her dear and loyal friend. Even though they haven't known each other for long, she (as well as I), thought it was necessary. Before the party started, I helped my mom and her other co-workers set up. The room was big and very messy, but it was fun to clean up. I love getting ready for parties. I put table cloths on the tables and put plates out when it was time to eat. For dinner, we had pansit (noodles with vegetables and meat) with chicken and rice. For desert, there was an array of sweets - brownies, cupcakes, and even a cake me and my mom brought from Dominick's that had butter cream frosting. Around 5:00-600, the guests were arriving. Everyone on my mom's floor was there. I got to mingle with adults and converse with the elderly about how much they're going to miss Vanessa. She has been at Winchester House longer than my mom and has clearly made a huge impact on everyone in the room. When the party was over, I got to help clean up the mess. Being a bus boy (or in this case, bus girl) isn't the best job in the world, but it's a start. Since I'm a neat freak, cleaning was a breeze for me. I was finished around 8:00 and came home fifteen minutes later. I loved working with both the adults and elderly. Getting the chance to meet such a remarkable person like Vanessa was also a blast because she was a fun person.

Needs & Wants

"I want this! I want that! I need that!" is often something parents hear from their kids when their younger. Some may even hear it when their kid grows up. It's a constant phrase that I believe will never get old. There are certain things that people want in life, but can't have. There are also things we need, but we don't really care for because it's not appealing. In class today, we discussed the difference between needs and wants. Needs are something that are essential in life, like food/water and wants are somethings we want, but can't have. I remember when I was about seven years old, I would watch TV almost all the time and when the commercials came on, they caught my attention. This one thing, in particular, was an Easy Bake Oven. I loved sweets. In fact, I'd have about 3-5 cavities. As soon as I saw this commercial, I begged my parents to buy me this and since I was still young, they'd give in and buy it for me. The first time I got it I wouldn't put it down. I'd made brownies and mini-cakes all in one day and I'd think of myself as a magical chef. I would keep doing this over and over for any product I found on TV that I thought was cool. By the time I was about twelve or thirteen, I looked at all the awesome stuff I bought. When me and my family moved in fourth grade, we had boxes and boxes of the things I haven't used since then. It amazed me because I then realized that not everything I bought, I needed. Just like the Easy Bake Oven, it was just there for entertainment. When I officially turned thirteen, my parents taught me the difference between a need and a want, just like today's lecture did. I've come to know that I wasn't the nicest person when it came to sharing my toys. On Halloween, when I was five, I had this cute stuffed animal that looked like a pumpkin. I would carry it around all day - even if it wasn't Halloween. When my cousin, who was two at the time, wanted to play with it, I wouldn't let him. I was greedy and my parents scold me for it. It was then and there that I knew I didn't need such a stupid thing like that. Sure, it was part of my childhood, but there's other animals I could've cuddled with. Now that I'm basically an adult, it's come to my attention that not everything I have is a need - it's just wasteful. There will be things in life that I'll want but I can't have and I'll just have to deal with it, because life isn't fair.

Subcultures

Our school is huge. I remember during my first two years here I had the hardest time finding my classes. I got lost so often, the seniors probably thought I was stupid. In fact, I didn't even know there were two buildings! But as the years progressed, I became more knowledgeable about my surroundings. Throughout my four years of high school, I've learned from movies/TV shows that these are supposed to be the best four years of your life. However, I think it's only the best four years of your life if you make it that way. When I was in 7th-8th grade, I couldn't wait to go to high school. My time in middle school wasn't exactly the best and when I found that I could have the opportunity to make new friends, it made me smile Junior high was fun - I had a few close friends, but the thought of high school excited me. From time to time, there were movies on TV that I would watch about high school. For example, the picture to my left is of "High School Musical", basically a movie of the modern "Greece". I was obsessed with this movie growing up and I thought high school was actually like this. There would be the geeks, the populars, theater kids, etc. I couldn't wait. However, on my first day of freshman year, I didn't expect the high school I was going to, to be so big! There were two buildings. Two! I was in shock. In a regular high school, you'd spot your cliques right away - in the cafeteria, especially. But not at SHS. Even now as a senior I'm unable to spot the cliques unless there's some big sports event. I do know, though, that there are many different types of clubs to be apart of. For example, I was in choir my freshman/sophomore year. It was a great feeling to become apart of something. We had our own little sayings and I made so many new friends that I still talk to now. People at school try so hard to fit in. It can be difficult at first, but once people find something they like, it'll be easy as pie to connect with friends. I've noticed that each group has their own way of doing things. As a freshman I tried my hardest to make new friends. Eventually I became closer to this one group, but they ended up being complete jerks. They did things I wasn't used to - like going out every weekend and having these 'meetings' about random stuff. I got bored with them, and eventually moved on to better people. Choir was that "better group" for me. Besides choir, there's varsity cheer, basketball, football, and more sports at this school, but you don't see the jocks mingling with the geeks or vise versa. It just wouldn't feel right. When someone leaves a group, like I did, it can be a challenge to adapt in a new environment. At the same time, it can be fun, and you can attempt new things.

Community Service

I started my community service in the middle of January. When I asked my mom about any ideas, she suggested I work at her hospital as a bingo supervisor. Since she was the clinical coordinator at Libertyville, Illinois in Winchester House, it was easy for me to get the job. On the first day, I got to call out the numbers and letters when the elderly played bingo. The room was big and most, if not all the people were nice about me starting.They welcomed me with open arms and was glad to have me aboard. I got to know most of the elderly there, but I became closer with the female portion of the room. Every Tuesday I would start at 2:30-7:00 and the same hours on the weekends. It was such a rewarding experience. I've worked with elderly before, but I never got to knew them personally like I did now. Not only do we get to play bingo, but we get to eat, too. The players get a half an hour break and are aloud to go eat/drink or socialize with other people. However, their drinking fountain is across the hall, so most of the time I'm instructed to help them walk. Some would be open to conversation and others would be reserved. I loved watching people play because it makes me feel happy. Sometimes if there weren't enough players, I would even get in. I've learned that community service is a rewarding experience and I'm lucky enough to have worked with these people. This five hour work day may seem long, but it is indeed worth the while. I knew the minute I heard about this I would want to do it and I'm glad I did. If it weren't for this experience, I wouldn't have met such sweet, amazing, kind-hearted people.

Cookie Thief

When I hear the phrase "cookie thief", I literally think of someone stealing another person's cookies. That all changed today when our class read a short poem about two people sharing cookies. It was about a girl who thought a guy at the airport was being rude by taking her share of cookies, but when she went to go and leave, she realized her bag of cookies was right where she left it and the guy was just sharing his portion. The woman thought she was being selfish and should've been a lot nicer to the man. Also in class today, we watched videos on different people and how they've made an impact on people's lives. Most of these people have disabilities and were very dependent on their wheelchair or prostetic hands or legs. This was so inspirational to watch because I could relate to what the people have been through. Growing up, I was diagnosed with a physical disability called cerebral palsy. There are two kinds - a mild kind and a severe kind. I have the mild kind, meaning I can walk, just  not as well as other people and there are some things I can and can't do. There have been times where I've been told, "you're not going far in life with that disability" or something along those lines. It's a bit of a downer to hear these kinds of things, but I've gotten used to it. I try my hardest when it comes to physical activites or sports because I know if someone else who has another disability similar to mine can, then so can I. People often say, "oh, you can't do this because of the way you walk." Well, they're wrong because people who have any kind of disability - learning or physical - they can learn to overcome it. I know I have.

A Bronx Tale

In social studies or history, whatever you've learned to call it as, people learn about racism and how it has made a huge impact on the world today. Ever since we were little kids, teachers have taught us how whites acted towards blacks. They thought they were superior in all situations. Whites would have their own section and blacks would too. It was clearly unfair. There had to be some changes. In class for the past week, we've been watching a movie called "A Bronx Tale". It's about a young man who grows up in the Bronx learning to deal with racism. Growing up, his parents taught him that African Americans were bad news. It was obvious that racism plays a huge part in this movie. Each group has their own way of doing things. Both groups had their own perspectives of one another, but when the main character interacts with someone from the opposite side, he learns that the girl isn't as different as he thought. Truth is, they were very similar, they just do things differently. I think in everyday life there still is some racism going on. We think it's stopped by now, but there could still be some people out there who are racist. I remember watching an old show on Disney channel called "That's So Raven". There was one episode were the main character, Raven, got a job at her favorite clothing store. She went through a series of tests to prove she was right for the job. She did a great job, but unfortunately didn't get the job because she was black. The second day she went into the store, she didn't realize until then that it was a "Whites only" store. The woman admitted on TV that she doesn't hire black people. I guess that's how she was raised - that's how some people today are raised. There's nothing we can do but accept it. Like "C" said in the movie, you need to learn to accept people for who they are. He had the wrong perception of a girl he truly ended up caring about. Some people think it's okay to call blacks the "N" word or any other hurtful name, but it really isn't. You're not doing anything except making a fool out of yourself. People don't need to like certain others, they just need to accept and realize that different people/different groups shape the person they end up becoming. The choices they make also influence who they are. Watching the movie, I noticed that "C"'s father and Sonny were a big influence on the person he has turned out to be. He may have grown up too fast according to his father, but he was very smart when it came to the streets. Many people feared Sonny, and they feared C, but that's only because they saw what was on the outside. Both of them were good guys, they just had different ways of showing it. So keep an open mind when you meet someone new. If you judge somebody before actually getting to know them, you may find that you have lots in common.

Groups

They say high school is supposed to be the best year of your life. People try new things, make new friends, and change - some for the worst, and some for the better. But in most high schools, there are various cliques - the populars, the jocks, goths/scene, and nerds. As shown on the picture to the left, "Mean Girls" is one of the movies I think displays in-groups and out-groups the best. In this movie, the main character, Cady, is a new student who tries going to a public high school for the first time after being home schooled almost all her life. She makes friends with both the "freaks" and "the plastics" (aka the populars). Everything is kept on the down low until a "burn book" is released to the entire school. This book had secrets about everyone and things that others never knew - probably even found shocking. After a talk with the whole junior girl class, each girl is required to apologize by playing "trust fall". If a girl's apology seemed sincere enough, you would be caught. If it didn't, you would be left on the ground. Eventually every girl was forgiven and the plastics were no more. Other groups got the chance to learn about each other and accepted each girl for who they were. All the drama that happened in the past was no more. "In class today, we got to learn about in-groups and out - groups, which instantly made me think of this movie because of how each group of girls is seperated. Mr. Sal made everyone in class go into different sides of the room - black shirts on one side and colored shirts on the other. Each person in the groups judged one another by what they were wearing. People who were wearing black were told, "It was the first thing that they could find", or "It makes you look slimmer." and people on the colored side were told "They were trying to follow the style."  Whne people are seperated into groups, they don't really pay attention to any other group except for their own. Each one only pays attention to what they see on the outside. They only see what everyone in that particular group is wearing or how they act, but they don't get the chance to get to know the people. From my personal experience, I know many groups I've wanted to become a part of, but never got the chance to because I was either too scared or didn't want to make a fool of myself. Truth is, though, everyone is the same in their own way. They just have different groups of friends or like things that others may find weird. If we all got the chance to know each other or sit down, then maybe things would be different.

Abandoned Ship

Have you ever pictured yourself, ten, twenty years from now being stranded on a desert island? Or maybe even now, being in a completely different environment - not knowing what to do? Maybe you're with a group of friends but you can only keep a certain amount. What would your roll be? Do you want to survive? I know I would. Being alone in the middle of nowhere is one thing - scary, mind blowing - what have you. However, when you're with a group of people, it can ease your nerves just a bit because then you know you're not alone. How would you survive? On Friday, the class did an activity in preparation for "Abandoned Ship". There were sixteen people selected out of twenty - eight students. Of those sixteen, each one had a role. There were two people (in my opinion) who stood out the most - the poet and captain. Although I wasn't involved in this activity, I was observing everything each person did. Each person acted differently toward this situation. The poet and captain took charge and stated their role. Most people would've thought right away to get rid of the poet, but since she stated that she was in the navy, they decided to keep her. However, most of the people who got eliminated were of old age or people who thought wouldn't make good use. In today's world, there's constant judging, both on physical appearance and what that person has to offer. For example, there was a football player on the boat. Passengers immediately thought to get rid of him because he was just some big guy with no intellect to give to the group. Everywhere nowadays - high school or work - people are constantly being judged on how they look or how they do things. If they don't do something the way the other person wants it, then they're wrong. But what most people don't look at is what's on the inside. There is more than meets the eye. Someone who may appear to be muscular and tough could turn out to be someone who is smart and outgoing. I think people should become more open minded and look at what people have to give. We don't pay attention to what people are like on the inside because all we see is how they act on the outside, when in reality, they could be completely different. Getting to know someone is key when starting a relationship of any kind, and if people got the chance to do that in the class activity (in a more calm manner), then things would've turned out a little more smoothly.

Community Service

Ever since middle school, students have learned about community service. Teachers, parents, or any other type of authority figure have said they encourage it or think it's a good idea. On Wednesday in class, we were given different places to go. Some places included soup kitchens, G.I.V.E, nursing homes, etc. Every Sunday when I was in 8th grade, I would go to Sunday school. In order to receive conformation, we had to do at least four hours of community service. Since our class was big, we were split into groups of four and each group was given a place to go. My group had to go to a nursing home in Libertyville. We could serve ice cream or help with bingo out in the lobby. I got to serve ice cream and spend time with some elderly at the home. It was a lot of fun. Most of the elderly were nice and had an open mind while some others were bitter and thought it was a bad idea to get to know them. Not only did I get to know the elderly, but the staff were pretty nice too. Whenever we needed something, they did whatever it took to make us comfortable. I would definitely do it again because I love getting to know people. However, now that I'm a little older, I've found some other community service to do, which is at my mom's work, Winchester Hospital. Next week, I will be monitoring bingo every Tuesday and Wednesday night at 6:30. It will be for about an hour or two and my mom says the people there are very sweet, so I'm really excited. I like trying new things, so this will be a good experience for me. Doing community service is such a rewarding experience, and the fact that so many people are willing to do it is amazing. When doing community service, you're applying sociology to your life. How? In sociology, we also talked about having a sociological mind and imagination. When someone does community service, they're experiencing things they never have before, or it's something they have done before but find it fun. It's about keeping an open mind and seeing all the options community service has. You get to see things in a different perspective. Like for example, if you volunteer at some type of soup kitchen or some type of nursing home, you'd realize how good we have it. People take a ton of things for granted - money, clothes, etc. But what would happen if all the things we had, all the things we love, suddenly just disappear? How would we feel then? I've learned to be thankful for what we have and help those in need. Some people would kill for what we have, and just looking through their point of view is something we should do on a daily basis. Think about other people before you say, 'I wish I didn't have this!' ..or something along those lines.

Sociological Imagination

Many people are said to 'dream big' or have some sort of imagination. Recently, Mr. Sal told us to read an article on having a sociological imagination. This could mean a ton of different things. In my opinion, it means to think positively. It's important to have a sociological imagination just so that people can accept others for their ideas and who they are. Sociological imagination means taking a step back and realizing what and who is important in your life. In class when we were addressed this question, I thought about having this kind of imagination meant being different, but at the same time being thankful for what we have.

In life, we grow older. As we grow older, there are things and people we need and don't need. Now, as a senior in high school, there are many things I need but can't have. There are also other things that we have, but take for granted. When having a sociological imagination, you are able to analyze situations and people more carefully. You can become more wise and learn that not every one is like you. I have learned that the hard way over the years due to friends, so now that I have taken this course, I know that having an imagination such as this can be very beneficial - I've learned to accept things and people for who and what they are. It doesn't matter if they're different, it just makes them unique.

Silence

"Silence is golden", is such a famous quote. Sometimes, people say silence is the loudest type of noise. Dictionary.com defines silence as, "forbearance from speech or noise : muteness —often used interjectionally". What's unique about sociology and silence is that people are often brainwashed. On the first day of class, I remember when Mr. Sal sat in the back of the room like it was no big deal. Everyone turned to face his direction expecting him to talk. Some people tried filling the silence by saying "hi" or "what's up?" then there was giggling. This shows that students expect the teachers to lecture about something and stand in the front of the room.  We have been trained, ever since the first grade, to let the teacher do all the talking. Not everyone is used to taking charge or teaching the class itself. Silence is silence, but it can only be awkward if you make it out to be.

Who Am I?

There are many things and people who make me the person I am today. For starters, my parents are my biggest heros. I admire my mom especially because of everything she's been through. Her being so strong for such a long period of time makes me look up to her even more. My dad is another person who makes me who I am because he always tells me to do the best I can regardless of any situation. The fact that he works such long hours everyday shows how dedicated he is when it comes to keeping our family together. Aside from my family, my friends are also big contributers in making me who I am. They are the type of people who will always be there for me and make me smile no matter what. Some of my hobbies, such as swimming, dancing, singing, and bowling make me more active. I love spending time outside or doing any activity that requires movement. I'm a hard worker who tries to look at the brighter side of things. I love making people smile and spending time with the ones I love.