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.