Some Lessons from the Assembly Line

The experience and insight Andrew Braaksma gained through working at the factory, was seeing what his life would be like if he wasn't going to college. He worked there to pay for living expenses, but going to school was the main priority in his life. After a 12 hour shift at the factory, he was inevitably happy to return home to his dorms . Even though he had only worked 2 months out of the year, compared to his co-workers who have been there for years, he was thankful that he was fortunate enough to be getting the education he was. I have never had a job before, but like Braaksma, I am fortunate enough to go to college and receive a great education in the field I want to pursue.

Going to college wasn't even an option for me throughout high school. The idea of going to school an extra four years didn't sound too appealing to me. Nothing interested me, and I didn't want to do just anything. But when I changed schools, I began to reconsider the thought. After laying in my bed all Saturday and thinking about what I could really see myself doing for the rest of my life, I decided that I was going to go to school to study film and learn more about the movie making business.

I heard of a terrific art school, and decided to give it a chance. When I arrived to The Art Institute I was excited and nervous. More of nervous about hearing the overall price for my education. That would be the only thing to prevent me into getting into the school. I walked apprehensively into Courtney Amos's vibrant office and took my seat. The calmness and reassurance in her voice assured me that me getting this type of education was possible. Needless to say, I am very happy that I have a plan, and I'm doing something that I love for the first time in my life. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to pay for my education, which is ultimately going to pay off in the end.

Pressure

   At a young age Hughes felt the pressure from his aunt and fellow church members to be saved by God. His aunt had always told him joyful experiences about being saved, claiming that he would have a major interaction with Jesus. When he was called down he did not feel or see any of the things his aunt previously told him, and  want to go in front of everyone and lie about being saved. He ultimately went down because of the preacher repeatedly asking him, “ "Why don't you come? My dear child, why don't you come to Jesus? Jesus is waiting for you. He wants you. Why don't you come?, and shamefully holding up the church. The pressure of everyone got to him, and he felt terrible in the end for lying to everyone. I can relate to feeling pressured of doing something that I had doubts about, in order to please my family.


        I was in sixth grade, the year was coming to an end at Bidwell Elementary. Our graduation ceremony practice was coming up soon, but I ultimately  could not wait to walk across the stage, and see my family in the crowd, cheering me on to the next stage of my life. Roughly 56 students crowed into the stuffy, hot cafeteria, ready to practice what we were supposed to do for the ceremony. The teachers proudly announced that if anyone wanted to give a speech for their class that they could, and that the essay was to be due in a week. I instantly knew that I was going to be 1 of the 2 speakers giving their class speech. I ran home that day and told my dad about the essay. He encouraged me to do it, saying that it would be a memorable experience for my family to see and a good accomplishment, so  I went to my room, sat  down, and wrote my speech out in 45 minutes while listening to”Carry on my Wayward Son” by Kansas. I then memorized it in a day. My peers, teachers, and family loved my speech. The Principal Mrs. Wardwick. picked me and a close friend of mine Ruby, to be the class speakers. I felt accomplished, and was content with  my family being proud of me as well. The days were drawing in on graduation, and I began have second thoughts about speaking at my graduation. The thought of me walking on stage and speaking to not only my peers, my my peer's families as well scared me. I had never gave a speech before, so I was absolutely mortified. But then I remembered my dads smile, and how happy he was when I told him the good news, and how excited the rest of  my family was. The last thing I wanted to do was take that happiness away from them. The pressure of making my family happy ultimately drove me to overcome my fear of public speaking, and it wasn't as horrible as I thought. During my speech I stared at a Britney Spears “Got Milk” poster ad on the wall of the cafeteria. Seeing her white mustache, and silly look on her face somehow calmed me down. Britney got me through that hardship definitely.

"Cell Phones and Social Graces"

I personally understand Charles Fisher’s outlook on cellular devices because I have encountered people who were being inconsiderate while using their cell phone in a social setting. Fisher believes that the abuse of cell phone usage is causing people to miss out on more important things, like human interaction, and just having the common courtesy towards others. Last Thursday, I encountered someone at Win-Co who was in the line, chatting away on their cellphone.

Very few lines were open, and their were a lot of people waiting in line to pay for their groceries. I noticed a young woman in her early twenties in front of me, talking really loud on her cell phone about her personal life. Not only was she being inconsiderate to the cashier and her surroundings, but she was holding up the line by talking on her phone, instead of bagging her food. To make the situation worse she had a ton of groceries, and when the cashier told the lady her total amount due, she simply said, "Hold on, Give me a second." All I was thinking was man, this lady has some nerve! After quickly finishing up her conversation, she gave the cashier her money, started to bag her food, and proceed to take out her cell phone out once again. I think that this is a perfect example of how someone's cell phone usage in public can be inconsiderate and rude. People should pay more attention to their surroundings, and choose more appropriate times to use their cell phone in public.

Darkness at Noon.

   Harold Krents' article, "Darkness at Noon", primarily adresses behavioral and social issues that disabled individuals inquire. He uses personal experiences throughout his life showing how people have treated him differently and under estimated him, specifically when he had applied to forty-six law firms only to get rejected "not based on my ability but rather on my disability." I agree with his conclusion, just to be viewed as every "normal" person. When I was about 14 my dad started to let me express my love for body modifications.

  I have always loved body modifications. In my eyes it is just another art, and you're expressing yourself freely. When I started getting tattoos and piercings, I didn't really think about the diffrent obstacles I would have to face having them. There came a time when I started looking for my first job. Since I didn't have any job experience, I went to a few of my  friends to get some helpful tips before applying. They told me everything that I needed to know, and then I faintly remeber one of my friends Alicia saying, "Biggest thing of all, take out your piercings and cover up your tattoos." I was in complete disbilief, the thought of either horrified me, asking me to do that was like saying "Hey Brianna, you should be ahamed of yourself." I don't ever want to be anything other than me, and just because I may partake in body art does not mean I'm uneducated or unskilled, it just means I love art. I understand now  that you have to look a certain for specific fields, and I accept that. But very much look forward to the day when I become a writer /director, therfore I will never have to worry about putting red lipstick and C6 cover-up on my knuckles and chest before I have go into a job for a interview.

"So What's So Bad About Being So-So?"

      Lisa Wilson Strick's purpose in writing "So What's So Bad About Being So-So?" was so illustrate how people focus on competing with each other, being the best at everything, rather than just doing something for fun . She uses personal experiences with her son, and friends as examples to show just how competitive people can be. Strick also relates how competitive nature affects kids in a negative way, not allowing the kids to be kids, but to be "perfect" at their skill our just everything in general. I agree with her viewpoint, as people we many not want to take up new activities or skills, because we are afraid that we won't be good at it, when in actuality we should do something for the fun of it. I have felt the pressure of wanting to be a great cello player.

      When I was in 8th grade I decided to do something totally out of my element, taking up a Orchestra class to learn how to play the cello . I had always loved music and I wanted  to be in some type of music program at my school. Everyone in my class of course had tons of experience with their violas, violins, and cellos, and was really good at their instruments. That was all  I could think about was being good at it versus "I love music this is going to be fun!" Somethings I didn't understand, like reading the music, but luckily I had nice classmates who more than willing to help me out. After a month of learning all of the diffrent strings, learning how to ready the music, and practicing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" over and over again, I had to play with my Orchestra class in the cafeteria for Back To School Night. I was barely getting used to playing the cello, and this was too soon for me. Not to mention I get really nervous on a stage in front of a audience. I remember telling my dad how bad I was going to suck, and he gave me the greatest advice ever, "Just have fun, and don't worry." At the time I was thinking wow is that all you can say? But I went onto the stage, took my place, and set my bow on my strings ready to play. I blocked the audience out, and just played my heart out. I wasn't nervous or afraid of messing up, I was just happy my dad could see me play.

Stuff Is Not Salvation

I think that Anna Quindlen's purpose in writing " Stuff is Not Salvation" was to show that some people now a days are   very concerned with materialistic things, that aren't what they need, but more so of what they want. Her solution to out-of-control consumption was to just live life comfortably in our homes with our families with things that are needed, instead of over indulging. I agree with her, people have lost track of what's really important today. I think people rely on materials to make them happy, and we need to be happy with the things that matter the most such as family and friends.
I once had a friend who like any other girl loved to shop, all the time. She always wanted a new dress, or shirt, or new hat. I mean personally I love clothes, but I'm not going to spent every dollar I get on cotton or spandex. I never understood why she spent so much on things everyday that she would most likely not even wear, or get tired of. Her out of control spending on clothes would always cause little fights between her and her parents, and she wasn't getting the message that they were trying to tell her, so one day I decided to give it a try. It was just like any other day, she picked me up, and we're about to go shopping and that's when I told her, "You don't need a whole bunch of junk to make you happy and/or feel beautiful, be concerned with your needs and not your wants." I thought she was going to be upset that called her clothes junk, but she wasn't. She just nodded and smiled, and drove out of the mall parking lot. We went to the park after leaving from the mall, and then we went on a bike ride. 

Cheeks

Amy's purpose in writing "Fish Cheeks" was to show that we shouldn't be ashamed of who we are, and where we have come from. The insight she gained through looking back on this childhood experience was that she can embrace American culture, but she should never be embarrassed of her Chinese heritage. Everyone in their own way can relate to feeling a little diffrent from others, and not know exactly what to do about it. I personally understand Amy's purpose because throughout high school I was always looked at funny because of my appearance.

I remember very vividly like it was yesterday when I started attending Hiram Johnson back in '07.Walking into my first class was the worst, everyone just stared at me like I was E.T.'s sister. I've always have been slightly diffrent from my peers. Listening to diffrent styles of music, getting tattoo's and piercings, and dressing diffrent. All of this added up to weird looks, and "What the hell is she listening to?", or "Why are her ears that big, she ain't African!" Going through this everyday upset me, but then I learned I'm not going to be ashamed of who I am or be bothered with what people may think of me, and if someone thinks I'm weird, because I look diffrent than them so be it. Just like Amy, I realized that I just needed to be myself, and embrace being diffrent from others, not ashamed.