Internship Readiness

Some of the qualities of someone who is internship ready are being respectful, positive, and dependable. You also must have good time management, be helpful toward others, be willing to take on new tasks, have good teamwork, have good leadership skills, be comfortable speaking in front of people, have great SLANT, and strive for the best instead of settling.

This module, I want to have better time management, enhance my code switching, and start striving for the best I can do instead of settling. I also want to improve my SLANT. To accomplish these, I will need to stop procrastinating, continue to work on my professional speaking skills, and push toward better work.

As far as energy, attitude, and organizational skills, I feel I must continue to keep up my energy and positive attitude the way it was when I first began the program.   I need to work on my organizational skills a little more, though it has gotten better. Lastly, I need to work on continuing to push forward instead of holding myself back when I make mistakes.

The Goods and Bads of My Job

The current job that I work for is the only job I had. Some of the responsibilities I had that was enjoyable were doing customer service, back stocking clothes, loading and shipping boxes, and some experience of doing cashier. Some of the responsibilities I had that I did not care for were breaking down boxes and taking out trash, refilling clothes on the sales floor, and handling the fitting room. What made the job enjoyable was working with my colleagues, and interacting with customers. What I did not enjoy was working with my head manager, and working on days when there were not a lot of customers because I would just have to sit there or act like I was fixing clothes that were already fixed. Talking with my head manager is very stressful due to the fact that she always has a lot to say. Even the simplest conversations or questions that require succinct statements end up being carried on for up to thirty minutes of my work time. Skills I developed from working there that will be useful in my internship are being reliable because anytime my managers needed me; they always knew they could call me in or ask me to stop what I was doing on the sales floor and help. Another is being respectful, which was a huge issue for me coming into that job but overtime, I developed it. From my job, I learned that the best thing I can do is just listen and follow what my managers had to say instead of trying to argue or find problems with every issue or piece of feedback or job that was given to me.

The Occupy Movement

Honestly, I don't really understand the occupy movement, so I cant make a good connection. What I see in both is that lower class people are struggling and trying to make a stand because they don't feel they are being treated fair. At the same time, the upper class are just ignoring what issues are being raised by the lower class, and moving on with trying to build over the problem. The people sleeping in the bank vault remind me of the people camping in Oakland. To me, it connects because both parties are being allowed to sleep in areas they're not supposed to be in. I think they were allowed to be there because they are both standing for something that obviously needed to be addressed. If the lower class doesn't stand up for themselves, they will continue to be treated unfairly, more people will lose assetts, and we will have a repeat of the great depression.

My Inspiration

One person that inspires me is Jazmine Sullivan. Her voice is uplifting to me, and pushes me to want to become a better singer. I feel we have the same singing style; which is R & B with a sort of jazz feel.  She also likes to give more creation to her songs by adding in riffs, runs, and half notes. Every time I heat her sing I feel an overwhelming burst of excitement through my body that causes me too yell out encouraging phrases or join in by creating a harmony. I also like to repeat notes or runs that stand out to me so I can practice and enhance my singing abilities. She recently let go of her singing career for the moment which upset a lot of people; that’s how I know I wasn’t the only person inspired by her work and creativity. My best friend is also inspired by her. We both listen and pick off of each other what we learned from her. I love the control she has with her voice and her range. I love how she can send chills through your body and make people scream and shout for more. In my opinion, she has one of those voices that make you sit back and really think about the meaning she tries to create behind her songs. I believe she is always going to be an inspiration in my life. Her singing is going to help me push forward and become the great singer I know I can be. Even if I don’t continue singing; her music inspires me to the point where I feel like I can do or be anything I want if I put my mind to it. It makes me feel like I can do better even when I feel like I am doing the best I can.

Community Essay

-members of my community range from kids from where ever between the ages of 7 - 17. we also let 5 & 6 year olds
-we all treat each other like family and look out for each other
-our membership is a choice. no one is forced 9 (unless by their parents), no one is getting paid to be there
-we work to give a good name for our city. our main aspect is running but we also host talent shows, we sell candy, we had a prom for our kids around the neighborhood, we help post signs around neighborhoods for city election candidates
-we have expectations for our runners as far as making sure their doing well in school, we hold study halls and you are removed from the team if we feel like we are getting in the way of your schooling or just not taking care of school priorities

Self Reflection For Module 1

PLUS

• I participated actively 
• I put great thought and work into my blogposts
• I helped others with assignments and gave reminders to turn in homework
• I turned in my homework on time 

DELTA

• I need to work on using correct sentences
• I need to work on improving my test scores 
• I need to limit my out bursts to a proper minimum

+ I am proud that I would stay up late completing assignments for this class, pick up on the material taught in class, and be happy to participate in class.
- I need to work on how loud I can be at times when i get excited, and also the way I express my negative views in certain situations

My Neighborhoods Impact On Me

My original neighborhood that I grew up in was the neighborhood that made me who I am today. This neighborhood was made up of middle to upper class elderly retired African Americans.  We all looked after each other and were considered family. I could go to any adult in my neighborhood for advice, discipline, or even gifts and treats, like candy and clothes. They brought us up installing in us respect, knowledge, and responsibility. When people around us visited us they would ask questions like “what area is this?”, or “why are you guy’s houses so big? Honestly, I was privileged and blessed with the resources I wanted and needed to become the intelligent, respectful, talented, and gifted young man I am today. We had limited amounts of negativity in our neighborhood and I wasn’t exposed to the worse aspects of life in our neighborhood, such as drugs, fighting, guns, etc. until I was older. I wasn’t a part of it, but I was aware of it. There weren’t that many kids in my neighborhood for me to hang around and I was an adventurous person. The kids I chose to hang around were a part of the reason I have to still work on my speech and level of professionalism today. Over my years of living there, neighbors were moving out a lot and being replaced by Latino's. Now I have relocated out of that neighborhood but carry everything I learned from it everywhere I go. Thinking back on my neighborhood and comparing it to the way I know some of my friends and family were brought up in their neighborhoods; I feel that I was privileged and blessed. I received and seen in my twenty years of living more things than a lot of people over fifty dreamed of seeing. With that said I thank god and my parents for the wonderful young man here before you today.

The Poverty Business Reflections

Companies all over the world use advertisement as a way to bring in individuals by making them think that they must have this fancy car or must have the other overly expensive products they decide to sell. In my opinion, I think it affects the opportunity divide because it shows that they are just finding ways to take money away from low wage without thinking about what it could do for their future. In their eyes, the fact that you have less means that you want more and is more than likely willing to do anything to get it, so instead of working with you to get what you want and take care of what they need, they cover up the big picture of what kind of problems this can create for you later with the thought of what ephemeral happiness you will have in the present before you realize what’s going on. By then it’s too late and the dreams you had with this fantasy object are deferred. They are not at all concerned with what’s going on in your personal but only how you plan to continue to pay the debt you've created for yourself. They all along were only after money and knew that less fortunate individuals would more than likely fall short of the plan to enhance their company’s growth. I believe that these behaviors do create a unnecessary separation between them and their customers.

I believe everyone plays a part in getting rid of this issue. These companies don't have to do what they are doing too these people and it is wrong one their part most of the time, but at the same time, these people aren't being forced to buy these items. These are grown men and women who should know whether or not the items they choose to buy are beneficial toward them and whether it could affect them negatively or positively. It starts with them and their mindset on how they choose to go about these particular situations.

I Am

Respect, honesty, and loyalty are three main words that represent me. I respect everyone I come across no matter how well I know them, I let people know exactly what I think or how I feel without coming across as inappropriate, and I am always known as someone who can be relied on in a personal or work related setting. I am always there in the time of need with words of encouragement. I was always and will always be an individual with a mindset that I can do anything I put my mind to and that nothing can stand in my way.  I believe I have way more knowledge then I am aware of and I am discovering that every day.  I in my opinion am very influential toward a lot of people in my learning community.  I also have a way of motivating people to want to strive more and push their selves harder. I am an artist. I love to sing and listen to others that are able to. Hearing someone sing makes me feel warm inside and gives me other exciting bottled up emotions I can’t explain which my form of motivation is. Another form of motivation is my family. With how close we are and how we push each other to do better I can’t see myself without them.

Current Events: Protesting Hospitals

Apparently today, nurses, National Union of Health care Workers, sympathy workers, and patients are protesting local hospitals around the bay area such as Kaiser and even Alta bay campus, due to their disagreement on staffing cuts, long wait times, and issues surrounding quality of patient care. Some are also upset that Kaiser is trying to cut NUHW pension benefits on the heels of lowering the early retirement age for its doctors.  There are over one hundred protesters at each location but at the same time, there are private security workers dressed in uniforms and suits monitoring the parking lot that separates all of the protesters from the medical facility. In my personal opinion, I do feel that line waits in the hospitals are too long for simple tasks such as making appointments or picking up prescriptions.  As far as health issues, citizens have a rite to get upset if they don’t feel like they are getting the proper care they need especially if they have all there information and resources together that ensures them that they are supposed to receive that care. Personally I am not sure if the staff cuts are going to affect me because I think that Kaiser should know if they need all the workers they have and if they don’t need them, then they should have a right to let them go. Keeping unneeded workers is a waste of money in which that money could go toward something more useful in these hospitals. Hopefully the important issues are looked at and put into consideration and something good comes from this experience.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/bay-area-news/ci_18952700

High School Days

In my opinion, being at El Cerrito High was a great experience as far as having a great time in high school. I was around friends that wanted to see me succeed and every student I knew was active and had their own unique personality. With whom I was and how I was as far as my attitude in school, I would say I was known all around the school by a significant amount of students from each graduation class in or undermine. There were many groups as far as hanging out around school.  There were those who played sports and they were split into which ever sport they participated in. There were those who considered themselves above everyone, the band geeks, the computer kids, the rowdy kids, the nerds, etc. Then there were those like me who just hung out with whoever they felt comfortable at the time. Learning wise, I think it depended on how much work you were willing to put out which were the students who succeeded successfully. I didn't take my schooling seriously and our teachers were the type to only help you if you were willing to learn.

Blog Post #1

According to my peers and family, the way I speak is described as outgoing, free spirited, and I speak with truth and honesty. Some might describe it as always speaking my mind. I feel my way of speaking comes from both my parents who are also outspoken and outgoing. Sometimes my way of speaking comes across to others as rude, or in unprofessional terms (ghetto). To others it is considered friendly and trust worthy to an extent. In some ways people say I have a smart mouth but it’s described to say that I know how to speak according to where I am or who I am around. My personality is most of the time described through my words. Most of the time I always incorporate something funny into what I choose to say as far as sentence wise. With my way of speaking, I try to make sure there is never a dull moment with what I say and that whoever hears it remembers it. I have realized that people do actually listen to me and take notes on what I say and or do so I try to monitor my actions and words so I do not send out the wrong impression. The biggest group that I inspire that I am aware of is my youth track team and I am very proud to be an inspiration.