Focusing the Lasers response

              Coming into Chabot I didn’t really have an idea of what I wanted to major in, so I consider myself to be a explorer. The explorer is the perfect term used to define this type of person because they really have no clear idea of what they want to do for the rest of there life. This decision is not an easy one either. How can you decide what you want do as a career. The benefits of being an explorer student is that you are open to most career fields. Every day you are changing and trying different things and at the end of it you will find something that ignites your passion. Only will you feel content with yourself if you find something that interests you in studying. The problem with IGETC and other requirements like it is that they are too broad.  If there was a way you could actually experience a field hands on, it can greatly increase your motivation for perusing that major. Community colleges have many incoming students that don’t have any idea what their passion is so they look for the college to help them into a field. This is not that case though; rather when students finish their General Ed they are more confused.

           

                Being that I am an explorer I would like to change categorizes. It takes too much time in a community college to go from explore to a laser. If you are a laser coming into community college, this institution can greatly benefit you in so many ways. I believe the difference between explores and lasers are that the lasers have more clarity in what they want to do. The lasers know exactly what they want to do, how to get there, and where to transfer. This clarity needs to be taught in students very early on so they don’t waste time. The fact that most people say they will transfer out in two years is a joke. The competiveness of registering classes kills the momentum of trying new things. Most peoples don’t even get to experience each and every trade because all of the classes are taken up. This experience leaves a explorer student always exploring. 

Define success

  How do you define success?

 One definition of success is feeling content with yourself in the workplace. Most people as kids dream to be one thing but as they get older those dreams get crushed, so they end up in a poor work environment and they hate what they do.  When waking up everyday the feeling of going to work should be exciting. It is those people who thrive and feel successful when they enjoy what they do for a living. It is not the paycheck that is reward but the craft someone truly is passionate about. Furthermore, when Chris is working his manager says,” Alex, I don't mean to be on you about everything. You're doing a great job. I wanna keep you on and we all wanna help you get to Alaska, but you've got to start wearing socks”. Since this job for him was just for the time being so he can get to Alaska it didn’t bother him too much. For those people who are continually harassed by their bosses it is frustrating and it dehumanizes the person. Being that the person hates there job has always compounded into other areas, which makes them hate the life they are living. It is going through the motions day in and day out that eats a person from the inside out. Success comes from how you feel when you are at work rather than satisfying the social acceptance of having a high paying job.

            Another definition for success is being able to achieve what goals you have set. There is not greater satisfaction than finally achieve what you have worked so hard for. The challenges you face in the road toward your goal are going to make success feel that much better. It is failures that shape how magnified your success will feel. Those who attain a certain goal without any hard work and struggle behind don’t feel like they have won, rather you feel worse. When Alex was eating with his parents, they said,” Since you graduated college, why don’t we buy you a new car. No I’m fine with the one I have.”  He was content with the car he had even though it wasn’t the greatest car. Those don’t work hard for what they want will never actually value the material good they have, for them it’s something mom and dad gave me. It’s the struggle that changes how you view your achievements; it will give you so much pride.

What helps you succeed in your community? What prevents your success?

                   One reason that helps me succeed in my community is the friends you keep. The biggest influence on your life besides your parents are you friends. Most people are peer pressured into good or bad things. You don’t want to be the person who doesn’t agree to do something when the rest are going with it. It’s the company you keep that your success is greatly based on. Those that are doing the right thing help guide you into doing the same thus increasing your chances of being successful. The people Chris met on the road had the same ideas as Chris. The people who he met on his voyage to Alaska actually fueled his fire to get there. Many encouraged him instead of putting him down. 

                   The biggest factor for me in trying to succeed throughout college is my culture. Being that I am the first to go to college in my family education doesn’t have such a big weight on it as getting a job and helping out the family. I can understand where my parents are coming from being that in a time of recession. I am the first generation to be born here in America, which plays a huge role in how much support I get.  Being able to have support from your family can greatly increase success. Only I know the importance of having an education after college so I have to self motivate myself to not give up. On the other hand my little brother gets all his support from me. I think it is the support system that it is set up for you that will have big impacts in your success. 

Response to Andrade Video

The top 1% doesn’t have to worry about their kids struggling in class because they have the resources (money) to get the proper help. The privileged take it for granted that they have less stress than the society living in the ghetto. Thus the kids going to school with more money get into the better universities. Students in poverty worry about greater things than what they learn in school. Their needs to be a radical change in the way education systems are funded throughout the state; it is not fair that funding is dependent on test scores. Those who control funding need to take into consideration what kind of environment the school is surrounded by and how one school should get more than the other. Colleges and other institutes are not equally giving everyone a equal chance in letting people into there school. How can someone prepare to take the SAT when they don’t have the money to pay for expensive prep programs?  On the other hand wealthy communities have an upper hand on being able to provide all the support needed to achieve higher scores. Schools that have “smarter” students are over represented in society. 

1.     How is SAT’s equal thing for measuring then?

2.     Should there be a different way of funding?

3.     How can teachers shape their way of teaching toward different groups of students?