No goal or dream is impossible you just have to take things one step and at time, and organize and plan ahead.
After reading all my blog entries I feel amazed. I know that I have come along way this semester. Everyday I feel so much closer to achieving my goal. I feel that I have grown a lot this semester because I was able to manage my time very well. And what I find most shocking is that I took 16 credit hours this semester and I feel like this is the best semester ever. I have a feeling that I am close to getting all A’s in all my classes. This semester was very busy and hectic for me. I volunteered to baby-sit a friend’s daughter this entire semester every morning I had to wake up at 6:50 am and get to her house at 7am (she lives very close to me). I took the little girl to school at noon every day and then managed to get to school at 12:30 this gave me enough time to work on homework and study since most of my classes start at 5pm.
I feel like my thinking has changed in that I feel like anything is possible now if you work hard, plan ahead and organize your time. I know that a lot of people like to make excuses for themselves and come up with a million and one reasons why they can’t do something. I’ll admit that I used to be one of those people. I no longer feel this way after doing so well this semester, I know that I have what it takes to succeed and go far in life. Nothing in life comes easy and if you really want something you’ll find a way to achieve it and not make excuses for yourself. .
The types of activities and behaviors that I have engaged in this semester is making time to do the things I enjoy doing. For instance I made time to read more and write. I also made more time to spend with family and friends. Most importantly I have managed to stay organized and manage my time very well. I do not feel like I rush through things or wait for the last minute to do things. I really hate working under pressure and avoid postponing things until the last minute.
The three things I liked best about the class were the following:
1.The readings Barbara Shers, Wishcraft and Bell Hooks, All about my Love
2.I enjoying the assignments that made us do things we really like to do as young adults or childhood
3.I enjoyed the movies and documentaries we watched and the class discussions
The three things I liked least about the class
1.I did not like reading the Komives book
2.Initially I did not like the role model interviews. I just felt that it was not enough time to find an interviewee because most people have very busy schedules (but after one successful interview I changed my mind about that)
3.After a while I got sick of sharing my dream and telling my success team where I was and where I needed help. I just found it very redundant.
Three things to improve Leadership For Change
1. Bring in more guest speakers
2. More good movies/documentaries with good class discussions!
3. Help students network more….
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Assignment #13 Work The Plan
Exercise #1
My next step this week was to complete my student teaching application and take the OPI exam. I am glad to say that I completed both and feel great. I feel much better now that I got my student teaching application done. I finished all four essays and my resume looks great. I said I was going to make an appointment at the writing center so that they could look over my essays and resume and I did. I took the OPI exam yesterday at 3:30pm and I know I did an awesome job!
Exercise #2
I held my next business meeting with my boyfriend. He continued to help me with my essays and resume. We discussed our next steps for this week. He has a lot of calculus and physics homework. So he's going to be busy doing that as well as studying for his final exams. I completed my SPED 410 project today and feel so relieved that it's out of the way. Now my focus turns to meeting with Inma to submit my student teaching application on Thursday. I also have to work on another major group final project due for my EPSY 446 class May 7th. We have to create a charter school so that's a lot of work and time that will be spent on that. I also have a presentation for my Span 449 class Monday so I'm going to be busy this weekend working on that assignment.
Exercise #3
So I realize that we have two more weeks left in the semester almost done!!! But I still have a couple of major assignments due before I can celebrate and say that I successfully completed the semester. My Sunday meeting with myself consisted of me writing done the tasks I have to complete before the semester is over. I planned and organized my time so that I have time slots in which I will dedicate time to working on each of those assignments that are due. I realize that time management is important, because there is no worse feeling then working under pressure and feeling frustrated. I want to finish off the semester strong and know I will because I have been working really hard to achieve my goals.
My next step this week was to complete my student teaching application and take the OPI exam. I am glad to say that I completed both and feel great. I feel much better now that I got my student teaching application done. I finished all four essays and my resume looks great. I said I was going to make an appointment at the writing center so that they could look over my essays and resume and I did. I took the OPI exam yesterday at 3:30pm and I know I did an awesome job!
Exercise #2
I held my next business meeting with my boyfriend. He continued to help me with my essays and resume. We discussed our next steps for this week. He has a lot of calculus and physics homework. So he's going to be busy doing that as well as studying for his final exams. I completed my SPED 410 project today and feel so relieved that it's out of the way. Now my focus turns to meeting with Inma to submit my student teaching application on Thursday. I also have to work on another major group final project due for my EPSY 446 class May 7th. We have to create a charter school so that's a lot of work and time that will be spent on that. I also have a presentation for my Span 449 class Monday so I'm going to be busy this weekend working on that assignment.
Exercise #3
So I realize that we have two more weeks left in the semester almost done!!! But I still have a couple of major assignments due before I can celebrate and say that I successfully completed the semester. My Sunday meeting with myself consisted of me writing done the tasks I have to complete before the semester is over. I planned and organized my time so that I have time slots in which I will dedicate time to working on each of those assignments that are due. I realize that time management is important, because there is no worse feeling then working under pressure and feeling frustrated. I want to finish off the semester strong and know I will because I have been working really hard to achieve my goals.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Assignment #12 The Buddy System
As I stated in my previous blog I started working on my student teaching application. I was actually under the impression that it was due May 1st it is for the CTE but the teaching of Spanish Dept wants us to have it completed by April 23rd this means that I have less to time to complete it. I will submit my student teaching application April 23 at 1:30pm it will be reviewed by the director of the teaching of Spanish dept. they just want to make sure we have everything completed. I also have to come up with a list of twelve schools where I would like to do my student teaching. I have about four schools in mind so I need to think about that too. I am almost done writing the four essays. My resume needs some editing. My plan is to make an appointment with the writing center this week so they can take a look at my essays and resume. I was supposed to take the OPI exam today but I had to reschedule so I will definitely take it next week Monday April 20th.
I have so many papers and projects due I just want the semester to be over! I can’t wait until May 7th. I am also working on a project for my EPSY 446 class we have to create our own charter school it’s a lot of work. I’m trying to take everything one step at a time so that I don’t get overwhelmed. Today I’m supposed to be meeting with another partner we’re working on modifying and critiquing a lesson plan it’s for another education course I’m taking this semester.
I found a buddy for my buddy system and it wasn’t difficult to find one. I asked my boyfriend to be my buddy he agreed to do it. Besides I always talked to him about this class and how the objective was for us to reach our goals. I told him how much I liked the class and every week he’d inquire about the class the readings and how far along I was with my goal. In a sense I guess I already had a buddy since my boyfriend was always very active and inquiring about my goal and progress. He is also a student at UIC his major is civil engineering like me he has goals and wants to do very well this semester and the following semesters as well. He would like to get an internship and do some research. We are very supportive of each other. We held our meeting this past Sunday for about 45 minutes we just talked about our classes and our major projects due. He even helped me put my resume together. He looked over my student teaching essays and provided me with good feedback. It was very helpful. I look forward to our next meeting and wait till the semester is over!!!
I have so many papers and projects due I just want the semester to be over! I can’t wait until May 7th. I am also working on a project for my EPSY 446 class we have to create our own charter school it’s a lot of work. I’m trying to take everything one step at a time so that I don’t get overwhelmed. Today I’m supposed to be meeting with another partner we’re working on modifying and critiquing a lesson plan it’s for another education course I’m taking this semester.
I found a buddy for my buddy system and it wasn’t difficult to find one. I asked my boyfriend to be my buddy he agreed to do it. Besides I always talked to him about this class and how the objective was for us to reach our goals. I told him how much I liked the class and every week he’d inquire about the class the readings and how far along I was with my goal. In a sense I guess I already had a buddy since my boyfriend was always very active and inquiring about my goal and progress. He is also a student at UIC his major is civil engineering like me he has goals and wants to do very well this semester and the following semesters as well. He would like to get an internship and do some research. We are very supportive of each other. We held our meeting this past Sunday for about 45 minutes we just talked about our classes and our major projects due. He even helped me put my resume together. He looked over my student teaching essays and provided me with good feedback. It was very helpful. I look forward to our next meeting and wait till the semester is over!!!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Assignment #11 Moving and Shaking
As stated in my previous blog I mentioned that I had to get started on filling out my student teaching application which is due May 1. The application includes four essays of 500 words. I started working on the essays yesterday. I have some ideas written down and I feel so much better about it. When I first looked at the application and saw that I had to write four essays I was a bit overwhelmed. I also have to include a resume but that shouldn’t be too bad I have one I just have to make some changes. I also said that I was going to meet with Ima the Director of the Teaching of Spanish Dept so that I could set up an appointment to take the OPI exam. I meet with her and scheduled the OPI exam. I will take the exam Tuesday April 14. I feel really good about the progress I am making.
I wouldn’t say that I feel any resistance or fear. I feel more excited about the prospect of each day coming closer to accomplishing my goal. It’s a step by step process and when I approach it in this way I feel at ease. When I was filling out the student teaching application and it asked me what my three goals for student teaching were, I realized that I will soon be a teacher and I felt a little stage fright. I want to be able to reach out to all types of students and learners regardless of their race, gender, culture, physical /health impairments. I want to be able to connect with all my students and I want them to feel the same way. Because if they are engaged they will be more motivated to work and achieve academic and personal success.
I
I wouldn’t say that I feel any resistance or fear. I feel more excited about the prospect of each day coming closer to accomplishing my goal. It’s a step by step process and when I approach it in this way I feel at ease. When I was filling out the student teaching application and it asked me what my three goals for student teaching were, I realized that I will soon be a teacher and I felt a little stage fright. I want to be able to reach out to all types of students and learners regardless of their race, gender, culture, physical /health impairments. I want to be able to connect with all my students and I want them to feel the same way. Because if they are engaged they will be more motivated to work and achieve academic and personal success.
I
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Assignment #10 Steps in Reaching My Goal
My spring break it went by so fast, just as I had anticipated. I hardly got a chance to relax. I was babysitting my aunt’s daughter. I’ve been taking care of her since the beginning of this semester. I was also working. But I also got a chance to take some steps in reaching my goal. I completed my thirty hours of observation at a high school on Thursday March 26. I also got my TB shot on Tuesday March 24 because I need to show proper documentation of that before I hand in my student teaching application, which is due May 1. I also have to get started on that application it’s pretty lengthy. I also received my scores on March 27 from the Spanish Content area exam I took on Feb 28 I passed! I also have to set an appointment sometime this week or next week with the Director of Teaching of Spanish Dept to take the OPI exam.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Assignment #9 Role Model Interview
I’m so excited I FINALLY got the opportunity to interview someone this week. ( and she was white too) Fadia one of my team members recommended that I interview one of her former Spanish professors here at UIC, her name is Lesley Summers. Fadia got in touch with her and told her that I was interested in interviewing her. Lesley said that she would be available this Monday (yesterday at 2pm )so we meet up in UH on the second floor. The interview lasted about half an hour. I asked her how she became interested in Spanish. She told me that she grew up in the south in Memphis, Tennessee and that she did not grow up in a Hispanic family or in Hispanic community, but when she was young she was always very interested in other cultures. She was very sheltered growing up but she always had a high level of curiosity with what she was unfamiliar with. She took Spanish in high school all four years and did very well because she was highly motivated. It was also during this time that she befriended an exchange student from South America. This student came to live with her family for the school year, because of this she was able to practice her Spanish a lot more and it was during this time that she became a lot more immersed in the Spanish culture. Spanish was her passion. She was also very interested in the visual arts but decided not to pursue a career in the arts because it is not economically high valued. Instead she got her B.A in Spanish and worked in the business world for two years. She used her Spanish skills a lot in the company she was an import /export coordinator, but she was not very happy there. So she decided to go back to school and pursue masters in the teaching of Spanish. She taught for a couple of years Spanish at an elementary school with a very affluent community. She liked the students but the most difficult thing for her was having to deal with the parents. The parents always believed their child was right instead of the teacher. She says that one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is the interaction you get from being with others and helping others. Seeing your students’ progress over time is also very rewarding. One of the greatest challenges she faced was having to teach and go to school at the same time. Three things that are very important in achieving your goal she states are your attitude. We are our own worst enemy; you can do anything you set your mind to. Secondly nothing that you want comes easily you have to work very hard. Lastly take time as a student to really plan and organize your time so that you are not overwhelmed with you goal. Do things in small increments step by step so you can see your progress and be realistic about things.
I’m glad that I got the opportunity to interview someone it felt really good. I asked Lesley after the interview if she had any people in mind that I could interview she said yes one of her friends is a Spanish teacher in Cicero. So I will interview her friend when I get back from spring break! I finally feel like I’m making some progress!
I’m glad that I got the opportunity to interview someone it felt really good. I asked Lesley after the interview if she had any people in mind that I could interview she said yes one of her friends is a Spanish teacher in Cicero. So I will interview her friend when I get back from spring break! I finally feel like I’m making some progress!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Assignment #8 Reaching Out Part II
This week I had to interview two more of my role models. Unfortunately I haven't had much luck contacting people via e-mail. I don't know why it takes them forever to respond! So what I think I'll have to do in the weeks to come is go to their office hours and actually pay them a visit. This way I will be able to sit with them and
converse with them and ask them more specific questions about how they got to where they are. Besides I feel that this form of interviewing verses email is more personal
and they will see that I am genuinely interested in pursuing a career in Spanish. By
doing this I will be able to network more. Because what I have noticed with the emails is that their responses are very brief and they aren't specific. If I interview them then I will be able to ask them more follow up questions and get them to talk more! I did however get a response from one of my former Spanish professors at UIC. Below I copied and pasted what she had to say.
Dear Vanessa:
I'll answer you the best I can:
1) I got to where I am by focusing on an area of study, where I felt I
could contribute in terms of my abilities.
2) Some of the greatest challenges have to do with managing time most
productively, and facing adversity when things don't go will, to continue
persevering, and keeping hope alive.
3)Three things I know now that I didn't know then were a)work, work, work
is very important, 2) enjoy what you choose, even if requires you to
sacrifice time in other areas 3) Broaden your horizons, stay connected to
good mentors, and friends.
4) To a student who wants to pursue a career in Spanish I would advise to stay in touch daily, if possible with Spanish,with the literature, learning new words; also, interviewing others who use Spanish as part of their profession, to understand how this background serves them in performing their jobs.
Good luck, Vanessa!
Olivia
Olivia Maciel Edelman, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese
University of Illinois at Chicago
University Hall 1615
601 Morgan St. M/C 315
Chicago, IL 60607-7117
Phone: (312) 996-3221, Fax (312) 413-1044
Email: omaciel@uic.edu
converse with them and ask them more specific questions about how they got to where they are. Besides I feel that this form of interviewing verses email is more personal
and they will see that I am genuinely interested in pursuing a career in Spanish. By
doing this I will be able to network more. Because what I have noticed with the emails is that their responses are very brief and they aren't specific. If I interview them then I will be able to ask them more follow up questions and get them to talk more! I did however get a response from one of my former Spanish professors at UIC. Below I copied and pasted what she had to say.
Dear Vanessa:
I'll answer you the best I can:
1) I got to where I am by focusing on an area of study, where I felt I
could contribute in terms of my abilities.
2) Some of the greatest challenges have to do with managing time most
productively, and facing adversity when things don't go will, to continue
persevering, and keeping hope alive.
3)Three things I know now that I didn't know then were a)work, work, work
is very important, 2) enjoy what you choose, even if requires you to
sacrifice time in other areas 3) Broaden your horizons, stay connected to
good mentors, and friends.
4) To a student who wants to pursue a career in Spanish I would advise to stay in touch daily, if possible with Spanish,with the literature, learning new words; also, interviewing others who use Spanish as part of their profession, to understand how this background serves them in performing their jobs.
Good luck, Vanessa!
Olivia
Olivia Maciel Edelman, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese
University of Illinois at Chicago
University Hall 1615
601 Morgan St. M/C 315
Chicago, IL 60607-7117
Phone: (312) 996-3221, Fax (312) 413-1044
Email: omaciel@uic.edu
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Interview 2 Of Your Role Models
So for this homework assignment I had to interview two of my role models. This assignment was a bit difficult because I had initially picked five role models that in some way shape or form possessed qualities or characteristics that I wanted to have. However, my role models have to be people that are living the life I want to live. The reason I am having trouble with this assignment is because I don't know too many people that are living the life I want to live. I do know people that are Spanish teachers, travel the world, have a family and help others but I wouldn't necessarily say I want to live their particular life. So I had to start from scratch and decided to contact two of my Spanish Professors. I emailed both of them some questions and only one of them responded. Prof. Taboada responded I am taking Span 449 with her this semester. Prof. Edelman is a former Spanish teacher of mine I took two classes with her here at UIC. I am still waiting on her response. I figure if she doesn't email me back I'll have to find out what her office hours are and talk to her in person. Aside from those two people I don't know who else to contact. Any suggestions ProfDiva?
Below I copied and pasted the email I sent to Prof. Taboada and her response to the questions.
1. How did you get to where you are today from being a college student.
One of my professors pushed me to go to grad school here in the States. I tried working first for a year in Spain, teaching kids, but after a few months, I decided that grad school could be a nice option... and from there, I don't know... after the master's, the ph.d. came... and here I am.
2. What were some of the greatest challenges you faced as a college
student and in pursuing your career?
As a college student... I wasn't the best student in the world... I had good grades, but I would hate to have someone like myself in my class now... So I am not sure what my biggest challenge was while a college student... I guess I was lucky.
While pursuing my career, language was a hard one at the beginning. I remember in DC taking all those theoretical classes in English... Since I was always was a T.A., it was kind of hard teaching two classes and taking three... and I was all alone, with no family here...
3. What three things do you know now that you wish you would have known
when you were a college student?
-Grad school is basic to pursue a nice education career.
-You can learn so many things from a bad teacher/professor.
-You will probably not know what you want to do or be, but sometimes it is more important to know what you don't want to do or be.
4. What advice would you give a student like myself, who wants to pursue a
career in Spanish?
I'm terrible at giving advice... Just never change your career for some other that can provide a better paid job... it is more important to do what you love.
Oye, soy my mala en esto... si necesitas algo más específico... no sé, avísame...
inma
Inma Taboada
Director, Spanish and French Teacher Education Program
Department of Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese
1619 University Hall
University of Illinois at Chicago
601 S. Morgan M/C 315
Chicago, IL 60607
312-996-8774 voice
312-413-1044 fax
Below I copied and pasted the email I sent to Prof. Taboada and her response to the questions.
1. How did you get to where you are today from being a college student.
One of my professors pushed me to go to grad school here in the States. I tried working first for a year in Spain, teaching kids, but after a few months, I decided that grad school could be a nice option... and from there, I don't know... after the master's, the ph.d. came... and here I am.
2. What were some of the greatest challenges you faced as a college
student and in pursuing your career?
As a college student... I wasn't the best student in the world... I had good grades, but I would hate to have someone like myself in my class now... So I am not sure what my biggest challenge was while a college student... I guess I was lucky.
While pursuing my career, language was a hard one at the beginning. I remember in DC taking all those theoretical classes in English... Since I was always was a T.A., it was kind of hard teaching two classes and taking three... and I was all alone, with no family here...
3. What three things do you know now that you wish you would have known
when you were a college student?
-Grad school is basic to pursue a nice education career.
-You can learn so many things from a bad teacher/professor.
-You will probably not know what you want to do or be, but sometimes it is more important to know what you don't want to do or be.
4. What advice would you give a student like myself, who wants to pursue a
career in Spanish?
I'm terrible at giving advice... Just never change your career for some other that can provide a better paid job... it is more important to do what you love.
Oye, soy my mala en esto... si necesitas algo más específico... no sé, avísame...
inma
Inma Taboada
Director, Spanish and French Teacher Education Program
Department of Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese
1619 University Hall
University of Illinois at Chicago
601 S. Morgan M/C 315
Chicago, IL 60607
312-996-8774 voice
312-413-1044 fax
Monday, February 23, 2009
Assignment #6 Plotting a Path
I have many goals but I'll start off with my first goal which is to become a certified Spanish high school teacher. I have already started pursuing this goal but I still need to take the following steps to accomplish this goal.
Flow Chart
1. Finish this academic semester strong with very good grades.
2. I will take the Illinois Certification Test (ICTS) Content Area Exam for Foreign Language Spanish Feb 28, 2009
3. I need to apply for Education 330 class for the fall semester 09 application deadline is March 15, 2009
4. Apply for Student Teaching, application deadline is MAY 1, 2009
5. Take the Illinois Certification Test (ICTS) for Assessment of Professional Teaching (I have to verify with my adviser what date I have to take it.)
6. Take the OPI Exam Oral Proficiency Interview
(I have to verify with my adviser what date I have to take it.)
7. Select twelve high schools where I would like to student teach.
8. Student Teach Jan -May 2010
9. Graduate from UIC May 2010 with my teaching certificate!!!!
I would also like to go to graduate school once I have started teaching. But I'm not sure what my concentration would be maybe teaching of Spanish or something completely different... Only time will tell.
Map network
Heidi Tieshirt (unable to get contact info, still working on it)
Norma Thornton - ThorntonN1@ yahoo.com
Delia Vazquez-VazquezD@yahoo.com
Dr. Rock-rockquem@uic.edu
Dr. Aparicio- franapar@uic.edu
Flow Chart
1. Finish this academic semester strong with very good grades.
2. I will take the Illinois Certification Test (ICTS) Content Area Exam for Foreign Language Spanish Feb 28, 2009
3. I need to apply for Education 330 class for the fall semester 09 application deadline is March 15, 2009
4. Apply for Student Teaching, application deadline is MAY 1, 2009
5. Take the Illinois Certification Test (ICTS) for Assessment of Professional Teaching (I have to verify with my adviser what date I have to take it.)
6. Take the OPI Exam Oral Proficiency Interview
(I have to verify with my adviser what date I have to take it.)
7. Select twelve high schools where I would like to student teach.
8. Student Teach Jan -May 2010
9. Graduate from UIC May 2010 with my teaching certificate!!!!
I would also like to go to graduate school once I have started teaching. But I'm not sure what my concentration would be maybe teaching of Spanish or something completely different... Only time will tell.
Map network
Heidi Tieshirt (unable to get contact info, still working on it)
Norma Thornton - ThorntonN1@ yahoo.com
Delia Vazquez-VazquezD@yahoo.com
Dr. Rock-rockquem@uic.edu
Dr. Aparicio- franapar@uic.edu
Monday, February 9, 2009
Assignment #4 Discovering your personality and Touchstone
Dream
My dream is to one day feel enlightened and happy with the work I do. I am currently in school trying to pursue a career in teaching. I want to be a high school Spanish teacher. My hope is that through my teaching and guidance I will be able shape and impact the life of others in this case my students. I feel most happy when I know that I have helped others and have made a significant contribution to their personal growth.
Aside from teaching I dream of traveling the world. I want to see new places and meet new people. I hunger and seek knowledge that can only be acquired by experiencing the world and its people in different geographical and social contexts. I would like to travel across Europe, Asia and Africa.
Lastly I would like one day get married and have children and raise a family. The
idea of having a family in the future always excites me and brings great joy to my heart.
Touchstone
I want these dreams to become a reality. They are of great significance to me because I would like to be known not only as an educator but also a mother, sister, friend and wife. On all levels I want to be able help others and in essence shape and impact their lives for the better. To travel the world would give me a great deal of personal satisfaction, insight and knowledge of the world and its people. I want to experience life to fullest and traveling will help me achieve that. Family to me is at the core of what I believe to be true happiness. Family to me means finding love, security, care, respect and faith in the people that matter most to me.
Role Models
•I greatly admired my 4th grade teacher Ms. Tieshirt she always brought the best out in her students. She was a very caring, outgoing and engaging individual. She had a way of making assignments and projects very fun and challenging. I hope to one day be as great of a teacher as she was.
•My Godmother Norma has traveled to many places across the world. I hope to one day see all the places she has been to and share my experiences with her and others.
•This is a sad but honest fact I don’t have too many women in my life that are happy in their marriages. However, Delia my aunt is the exception she is very happy in her marriage and has known her husband for about 20 years. They have a beautiful relationship and they have one child. When I think about marriage and finding that one special person. I think about Delia and the relationship she has with her husband, their relationship is embedded in respect, care, love and commitment toward one another. No relationship is perfect but they understand each other and value each other’s opinion. I think that is the most important thing in a relationship.
Target
My target date to start teaching would be in the fall of 2010. My target date to travel across Europe would be the summer of 2011. I would continue to travel throughout my life with family and friends. I don’t have an official date or deadline for marriage but I would like to find someone before I’m 30 years old. :-)
Personality Type: ESFJ
According to Myers-Briggs
ESFJs are people persons - they love people. They are warmly interested in others. They use their Sensing and Judging characteristics to gather specific, detailed information about others, and turn this information into supportive judgments. They want to like people, and have a special skill at bringing out the best in others. They are extremely good at reading others, and understanding their point of view. The ESFJ's strong desire to be liked and for everything to be pleasant makes them highly supportive of others. People like to be around ESFJs, because the ESFJ has a special gift of invariably making people feel good about themselves.
The ESFJ takes their responsibilities very seriously, and is very dependable. They value security and stability, and have a strong focus on the details of life. They see before others do what needs to be done, and do whatever it takes to make sure that it gets done. They enjoy these types of tasks, and are extremely good at them.
ESFJs are warm and energetic. They need approval from others to feel good about themselves. They are hurt by indifference and don't understand unkindness. They are very giving people, who get a lot of their personal satisfaction from the happiness of others. They want to be appreciated for who they are, and what they give. They're very sensitive to others, and freely give practical care. ESFJs are such caring individuals, that they sometimes have a hard time seeing or accepting a difficult truth about someone they care about.
To read more check out
http://www.personalitypage.com/ESFJ.html
My dream is to one day feel enlightened and happy with the work I do. I am currently in school trying to pursue a career in teaching. I want to be a high school Spanish teacher. My hope is that through my teaching and guidance I will be able shape and impact the life of others in this case my students. I feel most happy when I know that I have helped others and have made a significant contribution to their personal growth.
Aside from teaching I dream of traveling the world. I want to see new places and meet new people. I hunger and seek knowledge that can only be acquired by experiencing the world and its people in different geographical and social contexts. I would like to travel across Europe, Asia and Africa.
Lastly I would like one day get married and have children and raise a family. The
idea of having a family in the future always excites me and brings great joy to my heart.
Touchstone
I want these dreams to become a reality. They are of great significance to me because I would like to be known not only as an educator but also a mother, sister, friend and wife. On all levels I want to be able help others and in essence shape and impact their lives for the better. To travel the world would give me a great deal of personal satisfaction, insight and knowledge of the world and its people. I want to experience life to fullest and traveling will help me achieve that. Family to me is at the core of what I believe to be true happiness. Family to me means finding love, security, care, respect and faith in the people that matter most to me.
Role Models
•I greatly admired my 4th grade teacher Ms. Tieshirt she always brought the best out in her students. She was a very caring, outgoing and engaging individual. She had a way of making assignments and projects very fun and challenging. I hope to one day be as great of a teacher as she was.
•My Godmother Norma has traveled to many places across the world. I hope to one day see all the places she has been to and share my experiences with her and others.
•This is a sad but honest fact I don’t have too many women in my life that are happy in their marriages. However, Delia my aunt is the exception she is very happy in her marriage and has known her husband for about 20 years. They have a beautiful relationship and they have one child. When I think about marriage and finding that one special person. I think about Delia and the relationship she has with her husband, their relationship is embedded in respect, care, love and commitment toward one another. No relationship is perfect but they understand each other and value each other’s opinion. I think that is the most important thing in a relationship.
Target
My target date to start teaching would be in the fall of 2010. My target date to travel across Europe would be the summer of 2011. I would continue to travel throughout my life with family and friends. I don’t have an official date or deadline for marriage but I would like to find someone before I’m 30 years old. :-)
Personality Type: ESFJ
According to Myers-Briggs
ESFJs are people persons - they love people. They are warmly interested in others. They use their Sensing and Judging characteristics to gather specific, detailed information about others, and turn this information into supportive judgments. They want to like people, and have a special skill at bringing out the best in others. They are extremely good at reading others, and understanding their point of view. The ESFJ's strong desire to be liked and for everything to be pleasant makes them highly supportive of others. People like to be around ESFJs, because the ESFJ has a special gift of invariably making people feel good about themselves.
The ESFJ takes their responsibilities very seriously, and is very dependable. They value security and stability, and have a strong focus on the details of life. They see before others do what needs to be done, and do whatever it takes to make sure that it gets done. They enjoy these types of tasks, and are extremely good at them.
ESFJs are warm and energetic. They need approval from others to feel good about themselves. They are hurt by indifference and don't understand unkindness. They are very giving people, who get a lot of their personal satisfaction from the happiness of others. They want to be appreciated for who they are, and what they give. They're very sensitive to others, and freely give practical care. ESFJs are such caring individuals, that they sometimes have a hard time seeing or accepting a difficult truth about someone they care about.
To read more check out
http://www.personalitypage.com/ESFJ.html
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Assignment #3: Understanding Yourself
Pick a color:
I am Ivory. I am pure, selfless, caring, compassionate and versatile.
Private Eye-Game:
I have a very small room, so I am very limited in the amount of things I can have. As I look around my room I notice that I am organized. I have a small book case across my bed. My book case contains text books from previous school years. I also have photo albums. On top of my book case I have pictures of family and friends. My closet is very neat. I have a lot of blue jeans, dressy black slacks that I wear to work. The majority of the colors that I wear are dark blue, black and brown. I have a lot of purses some are big and others are small, they range in size and color. I have red, black, white, brown, orange and ivory color purses. I also have a great deal of shoes but I don't wear all of them on daily basis. Lately I've been wearing my brown warm boots. My room is plain not that I don't like decorating my room but my family and I rent an apartment. Therefore, I do not want to make holes in the walls or tape to many things on to the wall for fear of the paint coming off the walls. I only have two postcards that I taped to my wall above my book case. I received those post cards from friends that went to Paris and Rome. Above my desk I also have a painting my beloved Nicholas who is five years old painted for me it is a water color painting and is very abstract and colorful. I also have a flower calender above my desk.
Ideal family members
Frida Kahlo: Vanessa is a very outgoing creative individual. I sense that although she may not fully realize this she knows she has many gifts to share with the world. When she walks into a crowded room full of people she is all smiles. She is very polite and easy going and can make any situation fun and enjoyable for everyone. Vanessa is a great listener and is not judgmental. When she gives advice it doesn’t sound like she’s telling you what to do rather she is offering her honest opinion and suggesting what she thinks is the best solution.
Martin Luther King Jr: I see many leadership qualities in Vanessa at times she may seem uneasy and hesitant to take on this role. However, when she does take the initiative to get things done and organize people she shines like a bright star and is great at it. She is a good team player which in turn makes her a great leader. She is very respectful of everyone’s opinions and incorporates their ideas to the project. Vanessa is a selfless individual and does things that are in the best interest of the group. She puts others before herself. Vanessa is most happy when she knows that she had a significant impact on someone’s life or has helped others in a time of need.
Mother Teresa: I see the gift of caring and compassion in Vanessa. I see that she enjoys spending time with people and is always very friendly and warm toward others. When she is helpful and does things for other individuals she does not do it because she wants to be recognized or compensated for her good deeds. She does this because it brings genuine joy to her heart. Vanessa is always thinking of others she is very compassionate and is always trying to justify people’s behavior. Instead of judging people she tries to understand the reasons why they act the way they do. She always feels that maybe it is the lack of love, care, respect and compassion that person received which has made them insecure and feel worthless. Vanessa feels the need to make the people around her feel loved and cared for and she expresses this daily through her caring and compassionate gestures.
20 things I like to do...
1.Listening to music
2.Clubbing with friends and dancing
3.Watching movies at home with family and friends
4.Going to the movie theater with friends
5.Going for walks in the park with my mom and sister
6.Watching Broadway shows and plays
7.Going to the beach on hot summer days with friends and tanning
8.Traveling to Mexico and visiting family
9.Spending time with Kino
10.Spending time with family at home
11.Shopping with my sister down town at the Water Tower Place
12.Spending time with my beautiful babies Nick and Bella
13.Spending time with Lois and my God mother
14.Watching old black and white movies with my God mother
15.Talking on the phone with friends
16.Surfing the net
17. I love going to school and learning something new everyday
18.I like meeting and talking to new people
19.I love being out doors when the weather is nice
20.I like reading good fiction novels
My Ideal environment
My ideal environment would be compromised of individuals that value and respect me. In this environment people are not quick to judge rather they are open and willing to listen before coming to any type of conclusion. In this environment I would have a lot of freedom I would not feel compelled to act a certain way or do things to simply please others. My ideal environment and the people in it would recognize my gifts and abilities and value the things I do. This environment would solely focus on gifts rather then on my short comings.
My Ideal day
I wake up at 7am in the morning. I take a hot shower, before entering the kitchen and finding breakfast already made. My husband gets the children ready for school every morning and prepares breakfast for the entire family. We live in a very nice spacious Grey stone home in the Wicker Park area in Chicago. We live on the first floor and rent out the second and third floor. We have a huge backyard and a beautiful garden. I have two beautiful children a boy and girl. I take them to school every morning, after dropping them off I head to my school. I am a high school Spanish teacher and teach 9th , 11th and 12th graders. My husband is a civil engineer and works for a very well established company in Chicago. As soon as I get out of work I pick up my children and prepare dinner (sometimes we order out if I'm too tired to cook). When dad gets home we all gather around the family dining area and eat together. I especially enjoy this time of the day because we discuss how our days went. After dinner I help my children with their homework. After we have taken care of business if there is time left in the day my husband and I play outside with the kids. My husband loves playing basketball with our son in the backyard. After a long fun day with the family we all head back home and shower. I spend some time with my husband watching our favorite TV shows or movie.
Fantasy Analysis
1.What elements from your ideal day are absolutely indispensable to your happiness?
My family, this includes husband and children.
Owning a home with a spacious backyard.
Pursuing a career Spanish teacher ( both my husband and I)
Spending quality time with my family.
2.What elements are optional?
We don't necessarily have to live in a Grey Stone home in Wicker Park
My husband doesn't have to pursue a career in civil engineering or work for a prominent company.
3. Frills
Most of the things that I put down on my ideal day are very realistic. Except for the fact that the type of family I envision for myself is that like the Leave it to Beaver type. I know that my family will be far from that.
4. If I were to walk down my fantasy day with just the dispensable items how would I feel?
I would be very content and satisfied for the most part
5.What if any elements of that day do you already have?
I wouldn't necessarily say that I have any of those things right now but I am working toward achieving those goals. I am still in school and will graduate next year with a teaching of Spanish degree. I have a wonderful friend that I love dearly who I can see myself with for a very long time. He attends UIC and is majoring in Civil Engineering
6. What elements of the adjusted ideal day are presently absent in my life right now?
As mentioned above I do not have any of those elements presently but I'm working toward that goal.
7. What stands between you and having that ideal day tomorrow?
Time. I have to finish school first. Pursue a career in teaching. I have to find “Mr. Right” marry the guy have perfect genius children j/k. I have to be financially stable so that we can buy a house and live comfortably and offer our children the best education. In short I need more time so that this ideal day is achieved. But I am in no rush. I'm taking those baby steps now and that's what counts!
I am Ivory. I am pure, selfless, caring, compassionate and versatile.
Private Eye-Game:
I have a very small room, so I am very limited in the amount of things I can have. As I look around my room I notice that I am organized. I have a small book case across my bed. My book case contains text books from previous school years. I also have photo albums. On top of my book case I have pictures of family and friends. My closet is very neat. I have a lot of blue jeans, dressy black slacks that I wear to work. The majority of the colors that I wear are dark blue, black and brown. I have a lot of purses some are big and others are small, they range in size and color. I have red, black, white, brown, orange and ivory color purses. I also have a great deal of shoes but I don't wear all of them on daily basis. Lately I've been wearing my brown warm boots. My room is plain not that I don't like decorating my room but my family and I rent an apartment. Therefore, I do not want to make holes in the walls or tape to many things on to the wall for fear of the paint coming off the walls. I only have two postcards that I taped to my wall above my book case. I received those post cards from friends that went to Paris and Rome. Above my desk I also have a painting my beloved Nicholas who is five years old painted for me it is a water color painting and is very abstract and colorful. I also have a flower calender above my desk.
Ideal family members
Frida Kahlo: Vanessa is a very outgoing creative individual. I sense that although she may not fully realize this she knows she has many gifts to share with the world. When she walks into a crowded room full of people she is all smiles. She is very polite and easy going and can make any situation fun and enjoyable for everyone. Vanessa is a great listener and is not judgmental. When she gives advice it doesn’t sound like she’s telling you what to do rather she is offering her honest opinion and suggesting what she thinks is the best solution.
Martin Luther King Jr: I see many leadership qualities in Vanessa at times she may seem uneasy and hesitant to take on this role. However, when she does take the initiative to get things done and organize people she shines like a bright star and is great at it. She is a good team player which in turn makes her a great leader. She is very respectful of everyone’s opinions and incorporates their ideas to the project. Vanessa is a selfless individual and does things that are in the best interest of the group. She puts others before herself. Vanessa is most happy when she knows that she had a significant impact on someone’s life or has helped others in a time of need.
Mother Teresa: I see the gift of caring and compassion in Vanessa. I see that she enjoys spending time with people and is always very friendly and warm toward others. When she is helpful and does things for other individuals she does not do it because she wants to be recognized or compensated for her good deeds. She does this because it brings genuine joy to her heart. Vanessa is always thinking of others she is very compassionate and is always trying to justify people’s behavior. Instead of judging people she tries to understand the reasons why they act the way they do. She always feels that maybe it is the lack of love, care, respect and compassion that person received which has made them insecure and feel worthless. Vanessa feels the need to make the people around her feel loved and cared for and she expresses this daily through her caring and compassionate gestures.
20 things I like to do...
1.Listening to music
2.Clubbing with friends and dancing
3.Watching movies at home with family and friends
4.Going to the movie theater with friends
5.Going for walks in the park with my mom and sister
6.Watching Broadway shows and plays
7.Going to the beach on hot summer days with friends and tanning
8.Traveling to Mexico and visiting family
9.Spending time with Kino
10.Spending time with family at home
11.Shopping with my sister down town at the Water Tower Place
12.Spending time with my beautiful babies Nick and Bella
13.Spending time with Lois and my God mother
14.Watching old black and white movies with my God mother
15.Talking on the phone with friends
16.Surfing the net
17. I love going to school and learning something new everyday
18.I like meeting and talking to new people
19.I love being out doors when the weather is nice
20.I like reading good fiction novels
My Ideal environment
My ideal environment would be compromised of individuals that value and respect me. In this environment people are not quick to judge rather they are open and willing to listen before coming to any type of conclusion. In this environment I would have a lot of freedom I would not feel compelled to act a certain way or do things to simply please others. My ideal environment and the people in it would recognize my gifts and abilities and value the things I do. This environment would solely focus on gifts rather then on my short comings.
My Ideal day
I wake up at 7am in the morning. I take a hot shower, before entering the kitchen and finding breakfast already made. My husband gets the children ready for school every morning and prepares breakfast for the entire family. We live in a very nice spacious Grey stone home in the Wicker Park area in Chicago. We live on the first floor and rent out the second and third floor. We have a huge backyard and a beautiful garden. I have two beautiful children a boy and girl. I take them to school every morning, after dropping them off I head to my school. I am a high school Spanish teacher and teach 9th , 11th and 12th graders. My husband is a civil engineer and works for a very well established company in Chicago. As soon as I get out of work I pick up my children and prepare dinner (sometimes we order out if I'm too tired to cook). When dad gets home we all gather around the family dining area and eat together. I especially enjoy this time of the day because we discuss how our days went. After dinner I help my children with their homework. After we have taken care of business if there is time left in the day my husband and I play outside with the kids. My husband loves playing basketball with our son in the backyard. After a long fun day with the family we all head back home and shower. I spend some time with my husband watching our favorite TV shows or movie.
Fantasy Analysis
1.What elements from your ideal day are absolutely indispensable to your happiness?
My family, this includes husband and children.
Owning a home with a spacious backyard.
Pursuing a career Spanish teacher ( both my husband and I)
Spending quality time with my family.
2.What elements are optional?
We don't necessarily have to live in a Grey Stone home in Wicker Park
My husband doesn't have to pursue a career in civil engineering or work for a prominent company.
3. Frills
Most of the things that I put down on my ideal day are very realistic. Except for the fact that the type of family I envision for myself is that like the Leave it to Beaver type. I know that my family will be far from that.
4. If I were to walk down my fantasy day with just the dispensable items how would I feel?
I would be very content and satisfied for the most part
5.What if any elements of that day do you already have?
I wouldn't necessarily say that I have any of those things right now but I am working toward achieving those goals. I am still in school and will graduate next year with a teaching of Spanish degree. I have a wonderful friend that I love dearly who I can see myself with for a very long time. He attends UIC and is majoring in Civil Engineering
6. What elements of the adjusted ideal day are presently absent in my life right now?
As mentioned above I do not have any of those elements presently but I'm working toward that goal.
7. What stands between you and having that ideal day tomorrow?
Time. I have to finish school first. Pursue a career in teaching. I have to find “Mr. Right” marry the guy have perfect genius children j/k. I have to be financially stable so that we can buy a house and live comfortably and offer our children the best education. In short I need more time so that this ideal day is achieved. But I am in no rush. I'm taking those baby steps now and that's what counts!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Assignment #2 What do I love?
I interviewed my dear aunt Lois. I spent most of my childhood years with her. I asked her the following three questions.
1. What was I like the first 5 years of my life?
2. What things did I love, what games did I like to play, and what did you think was so unique about me?
3. What did you think I would become when I grew up?
1. For the first 5 years of Vanessa's life I can say that she was a happy child who
was loved dearly. She was very compliant and rarely did she ever have any
meltdowns. She possessed wonderful pretend play skills and was very social with her
peers and conversational with adults. She beamed with confidence and was very
loving.
2. As a child, Vanessa enjoyed dressing up, putting on make-up, shopping, and
putting on performances of song and dance. She loved being in front of an audience!
Her favorite thing by far was playing with her God-brother who was 8 months younger
than her. Oh how they enjoyed each other's company.
The one thing that made her unique was the love, respect, empathy and
understanding she had towards people, especially those who loved her dearly.
Despite the hardships she had to endure as a child, she always remained a very
loving and caring child.
3. I always thought Vanessa would grow up to be a reporter or an actress. Her
ability to communicate with people and her love of song and dance made me believe
she would be involved in the media in one way or another. Not everyone has the
ability to captivate an audience and she did. She is a beautiful person in every
sense of the word.
I also asked a couple of my friends what they thought were my greatest gifts and strengths and this what they responded.
Becky: "You're very driven and always willing to lend a hand, you put others before you which in turn makes you selfless. You're very people friendly and outgoing, which makes you talk to everyone even if you don't know them ha ha in a good way of course. You're also very respectful, I also see leadership skills in you because you always try to find what is best for not only you but others as well".
Giovanna: "You are trustworthy and I know that I can confide in you. You are also a very good listener. You are able to express yourself very well which makes you a good speaker. You are very honest and loyal. It's always fun to be around you because you're very outgoing!
Julie: " You're greatest gift is your big smile and your laughter no matter how you feel you try and not let it get to you. You always stay positive and look at the bright side of things. You also make people feel better if they're having a bad day. You're biggest strength is your heart you can love so much. I've never seen anyone with as much love to give as you."
Kim: I would have to say that one of Vanessa's greatest strengths is her ambition and determination. Once she has her mind set on a goal there is no stopping her from achieving it. About two semesters ago she faced a family crisis which involved her mother, and when most people I know would have broken down and lost sanity, she kept her composure and never let it affect her schooling. While it would have been acceptable and understanding for Vanessa to have taken some time off from school she decided to continue which I admired greatly.
Kino: Vanessa Alvarez has the uncanny ability to make any individual feel great
about themselves. She is a great listener, she's funny, very outgoing,
intelligent, very well spoken, and she brings out nothing but the best in
others. Vanessa Alvarez is selfless, she's always trying to help others
in need not for her own self gratification but for the well being of the
other person. But, the greatest gifts that Vanessa Alvarez possess are
the gifts of caring,loving, and having faith. You have a huge heart and
I've never met someone quite like you. I am grateful and very fortunate
that God allowed us to cross paths. What you did for me on THAT day I'll
never forget and I will cherish that moment the rest of my life. Your
smile alone gave me so much warmth on that day. Your words of encouragement
opened me up. Your simple gesture had a huge impact in my life and with
your gifts you will surely impact the lives of many more. It was your
friendship that allowed me to believe that such a relationship even
existed. The more and more I saw and talked with you the more I learned.
Continue to have faith in what you do and believe in. You are a
gift from God; not only a gift to me but to this world. It was
through your friendship and companionship that allowed me to see the best
in me and I thank you for that. You are a special person and I love you so
much. My love for you will never be upset at you, never judge you or hurt
you, never disrespect or yell at you, never die. Instead it will listen to
you, allow both of us to grow, to be by your side both in good times and
in bad,. My love for you is FREE and your happiness is mine. You are more
than a friend to me and all I can say is that I love you Vanessa with all
my heart and soul. I'm sorry to have side-tracked a little bit but I
wanted to write this to you because I have witnessed your gifts and seen
you strengths and how they have transcended upon me. I love you now and ALWAYS...
Do one of things you love from the in-class activities...
During 7th grade and throughout high school I absolutely loved and enjoyed
reading young adult fiction novels. Among my favorite authors were Robert
Cormier, V.C Andrews, Judy Blume and Jack London. I was so fascinated by
these writers simple yet very real and direct way of story telling. My
favorite novels included The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, Tigers Eyes
by Judy Blume, The entire Dollanger Series Flowers in the Attic by V.C
Andrews. The dialogue in these novels was so real and the description of
the characters was superb. I could visualize everything so perfectly my
imagination ran wild. I even had crushes on some of the male characters in
the novels! That's how much I loved reading. I sound like a complete nerd
but I could read novels like these in about 3-5 days. About a week ago I
was able to relive these adolescent memories with a good friend of mine
at the Barnes and Noble book store. I happen to be there because I was
looking purchase the book "Let Your Life Speak" by P. Parker. But before
going to the register to pick up that book, I told my friend to accompany
me to the young adult fiction section. I picked up a copy of
The Chocolate War and read the entire 2nd chapter to him aloud. It felt
great it happened to be one of my favorite dialogues. My friend absolutely enjoyed it and
really got kick out me reading this out loud. He said that he liked the way I
read it that I really got into the characters. How could I not get into it?I thought to myself if I loved this and still do!
1. What was I like the first 5 years of my life?
2. What things did I love, what games did I like to play, and what did you think was so unique about me?
3. What did you think I would become when I grew up?
1. For the first 5 years of Vanessa's life I can say that she was a happy child who
was loved dearly. She was very compliant and rarely did she ever have any
meltdowns. She possessed wonderful pretend play skills and was very social with her
peers and conversational with adults. She beamed with confidence and was very
loving.
2. As a child, Vanessa enjoyed dressing up, putting on make-up, shopping, and
putting on performances of song and dance. She loved being in front of an audience!
Her favorite thing by far was playing with her God-brother who was 8 months younger
than her. Oh how they enjoyed each other's company.
The one thing that made her unique was the love, respect, empathy and
understanding she had towards people, especially those who loved her dearly.
Despite the hardships she had to endure as a child, she always remained a very
loving and caring child.
3. I always thought Vanessa would grow up to be a reporter or an actress. Her
ability to communicate with people and her love of song and dance made me believe
she would be involved in the media in one way or another. Not everyone has the
ability to captivate an audience and she did. She is a beautiful person in every
sense of the word.
I also asked a couple of my friends what they thought were my greatest gifts and strengths and this what they responded.
Becky: "You're very driven and always willing to lend a hand, you put others before you which in turn makes you selfless. You're very people friendly and outgoing, which makes you talk to everyone even if you don't know them ha ha in a good way of course. You're also very respectful, I also see leadership skills in you because you always try to find what is best for not only you but others as well".
Giovanna: "You are trustworthy and I know that I can confide in you. You are also a very good listener. You are able to express yourself very well which makes you a good speaker. You are very honest and loyal. It's always fun to be around you because you're very outgoing!
Julie: " You're greatest gift is your big smile and your laughter no matter how you feel you try and not let it get to you. You always stay positive and look at the bright side of things. You also make people feel better if they're having a bad day. You're biggest strength is your heart you can love so much. I've never seen anyone with as much love to give as you."
Kim: I would have to say that one of Vanessa's greatest strengths is her ambition and determination. Once she has her mind set on a goal there is no stopping her from achieving it. About two semesters ago she faced a family crisis which involved her mother, and when most people I know would have broken down and lost sanity, she kept her composure and never let it affect her schooling. While it would have been acceptable and understanding for Vanessa to have taken some time off from school she decided to continue which I admired greatly.
Kino: Vanessa Alvarez has the uncanny ability to make any individual feel great
about themselves. She is a great listener, she's funny, very outgoing,
intelligent, very well spoken, and she brings out nothing but the best in
others. Vanessa Alvarez is selfless, she's always trying to help others
in need not for her own self gratification but for the well being of the
other person. But, the greatest gifts that Vanessa Alvarez possess are
the gifts of caring,loving, and having faith. You have a huge heart and
I've never met someone quite like you. I am grateful and very fortunate
that God allowed us to cross paths. What you did for me on THAT day I'll
never forget and I will cherish that moment the rest of my life. Your
smile alone gave me so much warmth on that day. Your words of encouragement
opened me up. Your simple gesture had a huge impact in my life and with
your gifts you will surely impact the lives of many more. It was your
friendship that allowed me to believe that such a relationship even
existed. The more and more I saw and talked with you the more I learned.
Continue to have faith in what you do and believe in. You are a
gift from God; not only a gift to me but to this world. It was
through your friendship and companionship that allowed me to see the best
in me and I thank you for that. You are a special person and I love you so
much. My love for you will never be upset at you, never judge you or hurt
you, never disrespect or yell at you, never die. Instead it will listen to
you, allow both of us to grow, to be by your side both in good times and
in bad,. My love for you is FREE and your happiness is mine. You are more
than a friend to me and all I can say is that I love you Vanessa with all
my heart and soul. I'm sorry to have side-tracked a little bit but I
wanted to write this to you because I have witnessed your gifts and seen
you strengths and how they have transcended upon me. I love you now and ALWAYS...
Do one of things you love from the in-class activities...
During 7th grade and throughout high school I absolutely loved and enjoyed
reading young adult fiction novels. Among my favorite authors were Robert
Cormier, V.C Andrews, Judy Blume and Jack London. I was so fascinated by
these writers simple yet very real and direct way of story telling. My
favorite novels included The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, Tigers Eyes
by Judy Blume, The entire Dollanger Series Flowers in the Attic by V.C
Andrews. The dialogue in these novels was so real and the description of
the characters was superb. I could visualize everything so perfectly my
imagination ran wild. I even had crushes on some of the male characters in
the novels! That's how much I loved reading. I sound like a complete nerd
but I could read novels like these in about 3-5 days. About a week ago I
was able to relive these adolescent memories with a good friend of mine
at the Barnes and Noble book store. I happen to be there because I was
looking purchase the book "Let Your Life Speak" by P. Parker. But before
going to the register to pick up that book, I told my friend to accompany
me to the young adult fiction section. I picked up a copy of
The Chocolate War and read the entire 2nd chapter to him aloud. It felt
great it happened to be one of my favorite dialogues. My friend absolutely enjoyed it and
really got kick out me reading this out loud. He said that he liked the way I
read it that I really got into the characters. How could I not get into it?I thought to myself if I loved this and still do!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Childhood Memories
I am a Junior at UIC my concentration is the teaching of Spanish at the secondary level (high school). I decided to take the course Leadership for Change because it fit my schedule perfectly. When I registered for this course it did not have a title, so I did not know what I was getting myself into. However, after our first class meeting, I was delighted that I registered for this course. What I hope to get out of this course is to really find out what truly makes me happy. I think everyone is always searching for that happiness in life. However few people attain true happiness and enlightenment in their lives. I want to be one of those few people. When I was a child I felt great joy and happiness being surrounded by people that loved me and cared for me and nurtured my soul. My childhood for the most part was full of happy memories. During my childhood I remember feeling a great sense of security and confidence in myself. I attribute this to very special someone who was not only a maternal figure in my life but a positive role model Lois. As a child my favorite pastime was role playing / playing make believe. I played with friends and younger cousins in the backyard we played “casita” meaning little house. I was the mother my duties included cooking and cleaning. Since we had a vegetable garden I used real tomatoes to make salsa. I also remember playing with the water hose with my younger sister and making believe that we were both starring and directing our own movie! A particular scene that standouts is that of the rain storm and the girl (me) trying find shelter to evade the rain. Looking back and reflecting on what I enjoyed most during my childhood I feel that a part of me still enjoys those things. Later in high school I joined the drama club and was in the school play. I have always enjoyed acting and many people tell me that I am a great story teller and that I can really take on a character. I sometimes wonder if instead of teaching I should have pursued acting. But I guess I was afraid of failing at something I knew I really enjoyed doing. And besides I did not think I could make a living out of acting because the market is competitive.
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