Service Learning Visit #2

Today, I went to a charter school called El Sol for my second teaching experience through service learning. It was a very interesting experience to say the least. When we got there, I led an exercise similar to the introductory one we did last visit, but this time it went along with the theme of family. In this exercise we got the kids to talk about traits that their parents or siblings have. It was good to see some people come out of their shells and talk a bit about something we haven't really touched upon thus far. We then got on to going over some of the answers from the questionnaire, and rewriting a questionnaire in one student's case. After that, we got to writing the paragraph about family. This was a very big challenge because it is not necessarily the most entertaining thing for the students. Because they were not entertained with the assignment, the students decided to pick on me instead of actually writing. While I try to work on the paragraph with each child individually, the other two would be distracted because they were too busy picking on me too actually get work done. After many, "Get back to work"'s, they finally finished writing the paragraph. As a group, we managed to get through the rest of the activities we planned quite easily which could be considered a victory, but personally, I don't think the kids really got the complete message from the lesson plan today. Next time, I am going to try to utilize my partner more, because they tend to listen to her more than they do to me. If we can manage to keep the kids focused and on task, we could really make an impact on the kids' view on English, and the themes that we teach.

Hurdles of Humiliation

In Act III, Scene 1 of the Shakespearean play Hamlet, Hamlet gives an interesting soliloquy about whether it is better to be alive and suffer all the hardships, or to commit suicide. One moment, where Hamlet mentions his fear of death is particularly important, "Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, and thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought." (3.1.85-87). This idea that the only reason people still live is because they fear what happens after death. Hamlet's idea that our conscience makes us all cowards essentially means that our mind is the only thing stopping us. This idea is very agreeable and has a great amount of reason to it. Personally, I think it is true that the fear of what happens after death is very real, however his reasoning to why people would kill themselves may be very different in our society today. When Hamlet says, "For who would bear the whips and scorns of time." (3.1.71), he basically means that life has too many humiliations to actually live peacefully. In my mind, it is very true that life has many humiliations, however those humiliations make us who we are today. We learn from our mistakes and find solace in that. There are also many good things to life to get to after jumping over those hurdles of humiliation. And even if those hurdles are tough, that is no excuse to kill ourselves over. As a human being, most of us can all somewhat relate to the experience that Hamlet is going through at this point, but we know that we should not give up because what lies ahead is most definitely better than now.

To be, or not to be? That is the question—

Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

And, by opposing, end them? To die, to sleep—

No more—and by a sleep to say we end

The heartache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to—’tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wished! To die, to sleep.

To sleep, perchance to dream—ay, there’s the rub,

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,

Must give us pause. There’s the respect

That makes calamity of so long life.

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,

Th' oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,

The pangs of despised love, the law’s delay,

The insolence of office, and the spurns

That patient merit of th' unworthy takes,

When he himself might his quietus make

With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear,

To grunt and sweat under a weary life,

But that the dread of something after death,

The undiscovered country from whose bourn

No traveler returns, puzzles the will

And makes us rather bear those ills we have

Than fly to others that we know not of?

Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,

And thus the native hue of resolution

Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,

And enterprises of great pith and moment

With this regard their currents turn awry,

And lose the name of action.—Soft you now,

The fair Ophelia!—Nymph, in thy orisons

Be all my sins remembered.

Polonius

In the play, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the character Polonius distinguishes himself as a very unorthodox father figure. First of all, when imparting some last minute advice to Laertes before he leaves, Polonius says, "This above all: to thine own self be true" (1.3.84). In this line, he has more of a compassionate tone towards Laertes, because he wants Laertes to listen and follow the advice in order to uphold the family name. It's not as if Polonius just wants Laertes to have good morals, its just in self interest. While talking to Ophelia about her relations with Hamlet, Polonius says, "Affection, puh! You speak like a green girl unsifted in such perilous circumstance" (1.3.110-111). His tone in this situation is much more offensive and mocking. It is almost as if he has no respect for Ophelia and her feelings whatsoever and that her affection is stupid. This shows that Polonius is not a very supportive father. So what do we have about Polonius? He is selfish, not supportive, and only cares about his reputation. This doesn't sound like a very good father to me. If I had him as a father, I know that I wouldn't be the same kind of person I am today. If there is anything to learn from Polonius's role in the family, it is that I am grateful for the father that I have and am glad that my father thinks about the entire family as opposed to just himself.

Losing and "Harrison Bergeron"

After reading the short story, "Harrison Bergeron", by Kurt Vonnegut and the article, "Losing is Good for You" by Ashley Merryman, I noticed one particular thing that makes humans humans. That thing is that humans are meant to lose. It's in history, it's in modern society all around us, it's even in literature. The point that both Merryman and Vonnegut are trying to make is that society in general would be a very lazy, and dis inspirational place if everybody won. For instance, in the short story, George is depicted to be a very smart person, he probably tries hard and works hard to gain his knowledge. Hazel, on the other hand is not a very bright person, and probably doesn't work as hard to gain her knowledge. Giving the handicap is the same thing as giving a trophy to everyone. The hard workers get it, and the not so hard workers get it. Then the people who work hard and put dedication into their passion, begin to believe that they don't have to work hard to win or succeed. If everyone felt this way, we would have no Steve Jobs or Bill Gates, who worked their butts off to get to their position. Because, "if the person who slacks is being treated the same way I am, whats stopping me from slacking off too?". The main point I am trying to make with this post is not that people who work hard and succeed should not get acknowledged, but it is that the people who don't work hard and fail shouldn't get acknowledged.

"Losing is Good for You" article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/opinion/losing-is-good-for-you.html?_r=1&

A Man Out of His Time

In the poem, "Miniver Cheevy" by Edwin Arlington Robinson, the subject expresses a depressing emotion and that he hates his life. He mentions that he wishes that he would have never been born. This makes me, as a person sad, because I believe that every person should follow his dreams and make the most of their life. It is simply disheartening to hear how Miniver didn't accomplish what he wanted to. However, to make up for this depression that he has fallen into, he creates a fantasy. This fantasy being that he wishes he lived in Medieval times. He loathes and hates the present that he lives in and refers to many historical figures and dreams of being associated with them. I believe that this is good for him, it provides for him an alternate world to live in. However on the down side, it is not reality and dreaming of this fantasy could be doing the opposite of what he tries to do in the first place. It could be giving him more depression because the more he thinks about it, the more he realizes that he can't live in it. At the end of the poem, he realizes this and abandons the false reality and resorts back to drinking implying that he has done a lot of drinking before. In the end, if there is a lesson to learn from this poem, it is to make the most of your life and pursue your dreams before it is too late because its better to work hard to do what you like than to stand idly by and feel depressed about your life.

How Do We Treat Our Weakest Member?

In the short story "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula Le Guin, an interesting concept is brought up. The question is can we live happy and peaceful lives while others suffer to make that life happy and peaceful? I think that many people live like this subconsciously. For instance, in the United States, many people live joyful and conflict-free lives, but they don't realize the amount of sacrifice put into the flourishing of their life. People in China work in extreme conditions to make items that seem almost useless in our eyes, but they sacrificed their time and health just to produce that seemingly "useless" item. I feel that once in a while, people that are more privileged than others should sacrifice for that less privileged person. After reading the two quotations listed below, I realized that our government neglects the children, the needy, the elderly, the poor, or the handicapped often more than not. Especially when someone is blatantly asking for help, it infuriates me that people simply disregard the people that need the most help. I am for sure guilty as well, we are all guilty. Even people that think they are innocent have disregarded someone in need once in their life. Although it is not exactly easy to sacrifice for another, it should still be done especially by those who we consider as role models and leaders. So I leave you with a question to ask yourself: How do I react, when someone less fortunate asks for sacrifice?

"...the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped. " ~ Last Speech of Hubert H. Humphrey

"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Digging Deeper

Over the summer, I read an intriguing poem by Seamus Heaney entitled, "Digging". In this poem, Heaney describes how his father grandfather dug and worked to provide for the family. While Heaney recollects these memories of his father and grandfather digging, he himself is in a personal conflict. He sits at his desk with a pen in his hand as if he were confused. It seems as if Heaney feels guilty because his parents and grandparents worked their butts of to provide for him and all he can do is write. In my life, I watch my mom and dad work extremely hard to provide for my family, but all I feel as if all I can do is let them "dig" for me. This situation is very similar to the situation Heaney is put in. As Heaney finishes the poem, he realizes that he is not useless to the family. His father and grandfather dug to get him where he is in that moment and Heaney should use the gifts that they gave him. If he feels guilty and doesn't use the gift of education that has been bestowed upon him, all of his parent's and grandparent's "digging" has been for nothing. So with the gift that he has, he chooses to write with his pen as if his father was digging with his shovel. As a solution, in my life, I try to make the most of my time at school, challenging myself, and taking advantage of opportunities. It is the same situation, if I don't use the gifts I have been given, all my parent's work would have been in vain. So I leave you, the reader, with a few final words. If someone dug you a hole, jump in it and dig a little deeper.

George Saunders's Commencement Speech Review

As I reread George Saunders's speech, I began to think to myself, what kind of person am I? I’d like to think I’m kind enough to others. I’d like to think I’m the best person that I can be. But as I read his speech, I begin to realize that this level of kindness and success that I am at right now, if i try, I can go further. Way further. I try to think of some kind acts that I have done in the past week or so and I remember saying “Hey,” to a new freshman who was sitting alone. I should have not just said “Hey,” I should have introduced myself, sat down with him, asked him his name, interest hobbies, made him feel not just part of a community like Sage’s but feel wanted. When Saunders mentions that the people who are kindest to us are the people who we remember the most, I couldn't agree more. I will strive to be like the people who are kindest to me in my life and in turn feel successful and happy with myself as a person. What also moved me about Saunders’s speech was when he touched upon that success is hard and does not just happen and succeeding and succeeding and kindness are two things that a person grows with as they get older. I take comfort in the fact that I could be kinder and/or more successful when I get older. Not only that, but it also feeds me with the desire to work hard to become successful and kinder. And when I am older, I will not look back on bad experiences and frown, I will smile with the intent that I know I learned something through that experience and it will make me into the person I am then.

Welcome!

Hello Everybody! Thank you for visiting my blog. I am Cameron, a sophomore at Sage Hill School and I created this blog in hopes that other people would either get a kick out of my writing or experience the same experiences that I do. I believe that writing can be a powerful thing, something that can change a persons mood with just a few sentences. Anyways, I encourage you to read all my stories/insight/commentaries that i post here and check back every week or so. Thank you again for visiting my blog, I hope you have a good quack!