My blogging experience

     When I first began this class, I did not know what a blog was? For that matter, I didn’t know what face book was. Then I entered this class for the first time, thinking how English class was back in my high school days. Remembering how easy the class was and their definitely was minimal computer work. Reality kicked in around the time that Ms. Croker mentioned that we must create a blog to keep in contact with classmates and to show her our work online. I instantly froze, thinking I do not know where to begin to create a blog even though she had instructions. A couple of classmates that sat next to me thought the same way I did. Unfortunately, it became too much for them and they dropped the class. Immediately after that I started feeling lost. Dropping the class did cross my mind a couple of times but I said to myself, “You are going to pass this class no matter what.”

            Now, I see blogging as a great way to communicate with others and to voice your opinion. Unfortunately, I will not continue my blog due to a limited amount of time that I have as I pursue my career. I definitely enjoyed my classmate’s blogs. How they expressed themselves and what their goals are for their future. I really enjoyed my wonderful friend, Rowena Lejano’s blog. Vincent’s blog was always entertaining and stylish. Adam Michaelson’s blog was always well written. Everyone in my class had a unique quality in there writing. I am going to miss reading there blogs and commenting to them. I wish all of my classmate’s good luck in the future and God bless.

Ted lectures

     My first impression of the TED videos that I chose to watch was that I am glad someone is trying to make a difference. Bittman and Cooper were very strong persuasive speakers that gave me knowledge that I will try to enforce in my own lifestyle. The most evident facts were that we are bringing global warming upon ourselves and that our eating habits are very much to blame. What impressed me the most was the choice of words each speaker used to convey a message across to anyone who cared to make a change in their lifestyle. What depressed me the most is what our children actually consume in our schools. We give our children lunch money and believe that they are consuming a healthy meal. But in reality, they are consuming a whole bunch of processed food. Both speakers inspired me to think differently in the way I cook for my family and what we all consume. I would definitely attend a seminar to listen to these great speakers. I just wish our local school district would adopt the same way of thinking regarding healthier eating. I can definitely use Cooper’s persuasive speech towards my upcoming research paper.

Important people

There have been many people that have played key roles in my life but none compare to the four I am going to write about. The first important person in my life is not with us any longer. This person was my father. He was a tall, slender and handsome man with a great personality. My father’s demeanor was the best that a man could have. He was always polite, courteous, and always willing to lend a helping hand. Every time I seen my father it was like seeing a ray of sunshine. The reason why he was so important to me was he always gave me words of encouragement. He made me feel like I could accomplish anything I set my mind to do. This is why he is important to me and why I must make him proud by becoming a nurse.

            Another important person in my life is my daughter, Ashleigh. She is the most ambitious, talented, and intelligent person I know. She is medium in height, brown hair and eyes with a beautiful slender figure. She has a graceful demeanor and is very polite. The reason why she is important in my life is not only because she is my daughter, but she has given me inspiration to work around all of my obstacles. She never allows me to give up and is always there for me in every way.

            My son Thomas is an awesome person. He brings me so much joy in my life that words cannot describe. Thomas is medium in height, dark, slender and super handsome. He has such a beautiful smile and a big heart. He will help anyone in need and always puts others first before himself. The reason why he is important to me is not only because he is my son, but he reminds me every day to live each day like it was my last. 

           The last important person in my life is my son, Jacob. Tall, light-skinned and handsome he has a way with everyone. He is with no doubt the funniest, easy going, and spectacular son that anyone can have. He makes me smile even when things are not going my way. Always joking around and jumping around like a monkey, he is sure to get your attention. The reason why he is so important to me is because he reminds me of how fun life can be and why I am so proud to be a mom.

Where have all the jobs gone?

According to a recent article the outlook on the economy is starting to look up. All the jobs that disappeared in late 2007 have not returned but we are slowly coming out of the recession. The unemployment rate is still at an all time high which is 10%. Some new jobs have been created but not enough for all of those that have been lost. Individuals that do have jobs are performing more duties to compensate for the positions that were eliminated.

            Fortunately, for individuals that have a degree, they have a better chance of getting the job than someone who does not. A degree gives you a better paying job and better odds of finding a job in these tough times. The jobs to look out for are the “green” jobs and the healthcare profession.  Job placement counselors at universities and local junior colleges are encouraging students to get high grades and to begin job search early. Even though the job market is not a very good one, college graduates are the most fortunate in the labor force.

            Women are said to have seen where the job market is heading to so they are becoming highly skilled and well educated individuals. Men on the other hand are not keeping up with women in the job market. Many jobs have now become automated and others have been exported to other countries with cheaper labor costs.

            Government officials say that Congress should freeze tax rates and keep minimum wage at its lowest possible to help the low-wage earner climb the ladder. Allowing employers to create jobs for the unemployed. Economists fear that individuals in their late 40’s and early 50’s bracket will find themselves jobless due to not having the skills needed for the future.

            Personally, I hope this article opens the eyes of many individuals that fall into an age bracket which requires them to return to school. It will help keep them employed and up to date with new technology.

Katel, Peter. "Jobs Outlook." CQ Researcher 20.21 (2010): 481-504. CQ Researcher. Web. 17 Nov. 2010. <http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2010060400>

Fast Food Nation will it affect my life or not?

            Reading Fast Food Nation has brought many thoughts to mind. The most important thought is, Will I continue eating fast food at the rate that I do at the present moment? The answer to that question is “NO”. Now that I am aware of the sanitary conditions and the mistreatment of animals, I will definitely try my best not to consume fast food as much. For example, I went to a local hamburger restaurant the day before last and felt ill right after I ate the burger remembering what I had learned from Fast Food Nation.  It will take a lot of will power to keep me away from French fries. I love them with a passion but I do not like the ingredients in them. So I will be making wiser choices for myself as well as my family. My kids say, “Mom, just take us to McDonald’s” and in return I say, “Let’s try something a little bit healthier.” Of course it is always a battle but 8 times out of 10, they end up eating healthier food. Having read Fast Food Nation has opened up my eyes about “meat” in general. I will no longer see fast food the same.    

Fall 2010 English class

            So far the fall semester at Oxnard College is going quite well. The students in my class are eager to learn and ready to finish the class. You must have motivation to finish anything you start. Motivation for this class is a must. There is definitely a large amount of writing to be done in this class. You must have endurance and perseverance to complete all of the assignments that the professor gives. The one thing that keeps me motivated is that I am one class closer to beginning the career of my choice. I have always wanted a good paying job and a job that I love. I have settled for less for so many years. Now is the time to have my dream job. This would be the ultimate payoff.

            I have been in college for three years now, which is quite unbelievable to me. Time flies when you’re having fun. I have enjoyed learning various different science and math courses. And of course, my English class which has taught me how to write and express myself through my essays and summaries. It is like the saying goes: if you don’t use it, you lose it. I have learned so much in these three years from intermediate algebra to chemistry. From formulas to equations, they were most challenging, but I conquered these obstacles. This classes were so intense for me that I would literally go home crying. But, I would tell myself, want doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. These courses have surely shown me this. Anatomy and Physiology were also amazingly interesting. I learned so much about the human body that it has made me aware of my own health. The way the human body functions is incredible. Now I know why diet and exercise are a must if you want to take care of yourself.

            The only challenge I believe that I face is the immense amount of time that you must give to the RN program. Dedication and perseverance must be shown if you want to go into this profession. I hope with the help of my family, I will be able to achieve my goal.

Truth or lies......

Can you spot the truth from the lies?

1) I went to Egypt and climbed a pyramid. It was fascinating!!!!

2) I ventured to the Amazon forest when I was 25 years old. It was the best time of my life….

3) I have had fifteen jobs in 25 years.

4) I had my first child and got married at sixteen.

5) I have a cat that weighs over 25 lbs.

Life.......

What is Life

Life

A great and amazing thing

Joy

Happiness

All the things you want it to be

Be who you want to be

Do what you want to do

Life

Gods given gift

Cherish it

Embrace it

Enjoy it

Life is too short not to

Life

Won’t always be there

It’s limited

So do what you can

What is life

The greatest gift of all

Bilingual education

            Bilingual education I believe is an important asset to our community. The majority of our population in our country, the great USA, is people of Latino descent. Many individuals may criticize this statement, but is ultimately true.  School board members across the country were trying to come up with a solution involving education. For the most part, many individuals that migrate from other countries do not have much education. There are few, if any, that are educated. Many immigrants come to the United States to have a better opportunity for themselves and their families. All are seeking the American dream. They want the opportunity to have good jobs and a better way of life than what they would in their country.

 So you ask, why have bilingual education instead of all English-language learners?  First of all, school administrators have to find a way to bring all children up to the same learning level. If a child comes to the U.S. only speaking a certain language, they must be taught to learn the English language. A reasonable approach to this would be to gradually transition them by teaching bilingual education. Eventually, those children will learn to only speak the English-language. This emphasizes the law that many schools have “no child shall be left behind.” One day these children will become part of our working class. All children in the U.S. should be given the opportunity to become well-educated, law abiding citizens.

The reason bilingual education benefits the new generation is because they will one day join the workforce. They will help individuals that are older that cannot speak or understand the English language. This is a huge benefit to society so the older non-English speaking generation will be aware what is being presented to them. Such as, what they are signing and what someone is trying to explain to them. It is a win, win situation for everyone.

 

Family.... can't live with them and can't live without them

            Family is an important concept for everyone. We can’t live with them……yet, we can’t live without them. My family consists of five members, my husband, my daughter, my two sons, and myself. My family means the world to me and there isn’t one thing, which I wouldn’t do for them.

            Each of us has our own personality, which at times conflict with one another. Somehow we manage to cope with the good times…. as well as the bad. There are days when we are inseparable. Although, we love each other unconditionally, there are days that we pass each other by because we have disagreements. All that matters is that we are here for one another. My family has a bond which I instilled in them since my first child was born. We look out for one another and we do whatever we can to make life easier for each other. I have always told my children that they should always be willing to do for one another, since all they have is each other. All in all…..we are family till the end.

            We have busy schedules from school to work and going back in forth with errands. Somehow, in between our hectic lives, we manage to eat dinner together to talk about our day. We all do chores together so our living area does not become unmanageable. Yikes!

            When I plan family vacations, I make sure that all of our schedules coincide. It means a great deal to me for all of us to vacation together. I want to show my children that we are a united family and spending time with one another is priceless. There are occasions, were we cannot all go at the same time, so I will reschedule for another time. One of our favorite vacations is visiting Yosemite National Park during the summer or winter. My family and nature are a perfect fit. We look forward every year to this vacation.

            My life would be quite boring and lonely if I didn’t have my family around me 24/7. I cherish every day I spend with them. I hope one day, my children will have the opportunity to have a family that they can cherish as well. One day my family will grow and I can’t wait until the day that my grandchildren are born. I will spoil them rotten. The nice part about it is that I can give them back to their parents when I am done spoiling them.

 I am very fortunate that God has blessed me with my family. Family means everything to me and I could not ask for anything more.

Interview Blog

            My interview was with Luis Roberto Candido. Luis is from Puerto Rican and El Salvadorian descent. He migrated from El Salvador at the young age of 8. When Luis and his family made it to the states, they settled in El Rio, Ca.  He is the eldest of 3 children and a mentor to his younger brother and sister. He describes himself as egocentric, intelligent, and very ambitious. Luis’s motto is “Get it done.” He likes to keep busy to get ahead and would like to make good money one day.

            Luis has always been enthusiastic about school….having a GPA of 3.8 in high school. Always striving to have good grades; knowing one day it would get him somewhere. Although he did go to college right after high school, he did not do very well. So he decided to take a couple of years off.  Then he decided to return to school, knowing that he wanted to receive a degree. He decided to attend Oxnard College because it was local and the easy access. Although, he states that improvements could be made to the clustered parking lots.

            He is currently employed and enjoys his job because it allows him to utilize his ideas. At times, the corporation will give him projects that he is willing and eager to do. Projects allow Luis to show his many talents and fabulous ideas at work.  Luis’s mentor is his boss Susan; which he admires greatly because of her intelligence.

            Luis is influenced by his culture to stay focused and obtain a degree. So that one day, he can pursue his dream in business administration or project management. He is also determined to have a job that he enjoys in an area that not many Latinos have entered.  In 10 years, he sees himself as a project manager for the company he currently works for.

Returning to school after 20 years……

            It was about three years ago, a flier to go back to school, all expenses paid presented

itself in the pharmacy. It was around 3:00p.m., the day was winding down. I was tired and not

 paying much attention to the flier. The pharmacy was quiet, fax machine was going and

 everyone was racing around trying to get their work done by the end of the day. I thought to

 myself of all the repeated work I had performed for 12 years and how I could do much more

 with myself and for others.

            Veronica, a co-worker of mine, blonde-haired, green-eyed average height women

 approached me. She said, “Yvonne, there is an opportunity to go back to school all expenses

paid.” The flier stated that prerequisite classes were being offered for nursing. I asked, “How

much is it really going to cost us?” “Nothing is ever free.” she replied, “Our union for St. John’s

will be paying for all costs.” Veronica was very optimistic and enthusiastic about going back to

school. She was always looking for better opportunities to better herself and help others do the

same.

            I recalled back in my high school years doing really well in school, and I had a GPA of

 3.75. Honestly, it was quite scary, thinking of returning to school with all of these

 young, intelligent individuals fresh out of high school. I thought to myself, “My school days are

 over.” How could I possibly go back to school with having to care for three children and a

 husband? “Impossible”, is the word that came to mind. Finally, after giving this matter a lot of

thought, I said to Veronica, “I think we can do this.” You know, go back to school and maybe

even become registered nurses. She paused and looked at me with admiration in her eyes and

said, “You really think we can become RN’s?” I said, “We can be anything we want to be.”

Now, I felt nervous about placing myself first and going back to school. I had always

 been conscientious about my children doing well in school and helping them with their studies.

I was not use to placing my personal needs first. When Veronica approached me with going back

to school, I truly was not interested. I was still thinking to myself, “How am I going to

pull this off?” Managing going to work full time, school, and attending to a family of five is no

easy task.

            My first day at school was quite awkward. I felt out of place and thought I should be at

 home with my family. I could be cooking, cleaning, and helping the children with their studies.

I felt guilty in a way, even though I had explained to them why I was going back to school. I felt

I was abandoning them and being selfish. My husband was very supportive of my choice .We

both knew it was a great opportunity for me.

            Once I had convinced myself that I was going to return to school, the classes

 flowed one after another, challenging my brain to think once again. Starting with a Biology

 course was not easy to accomplish. I tried my best and received a “B” in the  class. I thought to

 myself, not bad for starting off after 20 years. My studies continued with Anatomy, Physiology,

 Chemistry, and Microbiology just to name a few. I began to feel very proud of myself receiving

“A’s” and “B’s” for grades and never allowing myself to receive anything less. Stimulating my

brain and challenging myself, I brought out one of my best abilities. The ability to learn once

 again.

I thought to myself, I work in a hospital setting which will allow me to get experience for

the career I plan on pursuing. What more can I ask for you. This is a calling for me. A new

 career, doing something that I enjoy rather than doing something I have to do to survive.

            My workplace allows me to see nurses interact with patients and how the healing

process takes place. It is quite interesting and you need to be knowledgeable to interact with the

 physicians. When a physician requests something of you, you will need to respond quickly and

 with all precaution. You are dealing with delicate lives and want to make the safest and most

 responsible decision for the patient you are caring for.

             Examples of registered nurses duties are: interacting with families regarding their

loved ones and making sure the patient gets the right care and correct medication. This type of

work truly interests me and so I continue to complete my courses. Pursuing my dream of one

 day becoming a registered nurse, I continue going to school. I am now one course away from

 getting into a nursing program. I never thought this day would come. I am anxious and scared

 but once I start something, I must finish it.

            At the end of each day, I still have the same dream until I reach my goal. I will continue

 with my courses until I receive a bachelor’s degree in nursing. As encouragement for students

 deciding to go to college, education will open many opportunities for you in your life as it has in

 mine. Whatever field you choose to enter, make sure it is rewarding for you. You want to be

 able to make a difference and be glad you made the right decision to go into that field.

Texting while driving

Texting while driving…….will it be banned?


Texting is a convenient form of communication. It allows you to have hands on access to communicating without having to hear a conversation between two individuals. This is an excellent form of communication if you want privacy. Parents utilize this feature to communicate with their children to know their whereabouts and safety.

On another note, texting while driving is a whole different issue. Individuals may think what harm is there in texting while driving. Just to name a few, it causes accidents to occur, it is a distraction, and a fine is imposed if you are pulled over by the police in some states. You may think, what is one ticket for texting while driving. It carries double the fine than talking on a cell phone. First offense is a $50.00 fine, plus administrative fees which will end up costing you around $350.00. On the second offense, the fine doubles to $700.00. So in reality, it is not worth the trouble to text while you drive.

Eighteen states have adopted the new law to ban cell phone use whether calling or texting. In my opinion, banning cell phone use while driving is a realistic approach to saving lives. It will mean less accidents and less distraction. It promotes safety for all individuals on the road.

Blog #3 Reality TV

Reality shows entertain…..……

Many young and mature adults are obsessed over reality television shows. The reality show “Jersey Shore” is one of the most popular this season. I do watch certain reality shows that I find appealing. Examples of two reality shows that I watch are “American Idol” and “Dancing with the stars”. These two particular shows can be quite addicting.

I enjoy watching young people try out to become singing sensations. I also enjoy mature adults becoming fantastic dancers over a course of a couple of weeks. As the contestants become better performers, the addiction to reality shows become greater. As a religious viewer, you choose your favorites by calling and voting on who you think is the best contestant. There are times where you feel like you are capable of dancing and singing just like them.

I believe that reality shows are guilty pleasures. The reality show will reel you in. Once you are hooked, you have to see the show religiously every night it is showing. For example, when young adults watch “The Hills” or “Jersey Shore”, they start believing in the gossip, bikinis, plastic surgery, break-ups and hook-ups that these celebrities go through. For a mature group of adults, “Jon and Kate plus Eight” was the show to watch. Once the drawn out messy divorce came about, the ratings dropped. Many of these reality show celebrities end up in bad situations due to the high publicity, drug use, divorce, scandal, and even death.

Some reality shows can be harmful to society and in other ways people can learn from them. As a parent you do not want your young children watching shows that are vulgar and obscene. Yet, on the other hand, you want your children to know what is healthy and what is not. When watching these young adult reality shows you have to wonder who gives these people money to pay rent, utilities or to go out to clubs. Some young people watching these shows believe that they can live the same lifestyle as reality shows. Once the true reality sets in, young viewers will find out that life is harder than what the show displays. Unfortunately, these young viewers will be in for a rude awakening.

Reality shows do affect society as most of us have been influenced by them. Whether good or bad, reality shows have become an established entertainment business.

Fast Food Blog

Everyone’s addiction “Fast Food”…….


In my childhood, fast food definitely was not part of my life. My mother made home cooked meals everyday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I came from a one income family and money was very limited.

Breakfast in the morning consisted of fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy potatoes, hot and spicy chilaqueles, and tangy refried beans made with fresh cheese sprinkled on top. Of course, refried beans were always in each meal like a ritual. Lunch consisted of fresh cold cuts inside a fresh, warm roll of bread called a torta. This lunch was always fulfilling which made it hard to return to school or to what you were doing before lunch. After lunch, a siesta would have been in order. Our Mexican dinners were always the best with freshly made flour tortillas right off the skillet on a daily basis. Dinner was the time when all the flavorful Mexican dishes that we all have grown to love were made. Savory enchiladas, tacos, tostadas, sopes, chile verde, and chicken mole just to name a few. You name it, my mother made it fresh and with a lot of love. I believe all of this wonderful food compensated for a life without fast food. All though these meals were very high in calories, they were no different than eating fast food in a way.

The day I ate fast food for the first time gave me such joy. My sixth grade teacher bought me a burger for helping her clean up the class room. At first, I hesitated to indulge in such pure bliss. I was a teenager craving all of this wonderful fast food that was endlessly played on television commercials. My first cheeseburger and fries were from Carl’s Jr. The burger was very juicy with cheese melted on the patty and the fries were hot, crispy and delicious. Since that day, I have been addicted to fast food. I had convinced my mother to try fast food instead of cooking for once. Once a month she would treat us to Taco Bell, McDonald’s, or Carl’s Jr. without entirely taking away the wholesome food we were raised with.

Now as an adult, I have introduced my own family to fast food and I rely on it at least three times a week. Whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner, fast food has made my life more convenient. I should reduce eating out to at least two days per week to be health conscious. Nonetheless, the fast food industry will remain to prosper.

Fast food is easy to order, convenient, and saves a working parent a whole lot of time. Thank you to McDonald’s, Carl’s Jr., Panda Express, and all of the other contributing fast food chains. Yet, I still try to make some of those wonderful homemade meals my mother instilled in me.

Yvonne: Yvonne's world.........

Yvonne: Yvonne's world.........: "Hello ...... My name is Yvonne Martinez I was born in the quaint city of Port Hueneme, Ca. A beautiful small town off the Pacific Coast. I ..."