Final Self Assessment

Looking back on all of my blogs I realize that I write about issues that affect minorities. By seeing this, I realize that I truly have the desire to help those who cannot help themselves. The major theme that reoccurs in my writing is injustice. It angers me and I become affronted when I read of it. My posts concerning these injustices have changed. At first I was jus angry that the injustices occur and in my recent posts I realize that I am actually speaking about taking action to help prevent injustices. This change is due to my college experience. At Howard I am taught to put my words into actions and take control of an issue. I must take the issue by the horns and control it that way if I truly wish to see change. It surprised me to see that I felt so strongly about issues that others see as unimportant. Although I was surprised I was very elated to see that what others think about me does not matter and that I spoke up for what I believe in. I feel the need to revisit my letter for awareness. The issue of gun violence is so important to me. I lost my cousin to a gun and I really don’t want anyone else feeling the pain I feel every day. I love blogging and I am happy we were required to do it in this course. It helped me voice my opinion and in the end I always felt better.

Writing research papers on the other hand I find a little difficult. Considering the amount of time I spend in class I understand why. Unfortunately I was very busy this semester, juggling work, school work, family, expenses, drama and my new life on my own. I see this though as a lesson and a time that I learned what to do and what not to do. I realize that I must spend more time in the library and online actually researching not just on Facebook or in a textbook.  I also should have consulted with my professor more during her office hours. I feel like my class participation was good. I always had something to say and I believe I articulated it well. If possible I would start over and gain an A in this course because I know I could. My attendance and failure to not attend office hours resulted in my shortcomings. I feel like I could have learned more about writing however I do believe that I learned a great deal in this course. I use technology much better now and I view things with a broader perspective, traits important for me to possess since I desire to become a lawyer. Thank you Dr. Diaz for your enlightenment. 

Forever I Will Fight

Fight….forever I will fight.

I will rise against this place and these people and this life

I will fight for an existence free from  all the strife

I will not become you, I will not be who you want

I will become a better person, I will be a better  font

And only time will tell you if this life has worked for me

But only I can tell you if I am truly happy

And no I will not cry, no not another tear

I will not run I will not hide I will face this this fear

And you can see me shining as only I ever can

And you will see the the road I chose has made me  a better  woman

My Comments on Other BLOGS

Brooklyn's Blog

Semi Melyssa said...

Ignorance is bliss. And for her she is just trying to make up excuses for her ignorance. It is a shame that people even believe things like that. It's even more of a shame that they feel it is okay to state their prejudices world wide. 

Ashley's Blog

Semi Melyssa said...

It is a shame that so many people have died because of drugs. Drugs are so harmful already and the fact that they cause additional deaths is horrible. I agree with you when you said that the US should not get involved because we are always sticking our finger in something and creating a bigger mess.

December 3, 2010 7:16 AM 

Zakiya's Blog

Semi Melyssa said...

The convocation was so encouraging. I agree with you on that point most definitely. It opened my eyes to why I am in college and how I can get through it. I enjoyed it thoroughly although I was not able to attend. I did however view it online. Amazing!

December 3, 2010 7:11 AM 

Kiya's Blog

Semi Melyssa said...

I totally agree with you. Willow Smith is amazing and I find so mind boggling how someone of her age and stature can perform the way she does. She will definitely become a superstar and Jay-z was very smart to sign her.

December 3, 2010 7:12 AM 

Derrick's Blog

Semi Melyssa said...

I totally agree wit you! I think the Tea Party is a disgrace. It especially upset me to find out that they held a meeting on the day that a march for Martin Luther King Jr. took place. I find them to be arrogant and unimportant.

December 3, 2010 7:28 AM 

College: The Negatives That Accompany It

 College life is amazing. It's what most kids dream of and what teenagers cannot wait to live. There are so many opportunities and experiences that are handed to you the minute you step onto the campus, especially if you are residing there for some time. You make new friends, meet new people and you basically start a new life. At this point in your life you learn new things and take in so much new material including academics and street smarts that you are overwhelmed. Yet there is still a beauty and fun factor in college. Although college and its experience its enjoyable, there are some factors of college that can cause it to be "not so fun".
          Most teens begin to drink and do drugs when they enter college because they are finally released from under the wing of their parents. On a college campus they are exposed to substances like marijuana and alcohol which can hinder their advancement in education if abused. A popular alcoholic beverage called Four Loko is classified as an energy drink and very popular on college campuses. This drink however is very dangerous and most users were not and still are not aware of it. This alcoholic energy drink is equivalent to two large cups of coffee and 5 beers. A mix of caffeine and alcohol is deadly and should be taken seriously but it usually isn't because users love the drunk and wide awake feeling. Some students have even almost lost their lives because of this beverage and they are still attracted to it because of its cheapness. 
          Regardless of the fun time you want to have in college, be aware of the things that can retain you and keep you there longer than you need to be or kick you out and have you miss out on the most important thing, your education. Enjoy college and be aware. 

http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/parenting-family/teen-ya/2010-11-10-alcoholic-energy-drinks_N.htm

Teen Gun Violence

                                                                                                                       Tamika Beatty
                                                                                                                        3546 Hi Lane
                                                                                                                        Los Texas, California, 28976
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Mayor of New York City
12 Wall Street
New York, New York, 10345


Dear Mayor Bloomberg, 
          Gun violence is a very prevalent issue in New York City. Guns are dangerous and harmful and they take the lives of our innocent. Someone needs to work to get these guns off the streets and into the hands of officials because there is no reason why people should loose their loved ones to a weapon that is supposedly illegal to carry without a license.
         Why do so many people possess guns? Where do they get them from? These are some of the questions that need to be answered in order for this gun violence in New York City to be stemmed. Already this year 1,590 have been reported to be victims of gun violence and unfortunately for my family and for me, my cousin Genice is included in those numbers. She was shot and killed in August in front of my brother. They were at a store that we saw as the hangout spot. Nothing ever went totally wrong there. We were always relaxing and chilling but now that is not the case. I lost my cousin, who was like a sister to me in front of that store and my wounds will not heal. This gun violence needs to stop! 
          Once again, please try your hardest to do something about the gun violence in New York City so that less people don't have to deal with the loss of a loved one. I wish someone would have took actions too stop or just even decrease gun violence among teens in Staten Island because I would not be suffering the pain of my cousin being buried in the ground instead of around me joking and laughing making my day brighter. So please make efforts to take guns of the streets of New York to decrease the cold deaths among teens.
                                
                                                                                                 Sincerely,
                                                                                        A heartbroken teen
http://www.nytimes.com/keyword/gun-violence

Levy Finally Set Free?

          Chandra Levy was an intern in Washington D.C. She disappeared nearly a decade ago and her disappearance was questioned. Some people thought it had something to do with a romantic connection between her and congressman Gary Condit however officials established that that was not the case. After time, inspectors found similarities in recent murders and the murder of Chandra Levy when her remains were found in Washington's Creek Park. They traced these patterns to a cold blooded killer named Ingmar Guandique, a Salvadorian immigrant. Recently, Guandique was tried for Levy's murder and a verdictrt has been made, yet not put out to the public. 
          It is a shame that people must live in fear because of cases like these. No one would ever think something like this could happen to them, I bet Chandra Levy didn't, yet it happened to her. We all must be aware of our surroundings and trust no one because unfortunately this is where it could get us. So spread awareness and be aware. 


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/specials/chandra/

There Is No Planet B

Environmental Racism; who would have thought that such an issue exists in our world? I definitely wouldn’t have. Yet it does and it is very prevalent in the United States. Is racism that important to the offender that people of color are even targeted and purposely placed in harmful polluted communities where factories are present?  Environmental racism is a shame.

Not only are communities of color being targeted but also people in general. The government and elites in the political system are keeping quiet on crazy facts that we as citizens of the United States who possess human and civil rights should know. Like the fact that 80% of juice boxes that we consume contain lead or that 40% of rain forests were torn down in Central America to pasteurize cattle for the U.S. market burgers. Our environment and our bodies are being destroyed by the government who feel that depopulating the earth is one solution to help the earth. We Americans are unconscious of these facts and more that ultimately affect our bodies and our lives. But one major point that we people must be aware of is the fact that everything is business in this society and in business emotions aren’t taken into consideration. Mr. Zaccai stated that “There is no planet B.” Therefore we must be aware of the tactics the government has to destroy the human population and the earth and we must be aware of the things we do unintentionally that harm the world in which we must live. Go green and help save the earth. Love yourself enough to make a change in your lifestyle and enlighten others about the government and what is happening to the earth so they can make a change also.