Reflection 8

They way my parents socialized me to understand my social class is very different from how the media has portrayed it to be. For example, media has taught women to be more physically attractive then to have the knowledge and the skills to become independent. Meaning if you don’t have the coca-cola shape or cut in all the right places you were not the catch of the day. Media has defined people and society into making one believe they can live in a “perfect” world, but in all reality when we look closely at society and places around us we see the day by day struggles. My parents have taught me in order to be strong and significant, I must identify who I am and know my own self-worth which is a value that is not based on my outer appearance. Media has put such a high impact on outer appearance and the only way to happiness is by material possessions. I have been taught that life doesn’t come easy; one must work at all levels to achieve a certain level of success. Good looks don’t pay the bills or mortgage! You know, I look back on some of the things my parents have taught me and the main value they have instilled in me is being independent. When it comes to gender and sexism is such a broad category and can refer to many things such as stereotyping, racism, and discrimination. When we see a Police Officer or Firefighter one conclude it’s a man and women are not as equally qualified in such a career field. Just as if we were to call on repair service or a Plummer we automatically stereotype it’s a male. I also thought how we use the word he when describing people in a whole. Gender and sexism has been into play from many years ago and in most parts of the world still take place. Some men look at women as being uneven or not the same when it comes to certain things in life. In modern day, sexism is also something women can display as well when it comes to domestic violence and even in certain careers as doing hair or nails. If we see a man doing hair, we conclude he is gay which is stereotyping a person based on a job. We all in some sort judge or put people in certain categories based on looks and career choices. In closing, as far as sexual relationships I personally have not much to say pertaining to this area because I feel when two people are together there are needs and desires they have which sex is one. Sex is a natural need that both men and women have no matter how saved or holy you deem yourself to be. Personally, it’s not a bad thing, but when a person abuse it , that’s when it’s something more to than a feeling.

Reflection 7

How do we view the way our culture performs? Is it right for parents to allow their children to go through a series of pain and suffering to teach them how to be civilized adults? Is how we see their rites of passage wrong? Reading these articles has really opened my eyes to see cultures and their differences and learning how to accept them. Rites of passage in my opinion, deal with transforming or the process from one stage in life to the next. In the article Mt. Kenya it clearly discusses how that particular tribe would allow their children to go through a rigorous process of purification and cleansing. The processes consist of many ceremonial performances of dancing, singing and drawing out evil spirit. I personally think this process is something that is well thought out and is not a fly by night deal. There are many things these children must go through in order to be accepted within their community and do we disagree because we do not understand why they do this. Then there is the actual performance of the purification. I would not allow my daughter at that age to actually go through such a process as that. For one, it is very unsafe to have a vital part of the vagina cut without any real medical attention. What parent in their right mind would want their child especially their daughter to go through something like that.
Then there is the article discussing the mythological aspect of how a certain culture allow their child to live in a forest or attend a school that teaches them certain rules and if they were not obedient to what was being taught they all of a sudden died. As a parent I really look at how we value our children and what we really believe what’s best for them as a whole. Certain cultures believe in raising their children in different ways which is something we cannot judge because we have not been accepted into that particular society. Is our way of raising a child the right way? Or allowing them to go through a painful process is the best way to adulthood? In closing rites of passages has a lot to do with teaching and being able to be effective in a student’s life. Rites of passage to me, is something that must start with an individual. An educator must be able to step out of the old mindset and began to change their thinking and ways of performance. Meaning going through the process of understanding differences and accepting people for who they are regardless of how strange we think they are.

Little Rock Nine-Reflection 6

The Little Rock Nine were strong individuals who overcame the fears and injustice during a period of discrimination and unfairness. Those nine students set into motion the willpower to achieve what others never dreamt of accomplishing which was facing the malicious injustice of segregation and discrimination. Things many feared of not ever doing in their life span. They were a legacy that we as a black people should imitate daily to overcome obstacles that try to block us from succeeding in life. I look back on the injustice they had to face on a daily basis in order to receive an education. Every day they encountered numerous of racial slurs and comments, getting into brawls with white students all because of the color of their skin. Even today, we still face differences and battles of diversity in culture, race, and statue. The Little Rock Nine allowed me to see how we must take a stand for what we believe in and let our ever sounding voice be heard to the highest mountain top. Day by day they dealt with the feeling of not being wanted, not fitting in, and accessible mistreatment from others. I personally couldn’t even phantom of walking a mile in their shoes. Having to be escorted to and from in order not to be in the way of harm. Could I ever imagine wanting to be them? Never! In actuality, we really don’t know the full truth of what they had to face on a daily basis. From many life experiences, I have learned when hatred is present the best thing to do is humble yourself and focus on what’s the ultimate purpose is. Being the outspoken person that I am, they would have kicked me out the first day of school because I would not have been able to bear the things that was said and done to them. I look at this moment in history where you have nine black Americans, who some said could never amount to nothing have changed the life of history. This story of bravery and honor proves that no matter what a person may face in life, you can overcome it. No matter what people may say or do, one must be determined to fight the fight and prevail over the negative things people throw against us. I have not experienced the things that the Little Rock Nine did, but one thing I do know is they reach their goal, become college graduates, and living successfully. Can we not do the same when we are faced with obstacles that are too hard? Can we not say to self I am determined and well able to trample over this high mountain? One can learn from the courageous nine that life is what we all make it to be whether we succeed or fail is all in the faint of our destiny.

Wet Foot, Dry Foot Reflection

What do we stand for as a people? Is the question I asked myself? Do we stand for nothing and fall for everything we hear and see through media and television? Do we allow politics to brainwash us with their under-handed skims that allow us to think they are for the people, trying to be a better nation under God? Do we live our daily lives in deceit and plain out ignorance because we believe and feel to be free and librated from man? After reading the article, I was enlighten, well-informed and set FREE from the bondages of the lack of knowledge that goes on in this world. We, as a people in whole no matter from what part of the world must come into the knowledge and sovereignty of our culture and history. I cannot began to fathom on what our government has portrayed to acts of innocence but clearly deceiving the American people. As I continued to read this article, my thoughts reflected on the Haitian population. It is time to stop blaming and pointing the fingers, but replicate back on the history and disturbing acts that was committed years and years ago from the country’s politics and government. Destruction has been into play even before all the issues of migration took place. When are we going to stand up for our rights and began to free ourselves from irrational bondages of hear- say? We base our beliefs and hatred towards people and yet to know why we came to those conclusions. In order for one to be librated, one must first liberate themselves. This battle of the wet foot, dry foot issue is unjust, unmerited, and plain out UNFAIR! I honestly, do not like to go into one culture vs. the other but let us begin to think on what’s right and start putting those thoughts into motions. Let’s begin to doing the right thing for ALL PEOPLE. A lot of these major events took place, during times of discrimination and segregation and the during those time “white man” did not believe in giving black Americans the opportunity to advance in life or to make a better living for our legacy. Black Americans have been in bondage and slavery for many and many of years even to this day. We see our fellow brother or sister down and over look them because we are AFRAID they may over step us or become better than we are, but people it is time for us to make a change! This is a time for all people black and white to make a difference for the sanctity of all God’s creatures. Are we really living our Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream just because we have a black president in office? Or are we still in-slaved by the snares of our ancestors. People we must take a stand for something or we will fall for anything.

Reflection Paper 5

Culture is and has been defined by many meanings and definitions, but the meaning of culture must come from ones interpersonal experiences and revelations of life. Culture in my opinion, is a wide variety of people with different backgrounds, traditions, viewpoints, and common ways of life. I believe a set of people who are equal in value, opportunity, and freedom. The way we live our lives on a daily basis and the things that influence our core values and beliefs. How we behave and interact with others make up the recipe of culture, the morals and principles that allows us to conduct ourselves like civilized human beings. It instructs and trains us how to see the world, understand how others feel, and view them as a whole. Sometimes we cannot look beyond a person outward appearance based on our own irrelevant stereotypes and assumptions. Stereotyping enforces what to know and except before interacting with others that are different from us.
Then when we get into intercultural communication, it brings on a whole other way of how we judge. I deem intercultural communication deals with how we converse with one another in our own society and others. When words are verbalized through speech, that’s how we effectively communicate with others and a process of understanding should take place. If we are communicating with another culture, a dialogue is in effect and. If we are speaking to someone from Haiti for instance, our way of speaking may mean something completely opposite of what they perceive it to be. In my personal view point culture and intercultural does not float on the same boat for many reasons. For one, cultures put in picture of how we perform, what and how to do things. On the other hand, intercultural communication goes past that. Communication deals with unknown signals and how we filter information. In certain countries some communication spoken is not direct or straight forwarded meaning to get to a conclusive point words high context communication is used. Overall, I have gained reasonable insight on how to display kindness and care towards others who are not like me. A person who is aware of cultural differences display a good attitude towards others, treat them as they would want to be treated, and pursue gratitude of compassion. A well rounded cultural person acts and behaves accordingly towards people and language they do not understand. In closing, we live in a diverse world and we will never come to the fullness of how to be a multicultural person, but we must take steps in learning how to accept and tolerate.

Embracing Differences-Reflection 4

Being in a world of different cultures, races, and beliefs we are surrounded by diversity on a daily basis. My personal meaning of diversity is accepting one regardless of sexuality or gender providing them with a safe learning environment for success and achievement. As educators, we must embrace the differences in the lives of students no matter how they look or where they come from. We speak to people of different languages and viewpoints that change our mental thinking on how we see life. In order to be an effective teacher in this modern world, we must learn how to except people for who they are regardless of how we may seem them differently. As a future educator, we are going to have many diverse students in our class and we must know how to except them for who they are and put our personal feelings to the side. We are also going to hear different viewpoints on what we should do has educators and how we can be effective in our classrooms. If truth be told we have to gain our perspective and begin from there. Diversity is such a common word that has been used throughout my studies and is a characteristic we must pursue on a daily basis in the classroom setting. I have had many experiences that have prepared me for diversity and helped me become a better person. About five years ago, I met a friend and he was bi-sexual. In my personal beliefs, I do not believe that God intended for man and man or woman and woman to be joined in marriage, but I cannot allow what I believe to stop me from having a healthy relationship with this person. To be quite honest, it’s one of the best friendships I have encountered. Personally, I do not feel a person can be well-prepared for diversity, but one must be open-minded to things in life and the viewpoint of others. Even though being open-minded is something we must all be able to portray, we must also remember that our own values and beliefs is what influences our world and at the ending of the day we must have a sense of who we are as educators and what we personally believe. I have been in many classroom setting and have seen a wide variety of student’s whether Spanish or Creole, an effective teacher treats them all the same. In closing, we are going to experience many different things in our lives and we have to embrace diversity. Diversity is a wide community of things and people, race and gender and differences.

My Life

Well to begin with, my name is Tameka Dishawn Johnson and I was born and raised in the beautiful and sunny Miami, Florida. I am an Education major who believes in the core and spiritual values of life. I am a first time parent of a beautiful ten month old little girl by the name of Amarria Di`Nay Bellamy. God is the only giver of life and she has been a special blessing to me since the day she was born. Recently, she was diagnosed with a Bronchial Cleft, which is a small opening in the neck that causes liquids to leak on occasions. She had to get a CAT Scan with contrast done and had to be sedated for about an hour. To see my child go through this, I wouldn’t even wish it on my worst enemy, but by the grace of God all is well. She is a well developed child and is very healthy and happy. I live for my daughter and she inspires me to live life to the fullest and accomplish all my hopes and dreams. I have experienced many things in life from heart brakes, failures, and challenges. But, you know when life hands you the negative side, pick yourself up, pick up all the pieces and move forwards because when you look back it can hold you down from experiencing a bright future. Life has taught me many of lessons and to this day I am a stronger and brighter person. Just a little about my life when I was six months pregnant, my grandmother lost her life to the illness of life. She was like a piece of me, of whom I was, and when she passed it felt as if blood stopped pumping to my heart. I have not yet come to the realization that she is gone but, day by day acknowledge that she is no longer here. I have a beautiful and supportive family who is not all so perfect, but we stick together no matter what. I plan on becoming a teacher that educate and inspire. When I look at the world around me, it helps me gain a better understanding of why we need teachers who have the passion and commitment to change lives. I’m heading towards a brighter and better future to make a better life for my child and me and if I press towards the goal of life I will succeed. I never to deem myself perfect or better than others, I live my life at a level of excellence and strive for the best things in life.

Reflection Paper 3

I know this is just the beginning of class, but this out of all articles read; in my opinion has been the most complicated one to comprehend. It began with explaining the meaning of frames, framing and framework, then concluded to speaking on paradigms. My personal interpretation of paradigms is ones view point or real life observation of things experienced. For example, if I was a woman who consistently maneuvered from one relationship to the next without taking time out to heal and find out the value within myself, outwardly people will assume that I struggle with low self-esteem or deal with inward issues. This moves me to the meaning of a paradigm shift, a (mental) renewal or change of one’s life through the changing of life or an experience in life. Using the example from above, a paradigm shift can take place when an event occurs in life that will cause her to awaken from the old state of mind. She will begin to make rational decisions that will change her life for the best.
Yes, I have had many paradigm shifts in my life. One that comes to thought is when I was in a depression stage where things were just not going as planned. At that point I thought I had to lower my standards and do what others wanted me to do to be happy. Until one day, a shift of the mental thinking changed. I began to see my own self value and worth as a woman trying to have a better life. It is important for current and future educators to have a paradigm shift because in order to be an effective teacher that inspire, the mind must go through daily transformations. Being stuck in one set frame of mind will never leave a legacy for students. Through life experiences, it pushed me to make major changes in my life to become a better person. Transformations have been in existence since the beginning of time, something happens, and then a change takes place. God created the earth, man lived happily on earth, and woman eats forbidden fruits, sin then comes. Things never remain the same no matter how we want them to. In my opinion, diversity is what transformed think is all about. Especially in our world today, we must encounter paradigm shifts to effectively teach. About three years ago, I was an office secretary at a middle school and we had quit a few students with behavioral problems and I wondered why. I finally came up with my own conclusions that there are some inward issues that these students are dealing with and we must be able to aid them.

Reflection Paper 2

As a person that has experienced many challenges and things in my life, this reading passage has broadened my thoughts, viewpoints and outlook on life. Lately, we have been discussing the changes of life and how time can change our society for the good and even in some opinion the bad. A natural well minded person will look at themselves, evaluate where they are and begin to make changes that will transform their state of being. One will look at their current situation; their current state of accomplishment and begin to evaluate and examine how they can transform within and the things around them. In my opinion, life is lived in a cycle. For example, a child is born, raised, taught the core values of life, grow up, and then reproduce and the same cycle is repeated again. But then, that’s when one must stop and think how my life can be at a place where I affect the people around me. The article described the different levels of change. Renovation, restore, recover, alteration, and revolution all deals with the same thing and have the same meaning…CHANGE! Like when change came about when President Obama came into office, change when black and whites are able to work together, and change when a single parent succeeds above measure. Whether it’s in our personal, spiritual, or social life all our parts and beings can use work, but it all begins in the mind. Once a change has been renewed in the mind it shows in the physical being. For my own personal life, I had to accept the fact that I am a single parent and can succeed in life, but a change of mind had to take place in order for me to think that way. I could have a negative mind set and always think negative things, but I choose to accomplish the impossible. That’s why it’s vitally important the mind is regenerated and our acts must follow. Such as a drug user or prostitute, they have to make up in their minds that a renewal has to occur and their physical outlook must be restored. Every step in life is a process and not something that happens over night. Time determines change and change determines the outcomes in life. If I am consistently doing negative things, negative things will consistently happen in my life. Now you may have a person that’s on a tract to good things and just needs simple alterations to their life such as the way they think or do things. For example, smoking or not completing a required assignment. Every day as I live my life, I think about how I can change my personal outlook on things and how I could become a better person. Whether if it’s changing my hair style or how I see another person. Once again, change and transformation goes hand and hand; without transformation change cannot manifest.

Reflection Paper 1

After reading the three articles really opened my thinking and broaden my speculations on the fundamental development of the simplest things in life. As I was continued to read, I also came up with my own personal theory, that as time passes and people change so does the world we live in changes too. For example, the use of typewriter to computers, gas stoves to electric and walk-mans to compact disc players. How the world changes can cause tremendous changes in our society as well just like it did with the homo erectus.
In the reading passage about fire it was an important essential creatures used to survive the times they were living in. My first impressions were when we think we have an evidential conclusion to a theory or problem; there could be unseen facts that can prove different. When a person thinks the world was created one way with facts, dates, and evidence it can be proven differently. Many people have their own opinion on what fire was used for and who even created it, but most of all fire was used to help a species survive predictors, provide food and keep warm. All animals whether they flew high above land or migrated on ground below benefited from fire.
All three articles in one whole summary taught the basis of foundation and creating and how the world can change from one simple aspect to the other such. An ingenious creation that helped lighted the heavy loads of objects from one place to another. The history of writing was established so we as people could have a better and clearer understanding of language from past and present. In closing as a pre-teaching intern, I believed these articles helped me gain a better understanding of why teaching with a foundation is important, how we must grasp the changes of our world and how our brain changes with the world. Let’s evaluate the consequences of our lives, whether good or bad and examine why it is important for us to transform our daily thinking. Negative people attract negative; therefore we must allow a sense of change and transformation must occur set a positive atmosphere in our classrooms. A teacher who does not think that daily alterations are not important as an educator will never be effective.