#9

Excusing are an illusion and pessimistic reaction when dealing with important life decisions. To not become and “excuse maker” I try to be realistic with myself then think of a better way to plan and accomplish my goal(s). Even though it’s hard, I admit my mistakes, accept my failure, and find a way to succeed. Blaming someone or making excuses just impedes the process of improvement and it just wastes energy. In order to help others rise above excuse making, it is important to level with them and tell them that you have been through the same thing or that people make mistakes and that complaining doesn’t get you anywhere.

Being an ally in a community is asking and listening about the struggles people have. Being a servant leader means to find out the problem and do the most in your power to fix or contribute a problem. If someone is communicating something to you, you have to listen because the person speaking can be saying something important.

In STARS LEAD, it’s important to hold your biases and opinions and listen to different perspectives. Just because I have experienced something doesn’t mean someone else has experienced the same thing. So I think knowing where people come from is an important tool when talking to my fellow leaders.

I believe that I am very open to new ideas and opinions because everyone thinks differently and being stubborn annoys people during discussions. I like to think deeply and incorporate different viewpoints to comparatively express mine. I do believe that I need to be more confident and calm because I love to express my opinion, sometimes eagerly, but if I don’t feel confident in my speech then I can’t collect my thoughts properly.

Being an ally requires that your ally feel trusted and important. Often we say one thing and do another. An ally isn’t just about getting ahead through their assistance but also assisting them to get ahead as well.

Scholarship Junkies is a great way for students to learn about their resources for attending college. Scholarships are the main reason students are able to pay for their tuition and board and not end up in a large debt later on. In order to enhance scholarship applications, students should put their personality into the essay. Always relating a certain topic to your experience and knowledge is key. Also giving a description of yourself doesn’t suffice, you have to demonstrate it. If you are on a first date and you say, “I’m an extremely funny person”, you’re date will probably be freaked out and not believe you. However, if you crack a joke or tell a humorous anecdote, then he/she will know you’re a funny person.

With this information we can let student know that college isn’t impossible and that many people have done it; many other with very small amounts of debt. Scholarships give students of lower and middle income families a boast to compete with their more privileged peers. This has the potential to create educational equality among students of all income, ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds. 

#8

What surprised me about the film “Waiting for Superman” was the fact that the very institutions whose intended purpose is to support and improve that education system actually complicate it. It is ridiculous how these institutions create different standards or expectations that don’t unite the education system, rather is separates it on a local level. So if a student comes from a school that belongs to a low income neighborhood the academic expectations are low, while in an adjacent neighborhood they are higher. Basically, if one goes to the wrong school, they get a low quality education because the school is self-administering. The students at the US have unequal learning.

If Superman where to “rescue” these students he would have to change policy and the funding of all public schools in the US. The US education system is in a cycle of inequality; if a school does not meet standards then its funding goes down so the school would have to be unnecessarily strict with students which make them attend less. The student might have been better behaved and academically stable if the resources were available to them in the first place, but their resources depend on attendance and test scores. In order to help these children we must get involved in their lives, not just academically but also personally. We must encourage their involvement and continuation of learning. Parents can get involved by attending PTA or PTSA meetings and if they can’t because of work the school must come up with a way to find a student to aid their continuing education.

The things in “12 Lies to Stop Telling Yourself” are true and definitely apply to me. I do find myself saying things like “I can’t do it” or “I will fail”. I wish to think more calmly and just concentrate completely. When I do something strenuous with a time I just think that I won’t do a good job or this isn’t going to turn out right, but when I start doing what I have to do I accomplish it. I want to stop regretting and start learning from my mistakes and never seeing a dark future. I think that believing in one’s abilities is the fundamental way to accomplish things. Anyone can accomplish something if they put their mind and soul into it. The way I can inspire student is to relate my experiences to their and tell them that I went through things as well and that I still managed to get to college and learn. The words “difficult” and “easy” are words that should be taken out of one’s thoughts in order to do and finish. It is just a matter of doing. It’s like bungee jumping, you’re scared to jump off but when you do it’s amazing.

In order to help students with various socioeconomic statuses I believe that it is important just to emphasize the importance of education and that it is doable. I also believe that exposing them to different opportunities and resources that they might not otherwise get at their school or neighborhood is greatly beneficial to their academic life and graduation.

It is important to vote because it allows the created good for the people. If people don’t voice their opinions and tell others in power what they want then these vary powers will give them something random that they believe is right, even if it is quite the contrary. 

#7

The meeting on Thursday was a good opportunity for me to realize who I am and where I come from as well as what a stand for. It was a good exercise as well to remind me that I am a leader, and my whole involvement in co-curriculars are to be a leader and change things for the better. It was also to give a short comment to my fellow STARS peer.

I believe that sometimes what people say about you can affect how you feel; however, you choose whether you care. There is a fine line between bluntness and insult. I honestly believe that a person you hardly know affect your attitude towards yourself. People you trust, family, close friends, significant others, are people from whom you should take advice from, even so it is you who chooses whether or not to follow or listen to them. To a very significant extent your choices, your intentions, and your attitudes shape your happiness. Furthermore, being goal-oriented is very good; however, don’t obsess over your goals to the extent that you don’t enjoy your life.

My goal is to pursue a business career, mainly in economics and become involvement thoroughly in politics and fighting marginalization. Perhaps, if I am successful enough I would like to become a business philanthropist to help underrepresented groups in metropolitan cities. My biggest challenge with these goals would be getting the various certifications and employment necessary for the realization of my dreams. Personally, I try to seek happiness through contemplation and just taking a break from the busy life. I try not to be materialistic because material objects don’t give you happiness in the long run. Spending time with friends and family is one of the ways I unwind and just let my emotions out. The rest of the semester I will continue to invest in myself in order to have a balanced and efficient life. What I intend to change this semester is to pay attention to my body’s needs such as sleep and exercise.

I originally planned to study most of my spring break, but I ended up just exploring the city and sleeping. Fortunately, I wasn’t behind on any of my readings or projects. The summer I will be taking two summer courses at Truman in order to transfer more credits over to UIC. I am a bit sad to not be attend Loyola next semester because I’ve made so many friendships but I am looking forward to making new ones at UIC this coming fall.