Orlando's English Blog

Prompt Response: In today's society I can definitely say it's way better than it was many years ago. There are many new jobs and opportunities for many people of color everywhere. But discrimination is still around and may be more possible now for jobs to withhold a job due to the removal of DEI in many super name brand companies. Jobs and opportunities are still available here but it's another thing people of color have to work very hard to earn. If I were in Troy's position I would honestly try to last as long as possible and reach my breaking point and possibly quit or complain like Troy did.   Summary: Today in class we read Fences again and had a class discussion as well.  Reflection: Seeing how Troy's character was being portrayed and his family and Bono was really interesting, Not only does Troy have a kid with his wife but he had a kid with another women years ago and now has a mid 30 year old son still asking him for money. That was just crazy.  

 Prompt Response: I was afraid to accept that I had wasted my begging years of high school not doing much. I wasn't working, doing any extracurricular , nor joining a sport. In the moment I thought I wouldn't be able to do those things or have time for them. It was until later that I realized I had nothing but time to do all of those things. I just needed to go straight for it and face it. Now I am doing more things I never thought I would do back in freshmen or sophomore year. Summary: Today in class we started reading fences. Reflection: The beginning of the book started off strong. I can definitely tell there will be a lot of drama going on with Troy. 

 Prompt Response: A time I was judged unfairly was when I doing an arm wrestling challenge. All the adults though I was going to lose. Little did they know I was going to the gym pretty often and I gained some strength from work. So when it was time to start I won the first time. I won all the way to the finals and even won the whole thing. It felt pretty good beating a bunch of grown men at work.  Summary: Today in class we did a common lit assignment.  Reflection: The common lit assignment was about the psychological study of why people do bad things. It was pretty interesting learning the different group studies they did and experiments. My favorite one was the prisoner and guard experiment. 

 Prompt Response: If I were to be learning about hispanic heritage for the first time I would be more curious about the food. Food is one of the easiest things to try especially here in the U.S. I would head first for some authentic Mexican tacos and desserts right after. I would definitely go to a Michoacana dessert shop. There many spots here in Atlanta to try Mexican food so that’d be first go to.  Summary: Today in class we took an assessment quiz/test. Reflection: The assessment wasn’t very difficult. It’s good to have some and check were our reading comprehension skills are, especially for our senior year.

 Prompt Response: I really enjoyed Roxxane's story map. It had an interesting and serious tone to it. The interesting part was the curse that runs in her family. I was surprised and shocked to hear that the majority of the deaths in her family have been all males. That was very shocking. I did like how for some parts of her story map it got serious. The situation with her mom pressuring Roxxane to follow in her footsteps and become a Jehovah's Witness was very relatable. It was relatable in a sense of knowing how it feels to be pressured to follow your parents foot steps in something you don't agree with or want to do.     Summary: Today in class we presented our story map and scored our classmates' story maps.  Reflection: Seeing my classmates present their story maps really showed how different people had it growing up and how different everyone's experiences were. And it gave me an opportunity to learn more about my classmates. 

 Prompt Response: When I was younger I used to think all Indian and middle eastern people smelled bad and didn't have good food. My mom has Indian bosses and had one Indian coworker. That coworker changed my perspective on everything. The coworker invited us for dinner one night and I was hesitant but as soon as we stepped foot into her home everything I thought was wrong. Her house smelled amazing and the food tasted even better. Ever since that day I have loved eating some good Indian food.  Summary: Today in class we did a common lit assignment.  Reflection: The reading for today was about assumptions and that the majority of the time they're not the full story. It shows how as people we assume but never know what truly happened or is going on in someone's life. 

 Prompt Response: One time an old close friend called me extra and said I was doing too much all the time. I  in return looked at them and said "bruh, alright". Now right after I said that I stopped talking and stopped trying to be funny and involved in their conversations. I felt devastated and annoying. I was just trying to have fun and have a good laugh.  Summary: Today in class we read "Incident" by Countee Cullen.  Reflection: The reading helped give an understanding on how much power words have. It actually makes sense when it comes to prayer and using the lords name for uneasy feeling situations. 

  Prompt Response: The main thing I love about being part of Lakeside is being able to find friends and make new friends. This week I only got to dress as Adam Sandler. I never participated in school prep rallies so I didn’t have much to show out with. My favorite part about homecoming would be the football game. I’ve gotten into football over the past years so it’s really exciting and fun to look forward to the game. Summary: Today in class some people present the Story map. Reflection: Seeing people’s story maps was able to demonstrate new or interesting facts about our peers. 

  Prompt Response: Although Edna had many expectations as a wife, as a man her husband should’ve kept her happy and pleased. Some of the expectations were that the man should work a provide an income for the bills but also as a man he should’ve kept peace and happiness inside his home. Men are typically seen as the head of the household for majority of families. As the head of the household not only should he made sure bills and an income was stable but he should have also made sure the ones in the family were well and enjoying themselves. Cheating and having an affair isn’t right but at some point people crave the feeling for affection and if your spouse isn’t providing that someone else will.   Summary: Today in class we read and analyzed  Maggie Trinkle’s essay "I Don’t Want a Wife," and did a common lit assignment. Reflection: Analyzing Maggie Trinkle’s essay "I Don’t Want a Wife," and comparing it to Judy Brady’s "I Want a Wife," helped with textual a...

Prompt Response: I enjoy the class discussions the most out of all the learning methods. During the class discussions it feels more adult like. As young adults the class discussions definitely have a sense of real world opinions and a debate like sense. As a class we get to hear different perspectives and opinions from classmates we probably grew up with but personally never knew. Summary: Today in class we made our own version of “Why I Want A Wife” by Judy Brady. Instead of a wife we put husband. Reflection: Making our own version definitely gave a comparison between husband and wife duties expected from society.    

Prompt Response: The most difficult gender expectation would be learning the inside and out of maintaining a car. Not only are cars seen as mostly men interest but it’s one of the things a man is expected to know. The most challenging part is gaining the knowledge and practice without a car. I currently don’t have a car so learning how to change a tire, check the oil, change the oil, check its tires, and knowing basic maintenance is very difficult. There’s been a couple situations where the car had a popped tire and I wasn’t able to help. I personally felt guilty and hopeless for not being able to help. Summary: Today in class we had an introduction to gender roles power point. Reflection: The introduction was very important for the next reading “Why I Want A Wife” by Judy Brady. 

  Prompt Response:  After I graduate I plan on moving out of metro Atlanta. Although I'd like to stay for the job opportunities and I need something new and fresh. While I love Atlanta, living here would not be my top option. I'd like to explore the U.S and the world and I can't do that by staying in Atlanta. I've been to South Carolina and I loved it. I've also been to Chicago, didn't like it much but it was nice. Traveling and seeing new places made me realize there's a lot of things I can do and places I can visit.   Summary: Today in class we continued working on our story map.  Reflection:  The story maps are a good way to reflect on our pass and see the things we've done and learned. Reflecting on our old selves really shows how much one has grown. 

 Prompt Response: When my parents put in guitar classes I did not want to go after a while. I saw no point in going since I was not learning and not trying to learn something I was forced to do. At some point I told my parents I did not want to go. They kept making me go. I decided to get a job and make myself busy on the days I had guitar classes. My parents did not like that and got very upset but they knew I disliked going to the guitar classes. They ended up canceling the classes and let me keep working. At least I get to make some money now.  Summary: Today in class we read Two Kinds by Amy Tan. Reflection: Reading the story was very relatable to my guitar classes experience. The reading helped with the Story map we started afterwards. 

  Prompt Response:  The class has been great so far. I still struggle to manage my time properly with my WBL. Other than that I have really enjoyed this course so far. The class discussions have been a new experience with a more realistic way of having more young adult conversations and real world situations.  Summary: Today in class we started a vocabulary assignment.  Reflection: The vocabulary assignment helped understand key words that are going to be in the class reading. 

  Prompt Response:  I part of my identity I feel travels with me would be my hard work. Every job or project I've done has had all my hard work put into it. The jobs I've worked at have given me promotions or given a raise within a couple weeks or months. My hard work pays off in many situations and I feel it goes with me everywhere. Summary: Today in class we worked on Common Lit.   Reflection:  The practice on Common Lit was good for identifying the theme of stories. The practice was also good for summarizing stories. 

  Prompt Response:  Someone once thought I didn’t know English. I was working as a cashier for a Mexican bakery so that could’ve also been a factor of way they thought it. It was satisfying seeing their faces when I spoke to them in perfect English. When they asked for help or had questions I answered them in proper and perfect English. It wasn’t anything to bad but it definitely was satisfying proving them wrong. Summary: Today in class we started on a stereotype worksheet.  Reflection: It was interesting listing good, neutral, and bad stereotypes about different races. I was learning many different stereotypes about different racial groups.

  Prompt Response:  When I first got a new haircut everyone was shocked and surprised. I used to get a mid taper but recently I got a mullet taper and my hair dyed red. My family was surprised, especially my younger cousins. They kept asking why I did it and who did it. I hadn't dyed my hair in years so that was definitely shocking and out of the norm.   Summary: Today in class we read "The Myth of the Latin Woman". Reflection: The story was very focused on stereotypes. It shows how even though you can learn and adapt to new cultures and traditions, people can still generalize you and view you differently.