Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Growing up, I had always heard about Alice in Wonderland. It was a pretty popular book and of course Disney movie. I have never seen the movie or read the book before. Now that I have, I think it is crazy but really fascinating at the same time. After reading the books, Alice has much more in common with me than I thought. When I really got to understand the stories and I looked past all the weird creatures, I learned all the similarities that I had with Alice.

When I started reading the stories, I could not believe the things she said and the creatures that she encountered. I thought it was so ridiculous and so unrealistic. Rabbits, flowers, and playing cards talking were weirdest things I have ever heard. I thought to myself who would ever want to read this book other than little kids. I felt that nobody could ever learn anything from this book. After a while, I began to understand the deeper meaning of these strange encounters and characters and I found the themes that make this story so amazing and memorable.

At the beginning of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice finds “herself falling down what seemed a very deep well” (Annotated Alice, 12). Alice’s experience seems very familiar to one of my own and probably to a lot of other people. Her long journey down this dark tunnel reminds me of my journey towards my career. Along my journey, I learn new things. While Alice is falling, she has time to think about what is happening. She wonders what is at the end, what is happening to her, and why is this happening to her. Through high school and now college, I have no idea where this might lead me. I hope it is medical school and then a career in medicine but something might happen along the way. I always wonder why some obstacles are put in my way but I know that is how I learn from mistakes and they help me to grow stronger mentally.

Throughout the story, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice struggles with her identity. She is always being mistaken for someone else. At the beginning, she is mistaken for a Duchess. She says, “I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning?” (Annotated Alice, 22). Alice continues to be confused about who she really is. Here at University of Texas at Austin, we are all trying to find out who we really are. We are composing a new self. When I first got here, I felt I knew exactly what my major was going to be and what career I wanted. Now, I am not so sure anymore. I’ve been thinking about changing my major or changing schools. I just need to be patient and find out what is the best thing for me to do.

I admire Alice for her sense of curiosity and her desire to explore new thingsas I do. At first, she is a little scared and confused but that is understandable of course. As the story progresses in Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, her curiosity takes over her fear. Instead of being scared of what or who might be behind the mirror, she says “I’m sure it’s got, oh! such beautiful things in it!” (Annotated Alice, 143). She is such an optimistic person. Alice “is willing to venture the unknown or that which is beyond self” (Anthology, 795). Alice always seems to find the better side of things unlike me, who always finds the negative side of things. I want to be able to go out in the world and try new things without being afraid of what people might think or what might go wrong.

Now, I no longer think of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There as just children’s books. They are more inspirational than some people might think. Alice teaches me to “find myself,” explore new things, and to be optimistic. I can’t be afraid of what might happen. I have to be able to take risks. I have some similarities with Alice but there are a lot of things about her that I admire and hope to acquire one day.

Campus landscape architecture: Retreat and Renewal

Whenever I thought of the University of Texas at Austin, architecture never came to mind. Now that I am actually here and I walk around, the buildings are a very big component of the University. Back home in Dallas, I would always have those “special” places where I always went just to get away from the rest of the world. Here at U.T., I have not found that “special” place yet but I hope I do. As Newman said, “it is a place which wins the admiration of the young by its celebrity, kindles the affections of the middle-aged by beauty, and rivets the fidelity of the old by its associations” (314).This university has so much to offer for all types of people and I know there is a place for me but I just have to find it. There are a few places that may become my new retreats like the turtle pond, my dorm room, and the library.

One of the most beautiful places on this campus is the turtle pond. When my friends took me there for the first time, I was so mesmerized. It was so gorgeous. I love seeing all the little turtles swimming around there. A sense of peace and relaxation just comes over me every time I go there. Whenever I get out of class, I just find myself going there and I just sit there to think. Sometimes when I am stressed out about school, I go there and contemplate. Jones comments on Waller Creek saying “it is psychological therapy” (660). I feel the same way about the turtle pong. Whenever I leave there, I feel refreshed.

Ever since I left home and moved here to Austin, my dorm room has become my “home away from home.” Now that I have put up my own pictures and decorated it the way I want, I feel comfortable there. Everything that I need is right there in that room. Nobody can come bother me when I need to be alone. It is also a fun place. My friends usually come and visit me and we can just hang out. Although I don’t feel as secure and safe like I do in my room back home, it is a start. Since most of my friends live in the same building as me, so whenever I need someone to talk to; there is always somebody there for me.

One of the places here on campus that I probably spend most of my time is the library. U.T. is known for challenging its’ students and it definitely challenges me. There is not one moment that I do not have assignments to do for one of my classes. Usually if I want to do my homework, I can’t do it in my room. There are just so many distractions so I go to the library where it is quiet and I am able to focus. I’m always able to get all my work done and study even if it takes me all night to do it. I really like going there though since it gives me a chance to concentrate on whatever I need to.

Now that I am pretty far away from home and I am on my own, I need to find a retreat here on campus so I can feel at home. Even though I have not found one yet, I know I will. I just know this is the right place for me. The turtle pond is the perfect place for anyone, especially for me, to go and just get the sense of tranquility there. My dorm room is just a place for me and my friends to hang out and socialize. A lot of my time is definitely spent though in the library. So many students go there for the peace and quiet to study. I just hope I continue to discover new places on campus where I can go and maybe even become my new “special” place.

Second Life Experience

Upon finding out that playing a game would be an integral part of writing our papers in my Freshman Seminar class, I was concerned yet shocked. Games have never been very appealing to me. I thought it was so technologically advanced and interesting since you could everything you can in the real world so I was kind of excited to try the game out. On the other hand, I had heard about the game before and I had my doubts about it. I heard so many negative stories about this virtual world game on the internet but I didn’t want that to get to me since this was a major part of my grade.

Before playing Second Life, I had to choose a role model to write about in P1. I chose her my sister, Jessica, because of her amazing qualities and personality that I would like to emulate. Jessica has so much determination and ambition. She does not allow her illnesses or disability to stop her from continuing to follow her goal to become a social worker. She is so intelligent and confident in everything that she does. At her internship, she exhibits her leadership abilities and caring personality towards the many families that she encounters.

The first step in playing Second Life is creating an avatar but it had to look my role model, Jessica. My avatar has brown eyes, long light brown hair, and pale skin. Since my sister does not wear much make-up, my avatar did not either. My avatar does have the same body shape as my sister; she is short, thin, and has big hips. Also, my avatar wears jeans and a green top which is something my sister would definitely wear. I tried really hard to make my avatar match my sister in every possible way but I did have one major problem. In real life, my sister has a disability which causes her to wear leg braces due to the poor development of her leg muscles. This is a major part of her appearance that I think everyone should see and be aware of to really understand how different and how amazing she really is.

When I first started making my avatar, I was so excited. I love being in control and having the ability to change how my avatar looked and putting on any kind of clothes that I wanted. I did have some trouble and it did take a while because I had never used Second Life before and I didn’t have people to help me all the time. I had to keep messing with it until I figured out some things on my own which stressed me out. When I finally finished though, I was so proud of myself. My effort and all my time finally paid off. I think I really captured the look of my sister in avatar. After I was done with the avatar, I was able to walk around the University of Texas Island. I thought it was so amazing and the coolest thing ever since the island had the tower that looked exactly like the one on campus. It got even better when I found out that you could even fly!

During class, I had to have two conversations with other avatars. At first, I thought it would be pretty fun since it was like using an instant messenger, Facebook, or Myspace except I would be having an intelligent conversation. Then, I realized it was harder than I thought. I had a hard time trying not to use the usual abbreviations and slang that I usually use when chatting. Also, it was very frustrating trying to type everything that I wanted to say and to talk like my sister. The conversation would go so quickly and it was hard to keep up at times. Sometimes, people would go off-topic which was very frustrating since we only had a limited amount of time to talk and this was what I was going to have to use to write my next paper. I really liked the conversations thought because everyone had so much to say and it was pretty neat talking with all these different role models. When I finally got into it, I felt like I was just talking to friends.

The first conversation I had in Second Life was about leadership. The avatars in my group are Coach Joe Vita, Benjamin Franklin, and Betty. At first, everyone wasn’t sure what to talk about and some of the time was wasted talking about who we were. Few minutes, all the role models got comfortable. People would ask questions and everyone would respond. I really got into the flow of the conversation and everyone made some very great points. I learned so much about leadership from everyone’s perspectives. Betty, a teacher, talked about an important quality of a leader, sympathy. She said, “You must be able to lead but also take into consideration the thoughts and ideas of others and incorporate them into your own plan.” A good leader always needs to know what his followers want and point them in the right direction. Benjamin Franklin had some amazing insight. He said, “A leader must never be satisfied. He must know what his strengths are, and at the same time know his own weaknesses. Be able to recognize that in himself, and be able to listen to criticism--take that criticism, and improve.” He recognizes that people can take constructive criticism in a good way and use it to improve your leadership skills. Leaders need to able to take control a situation and always know that there is room for improvement.

The second conversation that I took part of in Second Life was about leadership and diversity. I had a smaller group this time including me, Yukioshi Takaaki, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. This conversation really got me more stressed out than the first. Since we had less people in our group, there were many instances of awkward silence. The amount of time that was actually spent talking about our assigned topics was minimal. Nobody wanted to say anything but when they actually did, it was great. Because Emerson is such an experienced leader in the literary world, he knew so much about diversity. One of things he said that really stood out in my mind, “We must not go where the path may lead. We must go where there is no path and leave a trail.” My sister has never been a follower but a leader. She always makes sure people know her name and what she has done. She always seems to leave her mark. Diversity was more of a big issue for me because of my sister’s disability. I felt this was where I was most successful because I was the one who could relate the most to this issue. In the conversation, I stressed “I have learned not to judge other people and just accept them for they are.” Some people don’t understand what others go through and they judge them automatically based on their outer appearance. My sister knows better. Because she is disabled, she has been the victim of discrimination. As a leader, Jessica realizes that you must get to know the person first before forming an opinion about them. Leaders should embrace diversity and use that to bring their followers together so that they know we all have something in common.

Reading and writing was a big part of this entire Second Life experience. You had to read what people typed and you had to give feedback by writing a response. In the end, I don’t think that I learned too much about writing. Playing a game didn’t help me to further develop my writing skills. It just made me realize how reading and writing was an important component to the success of my role model, Jessica. This experience was definitely unlike any other writing experiences that I have had in the past. I have always been a given a specific topic and told to just write about it. This time, I just had to write about Second Life and my role model. There are just so many different ways that I could interpret that. My sister has never had a writing experience like this one but I’m sure it would be something that she would really enjoy.
Sympathetic Imagination plays a big role in my experience in Second Life. The “sympathetic imagination is the ability of a person to penetrate the barrier which space puts between him and his object, and, by actually entering into the object, so to speak, to secure a momentary but complete identification with it.” Through our conversations, everyone got to know one another. We found out where they came from, what they do, and what their thoughts were on leadership and diversity. By talking to these other role models, I found out their hardships that they had to go through to become such influential leaders. I got to know what it feels like to be in their shoes. Other people got to know what it feels like to be my sister. They realized all the obstacles that my sister had to overcome. Jessica’s disabilities made her the strong, determined person she is today. If people understand other people’s backgrounds, then they can relate and become better leaders that way.

The Second Life game was definitely an experience of discovery learning, doing something actively without other people telling you how to do it. I became so stressed trying to download the game to my computer and creating an account. It was also difficult trying to get to the island and fixing the avatar to look like Jessica. It took so much time and effort. Nobody was ever there with me to help me out and tell how to do everything. I kept playing around with the game until I started getting use to how things work on there. When I actually got to play the game, I was happy and I thought it was so much fun. I really got into the conversations. I felt like I actually knew what I was talking about and I knew what my sister thought about these issues.

Overall, my Second Life experience was stressful but fun as well. I got to make an avatar that looked like my sister, Jessica and interact with other avatars. We had conversations with each other about important issues like leadership and diversity. I learned about other people’s perspectives on these topics. They understood my views or sister’s views and how they affect her, making her what she is today. I really comprehended what it means to be a leader and how to become a better leader.

Word Count: 1705

Appendix

First Conversation

[12:01] Edwin Donardson is Online

[12:01] Shakespeare2 Iwish is Online

[12:03] Shakespeare2 Iwish: To be, or not to be: that is the question

[12:04] You: A Penny earned, is a penny saved. If you want to speak in famous lines

[12:04] Shakespeare2 Iwish: All the worlds a stage my friend

[12:04] Shakespeare2 Iwish: We are merely players

[12:05] Jessica8 Iwish: that is true

[12:05] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Fair lady speaks!

[12:05] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Fie! Fie!

[12:05] You: Let us all introduce ourselves formally.

[12:05] You: I am Benjamin Franklin.

[12:05] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Thy name is Shakespeare.

[12:05] CoachJoe Vita: How are You all DOin. I'm Coach Joseph

[12:05] Jessica8 Iwish: I am Jessica

[12:05] Jerome Eponym is Online

[12:05] You: Founding father of this great country. Inventor, scientist, public servant, extradordinair.

[12:06] CoachJoe Vita: I am the Coach of a varsity football team

[12:06] CoachJoe Vita: i have found much success over the years

[12:06] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Tis noble, Tis honorable

[12:06] CoachJoe Vita: bringing 3 junior colleges and a high school team to the championship[12:06] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Thy writing spans the world

[12:06] Jessica8 Iwish: I am a student at the University of Texas at Arlington

[12:07] Shakespeare2 Iwish: It's not enough to speak, but to speak true

[12:07] You: Congratulations Coach Joseph. Education is a noble thing.

[12:07] Betty Questi: I was a sixth grad teacher and am now the principal of the West Columbia Junior School

[12:07] You: I only went to school for a few years. Arithmatic proved to be my downfall.

[12:07] Basic Chair: Right click me and choose 'Sit Here' to sit down

[12:07] Basic Chair: Right click me and choose 'Sit Here' to sit down

[12:07] Basic Chair: Right click me and choose 'Sit Here' to sit down

[12:07] Basic Chair: Right click me and choose 'Sit Here' to sit down

[12:07] CoachJoe Vita: i was a former linebacker for the university of iowa

[12:07] CoachJoe Vita: and i was well on my way to going to the nfl

[12:07] Edwin Donardson: what is leadership

[12:08] You: Wow this is a full discussion. As full as my belly, and my life.

[12:08] CoachJoe Vita: however, a career ending knee injury prevented me from doing so

[12:08] Betty Questi: very impressive Coach

[12:08] CoachJoe Vita: i still graduated however

[12:08] Jessica8 Iwish: wow that is very amazing Coach Joseph

[12:08] CoachJoe Vita: with a degree in history

[12:08] Betty Questi: I'm sorry for your injury

[12:08] CoachJoe Vita: and now, i teach history as well as coach football

[12:08] CoachJoe Vita: i'm still doing what i love

[12:08] CoachJoe Vita: that's all i care about

[12:09] Shakespeare2 Iwish: Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't

[12:09] CoachJoe Vita: aint nothin better than seein my boys grow up

[12:09] Betty Questi: As long as you're doing what you love, you'll be fine.

[12:09] You: Whom are our newest additions to this group.

[12:09] You: Good bye Shakespeare. Farewell

[12:10] You: Why hello Betty, who are you?

[12:11] You: Lets begin our discussion, since we are all here now.

[12:11] Jessica8 Iwish: ok

[12:11] CoachJoe Vita: yes let's

[12:11] Betty Questi: I am a teacher. I taught sixth grade and now serve as the principal of my school

[12:11] Betty Questi: yes i agree

[12:11] CoachJoe Vita: so the topic of discussion today is "what is a leader"

[12:11] Jessica8 Iwish: yes that's right

[12:12] CoachJoe Vita: i believe we should all go around and explain what a "leader" is to us

[12:12] You: I learned during my life to apply the Socratic mehtod, so let me ask you all, what makes a leader?

[12:12] CoachJoe Vita: would the ladies like to respond first?

[12:12] Jessica8 Iwish: yes sure

[12:13] Jessica8 Iwish: i think that a leader is someone who guides people but at the time same time can command people.

[12:13] You: Guide people to what?

[12:14] CoachJoe Vita: yes, please elaborate

[12:14] Jessica8 Iwish: a leader needs to be able to take control of a situation but not take advantage of that power

[12:14] CoachJoe Vita: why can't the leader take advantage of that power?

[12:14] Betty Questi: I agree

[12:14] CoachJoe Vita: can't he/she take advantage of it, in a beneficial way?

[12:15] Betty Questi: If you are a leader and you abuse your power, you lose credibility.

[12:15] CoachJoe Vita: who is to judge what "power abuse" is?

[12:15] Jessica8 Iwish: yes it can be beneficial but unfortunately most leaders use it in a negative way

[12:16] You: Why do most leaders abuse their power?

[12:16] Jessica8 Iwish: if you abuse your power as leader then nobody will follow you or listen to you

[12:16] Betty Questi: I think it takes a special person to be a truly great leader because often, abuse of power does happen

[12:16] Betty Questi: I definitely agree

[12:16] CoachJoe Vita: well, if no one follows you, then you are not a leader

[12:16] Jessica8 Iwish: Most leaders abuse their power because they never had that power before and don't know what to do with it

[12:16] Betty Questi: You must be able to lead but also take into consideration the thoughts and ideas of others and incorporate them into your own plan

[12:17] Jessica8 Iwish: exactly. thats why you can't take advantage of your power or you will be unsuccessful as a leader

[12:17] You: I have always said, "He who cannot obey, cannot command."

[12:17] CoachJoe Vita: i believe the definition of a leader is someone whose actions and words are ones to follow and adhere to

[12:17] Jessica8 Iwish: I agree Bruce

[12:17] You: remember, I am Benjamin.

[12:18] You: Benjamin Franklin that is. Founding father, featured on the hundred-dollar bill.

[12:18] Jessica8 Iwish: ok

[12:18] Betty Questi: haha

[12:18] CoachJoe Vita: So, Ben, what's your spin on a leader?

[12:18] Betty Questi: yes, please enlighten us

[12:18] You: But about leadership, I truly believe that a leader must be able to adapt.

[12:18] CoachJoe Vita: Indeed[

12:18] Jessica8 Iwish: yes i think so too

[12:18] Betty Questi: I too agree

[12:18] You: During my life, I continued to change. I was never satisified with myself. No matter how popular or successful I had become.

[12:19] You: At one time I was the most famous person in all of North America. Yet I wasn't satisfied with my position. I continued to try to improve myself.

[12:19] Betty Questi: How so?

[12:19] Jessica8 Iwish: I think it is important for a leader to learn from his or her mistakes and improve

[12:20] You: A leader must never be satisfied. He must know what his strengths are, and at the same time know his own weaknesses. Be able to recognize that in himself, and be able to listen to criticism--take that criticism, and improve.

[12:20] CoachJoe Vita: Doesn't being a leader also imply other people follow?

[12:20] Betty Questi: Yes, even though you are the leader, you too must learn to grow and share that growth with your followers

[12:20] You: Throughout my long life, I was never satisified. I continued to try to grow

.[12:20] Jessica8 Iwish: i agree Betty

[12:21] Betty Questi: They want to grow, and they can only grow as much as you do, because they are your followers

[12:21] You: How I obtained that growth was a never ending curiosity.

[12:21] Betty Questi: Yes, because growth is never ending

[12:21] Betty Questi: especially in this sense....we can grow in more ways than we know possible[12:22] Jessica8 Iwish: Yes , there is something to learn

[12:22] You: I refused to look at the world and think "I know everything that is going on here." And in that way, a leader can not ever think they truly have it figured out.

[12:22] Jessica8 Iwish: everyday

[12:22] Betty Questi: I think we grow through our experiences, especially experiences that maybe didn't end up the way we wanted to.

[12:22] CoachJoe Vita: So a leader is a person who is able to adapt and also has an insatiable desire for self improvement?

[12:22] Betty Questi: I think we grow more when maybe we make mistakes or overcome challenges, adversity or hardships

[12:22] Jessica8 Iwish: Yes hardships makes us who we are

[12:23] You: Even though I was a successful printer, and writer in my early life, I continued to remain curious through my late life. Thus making my biggest impact on this world, my scientific discoveries, especially that one with the kite, later in my life.

[12:23] Betty Questi: But do leaders really feel the need for self improvement?...in my eyes, a leader is someone who is confident in who they are and their purpose in life

[12:23] Betty Questi: I think this is why people are drawn to them

[12:24] Betty Questi: They look up to the person who is confident and positive in who they are and what they stand for

[12:24] CoachJoe Vita: Well, i believe people can be attracted to a person who is always looking to improve him or herself

[12:24] You: Self-improvement doesn't contradict confidence.

[12:24] CoachJoe Vita: regardless of their current status

[12:24] Betty Questi: I see your point

[12:24] CoachJoe Vita: INSATIABLE desire for betterment

[12:24] You: I have never been accused of having a lack of confidence.

[12:24] CoachJoe Vita: does not imply we are at fault in the present state

[12:25] You: But yet, while I was confident, I was never satisified.

[12:25] CoachJoe Vita: we are simply never satisfied with being stationary

[12:25] Betty Questi: I do agree with that

[12:25] Jessica8 Iwish: I agreet too

[12:25] You: I knew I could do it, because I believed in myself. But just because I could do it, doesn't mean I couldn't do it better.

[12:25] CoachJoe Vita: We gotta keep it pushin[

12:25] Betty Questi: Well, never settling for anything better than the best is the mo st admirable thing

[12:26] Jessica8 Iwish: Leaders have to be confident to know what they are doing so other people can listen to them

[12:26] CoachJoe Vita: Just cause we lose a game this week, doesn't mean we're going to lose next week

[12:26] You: Every morning you wake up, you either choose to get better, or you get worse. In any area.

[12:26] Betty Questi: You must always keep looking up and trying to see how you can make even more of a difference

[12:26] CoachJoe Vita: So let us refer back to the topic "what is a leader"

[12:26] You: Coach Joe doesn't wake up and think, "I hope my team plays likewe did last week."

[12:26] CoachJoe Vita: we have established that a leader is confident in him/herself

[12:26] You: He goes in with a passion for improving.

[12:27] Betty Questi: I guess I really do see your point, because just because we win one game doesn't mean that we can't do better...we still have more games to win and more challenges to overcome

[12:27] CoachJoe Vita: very good

[12:27] CoachJoe Vita: champions dont win just 1 game

[12:27] You: Speaking of champions. I was an amazing swimmer, as you can tell. Haha.

[12:27] Jessica8 Iwish: haha

[12:28] You: I guess I became too busy with statescraft to swim. But I am in the Swimming Hall of Fame

[12:28] Betty Questi: Just because my students finished one book, doesn't mean i want them to satisfy themselves with that one book. I praise them for their great accomplishment and then encourage them to try and read a more challenging book

[12:28] Betty Questi: we must always challenge ourselves....this is how we grow

[12:28] You: George Washington has nothing on me.

[12:28] Betty Questi: Limits only hinder our growth
[12:28] CoachJoe Vita: Haha

[12:28] Betty Questi: Hahah oh Ben
[12:28] CoachJoe Vita: Ok, so a leader must always keep growing

[12:28] You: Plus he is only on the one dollar bill... I am a hundred times better than him.

[12:28] CoachJoe Vita: but isn't also important that leaders affect other people

[12:28] CoachJoe Vita: whether directly or indirectly

[12:28] Jessica8 Iwish: I've had many serious illnesses that could have limited my growth as a leader but I chose to rise above those obstacles

[12:29] You: Exactly Jessica.

[12:29] Betty Questi: Very good, Jessica

[12:29] Betty Questi: I admire your strenth

[12:29] You: A leader uses obstacles to only grow, to get better, to become a better leader.[12:29] Jessica8 Iwish: Thank Yoy

[12:29] Jessica8 Iwish: You

[12:29] Betty Questi: your welcome

[12:29] Betty Questi: yes i agree

[12:29] You: That is a sign of a true leader, overcoming obstacles.

[12:30] Betty Questi: I think challenges or obstacles make you grow more than victories

[12:30] Jessica8 Iwish: I think so too

[12:30] CoachJoe Vita: Not to belittle the fact that growth is important in being a leader

[12:30] You: I was one of 17 kids, the son of a candlemaker.

[12:30] CoachJoe Vita: but i think we are stressing that factor too much

[12:30] Betty Questi: wow, 16 sibblings[12:30] You: Well some of them died.

[12:30] CoachJoe Vita: i think what is more important that growth the way we actually interact with other people

[12:30] CoachJoe Vita: the way other people see us

[12:30] Betty Questi: Yes lets explore some other facets to a leader

[12:30] CoachJoe Vita: if we cannot get through to the people, we cannot lead them

[12:31] You: Yes, coach Joe. Communication is key to leadership.

[12:31] Jessica8 Iwish: Exactly. Leaders need to able to relate to people

[12:31] CoachJoe Vita: I believe i am an effective leader mostly because i am about to connect on a personal level with people

[12:31] CoachJoe Vita: i am able to

[12:31] You: How do you connect?

[12:31] CoachJoe Vita: i become a mentor, a best friend, before i am a coach or teacher

[12:31] Jessica8 Iwish: I plan to be a social worker and communication is the basis of my career

[12:31] CoachJoe Vita: i offer advice and guidance

[12:32] CoachJoe Vita: but more importantly

[12:32] CoachJoe Vita: support

[12:32] CoachJoe Vita: in a time of need

[12:32] You: Well, in my day, communication wasn't as simple. Afterall we didn't have technology, much less electricity, till I came along.

[12:32] CoachJoe Vita: i am in the business of changing the futures of our teenagers

[12:32] You: So communication was even more about personal connections.

[12:32] CoachJoe Vita: and i judge my success on whether or not they leave school with the right state of mind

[12:33] You: I built relationships through personal communication. I had ongoing conversations with many people through letters, which did I mention I was the first PostMaster, creating the post office.

[12:33] You: And when I ran the post office, it was faster than your "email."

[12:33] You: Afterall, email didn't exist.

[12:33] Betty Questi: I developed relationships through teaching my students how to read

[12:34] Jessica8 Iwish: I talk to abused children practically everyday, I offer advice and support. I just try to listen and help them in any way I can

[12:34] You: Listening is key, as you mentioned Jessica.[12:35] Betty Questi: I think being able to listen to others is a very important attribute to being a leader

[12:35] You: While I was on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence, I had to listen to Jefferson babble all the time... That dreamer.

[12:35] Jessica8 Iwish: It is an important quality of a leader

[12:35] You: But while I jest about him, I listened.

[12:36] You: Even though he was much younger than me, I was able to realize his wisdom could help me grow.

[12:36] You: So I listened. And I grew, even so late in my life.

[12:36] Jessica8 Iwish: We can all learn from other people

[12:37] You: I wasn't stubborn, and didn't refuse to listen to Jefferson just because he was young. I listened, and grew. Why? Because that is a true sign of leadership.

[12:37] You: Did I mention that Beer is proof that God loves us?

[12:38] CoachJoe Vita: Therefore, I conclude a leader is someone who is able to adapt and listen to others. He/she is also a very good communicator and is able to relate with people. He/she is someone other people naturally choose to follow.

[12:38] CoachJoe Vita: Nice talking to you all.

[12:38] Betty Questi: As a teacher, I think it so important to not only teach my students their subjects of math, literature, science and history, but to open their eyes to the power of learning

[12:38] You: Well this was enjoyable. It was like the Continentat Congress, but air conditioned.

Second Conversation

[12:41] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Oh my old, aching bones.

[12:42] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: How is everyone feeling today?

[12:42] Jessica8 Iwish: pretty good. just a little stressed

[12:42] You: Me too.

[12:42] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Stress is a pain.

[12:42] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: I often see people stressed because they feel discriminated againsts.[12:42] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Due to the immense diversity in the world.

[12:43] Jessica8 Iwish: That is true

[12:43] You: Yes, however, diversity is a very good thing.

[12:43] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Diversity is a great thing and allows us to learn a lot, but how is it related to leadership

[12:43] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: ?

[12:43] Jessica8 Iwish: Diversity is all around us and as leaders we have to accept it and embrace it

[12:44] You: Although we may have been discriminated against in the past for our differences, as leadrs we must move pasts that discrimination.

[12:44] You: Do not be a slave to your own past.

[12:44] Jessica8 Iwish: Exactly

[12:44] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: If I may ask, where are you two from?

[12:44] You: I am from Boston. I was brought up by my father, who was a Unitarian minister.

[12:44] Jessica8 Iwish: I am from Dallas

[12:45] Jessica8 Iwish: I am a student at the University of Texas at Arlington

[12:45] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: So a southerner and a Yank, heh.

[12:45] Jessica8 Iwish: yes sir

[12:45] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: There is much diversity between those that live simply on opposite ends of the same country.

[12:45] You: Yes there is, but we are all connected.

[12:46] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: I came to the United States in the 1950s from Japan, having escaped during World War II.

[12:46] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: My father and grandfather were killed during the war.

[12:46] Jessica8 Iwish: Too bad everyone doesn't think that way

[12:46] Jessica8 Iwish: oh really. I'm sorry to hear that.

[12:46] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Being a Japanese in U.S. was a hard thing in those days.

[12:46] Jessica8 Iwish: I bet

[12:46] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: And it took a lot of effort to succeed.

[12:47] Jessica8 Iwish: Many people have tried to put me down but we just have to learn to rise above all that

[12:48] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: How have you risen above?

[12:48] You: A lot of people are ust misunderstood. Ant because of that they are discriminated against.

[12:48] Jessica8 Iwish: I have a disability and people tried to make me think that I could never be successful in college but I proved them wrong

[12:49] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: You must stand out and be a leader in your community.

[12:49] You: Thats really good. I bet you were just misunderstood by those around you.

[12:49] You: But I think that to be great is to be misunderstood.

[12:49] Jessica8 Iwish: I have learned not to judge other people and just accept them for they are

[12:50] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: That is one of the problems of diversity.

[12:50] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Is people judge what they do not understand.

[12:50] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: So it takes a leader to be above that an be able to unite different groups.

[12:50] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: be it race, religions, or whatever.

[12:50] You: I thin kpeoplee just need to understand that others' pasts do not make them who they are.

[12:50] Jessica8 Iwish: I have had a lot people not wanting to be around me just because of my disability

[12:50] You: what lies behind us and what lies before us is nothing compared to what lies WITHIN us.

[12:51] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: that was deep.

[12:51] You: Thanks Yukio. I try.

[12:51] Jessica8 Iwish: haha

[12:51] You: I think that to be a leader, we must not only accept diversity, but celebrate it

[12:51] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Anyways, I was the headmaster of a classical japanese martial school

[12:52] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: My students are an incedibly diverse range of people.

[12:52] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: To be able to lead them and be able to continue wat was given to me by my family was immensely difficult.

[12:52] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: The Japanese told me I couldn't do what i was doing. It was ridiculous to come to America and teach Americans!

[12:53] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: But I continued to do so because i believe the arts were dying in Japan, had turned to just pretty dancing, and the Americans were more zealous students.

[12:53] You: That is very inspirational Yukio.

[12:53] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: It has brought together people from all walks of life.

[12:53] You: We must not go where the path may lead. We must go where there is no path and leave a trail.

[12:54] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: A trail is something I think everyone wants.

[12:54] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Many people fear death, but to be remembered is to be immortal.

[12:54] Jessica8 Iwish: Since I am working as a social worker, I have seen a large group of diverse families but most of them have the same problems. We all need to learn that we all have something in common

[12:55] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Yes, we really do.

[12:55] You: Yes, we must all strive to be ourselves in this world and not let our differences stifle our uniqueness.

[12:55] You: “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishme

[12:55] Jessica8 Iwish: We have to look beyond the exterior

[12:55] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Yes, absolutely.

[12:56] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: sadly though, I dont feel like racism and ignorance is something that can ever be fixed

[12:56] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: For as long as there are different types of people, there will exist stereotypes and prejudices.

[12:56] Jessica8 Iwish: I don't think so either

[12:56] You: But that cannot be an excuse for not succeeding.

[12:56] You: Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.

[12:58] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Yes, I am a big believer in affecting and helping those directly around you and hope they continue that. The whole "pay it forward" idea.

[12:59] Jessica8 Iwish: As leaders, we hope to make an impact on other people an hopefully they will make the same impact on others

[12:59] You: Yes, and me must think outside the box in order to inspire other people. We have to not be consistent in our ideas.

[12:59] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Consistency can be a good thing, Ralph.

[12:59] You: Like I always say, foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds

[12:59] Jessica8 Iwish: Yes broaden our horizens

[13:00] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Foolish consistency is the key word though.

[13:00] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Foolish, rather.

[13:00] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: It is hard to be consistent in your ideas sometimes though when we, as humans, are always changing.

[13:00] You: Yes, but always thinking the same was is foolish. We cannot be leaders if we have nowhere new to lead people to.

[13:01] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Thats right.

[13:01] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: And as we grow we must adapt and modify our ideas.

[13:01] You: Yes it is, but as diversity increases, as leaders we must also change with the times.

[13:01] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Yes, this was a big part of my life.

[13:01] Jessica8 Iwish: Adapting is an important quality of a leader[13:01] You: We must always reemember though, on the spiritual level, we are all the same, god is immanent in us all/

[13:02] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: The martial arts in japan and their leaders were dying because there was no vitality, no life, in the arts because they were no longer being used. The techniques were becoming practiced poorly and watered down. I made sure that did NOT happen with my style.

[13:02] Jessica8 Iwish: Yes nobody will follow you if don't have new, exciting ideas

[13:03] You: that is true. we must lead people in directions they are not used to.

[13:03] You: Heroism works in contradiction to the voice of mankind.

[13:03] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Sometimes you must revisit old directions though.

[13:03] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: So old they are new.

[13:04] You: Yes, we must learn from people in the past.

[13:04] You: I am inspired by Plato, Goethe, and Buddha.

[13:05] Jessica8 Iwish: We must all learn from our mistakes and others so that they are not repeated

[13:05] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Yes, we must.

[13:05] Betty Questi shouts: Very nice, Shakespeare![13:05] Jessica8 Iwish: Improving on ourselves is another important attribute of a leader

[13:06] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: It is a pity that the level of ignorance surrounding different types of people, though, is still so great.

[13:06] You: yes it is, that is why my friends and I have been working to explore all types of new ideas, and share them with everyone around us through lectures, newspapers, and essays!

[13:07] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: I think the key for the next generations is for leaders to be able to unique different groups, social, religious, economic, and more, and be able to show people what we have in common.

[13:07] Jessica8 Iwish: Yes communication is the key.

[13:07] Jessica8 Iwish: We must enlighten others so that they don't become ignorant on diversity

[13:08] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Yes, communication is crucial.

[13:08] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: (Irony in the silence).

[13:08] Jessica8 Iwish: haha

[13:09] You: haha. yes, i think that People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character

[13:10] Yukiyoshi Takaaki: Yes, this is a very accurate and telling statement.

[13:11] Jessica8 Iwish: We just all need to interact with others and unite

[13:11] You: Yes, and we need to keep growing and learning from other people

[13:11] Jessica8 Iwish: We will be stronger that way

[13:11] You: Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow

College Dreams and Expectations

Ever since I was a little kid, all my mom would ever talk about was college and my career. Everything I ever worked for was towards getting into college. In high school, I was the average girl. I wasn’t popular but pretty much everyone knew who I was but that is probably because I went to a small, private school. I was above average thought when it came to academics. I always studied and always did my homework so I didn’t go out very much. Some people considered me a nerd but I didn’t really care. I was very outgoing around my friends but I was very quiet and shy during class. I was just so excited about college and had so many expectations for it.

My parents have always stressed the importance of doing well in school so I could get into a good college and then get into medical school. I never really got to go out because my mom thought it would distract me from my studies. Freedom was definitely one of the main things I was looking forward to in college. I wanted to be able to go out when I wanted instead of staying at home studying all the time. I have always good time management skills so I knew going out wouldn’t affect my work.

Another thing that I expected was that I wouldn’t get that much homework. My sister is a college student and she never has homework. She always told me that it was so easy. I was looking forward to not having classes so early in the morning so I could sleep in but I was very wrong about that. I still have classes early in the morning. Now that I’m here, it’s the opposite. U.T turned out to be a lot more challenging that I thought. My classes are so tough, even harder than my sister’s senior level courses. I have so much homework all the time that I have no time to go out at all. I’m just always at the library finishing up my work or studying. In high school, I never had to worry about studying weeks in advance. I just studied the night before and I was fine. I thought I could do that in college too. All my life, I never had a failing grade in anything I did. Here in college, that changes. I’m just very overwhelmed.

When I was looking at maybe attending the University of Texas at Austin, I was so excited. I knew it was going to be challenging and rigorous but I also thought it would be such a fun and memorable experience. I also thought the way Jude’s great-aunt did when she said, “ It is place much too good for you to ever have much to do with” (802). Some people at my school thought I wasn’t smart enough. I let people’s negative comments get to me so I started thinking the same way. I decided to work even harder my senior year of high school and of course I did get accepted to U.T.

College has really been an eye-opening experience so far. I am trying to find a self here with everything I learn and all the new things I experience. I have grown to be more outgoing and friendly with people to make new friends. Now, I have so much school spirit than I have ever had. Socializing with friends is not a priority anymore and probably will never be one. Doing well in my classes is my goal all the time. I always have to study all the time for tests and quizzes. Waiting until the last minute is not an option anymore if I want to do well. I can’t have my parents telling me when to do my homework. I have learned to push myself to keep myself focused. I hope college will continue to change me in various ways, hopefully for the better so that I succeed in all my future endeavors.

My Role Model

When I think of the word role model, I think of someone I can aspire to be, someone who is intelligent, a philanthropist, and a Good Samaritan. At first, deciding who my role model would be was a very challenging process. There are so many prominent and intelligent people that I look up to but nobody inspires me more than my sister, Jessica.

Jessica Alvarado, the middle child of my family, was born on June 28, 1983 in Dallas, Texas. As a newborn, she spent five months in the hospital due to a birth defect, Spina Bifida. It is when the embryonic neural tube incompletely closes causing the spinal cord not to form completely. Many doctors have performed numerous surgeries to attempt to fix this defect but none of them were successful. This birth defect left her with many complications such as being unable to walk properly due to leg weakness and unable to grow to her potential height due to the gap in her spine being stapled down.

Ever since I can remember, education has always been a big part of my sister’s life. Before I even started school, she would teach me all she could. She always used to tell me, “Education is the key to success.” Throughout my middle school and high school career, she was always the only one helping me with my homework or just to study for tests and quizzes. She is always trying to learn something new or teaching other people. I know how hard she applies herself to her studies and how much she strives for perfection in everything that she does.

Due to her disability, Jessica had to switch schools to find the one that could accommodate all her needs. My parents finally found one that was suitable for her, Arlington Talented and Gifted Academy. The teachers went out of their way for her doing everything that they could. All of the students accepted her for who she is and did not just judge her or criticize her for her disability. She was able to adjust to the new environment and succeed academically. There, she graduated at the top of her class.

For high school, Jessica attended Tyler Street Christian Academy. This school was the perfect place for her. They made several changes to it to make all of the buildings handicap accessible for her. This was a very significant and stressful time in her life. Fortunately, she was a member of this scholarly group, Project Tomorrow, with the Salvation Army which paid for all of her tuition and anything else that she needed academically. When the Salvation Army had major Regional conferences once a year, Jessica was always asked to make a speech because she was elected as the President of Project Tomorrow. Many important and well-known people attended these conferences such as Barbara Bush and Laura Bush and she even had the opportunity to meet all of them. All of these speeches helped her to increase important communication skills, learn time management, and to be more responsible as a leader.

During her Junior Year of high school, Jessica started getting severe headaches due to the poor development of her brain and spine. She was forced to have major surgery to get a shunt installed in her brain causing her to be absent from school for 2 months. Even though she was sick in a hospital bed, she continued doing the work she missed so that she wouldn’t fall behind. Despite her lack of involvement in extracurricular activities due to frequent absences, she still found a way to interact with the whole student body by being friendly to everyone that she met. I admire her determination. It takes someone very strong to do something like that. Most people would have just given up on school and felt sorry for themselves but Jessica never thought that way. She felt that school was way more important and that she should not let her illness affect her. She still managed to graduate with honors in the top ten percent of her senior class.

After high school, my sister decided to stay close to home and go to a community college, El Centro. She graduated from there with two Associate degrees in Social Work and Business. She became a member of the Honor Society. This was just the beginning of her college career. Jessica just didn’t stop there. She wanted to further her education at a university.

She decided to attend The University of Texas at Arlington which is also close to home. She is currently working on her Bachelors degree in Social Work. Jessica just recently started her internship at Glenhaven Adoption Center. At the center, she talks to families to help them in any way that she can. At U.T.A, the role of reading and writing really comes into play. Jessica decided to join the school’s newspaper, The Shorthorn, as a co-columnist her first year there but she later had to give up that position because of her disease, Hepatitis B, caused by an infected needle. This disease caused her to be deathly ill. Doctors told us that she had cirrhosis of the liver which then caused her liver to fail. It was horrible and heartbreaking to have watched my sister suffer like that everyday. Nurses had to come to our house once a week for her injections. These shots made her feel weak and gave her headaches No matter how bad she felt, she made herself go to class and finish her homework. I could never do that. I want to have the perseverance she has and the ability to not let things bring you down. She plans to graduate this spring and continue to Graduate School at the University of Texas at Arlington for her Masters degree in Social Work.

Jessica has many characteristics that I would like to emulate. She is the most determined, outgoing, intelligent person that I have ever met. She never gives up on anything that she does no matter how challenging it may be. I admire Jessica’s determination to overcome all the obstacles that come her way. My sister is also a very extrovert person. She will talk to everyone even if she doesn’t know them. She gives everyone she meets a sense of joy. Even though she would miss days and sometimes even months of school, she has been able to maintain a 4.0 grade point average throughout her school career.

There are certainly many things that my sister has accomplished that I admire and truly inspire me. Her speeches at the Salvation Army Regional Conferences were so well prepared and presented. So many people were shocked and impressed by those speeches and that is an amazing effect to have on people when you are only in high school. Other than her amazing communicative skills, I admire my sister’s religious devotion. Jessica has made a commitment to go to Church every Sunday and Wednesday. She also makes time to do community service with her Church practically everyday no matter how large the amount of homework she might have. I hope to commit myself as much as my sister does to community service.

As a leader, my sister is very successful. Golemanetal says, “Gifted leadership occurs where heart and head-feeling and thought-meet. These are the two wings that allow a leader to soar” (62). Jessica has always had a special way with people. She is able to be sympathetic and relate to people without a problem. She also is able to think ahead and organize events. She makes sure that people do what is required of them but does not take advantage of that power.

It’s funny, my mom always tells my sister how she should be more like me but if she only knew that I have always wanted to be more like her. Jessica has always been the one person out of everyone in my life that is always there for me and I can always count on. Anything that I need, she tries her hardest to do what she can. She always stays optimistic and makes me think that way too. Someone that can overcome the obstacles that have crossed her path is someone that I consider a role model. I am lucky to have a sister like that who I can look up to and strive to be more like her.

Diversity and Sympathetic Imagination

All my life, I have grown up in a diverse community. If I had gone to public school where I live,

I would have only seen Hispanics or African Americans. The neighborhood where I live is considered the bad part of Dallas just because there are so many minorities living there. My parents wanted me to experience a lot more so they put me in private school. There, I was able to have classmates from various cultural backgrounds. Not one race dominated another. I loved that. Meeting so many different people from around the world is enlightening. I was able to learn so much about different languages, religions, and traditions.

When I first started thinking about coming to U.T, all I would hear was about diversity but I didn’t really understand. When I finally got here, I thought it was great how many people were here from different backgrounds. I have friends that tell me they had never African Americans or Asians before in their life. When I hear that, I begin to really appreciate how lucky I was to grow up in a big city and go to a school where the population is diverse.

“The act of identification consists not in reading into the object subjective feelings aroused by it in the observer, but in perceiving, by instinctive but sagacious insight, the essential character and reality of the object itself” (http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~bump/sympathetic%20imagination.html). I have always been taught never to judge someone by the color of their skin or their beliefs. You have to get to know someone by talking to them to really know who that person is. I would never want someone to make a judgment about me if they haven’t even talked to me before. I think that is unfair.

Students at Hill Middle School
Miguel in the Unknown Want, he says “My place in this country has always been questioned, and my access to the culture and language has always been tentative” (842). When I was in high school, I had to volunteer hours as a tutor at a public elementary or middle school. I tutored ESL kids at Hill Middle School where the student population is 97% Hispanic and 3% African American. I would try to teach them English but none of them wanted to speak it. They only wanted to speak in Spanish. They didn’t want to learn math or about U.S. History. When we asked them why they didn’t want to learn anything, they replied with an answer I will never forget. One boy said “I’m Mexican and my parents are poor. Nobody wants me and nobody will accept me. Why should I learn if I’m just going to drop out next year?” It hurt all of us to hear those words. All of those children were intelligent and deserve so much more but they felt that they could never succeed just because they were from Mexico. Me and my classmates tried to tell them that they can do whatever they want in life but they have be determined, stay focused and learn all they can in school to graduate and then go to college. Since I was the only Hispanic out of the 5 people that tutored there from my school, they were shocked that I went to a private school and I was going to go to U.T. I had so much in common with them and they didn’t even realize it. I wanted them to know that anyone can get a great education. It doesn’t matter what race you are and you can always get scholarships if you don’t have enough money.

Ever since I can remember, I have grown up in a diverse community whether it is at home or at school. I have learned about different people who have made me appreciate their cultures and beliefs. Since my dad never even finished middle school, he always had high hopes and expectations for me. He has always wanted me to have what he didn’t have. I just hope other young kids will never be discouraged by any obstacle that crosses their path and that they appreciate the diversity around them.