Unity in College Writing

Ever since the first day of class, unity has been the main topic or theme in this class. Professor Bump’s goal is to make us hammer our thoughts into unity. I’ve read so many articles, stories, and poems and our class has visited all kinds of places so that we can explore new things and unite them with other things we have learned. While reading “The World is Your Body” and “As King Fishers,” I realized the importance of unity in my writing and preparation for P3.

Unity is, of course, the main challenge for me in writing P3. It was also a theme in writing P1 and P2 but it wasn’t so hard. For P3, I have to find a way to connect all these ideas in past two papers and bring it all together. Watts says “They are then simply ways of “figuring” the world, as we agree about inches and hours, numbers and words, mathematical systems and languages” (Watts, 769). I now know I have to look at both of my papers and see how they go together. I have to organize things so that they make sense not expect to see these comparisons come up on their own. He said “that things are differing forms of some basic stuff” (Watts, 769). This tells me that all I have to do is take basic sentences and unite them to put them in final paper.

While writing P3, I’ve had a lot of difficulty trying to satisfy the word limit and make the whole paper flow. In “As King Fishers,” Hopkins says “As king fishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame” (Hopkins, 763). When you write something, you can always connect it with something else. Rico also talks about connecting ideas. In “Two Modes of Knowing: Sign and Design,” he says “Once we become aware of these different ways of processing our thoughts, we can not only learn to channel each once appropriately toward different phases of the writing process, but we can also learn to ensure that they work cooperatively for the greatest possible creative interaction” (Rico, 202). Each side of our brain processes information different ways. We have to learn to control each side and combine both ways to be able to unite our ideas for P3.

College writing has a lot to do with unity. In life, we have to learn to connect ideas for a greater purpose. I hope I can unite my two papers successfully so that it makes sense but also interests the reader. I have never had to do anything like this before and I find it very challenging. After reading these articles, I have realized that it is not as difficult as I have made it out to be. You just have to start small and work yourself throughout your paper connecting ideas.

Downtown

Our diversity excursion to downtown Austin was amazing. I really enjoyed it. I was able to go to places that I would probably never go to on my own. Attending a Spanish mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral was amazing but not out of the ordinary. Visiting the capitol was fun because we got to lie down on the floor under the dome. The Driskill Hotel was beautiful and the western art inside was interesting. These visits to all these places helped me learn about the architecture and history of Austin but also taught me about another culture, Mexican, that I am quite familiar with.

The first place we went to was St. Mary’s Cathedral. I loved it since I am Catholic so I felt right at home. Many didn’t like it because it was all in Spanish but back home my parents and me always use to go to the Spanish mass. This experience really reminded of home. The Church, itself, was gorgeous. It was a lot different from any Catholic Church in Dallas. The Gothic Architecture made it quite fascinating. It reminded me of France because Notre Dame was designed in this same type of style. Back then, people thought of this type of architecture as holy and moral. The stained glass window in the front of the Church really caught my eye. It was beautiful image of Mary. It looked even better because the dome in the front was a bright blue with gold. I recognized a lot of the songs and the music was great but it was different from the English mass. In the English mass, guitar and clapping are not very common at all.

After Church, we continued on to one of the most famous or important buildings in Texas, the Capitol. I had always wanted to visit but I have never had the chance and my school never had trips there unlike most schools. I thought it was beautiful and it reminded me of the White House in Washington, D.C. The Greco-Roman Architecture of the building is common for most government buildings because it stands for democracy here in the U.S. The star at the top, of course, reminds me of the star of destiny like at the Bullock Museum and of Texas being the Lone Star State. Because it so high up, it tells the courage and strength of the Texan culture and people. It tells of how Texas was the only state, other than California, to be its own country. My favorite part would definitely have to be when laid down on the star looking up at the dome. It was beautiful to see the star at the top as well.

The last place that we visited was the Driskill Hotel on the sixth street. This building really stood out from the rest because of it’s out of the ordinary architecture, Victorian. It was pretty strange seeing the head of a Longhorn in the front and it was even weirder seeing the head of the man, Driskill. The inside was so beautiful. It was dark but very elegant. They had amazing chandeliers and western style furniture and art. The little statues and the paintings of the western times in Austin really told a great story and fascinated me.

All these places told of a different time and of a different culture. The Cathedral displayed Gothic Architecture and the Spanish mass told of the Mexican Culture. The Capitol displayed Greco-Roman Architecture and told of the early times in Texas and how it came to so powerful today. The Driskill Hotel displayed Victorian Architecture and told of the western times and cowboys. Seeing so much diversity here in Austin makes me proud to be a Texan because like the Star of Destiny movie said, “you don’t have to born in Texas to have the courage and strength of Texans.”

Texas Museum

Our class visit to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is one of the coolest places that we have been to yet. I thought it was so much because there was so much to see. I discovered so much about our state’s history and the leaders that made Texas what it is today. While I was at the museum, I saw many leadership qualities while reading about some of the Texas heroes.

On the first floor of the museum, I mostly saw the history of the Native Americans who were the first people that inhabited the land that is now Texas. I admire them so much for their courage and bravery. They had to fight against the Spanish and the Americans so that they could keep their land. Because the Americans had advanced weapons and had numerous men, they were able to defeat the Indians. I also admire the Indians for their amazing strength and intelligence. At the museum, they had a display of their tools, clothes, and teepees which were all handmade. They seemed like such a friendly group of people who just wanted to be left alone in peace. There was a quote by Alvar Nunez de Cabeza de Vaca which said, “The Indians brought us more fish…and brought their women and children that they could see us…they returned rich in the hawk bells and beads that we gave them.”

While walking around, I noticed there was some stuff about women in the South back then. Women were supposed to stay home and take care of their children. They were not allowed to work or vote. Since Texas is in the South, men were even more stubborn when it came to women trying to get better work or getting the right to vote. Women united and became so strong and determined to be heard to get the law passed to vote legally. They finally got the right to vote and played a major role in Texas’ rise to statehood and power in America. Women were nurses and cooks during battles. They were also fighters, pilots, and nurses during World War II.

At the end of our visit at the museum, we watched the Star of Destiny movie. It told the whole history of Texas. In school, I had learned about the prominent leaders such as Sam Houston, David Bowie, and William Travis. They had such strong determination and stayed optimistic that Texas can beat the Spanish at the Alamo and gain statehood. It also told of the many instances where Texans displayed their strength to never give up no matter how bad things become. One example was the hurricane that struck Galveston which is the most severe in history of the United States. Even though all the houses were destroyed, they didn’t leave. They decided to rebuild the whole city.

Texas has always been considered one of the biggest and prideful states in America. Anyone who lives here is more proud to be a Texas than an American. The Texas flag is the only state flag allowed to be raised as high as the U.S. flag. Some of the most prominent Americans in our history have been from Texas. Women and the Native Americans share the qualities of courageous and strong which is what makes them so memorable. I hope Texas’ history will continue to be preserved and shared with all. As the movie said, “the lone star will continue to be the symbol of independence.”

Alice as a Parody of Life

Whenever we first started reading Alice in Wonderland in this class, I definitely noticed some apparent similarities and differences. Alice is always changing her size throughout the book which relates to how I feel here at U.T. The rabbit hole that Alice falls down in definitely reminds me of the confusion and mess that I have experienced so far. The looking glass is another similarity that I noticed because it reminds me of my own aspirations in life. While reading Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass, I recognized several parodies to my college life.

During Alice in Wonderland, Alice changes size a few times. At the beginning of the story, she gets smaller. She gets smaller when she has the White Rabbit’s hat. She can’t go into the house in the wood because she is too big. When she eats the cake, she gets smaller. All of these situations that Alice goes through remind me of the way I feel. I have never shared a room with anyone else so it is hard to get use to being in one tiny room and sharing it with another person even if that person is your friend. When Alice gets smaller eating the cake, it makes me think of how me and my friends eat more than normal and we eat such unhealthy foods.

Towards the beginning of the story, Alice falls down the rabbit hole. Alice notices the tunnel was full of bookshelves and cupboards with tons of pictures and maps attached. This definitely reminds of all the confusion and mess I experience at U.T. Since I always homework or studying to do, I never find enough time to clean my room. Ever since I have gotten here, I feel confused all the time. I never think I know what I am doing. I just get so overwhelmed with all the things I have to get done and how much time they take. While Alice is falling down the well, she says “Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end?” (The Annotated Alice, 13). Alice feels that her fall is just never-ending. This is exactly how I feel about college. I feel that I have a never-ending load of work. It seems that once I think I’m finished with one thing that I still have another thing that needs to get done. Tests never seem to end. I have one almost every week. I never finish studying because once I finish one test; I have another test to study for.

In Alice Through The Looking Glass, Alice looks through the mirror. She thinks about all the wonderful things that would be on the other side in the Looking-Glass House. Alice says “I’m sure it’s got, oh! such beautiful things in it!” (The Annotated Alice, 143). Before I came to college, I always use to daydream about how wonderful college life would be. My sister and some of my friends would always tell me about it. I was so excited. Now that I am actually here, I’m so stressed out, overwhelmed, and just tired. I still daydream about my future. We all wonder what lies ahead in our lives just like Alice wondered what lied beyond the looking glass. Everyone looks forward to the exciting things in life and all the great things that will happen to us later on.

In the stories of Alice in Wonderland, parodies stand out. Reading it just reminds me so much of my own life right now during college. Alice goes through some of the same type of situations that we go through everyday. College is a constant struggle and an eye-opening experience for everyone but it is something that we must go through to have a better and more successful life in the end.

LBJ Library and Museum

Ever since I got here, I had heard about the Lyndon B. Johnson presidential library a lot. Every time I passed by the campus on highway, I could see it. When we finally went, I was so excited and so amazed at all the things they had there. Our trip to LBJ Library has definitely been one of my favorites. While I walked around, I learned so much about LBJ not only as a political leader or the President but also as a philanthropist and family man. As I looked at the different exhibits of the 1960’s, I read about many other influential leaders during that time period. These leaders, along with LBJ, had many leadership qualities that I would like to emulate.

Even as a young man, LBJ displayed his caring and serving personality for the less fortunate. He decided to take a year off from college to take a teaching position in Cotulla, Texas. The children that he taught were poor and Mexican American. LBJ tried to help these kids and what he learned stayed with him his whole life. He said “It never even occurred to me in my fondest dreams that I might have the chance to help these sons and daughters of those students and to help people like them all over the world. But now I do have that chance…And I mean to use it.” As President, Johnson displayed his strength and persistence. He tried to solve the problem of poverty in the U.S. He created the program, “Great Society.” This created programs like Medicare and Medicaid for the underprivileged. LBJ also fought for the rights of minorities like Mexican Americans. He fought for Private Felix Longoria to have the military funeral in Arlington Memorial Cemetery the way he deserved.

There was a pretty big exhibit dedicated to John F. Kennedy. Since I’m from Dallas, I had learned a lot about him and I had gone to the museum. He was known for his appeal to the young people of his generation since he was young himself. I admire his ability to give people what they want. I also admire his ability to make decisions quickly like the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Vietnam War. He tried to do what was best for his county even though it wasn’t successful at times.

Once JFK died, LBJ took over the presidency. Since racial injustice was a big problem in the U.S. during this time. LBJ had always been for racial justice so he fought for the rights of African Americans. With persistency and his amazing political strategy, he was able to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act. He had amazing confidence and courage to fight for these Acts. He wasn’t afraid of what the other political leaders thought of them. He just continued to fight for what was right.

One of the first people I read about when I get there was Thomas Edison. He definitely had the most creative mind to invent so many things that we still use today. I wish I had the imagination to even think of those types of things like the light bulb and to be the pioneer of film-making. Another person that I read about was Martin Luther King Jr. He is definitely the most courageous person in history. He protested for the rights of African Americans no matter what might happen. His speeches are some of the most famous ones ever performed. I just admire his immense passion and care for others.

Today, all these leaders are some of the most famous people in American History. They contributed so much to our society and made some changes for the better. They made what America is today. I am thankful for all that they did. I admire their amazing leadership qualities and I hope can be as influential as they were.

Tower Garden: Landscape Architecture II

One of the things that I love most about the U.T. campus is the beautiful landscape. I love how all the beautiful plants are preserved here. It is amazing to see so many trees and such green grass in such a big city. I have found so many nice and peaceful places to study or just relax. Back home, I was use to having my backyard full of roses where I could go and admire all the beauty of God’s creations. Here at U.T., landscape makes what the campus is today. The gardens, such as the Tower Garden, keep me relaxed and calm during my stressful career at U.T.

Whenever I am surrounded by nature, I am reminded of the first garden. In the Bible, it says “Yahweh God planted a garden in Eden…and there he put the man he fashioned” (Course Anthology, 640). Religion has always been a huge part of my life. At school, we discussed the importance of this Garden. God made all the plants and ponds so that we can admire them and to bring beauty into this world. He made man in the Garden of Eden because he wants to be stewards of the Earth. As children of God, we have a responsibility to not take advantage of God’s creations but to protect them and preserve them.

In my backyard at home, my dad planted tons of roses, pear trees, and peach tree. My dad has always had a fascination with landscaping. When I was little, my dad and I would plant little flowers all the time. This was one of the best memories of my childhood. I was so happy just being outside and spending time with my dad since we did it together. I think that is why my dad and I are so close now. Even though I am away from home, I’m glad I have places to go that kind of remind of home. I feel secure and happy thinking about those times with my dad.

Verlyn Klinkenborg said in his article about landscape architecture that “All the disarray has been filtered out for us. We suddenly glimpse what the world would look like if it were the work of a single hand, a single eye, a world created to please our emotions of place. It’s gratifying-and often disorienting-sensation” (Course Anthology, 629). These past few months have been so stressful and tiring. Going to the turtle pond is relaxing and it gives me a chance to meditate about life. Everyone needs a place where they can go to get away from all our responsibilities and worries in life. We all need to stop, relax, and recharge. Sometimes I feel I don’t have time to stop but if I don’t, then I don’t get things done because I become so unfocused and tired.

In life, we can’t let the chaos and our responsibilities take over our lives. Every once in a while, we need to stop and get away. Everyone needs time for themselves to meditate and put things back into focus. I love being here at U.T. because I have this opportunity. If you just look around, you can find these type of places. Every time I go to the Tower Garden, I am able to think back on the good times with my dad and just take in all the beauty of the nature around me. After, I can return to my work refreshed and focused.